Wednesday, December 23, 2009
My Home-Made Christmas Cards
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
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
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






