"12 Days" 12th winner + Last day of the contest

Vance:
I don't like bragging about good deeds and many of the ones I do, I do so anonymously. I will admit I am a little naughty, I do like the men , and ok, I love sex, there I said it. This sort of feels like being in the confessional, hahahaha. I better get started on the hail Mary's.

But I have one great man I really love, Tony. He knows I am true to him, and finding him has been the best Christmas Gift I could receive.

Well I bought gifts for an underprivileged child through our angel tree at work, gifts for people at an old people's home, and also for military servicemen/women stationed in Iraq. The family isn't exchanging gifts with the adults and I wanted my son to learn about giving back. I am a single mom and by no means rich, but as long as there is a roof over our heads, I feel there is always something you can give back, either financially or the best gift, the gift of one's time. I am a member and past president of the Lion's club so I do charity work with them, we have a camp for handicapped children at the top of the Mt. Penn mountain where I live and another member that owns a pool store, redid the pool area and we raised money for a chair lift so many kids who never had an opportunity to swim got a chance. That camp, called Camp Lily is also funded by Easter Seals, and the cards, photos, and thank yous we got from that, made my year. I also help support a Catholic home for pregnant girls, we sort of help to teach them life skills,and they have to get their GED, then they move into another house for up to 2 years to get a job and help raising their children. My gram had a fall, and I emptied the potty chair, that is not fun!!! But you do what needs to be done for family. I try to help my sister with her kids and be a good aunt. I support various charities throughout the year. I try to be a friend to people when they need help, like a new mom really needs help, and older people who can't get around. I believe we are meant to help others and I really get so much joy out of giving, it is so much better than receiving. Oh and my girlfriend moved away to West Virgina, and she is the director of a Humane Society down there and they had one of the biggest puppy mill busts, 1,000 puppies rescued so I sent money for that.

I really don't like writing all this, but that pendant is making me do it!!!!

Merry Christmas Vance, you have given the board much fun, and some beautiful gifts, I think you like giving too. !!!!

Amber

As CUL-Ann said you saved the best for last. That is absolutely breathtaking. Good luck everyone.

Congratulations, Greyfingers! And thank you for considering me, Vance. It was fun to play.


I've got a story for this one, but to tell it would require ripping my heart out and handing it to you. I'll let it lay.

Instead, I think I'll sit this one out,...... but I'd love to tell you my favorite Christmas bummer...just to hopefully leave y'all laughing.


The Christmas of 2000 I was living in my hometown of Springhill, a little place north of Shreveport. Every few years, we'd have a whopping winter ice storm, the kind that shuts everything down for a week or so.
It was the first Christmas for me and our 4 children without my husband, and I had found a little house with gas floor furnaces (the heating elements under the floor covered by a large grate). I had taken a job at night cleaning offices, and one of the places I'd clean was the veterinary clinic in town. There was an old Mama cat there who was about to be euthanized. Of course I brought her home.
On Christmas Eve, the storm hit. Freezing rain fell and hardened, and everything turned to ice. It was beautiful, but dangerous and I knew we'd all be house bound for a number of days, grateful that the kids would have new toys to keep them busy. And although it was only a matter of time before we'd lose electricity for days, we'd be warm.
It was an hour or so before the kid's bedtime and we were all in the living room watching a Christmas show except for my youngest, who was all boy and whose curiosity always got him into something. This time was a beaut.
We began to notice a stink coming from somewhere,... I went to the cats litter box and saw that she WAS using it,,but the smell was from somewhere else,,,I went looking. The smell grew stronger and stronger and stronger, and eventually it permeated the entire house. It was absolutely HORRIBLE! It only took one more minute to realize what was obvious,,,someone (guess who) had taken a cat turd out of the litter box and dropped it through the heater grate to see what would happen.......Have you ever smelled a roasting cat turd?
13 degrees outside, freezing rain falling at 8PM on Christmas Eve and every window in the house wide open,,,,desperate to get the smell out of the house. We were all on the back porch and the kids kept running in on a dare to see who could stand it the longest and running back out, retching. It was really, really bad. I laughed until tears ran down my face and turned off the heater, it took an hour or so until it cooled off enough that I could lift the grate, retrieve the turd, and wipe off the heating element.

8 years later, it's our favorite Christmas memory,,,go figure.

Just one more gentle reminder, contestants. As I said before, this contest is open to all kinds of answers. You can post absurd naughty and nice lists (e.g. I got mad and smashed a cab that hid it's fractures until after I started grinding on it), poke gentle fun at friends' lists, make ridiculous claims of grandiose deeds, or if you feel inclined, share some good things you did this year. It is up to you. No type of answer automatically wins the prize. I am very well aware of the true nature of giving and good deeds, so I didn't limit the type of anwers you can give.

So keep the entries coming, and let's have some fun.

Vance

Well, let's see, and I realize I can't win, cuz I just did, THANKS!
Let me put a "good" thought into everyone's head.

Give blood! The holiday season is a real challenge for the Red Cross and blood banks.
I have been a Bloodmobile coordinator for about 20 years. Hmm, let's do some math. That's about 80 Bloodmobiles that I have coordinated or helped with. Let's say an average of 100 units per mobile, that's 800 units of blood. Each unit can save up to 3 lives, so that's 2,400 people directly affected, not to mention their families, through my time. Gosh! I've never done the math before! That's pretty cool!

www.redcross.org/donate/give/

Bless you karenfh. All three of my kids needed blood at birth and my third would not be alive without the blood that other's so generously donated. My son had to wait for blood because of a blood shortage. It was the worst wait I had ever experienced. I just had to say that.

