We put up our outdoor lights on Sunday. I can finally write about it rationally today.
In the Christmas spirit... OY! It seemed like such a bear this year.
The "display" is not terribly different from last year's set-up... we have an snow-covered (white lights) "island" with a snow man and a polar bear (both move their heads)... and "moving" water (white chaser lights thru the blue lights) surrounding the island.
But we were dealing with aging strings of lights... so that meant multiple runs to the local home improvement store for replacements... and then, when we were just about done, one of the strings blew a fuse. We have thousands of lights on the ground... and we had the prospect of finding it and pulling it up... in now a wonderfully and randomly tangled mess on the ground.
So that made me wonder...
Has everyone ever been strangled by a string of holiday lights? Or hung oneself (by the chimney with care, of course!) by that method?
If not, I was threatening to be the first...by either method.
Todd will be the first to admit that this is not his favorite activity of the year... plus he he has to put up with my "artistic vision" for the yard... only adds to the "joy"... though he is incredibly patient with me. And three hours into it, finding the blown string of lights had me ready to "fall on my knees" ... no hearing any "angels' voices" O night, not so divine!
To make a long story short (for a change!)... Todd found and replaced the fuse, we took much more care where we were connecting all the lights...and it got done.
Our new additions this year were some green lights to the "island" (it's now partially snow covered)... and a new little isle with an 11-foot pre-light tree (not a "fir"/fake tree, but one of those skeleton-ish trees with twinkling white lights)... and it looks great.
Now at this point, I should be sharing pictures... but I haven't taken any yet. But now that I have recovered from the trauma, I'll do my best to get out there... though attempting nighttime pix without a tripod (I have one but to find it!) is always dicey... and also today is the first day that I my body has decided to ease up on the achy/sore legs and back... ah Father Time!
UPDATE: Well, here's a pic:

I fooled with my camera settings (night option, "fireworks") and even used a tripod... but still couldn't quite get a picture to my satisfaction... trust me it looks better in person! Can't quite seen the green on the main "island" but at least you can't miss the new 11-foot tree!

Bitch! You just waited until you saw my lights so you could outdo me! ;-)
(Well done nonetheless. Can't wait to see them.)
Posted by: Scott-O-Rama | Thursday, December 07, 2006 at 06:19 PM
Very impressive!
Posted by: Kenneth | Thursday, December 07, 2006 at 08:13 PM