My Friend Jay's Cool Christmas Light Display

If you like holiday light displays (I mean, who doesn’t?), and if you live in the Omaha-metro area, then you should definitely check out my friend Jay’s display at his home in Council Bluffs, IA. 

Jay and I go way back. We became friends back in the mid-1980s when my family moved to a neighborhood north of Crossroads Mall, and I started attending Westbrook Middle School (which had been renamed “middle school” from “junior high” when they added 6th grade to the mix in 1984). 

There is a unique bond between Westbrook alums. It’s sort of hard to describe if you aren’t familiar with the history of Westside Community Schools in Omaha, but there was something special about that experience, and it seems to stick with those who attended the school back during that era. 

The nice thing about social media is that it gives you the opportunity to catch up with old friends. 

Each year, Jay dutifully posts about his musical light display. Last year, my wife, nieces, and I decided to check it out. 

We visited twice in 2016, and we’ve visited twice (so far) in 2017. It’s a fun new Christmas tradition for my family — and the cool thing is that the creator is someone Bridget and I know.

Jay was kind enough to come outside and see us on our most recent visit. He was sporting a blinking-light necklace, and served candy canes to our crew. 

He and I talked about the technology behind his display, and some of his plans for next year’s show. 

We also talked about how he does “Letters to Santa” during a portion of the display’s run each season, and has a drop box ensconced by the display.

I love creative efforts by hobbyists, and the days and weeks that go into the setup of these sorts of light displays is mind boggling. 

I’m happy there are people like Jay willing to invest that time to spread a little holiday cheer each season. It’s definitely the thing I look most forward to each Christmas. Be sure to check out his display if you’re touring lights this week:

Abbott Family Christmas

3425 6th Avenue

Council Bluffs, IA

Here is a video I took of the “Amazing Grace” portion of Jay’s display. My sincerest apologies for the “low volume level” — I was standing outside of the car when I recorded it, so the music from Jay’s low-power radio signal wasn’t as loud as if I’d been in the vehicle. The total show runs 15 to 20 minutes. 

(Also... you can hear my nieces Julia and Lauren giggling in the background):

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Let There Be Light

My wife will tell you that I am kind of obsessed with lighting. 

Close to a decade ago, I swapped out all the incandescent light bulbs in our home for lower-wattage CFLs (compact fluorescent lights).

The reason is that I wanted to lower the electrical pull on the older fuse box running electricity throughout the house, and see if maybe we could save a bit of money.

We did lower our electrical use and saved money in the process.

The main issue with the CFLs is that the light produced by the bulbs hasn't necessarily had the same "brightness" as incandescent counterparts (and many models were slow to warm up). Other drawbacks include the fact that most I encountered weren't designed for fully-enclosed fixtures, and many weren't able to function with dimmers.

But, I liked the fact that they used about one-quarter the wattage of a comparable incandescent.

The issue facing consumers the past few years is that the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 essentially redefined efficiency standards for bulbs. The legislation phased out certain watt incandescent bulbs between 2012 and 2014.

The past 18 months I have been swapping out CFLs for the latest-generation LED lamps -- and recently completed refitting all fixtures with LED bulbs, other than a lone fluorescent tube light and lights in our closets (which aren't on enough to justify a pricier LED at this juncture). Thirty-six bulbs in total have been changed around our house -- covering the interior and exterior of our home.

These bulbs use one-half to one-third the energy of the CFLs (in most instances).

The lumens (total quantity of visible light emitted) is vastly superior to the CFLs, and they are "instant on" in nature.

You can buy LEDs designed for fully enclosed fixtures (which includes 10 fixtures in our home), and there are many dimmable models available.

Couple quick things to keep in mind:

1. Warm-colored bulbs have a color temperature of 2700k to 3000k, so look for that on the packaging. Cooler-colored bulbs (meaning "bluer" light) tend to have a temperature closer to 5000k. 
2. While the "lit part" of LEDs tends to be cool to the touch, the aluminum base (heat sink) can get hot. The efficiency in LED bulbs comes from the fact that energy isn't lost to infrared heat (as it is with incandescents and fluorescents), but energy is still used to power the mechanics in the bulb.
3. Look for sales on bulbs. Many models are pricey, and it is a good idea to be patient and shop around.

I'll talk more about LED lamps in the future.

I can safely say that the overall quality of light in our home has improved significantly since the switch to LEDs -- things are much brighter (which is beneficial for 40-something-year-old-eyes).

The other advantage is that all 36 LED bulbs consume around 327 watts -- or the equivalent of about three of those old 100-watt incandescents.

Read yesterday's blog post: Food From a Really Nice Camper