Santa's Little Street Corner Helper
My brother and and his wife went to the mall last week to get pictures of their kids with Santa, but after perusing the prices, they decided to have dinner at the Outback instead. When exactly did an 8x10 and four wallet-sized start costing as much as an order of Kookaburra Wings, 2 Alice Springs Chickens
and a Brisbane Caesar?!? Let me tell you what else you can get for the prices they want- a nice bottle of cologne (good stuff, like JOOP! or Obsession), 7 Starbucks lattes, or even Wrestlemania on pay-per-view.
I'm no cheap-skate, but I got a big problem with overpaying. Have you even seen the highly-skilled visionaries they have taking these pictures? I have. They're the same people who sold you a Halloween costume 2 months ago in that very mall. Get a Herb Ritts-type in there and I'll pay $49.95! These people give us Herb Fritz, nighttime manager at Blockbuster.
Comes in at 7 AM after a new movie Tuesday, eyes all bloodshot, offering everyone a free trial of his store's new online renting program.
And the Santa's? You'll never have the same guy 2 years in a row. They out price themselves. My cousin's kid actually had the same guy 2 years in a row ONCE. The next Christmas, he asked for a 75 cent bump, got canned. Yeah, they went with some young kid who'd been working the pharmacy and general store circuit.
Did they fit him with a new Santa suit? Of course not. Had on the same Santa beard that'd been snotted and drooled on for the last 10 years. They hemmed his pants with a stapler!
I'm disgusted by the current state of Santa photography, and I decided to do something about it. Someday, when your grandkid is visiting the local "Street Corner Santa," (Watch the Video)you'll tell them that when you were younger, you went to the MALL to have your picture taken. An incredulous smile will creep across their face. A "No way!" will escape from their mouth. And you will feel old.
Comments
Pat, your idea of street Santa was great, down-to-earth. And met adults' fantasies. Why is it only the little kids get to sit on Santa's lap.
10 stars for you for this one.
Posted by: Anne Wilmot | December 20, 2006 7:33 PM
HOLY CHRISTMAS that was GOOD!! 6 bucks huh!?? WOW!
Posted by: Nichole T | December 22, 2006 8:19 AM
First of all, great blog. Second how do you know the Outback menu soo well? Third, were did ur sister go for pictures. I went to JC Pennys and only paid $8.00. And that was with coupons. Tell her to look into that!!! A little FYI to pass on.
Posted by: niki | December 30, 2006 12:55 PM