Anybody else get driven crazy by Christmas lights?

[Texastaxi]

I refuse to do it, but every year at this time my bride is driven to near insanity trying to get all her lights working again. Sad part is, they were bought NEW last year, hung for a month, taken down working and placed in a storage tote ... to be pulled out and NOT work this year!

These are just the plain small indoor/outdoor lights. I'm sure we'll end up buying more, just like we do every year.

Has anyone used the LEDs? Do they work for more than a year?

[BrandonA]

I get aggrivated every year. I just figure that 50% ain't going to work and they go into the trash. After Christmas I go on a buying spree and load up on lights. My wife thinks I'm crazy but me and the little one like it.

[lonestar8839]

Just got all new LED. They seem to be working great. I havnt blown any fuses yet, so its looking good. My wife thinks we need to have 50,000 lights on the house. I will prob like the energy bill better this year with the LED. Usually my bill is higher in December than August.

[TexasBob]

I was impressed with the LED last year. Haven't gotten them up this year though.

[Texastaxi]

I was impressed with the LED last year. Haven't gotten them up this year though.

Well, get them out tonight and see if they all still work.

[glen]

spent about 14 hours this weekend putting out Christmas lights but I kinda like it.

[Jason Slocum]

LED's

I'm getting out the LED's from last year and hoping they will work. I'll post up the results tonight! Jason Slocum

[jerp]

I'm about to start the annual ritual myself. The steps go something like this:

1) Go in the attic and pull down the 10 lighted wreaths we hang on the the windows that face the street

2) Plug them all in to test

3) Utter first cuss word of the Yuletide season

4) Try to decide if I should try to convince my wife to blow off the decorations for this year.

5) Go to WalMart and buy more lights.

7) Rewrap the wreaths and test them.

8) Second cuss word uttered.

9) Back to WalMart to exchange lights that don't work.

9) Finally get all wreaths working

10) Borrow extension ladder from neighbor

11) Get reminded that my balance is not what it used to be as I climb 30 feet up with a wreath in my teeth so I can use both hands on the ladder

11) Back to Walmart because I can't find the extension cords

12) Hey it works!

13) Swear I am going to either pay someone to do this next year or leave them up year round...

[tkuehn5410]

I do outdoor Christmas lighting in the fall, and we always have plenty of 100 and 50 light strands on hand to replace unworking strands. I used to spend thirty minutes trying to fix some strands, but have found that replacement, or putting more lights over the unlit sections work much better.

I forgot to add the first time: LED lights rock. Zero maintenance and I haven't had a strand go bad yet or have to play electrician trying to lighten the loads on sockets and finding circuit breakers and GFI plugs.

[Texastaxi]

LOL, I can relate, Jerp ... here's my sequence (your's modified)

1) Get conned into standing at the base of the attic stairs to catch the totes as my bride heaves them out of the hole in the cieling.

2) Watch her plug them all in to test

3) She frowns, I mutter a few choice words about her die-hard devotion.

4) Try to convince my wife to blow off the decorations for this year.

5) Suggest she go to WalMart and buy more lights.

7) Get drug to WalMart ... definately not part of my plan.

8) Watch her frown some more, I cuss some more.

9) This is your junk, you take them back to WalMart to exchange lights that don't work.

9) Con my Serbian neighbor (the one with the crushed granite yard that I hate) to come hang the lights on the second story because he's as nimble as a monkey.

10) Help the Serbian carry his ladder to and from my house.

11) Coach the Serbian on light placement in relation to extension cord routing ... from the ground of course.

11) Tap into my supply of "work" cords because my bride misplaced the "Christmas cords" that we bought last year.

13) Swear I am going to either pay someone to do this next year or leave them up year round

[jerp]

Sounds like I need a Serbian!

[Fishndude]

Here's my ritual........

1. Drink beer.....

2. Cuss at lights.....

3. Go to Walgreens......

4. Cuss at Walgreens employees....

5. Go home and cuss at lights......

6. Drink beer while hanging new lights......

[Bank Stalker]

What I put up only takes about 2 hrs. Me & kiddo doing it. I have bigger plans each year , but I never seem to get around to it.
wouldnt be Christmas at our house w/o some lights

[crittergitter]

I refuse to do it, but every year at this time my bride is driven to near insanity trying to get all her lights working again. Sad part is, they were bought NEW last year, hung for a month, taken down working and placed in a storage tote ... to be pulled out and NOT work this year!

These are just the plain small indoor/outdoor lights. I'm sure we'll end up buying more, just like we do every year.

Has anyone used the LEDs? Do they work for more than a year?

so what is SANTA really like????????????

[4R Daddy]

I was thrilled to notice my neighbor putting up lights yesterday. The way I see it, it would be selfish and rude to try to one-up him with lights on our house, thereby dampening his holiday cheer. At least thats the line I gave my wife. The jig was up when I threw up my arms in victory as he was dragging his tree into the house and I claimed it as the "neighborhood" x-mas tree.