Go Ahead: Judge Your Neighbor

Everyone who truly loves Christmas also loves to see neighborhoods decked-out in true holiday spirit.  As we walk/drive/sleigh through each year’s winter wonderland of lights, we see homes with decorations that fill us so full of Christmas Spirit that we could swear we are one carol away from bursting.

ChristmasLights

Every season, Heidi and I make it a point to take a few evening walks around our neighborhood and check out the Christmas lights. A number of years ago, we started talking about the specific things we liked and the things we didn’t like about the decorations we saw, and eventually we came up with an unofficial scoring process.  This year, we decided to make our scoring method “official” and share it with the world.  Get your free scorecard, and start judging your neighbors’ yuletide prowess tonight:

Scorecard

Obviously, this is meant as fun way to look at one of America’s favorite holiday past times, so don’t come Grinchin’ to me if you see something on the deductions list that you make a yearly part of your holiday decor ( unnecessary blinkage will always be a deduction).  If you think of something that I have omitted, please leave a comment and I’ll see about adding it to next year’s scorecard.

Merry Christmas!

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  • Jeff

    Great post, here are some I think of…

    Extra Credit:
    +2 Homeowners who have blatantly added a decorative component to a part of the home meant only to be seen while passing by from a road. Typically, a series of lights or illuminated objects in the back of the home on the roof facing said street or road.

    Automatic Deduction:
    -2 If colored coach lights are not colored and on at the same time as the Christmas lights.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/MichaelSGray MichaelSGray

    I agree with your extra credit idea, Jeff. Perhaps that could fall under the Extra Effort Bonus. And the standard coach lights on while the rest of the lights are burning…I think I'll have to deduct 2 points from my own score. Guilty. o/

  • Rodger Russell

    Michael and Heidi, I want to see a picture of your house decorated for Christmas. My experience is the critic is usually someone who doesn't play or is past their prime. So lets see it. How may points on your house? And in my book, Lumanirias are the trump decoration. Since they are to light the way of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, they are essential in my book.

  • Michael Gray

    Rodger, the fact that you know my mom should tell you that I have some degree of Christmas decorating prowess. But since you called me on the carpet, I’ll have to be honest and say that we definitely don’t score as high as other homes — though we do not commit any of the deductions.

    Here is the typical Gray Family house at Christmas (this is from a few years ago, we now have red and white bulbs instead of the colored ones). Simple, yet festive:

    Also, I completely agree that luminarias should be listed under extra credit. I haven’t seen those in years. It’s a shame that people don’t use them anymore.

  • Mom

    Hee Haw Michael!! I love this! This is the best! Although, I must admit that we didn't do as good a job this year as in past years . . . . BUT it's all Dad's fault! He said he totally panicked at the thought of climbing all the way up that ladder and putting lights on the roof! Remember, last year we paid someone to do it. So – since I have been so down on my back lately, and I can't climb up ladders, I'll have to receive an unacceptable score. Also, I'm not really thrilled with what I do have up. AND to top it off . . . . . . (oh no!) I have a fake tree! I feel sick . . . .

  • juan

    haha, did you actually make up that scorecard? awesome!

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