http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226 If you went by what's in stock at stores, you might forget Thanksgiving before Christmas. While the commerce world may be ready to sell lights and ladders, holiday lights aren't up on homes quite yet.&nbsp; We're getting ready to create a map of Bakersfield's lighting creations.&nbsp; When do you start decorating?&nbsp; Do you have a plan, or will you wing it?&nbsp; Tell us where to look for your lights and we'll add you to our map. E-mail your address to mczarnecka@bakersfield.com or post it in the comments below.&nbsp; We'll only use it plot your lights on the map. If you went by what's in stock at stores, you might forget Thanksgiving before Christmas. While the commerce world may be ready to sell lights and ladders, holiday lights aren't up on homes quite yet.&nbsp; We're getting ready to create a map of Bakersfield's lighting creations.&nbsp; When do you start decorating?&nbsp; Do you have a plan, or will you wing it?&nbsp; Tell us where to look for your lights and we'll add you to our map. E-mail your address to mczarnecka@bakersfield.com or post it in the comments below.&nbsp; We'll only use it plot your lights on the map. en-us Thu, 09 Nov 2006 13:37:06 PST Decorations go up the day after Thanksgiving, <strong>never</strong> before. We have that Friday off for a reason, and it isn't to sleep in after going to Valley Plaza's 1am super sale spectacular. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38954 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38954 Decorations go up the day after Thanksgiving, <strong>never</strong> before. We have that Friday off for a reason, and it isn't to sleep in after going to Valley Plaza's 1am super sale spectacular. Christmas? Again?<br /> Geez... http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38976 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38976 Christmas? Again?<br /> Geez... mattloch - Wow, you sound pretty intense about it.&nbsp; Do you decorate the same way every year, or switch it up?<br /> <br /> <br /> robbwillis- I know, it sneaks up on you, doesn't it? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38988 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38988 mattloch - Wow, you sound pretty intense about it.&nbsp; Do you decorate the same way every year, or switch it up?<br /> <br /> <br /> robbwillis- I know, it sneaks up on you, doesn't it? Well, I just never take them down! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38989 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38989 Well, I just never take them down! I've got items that go in &quot;regular&quot; spots (tree into window, bubble lights in cubicle, etc.), but there's always new things, and different places to set items.<br /> <br /> But I'm not militant about Christmas items; no, I'm a Christmas militant in that I hate stores that start playing Christmas music around Halloween, decorate their display windows with Christmas trees in September, on and on. I shop for Christmas gifts all year round so that the bank account doesn't get depleted in December; I don't need to be reminded that Christmas is coming up. Let me worry about Halloween and Thanksgiving as they come up. I don't need four months of Christmas.<br /> <br /> And it's coming earlier each year. Last year the Hallmark store in the mall had their ornaments set out at the end of July (they waited until October this year). It's getting to be like car models- they should be introducing the '08 models by February next year. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38991 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_38991 I've got items that go in &quot;regular&quot; spots (tree into window, bubble lights in cubicle, etc.), but there's always new things, and different places to set items.<br /> <br /> But I'm not militant about Christmas items; no, I'm a Christmas militant in that I hate stores that start playing Christmas music around Halloween, decorate their display windows with Christmas trees in September, on and on. I shop for Christmas gifts all year round so that the bank account doesn't get depleted in December; I don't need to be reminded that Christmas is coming up. Let me worry about Halloween and Thanksgiving as they come up. I don't need four months of Christmas.<br /> <br /> And it's coming earlier each year. Last year the Hallmark store in the mall had their ornaments set out at the end of July (they waited until October this year). It's getting to be like car models- they should be introducing the '08 models by February next year. If it's my turn to have Thanksgiving at my house, I'll decorate that week. If it's at someone else's house, I'll do it the weekend after Thanksgiving. I love decorating for Christmas, it makes me cheery. Maybe I should leave them up all year! I do hate that the stores are pushing Christmas before Halloween, it makes me start counting the shopping days and number of paydays until Christmas! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39015 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39015 If it's my turn to have Thanksgiving at my house, I'll decorate that week. If it's at someone else's house, I'll do it the weekend after Thanksgiving. I love decorating for Christmas, it makes me cheery. Maybe I should leave them up all year! I do hate that the stores are pushing Christmas before Halloween, it makes me start counting the shopping days and number of paydays until Christmas! I do it on the first weekend in December. I love holiday lights, and Christmas stockings. Must have Christmas stockings for little goodies. I'm pretty sure Jesus would have wanted it that way. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39112 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39112 I do it on the first weekend in December. I love holiday lights, and Christmas stockings. Must have Christmas stockings for little goodies. I'm pretty sure Jesus would have wanted it that way. <font size="7">Bah Humbug!<br /> <br /> </font><font size="1">Can't wait til December 26th...</font> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39133 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39133 <font size="7">Bah Humbug!