bah humbug

Due to Stu's work schedule, the crazy weekend coming up for Thanksgiving, and Emmy's birthday soon thereafter, we got a smidge of a headstart on the Christmas decorating (or pulling out of boxes all over the house, that is).  Last night we decided to put up just the tree.  Well, we got all the parts together and plugged it in and..................about 1/2 of the lights work in random places.  Awesome.  After messing around with fuses and lightbulbs for what seems like hours, we gave up.  What a way to kill the spirit, huh?