We had three plans going in:
Plan A. Build some crazy long pole using PVC pipe and fishing line (to keep the pvc from flexing). Not even close to working... Aluminum angle strips helped. Maybe we could have made 30 feet, but 50+ was right out.
Plan B. Get a hook up in the tree and use it to hoist other things up, pulley style. The trick is delivering the hook. I tried using a mini football, but my throwing skills are ass; can't throw high enough and didn't want to risk kicking a football through my neighbors' windows. What did work... was helium balloons. Which I love. Unfortunately, the wind was against us. But, we demonstrated on a lower branch that the hook we built could be successfully planted around a branch, and the balloons returned to the ground. So, now I need to buy a tank of helium so I can get out there quickly when the weather conditions are good...
Plan C. Build a trebuchet, throw a cat up there, call the fire department and get them to decorate the tree while they're up there.
In the end, no decorations were placed. But we were close.
