Revised 2008 Display Mock-up

So, I forgot a few things on my last mock-up for the 2008 Christmas display. I forgot the 16 roof stripes and the manger...oops.

Now that roof stripes (which hopefully mimic piano keys) and manger have been added, I decided to play with a couple variations on other elements. the photo below is I think what represents the best alternative. Things I played around with include the palm tree bands, the color of the two clusters of small palm trees, and lighting around the front door entry-way.

Last year, the front door entry-way was pretty dark. To be overly dramatic...it looked like a black hole in the middle of an explosion of lights (!). so, this year, I'd like to somehow light the doorway while NOT inhibiting guests who tour the inside of the house. I might have to outline only three sides of the door...and not do the bottom because I'm fearful people will step on the bulbs all season long. Also, to do the small moon-shaped window at the top of the door, I guess I'll use black electrical tape to cover a few of the bulbs that lead down to the window. It shouldn't be that noticeable. I'm going to try to find blue lights with white wire (because the door is painted white). Walmart sells out of the white wire strands quickly, but I have extras from last year.

I still don't know how to wrap lights around the new shutters. I REALLY don't want to put nails in them, but I don't know any other way. Everything else I can think of will hurt the shutters. Last year, we had different shutters, but here's what we did.

2008 mockup

I worked on a mock-up of the 2008 animated display today. I only sepnt an hour on it, but I think it's shaping up.

I'm thinking we can do both the shutters and the window outlines this year. It seems we will have enough power. The question is "will I have enough time to program all those items." The large palms will be a challenge.

Must Maintain Order

I've been working all day on the excel spreadsheet for the '08 display, and I'm beginning to go a little crazy. Here's how it works and what the problems are...

We have 6 of these big gray power boxes installed in our house that we use only for Christmas lights. These gray power boxes (GPB) are simply large power strips that have little computers in them. Simple stuff.

Now, the way we make the lights blink to the music is by plugging the GPBs into a computer. Then, we use powerful software to control the lights and the music. We also use software to transmit our music over a local unused radio frequency (87.9FM). We spend our summers programming all the blinks to music we like. Simple stuff.

So, back to the excel spreadsheet. We use the spreadsheet during planning and set-up; right now, it's September and we're in the planning stage. We make a spreadsheet because we need to calculate how many amps will be running through each zone of the display at any given time during the show. Here's where my headache begins.

Given the sketch of how we want this year's display to look, I need to

• calculate how many strings of lights are needed
• calculate how many feet of extension cord is needed
• map out where the strings will lay in the yard so that they can all be plugged into one of the 6 boxes
• make sure that the lights are distributed evenly among the 6 power boxes
• calculate how much power the 6 boxes require to run all the lights

The only thing that's preventing a total meltdown is the fact that I can manipulate Excel really well. I feel better now. ;)

The National Christmas Tree

I'm in Washington DC this week getting ready to take a road trip down to Pensacola. It was H-O-T today. Those public water fountains that I usually steer clear of...were pretty refreshing today.

Got A New Christmas Annalee!

Jim and Cathy got us a new Christmas Annalee last month!

It's a set of gingerbread bakers on a baking sheet. These guys will be a great addition to the gingerbread scene that I think might be moved to the kitchen this year.
Photo: 2007 gingerbread portion of garage display

Bittersweet News: More lights for 2008

So, it's actually great news...we just got two additional controllers for the 08 season.

2007 season (above): 64 channels on 4 controllers

This year, we'll have 96 channels, which means I have to redo all the musical sequences which I programmed for 64 channels. Since each song took forever to program, I am hoping to begin this year's sequencing this month. I'm also hoping it goes a bit faster this year thanks to software upgrades and a year's worth of experience under my belt.

Oh yeah...John's not getting out of programming this year either. And my brother Joey, the Lead Engineering Elf (as his t-shirt says) will be doing his programming from the South Pole in Antartica. The good news is that he'll be able to provide real-time updates from the South Pole on Christmas morning.

This Year's Christmas Card

Just so I don't forget...I'd like to get our family dressed up in 60's clothes and take a pfamily photo in front of our silver tree for this year's christmas card.

Top Secret Experimenting for 2008

So, last year I found this new type of lighting on the internet. Then, I saw it on TV. Now, I'm seeing it on instructables.com. Next year, it will be in my Christmas display. Now, I've just got to figure out the coolest way to incorporate it. Don't spread the word.

Christmas Shutters for Our House

Here are the new pineapple (symbol for "welcome") shutters I'm making for the house. I'm also making wooden snowmen that will hang right over the pineapples during the winter. I guess they will be attached with a picture hanger. The existing purple shutters will be taken down.

We're getting the house painted and a tiki hut built during the next two weeks. I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself.

Lots of New Ideas for 2008 Display

My calculus and management final exams are tomorrow.

I'm dying to get back to my Planet Christmas Forums, connect with fellow enthusiast freinds, and finish some projects.

I just got an idea that I CANNOT let go. I come up with so many (good) ideas, don't write them down, and lose them forever. Not this one. I'd like to hide a series of mini scenes in the garage display. They might be behing plexi glass or behind tissue paper. I'll put a few leds in each mini scene, then rig up the lights to a few remote controls.

Another idea...I'd like to build a scene that resembles the entrance to our development. We have a tall stucco fence covered in creeping fig (Florida version of ivy), a row of 7 large palm trees, a few stop signs, and two magnolia trees. Then, I'd like to build a replica of our house that will match the tropical village (my 2008 pet project). Our house will be easy to build because it's a basic, boxy Florida home. It's recognizable because of the off color scheme (purple/gray).

I'd like to get sand, great stuff exapndable foam, and that faux sandy-textured spray paint for the tropical village. I'd really like to have a water feature, but I'm scared to have water in the garage. I'm sure we can figure out some other laternative to real water.

Received a couple new Annalees from John recently. Had a few good finds at the local Goodwill last Saturday. More to come after final exams!!!