Thursday Thirteen #19

Thirteen Things You Can Buy Me For Christmas 1. 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor - Offers broad 18 - 200mm focal range for use in a variety of situations (equivalent to a 27-300 lens in 35mm format)11x zoom coverage offers a perfect compact and lightweight, one lens solution. Price? Should be $700. Nikon can't make them fast enough, so you have to either happen upon one, or pay $1000 on ebay. 2. 60mm f/2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor - I could really use a good macro lens for taking ultra close-up photos of things. Although, of course Nikon has to be different and call their macro lenses micro lenses. They get it from the word photomicrography. But still to the rest of the world, they're macro lenses. Price? $400 at B&H 3. Slik Pro 700DX Tripod with 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head - No picture necessary, it's just a tripod. I know serious photographers who wouldn't trust a tripod that cost less than $350 - $400, but I don't use one that much. Plus, the $130 price tag for this one is enough pain for anyone. But the Slik 700DX can extend up to 73 inches, which would be nice for me since I'm a little over 73 inches tall myself. Price? $130 4. Agile AL-2900 BK (hollow bodied Les Paul copy) or Agile AS-1000 Semi-Hollow (Jazz guitar). I've stated on this blog that I really don't need a new guitar, but there is an insidious disease called G.A.S., and I have it. Guitar Aquisition Syndrome. And I could really use, if not outright need, a nice woody sounding, mellow jazz guitar. The Jazz pickup I have in the neck position of my Les Paul Studio does pretty good, but, well, It's Christmas! Price? $359 or $349, which is much cheaper than the $1500 to $2500 for 'real' Gibson jazz guitars. 5. Elite Force Aviator: George W. Bush - U.S. President and Naval Aviator - 12" Doll Action Figure - Ok, I admit it. I'm the guy who voted for Bush. Twice. And what better way to continue with my crazy ways than with an action figure of him in full pilot's outfit? Really though, won't this be a cool thing to pull out and show people in twenty years or so? Seriously. Price? $30 - $40. [Shameless self-promotion: Go read my story, Only Girls Play With Dolls...] 6. A New Desktop Computer - Any decent brand will do, with dual core processor and at least 2GB of RAM. The one I use for scanning slides and negatives and Photoshop Elements work is pretty darn slow. It's plenty fast enough for the internet, but I can't even do basic video on it. It takes a painfully long time to work with slide scans. The dozens of photos I've put on this blog represent lots of hours at the computer, mostly waiting. Each photo you've seen on here is a testament to my patience. Price? $2000. 7. A Decent Set of Tools - I've talked on this blog about being mechanically inept. I have the brain power, but zero will power to learn to work on cars. Example: Yesterday morning I changed the tail light bulbs in our 2001 Taurus and I felt like climbing on top of the house, beating my chest, and letting out a Tarzan yell; such is the level of my automobile care expertise. Price? A Craftsman set for $300 - $400 should last me the rest of my life. 8. Cannondale T2000 Touring Bicycle - I would simply love to have a really strong, high quality touring bicycle. This Cannondale is all aluminum, which would be nice protection against rust since I live on the Atlantic Coast. Price? $1500. 9. One of Those "Sleep Number" Beds - Lovely Wife and I really need a GOOD quality, king size bed. This would allow her to have it soft and me to have it like a concrete floor for my back. They cost an awful lot though. Price? $2500. For the middle range one! 10. Extreme Makeover, Home Edition - I love our house, but it needs lots of work. So much that it's overwhelming. I'd like to have Ty and the gang over and let 'em have at it. Price? incalculable. 11. Dyson Vacuum Cleaner - I'm serious here, these things are just plain cool. Price? $600. These last two are for Lovely Wife. 12. Puke Green VW Beetle - She wanted one of the old ones, and now that they have the newer ones out, she wants one of them. Plus, now that VW is advertising that with the purchase of a new car you also get a guitar, she says, "Look, Baby! I can get a car, and you can get a new guitar!" If only she knew how tempting that is... Price? $20,000 for a hardtop, $25,000 for a convertible. 13. A Big High Definition TV - Lovely Wife is the big TV watcher around here. A big TV, a DVR, and a remote control, and she's good for hours. Price? $2000. What the heck, ya know? Might as well dream big. If you are insanely rich, and want to contribute one or more of these gifts, email me, ok? The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!