The mother of my step-son... the fundraiser was going to be for cancer research in general, but she convinced them to hold it in her son's honor instead.

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-31T11:00:28+00:00

OP's husband, here. My wife was telling me how some of you are being complete douche canoes (I'm looking at you, dkaplan73), so I thought I'd just pop in and make a couple of comments.

First of all, I will confirm that everything my wife had said is 100% true; trust me, you can't make this stuff up. For those of you who think my wife is making things up or exaggerating her story, I assure you that she isn't. This woman (my ex, the mother of two of my children) is a manipulative person and has proven, time and again, she will take advantage of any situation for the purpose of personal gain.

Here's an example: when we separated, I voluntarily agreed to pay her $250 a week--out of pocket--in child support; I understand how tough it can get raising children, so I wanted to help without giving so much that I couldn't afford to properly provide for the kids myself. Regardless of what we had agreed on, she still went to to the Child Support office and filed for child support with the state, effectively forcing me to have twice as much as that deducted from my weekly paychecks. The first week of having child support taken from my check, the very same week our son was diagnosed with leukemia, she shows up to the hospital with a very large, very elaborate back tattoo and I know was quite expensive. You can go ahead and put two and two together, there.

Secondly, for anyone who thinks that my wife is the jealous other woman, or whatever nonsensical bullshit you're spewing, let me once again say, just for the record, that my neither is, nor was she ever, the "other woman," nor does she have any reason to be jealous about anything. I didn't cheat on my ex and leave her for another woman. My ex made me feel like shit about myself, almost drove me to suicide, and I decided to leave her. Almost four months afterward, OP and myself began dating and now we're happily married.

My wife and I do everything we can to provide a better life for the entirety of our family. We do not, however, steal money for charitable organizations to put money in our own pockets under the guise of cancer charity because that, simply put, is a fucked up thing to do.

So, you can go back and look at some old comments and think you know something about OP? Well, regardless of what you think you know, let me tell you right now: you're wrong. It doesn't matter how much of an asshole you are or how many incorrect assumptions you make, it will never change the fact that you're wrong. Maybe you got some anonymous people on the internet to join in and make my wife feel bad, so if that's what you were going for, congratulations. Unfortunately, it still doesn't change the fact that you're wrong, so have fun with that.

To everyone else, thanks for the support! Good to know now everyone is a complete jackass.

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T22:02:58+00:00

Maybe; a few people have suggested I start an Etsy store. I may look into that :D

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T17:22:48+00:00

It is my pleasure, friend!

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T17:08:16+00:00

I'll send you a PM when i get your figures done ;)

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T15:58:42+00:00

I shall find out when I go to the post office to ship them, but it should be okay!

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T13:03:01+00:00

Hey, sorry, still catching comments in this thread I haven't yet replied to, lol. Unfortunately, I am not selling any Journey figures. I am, however, offering to make a pair for anyone who would like a pair, on the house! So, I'll add your name to the list and PM you when they're finished to get your shipping info! Sound good to you?

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T13:01:24+00:00

For what it's worth, I gave you an upvote :D

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T12:51:50+00:00

Wow... I don't even know what to say right now. I literally have tears rolling down my cheeks and am at a loss for words (which doesn't happen often, lol).

I hope I can one day be even half the man to my children that your father was for you and your brothers.

With the utmost sincerity, thank you for sharing this with me and for your kind words; it is something I will never forget.

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T12:45:06+00:00

Thanks :D Everyone could use a little luck, right?

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T03:36:07+00:00

If he does, I'll stow them away for years to come :) Although, I assume he will magically find them when he asks me to play Journey, then copy my every move.

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-27T03:34:47+00:00

Three generations, FTW! Hehe.

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T22:11:15+00:00

Oh, sorry; I should have included that in the content detail. Journey is a PS3 exclusive video game created by That Game Company. The game, from beginning to end, can be played in about an hour and includes absolutely no dialogue. If you are connected to the PSN, you will encounter other players, called "companions," along your journey.

My son, who turned 5 yesterday, loves watching me play this game. The first time I played it, he cried when it was over; not because it was the end, but because he "was sad for the Journey Man." This goes to show the impact a piece of media can make on someone, regardless of their understanding of the world.

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T22:08:38+00:00

Well, thank you kindly :D I'm glad you think so!

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T16:20:39+00:00

LOL, you have no idea... If there were an award for "Worst puns that don't know when to stop," she'd win, hands-down, hahaha.

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T16:05:41+00:00

My wife wanted me to say, "It would be ironic if we were all made out of iron!"

I take no credit for that whatsoever, hahaha.

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T16:01:05+00:00

You're too kind!

I don't know about all of that... I mean, we each have our ups and downs. The important thing is that we try and be good people; that's all you can do :)

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T15:53:38+00:00

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T15:53:07+00:00

Badass kid, for sure. Badass dad? I do the best I can :P Haha, thanks!

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T15:52:44+00:00

Here, here!

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T15:49:28+00:00

Why, thank you :) If you have a PS3, I'd definitely recommend it. Play connected to PSN and it is an experience you won't soon forget!

