SifuPhil
R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
It's that time of year again!
Yes, Barney Street is ramping up to celebrate the holidays!
Mrs. Voight next door has added red and green-tinted bird seed to the feeder out front. As a result our front porch is now becoming a fascinating swirl of colors, thanks to the little avian elves roosting in OUR tree. The "porch light" that roomie purchased from some TV huckster is proudly sitting on the ground out front as well, flashing psychedelically and causing seizures in epileptic holiday strollers.
Even Kat / Mao / Mr. Midnight is joining into the festivities. So far this month he's brought down 6 garlands, 12 antique Christmas balls and several branches from the little tree that sits on the freezer. Way to go, Kitty!
The half-way house across the street is up to their usual Yule hijinks: using empty beer bottles and cans they creatively spelled out "LAND HERE SANTA" on the front sidewalk. They were ably assisted by the local police, who added their own touch with swirling red, white and blue lights.
Mrs. Calabrease down the street has her manger scene all set up! Of course, she hasn't taken it down yet from LAST Christmas, and although some of the characters are starting to display a bit of wear they're still all there (except for the camels - the local meth addicts stole them sometime during last summer for their scrap value).
Even the local businesses are getting into the holiday spirit! Pantry Qwik, the convenience store that I go to, has the usual Hindu soap operas playing on the owner's ceiling-mounted TV set, but now you hear strange foreign renditions of "Santa Baby" blasting out with sitar, tambura and tabla. The customers seem to be joining in with the spirit of things, with an increasing amount of Christmas "shopping" being reported, mainly of rolling papers, cigar tubes and those little bottles of "Energy Drinks" that cost $6 each. As a result, Jim the owner is running around like a crazy reindeer!
The young lady that works part/time there, Modesty, keeps offering me "Christmas Specials" in the storage room, but I never seem to have the extra cash on hand. Boy, some businesses really raise their prices this time of year!
Across the street, the "Caribbean Deli" is doing a land-office business! Even though their minimalist decoration (one piece of tinsel duct-taped to the front door) has drawn some commentary from the locals, you can't deny the smiles of the customers as they come out laden with bundles of brown paper bag-wrapped presents. That the "store" has been closed down again for several weeks due to drug sales is of no concern - Merry Christmas, all!
Finally, stockings are hung with care up at #374 and red lights constantly blaze forth with an almost hypnotic effect! Miss "Kitty" Wanklin is still the mistress of the house, along with her 12 pretty daughters, who are are decked out in gorgeous holiday-inspired red and green lingerie and little pointy hats that say "HO" on them - how much more Christmasy can you get?!? . As always, the traffic of gawkers and "relatives" in front of the house is amazing!
Yes, folks - once again it's Christmas on Barney Street!!!
Yes, Barney Street is ramping up to celebrate the holidays!
Mrs. Voight next door has added red and green-tinted bird seed to the feeder out front. As a result our front porch is now becoming a fascinating swirl of colors, thanks to the little avian elves roosting in OUR tree. The "porch light" that roomie purchased from some TV huckster is proudly sitting on the ground out front as well, flashing psychedelically and causing seizures in epileptic holiday strollers.
Even Kat / Mao / Mr. Midnight is joining into the festivities. So far this month he's brought down 6 garlands, 12 antique Christmas balls and several branches from the little tree that sits on the freezer. Way to go, Kitty!
The half-way house across the street is up to their usual Yule hijinks: using empty beer bottles and cans they creatively spelled out "LAND HERE SANTA" on the front sidewalk. They were ably assisted by the local police, who added their own touch with swirling red, white and blue lights.
Mrs. Calabrease down the street has her manger scene all set up! Of course, she hasn't taken it down yet from LAST Christmas, and although some of the characters are starting to display a bit of wear they're still all there (except for the camels - the local meth addicts stole them sometime during last summer for their scrap value).
Even the local businesses are getting into the holiday spirit! Pantry Qwik, the convenience store that I go to, has the usual Hindu soap operas playing on the owner's ceiling-mounted TV set, but now you hear strange foreign renditions of "Santa Baby" blasting out with sitar, tambura and tabla. The customers seem to be joining in with the spirit of things, with an increasing amount of Christmas "shopping" being reported, mainly of rolling papers, cigar tubes and those little bottles of "Energy Drinks" that cost $6 each. As a result, Jim the owner is running around like a crazy reindeer!
The young lady that works part/time there, Modesty, keeps offering me "Christmas Specials" in the storage room, but I never seem to have the extra cash on hand. Boy, some businesses really raise their prices this time of year!
Across the street, the "Caribbean Deli" is doing a land-office business! Even though their minimalist decoration (one piece of tinsel duct-taped to the front door) has drawn some commentary from the locals, you can't deny the smiles of the customers as they come out laden with bundles of brown paper bag-wrapped presents. That the "store" has been closed down again for several weeks due to drug sales is of no concern - Merry Christmas, all!
Finally, stockings are hung with care up at #374 and red lights constantly blaze forth with an almost hypnotic effect! Miss "Kitty" Wanklin is still the mistress of the house, along with her 12 pretty daughters, who are are decked out in gorgeous holiday-inspired red and green lingerie and little pointy hats that say "HO" on them - how much more Christmasy can you get?!? . As always, the traffic of gawkers and "relatives" in front of the house is amazing!
Yes, folks - once again it's Christmas on Barney Street!!!
