Wishes.

I'm approaching this Christmas weird. Moving, and moving in with ojouchan made me realize how much damn stuff I have. I'm trying to avoid accumulating more of it while I still have to exhaust what I already have. That's difficult sometimes, since I often want to keep up with the new, but I feel like I've been doing pretty good.

But since a lot of the easiest gifts for me are media-based (books, games, DVDs), I'm having a hard time making me usual gift suggestions. I almost want to turn off my Amazon wishlist, I certainly don't feel like updating it.

In general, I feel like if you're going to get me media, you should be encouraged to get something used. Obviously, there are always things that can only be easily found new, but if you're at a store, and you have the choice between a used CD and a new CD, I ask that you get me the used CD. In fact, if you just want to give me your old stuff, that's okay too. Obviously, I won't get that happy cherished feeling if you just give me trash, but if it's something you think would make a good gift, I'd be happier if it'd been used before.

Anyway.

This holiday wishlist thing went around a few weeks, and quickly dropped off my radar. It was too early, you see. But now that Thanksgiving is past, I'm starting to get this started. It turns out, I don't really want a lot this Christmas, so coming up with even ten things are pretty hard. I dont expect to be showered with gifts from the internet, especially not with many of the things I'm mentioning here, but it's a way for me to organize everything. Also, if you have already filled out this meme, or if you do so in the future, let me know, so I can keep your list in mind.

Anyway, here are the "rules of the meme":

( Meme Propogation )

My wishes for the holidays:

1. Running shoes. ojouchan wants to run with me. I want to run with her. But I'm spoiled on running in good shoes, even though my old ones bit the dust a while ago. Ojou just picked up a nice new pair from DSW, so I need to match her so that we can exercise together.
   
2. Bikes. For Ojou and I. Like running, this is something we'd like to be able to do more of together. We'd probably be looking for decent used stuff. Lower priority than running shoes, though.
   
3. Donations to Child's Play. It may seem a silly thing, but Child's Play is a charity that moves a lot of goodwill very efficiently, because it's a volunteer organization that doesn't try to sustain itself outside of the holiday season. It donates videogames and other resources to children's hospitals across the world. And it's a very fun organization. Sadly, Desert Bus for Hope has finished, otherwise I would recommend it as a way to donate.
   
4. Super Mario Galaxy. Like I said, I'm trying not to ask for much media, whether it's DVD, books, or videogames. With the move, it became very apparent that I have too much of them. I'll probably pick up a few of these kinds of things as gifts, because I do love them, but in terms of specifically asking for things, I'm limiting it to just this one, because it's the only thing that makes me sad that I'm not buying as many new games.
   
5. Geocache containers. I do want to hide some caches, but I don't want to just go out with a tupperware container, and I feel self-conscious about creating or camouflaging on by myself. If I had one, I'd go hide it. So it's in that perfect gift-giving zone, something I really want, but barely not enough to get or make it myself.
   
6. Art. ojouchan has been leading the charge to decorate the walls of the house, and she's gotten us some really great stuff. But I still kind of feel like I'm missing something that's quintessentially me. When we moved, I got rid of a framed MC Escher print, but as we were leaving, I felt like its time was over. I haven't really found something to replace it. There've been a few times where I tried to get Penny Arcade or Venture Brothers art, but was either outbid or missed the slim window of opportunity. I'm looking for something is unique and awesome, but I don't really know what it is.
   
7. Frames. Ojou points out that there are things we have that need good frames, which we often have a hard time getting our hands on. So empty frames are good too.
   
8. Something that I can use to transfer my audio cassettes and vinyl to MP3. I'm not really sure what this would be, but I've got tons of tapes and records. Some are relatively rare, and I don't want to lose them. What I want to do is collect them all onto a hard drive so that I can get rid of some of the ones that are just taking up space. In terms of being a packrat, this is an easy way for me to keep my collection without actually having to part with things.
   
9. A really good quilt/comforter. Something big and wonderful and plush that can keep the two of us warm snuggled together all night long and into a wet, rainy day.
   
10. Surprises. (Totally not a cop out.)