Wish List (or: What to Buy Me)

In general, any item in any of these registries is fair game, regardless of whether purchased from the keeper of the registry.

1 Registries
2 Individual items

Registries

Amazon.com Wish List

Individual items

This section of the list mostly contains items that are, for availability reasons, not on my Amazon list (see above).

Works/Diversions

I tend to make a point not to buy my own time wasters. For one thing, there's plenty with which I can distract myself at no cost to me. For another, every piece of entertainment media I actually put down money to obtain is one less thing I can keep on my ever-nebulous wish list.

Books

Science Made Stupid by Tom Weller: When I was little, I got a copy of this book as a gift, but it got way funnier as I got older. It's a hilarious parody of a junior high school level general science textbook. My copy is demolished, and unfortunately it's way out of print. Copies do exist, however. (ISBN 0395366461, Amazon (not available)) I finally got this one from Abe and Amber! :-)
Cvltvre Made Stupid by Tom Weller: I've never read this, but Tom Weller's other books have been so good that this one must be a winner as well. (ISBN 0395404614, Amazon (not available)) Abe and Amber covered this one, too...nice!

CDs

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Complete Radio Series: I just finished up listening the original first two series, actually produced by Douglas Adams. Very recently, the remainder of the story was also produced, and now, here's the whole story—all five volumes of it, plus some special bonus material. Oh, man...
The New Deal, various albums: I love The New Deal. (If their CCNOW store is being difficult, and you don't feel like messing with your settings to allow referrers, you might find this stuff in a decent indie music shop.)
- ~~The New Deal~~ (already have)
- ~~Gone Gone Gone~~ (already have in audio form, but CD might be nice)
- This Is Live
- Live:NYC 05.31.02 / 06.01.02
- Live:Portland ME 12.17.99 / Guelph ON 04.05.00
- Receiver EP

Toys

LCD monitor: I'm not familiar enough with most of the specs yet to buy one for myself, so you may wish to refer to your crack technical staff of choice on this one. What I do know is that I'd like a widescreen of at least 21 inches with a supported resolution of at least 1920x1080. (A 20" at 1600x900 wouldn't hurt my feelings, actually, but they don't seem to be all that much cheaper.)

Consumables (and consumable-related items)

Yes, I eat and drink.

Pocky: Try some yourself; you'll understand.
LOTTE Koala Yummies/Koala's March: These things are ridiculously addictive.
Alcohol: You know, I really don't drink all that much. But when I'm among others who are drinking, it is generally also time for me to drink. (I am over 21 and can legally consume, possess, and transport booze.)
- Amaretto sour: Amaretto liqueur and sour mix.
- UV Blue and Sprite.
- Mike's Hard Lemonade (and most other Mike's flavors).
Manzana LIFT: It's a Mexican apple soda produced by Coca-Cola. I don't know how one would get it stateside.
Cane sugar Dr Pepper: The description says it all.
Sugar-sweetened Fresca: For a very, very short moment, Coca-Cola sold a beverage called Citra, which was the Fresca formula refitted with non-diet sweetener. It was delicious, but it didn't catch on. It's reportedly available in other parts of the world as either Fresca or Fanta Citrus.

Pragmatic notions

Office safe: My specs are that it can hold a few important papers and other small valuables. This one seems cool, although advertised fire resistance would also be a plus. I'm no expert; trust your own judgment as appropriate.
Postage stamps: You may not realize how useful it is to have a few of these around sometimes.
Socks: We're talking just plain, black, cotton sport/work socks. I more or less completely refuse to wear socks of a different style or fabric, because they're uncomfortable, weird, and unnecessary. I also have no particular use or liking for any other color. I absolutely do not wear socks that are navy, wool, acrylic, patterned, or dress—ask my top dresser drawer if I'm lying. My shoe size is U.S. 13, and it seems more and more important that the socks be big enough for my feet. Found a bunch of socks during the move and won't be needing more for a while.

Gift certificates

Just don't. They're inflexible.

U.S. currency: The gift certificate of life. If you ask me to spend it a certain way, I will generally honor your request.

Polymathics

Piano lessons: I keep a Yamaha keyboard beside my computer and regularly mash its keys in an effort to feel better. Lately, I've been able to pick out parts of songs like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and Quasi's "A Fable With No Moral", and I think I'm improving, but I'm far from conversant. And while I can't actually play, one or two musicians I know have seemed impressed with my ability to pick a tune that's in my head out on the piano. I think I'm at that magical point where I've done enough key mashing to almost know what I'm doing, and some formal training on how I need to move my hands could possibly turn me into a viable musician.

The MIW Dance Platform

On extended hiatus. :-(