The Christmas lights they do twinkle, somewhat

It's mid-December and almost Christmas in condoville but you wouldn't believe it. In past years we always had a beautiful and tasteful display of white twinkling lights in the middle treed and green area dividing the two condo buildings. It matched all the other very bright and twinkling displays of the other condo apartments. This year, however, and for whatever reason - money springs to mind - the powers-that-be at the condo association decided that our light display was excessive and unnecessary.

In a note posted near the elevator and surrounding area, they offered the explanation that there will soon be the expediture of a new roof. Not mentioned by the association is the rumored two figures, a comma and four-zeros amount spent this fall on the new placette or small landscaped over-look with a view of the pool and the nearby river. The old version which dated back to the 1980's built with wood and surrounded with shrbbery, finally started disintegrating. Its replacement is a modern, visually-stunning, IMHO, approach with large patio tiles replacing wooden railway ties leading up to the placette along with a stone placed layout. In the Spring a plexiglass railing will complete the look. As mentioned, the replacement came at a steep-ish price. There is grumbling among some condo owners that the old look was nicer while the newer and frequently younger condovillers like the updating. It will be interesting to get a more overall opinion of the end result once the news gets out about the cost. There most likely will be a heated discussion but the job is finished so what else is there to say?

To get back to the Christmas light display, this year in a cost-saving move, three live fir (Christmas) trees were put up in the landscaped, middle treed area facing the streetbetween the two condo buildings. The trees are - well - sort of lacking in thickness and branches...sort-of Charlie Brown-ish... and are decorated with blechy-colored mundane lights i.e. red, green, yellow, etc. etc. On top of which the stringed lights barely cover the branches. Quite an about-face after the beautiful display in past years. The general concensus among people I've spoken with is that it's lacking - let's leave it at that. To add insult to injury, there's an electrical short in the light timer causing them to work on a 5-minutes-on/5-minutes-off interval throughout the night. It's akin to living accross the street from an all-night diner that stays open all night i.e. they're on - no - they're off...etc. etc.

Given the current money-saving atmosphere, the trees will probably be down in a week into the new year. The memory of the holiday lights will be forgotten for a year at least until the annual condo meeting in the Spring. The agenda will include the the renovated placette and the re-painting of the swimming pool. Did I mention that they still didn't re-paint the slippery surface of the pool in autumn. Well they didn't. If there's one subject that gets condovillers riled up it's the pool but even that will be replaced with the smell and noise of the new roof.

Christmas in condoland - the lights they do shine

Every year since moving to condoville, the buildings in our area go all out when it comes to Christmas decorations. Down the block at the senior's residence, nary a balcony is without glimmering, shimmering colored (and then some) lights in shades of dark blue, light blue, white, red, yellow... You name it, they're displaying it in geometrical shapes and garlands of electric. Let me put it this way: airplanes flying over our area could mistake all the lights as a landing strip and Las Vegas hotels could relate.

It's obviously important to everyone because professional Christmas hanger-uppers are hired to handle the task. It takes on average and without exaggeration, a whole day to string up the trees in our two twin condo buildings. Although nobody openly discusses or admits it, there is an underlying air of competition with more and more trees acting as artistic pallets. Still, it does make one wonder how the squirrels sleep at night.

This is all leading up to the decision by our condo association for whatever reason, to cut back on this year's display. The truck arrived as usual early in the morning and the team of men got out holding lengths of electrical wire, quickly setting to work stringing the lights around the tree trunks. Two hours later they were gone. The evening told the whole picture when a mere two bushes and four trees with lights constituted the holiday display. Perhaps our condo association is cutting back in light of economic conditions, in which case they are to be lauded. Meanwhile, we're waiting to see if and when the plastic Christmas tree garnished with elaborate decorations, will make its appearance. At least the squirrels will get some shuteye.