You've got less then a month....

I'll admit it. I'm not a very "open" guy. Never have been. We could go into a whole bit about my childhood, try to find the source of why I don't put myself out there. But that whould be a VERY long and depressing blog. And I'm not a very open guy to begin with. So we're gonna leave all that behind us. 

One unintended side effect of my shyness is that I'm very hard to shop for. I can't even shop for myself. I'm the guy that goes to McDonald's and take 10 minutes to figure out what he wants to order. So when it comes to birthday's and Christmas's, people really don't have an idea of what I want. In back to back Christmas's, my cousin Matt bought me a football. Yes, it's one of my favorite sports. It's also one of the favorite sports for a vast majority of Americans. That's not to say I haven't gotten good presents. A couple years ago, my buddy Donavon got me an Arizona Cardinals fleece blanket. My favorite football team and a warm blanket for winter. Excellent choice. This last Christmas I got a digital camera. I really wanted one and got it. Sure it's red. but I don't have to borrow my parents camera anymore and that's a good thing. 

So, in order to facilitate a truly Happy Birthday to me, I've compiled a list of things I wish for. A "wish list" if you will. And while it is unnecessary to actually buy me anything, if you do wish to show you care about me with something physical(wink, wink), I think you'll find this blog half full with ideas. Gather together friends!!

1. The Dell XPS 7100 Desktop Computer

Fairly certain that nobody is getting me this one. But I badly need a new computer. The one I have can barely do what I need and can certainly not do everything I want it to do. I need the power that a basic bottom of the barrel computer can't pull effectively. I stream videos and music from all corners of the internet. I'm a hardcore PC gamer. At least I would like to be. I can't play anything released in the last year or so. This XPS model comes with AMD's proven Phenom processors, 6 GB of onboard memory, ATI's HD Series video cards and plenty of harddrive space. Not anywhere near the top of the line, liquid cooled gaming monsters, but enough to keep me competitive. The base price of this 500 bucks but the standard option Is the one I'm dreaming of. It's 700 smackers.

2. Turtle Beach Ear Force Z2 Gaming headset

http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/pc-gaming-headsets/ear-force-z2.aspx

 This one is much closer to the ball park that I think people think I'm worth. The Turtle Beach Ear Force Z2 Gaming headset delivers excellent sound quality using a 50 mm main speaker that's angled so the sound goes directly into the ear canal. Padded ear cups allow for comfortable long term gaming and the ear pieces rotate so they lay flat against the chest when taking breaks. It's foldable design make the ideal for taking them on the go. Standard jack system allows for them to be used with cell phones and MP3 players and comes with an optional cable that allows it to be used with your Xbox. And considering other, simular headsets from SteelSeries and Razor cost over one hundred dollars, this pair is a steal at 69.99!

3. StarCraft 2

http://us.starcraft2.com/index.xml

OK. Last computer oriented gift, I swear. StarCraft 2 is the long overdue sequel to the game that got me hooked on gaming. StarCraft was released back in 1998 and has sold over 11 million copies. Now, I had played computer and console games for years before this game but it was the first one that I really dove into. learning strategies and introducing me to hotkeys(sounds a bit naughty, huh?). StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is the first installment of a trilogy. Each Installment will highlight a single player campaign based on the 3 different playable races in StarCraft 2. Wings of Liberty is the Terran campaign. The biggest part of SC2 isn't the single player mode though. It's the massive online ladder system. A newly redesigned battle.net(Blizzard Entertainments online community) tracks achievements, as well as places you in divisions based on your skill as a player. The thing is... my computer only meets the minimum hardware requirements. 59.99!

4.Star Wars: The Clone Wars on DVD

http://www.walmart.com/ip/12309352

Is my geek showing. YES!! I am a huge fan of movies and television. And while any action or comedy DVD will make me pretty happy, this one will make me a smidgen more happy then the rest. I missed most of the 3 seasons of the fanboy heaven so if I could get them on dvd, that would be pretty cool. 40 bucks for the Blu ray copy of season one. And yes, I have a blue ray player.... well, access to one!

5. Brewers Tickets

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=mil

Footballs over. Let's all take a moment of silence....

Alright, that's enough. Our national past time is back. No, I'm not talking about Nascar. Players are reporting for spring training which means baseball season is just around the corner. And I would like to take in a game or two. I couldn't name all the players but I know the more notorious ones. But I love having a good time with friends and I can never turn down a chance to grill out in a parking lot. If your gonna spring for tickets, don't get the nose bleed ones. I'm not saying get a private box suite, but I would like to see the baseball while it's getting thrown around!

6. Gregory Miwok 18 Pack

http://www.rei.com/product/811201

I want to get more active. And since I plan on moving some day to California, Hiking seems to be something I could get into. I already go rafting every year with some family and friends so a pack like this seems ideal for starting to really get into more active, outdoor activities. It's got a sleeve for a hydration pack. a 3 point compression systems to keep the backpack snug against the body, and it looks cool in the Iron Gray color scheme(the green one is ridiculous, I think). it's a bit pricey at 99 bucks but it will get plenty of use, believe me!

Alright. That's it. Gives you some idea of what I would like for my birthday. If, in your travels, you see something cool that's related to TV, movies, computers, or gaming, go for it. I'm not picky and I'm sure I can guarantee I'll like it if it falls within those categories. In the end though, Just being my friend and/or family is enough. Thanks for that. I appreciate it! 

Later.

From one end to the other: Valentines day.

Do you remember Saturday morning cartoons? I personally could not get enough of them back in the day. I would always be up at the buttcrack of dawn to watch the Animaniacs, Bobby's world, Digimon, etc. But before all that is my favorite cartoons of all time, Looney Toons. Bugs, Daffy, Yosemite Sam, Porky the Pig, Taz, and my personal hero Marvin the Martian. And then there was the ever persistent Willey Coyote, chasing the road runner in the same desert for over 40 years. One of the most iconic visuals from the Looney Toons era was Willey running off the edge of a cliff. His legs kept running, head up, staring straight at his target.....  Until he saw where he was.  

That kinda describes what valentines does to me each year. My birthday is less then a month away, the frozen tundra starts to melt just a bit, and spring is just around the bend. Beautiful time of year. Then this holiday comes along. And I love holidays. I like to participate in holiday activities. Usually, Valentines activities include dinner and the buying of chocolates, and roses, and stuffed animals who have their lips sewn together(which is only a little disturbing as far as sentiments are concerned).  But I have the same problem, it seems, each year. I have no one to buy this stuff for. 

Now if you were to over analyze that last sentence, you might say I would only love someone for the holiday. But that's not true. I really am looking for the person I can love the other 364 days of the year. but I also have not been actively looking. If she comes along, I'll see it. Maybe she has and I need to reconnect, who knows. But I like not being in a hurry. I have friends and family on both sides of the Love Spectrum. My parents that have been married for 25+ years and are still in love with each other.  Friends who have just gotten married this past year. Several friends and family who are engaged. Some single friends who are just fine being that way,  and even friends who have recently become single and want nothing to do with this holiday. 

For me, love goes to each in their own way. My family for the support, my friends for their council and to each woman that has come and gone in my life. Each of them have shown me love in their own way and I have loved each of them differently. While the love for some have been more intense then others, the love I felt for all of them is still there, somewhere in the back of my mind. And while the one love that will fill my heart has not done so just yet, I'm sure it will. 

 "Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."