Hi! My name is Ragna, and I'm so excited that posting is open ehre. I'm not expecting much for Christmas from family and my LJ friends, so I hope some of you can grant my wishes. I actually put them in order of what I want the most first (I want the movie passes the most because my son, who is in foster care, loves going to movies on our visits and I never have enough money to pay for 2 - 3 adults and 1 kid without having to save up for weeks beforehand...this is why I hate my job).

1 - Passes to AMC theaters (and it has to be AMC because that's the only one close to the visitation center we start off at).

2 - Any of the Baby Gravy Fairy merchandise from the Kingdom of Loathing store. I really want the T-shirt and the plastic figurine more than the sticker (which would go to my mother).

3 - Anything off my comics/DCAU/anime/manga Amazon wishlist (found here). I don't mind used items as long as they're in Very Good or Like New condition.

4 - A year paid time and a year of more userpics time for afteriwake (it runs out in February and with the little amount of money I make each week I can't afford to renew them).

5 - Gift cards to Starbucks, Jack in the Box or Wal Mart.

6 - Clothes. I wear a size 15/16 pant and XL for my tops. I would kill for more bootleg jeans, long sleeved T-shirts and white or black shirts for work especially. I'll take gently used clothing or new clothing, it doesn't matter to me.

7 - Postcards. I collect postcards and am always hoping to expand my collection. If they're personalized it's even better.

8 - Books and comics for my seven year old son. He loves single story, non chaptered books. Anything that has to do with Spongebob Squarepants, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Spiderman, Go Diego Go! and Transformers is perfect for him. His big thing right now are the comic book compilations that Marvel puts out of their Marvel Adventures: Spiderman series. I think he has volumes 4 and 9 right now. He also loves the Batman: The Brave and the Bold comic book series and has the Kid Eternity issue that was given away at Comic Con in San Diego this year.

9 - Fanfic. My fandoms, favorite characters and pairings are all up on my profile. I'm especially wanting fluffy Flack/Angell (CSI: NY) and Wayne/Grace (The Mentalist) fic. But I'll take anything as long as it's not NC-17, angsty or slash.

10 - Icons and other assorted LJ graphics. I love sidebar animations (please make them 150x85), userinfo graphics (575 px across) and LJ sets (headers at 760px across, FO banners at 400px across and icons) and moodthemes (I currently want one for NCIS: Los Angeles and Firefly/Serenity). And if you really want to make me happy, Jossverse banners for my team at whedonland (I'm on Team Firefly, and I want Ragna on the banners).

PM me here on Livejournal if you need my mailing address

Hi! I'm Keri, a 24-year-old grad student currently living in Buffalo. I'm a library science student doing an advanced certificate in information technology. This is my first year participating here and I can't wait to look at everyone's wishes and grant what I can! Money's tight for me and I won't have much disposable income over the holidays, but I plan to do my best to make it a great holiday season for me and everyone else. :)

1. Anything octopus/squid-related. I loves the tentacled marine animals and I collect stuff about them-- I even have an octopus cookie cutter. :D

2. Short story anthologies. I especially love horror, and especially Lovecraft/Cthulhu Mythos-inspired horror, but modern fantasy, science fiction and mystery are great too. Even pointing me in the direction of some good web-published fiction along those lines would be awesome.

3. Music recommendations. I'm a big music lover, but I just haven't had time to search out and listen to new stuff lately. I don't really know how to categorize the genre of music I like, but some of my favorite bands are Silversun Pickups, the Decemberists, Snow Patrol, Jimmy Eat World and Crowded House, and my Last.fm shows pretty much everything I listen to.

4. Perfume oils. I am completely addicted to good-smelling stuff; I love BPAL, of course, but I'm also interested in other indie perfume companies, especially Arcana and Blooddrop. I love foody/desserty scents, but not so much florals or candy-fruity scents. I have a couple of friends who I trade with who have very different tastes from mine, though, so I'll take pretty much anything. If you've got full or partial imps/samples lying around that you don't like, or you'd like a chance to enable someone to a new/obscure perfume company, I'd really appreciate it.

5. Obscure/cult horror films. I love scary movies-- good or bad, gory or psychological, English or non-English, anything. I've already seen a lot, but if you've got something to share that you don't think many people know about (DVDs, burned copies, even just recommendations), I'd love it. (I am not much for the Saw/Hostel-type torture-heavy films, but pretty much anything else is good-- some of my favorites are Re-Animator, Evil Dead, Session 9, Pontypool, etc.)

6. Flavored coffees or teas. Total caffeine addict here and I like to try different flavors of coffee/tea. I like unique, possibly even strange flavors and combinations.

7. Support your local library! Libraries are important. :)

8. Links to humor/pop-culture/time-waster sites or blogs. I spend lots of time on the interwebs, and free entertainment is always a good thing-- I like nerd humor and anything related to my interests (which you probably have a good idea of, given the above), and I'm sure I haven't seen everything the web has to offer.

9. For my boyfriend: an antique Dr. Horrible-style lab coat, or any idea of where to get one. He wanted to go as Dr. Horrible for Halloween this year, but couldn't find a "good enough" coat (he's being very picky about it, he wants real buttons and the over-the-shoulder style just like NPH's). He's odd, but he's the best thing that's happened to me in years. So I'd like to find this for him. Any help would be appreciated.

And the impossible dream:

10. A way to keep my friends together. I finally have a good, stable group of local friends, but we're probably all going to have to move wherever we can find work soon, and my financial backup plan that would allow me to live basically wherever I wanted until I found a full-time job recently fell through (lost my remote transcription job thanks to downsizing). I know we probably can't all stay together, but my biggest wish right now is that things won't change too much. I have great friends and a wonderful boyfriend and I don't want to lose any of them.

