Every Saturday and Wednesday I play tennis at my local club. I've been a member for a year and I'm an average player I really enjoy the company of all the people there and I've made some good mates. On Saturday I wandered over at 2pm to find them industriously cleaning everything. "Spring Cleaning" I asked. NO, the club had been vandalised the day before, half of the windows had been smashed, cans of coke sprayed all over the interior and holes kicked in walls etc, etc.
The tennis coach had spent the night sleeping on the floor waiting for the police to arrive and gather all the info they needed. Next the Glaziers had come to replace all of the broken panes and when I arrived the committee were at the end of 6 hours cleaning.
#$%^&*? is what most had to say about the perpretrators, whoever they may be. I went home at 4 after a marvellous two hours of exerercise and comaraderie.
I was back at the club at half 5 with my brushes. By then everyone had gone home. On monday when they arrive at the club for coaching and administrative stuff they'll find their newly installed middle window looking like this.....
Moral of this story....NEVER let the grinch steal xmas
[ November 23, 2008, 12:50 AM: Message edited by: Anne McDonald ]
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Nice touch lady.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
what is XMAS?
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
Good on ya girl! Down with Grinches!
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
I heard that, Joey.
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
WTG! Nice spirit! That would be Christmas Spirit...
Grinches suck.
Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
Is that an X?
Posted by Anne McDonald (Member # 6842) on :
Xmas to me Joey is all year around. When something nasty happens the best cure is to find a smile for those affected.
Yes it's an X, what did you think it said David?
Can't wait until Wednesday to see all those smiles!
Thanks everyone
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
I didn't think vandals painted such legible letters!
Posted by Dan Beach (Member # 9850) on :
Sweet.
Posted by Steve Shortreed (Member # 436) on :
I've asked Barb to remove a few posts that were attempting to turn this topic into a religious debate. Let's keep the focus on Anne and her efforts to use her talant to help others. Well done Anne.
Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
I sense the spirit of Steve or Barb hovering over this thread. I understand.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
I apologize because I feel I started this.
Anyway I love Christmas, Xmas and Santa Clause and during my early years went to church every Sunday because I was a choir boy at St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th avenue in NYC. Now in my later years believe that church should be on Saturday, the last day of the week instead of the first day which is Sunday. And now for Santa Clause, he's the man most children wait for on Christmas eve and if that's paganism than all of us are guilty
Posted by Dawud Shaheed (Member # 5719) on :
oh, wow, so sensitive around here.
Posted by Anne McDonald (Member # 6842) on :
Thanks Steve, and thankyou Barb for your nice IM
Dawud, remember that this forum is about signs and signwriting. Religious debate or critique etc has its place in cyberspace elsewhere.
Believe me, I could easily get involved in such a debate but everything has a time and more importantly a place. We all as individuals have our own values, opinions and beliefs. This thread is about taking something bad that has happened in the community and doing something cheerful (using my sign skills)to bring the smiles back.
Thankyou to all who've posted replies, its appreciated as always.....now go sling some paint somewhere Posted by Dawud Shaheed (Member # 5719) on :
Sorry If I offended anyone. I just get carried away sometimes.
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
Anne, you are, as we would say here in Georgia, "a Sweetiepie". That was so thoughtful of you.
Posted by Anne McDonald (Member # 6842) on :
Aw Shucks Ricky.....blush.....thanks.
It's funny, I'm often told I'm "nice" then I walk out in a singlet with loads of tattoos on display and people go.....OH MY GOD, you look so clean cut Posted by jake snow (Member # 5889) on :
Way Cool there Anne.
( oh and don't thank Ricky, he will start e-mailing you pictures of his x-mas suit...not pretty)
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
I have a question to Anne.
Can we use your picture as a letterhead post card?
Everyone keeping it the same size but adding a small tag on it? Then at Christmas you print and give it to the owners.
Just an Idea.
Posted by Anne McDonald (Member # 6842) on :
Stephen that's a lovely idea, wow, thank you.
I'd be really flattered if you want to do that. The club is operated on donations and all of the committee members donate their time to the club. The only paid members are the club secretary who does all of the accounts and the resident coach (his salary is boosted as he's sponsored by a local sports franchise). They're all really lovely people.
As an added note, I went past the club last night and the vandals had been back, this time smashing a box off the wall that houses an electronic payment thingy for the court lights. Obviously the little $%^# were after the two dollar coins inside. Luckily as its very sturdy and solid inside they were unable to steal the money but still, yet more damage to repair.....sigh
Bring on the Post card.....yah!! Posted by Sam Staffan (Member # 4552) on :
Way to go Anne, that's the spirit. As for the window design, and the problem with the Little Grinches, well
I think you put the wrong snowmen on it>>>>
A few of these may help!
Posted by Anne McDonald (Member # 6842) on :
Oh Sam, I love that!