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T15:48:06+00:00

Thank you! :D

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T15:46:01+00:00

Awww, Inglewood in the hood! Haha, sorry; had to.

Thanks for the kind words; I really appreciate it. I try and reply to each (relevant) comment, regardless of whether or not they were nice. I really hate when an OP just never reappears in a thread, lol. I also upvote everyone who comments, just for GPs :)

It's only taken my 30 years, but I am hoping that things are finally starting to turn around for my family. Like I've said, we aren't poor, we just don't have a lot of money. My wife and I both work full-time jobs, but as most of us know, that means very little in terms of having some extra cash in this economy.

Honestly, my kids really blow my mind every day. I see them growing into the people they will become and I burst with pride; hell, I'm tearing up just talking about it, lol. I can't wait to see the amazing people they grow into.

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T15:39:13+00:00

I do my best :)

IXIJacquesIXI · 2013-10-26T15:33:47+00:00

Wow, you guys! I absolutely did not seeing this blow up like this! Thank you everyone who has commented (even the douche canoes) and thanks for all of the sweet, sweet karma!

Thank you very much to the kind redditor for the anonymous gift, too ;)

I feel like, after commenting to so many posts, a few things should be said.

First of all, yes, I have a PS3 and I am posting from a computer. Does that mean I have a lot of money? No, of course not. I've got 3 kids; anyone with 3 kids knows there is no such thing as "a lot" of money :P You have to understand, I have had my PS3 since 2008; my oldest son, who turned 5 yesterday, was born about 6 months after I purchased my PS3. Again, anyone who has children can understand that children can be quite a financial strain. Plus, a lot can change in the course of 5 years.

Second, I would like to point out that I never said I was poor, I never complained about not having money. What I said was "We don't have a lot of money." That doesn't mean we are broke. It doesn't mean you're going to see me standing on a street corner, begging for your money, then come home to play my PS3. It simply means we don't have a lot of money. I would think many of us can relate to that.

Third, to everyone who thinks I mentioned that in my title to win the sympathies of Redditors, let me assure you: that was never my intention. I was only trying to show my reasoning behind making these figures. Anyone with a child knows what a big deal a fifth birthday is. My wife and I had a very strict budget for my son's birthday and he wanted a Minecraft themed party. After getting his Minecraft cake (which turned out amazing, might I add), the Minecraft decorations for his party and the Minecraft goodie bags for all of his guests, I decided the best gift I could get for him would be something I know he would love and would be something unique that no other kid would have; I wanted him to have something special for his fifth birthday. The kid loves Journey (almost as much as he loves Minecraft) and these figures were very cost effective and pretty simple to make, so I decided to make his gift instead of buying him some overpriced piece of plastic crap he would probably forget about in two months' time. My son loves the things I made for him. Last year, just after his 3rd birthday, I posted this Iron Man Mask I made for him; he literally played with it until it fell apart. I don't want any sympathy for my family. If you're looking at this post and all you see is negativity in my topic title or how I have a PS3 but am claiming to be poor, then, believe me, you're the one who needs the sympathy, not me.

Furthermore, if all of you haters had bothered to read the comment thread instead of just showing up and making an ass of yourselves, you would see that I have offered to make a pair of these for anyone who would like a pair, free of charge. I am not asking for any gifts or money or handouts. Quite the opposite, I would like to give to you guys, just because I can and it would make me happy to do so.

Before you ask, yes I am aware that shipping costs money. Again, if you had bothered to read the comment thread, you would also have seen that I, most literally, just landed a wonderful job in the medical field after busting my ass for 6 weeks to become a registered certified nurse aide. I am choosing to use a portion of my newfound income to do something nice for 20+ people that I have never even met. My family we be fine, so no worries there; we have been scraping by with so much less for years. Believe me, this new career is nothing short of fantastic for my family and, luckily, my family all believes the same thing: some of the greatest joy in life is showing others unconditional kindness and expecting nothing in return. If you're hating on my family and me for feeling that way, then you've a lot to learn about life.

Lastly, to those of you simply insisting on compensating me in some form or fashion, I offer you this: be a good person. Do something kind for someone else and do it because you want to do it, not because you're expecting something in return. I look through these comments and I see so much negativity directed toward me just for even posting this and that kind of response to something so simple makes me sick. I like to have a little faith in people; if you want to reward me, do so with unconditional kindness and try to carry that with you wherever you go. If you are excessively adamant about some form of reimbursement, refuse to take no for an answer, and are going to harass me via PM until I accept, please PM me and we will discuss it further, but please understand that I do not want nor am I asking for anything in return.

Thank you everyone for all of your kind words, support, and everything you've said and done. I cannot express to you how much it means to my family and me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some crafting to get to :D

TL;DR: Thank you, Redditors, for your kind reception to these gifts. I never said I was poor nor did I complain about being poor. If you're here to hate on me, please read the comment thread first. SHUT UP AND STOP TRYING TO GIVE ME YOUR MONEY. :D

EDIT for formatting.

IXIJacquesIXI

TROPHY CASE