Working on the tree

Not very diligently, I admit, but the tree has been erected, and I have come up with enough lights, (I guess,) and it is ready for ornaments. Lights were something of a mystery. I normally, as they come off of the tree, take each strand, coil it carefully, and band with masking tape to keep it from tangling, and then mark the usage, (tree, etc.), and the year on the tag. Somehow, I cannot find the container with the lights used last year.
I have an abundance of lights, some dating back to living in the mobile home, in the early 90s. I think I had a total of 540 lights strung around the mobile, across the front porch, around the eaves, until they met at the back corner of the house. And that did not count the ones on the tree and various other places I chose to decorate, so there are a number of old sets still around. But they do not always light every bulb, when you check them, maybe a loose bulb, or an empty socket, so it has been a seek and find mission to get working strings located. The plastic bases of the minature bulb/socket sets are also not exactly the same size. Close, but no cigar at times, so considerable time has been spent making usable sets ready for tree hanging.
Now comes the fun of digging into three 16 gallon plastic storage containers, and deciding where to put the house decorations, as well as the tree ornaments, in the same storage boxes. Part of the fun is the memories that come out with certain ornaments, remembering who it was who gave them in the first place, or where they were purchased. Having enough lighthouse ornaments to decorate several fair sized trees, it becomes sort of a game to see how many of them can be hung,
before the tree starts to droop, or lean, or just runs out of hanging space. Doubt I could get away with getting a second tree, to use them all, so think I will pass on that possible option. (Besides, I don't want to find more working lights!)
Not very Christmasy outside today, and it was in the 80s, but another cold front is forecast before the weekend, so should get back in the mood soon. TV last night was at one street in WPB, well known for every house having large and elaborate displays, but with the economy as it is, many houses are less well decorated, and some are not decorated at all this year, to the disappointment of people who were driving by, or on bus trips, coming to see the lights. Could be a quieter celebration than normal this year, from the looks of things. Bummer.