Christmas Lights Spectaculars:
the story of Richard Holdman

It all started small in 2005 and by 2007 Richard Holdman was using over 45,000 lights and taking 8 hours to program 60 seconds of music to choreograph his spectacular Christmas lights display. This year the attention and crowds his family home attracts are collecting donations for the Utah Make-a-Wish foundation.

Holdman Christmas News Story 2009

Holdman Christmas Lights, News Story 2007

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman 2008 – Holdman Christmas Display from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells – Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Carol of the Bells

Carol of the Bells – 2008 Holdman Christmas Display from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace Techno – Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland 2008 – Holdman Christmas Display from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Hanukkah 2009: Day 4

Al Hanisim

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Original composition of classical song:
Performed/Composed by Chris Leap, NoEvil Productions
producer: Kat Caverly

Blessings on the 4th Day of Hanukkah, while lighting the Hanukiah.

Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony in Niagara Falls

Selected Tweets Kat Caverly @Greetums

Selected Tweets @Greetums 121309

42 Days of Gratitude: Day 16

I am grateful that I allow myself to enjoy life just like a child.

Today was the third day of Hanukkah and the music set my soul flying! And then it started snowing; big fluffy flakes for about an hour and I was in the kind of good mood that transcends time.

It is the simple acts of celebrating and being grateful, finding the good in all things that makes a life that makes me SMILE!

Hanukkah 2009 – Day 3

On this sweet third day of the 2009 Hanukkah celebration I present:

Ner Li

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original composition performed by Chris Leap, NoEvil Productions
produced by: Kat Caverly

Today I got chocolate coins; imprinted with the image of a JFK half-dollar, 1972. That was a very good year! We lit the third candle of the Greetums.com Hanukiah: Hanukkah menorah at sundown EST and started to make sweetpotato and apple latkes for dessert.

“Put on your yarmulke it’s time to celebrate Hanukkah…”

Not too Shabby!

42 Days of Gratitude: Days 13, 14 and 15

Day 15: I am grateful for celebrating Celebrating!

Day 14: I am grateful for discovering Hanukkah.

Day 13: I am grateful for my sensitivity and that I am strong enough to be vulnerable.

In the last three days I have opened myself up totally to learning how to celebrate new things. My goal is to someday be able to celebrate every day.

Hanukkah 2009 – Day 2

A song for the second evening of Chanukah:

Alalu
original recording by composer Chris Leap, NoEvil Productions
producer: Kat Caverly (for Greetums.com)

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prayer: light the Hanukiah (Hanukkah menorah)

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.
(via Chabad.org)

The Top Ten Reasons
I wish I were Jewish

Happy Hanukkah

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original recording of Sevivon, short version
Chris Leap composer, NoEvil Productions
producer: Kat Caverly

Reason #10: I love clarinet music.

Reason #9: I love potato pancakes.

Reason #8: I love the Three Stooges.

Reason #7: To be really funny it helps if you’re Jewish.

Reason #6: Yiddish is a form of poetry.

Reason #5: Santa is Jewish. HOra HOra HOra

Reason #4: I love everything Matzo.

Reason #3: the Marx Brothers!

Reason #2: Did I say that to be funny it helps if you’re Jewish?

and Reason #1: Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah

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original recording of Sevivon, short version
Chris Leap composer, NoEvil Productions
producer: Kat Caverly

42 Days of Gratitude: Days 12 and 13

Monday was a day of sleep deprivation which led to more pain from my herniated discs. There is a value to pain. It was a reminder to take better care of myself. I never could do without at least 7 hours of sleep. But Sunday night I had a rare episode of a problem getting to sleep, and I really don’t know why.

The 42 days of Gratitude experiment is primarily to establish the habit of being grateful every day. On Monday I was grateful that I knew what to do to take care of my back and that led to a glorious sleep of almost 10 hours and that was what I was grateful for on Tuesday. SLEEP, glorious sleep.

I awoke totally revived, feeling strong. One more therapeutic dosage of ibruprophen and 20 minutes of ice, and I was able to drive for over two hours without pain. So these two days I am grateful that I know what to do to stay healthy and happy, and that I actually do it. I expect some pain in my life. I expect that no matter what I do I will occasionally have to deal with my herniated discs putting pressure on various nerves. But I know what to do to relieve this and I am committed to keeping my muscles strong and do whatever it takes to walk through life.

It has been almost three weeks since I started practice gratitude and saying thank you for all my daily blessings. Being grateful on Thanksgiving always makes that day wonderful, so I ask can I make everyday wonderful by being thankful and expressing it every day? I say YES but it takes time and practice to create habits, but I do find myself thinking about gratitude every day, even if I don’t write about it.

This Christmas BE the Tree.

Holiday Shirley photo by Thomas Hudson Reeve

Every year I look forward to unwrapping each and every one of my ornaments. They each are like little presents; bringing back memories of past holidays and the special people who have added to my collection. Nothing makes me happier than a Christmas tree ornament. So far I have around 150 ornaments and it takes me around 4 hours to unwrap them all. Delightful!

Photo of Kat Caverly by Thomas Hudson Reeve 1984

I have two collections. One for my big tree and another minature ornament collection for my “Little Christmas” tree. The little ornaments go on a small live evergreen which is brought indoors for only one day, which is of course “Little Christmas”, January 6th, otherwise known as the Celebration of the Epiphany. January 6th was also the day that Christmas was celebrated in the Roman calendar.

Shirley decorate and photographed by Thomas Hudson Reeve

Although I really love a real evergreen, I am saddened to kill one of the most beloved symbols of hope of this season. So this year I am only going to have my tiny live Christmas tree.

Historically there had been opposition to the use of Christmas trees because of their pagan origin. And oddly the trees were first hung from the ceilings of German homes and the presents were ON not under the trees. However I do love the tradition of decorating with lights at this time of the year that turns the world into a festival of lights and magic.

Shirley had something else in mind when she suggested going out and getting lit this Christmas!