For the last month you mighta wondered what Bessy the ice cream truck was up to. We’ve had some great reviews and pics but very little truck action. The reason is because Ice Cream Man and Bessy have been hard at work putting Xmas lights up around town for family and friends. Thanks to some Long Beach homies we were able to crank out some jobs and put up close to 100,000 lights. It’s basically my excuse to climb in trees all the time.
Outside of the one winter I was in Ashland, Oregon working at Dagoba Chocolate, for the last ten years I’ve lit up houses around town and helped get everyone in the holiday spirit. Due to Vegoose and the Ice Cream Convention in Albuquerque I was far from prepared for this time around. I misplaced a bunch of addresses and phone numbers which set me back a few days.
Today was the last day for putting up lights. My Mom and her Neighbor both needed a little help and once I found my Ma’s lights everything went smooth, quite a change for the way the days unfolded over the last month. When everything works, XMAS lights can go up damn quick. But once something goes wrong, you run the risk of starting a domino rally which can leave you stuck at a job for hours, like the time i put lights up along a whole two-story roof line only to find they didn’t work. I think all that rain we had last year did a number on the old lights we tried to use again.
My favorite designs this year were wrapping trees with white mini lights and hanging lit balls off the end of branches just above the top of the lit base. So, not only have i put up more xmas lights than 99% of people but I’ve also hugged more trees than them too! So many benefits. It’s nice to see friends I’ve known for years yet only run into around this time of season. Each year I’ve got plenty of stories about my travels and you know I’m down to talk some ears off when given the chance.
A few days ago, as the season was ending, Rob and I decided to do our good deed for the season. We rolled over to Rancho Relaxo and dug through our remaining lights to come up with something clever. We pulled out some white rope lights and doubled up on the green mini’s to outline the two pitches of their home. After ringing the bell a couple times, breaking into the house (while yelling) to get power, and running around on the roof, Kayt awoke from a DEEP sleep and walked out front. I’m still not sure how she slept through all that noise for an hour.
For the next couple weeks its vacation time while fixing jobs around town and waiting to take everything down. Bessy’s heading back into the shop for a checkup. Without her I’d just be a crazy guy walking around giving away ice cream. I’ll upload some more pics either here or in another review in a couple weeks of other houses we did.
Happy Holidays.
Ice Cream Man’s Holiday Party.
Mazarin, Timonium, and The Woods at Prospector in Long Beach on Monday Dec 19th.
9PM – $5 – 7th St. and Junipero.
RSVP for guestlist
