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Conference 7.286::home_work

Title:Home_work
Notice:Check Directory (6.3) before writing a new note
Moderator:CSLALL::NASEAM::READIO
Created:Tue Nov 05 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2100
Total number of notes:78741

907.0. "Holiday Decorations" by YODA::BARANSKI (Oh! ... That's not like me at all!) Thu Dec 24 1987 14:53

What kind of preparations should be taken to accomodate eight reindeer and a
sleigh on the roof, and a jolly old elf, and a sleighload of presents slifing
down the chimney?

Jim. :-) 
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
907.1Are you sure he is going to stop?HPSVAX::SHURSKYA ghost when Xmas is past.Thu Dec 24 1987 15:014
    I don't know.  It depends on your roof.  Mine is plenty strong for
    such a landing.  I just hate cleaning up all the #$$%@%^*&^%^&&**&
    reindeer sh*t.  You would think the FAA would have a regulation
    about reindeer diapers or pooper-scoopers wouldn't you?
907.2Try a 30-06.FREDW::MATTHESThu Dec 24 1987 15:258
    If I've had my in-laws over for Christams Eve and I've slid into
    the sack about 1-1:30 AM and he shows up about 2-3 AM ...
    
    my preparations are a 30 06 with about a dozen rounds of ammo.
    
    Otherwise, everything's OK.  He and his reindeer decide to come
    visit the hard way - through the roof I just put that on my Christmas
    list IMMEDIATELY!!  He declines then I get the 30-06.
907.3CIMNET::LUNGERDave Lunger, 291-7797, MET-1/K2Thu Dec 24 1987 15:318
Evening checklist:

	o Open fireplace damper all the way.

I have two flues. I put up an arrow pointing to the fireplace flue...
would'nt want 'm going down wrong flue into the furnace or hot water
heater.

907.4Would *you* trust him?32288::CARRThu Dec 24 1987 16:0610
    Personally, I'd have a real problem with letting ANY old man into
    my house who wears a funny red suite, says "ho-ho-ho" a lot, plays
    with elves and likes to have little boys and girls sit on his lap
    and whisper in his ear, while he laughs and promises them candy and 
    toys.
    
    Hmmmm.....
    
    And some of trust this man?
    
907.5Jus' try and go to sleep earlyCAMLOT::JANIAKThu Dec 24 1987 16:3015
    Now let me see......hhmmmmnnn as far as a checklist:
    1 - leave Christmas lights on ALL night, can't depend on his sleigh
    tripping the infrared beam aimed at the driveway
    2 - leave carrots for the reindeer, milk for Santa.  That way they're
    much more careful when landing and taking off the roof.  (Sort of
    like leaving a six-pack of beer once a year for the trash-men -
    saves the barrels.)
    3 - clear the path from the fireplace to the tree.  Don't want him
    to trip and then be sued for negligence.
    4 - take off the chimney cap (forgot this one last year and found
    it strewn over the backyard (or maybe that was the raccoons last
    summer...)
    5 - go to sleep early.  Really, REALLY try hard to go to sleep so
    that morning will come early, and, an...heck I might as well work
    on this one now.....ZZZzzzzzzzz                                     
907.6Santa exists!CHESS::KAIKOWThu Dec 24 1987 19:257
re: 1824.4

Beware!

Last night, on TV, I saw a show that proved that Santa exists!

Don't get him mad at you.
907.7Holiday Decorating note.HYEND::C_DENOPOULOSMen Are Pigs, And Proud Of It!Mon Oct 08 1990 15:1220
     Now that the holidays are upon us, maybe it's time for an official
holiday decorating note.  Of course, I wouldn't start this topic if I
didn't have questions.  :^)

I have many, no, make that MANY feet of little indoor/outdoor lights to
put up for Christmas.  Most of the sets are 100'.  On the front of the 
house, I want to run these up the side, across the gutter, and down the 
other side.  Also, around the door and around the windows.  Now, for a couple
of questions.

1. What should I use to hang these with on the vinal siding?
2. What should I use to hang these with on the aluminum gutters?  Or, should
   I be hanging them under the gutter on the wood facia(sp)?
3. How come I see houses that have lights that start and end exactly in the
   right spots?  I'm sure there must be some extra at the end.  What do they
   do with it?  Is the answer obvious and I just can't see it?  If I need
   35' to go around my picture window, I know I'm not going to find a set
   of lights 35'!!

