To my family:

Generally, I'm not one for wish lists. I the last time I was in the habit, I was a one digit age and going through the Christmas catalogue toy sections with a marker. I'm not comfortable with asking for presents--it feels greedy. However, this is the time of year that everyone starts scratching their heads and trying to figure out what to get everyone. In order to make the Katherine-related head scratching a little less vigorous, here are a few gift ideas. Feel free to get any or none of these things; I'm really pretty good, stuff-wise.

*winter scarves--I like them long and soft. Good colors are black, red, white/cream, blue and green, although stripes might be fun. Gloves to go with them would be ok, too.

*hot water bottles--preferabley the kind with some sort of fuzzy outer wrapping.

*Endless Nights, Wolves in the Walls, or The Day I Traded My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman--actually, he has a lot of stuff that I'd like. I have Neverwhere the book (but not the DVD), American Gods, Smoke and Mirrors, Dreamhunters, The Book of Dreams, and most of the comics already if you want to avoid duplication, but NG is a safe bet.

*Firefly, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Bend it Like Beckham, Spirited Away, Angel seasons 1, 2, or 3, or Buffy seasons 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 on DVD.

*Badger backetball (ladies or mens) tickets--weekend games are best

*Chocolate-hazelnut seashells

*Digital camera

*Double bed bedding--quilts, blankets, sheets, whatever.

*a nice bottle of Reisling

*cool stationary--I trust you guys to have at least some idea as to what I'd consider "cool" by now

*a certain candle snuffer--some of you will know exactly what I'm talking about. If you don't then never mind.

There you go. All of these are things that I wouldn't mind having, but most of them are things that I could also easily live without. A few of them are the equivalent of asking for a pony, and I think we all know that. When it comes right down to it, the best gifts come from the heart and it isn't about "getting stuff". Have fun this month, and don't stress out.

Peace.