The recent snowfall we received this past week starts to bring us mentally into the Christmas season. With the Christmas season comes a whole new set of joys, challenges, and family gatherings. As has become the habit for Hybrid Redneck (H.R.) we want to help out all who seek help, no matter what the season, so following are some suggestions for navigating the challenges that will follow in the next few weeks:

We have heard from other H.R. followers of some Christmas gift-giving disasters such as a husband who gave his spouse a coffee-maker for Christmas, she didn't drink coffee, but he did. There are several misguided occurrences of husbands giving their wives exercise equipment for Christmas,,,even if they ask for it, don't do it! (This is the classic fail for many spouses,,,yes they may suggest that they would like a treadmill, or excersize bike for Christmas,,,but DON'T DO IT! It is a trap,,,,just like when they ask you how any garment fits them.)

Below are a couple ill-advised gifts that we encourage you stay away from giving this season:


The Off-Road Toilet
Who can do without the padded, off-road, toilet seat? The good news, it is camo covered so that you can avoid detection by any enemies you may want to be able to do business in front of, but yet avoid detection.



Nose Gel Dispenser
Back in college this might have been kind of cool, but in the last 20 years, if I gave this as a gift to my spouse, I strongly suspect we would not have made it over the 20 year mark. The good news, if you spend an additional $18 for this gift you also get 150 ml of they snotty green shower gel pictured in use above.

So, these are a couple of suggestions of what not to do,,,so what to do?
1. Remember, don't buy a gift for that special someone that means more to you, than it does to them.

2. Hopefully you have been paying attention to little suggestions and comments your special someone has been dropping over the past 6 months. They have told you what they really want, but did you notice?

3. Don't think there is any shame in asking the kids, parents, or close friends for help. If you miss the mark it is very convenient to be able to shift the blame to someone else who should know better as well.

4. Stay away from fad's or items only offered on TV. Pet rocks, Snuggies, Chia Pets, and Pocket Fishermen might have seemed like great gift giving ideas at some point, but they are not.

With these little suggestions in mind we wish you well in your quest to find that perfect gift, for your special someone. Also, we would love to hear of any Christmas present disasters you may have received, or given, in the past. Please feel free to share as it always makes us feel better when we learn of others that have made the same mistakes we have. 

Merry Christmas to all, from all of us at Hybrid Redneck