I really hope The Filters Work,Christmas To Me

[Trainer Monkey]

My mom had had another nervous breakdown.It cost her her gig at Spinlon, this time they werent taking her back. Now I knew where she hid my Christmas Presents, so I allways knew what I was getting. Well for obvious reasons there wasnt much to crow about as it were. But there was a blue deck of Bycicle playing cards just like my Great Grandmother taught me to play Solitaire with before she passed away.
Now Il admit, for a few years before shed gotten sick, her boyfriend had been pretty wealthy, and really did love me, we still occaisionally talk, so Id been pretty spoiled, but more or less, that was it this year.Some candy and a deck of cards. At first(advance warning and all), I moped about, thinking how this Christmas was going to suck, and kept sneaking peeks hoping against hope that there was going to be something else in there.
Christmas comes, and Im stomping out like Im heading to Nuremburg, and I ordered those showers, and there it is, a half empty stocking and not much else.But I looked at my mothers fearful worried eyes, and Christmas made a lot of sense to me then. So I made a huge deal about how all I really wanted was a deck of cards, and how happy I was with them.Spent Christmas morning playing Solitaire.
I think in her heart she knew I was so full of shit I reeked, but the look of parental relief on her face to think that she hadnt failed her little boy, was a better gift then anything you can put a bow on.

Before Alaric was born, we had a tradition of helping out at a shelter.One year we decided to help at this Hispanic one in East Allentown.Barely a storefront. Before we went down to it, we both just flat out gorged ourselves on cheesesteaks at a local Pizza joint.Im dressed as my normal slob self, my jeans have holes on their holes. We work at the shelter most of the day. Helping this family who barely spoke English get the dishes from the van, and organising the clothes that were being given to the homeless.
But there wasnt anything but laughter and joy in that little church/shelter.We left just as food was being served, even though that family took one look at me and offered us food and clothing, and it took me awhile using a combination of English and my really horrible Spanish to explain that we werent homeless we had just come to help out.
I guess to a degree they learned to not judge a book by its cover(but I no longer wear pants with my ass hanging out)
And both of us Leslie and me, saw that theres a joy in helping others, even if you have the decency to not watch them enjoy the fruits of your labours
Charity isnt cutting a huge check, and it isnt watching expecting some personal gratification
Charity is just doing what you know is right and when your done, youve done what you were supposed to do

Im not a Christian, but I really do love Christmas, it might not be cool, it might not be very punk rock, but the above is a large part of why.
Trust me Ill be weeping like a baby watching Its A Wonderful Life for the , well I dont know how many times, on Christmas eve, and you cant stop me.And if that doesnt jibe right with my image, I really dont fucking care, and if you want to make fun of me for that Ive got a real special sleigh you can ride

[No Contest]

CC Man, thats the true spirit of Christmas. Good story.

[Trainer Monkey]

[img width=700 height=532]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/HisRevness/HPIM035223.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=532]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/HisRevness/HPIM03362.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=532]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/HisRevness/HPIM03352.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=532]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/HisRevness/HPIM0328.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=532]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/HisRevness/HPIM03233.jpg[/img]
Images from our season

[Kel]

Your a gentleman TM
Happy new year bro, thats pretty heart warming shit.

[Munkymagic]

You know what mate, i almost feel like a complete kunt for starting that thread about you accusing you of not being genuine.

I said almost

Nice stuff TM. CC

[Trainer Monkey]

cc's all around
I got to spend time with the people who matter most to me through the holiday season.
I dont know what else you could ask for in life

[Sugar_Shaw]

Great, great story. That IS Christmas

[Trainer Monkey]

Great, great story. That IS Christmas

cc back
I view Christmas as the one day out of the year,where you can remind yourself of all thats good and right about yourself
And if you can pull that best version of yourself off for one day,maybe you can pull it off for more then one day
Its a special chance you get once a year to redeem yourself in your own eyes,wether you blow it or not is your own call

[superheavyrhun]

Awww, FFS TM, I only just looked at this, but that's the second time you've managed to catch me out and making me actually think that Christmas isn't just a bullshit festival where rich people buy their kids mini porsches and PS3's to play on the 50" plasma in the bedroom.

