Topic: My Christmas Shopping list:

[Bonk]

I wanted to get a nice Christmas gift for my mother and grandmother this year, looking through the flyers today, I decided nothing material would do. It dawned on me that this is what makes a mother happy:

http://www.feednovascotia.ca/

$50 on behalf of each of them. 

I recommend you all make your wives and mothers very happy this year (she doesn't really want that power drill set you've been eyeing anyway!):

http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx

http://www.cafb-acba.ca/main2.cfm?id=107184A2-B6A7-8AA0-6E9C8A6A9610C72B

Christmas is all about family and the warm feeling of a full tummy, no one should be hungry, most of all at Christmas.

[Sirgod]

Good on you Bonk. I sent my donations to the Toys for Tots thing yesterday.

For my wife and psuedo mother who is staying with me, I decided to buy them brand new pillows, Blankets, sheets the whole thing.

For my youngest grandson, I got him that Fisher price toddler camera.

Still no idea on my oldest grandkid.

as for the kids themselves, hell if they wanted Christmas gifts, they shouldn't have given me Grandkids.

Stephen

[Capt. Mike]

Ah..Deb indulged me this year...

distortion, chorus and a wah wah..

Mike

[Grand Master of Shadows NCC37385]

Im giving gag gifts this year. I cut the fingers off a latex glove, rolled them up, and I am going to give them to my oldest nephew. There will be a card that says, "Here is your lifetime supply of condoms". Ive also taken a G-string to a local company that prints t-shirts and had them to print "my wife has my real genitals". Thats going to my brother-in-law. 

[Bonk]

A good laugh with family and friends is important too.    The prerequisite is a full stomach.

It is just in recent years however that inflation has hit the point where people can work hard full time at minimum wage jobs and once they have paid the rent, utilities and bus fare, there is nothing left for food (or clothing, or laundry, or hygiene products, or...).

I know a number of people personally that work hard (very hard), but still require support from a local food bank to survive. Without this food they could not work and would have to resort to welfare or begging.

Suicide rates always climb around Christmas, a can of stew or a can of beans and loaf of bread can save a life - right here in your home town.

[Capt. Mike]

Bonk, I do know about the food banks and pantries..my wife is the assistant director of Project Hope in Omaha, and we donate regularly to them.

And yes, to everyone out there, just an extra can or two, a bag of dried beens, rice, pasta, can make a tremendous difference to someone. 

Mike

[Sirgod]

Yep yep. Part of the cattle and venison here goes to the Jesus house every year.

Stephen

[Bonk]

...my wife is the assistant director of Project Hope in Omaha...

And she gave you a wah-wah pedal for a gift! You are a lucky man Capt. Mike! Hang on to that one!

Part of the cattle and venison here goes to the Jesus house every year.

You are such a nice guy Stephen, a real role model. Meat is tricky for the food banks to obtain and handle. I'm sure your generous donations are greatly appreciated.


I'm not meaning to berate anyone for having a good time at Christmas, or trying to lay some kind of guilt trip here, just a reminder that often the gift is not what matters, but the spirit of giving. (gosh that sounds so cheesy, but I say it in earnest)

[Sirgod]

Heh, I don't know about that Bonk, but here is an old article that started me out on donations like this.
http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Oklahoma/Hunters_Against_Hunger_Program_Feeding_Thousands_07160412.html

Stephen

[Grand Master of Shadows NCC37385]

I give to the local food bank on a regular basis, Bonk, not just on special holidays.

[Just plain old Punisher]

I'm a horrible shopper. I almost never seem to get the right thing, so I just give cash in a card instead. I write my best christmas wishes in lymeric form, and thus far no one has taken my cash back to the store to exchange it for something they really want.

[Bonk]

I give to the local food bank on a regular basis, Bonk, not just on special holidays.

Good man yourself.    (but they are in need during the holiday season)

I give when I can, and take when I need. The food bank has saved me from going hungry more than once.

Since I am doing well at the moment, it just occurred to me to donate to the food bank on behalf of family, instead of buying gifts like I normally would when flush, so I just thought I'd share the idea. Plus, I'm a rotten shopper.

Again, I'm not trying to lay some kind of guilt trip on people, enjoy your Christmas, and give what you can to who you love, even if it is just love.

[Capt. Mike]

To all who wish to donate to the local food banks and pantries (there is a difference, BTW..the food bank distributes to pantries, and the pantries distribute to the people..at least around here), a list...

Rice (10 lb bags appreciated, they'll break them down)
Dried beans
Bags of pasta that can be broken down
Canned vegetables (including the individual servings, great for 1 and 2 member families)
Canned Chef Boyardee stuff (the kids love them)
Travel stuff like tooth paste, deorderant, shaving creme, toothe brushes, soap, etc (this is especially helpful for those trying to get a job again)
Toilet paper, papertowels, kleenex

Remember, many do not have microwaves, but only a hot plate or two.

Also, if you live in the colder areas, used but good condition coats, blankets, socks, etc...

I wish you all a Merry Christmas

Mike

[Capt. Mike]

Bonk, it's been a bit..but my wife is a dream girl..

not only the three effects boxes, but also a silent tuner and extreme fuzz box.....and to top it all off..an Antonio Tsai custom inlaid 7 string electric guitar...


The music director at church nearly had a conniption when I (jokingly) brought all my "stuff" in

I am glad she has a good sense of humor (humour for the Brits)


Here's a pic, it sounds great, but I still don't have that legacy setup I lust after..

  http://www.carvinguitars.com/vai/   

Mike

[Bonk]

I could have a lot of fun with that setup. That's the kind of rig I'd sit down at and disappear for a whole afternoon.

Some of the best effects processing I ever heard came from a rig called the Zoom 9000 You could plug any el cheapo guitar into it and it instantly sounded awesome!

One of my favorite sounds I used to get was from a handmade twin 12AX7 tube preamp, overdriven and fed to a 10" 120W peavey with spring reverb it sounded EXACTLY like the solos in Steely Dan's Reelin in the Years. 

If I got a guitar again now though I think I'd get a Takamine or Ovation style nylon six string and go for sounds more like Genesis' Blood on the Rooftops.

[Capt. Mike]

Try something like this..not too pricey, and a good name

  http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-AEG10NE-Nylon-String-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-102960135-i1150889.gc   

I have a Guitar Center in Lincoln, only a 45 minute drive...but the wife hides the keys if she thinks I'm going there...

  But to laugh..I'm looking at a Hohner 5 string B Bass, black quilted for only $315..and the income tax check comes next week..

  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120377769792&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNARL:US:1123   

She wants the NetFlix box and a few other things..so the negotions are ongoing   


When you've been married 34 years, the fun gets better..and I might slip a new box in too..maybe an acoustic simulator

Mike