Chris D.
907.8hanging Christmas lightsRGB::SEILERLarry SeilerTue Oct 09 1990 02:5130
If you have wood trim around your window, you can screw in little hooks
to hang the wires on.  Or install small finish nails.  If you paint the
nails/hooks the same color as your window trim, they'll be nearly
invisible.  If I had vinyl coated window trim, I'd probably content myself
with a nail at each corner.

Same for running lights along the eaves -- except that you can probably
make the nails/hooks even more inobtrusive by putting them into the
facia under the eaves.  That assumes that your facia extends vertically
down from your soffit a little bit.  The lights themselves will dangle
down (no matter what you do) and be perfectly visible.

How to make the lights end at the right spot around a window?  Well, the
hard way is to hang the lights so that they are spaced closer together to
come out right.  The easy ways are to cut your string to length or to let
them end where ever they do and unscrew the lights from all the leftover
sockets.  That's assuming you have parallel connected lights (two
conductors run from each light to the next).  If you have series connected
lights, I'd recommend pitching them.  I'd also suggest putting electrical
tape over the empty sockets to keep rain/snow out.

Consider running an extension cord to a bush or tree and hanging lights
in that.  A rather pretty effect, I think, and not so geometrical as
outlining windows and rooflines.

	Enjoy,
	Larry

PS -- My outdoor Christmas light hanging experience was in California, 
I've never actually done it in New England.
907.9There's nothing like snow on Christmas lights.HYEND::C_DENOPOULOSMen Are Pigs, And Proud Of It!Tue Oct 09 1990 11:4438
>> The easy ways are to cut your string to length
    
    You mean actually "cut" them?  Snip snip??
    
>>  them end where ever they do and unscrew the lights from all the leftover
>>  sockets.  
    
    I have those miniature lights that are wired in series.  Take one out,
    they're all off.
    
>>  I'd recommend pitching them.  

    Pitching them??
    
>>  Consider running an extension cord to a bush or tree and hanging lights
>>  in that.  A rather pretty effect, I think, and not so geometrical as
>>  outlining windows and rooflines.

    I agree completely, except that I have no little trees or bushes yet. 
    The house is new and the land just recently developed.
    
    
    I went to Zylas auction last Sunday and WON one of those ~41" tall
    snowmen with the light in it to stick outside.  So, that will be out
    this year, right next to my old 5' tall Santa.
    
    Chris D.
    
    p.s. BTW, Zylas is open again in Londonderry N.H. and the bargains are
    back.  I got a 14 or 16 piece (I can't remember) wrench set going all
    the way up to 1 1/4" for $10.00.  Great deal, even for non-brandname
    wrenches.
    
	Enjoy,
	Larry

PS -- My outdoor Christmas light hanging experience was in California, 
I've never actually done it in New England.
907.10Special Clips AvailableRAVEN1::RICE_JYour Advertising Message Here - $5Tue Oct 09 1990 13:558
    I have seen special clips (they are usually in the same sections of
    stores as the light strings) that you attach to the path of the light
    string (they will attach to gutters, eaves, window sills, etc,).  
    You leave the clips in place for the next year after you take the 
    lights down.  Not a bad idea if you are planning to decorate the same
    way for several years.
    
    Jim
907.11Try using dead bulbs...DEMON::DEMON::CHALMERSSki or die...Tue Oct 09 1990 15:2810
    re:.2
    
    It's true that some miniature sets won't light if a bulb is missing,
    but be aware that some of those sets will remain lit if a bulb simply 
    burns out.
    
    You might try replacing the bulbs in the 'excess' sockets with bulbs
    that have failed. It just might work.
    
    Freddie
907.12RGB::SEILERLarry SeilerTue Oct 09 1990 20:109
If you have a parallel (2 wire) light set, yes, you can cut the string
anywhere, provided that you properly insulate the cut ends.  Personally,
I don't ever want to deal with series (1 wire) lights again.  Even if
burned out lights don't darken the whole string, there's still the case
of lights that are loose in their sockets, and hence darken the whole
string.  But regardless, don't try cutting a 1 wire string short.

