Wish List ‘07

Each year, Mom and Tim both ask if there is anything in particular I would like for Christmas.  For Tim at least, I try to come up with a couple of things.  Left to their own devices, Tim and Jackie can come up with some strange stuff.  Like, have we met?  When I say “strange,” I am being kind.  When I am being less than kind, I say “useless,” “weird,” or “stupid.”

So I usually give Tim a couple of ideas.  This year was difficult, because my wish list was comprised almost entirely of items that I would have to select myself, along with a couple of things that were out of anyone’s price range (including my own).

Last year’s wish list was full of music and movies.  This year, it’s about cooking, sports, and home.

I managed to find a few items for Tim’s list:

Gutter guards.  He knows I want these.  He also knows I want him to install them, after cleaning the gutters which have gone too many years without.  He ain’t looking forward to it, so he may pass.  Dang.

Small cupcake stand and a chocolate melter.  I provided him with the flyer pages for these.  Otherwise, he would have had no clue, and I likely would end up with a muffin pan and a fondue pot.  I specifically noted that I wanted the 13-cupcake stand.  The melter, I’m hoping, will make the chocolate covered pretzel process even quicker and simpler.  If I get a fondue pot, I’m returning it.

I could have listed a Dutch oven, too, but I thought it better to give Tim fewer options.  Another item I have considered in recent years is a marble rolling pin.  I’ve been curious to see whether they really are much better than wooden ones, but hesitant to shell out the $20-$25.  After all, it’s just a rolling pin, right?

Well, I got my marble rolling pin.  Several weeks ago, I dropped off some boxes and bags at the Salvation Army.  When I went into the store to have my list stamped so I can claim the deduction on my tax return, I browsed the two aisles of kitchenware and knick knacks.  And there was the rolling pin, for just $3.00.

I’ve used it twice already — first, on the cutout butter cookies, and second, on the crust for the apple pie I made today.  I’m loving it.  It’s nice and heavy, so no muscles are needed for rolling, and it’s less sticky than wood, so I don’t have to flour it so much (which makes for better cookies and crusts).  Additionally, it certainly would come in handy should I ever need to take down an intruder (though I think I could get a better swing with the aluminum baseball bat).

For the remainder of my wish list, I’m on my own:

Extra album pages for my Hawaii scrapbook album.  Too much room for error to entrust someone else, even semi-knowledgeable Mom.  Also, loopy brads.  (Yeah, that’s a scrapbooking thing.)

USB flash drive.  Ha.  Neither Tim nor Mom would even know that this is something computer related.

Sled tray for my Winterberry Pfaltzgraff.  I have made it clear that I do not want all the extras that Pfaltzgraff puts out for each of its patterns; however, this serving tray is darn cute.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to find it myself, so I would not send someone else on a wild goose chase.

The brown slides I saw for sale for $49.99 in JCPenney last month when I popped in and out, on the hunt for that Winterberry sled tray.  I’ll check in next week, but I am not optimistic that they will have any more in my common shoe size.

The perfect tote bag.  My previous perfect tote bag bit it a few months ago when one of the shoulder straps broke.  Oh, well, it was a good seven-year run.  I have yet to find a perfect replacement — perfect in size, shape, color, material, and strap width and length.  How can someone else find my ideal tote if I can’t?

Remote car starter and thermostat timers.  I’m not totally certain if I really want these items.  I’d like to believe I can handle a few minutes of cold, that I am neither princess nor hothouse flower.

Ski pants (and, for that matter, a ski parka).  Okay, Mom probably could handle this one (if I directed her to the right store(s)), but I’d rather do my own shopping for these.

New boots for my figure skates.  I have custom skates.  ‘Nuff said.

That’s not so bad, is it?  I mean, it’s not all diamonds and furs.  I should be able to find some of those items in the months ahead, and, with the exception of the skate boots, none are terribly expensive.

For now, I’ll be happy if Tim gets the gutter guards.  And installs them in the spring.

=^..^=