CC you though, you're closer to the real christmas than the kid with the mini porsche.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Excellent Story, Thats exactly the way it should be.

[Trainer Monkey]

I dont claim any moral high ground,I teach people how to punch each other more effieciently
On top of that Im the lead singer of a punk band that makes Green Day look like ABBA
But I understand a very important moral imperative
Human kindness is more likely to beget human kindness then anything else
I dont need much kindness,but some people do
If what I wrote,all of which is true,inspired anyone in any way,go do something nice for someone who needs it,for no other reason then because you can.
You would be absolutely amazed how good that feels

[ono]

My mom had had another nervous breakdown.It cost her her gig at Spinlon, this time they werent taking her back. Now I knew where she hid my Christmas Presents, so I allways knew what I was getting. Well for obvious reasons there wasnt much to crow about as it were. But there was a blue deck of Bycicle playing cards just like my Great Grandmother taught me to play Solitaire with before she passed away.
Now Il admit, for a few years before shed gotten sick, her boyfriend had been pretty wealthy, and really did love me, we still occaisionally talk, so Id been pretty spoiled, but more or less, that was it this year.Some candy and a deck of cards. At first(advance warning and all), I moped about, thinking how this Christmas was going to suck, and kept sneaking peeks hoping against hope that there was going to be something else in there.
Christmas comes, and Im stomping out like Im heading to Nuremburg, and I ordered those showers, and there it is, a half empty stocking and not much else.But I looked at my mothers fearful worried eyes, and Christmas made a lot of sense to me then. So I made a huge deal about how all I really wanted was a deck of cards, and how happy I was with them.Spent Christmas morning playing Solitaire.
I think in her heart she knew I was so full of shit I reeked, but the look of parental relief on her face to think that she hadnt failed her little boy, was a better gift then anything you can put a bow on.

Before Alaric was born, we had a tradition of helping out at a shelter.One year we decided to help at this Hispanic one in East Allentown.Barely a storefront. Before we went down to it, we both just flat out gorged ourselves on cheesesteaks at a local Pizza joint.Im dressed as my normal slob self, my jeans have holes on their holes. We work at the shelter most of the day. Helping this family who barely spoke English get the dishes from the van, and organising the clothes that were being given to the homeless.
But there wasnt anything but laughter and joy in that little church/shelter.We left just as food was being served, even though that family took one look at me and offered us food and clothing, and it took me awhile using a combination of English and my really horrible Spanish to explain that we werent homeless we had just come to help out.
I guess to a degree they learned to not judge a book by its cover(but I no longer wear pants with my ass hanging out)
And both of us Leslie and me, saw that theres a joy in helping others, even if you have the decency to not watch them enjoy the fruits of your labours
Charity isnt cutting a huge check, and it isnt watching expecting some personal gratification
Charity is just doing what you know is right and when your done, youve done what you were supposed to do

Im not a Christian, but I really do love Christmas, it might not be cool, it might not be very punk rock, but the above is a large part of why.
Trust me Ill be weeping like a baby watching Its A Wonderful Life for the , well I dont know how many times, on Christmas eve, and you cant stop me.And if that doesnt jibe right with my image, I really dont fucking care, and if you want to make fun of me for that Ive got a real special sleigh you can ride

CC pal

heartwarming stuff

and the bit in bold made me laugh.

[Trainer Monkey]

Ono I can only go so long with out dropping a cuss word and a mean euphanism,your talking about someone who got inspired by art and got it tattooed on his left bicep(this is actually true,I have one of the watches from Salvador Dali's The Persistence Of Memory tattooed,and my next piece is going to be a back piece originally by Arthur Rackham)