10 Things I Want for Christmas 2011

I usually don’t post products and the like on this blog, but ’tis the season after all.  In all seriousness, I will probably at some point purchase all the things on this list, but probably no more than one of them will be purchased per year, if even that…

In rough price order (note all prices are MSRP, but most items could be had for less):

1. BRIGHT Red Skinny Jeans – $20-50?

I am talking a noxious amount of saturated redness.  I have been yet unable to find anything suitable.  The closest thing I’ve been able to find is here, but I’m dubious about both quality and sizing.  Eventually though, I will probably pull the trigger.  Alternatively, these orange ones are so ludicrous that it might be a crime to NOT buy them…

2. Villeroy and Boch Black Cascura Highball Glasses – $15 x 4

It’s not so much the black exterior as the purple interiors that draw me to these glasses.  Clearly the next step in the evolution of the Kim bar is higher class glassware.  Seeing as how we make mostly mixed drinks as opposed to cocktails, these seem more appropriate…although that being said, having some clear glasses on hand would definitely be more versatile, since all drinks have a visual component to some extent…

3. Light to Medium Grey Deep V-Neck Cardigan – $40-80?

Every time I explain this to someone, they immediately know exactly what I’m talking about, as if the image I had in my mind got directly transferred to theirs.  Their search, like mine, ends up just as empty-handed.  You would think that J. Crew would have something along these lines, but mysteriously they do not.  Maybe it has fallen so far away from the cutting edge that everyone has decided to stop making it since the supply is perilously high…

4. EliteKeys Tactile Touch Keyboard – $109

I have a super retro keyboard at home that has been put to good, good use for about 8 years now.  It’s survived 3 computer builds and has this wonderful click clack sound that most people find interesting at first, then incredibly grating and annoying.  In continuation of that trend, I present this keyboard, which is middle of the line for high quality keyboard.  It uses full mechanical switches, which allow for faster typing, better tactile response, and greater keyboard longevity.  Like any of my other planned purchases, a depressing amount of research went into this, but now I can tell you all you want to know about brown switches…

5. Filson Original Canvas Briefcase in Tan – $216

For my last birthday, my brother got me the Filson Field Satchel, which is an amazingly hardy and stiff briefcase, although a bit on the heavy side.  Definitely helps on the days where suiting up is a necessity.  That being said, the FFS isn’t really a good substitute for the Timbuk2 bag that I currently use as my workhorse bag.  It’s remarkably small and way too heavy.  Now that I know what the Filson Original Briefcase is, I’ve been seeing them all over the place as a business/casual bag.  Something eminently practical and just a tad bit distinguished that definitely gets better as it ages and develops its own patina.

6. Galaxy Nexus vs. Droid 4 – $300

I don’t really consider this a Christmas gift, since I would upgrade regardless of the season, but the timing fit, so I decided to add it.  Currently, I remain very undecided about which phone to get.  I heavily prefer having a keyboard to not having a keyboard, but constantly having access to the latest build of Android is a HARD perk to give up.  The Nexus has been pretty much reviewed to death, but nothing’s come out about the Droid 4.  The release date of the Droid 4 is currently unknown, so I may end up getting impatient and just pull the trigger on the Nexus, but only time will tell.

7. Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II Lens – $439

The only lens I own for my Canon t3i is a great 35mm f/2.0 prime lens that has largely served me well, although perhaps a bit on the tight end.  I decided that my next lens would be something of the zoom variety with a constant aperture to allow for some zoom flexibility while shooting video.  As the Canon 17-55mm EF-S lens is a bit too steep for my current lifestyle and interest level, I’ve settled on this largely well-received third party lens.  No VC here, all about sharpness.

8. Dell U2410 IPS Monitor – $549

Although this monitor is already a few years old, it still stands as one of the best entries in the true IPS (8-bit) market.  As I’ve gotten more involved in taking photos and editing/color correcting, it’s been something that has been on my radar.  It would replace a crappy 23″ Asus monitor that is nothing special anyways, and would be supplemented by a 23″ Acer TN panel that would remain in use as a gaming panel.

9. Yamaha HS80M Studio Monitors – $350 x2

I tend to like my music to have an incredibly flat frequency response, which means studio monitors here we come!  I may regret it when playing games or watching movies/youtube, but I have been lusting over something a bit more substantial in the sound department.  The striking white cones don’t hurt one bit.

10. Nomos Tangente Datum Gangreserve – €2100

What a beautiful watch.  German bauhaus engineering at its finest.  Those blue hands, they slay me.

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