And in the continuing saga

We have acquired, after long consideration, the Blasphemous Artificial Merchantmas Tree. Cheap. Undefined species. With lights already attached.

And it was indeed cheap, cheap enough that we can THROW THE DAMNED THING OUT if we decide we can't stand it -- cost less than a natural Maine-grown balsam fir. But it is a green mass about three feet tall, with colored lights. That seems to be the job description.

As if to smile on our decision, the sun has come out. As I commented in another poster's journal, we had overcast last night, gray wool between us and any possible Geminid meteors.

Temperature supposed to push 50 F today, possible record highs. The snow has vanished, even in the piles where heaped by plowing or shoveling.

Atmospherics and a breach of manners

Went out for my evening walk and encountered the Dracula Movie Fog Machine laying ground fog under the lights through our neighborhood park. Mucho spooky, layer of fog about six feet deep. I don't know if we have any chance of spotting the forecast aurora later -- with the explosion of holiday lights around, we'd have to drive fifteen miles for a dark sky.

Later, taking out the recycling for tomorrow morning's pickup, I encountered Nikita The Cat. She hung around in the shadows, supervising. So when I got done hauling, I walked over to her shadow and petted her. She got up and left.

I _think_ I wasn't supposed to see her.