I can't compete but I "found" the list Santa has on me and I gotta make things straight.

Santa, when I kicked that boy I was aiming for his shin. So please cross that one off.

And when I ran from my mom, it was because I hated ballette lessons and wanted to spend time with the horse

And how was I to know that my mom would guess that I had a snake in my pocket, I didn't say nothing and when I laughed I wasn't laughing at her fear, I was laughing cause she made such a funny face.

That time me and my sibs jumped out the window to escape the baby sitter and she came after us, so we climbed up the tree forte, pulled the ladder up and then began spitting on her ---- well you can cross that one off also cause Dad took care of it and I still have his hand print on my butt for proof

Thank you Santa for reading this. I'll put your list back now. Coal can look very pretty all wrapped up. ;D

It's been an eventful year, so I shouldn't have too much trouble coming up with my list. This was the year that I really started getting serious about rock tumbling, and the kindness displayed by so many members of this board inspired me to try to be as kind to others. So, for each of the nice things that I list below, keep in mind that it was, in large part, YOU, the RTH faithful, who inspired me!

Nice or naughty? I guess it's been a little of both.

NICE: In June, I acted as a temporary crossing guard to help a group of ducklings across the street and into an orphanage to help cheer up the residents. I was motivated only by a desire to see those kids' faces light up as they greeted their surprise web-footed guests!
NAUGHTY: I inadvertently led them into the back door, otherwise known as the "kitchen door." I heard they were delicious (not too fatty - they were young ducklings, after all).

NICE: I saw a pregnant woman, and she looked a little sad. I know from my wife's two pregnancies that the whole experience can be overwhelming, so I offered some kind words about the miracle of bringing a child into the world and offered her assurances that all would be well in a few months when she held that little bundle of joy.
NAUGHTY: Turns out she wasn't pregnant. Just fat. And ill-tempered, I might add. And accurate with a purse.

NICE: My father was coming to visit, and I wanted to prepare a really special meal in his honor. After all, the man had put so much effort into raising me right, I felt a strong need to return the favor and love. I labored all weekend and put together quite a menu: lobster bisque, scallops wrapped in bacon, pork tenderloin, cheesecake for dessert. I spared no expense, buying only the finest ingredients and making everything by hand.
NAUGHTY: Whoops! I forgot! He's lactose intolerant. And keeps strictly kosher. And is allergic to shellfish. Ah, well, more for me...

NICE: My nephews love to play basketball. But since they live in rural New Hampshire (as I do), the nearest playground where they can play is a car-ride away. I know how much they would like to be able to play more often. So I found plans for official basketball court lines and spent an afternoon with measuring tape, string, and paint to create them their very own court, right there in their own driveway!
NAUGHTY: I forgot that, like most people in rural NH, they have a dirt driveway. Their court washed away in the next rain. Which happened that night, as they returned home. I tried to convince them to play right then and there, while the lines were still visible, but no go. Wimps.

NICE: My sister had recently been in a minor fender-bender, and was feeling quite down. I decided to cheer her up by visiting her house when she was away at work. I really detailed the car: vacuumed all around, washed every surface, waxed and buffed. That thing shone like new!
NAUGHTY: Her car was still in the shop. That one was a loaner. Which she returned that night. And it turns out that "over buffing" (what the heck is that, anyway?) damages the car. Who knew? I'm sure the charges for the damage to her loaner car will hardly be noticeable in her final bill.

NICE: My college roommate Dave got married this year. We were really tight in college and he is still one of my best friends. He is a really great guy and I was so happy for him and his new bride Toni. I remembered how special that first year of marriage can be (hubba hubba!) so I sent along a wedding gift of a really sexy, frilly nightie, with lots of pearls and sparklies and lace. Just the thing to spice up the wedding night or to cuddle with before the fire on a romantic, snowy evening.
NAUGHTY: I forgot that my roommate was recently married in Massachusetts. To Tony. He's kind of burly, Tony is. And ill-tempered, as I found out.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea! It's been that kind of year...

I have given to the Red Cross blood bank since my father needed it for his heart surgery.
Of course I couldn't start tell I was 18 but I now have pins for gallons.
I'm a member of the garden club and in charge of highway pickup with the states adopt a highway program.
I work with the habitat for humanity all year.
There is a church that a group of churches sets up inside a soup kitchen type lunch every Thurs that I help with and for thanks given day and Christmas day we have a big special meal.
Jim and I took in foster kids (teens) for some years.
we (Jim and Me) do for the animal shelter.
I (not Jim he ducks to much) help my brother with bat rescue.
A group of us take table displays to the senior center, senior home, library,
and some community mental homes throughout the year.
We live in a small town that we have always been proud of (can I count the 18
years I did on the volunteer ambulance dept) this last year there was a found
raiser to build a building in the city park where the city has a big to-do labor
day week in every year and part of it is free singing and such type shows. While
it was being build those of us that couldn't do the building seen to the food
for the workers.
We had 2 special needs children and have been helping out the special Olympics
for the winter mouths we take them skiing and after finding I could not stop
when on skies I have always helped them on and off the lifts.
and then there is the Awana club for children.
I will not pass up anyone in the ditch and have stopped several times this year.
My mother is 92 and she needs my help a lot (here is a bad thing==I don't always
do enough for her, it does get done because I pass it on to Jim to do).
I give away to friends and even strangers my works of stone.
Just today in the store I let this lady go in front of me (and the store was bad
today)!!
I call feeding the outside birds doing a good thing but some people would say
that my hunting deer and killing them a bad thing;-))

Merry Christmas Everyone! I love these stories!!!!
Jo