Showing posts with label santa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label santa. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

My Home-Made Christmas Cards

Yet another post for the HBDC Christmas Carnival...



If you have never before visited my blog, ("The Attic",) then WELCOME!!! But if you have been here before, you have probably gleaned the fact that I really dig my Photoshop Program...
A LOT!!!

This has always been the case, by the way, long before The Attic was started. And Christmas time presents me with an opportunity to share some of my Photoshopping with friends and relatives, (and the obligatory peripherals,) through the use of Christmas Cards.

Oh yeah, I've been making my own for a few years now. And No! It's not because I am a stingy bastard who refuses to buy cards, but because I actually enjoy making them. Here is a small collection of cards from years past and future featuring me and the missus...

"Angels" - Christmas 2007


"Kringles" - Christmas 2008

"South Park" - Christmas 2009


Some aborted and unfinished runner-ups for this year's card, (and maybe in the running for next year!):
"Misfits" - Aborted prior to caption or color smoothing.

"Misers" - Aborted due to clutter and difficulty in finding a really snappy caption!


So, pick a card, any card. Consider it mine to you and have a Merry Christmas!




And a special "Thank You" to Lunki and Sika for turning me on to the South Park Character generator! God Jull, Guys!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Irresponsible Christmas Lyrics

Another posting for the HBDC Christmas Carnival...



So, I was down the pub last weekend, and I heard that God-awful “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” song. I always found it annoying, but it made me think of another Christmas song, one from my childhood, and prompted me to pen a concern...


When I first heard “I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” I was too young to get the irony and hidden subtext; I took the thing at face value. And it was this, this, “child’s perspective” that presented a problem for me.


You see, my dad was a cop. He was an old-school hard-ass and carried a gun and a nightstick with him to and from work. So when the line the goes, “What a laugh it would have been, if Daddy had only seen Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night,” I did not relate. In fact, I was pretty sure that if my father saw my mother sucking face with Saint Nick, the old man would have drawn his revolver and blown the jolly one to Kingdom Come, (or, at very least, done a dance on bearded face with his baton!)



What’s the connection? GLAD YOU ASKED!!! I think it is time for Christmas songs to be a bit more responsible, lyrics-wise! I always harbored an image of Santa as a home-wrecking playboy slipping into houses and helping himself to other men’s “cookies and milk,” so to speak. When I heard the newer Christmas song, even though when it came out I was old enough to know it was a tongue-in-cheek tune, I realized that there might be some child who heard it and thinks Father Christmas pulled a hit and run fatality!


It is time that we stop the flagrant abuse of lyrical content in Christmas Songs! We are scarring our children's images of Saint Nick. This is our damned legacy, for pity’s sake!!!



Thank you. Soap box is closed.


Monday, December 21, 2009

Another Misfit Elf

A little something for the HBDC Christmas Carnival...

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Real Life #10


Originally published, (By ME!) in the Salem State Log, December 3, 1992!




Saturday, December 12, 2009

'Letter to Santa' Saturday


The following is "Part 2" of a campaign that I had waged to correct a long-standing injustice; namely, the removal of my name from Santa Clause's "Naughty List," put there years before, obviously due to some clerical error, and not through any fault of my own. This communiqué attempted to address Mr. Clause as an equal, to appeal to his fabled sense of right and wrong. As one can plainly see from the provided document, even the law supports me on this...



December 3, 2007

Dear Santa,

Last year, (and many years prior to that,) I, and countless others, wrote to you with a list of preferred items for Christmas. As always, you seem to ignore the list of items and gave out whatever you chose to dispense, presumably the overstocked items in your Elvin sweatshop, er, workshop. One can only imagine the number of children, and/or gift recipients that awoke on the 25th, hoping and expecting the items they requested, only instead to find your alternative gift ideas.


As this is the age of litigation, and you seem unable to change your irresponsible ways, I am forced to pursue legal action in order to correct this path of public indifference that you have displayed for so long. The following is a copy of the unspoken, understood agreement as prepared by my legal counsel.



AGREEMENT FOR SERVICE

Between the party of the first part, Christopher Toler, Swampscott, Massachusetts, USA, (the “Service Provider”)

And the party of the second part, Santa Claus, Santa’s Workshop, North Pole, Arctic Circle, (the “Service Contractor”)


1. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES. The Service Provider, Mr.