	Enjoy,
	Larry
907.13KAOFS::S_BROOKOriginality = Undetected PlagiarismTue Oct 09 1990 20:1714
>   <<< Note 3996.0 by HYEND::C_DENOPOULOS "Men Are Pigs, And Proud Of It!" >>>
>                         -< Holiday Decorating note. >-
>
>     Now that the holidays are upon us, maybe it's time for an official
>holiday decorating note.  Of course, I wouldn't start this topic if I
>didn't have questions.  :^)
>
>I have many, no, make that MANY feet of little indoor/outdoor lights to
>put up for Christmas.  Most of the sets are 100'.  On the front of the 
    
    Well, you could always do it a la National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
    with those lengths of strings !  :-)
    
    Stuart who probably just added nothing but a smile to this note :-)
907.14You got a smile outta me.HYEND::C_DENOPOULOSMen Are Pigs, And Proud Of It!Wed Oct 10 1990 14:235
    Stuart,  When the season was over last year and the stores were running
    sales on Xmas stuff REAL cheap, I bought 5 sets of 100 lights  I could
    almost do what they did on National Lampoon.  :^)
    
    Chris D.
907.15KAOFS::S_BROOKOriginality = Undetected PlagiarismWed Oct 10 1990 17:365
    Just don't forget to turn on the switch ...
    
    And no drafting!
    
    Stuart
907.16EasyPOCUS::SEARLTue Oct 16 1990 17:013
    Rent the Chevy Chase movie, Christmas Vacation, for a great how-to
    video on stringing Xmas lites.
    
907.17VMSDEV::PAULKM::WEISSTrade freedom for security-lose bothTue Oct 16 1990 18:388
If you want to see unbelieveable Christmas lights, there's a house in Windham,
NH that you ought to check out.  It's a big old 3 or 4 story Victorian, part
of an old mill site.  They generate all their own electricity with a generator
set up on the dam.  They need it too - I can't remember exactly how much 
electricity their Christmas lights draw, but it's in the neighborhood of 300
amps.  It's just north of route 111 on route 128.

Paul  
907.18SASE::SZABOWed Oct 17 1990 16:149
    There's also a house in Lawrence, MA that's famous for it's lights.  If
    I remember correctly, they were up to 70K lights!  These people started
    doing this well over 20 years ago, adding more lights each year.  It
    takes them from Thanksgiving to put them all up.  Their electric bill
    for December is over $400!  Offhand though, I don't know the address,
    but every year, the Lawrence Eagle Tribune features this house, as well
    as others......
    
    John
907.19OverkillSALEM::DODAFryar &amp; Dykes : Twin GeeksWed Oct 17 1990 16:536
The Aleci house. It's just off the Marston st exit off Rt 495. 
Across the street from the Victory Chevrolet. 

You can see it from the highway.

daryll
907.20Santa, can you please pass the Coppertone? :-) SASE::SZABOThu Oct 18 1990 16:3120
    Yeah, that's the one!
    
    What's funny is a couple of years ago, I took my kids there.  There's
    always a Santa in the yard giving out candy and a "wishing well" for
    donations to some kids' charity....  Anyway, after visiting Santa, we
    leave, walking by the outside fence which is also lit up with lights. 
    My then 4 year old boy with the typical tendancy kids have to touch
    things as they walk by, touched the fence, and just as I said not to
    touch the fence, the lights went out on half the house!  I don't know
    if he caused this or it was just coincidence, but needless to say, we
    just kept going!  We drove by 20 minutes later, and they we're feeding
    the electric company in full force!
    
    Re: Overkill
    
    Yes, it is overkill, but it sure is neat when you don't have to pay for
    it!  And, there's just so many lights that you can almost feel the heat
    generated by them..........
    
