I'm with the "Scrooges" in this story. We used to have a guy who decorated like this back home and I'm glad he wasn't my neighbor.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119810213850540481.html
There is a local guy here in the Sacramento area that had big light displays in unison with loud music. He got a lot of attention, but this year there were enough complaints that he didn't put it up. One neighbor said that the street was so congested, it took her 30 minutes to get to her house from down the block. In situations like that, call me Scrooge, too.
I think the whole xmas thing is just tacky, especially people lighting up their homes that way. I'm glad I don't live in a street where that happens. One block of units across the road has one apartment with a big verandah that has lovely coloured lights strung across the railings. It's beautifully done and doesn't blink so it doesn't get in anyone's way. They are the only place that has lit up this year in my street.
I would hate to live in a neighbourhood where nighttime looked like daylight because of all the lights. Other suburbs around the place go mad. The local tv station nightly news runs a competition every year. They even have buses you can take on a tour :buggedout: There are prizes and everything.
A girl I used to work with lives with her pensioner mum. Her mother saves all year for the final power bill so they can tacky up their yard. I haven't seen it, but it sounds like a nightmare *lol*
Still, thank goodness it's only once a year.