21,000 Xmas lights coordinated with music

SANTEE, Calif., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A California sailor who spent hours coordinating his 21,000 Christmas lights with a song said the elaborate display is a tribute to his late father.

Michael Balasz of Santee, a petty officer in the Navy, said he spent six to eight hours programming the lights for each minute of the song, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

"I have to tell every 112 channels when to turn on, when to turn off, fade, whatever. I have to tell it every second of every song. That's why it takes so long. So too much egg nog, or just enough," Balasz said.

Balasz said the display is a tribute to his late father.

"If he was standing here right next to me, he'd be very happy. Christmas was his season. He just loved it, and I just remember he lit our house bright. When he passed away, I knew that's what I had to do," Balazs said.