National Christmas Tree Ready for Obamas

http://www.nbcwashington.com/around-town/events/National-Christmas-Tree-Ready-for-Obamas-78307957.html

The Obamas will officially light the White House Christmas Tree Thursday, but if you stopped by the tree Tuesday night you might have received a sneak peek, like the Getty cameraman did in order to snap the picture above.

The official lighting ceremony begins at 5 p.m. Thursday and includes an impressive array of musical stars, including Sheryl Crow, Common and Ray LaMontagne. (Get a list of all the musical acts here.)

The tree itself is also something to behold, as GE claims it to be the most energy efficient White House tree in history. GE, who for the time being still owns this Web site, says the tree will consume about 6,000 watts compared to last year's 18,000 watts, and it will be outfitted entirely in LED lights. The ornaments are being reused from last year, but have been upgraded with LED lighting for a new look and more efficiency.

Oh, and for those scrooges out there who don't want their tax dollars being used to pay the White House electricity bill, consider this: There will be 750 strings of white LED lights on the tree, and each string will cost just 14 cents to run for the entire holiday season. Extra nog for everyone!

About 2,800 seats and 7,000 standing room only tickets for the event were distributed online, so if you didn't win the lottery you're not getting in. Don't even think about it, Salahis!

Of course those free tickets are showing up for sale on Craigslist. So if you want to get ripped off, err, take a chance and buy tickets from strangers, here's your chance.

The event will be shown live on TV (public station WETA) and online, so you can watch from the comfort of your own home or office.

And please, Tareq and Michaele, please stop e-mailing us. We can't get you tickets in the president's box.

Pre-emptive self-righteous blather.

When I was a little kid, we always had live trees.. and you really could only safely have them in the house for two weeks watering constantly.

As we have moved to artificial trees that can stay up longer the Christmas season has been moved back so far that now Thanksgiving is basically the day to get ready to Shop.

Almost a Pavlovian dog effect.. trees, decorations BUY lots and eat more.

there being so many real trees for sale everywhere, immediately after Thanksgiving. My local nursery has a big selection of trees out this week. Does ANYONE think it's safe to have a tree up for three or four weeks, even with consistent watering? I sure don't.

I am very leery of those over dry trees..

a big fire in his house that started in a christmas tree.

we always used to go cut one. kids are getting big enough to not really give a shit, and i am ready to can the whole idea this year. prolly won't get too far with that. but last year the kids barely took the time to decorate it.

Or not watering it. Yeah, I know what you mean about letting the decorations slide--we're busy getting ready to move after Christmas, my kids are teenagers, and no one is really getting into the spirit this year chez moi.

I wish I was there to see the lighting. I would love to see the White House all decked out, too. Not to mention all those handmade ornaments people around the country busted their butts to make for the WH tree. I can't believe there are people bitching about it. And, I'm agnostic, so I don't even celebrate Christmas any more than I'm dragged into it. However, I love the lights. They're a nice antidote for Seasonal Affective Disorder, of which I have a moderate case.

But like you I am glad others decorate so I can enjoy looking at them and remembering when I was a child and life was simpler. I told my daughter that I was tempted to get out my decorations that have been packed away for years and just sit them around to make me feel a little better. I would guess I had a case of Seasonal Affective Disorder also but then I don't "have normal mental health throughout the rest of the year".

:rofl:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder