Thursday, December 27, 2007
Santa Pics, Banana Girl & Christmas
Tradition time again, and Rich and myself have to go and get our picture taken with Santa. It started years ago in Saskatoon, and you can't break tradition. I was heading out of town on Friday, and we arranged to meet at his work (in the mall), and then get our pics taken, and I could hit the highway easily from the mall. I arrived just before 11 AM when the Santa castle opened up. We took a look, and the line up was already huge. Rich was like "I can't wait in line for that ... I just got to work". So I decided to wait in line, and call him when we would be close. It was about 45 minutes, and he came back. We got the pictures taken, and then went out the other side to pay for them, and this is where the commotion started.
There was a guy at the both complaining about the Santa pictures of his kid taken 2 weeks ago. Apparently the cuff of Santa's sleeve was showing as he was holding the baby, and this guy thought it wrecked the pictures. It was green, and really wasn't a big deal, but he was raising hell of it. He went on and on. The girls working the booth told him there was nothing they could do. When you get your picture taken, the show you on the computer, and ask it your are satisfied with it. It is company policy to not print the photos unless you give the OK. His girlfriend was the one who did the photos, and he said "Well my girlfriend isn't as smart as everyone else I guess". He kept going, and the girls told him he could call the head office of the company, but they would tell him the same thing. This had been going on for a few minutes now, and he was getting more belligerent. He even turned around and was like "Isn't this stupid, look at this photo, wouldn't you be mad". I looked right at him and said "Nope".
They asked him to call the office, as they couldn't doing anything, and now things started to escalate. He got angry and started to get insulting. He started calling them "bitches", and was getting really rude. He was like "It's my kids first Christmas, and his pictures with Santa are ruined". The one girl replied ... "Well if it was that important, maybe you should have been here for you child's first Santa pictures". Rich and I looked at each other and were like "YEAH! ... go girl!". One left to go call security, and he was even threatening, "I guess no one else is getting to buy pictures, cuz I'm not leaving until I get my money back". The fight was on, and they said they were now going to refuse to deal with him, because he was being so rude. He said something rude and something about them not having real jobs. I had had enough, and stepped in. "Well I have a real job ... and you are wasting _my_ time ... so MOVE IT ALONG!". He was ready for a fight, and turned his head around ... directly into my chest, then looked up to see the big guy staring him down. The punk changed his tune and cowarded back a bit and sheepishly said "well go ahead then ... if they'll help you".
Rich bought the photos, and security had showed up by this time, so we left. Before I went to hit the highway, I went back and talked with the girls. I left my card and cell number with them, and if they had any issues with the mall of their company they could pass along my information, and they thanked me. Security had come back at this point, and I told them that the guy was being obnoxious, and they girls were perfectly within their rights. They thanked me as well. For god's sake ... it's Christmas, kids are around, and you are calling Santa's elves "bitches"??!?!?! What a loser.
Along the drive back to Moose Jaw, I could feel my brain start healing from all of the scars over the last year. I left the laptop in Calgary, and had no internet anyways. I arrived around 8:00 P.M. and was bombarded by my sister's dog Georgia. She's a pug / beagle cross (puggle), and she is the most hyper active dog I have ever met. She's really like the dog from snatch that eats everything. I watched her destroy several toys over the vacation. And eat some strange stuff. Mom looked well, and Diana has been drunk for weeks (lol). She was at the bar, and phoned later in the night. I declined joining her, as I was tired from traveling. I was ready to relax, not go out. I talked with mom about all sorts of things catching up, and went to bed. The dog woke me up jumping all over me. Not fun ... and I was not used to it. I decided it was time Georgia learned to be zen. So I spent the next few days teaching her to just chill. We bonded pretty good, and by the last day before I left she was very open about joining me wherever I lay down, and just sleeping on me. Funny dog.
I did some shopping, and watched some movies Saturday. I met my sister and Dolly, and Jana down at the Casino for some drinks later in the night. We wet to the park afterwards. It was packed, and I felt like an old man. I recognized a couple of people, but didn't really "know" anyone. I did run into a couple of friends from high school near the end of the night, and chatted for a bit. I was getting tired, and went and found the girls. Dolly had left with Scott, and Jana was leaving. My sister said she was staying. I reminded her we were going to Regina in the morning. She assured me it was fine, so I offered Jana a ride home. She was like, you don't have to do that, I was like it's no problem. "But it's all the way to South hill". I started laughing. MJ is only 30,000 people. It takes me longer to drive to Rich's house in Calgary, than from Moose Jaw into Regina. So a 5 minute round trip to South Hill and back to Mom's house is not a problem. Small town mentality ... I'm just not used to it anymore. lol. So I pulled into the wrong drive way, and she was getting out, and said "Thanks Andy". "Anytime" Then she says to me "Do you remember my name?". I was like "I know who you are Jana". Then she says to me "Well most people forget my name, and I have to remind them ... you know ... it rhymes with banana?". It was the funniest thing I heard in weeks. Totally made me laugh. The funny Banana Girl. Diana and Dolly had a good laugh over it too.
Sunday we drove to Regina and took Grandma K out for brunch. We chatted, and had a good time with her. 85 years old, and still looks great! We drove back in the afternoon, and I had my plans changed on me Sunday night, and ended up keeping it low key. Diana was hanging with Dolly again I think. Xmas eve I did some last minute shopping, and then wrapped some gifts. Ted was working all day, but came over for diner that night. Meal was FANTASTIC, and I'm sooooooo full. Diana had been baking as well, and I scooped some cookies (triple chocolate somethings ... mmmmmmmmmmmm). We did the gifts and hung out. It was really really awesome. Later that night (midnight). Heath called me as he was in town now, and was finally free. He had been looking after his nieces and nephews because Matt's wife was sick, and the triplets were still really small, and should be around that. I picked him up and we went over to Kevin and Breann's house. We talked for hours, and had coffees and told the good old stories. At 4:30 I was like "I gotta go." I dropped Heath off at home, and made it back to the house just as Diana and mom were leaving for Regina. Diana was flying to Nova Scotia at 7 AM, so they had to leave. We said the goodbyes, and hugs. Then I went to bed. I drove back to Calgary later on Christmas day. I had a stop over at AJ and Kym's place and gave the kids their silly string (what a blast!). Then relaxed at home. Fell asleep during Ben-Hur. Today I have been feeling ill, and did nothing but sleep and watch TV, and play some poker. So A merry Christmas to everyone, and Happy New Year! ¶ 12:47:00 AM
There was a guy at the both complaining about the Santa pictures of his kid taken 2 weeks ago. Apparently the cuff of Santa's sleeve was showing as he was holding the baby, and this guy thought it wrecked the pictures. It was green, and really wasn't a big deal, but he was raising hell of it. He went on and on. The girls working the booth told him there was nothing they could do. When you get your picture taken, the show you on the computer, and ask it your are satisfied with it. It is company policy to not print the photos unless you give the OK. His girlfriend was the one who did the photos, and he said "Well my girlfriend isn't as smart as everyone else I guess". He kept going, and the girls told him he could call the head office of the company, but they would tell him the same thing. This had been going on for a few minutes now, and he was getting more belligerent. He even turned around and was like "Isn't this stupid, look at this photo, wouldn't you be mad". I looked right at him and said "Nope".
They asked him to call the office, as they couldn't doing anything, and now things started to escalate. He got angry and started to get insulting. He started calling them "bitches", and was getting really rude. He was like "It's my kids first Christmas, and his pictures with Santa are ruined". The one girl replied ... "Well if it was that important, maybe you should have been here for you child's first Santa pictures". Rich and I looked at each other and were like "YEAH! ... go girl!". One left to go call security, and he was even threatening, "I guess no one else is getting to buy pictures, cuz I'm not leaving until I get my money back". The fight was on, and they said they were now going to refuse to deal with him, because he was being so rude. He said something rude and something about them not having real jobs. I had had enough, and stepped in. "Well I have a real job ... and you are wasting _my_ time ... so MOVE IT ALONG!". He was ready for a fight, and turned his head around ... directly into my chest, then looked up to see the big guy staring him down. The punk changed his tune and cowarded back a bit and sheepishly said "well go ahead then ... if they'll help you".
Rich bought the photos, and security had showed up by this time, so we left. Before I went to hit the highway, I went back and talked with the girls. I left my card and cell number with them, and if they had any issues with the mall of their company they could pass along my information, and they thanked me. Security had come back at this point, and I told them that the guy was being obnoxious, and they girls were perfectly within their rights. They thanked me as well. For god's sake ... it's Christmas, kids are around, and you are calling Santa's elves "bitches"??!?!?! What a loser.
Along the drive back to Moose Jaw, I could feel my brain start healing from all of the scars over the last year. I left the laptop in Calgary, and had no internet anyways. I arrived around 8:00 P.M. and was bombarded by my sister's dog Georgia. She's a pug / beagle cross (puggle), and she is the most hyper active dog I have ever met. She's really like the dog from snatch that eats everything. I watched her destroy several toys over the vacation. And eat some strange stuff. Mom looked well, and Diana has been drunk for weeks (lol). She was at the bar, and phoned later in the night. I declined joining her, as I was tired from traveling. I was ready to relax, not go out. I talked with mom about all sorts of things catching up, and went to bed. The dog woke me up jumping all over me. Not fun ... and I was not used to it. I decided it was time Georgia learned to be zen. So I spent the next few days teaching her to just chill. We bonded pretty good, and by the last day before I left she was very open about joining me wherever I lay down, and just sleeping on me. Funny dog.
I did some shopping, and watched some movies Saturday. I met my sister and Dolly, and Jana down at the Casino for some drinks later in the night. We wet to the park afterwards. It was packed, and I felt like an old man. I recognized a couple of people, but didn't really "know" anyone. I did run into a couple of friends from high school near the end of the night, and chatted for a bit. I was getting tired, and went and found the girls. Dolly had left with Scott, and Jana was leaving. My sister said she was staying. I reminded her we were going to Regina in the morning. She assured me it was fine, so I offered Jana a ride home. She was like, you don't have to do that, I was like it's no problem. "But it's all the way to South hill". I started laughing. MJ is only 30,000 people. It takes me longer to drive to Rich's house in Calgary, than from Moose Jaw into Regina. So a 5 minute round trip to South Hill and back to Mom's house is not a problem. Small town mentality ... I'm just not used to it anymore. lol. So I pulled into the wrong drive way, and she was getting out, and said "Thanks Andy". "Anytime" Then she says to me "Do you remember my name?". I was like "I know who you are Jana". Then she says to me "Well most people forget my name, and I have to remind them ... you know ... it rhymes with banana?". It was the funniest thing I heard in weeks. Totally made me laugh. The funny Banana Girl. Diana and Dolly had a good laugh over it too.
Sunday we drove to Regina and took Grandma K out for brunch. We chatted, and had a good time with her. 85 years old, and still looks great! We drove back in the afternoon, and I had my plans changed on me Sunday night, and ended up keeping it low key. Diana was hanging with Dolly again I think. Xmas eve I did some last minute shopping, and then wrapped some gifts. Ted was working all day, but came over for diner that night. Meal was FANTASTIC, and I'm sooooooo full. Diana had been baking as well, and I scooped some cookies (triple chocolate somethings ... mmmmmmmmmmmm). We did the gifts and hung out. It was really really awesome. Later that night (midnight). Heath called me as he was in town now, and was finally free. He had been looking after his nieces and nephews because Matt's wife was sick, and the triplets were still really small, and should be around that. I picked him up and we went over to Kevin and Breann's house. We talked for hours, and had coffees and told the good old stories. At 4:30 I was like "I gotta go." I dropped Heath off at home, and made it back to the house just as Diana and mom were leaving for Regina. Diana was flying to Nova Scotia at 7 AM, so they had to leave. We said the goodbyes, and hugs. Then I went to bed. I drove back to Calgary later on Christmas day. I had a stop over at AJ and Kym's place and gave the kids their silly string (what a blast!). Then relaxed at home. Fell asleep during Ben-Hur. Today I have been feeling ill, and did nothing but sleep and watch TV, and play some poker. So A merry Christmas to everyone, and Happy New Year! ¶ 12:47:00 AM
