christmas tree rule of thumb

This morning, Catherine and I are going out to get a Christmas tree. We'll chop it down, carry it back, and set it up this weekend: a real actual treeish tree, not a plastic replica. For the past few years, I've had a plastic replica up, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the cost, both moneywise and environmentally. It's been set up constantly since Thanksgiving of 2002. Never taken down. Up all year.

A rule of thumb:

If you put up a Christmas tree on time, and take it down on time, you're married.