thank you, Olga. It isn't that Dec 1st is the 'official' decorating day for me. That's just the soonest I will have the money in my account, haha. Otherwise, I'd have gone and gotten that tree already. I do have my slim prelit tree up already, but haven't finished arranging the tips/branches and haven't put on ornaments, etc.. yet. Since we're getting a real tree, I won't be putting up my big artificial one this year. And, since we now live in a tiny apt, the real tree will take up most of our little dining area, haha. but, I don't care. I have to have my tree and I'm not skimping. I love the slim tree (still a 7footer) but I have to have my bigger, fancier one, too.