<br /> <br /> </font><font size="1">Can't wait til December 26th...</font> The first Friday in December is when my tree traditionally goes up.&nbsp; It goes back to the days of having to wait until payday to buy the tree.&nbsp; And never do use a fake tree.&nbsp; A couple of trees in my back yard are actually former Christmas trees.&nbsp; My mom has a huge tree in her back yard that you can see from the front that was one of those tiny pre-decorated desk trees a lot of people throw away.&nbsp; That darn thing has to be trimmed back regularly or it would take over the whole yard! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39139 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39139 The first Friday in December is when my tree traditionally goes up.&nbsp; It goes back to the days of having to wait until payday to buy the tree.&nbsp; And never do use a fake tree.&nbsp; A couple of trees in my back yard are actually former Christmas trees.&nbsp; My mom has a huge tree in her back yard that you can see from the front that was one of those tiny pre-decorated desk trees a lot of people throw away.&nbsp; That darn thing has to be trimmed back regularly or it would take over the whole yard! I can't wait for them to start showing Christmas movies on tv. Some of my favorites are: Gremlins, Die Hard 1 and 2, Lethal Weapon, The Ref, and a few others that escape me at the moment. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39143 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39143 I can't wait for them to start showing Christmas movies on tv. Some of my favorites are: Gremlins, Die Hard 1 and 2, Lethal Weapon, The Ref, and a few others that escape me at the moment. Nothing like a good blood and guts movie to bring out the holiday spirit, hey mattloch.&nbsp; My favorites are a little more traditional, It's a Wonderful Life makes me cry every year and it's not Christmas with out A Christmas Story and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.&nbsp; Who hasn't had a holiday like the Grizwald's old fashioned family Christmas?&nbsp; Good ole Uncle Eddie.&nbsp; Every family has one. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39147 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39147 Nothing like a good blood and guts movie to bring out the holiday spirit, hey mattloch.&nbsp; My favorites are a little more traditional, It's a Wonderful Life makes me cry every year and it's not Christmas with out A Christmas Story and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.&nbsp; Who hasn't had a holiday like the Grizwald's old fashioned family Christmas?&nbsp; Good ole Uncle Eddie.&nbsp; Every family has one. <font size="2">Christmas lights are pretty until January 2nd! Then I hate them. Some people put up holiday decorations then leave them up till July. Ticks me off.<br /> Our two neighbors across the street still have droopy pumpkins in the yards and a scarecrow/witch ?? something hanging from the tree. Just stupid lazy.</font> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39175 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39175 <font size="2">Christmas lights are pretty until January 2nd! Then I hate them. Some people put up holiday decorations then leave them up till July. Ticks me off.<br /> Our two neighbors across the street still have droopy pumpkins in the yards and a scarecrow/witch ?? something hanging from the tree. Just stupid lazy.</font> <font size="3">I</font><font size="3"> agree with everyone who pukes when they see Christmas stuff out in September in the stores.<br /> I hate the use of the term &quot;Xmas&quot; in any context.<br /> I don't do outdoor lights any more, but I admire people who do! It's festive.<br /> I put my tree up whatever wkend falls around Dec 18 but decorate my home a little before then.<br /> We have always played certain traditional Christmas music in my family. Luckily, most of this stuff has made it to CD's; other stuff (say, a great album by The Welch Chorale) is gone forever. <br /> I take everything down and put everything away right after New Years.<br /> In these ways,&nbsp; I don't get overloaded, at least in my own space.</font> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39181 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39181 <font size="3">I</font><font size="3"> agree with everyone who pukes when they see Christmas stuff out in September in the stores.<br /> I hate the use of the term &quot;Xmas&quot; in any context.<br /> I don't do outdoor lights any more, but I admire people who do! It's festive.<br /> I put my tree up whatever wkend falls around Dec 18 but decorate my home a little before then.<br /> We have always played certain traditional Christmas music in my family. Luckily, most of this stuff has made it to CD's; other stuff (say, a great album by The Welch Chorale) is gone forever. <br /> I take everything down and put everything away right after New Years.<br /> In these ways,&nbsp; I don't get overloaded, at least in my own space.</font> Christmas for kids is ok, but&nbsp; any obligatory &quot;shopping&quot; for another adult is long gone for me. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39350 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39350 Christmas for kids is ok, but&nbsp; any obligatory &quot;shopping&quot; for another adult is long gone for me. In Bakersfield we put lights up so we won't be the only house without, usually the first week in Dec. At our other place our neighbors ask me last week if I needed help putting my Xmas lights up.&nbsp; They have theirs finished.&nbsp; So, I went to Wal Mart, bought lights to keep the neighborhood happy.&nbsp;&nbsp; I don't really mind. They turn their lights on the day after Thanksgiving. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39357 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/HolidayLights/5226/#c_39357 In Bakersfield we put lights up so we won't be the only house without, usually the first week in Dec. At our other place our neighbors ask me last week if I needed help putting my Xmas lights up.&nbsp; They have theirs finished.&nbsp; So, I went to Wal Mart, bought lights to keep the neighborhood happy.&nbsp;&nbsp; I don't really mind. They turn their lights on the day after Thanksgiving.