Catching Up and Tutorial

To get the most out of this archive, it's important to fully understand the canvas that is my neighbor's lawn. The lawn is normally divided into three sections: Center, which is like the main stage where the most important stuff is happening; Right, which is where other "lesser" holidays (or upcoming holidays) wait in the wings; and Left which is on the far side of the driveway, and difficult to see from my house. Left is normally used as an out of the way place to put holidays so they won't interfere with the Center area. The decorations frequently include a countdown, especially for bigger holidays.

I'd also like to catch up on all the stuff I've missed over the past nine months. Here is, as best I can remember, a list of the holidays and events for which the lawn has been decorated:
Parents' Day
Air Force Day
Death of Ted Kennedy
Labor Day
Grandparents' Day
9/11 Anniversary (Patriot Day)
Death of Patrick Swayze
Autumnal Equinox
Anniversary of the plane crash in the Hudson river
Columbus Day
Halloween
All Saints Day (with a special tribute to his (deceased, I assume) father
Election Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving
Winter Solstice
Christmas Eve
Christmas
New Year's Eve
New Year's Day
Groundhog Day
Mardi Gras
Ash Wednesday
Valentine's Day
Presidents' Day
St. Patrick's Day
Vernal Equinox

In addition to all of these, he's had a continual display that says "Something Big Coming" up since early January. It moves around according to what other holidays are coming, but it's been there consistently. More mysteriously, it includes a countdown which constantly changes. Originally it was set to fall right around St. Patrick's Day, which has long since come and gone. The countdown is currently set at 33 days.

Enough for now. Back next time with the first of the REAL updates.