    John
907.21There's probably more, don't know if U can tellSALEM::DODAFryar &amp; Dykes : Twin GeeksThu Oct 18 1990 17:125
Hawk,

They're up year around and they just keep adding to them....

daryll
907.22no electric billBTOVT::CACCIA_Sthe REAL steveThu Oct 18 1990 19:583

    a stolen photocopy of the grinch stuck to the refrigerator.
907.23IMGAWN::SZABOFri Oct 19 1990 12:2511
    Must be another house in the Lawrence/Methuen area that I'm thinking
    about that the Tribune wrote how the owners start stringing the lights
    at Thanksgiving.  About a mile or so away from this house (near Victory
    Chevrolet) is a group of houses in a nice, old section of Methuen (I
    think), just over the Lawrence line, near the mall.  They also do quite
    a job with lighting, especially one corner house which also has a live
    Santa for the kiddies.......
    
    My house gets about 300 lights in front, that's it!
    
    John  a.k.a. Hawk
907.24Why not just declare the *whole year* the holiday season?STAR::BECKPaul BeckFri Oct 19 1990 17:354
>    Now that the holidays are upon us, maybe it's time for an official
>holiday decorating note.  ...

    What? Was I asleep? Is it December 20th already?
907.25OAW::MILLER_PAAs in Time...Miller TimeTue Oct 23 1990 15:595
    re. N.L's Christmas Vacation...
    For those of us who don't have the *extra* time to rent movies, what
    does Chevy Chase do with the Christmas light???
    
    Someone_who's_got_to_know_!!!
907.26exBTOVT::CACCIA_Sthe REAL steveTue Oct 23 1990 16:1710
907.27DIY for the Guy in The RED SUITBIGQ::GARDNERjustme....jacquiWed Dec 21 1994 17:4012

    This note is to discuss ways for that guy in the Sleigh to 
    handle different housing styles and what can be done to make
    his life easier one night out of the year.  Any good DIY 
    tips to pass onto the old gent?  He has quite a task ahead
    of him in a very short period of time and needs all the help
    he can get!

    Thanks in advance.

    justme....jacqui
907.28QUARK::LIONELFree advice is worth every centThu Dec 22 1994 00:013
    Tell him to watch out for air shredders.
    
    				Steve
907.29I hope he comes to my house before yours!MSE1::SULLIVANThu Dec 22 1994 10:5826
>
>    Tell him to watch out for air shredders.
> 

Steve,

I don't know what the tradition is in your house... but in ours it is
always a MAJOR part of our Christmas Eve activities to remove the air
shredder.

The whole family will gather around the hearth while Dad reaches into the
flue to remove the shredder.  Everyone oohhs, aaahhs, and clapps when
he finally pulls it out.

He always told us it was very dangerous as the build-up of air pressure
might cause the whole house to collapse.  But he figured it would be ok
for one night, as long as he put it back first thing in the morning.

I'm really looking forward to this Christmas Eve.  Dad's getting on in
years.  This year he's going to let me remove it!!!!

Do you really leave yours in????  WHY DON'T YOU JUST LIGHT A BLAZING FIRE
AND FRY HIS BUTT WHILE YOU'RE AT IT!!!!   :-)

						Mark

907.302516::KILGORESurvive outsourcing? We'll manage...Thu Dec 22 1994 11:298
    
    We like to drive around the neighborhood during the first big storm
    after Christmes, look for waterspouts out the chimneys. Ya got'ta
    remember to put those air shredders back in after the big day.
    
    I'm surprised Home Improvement hasn't worked this into their
    Christmas show.
    
907.31QUARK::LIONELFree advice is worth every centThu Dec 22 1994 11:437
    Well, actually, I'm ashamed to admit it but I don't have an
    air shredder.  I've been making do with a coffee mill (the chopper
    type) rigged up in the fireplace with the button taped down.  I
    figure the guy in the suit can just nudge it away with his toe
    when he comes in.
    
    					Steve
907.32cleaning fluidSMURF::WALTERSThu Dec 22 1994 12:428
    
    I recommend that he carries some cleaning fluid to remove battery snot.
    That's the sticky gummy white fluid that leaks from old batteries.
    I figure that this stuff must get all over the sleigh by the end of the
    night as most toys have a label that says "batterysnot included".
    
    
    
907.33;*)BIGQ::GARDNERjustme....jacquiThu Dec 22 1994 14:159

    Mark,

    Doesn't that make you feel *old*?

    justme....jacqui

    p.s.  Maybe an ADULT then!