(I thought I had replied to this post this morning already??) 
Thanks!.. appreciate the example of 'walking' through the shift approach...
I see you just broke up the last group (which only has 4 leds in it) in its own 'function/snippet'...
is that the best approach?
can I ask what my code had wrong with that approach/code? I cant seem to find the error? on why it had that 'bug' at the end of the count down......
Just curious to learn from it.
Once I get this down comfortably.... I need to move into 'functionalizing' (<--- is that even a word? haha).. these different 'effects/patterns' into its own function... and being able to switch form pattern/function to pattern/function by button press..etc..
so I make it the led strip (cirlce)... light up at once... stepping, consecutively in lighting each led... chaser/larson effect..
starting at the middle, and lighting up to both ends..etc..
Im trying to get things working here.. but either my attempts at hybrid code (yours and mine) dont work right.....or even just trying your alone throws errors all over.