Is this contentment?

[susie_flo]

Fiends...  what the hell do I want for xmas?
 
For the first time in years I'm really struggling to think of anything that I want.  I have a handful of bits remaining on my Amazon wishlist but I'm buggered if I can think of a 'significant' present for G to buy me.  I don't really get time for most of my hobbies any more.  I already have a nice camera and plenty of books and I got some lovely jewellery for my birthday.  I think I might have hit STUFF saturation.*
    
The only gadge that I keep thinking about is a Pico Projector.  Do any of you have one?  I'm quite taken with the idea of a tiny portable one that can project high quality movies or games onto a wall for big-screen viewing,...   I think it might be cool for turning movie-watching and gaming into a fun night in with Microboy as he gets older - and for taking on holiday to places that have a rubbish TV... ooh, and we could watch movies on the ceiling while lying in bed.  It would have to be a good picture though or I'd never use it.  Also it's so damned whimsical that I'm not sure it's really justifiable.  It's either that or a babyfood blender.  (Now calm down, people, it's not that exciting!).  
   
In truth I'm thinking about scrapping presents for me this year and just focusing on Micro instead.  I'm far more excited about opening his presents anyway :-)
   
So... what are you lot hoping to get?
   

* Yeah, I know, I know. Charity....

Comments

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

How about experiences rather than things? An afternoon at a spa with guaranteed childcare arranged, theatre tickets, something like that? My parents gave me a one-day course at the Ashburton school of cookery last year, which was ace.

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Yes... I was just starting to think along those lines. It's tricky to plan activities without Microboy until he is weaned, but I guess as long as it is far enough ahead it might be perfect. Either that or a day out for the three of us.

[sarah-mum.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of it about, the Chumsband and I have a similar feeling - if we haven't already got it then we don't need it or it's way outside our budget.

So, label it as "Occupy Christmas" or "returning to the true spirit" or whatever and just enjoy the experience with Microboy.

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Yes, you are totally right. The main fun of xmas for me nowadays is the time off and the festive food... it's really not about the presents any more.

[lazy-hoor.livejournal.com]

I, Claudius on DVD. If you haven't seen it, get it. It's ace!

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Well that's a suggestion I wasn't expecting. I might just give it a watch :-)

[lazy-hoor.livejournal.com]

The sets are dated and it takes a couple of episodes to get going. There's a scene that has gladiators fighting in the background and it sounds like a couple of children going at each other with palette knives. But the acting and the stories are totes amazeballs! And it's filthy. Even by today's standards. Well, I say that but this week has seen me watching a prime minister fuck a pig and a gangster fuck his mother...

[steer.livejournal.com]

Actually it is really good... I watched it again recently with my girlfriend as she'd never seen it. It has so many fine actors and incredible performances... (and Patrick Stewart with hair). You're right though that it's slow and wallowing at times.

[chiller.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm similar. I don't know what I'm getting for Christmas/birthday, and I don't really mind if I don't get anything, as long as people remember to call me and talk to me! I suspect my 'rents and sister will give me lovely things though, as they always do.

[sara-lou.livejournal.com]

Do not give me free rein to buy for the Micro. :-)

[steer.livejournal.com]

A lot of the smaller projectors are really low quality. Of the two I've used:
One was almost invisible unless the room was in near-blackout conditions at which point it was merely dim.
The other is OK but the colours are a bit crappy. It's fine for lectures slides but you would never want to watch a film on it.

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

Yes that does worry me. It's the main reason I've refrained from getting one for so long. There are a couple out at the moment that seem to be getting better claims of brightness (e.g. Optoma PK301 - lots of people online are claiming that this works even in a daylit room and has a good picture for movies and gaming) but I am still not sure if I trust these reviews!

I suppose I can wait another couple of years to see if there are new developments...

[steer.livejournal.com]

I should say that we were definitely shopping at the cheaper end of the market so it may well be that if you're prepared to pay a little more then you can get something good.

One of ours can be seen even in quite a bright room BUT the colour and picture quality is not so good.

[ms-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping for James Mason in some form, maybe a bit of Peter Cushing and a little bit of Vincent Price and a book called Punky Knits. Though really I got my xmas wish the other night at the John Waters gig - I love him so very very much :-)

But what I'd really really like is for my folks to be in better health.

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

How about something that projects the night sky onto the ceiling so you can see the stars move even when it's cloudy? (I say this because it's something I've wanted for ages myself :-) but the idea is kind of romantic, and easy to to.

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

That is a thoroughly lovely idea... Do you have a link so I can see exactly what you mean?

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

Something like this, maybe: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Planetarium-Homestar-Theatre-Sega-Toys/dp/B005R0FMHY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1323484863&sr=8-3

You can get much cheaper ones but this one has good reviews.

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

(or you can rig up a projector plugged in to a computer using something like Stellarium or Skymap)

[the-meanest-cat.livejournal.com]

What an amazing gadge. I had no idea those existed.