Toler, agrees to provide the Service Contractor with services

consisting of:

a. An observable pattern of “good” behavior, as evidenced

by a lack of legal infringements, practicing of proper and

considerate manners, assistance provided to others on a

regular basis, respectful mannerisms towards others, and

completion of all assigned chores/work, both household

and within the workforce, to include bedroom cleanliness,

taking out of the trash, lawn maintenance, (if applicable,)

and general non-messiness.

b. A list of desired presents provided within a timeframe

appropriate for preparation and fulfillment of same.

c. Fresh cookies and cold milk upon completion of

agreement.

2. PAYMENT FOR SERVICES. The Service Contractor, Mr.

Claus, agrees to reward the Service Provider with specific

preferred items requested in writing at the end of the term of

agreement.

3. TERM. The service agreement begins on 12:01 AM, December 26, and is concluded at 12:00 AM,

December 24 of the following year.


As you can plainly see, as described in the agreement, you are clearly delinquent in fulfilling your end of this contract.

However, I have been advised to allow you to make reparations outside of the courts, as this flagrant neglect of responsibility could have serious negative ramifications for your livelihood, your reputation and the holiday you represent, Christmas.

To avoid a class action suit between you and me, as well as every unwanted-gift recipient in all of Christendom, you must retroactively honor your end of our agreement and get me ALL of the gifts that I have requested in the past, but did not receive, including the Bob Long Intimidator paintball gun, a 1974 Huffy 3-Speed Cruiser Bicycle, (with sissy-bar banana seat and flame decals,) an ‘H.R. Pufnstuf’ lunchbox with matching thermos, a pair of ‘Six-Iron’ cap guns with a hundred roll of caps, and the gyro-powered Evel Knievel Daredevil Stunt Cycle.

Full list to be sent certified mail in 3-4 business days.


Yours truly in hoping to find a resolution,

Christopher Toler


Monday, December 7, 2009

Saturday, December 5, 2009

'Letter to Santa' Saturday

Four years ago I began a campaign to right a long-overdue wrong. A victim for doings outside of my control, I petitioned for forgiveness, acceptance and understanding. Apparently my pleadings fell upon deaf ears. I submit now for perusal, (and sympathy,) the single-sided correspondence that haunts and taunts me this time of of year. But remember, you need not judge me in order to sympathize.

And if, in any way, this letter touches your heart, please feel free to mention my name in your own letter to St. Nick.

Thank you,

Your humble author, Chris



December, 2006


Dear Santa Claus,


By this time, I am sure you have made your list, and maybe even checked it twice. My name, no doubt, is filed under the “Naughty” heading, yet again this year.


Since you are known to be a reasonable man, I appeal to your sense of righteousness. I’m the victim here. I am not naughty by choice, I was made naughty by society!


In my impressionable youth, peer pressure to fit in made me behave a certain way that may have jeopardized my good standing on your list but earned me some “street-cred” in my neighborhood. Popularity had a strong appeal. After all, realistically, what good are gifts with no friends to share them with?


Then along came girls. The media had created the “rough-and-tumble rogue”, the play-by-his-own-rules rascal with a heart of gold. Han Solo, Fonzie, Vinnie Barbarino, Starsky and Hutch! Bucking convention with their own tough-guy style, but yet possessing a strong moral compass to guide their way.

Would you give Han Solo a lump of coal?!?!


Then came the rock bands. Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Ozzy. The bad-boy image was the only way to get into the really hot-chicks pa..., uh, hearts.


These were not my rules, I only obeyed them. Society is to blame. The media should get this year’s lump of coal! I should be rewarded for my ability to adapt to such a demanding lifestyle! I should be compensated for my years of empty stockings for no other reason than following the examples put before me!


You are a reasonable man, so I know you will see it my way. To assist you in making amends, I have provided you with a list this year.


For Christmas this year, I would like:


- A new paintball gun with 4000 rounds of ammo,

- 200 plastic spiders,

- a black ski-mask,

- a new keg-erator, fully stocked if possible,

- a foreign passport, preferably to a non-extradition country like Argentina,

- a skateboard and 50 foot tow-rope,

- 8 cans of black spray-paint,

- fireworks,

- 12 cases of shaving cream,

- and one of those little lasers that you shine on movie screens or people’s privates.


Thank you, Santa, and Merry Christmas

Chris



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