A blogger I’ve been following for quite a while, Stephanie Faris, is holding a “group blog” thing. Each Thursday, everyone participating writes on the same topic and links up. Seems like a cool idea (i.e., it saves me the trouble of thinking up a topic), so why the heck not? This week’s topic:

All I Want For Christmas

Heather [??? the supplied link didn’t work so I don’t know who it is, either] came up with this game. Momma’s Christmas List. The rules are simple: Post your ideal Christmas list…money is no object.

That seems sort of open-ended, doesn’t it? I mean, if I get to pick anything I want for my list…

Stocking Stuffer:

The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S NIKKOR Lens (Amazon $2,400)

This is standard lens for the photography I’m most trained to do. Anything less is simply less.

Of course, as long as this is stuffing my stocking, I might as well add a small accessory:

The Nikon D3 12.1MP FX Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) (Amazon $5,500)

After all, if you’re going to have a nifty little lens, you might as well have a nifty little camera to hang on it. I’ve been a Nikon person since very soon after I started sports photography (they fit my hands better than Canon), and this is a “shu-weet” camera.

OK. Now for under the tree.

I’d like to have a really souped up DVR system (I Want a DVR to Die For) or several. Computers are always nice, as are fancy-schmancy smart phones with already paid-for unlimited services.

I’d also love to upgrade my art studio with a better air compressor…say something like this:

15hp Rotary Screw Compressor Tank Mounted with Dryer & Filter (around $7000)

It’s amazing how much air you need to not only run spray guns but also some of the useful tools of the trade like grinders and buffers.

But really, beyond all of that, I’d gladly just take a job writing stuff like The Connor Wars that paid enough to let me not worry about how much I’m getting paid (I’m even sort of flexible on country, at present).

Yeah, it’s weird. You do get to a place in your life when more things are just more things. This is reflected a lot in my immediate family. With no little ones to assuage, the holiday has become something more like how it was intended. Sure, if someone wants something special, we’ll try to accommodate, but we no longer really sweat the present thing too much. It’s about a time for family, not so much the avarice. As a result, I think we’ve actually been enjoying the holiday season more.