Do you need a special Christmas gift? Try this

Since we've officially embarked on another Christmas shopping season, I've found the perfect gift selections for that someone on your list that is difficult or impossible to shop for.

No, I didn't rush out and participate in the insane post-Thanksgiving Day shopping ritual yesterday known as Black Friday. I avoided all of the rushing around for that special bargain and I wasn't trampled, pushed, shoved, gouged, grouped or insulted at any of the area department stores or shopping malls.

The special gifts I did find could even be gifts for someone who is not on your "naughty or nice" list and you just wanted to give them a special treat this year that signifies your true sentiments toward them.

You know, I bet they don't have a necklace or a Christmas ornament made out of reindeer poop.

Well, a Bloomington, Ill., zoo has taken recycling to a new marketing level and is offering Christmas ornaments and pendant necklaces handcrafted out of reindeer dung.

That's right, and these unique gems come complete with a certificate of authenticity from the Miller Park Zoo, according to wire service reports.

Now, how is that for a gift that didn't make the Twelve Days Before Christmas list?

The ornaments that sell at the zoo gift shop for $7.50 apiece are made of dried chunks of reindeer pooh-pooh collected by loyal zoo employees and then clear-coated or rolled in festive glitter.

About 450 have already sold this season and another 1,500 are still available. By mail, the ornaments are $10 each.

The $15 pendant necklaces are said to contain dried and sterilized reindeer droppings -- sprayed with glitter -- on a beaded chain.

They are on the shelves at the zoo's gift shop, or by mail for $20.

Zoo officials point out that while reindeer are not small animals, their waste products come out in small chunks suitable for the branches of a tree or placement on a pendant that hangs around your neck.

Excuse me if I can't really get a visual of what one of these waste ornaments or dung necklaces actually looks like.

I think the thought of the origin of both would be enough to make me shy away, but I do realize there are blocks of people who gravitate to "different" kinds of gifts.

This makes the fruitcake look like a good holiday gift.

But there is some reason to these new products.

Miller Park Zoological Society spokeswoman Susie Ohley told the Associated Press that she estimates the zoo could make $16,500 on the two dung zoo store items.

She says the zoo folks need to look for every penny possible by any means available. The zoo lost $200,000 under city budget cuts earlier this year and is looking to make up that shortfall.

I guess the upside to all of this is when someone says your Christmas tree or your necklace looks crappy ... they are correct and that is probably a compliment because it is actually crap, so to speak.

* On a more pleasant topic, I read this week where more than 200,000 shoppers are wearing buttons this Christmas season that proclaim a straightforward message to retailers -- "It's OK, Wish Me A Merry Christmas."

Individuals and churches around the country have mobilized and are partnering with the Wish Me A Merry Christmas Campaign asking advocates not to be bashful about a return to the traditional greeting.

They are wearing buttons that make a clear statement.

To find out more about this campaign, go to www.wmamc.com .

Have a good week and happy shopping.

Nick is the assistant editor for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at 847-4487 or 1-800-947-4487 or by e-mail at schneider.nick@gmail.com .