Ah, the holiday season…egg nog, mistletoe, pumpkin pie, family, presents…and oh yes, Christmas lights. The time has come for the annual orgy of decorating that seizes Chuck each year right around now. The goal appears to be one in which every year is a little more spectacular than the last. This is the Year of the Holographic Light Display. We went to Stats yesterday (as dangerous as Home Depot at this time of year) where we found lots and lots of interesting seasonal display possibilities. I drew the line at the $2800 horse and sleigh (full size). We did get 2.5-D carolers (three in the set – and they were right not to risk referring to them as “3-D” – I’d say the whole 2.5-D thing is a little iffy at best), a buck (to go with the bobbing head doe we’ve had for a few years), a Santa in a sleigh with three reindeer (the latter was supposed to go on the roof, but the only way we could make that happen it looked like Santa was crashing into the house – not a good holiday vibe – so Santa & co. are sitting on the lawn), assorted lollipops and the odd candy cane. Phew! And that’s just for the front! We ran out of daylight today, so the rest of the glorious lighting must wait for later in the week. Mia was laying out in the midst of all the holographic hoopla, and it occured to me that if we could find a decently sized manger and a baby’s bonnet she wouldn’t make a half bad baby Jesus! The trick would be to keep her still and quiet but a nice dose of tranqulizers would take care of that, I figured. For all his usual enthusiasm when contemplating new and exciting decorating plans, Chuck nixed that one. Well, maybe I could try putting a couple of strings of lights around her, and then attach them to a long extension cord…hmmm….