I have been doing this for several years. Its fun, and the fringe benefits of hugs and "I love you"s coming from kids is well worth it.
Today I cleared $400 working at an expensive country club during two seatings of their holiday brunch. My wife helped for an additional $200.
Its a tough job, but for that money you bet I'm going to do it.
However, this one was different from previous years.
1) They wanted me to arrive by helicopter. This is a small helicopter, about the size of a washer/dryer combo with propellers. I did this last year with no problems. This year a comedian decided to be the pilot. Up/down/round he went, through various bumpy air pockets.
Needless to say, I put him down on the Naughty list.
Then, as we are at the literal height of our trip, he turns to me and asks, "Did you drink a lot before climbing on board?"
"No" I say through gritted teeth.
"funny," he responded. "I did." Swoops low fast.
Some jokes just are not funny.
.
2) Electronics are in. About 200 kids sat on my lap. The number one request this year--A Computer. Number 2--IPod.
3) Some kids go to far. A few kids bring me lists of what they want. This year one boy jumped up on my lap, and pulled out a catalog. "I want all the things I've circled." he said proudly.
I opened up the catalog.
EVERYTHING WAS CIRCLED!!!
Santa sometimes gets sad, very sad.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
There is no way you could get me into a mini-helicopter with a comedian pilot!
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
*gives Santa cookie and some milk*
"Milk," as used here, means "beer."
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
mmmm,milk
And Imogen, the problem was that I didn't know he was a comedian pilot until about 500 feet in the air, at which point, walking out on him was not a good idea.
Though I did consider it.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
I hope you filed a complaint with the company who hired that bozo. You can only hope he was joking when he said he'd been drinking heavily...
"Though I did consider it."
Flying Elvises? LOL
Posted by jennabean (Member # 8590) on :
I think it makes sense that kids want electronics! Hell, when I was a kid Santa rode in a sleigh, not a helicopter!!
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
That's cruel to the reindeer.
Posted by jennabean (Member # 8590) on :
OR the reindeer want their jobs back and are sitting around a campfire shivering and reminiscing about the good ol' days in the stables.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I'm having an extraordinary case of deja vu, Dan... I could have sworn you posted this exact post a few years ago.
O_O
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
I brought Santa some cookies today. He was at the fire station, and my boyfriend is a firefighter, so he called me up and said "Santa is at the fire station! You should come visit" so I did, and, having just finished decorating cookies, brought him some. Apparently his name is really Bob, but he seemed to appreciate the cookies.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I passed by a VFW Hall today, and the signboard out front said "Breakfast with Santa cancelled due to the flu"
Feel better.
<offers chicken soup>
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
quote:Originally posted by Raia: I'm having an extraordinary case of deja vu, Dan... I could have sworn you posted this exact post a few years ago.
O_O
Me too! I had to check the date stamp to see whether it was an old thread dredged up.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Yeah, same!
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Last year at the same place was my first trip in a helicopter with Santa. I posted about that. This trip was more--um--eventful.
But the kid with a catalog instead of a christmas list--that's new.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)