Christmas 2012 -- Birth of a New Tradition

*Just for the record: I did not write this article,it was sent to me from a friend. I agree with it, lets keep Christmas simple. Merry Christmas you all. Its something to think about.


As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Canadians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Canadian labor. This year will be different. This year Canadians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Canadians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Canadians hands.

Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local Canadian hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Canadian owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Don’t forget the Health Food store, it has more ways for you get better if you wish.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the dollars on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Canadian with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.



How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Canadian working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.



My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Canadian pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging Canadian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Canadians, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craig list in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

BUY CANADIAN - BE CANADIAN - The job you save might be your own.

Doesn't he deserve a chance too??

A letter to Joe.

Dear Joe;


Hi and how are you this fine winters day?. Fresh frozen and ready for the oven, so I am I. If its any comfort most of us are in the same boat and its Ontario and it is winter. I don’t feel sorry for those in the South either, must be a bitch to try to keep cool.

You were asking how I did for Christmas and I thought it was pretty good considering I didn’t want anything to be bought for me. I want the money to be spent on the kids and the misses and any extra to go to the Kids Toy Fund or the food bank.

Well. Nobody listens around here and that’s the truth. And I thought we agreed that the kids would only get a few gifts and buy them clothes instead. Its boring but I rather do that then watch them smash up the toys and by days end they are going to recycled.

You know me, I keep my end of the bargain, but not so the Family. Since they heard of the plan everyone went outta their way to buy them gifts. Santa must of used a Hertz rental to get those gifts in here.

There was enough paper here to have the city come and do a special pickup and the rest of the hood as well. I, almost said no wait, I can do that and use the neighbors trailer. But the trailer was full so that plan was over and I had a plan B ,so its pack up the truck and just get it there.

I have been a Leafs fan all my life even before they were famous, I never bought a jersey to wear. I bought all the kids one and they were over $100 in 1978, then, a kids jersey. But, you know those jerseys were passed down to each of the Grandkids so I did ok there and now they have a supply for the next 5 years.

I got a surprise this year all those kids bought me a Leafs jersey, not one but two of them. Well, I almost cried when I opened the first one and when I opened the second, I became verkclempt, ferkclempt, whatever.(so discuss among yourselves the price of butter or how about those Leafs?).

Well, that made my day and every half an hour I switched from one to the other, and that only lasted for a short time. That’s a lot of work changing them on and off, what a silly bugger I am and I had to help out to get the dinner ready. And you already heard about us trying to assembly those darn hockey nets and GT snow racers.

The bottom line here is, when you are watching over dinner, sedating beers, trying to assemble parts and pieces with instructions from space, watch TV and look after the occasional kid that wonders into the den, its possible, doable, but why??.

The whole reason to the holidays is too enjoy yourself, this combination turns out to be work and soon its like any other day. The buzz you were working so hard to get and keep slowly begins to vanish. The noise of the crowd begins to wreck havoc on your sense of HA HA.

Its, not long until you get a headache, a real one and it radiates past your back and into your ass. Reasons, for that are simple to find. Amen on that. Then, you have a houseful of loved ones, half of which you don’t like and they don’t know it. And, if they did, they are ignoring that fact. Steely, bunch, relatives are. The, pain that keeps on giving. Now, that is called love.

I, can see why women beg to go out to a restaurant and have a Christmas meal and send everyone home from there. I am almost tempted to suggest that I would buy all the drinks. You can see I am very desperate. We can open the gifts later or better still I have the gifts in the car, please take them with you.

See you later Joe, there is a little beaver that wants to watch the Wiggles on the tube. So, how was your day?.