Doing things that feel "good"

[Roadtrip]

When we bought our home, I remembered all of the years my mom would take my sis and I out to look at Christmas light displays.

I wanted lights. Lots of lights. We started small. Adding a few lights here and there until we had our house wrapped in about 10k lights, fully animated to Christmas music, and three power circuits installed and dedicated to lights.

Last year we invested in LED lights that were from a reputable person on one of the major Christmas light forums we belong to, but almost immediately we had problems. Lights defective out of the box. We finaly got everything installed and hooked up, but the first time it rained, we realized the sealed lights were NOT sealed and collecting water-- which dosn't mesh well with electricity. For days after rain or snow the lights were iffy and mostly dysfunctional.

We asked the dealer what might be done. We were asked if we wanted to return them and we said when the weather is better, yes. Long story, but it was icy and we couldn't get the lights down until after Christmas, so when when had the lights down we contacted the company to arrange the return.

Again and again we made contact and no response. When they finally did respond, the warranty is expired, so they are not going to assist or accept a return at all now. They told us the warranty started when THEY placed the whole-sale order (2009) for delivery in 2010, which is bs, but still out the $800 for the light order.

They offered new lights at there whole sale cost, but these new lights are MUCH more expensive, not to mention I'm not about to give this dealer another dime.

I comes down to this... I attempted to do something joyful and fun for the Christmas season, and while it was hard work, I secretly felt lots of joy when I saw someone outside watching the light display

Now I feel so dejected and I don't know if I'm even up to trying ot scramble around now to even put lights up. We don't have money to replace the LED lights and going back to standard lights means we loose the animated show.

I guess my rant here is to try and get some input and see what others thought. I'd hate to go completly dark and have NO lights, but I don't even know if my heart is in it.

Shannon

[Bethany1]

I love Christmas lights but I don't have power outlets outside. My decorating skills are crap so my inside lights look strung up funny with wrapping paper tape along the windows. The suction cup thingies don't work. LOL. Plus it doesn't help that most lights suck right out of the box regardless of price or company meaning you buy twice as much. It's a conspiracy.

Use this a chance to start over with something different with your Christmas lights. People will love anything you do from the simple to the most complicated configurations. Once you get started on the design process you'll heart will get back into it and you'll be having fun.

It just really sucks getting burned from a company who sold you faulty lights when you had grand plans set out to use them. Don't let one company ruin your Christmas fun.

Dang. It is that much closer to Christmas once I looked at the calendar. I just realized with two cats, my fake ugly tree probably won't make it this year. LOL. If my house wasn't so small, I'd kill for a real tree with all the trimmings. I'm a sucker for Christmas trees. I love seeing them in the windows of houses.

I was just excited to find a Jim Shore Nativity set last year. I've always wanted a nice set and this was perfect.

[Roadtrip]

Heres a video from two years ago...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO2TPD3MFPM&sns=em
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3PWvdS9cj0&sns=em

[nscrbug]

Just looked at the videos...WOW! That's pretty cool! You guys did a great job.

[ny biker]

There are Christmas light forums??

[GLC1968]

OK, I've never seen one of these displays in real life, so I have a question. Do the songs play out loud all the time? Like on a loop or something? And if so, doesn't that get really tiresome?

I do have to say that your display is really impressive. I don't have any advice, but wow...that is some serious dedication!