It's school holidays here now and we're pretty sure its local kids, bored who need a jolly good thrashing (god did I say that out loud!) from someone. I hope Santa has slashed them from his delivery route
If the weather plays fair I shall be at club tennis tomorrow. I might wear a santa hat Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
That was really thoughtful of you to do those windows Anne! And you did a beautiful job too!
I think I can say something that most of us can all agree on. No matter what we think or feel about Christmas, it sure does appear that many more people are out there doing Random Acts of Kindness. I think that is wonderful!
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
Amen, Miss Bobby.
... I applaud you especially,Anne,for one of those random acts of kindness and spirit, that seems to make this world of ours, a better place. You just keep on keepin' on, girl !!
Posted by Anne McDonald (Member # 6842) on :
Thankyou everyone for your nice replies. I was at the club tonight playing a few games and quite a few people came up and said how wonderful it was to arrive and see the window painted and looking cheerful.
I always think what comes around goes around, some day if something nasty happens to me, who knows what kindness might come my way Posted by Mark Stokes (Member # 5351) on :
maybe you better come to adelaide oval and paint some merry xmas after daniel vettori smashes some glass with his bat .
Posted by Tony Ray Mattingly (Member # 469) on :
quote:Originally posted by Joey Madden: what is XMAS?
You know I don't like using the X either but I was kind of surprised to see something the other day. I kind of thought that the "X" thing came up as of late due to political correctness crap. But.... I was reading a copy of our local paper from the library printed in the early 1900's. It was from kids telling Santa' what they wanted. It was using the "X"mas also. I don't know if the kids did it or the paper. I would guess the newspaper due to the the time consuming way the made newspapers back then. Ut was really interesting reading the VERY simple things that kids wanted. Fruit, a doll, shoes etc.
Posted by Tony Ray Mattingly (Member # 469) on :
And... speaking of the Grinch stealing Christmas, Here in Louisville they have an thing downtown called "light up Louisville" On Friday after Thinksgiving they ahve a big thing downtown with all the light and the Mayor "throws the switch" that turns all the light. This year the theme WAS going to be called "LouWhoVille," and based on the grinch theme. Well, attourney's that represent "the grinch" told them to cease and desist. Below is the article.
Lawyers for the company that owns rights to the Dr. Seuss Christmas classic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" have become real-life Grinches, threatening legal action unless Louisville cancels plans to use any part of the book for this year's Light Up Louisville holiday celebration.
"It appears these lawyers' hearts are two sizes too small," Mayor Jerry Abramson said in a news release.
DLA Piper, the law firm representing Dr. Seuss Enterprises, has sent a "cease and desist" letter to the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The letter, dated Nov. 13, said the convention bureau "has not been authorized or licensed by Seuss to use its protected works. We therefore demand that the (bureau) immediately cease and desist from using any references to or images of Who-ville, the Grinch, or any other name or character from How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
It was sent by San Diego attorney Barbara Orr, who said in a telephone interview yesterday that she wasn't authorized to speak for Dr. Seuss Enterprises and referred questions to the company's officials.
Karl ZoBell, an attorney for Seuss Enterprises in San Diego, said the company scans the Internet and publications frequently to check on unauthorized use of Seuss-related trademarks and copyright. He said the company policy is to notify people if they might infringe on the company's rights. He said he wasn't sure if the company would have granted Louisville officials the right to use the Seuss-related material if they had asked.
Light Up Louisville will go on as scheduled Friday night. However, organizers are making changes in their plans for a new part of the celebration called "LouWhoVille," an area at Jefferson and Fourth streets that is to feature free activities and games for children and families. The area will be renamed "Lou-ville."
"LouWhoVille" was slated to include costumed characters from the Dr. Seuss classic such as Cindy-Lou Who and the Grinch to entertain children, said Abramson spokeswoman Kerri Richardson.
"The three words that best describe this legal action are as follows, and I quote, 'Stink, Stank, Stunk!' " said Jim Wood, president and chief executive officer of the convention bureau.
Posted by Anne McDonald (Member # 6842) on :
Dr Suess himself would be appalled that the fun was being grinched away from the kids in LouWhoVille, Suck, Sick, Sock it to the lawyers
Down with Grinchy lawyers, bring on the Oompaloompas and call those lawyers a pack of Wonkas
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I really enjoy the company of all the people there and I've made some good mates. On Saturday I wandered over at 2pm to find them industriously cleaning everything. "Spring Cleaning" I asked. NO, the club had been vandalised the day before, half of the windows had been smashed, cans of coke sprayed all over the interior and holes kicked in walls etc, etc.
![[Applause]](graemlins/applause.gif)
most children wait for on Christmas eve and if that's paganism than all of us are guilty
![[Thanks]](graemlins/thanks.gif)
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
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![[Razz]](tongue.gif)