Outdoor Lighting: What to do with extra 10 feet?

[Celeval]

So I'm stringing some Christmas lights around my (apartment's) outdoor porch/balcony. First time doing it, and it looks decent enough, nothing fancy.

After I finish stringing, I've got about ten feet of extra lighting, lit at the end; that I'm not sure what to do with. I can't take a bulb out - they're done in strands, and I'd lose about 5' of the end of the lighting if I take out a bulb.

Anyone with more experience know how to hide 10' of lights? Right now they're in a (hidden) cardboard box, but I don't think that's the best idea, fire-hazard wise. I imagine there are replacement bulbs that keep the electrical loop but don't actually light; but that's 10' of lights to buy which might get expensive.

Any tips and tricks from someone with more experience?

[Franklinnoble]

Do you have a pair of scissors and some electrical tape?

[Celeval]

I do, but not much experience using them on wiring.

[Swaggs]

Sounds like we need a dynasty.

[oliegirl]

Can't you just "double back" with the extra? I doubt it would be very noticible that 10 feet of your house has double lights....

[Celeval]

Well, it's just the balcony of the apartment - probably only 60'-70' of lighting total, so it'd be noticable. That was actually my first thought.

[oliegirl]

Is there a pillar or something on the end you can wind them down? Or...flip the over the balcony and string them on the inside of the balcony - this way no one will see them except you...

[Swaggs]

Wait a minute. Aren't you married now?

You should not be in charge of thinking about how or where the lights go, just in charge of hanging them.

[cthomer5000]

I almost can't believe I'm reading this.

[Dutch]

Just because the malls started playing Christmas music does not mean we have to blindly obey the commercialism and put our lights up. When did waiting till after Thanksgiving go out of style anyway?

(Dreading having to hang lights up as I am going to be a rookie this season...)

[kcchief19]

I tell the ladies I don't cut mine in half for nobody.

Hmmm ... I think I missed the point of this thread.

[Flasch186]

im laying in bed, w/ laptop, playing poker, watching MNF and my GF is in the other room working on the tree, lights, and crap. setting the pattern baby!! :)

[Cap Ologist]

spray paint the extra one black. cover them with duct tape.

[stevew]

I would suggest going back and loosening up everything, to use that extra 10 feet up. Also, it seems to be a better idea if you string from the end of where you want to go to, instead of stringing to the end and realizing that you have extra.

[Anthony]

if you only have an apt. balcony what would possess you to get so much lighting that you would have 10 feet worth of extra lights? 10 feet of wiring in and of itself is a lot of lights - how long did you get it that you could not only cover your entire balcony but have a spare, say, 10 FUCKING FEET!

i suggest you take the extra 10 feet, wrap it around your neck and jump off your balcony. if the initial jolt doesn't break your neck - you always have the option to suffocate to death.

you're a moron. you shouldn't be living on your own without supervision.

[Swaggs]

if you only have an apt. balcony what would possess you to get so much lighting that you would have 10 feet worth of extra lights? 10 feet of wiring in and of itself is a lot of lights - how long did you get it that you could not only cover your entire balcony but have a spare, say, 10 FUCKING FEET!

i suggest you take the extra 10 feet, wrap it around your neck and jump off your balcony. if the initial jolt doesn't break your neck - you always have the option to suffocate to death.

you're a moron. you shouldn't be living on your own without supervision.

Dude! WTF is your problem?

The wire would never hold his weight. He would probably just fall and cripple himself if he did that.

Wouldn't a better idea be to plug them in and take them into the bathtub?

[Anthony]

i like your style, man.

[sovereignstar]

if you only have an apt. balcony what would possess you to get so much lighting that you would have 10 feet worth of extra lights? 10 feet of wiring in and of itself is a lot of lights - how long did you get it that you could not only cover your entire balcony but have a spare, say, 10 FUCKING FEET!

i suggest you take the extra 10 feet, wrap it around your neck and jump off your balcony. if the initial jolt doesn't break your neck - you always have the option to suffocate to death.

you're a moron. you shouldn't be living on your own without supervision.
Dude, I don't think I've ever laughed at anything you've ever said. But this was pretty good.
:thumbsup:

[sterlingice]

Just because the malls started playing Christmas music does not mean we have to blindly obey the commercialism and put our lights up. When did waiting till after Thanksgiving go out of style anyway?

(Dreading having to hang lights up as I am going to be a rookie this season...)
I gotta agree. Only commies or nazis or something put up lights before Thanksgiving.

Wait a minute. Aren't you married now?

You should not be in charge of thinking about how or where the lights go, just in charge of hanging them.
Haven't you seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or any number of Christmas movies. Lights are a guy's purview.

SI

[Franklinnoble]

if you only have an apt. balcony what would possess you to get so much lighting that you would have 10 feet worth of extra lights? 10 feet of wiring in and of itself is a lot of lights - how long did you get it that you could not only cover your entire balcony but have a spare, say, 10 FUCKING FEET!

i suggest you take the extra 10 feet, wrap it around your neck and jump off your balcony. if the initial jolt doesn't break your neck - you always have the option to suffocate to death.

you're a moron. you shouldn't be living on your own without supervision.


And just like that, you've made this thread a classic. :D

If all else fails, just let the damned lights dangle off the balcony. Tie a plastic Santa to the end and paint a distressed look on his face. That ought to be a hoot with the kiddies.

[Buzzbee]

Or you could shove 'em up your ass and play Rudolph.

[Celeval]

Appreciate the comments, guys. Well, most of them. :-D

To, uh, answer HA's question, I've had the lights longer than the apartment - they would have fit last year's apartment just fine, but never got put up.

And, hey, guys - just because the lights are being hung before Thanksgiving (*cough* three days before), doesn't mean that they're getting turned on yet. We're visiting family on Thursday, and want to be able to switch them on when we get home.

Plastic Santa isn't a bad idea, though, there are a ton of kids in the complex. Hehe.

More serious note - anyone know if duct-tape around the lights to keep them dark is a fire hazard?

[Celeval]

you're a moron. you shouldn't be living on your own without supervision.
Yeah, uh, that'll certainly help your chances of pulling a trade for Tyrus Shaye in the offseason. :p