Okay – when we write romance, it can’t be smooth sailing or it’s boring. In the writing craft, it means that you have no conflict and without conflict the book is one that will end up being a doorstop. Some writers pour a lot of angst into it and some (like me) try to infuse it with humor – not slapstick- but nothing to make you need to call 1-800-TalkMeOffThe Ledge. And face it, when it comes to love there is plenty of opportunity for conflict and discord to keep our lovers apart until the HEA.
Christmas, is a minefield of opportunities to create strife in your relationships. You add family, money, and the hustle to your usual life and you have instant-cup-o-conflict with a side of secret-spiked-eggnog. And gift-giving is the primo, number one chance to – well, end up in the doghouse.
Now, my hubby is great at gift giving (except for the early-in-the-marriage-carbon-monoxide-detector-gift-incident) and he hasn’t been sent to the doghouse yet. But,I’m thinking that one of my heroes will have to suffer the horrible fate of buying the worst gift ever. (Sorry, dude. It’s my job to make you miserable before I give you the keys to the happiness and awesome sex castle.)
I saw this video last year and I bookmarked it in my “LaughBeforeYouSmackSomeone” sanity file (admit it – you have one too) – and I thought I would share it with you.
My gift to you – laughter. The best gift. No doghouse for me!
Robin
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twivg7GkYts]
Comments 12
Robin, thanks for the great laugh.
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Wasn’t it great?
Ah, yes, I’ve seen that video before! I just tell my husband what I want (sometimes I pick out the color and definitely tell him the size), so I’m sure to get some great presents! He has bought me a waffle maker and a George Foreman grill, but I didn’t mind too much. This year I’m getting a Kindle, but he bought it, wrapped it, and it’s sitting under the tree!
Author
I also give the hubby a list. He gave me a carbon monoxide detector one year and it didn’t go over well. He tries and usually picks good stuff.
My sister and I have a Christmas tradition of sorts. We like to go to the Mall on Christmas Eve, have a coffee and watch men shop. The worst I saw was a Chia Pet. The kid even told the guy, “Dude, it’s a Chia Pet.” The rather desparate response was “Can you wrap it?” My favorite was a lone young man who wandered into a store selling clothes for larger women. (Points for courage.) The sales clerk approached him and asked his girl friend’s size. He pointed to a young, slender girl who was there with her mom. The sales clerk explained the store didn’t carry that size and pointed him toward a more appropriate store. He thanked her and said “I just figured women’s clothes, you know?” She smiled and sent him on his way. Then she said to us, “Can you imagine? She’d kill him.” We all laughed. The salesclerk saved his life—and his relationhip!
It is hilarious to watch. The facial expressions range from sheer determination to totally desparate. It’s better than TV. Haven’t seen a carbon-monoxide detector yet, though! I’m still laughing at that one!
Author
Emma – I love it! People watching is one of my favorite things. Thanks for stopping by!
Robin, my husband split a gut laughing. I’ve taught him so well. ;-D My son aces his girlfriend’s gift every year at the jewelry store. Emma, what a great source for story ideas!
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Joan: My hubby actually found that video last year and sent it to me. It cracks me up every time! Good to “see” you!
ROFLMAO. I have never seen it. Actually, my husband gets me great gifts but once in a while I would have something else, and this year I told him. He was going to get me a new laptop, and I told him I wanted an e-Reader. Smile. I got it.
Author
I give my hubby a list and the links as well to buy it online. So – he usually hits the mark! Thanks for stopping by!
Ah, I remember that video well, it was making the rounds last year. And it’s just as funny the second time!!
My husband once went Christmas shopping with a friend, and boy, I still give him sh** about the gift he got me. Are you ready? Turtle Wax. Yep, car wax…LOL Nowadays, we don’t buy each other gifts anymore, we concentrate on the kids. But we do go out to eat and to a movie or the casino. 🙂
Author
Turtle wax? Man, he wasn’t thinking on that one. You know, our gift-giving to each other has cut down quite a bit over the years. We also concentrate on the kids and we put most of our money towards a kid-free vacation every year. Merry Christmas Donna!