NO ONE can say that folks hereabouts are a bunch of Grinches.

At least, not when it comes to Grand Holiday Displays.

Once again, I asked readers to help me find the best and most brightly decorated houses in the region, and you came through in a big way.

Through the cutoff yesterday at 9 a.m.--that's right, no more nominations will be accepted--more than 100 homes were suggested for inclusion in the list of the area's most eye-popping displays.

I'll be out through Thursday night, making the rounds to survey the houses and see which homes make the cut.

In years past, I was glad to include every house nominated.

But as the area has grown over the 14 years I've produced this list, it's become impossible to include everyone.

If we tried, the list would be so long it would overwhelm readers who use it to do bright-light cruising during the holidays.

To keep the numbers manageable, I'll be looking this week to see the truly special houses with so many lights, so many decorations in the yard or some other extra "Wow!" element that makes them naturals.

One thing I ask of those nominated: Leave your lights on at least until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday this week.

Even though I start each night at dusk, I'm usually still cruising around until about 11.

That's partly because each year--and this year is no exception--homes are nominated from Colonial Beach to Bealeton, from North Stafford to Orange.

Though I have to discard nominations that are just too far off for many readers to see, I try to include all eye-popping houses that readers could get to without trouble.

Though the logistics of calculating each night's route has gotten more difficult than it was when I started, scooting to every corner of the region at the end of each year continues to be an experience.

For one thing, it underscores the diversity of our region.

When I get into Garrisonville, the challenge becomes negotiating all the twists and turns in and out of subdivisions, at the time of day when traffic is getting its worst.