Grown-ups aren’t supposed to make Christmas lists…
…right?
Having hit middle-age, being a single dad, having a house already stuffed full of Legos, action figures, and foam swords, I’m not sure I could fit anything new between my bachelor pad’s four little walls.
But a guy can dream.
And so I shall…
Behold…
A Christmas List for a Nerd-Geek-Jock-Artsy-Fartsy Dad Guy
A new Alienware Desktop Computer
My gaming days (at least my PC gaming days) are long, long dead. That said, I use my computer daily, hourly, by the minute. And to maximize time, I need max efficiency paired with high-rez graphics to support my work. My current computer is…ohhhh…roughly twelve years old. It still works, but it’s slow and clunky.
Gosh…sure would be nice to unbox this baby on Christmas morning.
To sleep…perchance to dream.
*
An Art Table fit for the Gods
Anymore, all I do is draw, draw, draw, and paint, paint, paint. I hunch over my kitchen counter for hours (sometimes days) on end, creating whatever comes to mind.
And ohhhhhhhhhh, my aching back. My strained neck. My forty-something bones.
An artist needs an art table. Preferably something adjustable. Preferably not two wooden crates stacked atop one another.
Santa, please?
*
A Bose Bluetooth Speaker System
At my house, we don’t watch TV. Ever. No cable. No satellite. No sitcoms.
What do we do to fill the void? Music. At all times.
Now…I love my itty bitty Bluetooth sound box, but it’s a decade old and made for a much smaller space. It lacks the power to pump out heavy metal and the mid-range sharpness to make melancholy cello solos flow through the house.
This should probably be the top item on my list to Santa. Music is my god, and I’d like to worship harder.
*
Canon Eos Rebel T6 Camera
What’s the hardest part of being an artist? Is it learning to draw hands? Mastering the human eye? Blending abstract and realistic elements to create the perfect painting?
Nope. It’s photographing the art afterward.
I’m exaggerating, of course, but only a little. My greatest art struggles begin after a painting is finished. Seems my little compact camera never quite does the job of snapping a decent picture without subtle flaws.
Maybe I’m a crappy photographer. (Ok, probably.) But I figure an awesome camera could only help the situation.
*
A Case of Balvenie Scotch
Anyone who knows me knows I might have a little problem.
Anyways, artists (and dads) require lubrication now and then. Balvenie scotch is just the thing. It hits the spot without dulling the wits, and comes in a variety of flavors. With one or two glasses, the day’s worries melt away and the paint flows freely.
All I ask is that Santa mix it up and surprise me.
Also that he includes a set of these. And a whiskey cabinet made by these guys.
Thanks, Santa. It’s not too much to ask, is it?
*
A Viking Sword
Because…ummmmmm…
I need it for research?
As a painting reference?
To keep my unruly fan-base out of my yard?
Whatever. It looks cool. And it’s real. And it could join the other swords on my already cluttered wall.
*
*
*
*
*
Klask – the Magnetic Board Game
Rather than asking me to explain, just check it out here.
Looks cool, right?
I’ll also need a friend with which to play. It’d be best if the friend wasn’t gift-wrapped.
*
*
*
*
Giant Stretched Canvasses
Small paintings are nice. Medium paintings are neat-o.
But I want BIG. I want to paint gods and goddesses so huge they eat the room in which they hang.
These are hard to find, and Santa will probably be challenged to fit them down the chimney (might want to use the garage.)
Whatever. I don’t just want these. I need them.
Thanks.
*
A Trip to the H.R. Giger Museum in Switzerland
Where better to worship the gods than in Valhalla?
Ok, so it’s not in Norway, but it’s still home to my favorite artist of all time.
Just look at this room and tell me you don’t want to sleep there.
Right?
RIGHT?
Who’s coming with me?
Stocking Stuffers
At least 17 of these hoodies. (Because it gets cold in winter writing dark fantasy novels.)
Two sets of these things.
A Playstation 4 Pro (I’m still playing my ancient XBox 360.)
My Facebook feed to suddenly become politics-free.
Until next time,
Author, Artist, & Dad