Thanks so much! Have a wonderful holiday season, one and all. :)

( My address and e-mail )

Hi everyone! This is my second year participating in holiday wishes and I'm really excited to do it again!

A little bit about me: I'm Cynthia, 27, living in Virginia and working full time at an animal rescue. This holiday season is going to be incredibly difficult for me as well as my family--it will be the first one without my little brother, who was killed in March in Iraq.

Here's my list:

1.Mail--I would love anything from cards (holiday or not) to letters to postcards or anything else you might like to send.

2. Funny stuff--I do my best to stay positive through the tough times, which includes trying to laugh. I'd love anything you think might put a smile on my face or even something that puts one on yours.

3. Donations to my brother's memorial fund--My family and I started the Jeffrey Reed Memorial Fund after my brother's death. We do all kinds of charitable work with the incredibly generous amount of money we've gotten from all over the country. If you feel compelled, any donations would be much appreciated. You will be kept up on what the foundation does through its newsletter. The foundation's address is: The Jeffrey Reed Memorial Fund PO Box 55 Chesterfield, VA 23832.

4. Perform random acts of kindness--you never know what doing something simple like smiling or holding the door can do for someone's day.

5. Apartment stuff--I just moved into a new place so I would love any type of around the house stuff like kitchen, office or bathroom items.

6. Stuff for Winston--my little salt and pepper terrier mix would love any treats, toys, or other doggie stuff you would like to send his way. :)

My contact info:
Cynthia Reed
6004 Simplicity Ct
Chesterfield, VA 23832
ReedCL82 at gmail dot com

Thanks for reading--I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.

Season's greetings, everyone! Though as I look out my window this afternoon the only trace of precipitation in the sky comes from the rolling thunder clouds overhead, I can't help but feel myself suddenly filled with holiday cheer. Even as I watch a multitude of people race across campus to escape the chill of impending winter weather, I find myself adoring this period of slowing down and nestling in to rekindle spirits and awaken forgotten relationships.

To introduce myself, my name is Andie, I am 23 years old, and I currently live in Missouri, United States. I am a full-time student pursuing a degree in sociology/anthropology, and next semester when my university implements its disability studies program, I will be pursuing a minor in that as well. I also work part-time as a special needs provider for families of children with disabilities. My main speciality area is working with those on the autism spectrum. Ultimately, my goal is to work as an advocate for those with disabilities (myself included, being hard of hearing) in legal and social matters.

Below is my season's wish list, along with a bit of information about why I am asking for each thing. I know that this may make things a bit tedious for some to read through, so don't feel badly about skipping this. For me, I find it so much easier to contemplate a proper gift when I know a bit about the person who is receiving it and their intentions therein, so it is with that thought in mind that I allow myself to get a bit long-winded. Also, if you are able to fulfill a wish of mine, please do link me to your own wishlist!

1. Tea and tea accessories. My family is full of long-time tea drinkers, but since moving out it hasn't really been a habit that I've continued for myself. Since discovering the most amazing herbal teas at my local coffee shop, I have become absolutely enthralled with the entire art of tea drinking. The problem is that I have so very little required for the pleasure of brewing and enjoying my own tea. I have a few absolute pie-in-the-sky dreams for my own tea collection, but what I would really adore would be if you could send me single servings of your own favorite teas. The availability here in this small town is so horribly limited, and I would truly love to branch out and be able to try more of what is available. If you would be willing to send me a card along with a sample or two of some tea that you absolutely enjoy, it would absolutely make my day.

2. Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab scents. I was introduced to this website last year around this time, and found myself absolutely enchanted with the descriptions of the perfumes that are available for sampling. At that time I didn't wear scents, as I was working full-time in a special education classroom, and some heavier aromas really bothered the students with whom I worked. But now that I am spending most of my time in an environment where virtually everyone wears some kind of scent themselves, I would love to be able to try out some of these for myself. I have a personal affinity for scents of the earth: woods and mosses, musk and amber. I also love fruity scents that add a certain tang to an otherwise deep mixture. Orange and lemon, fig and cheeries. Even if it's only enough for a single splash, I welcome the opportunity to sample.

3. Books dealing with subjects of gender or disability. Not only are these very pertinent for my academic pursuits, but I also have a very deep personal interest in these subjects. There are some wonderful volumes of text out there that I would just love to get my hands on. From Judith Butler to Kate Bornstein for gender, and Eli Clare or Harriet McBryde Johnson for disability, I would absolutely love to receive as many books as I possibly can dealing with disability and/or gender studies. If you have any lying around that you would be willing to pass my way, I would absolutely adore that. If not, you can find some of my wants on my Amazon Wishlist. Please, please, please feel free to buy used.

4. Ear Gear hearing aid protectors. The order form can get a bit confusing, so I do hope that the link above will point you to the specific order form for the style I most need. If not, I am looking for the Ear Gear Original Cordless. I have a couple of pairs of these, but I am really looking to build a collection of any color except beige. These have far and away been the best product I have found in my quest to protect my hearing aids from all manner of weather and trauma. Words can't describe how thrilled I am with this product, not only for its ability to save my hearing aids from moisture, dust, dirt, and shock from the occasional ripping from my ear, but also because they make my beige aids stylish! Wearing a brightly-colored pair of ear gear draws attention to my already-visible aids in the best of ways. Especially when I'm working with kids, it really helps to make my disability a more approachable thing. So any color of these I can get, I would be so thrilled.

5. Any rough cut or polished gemstones or pretty rocks you may have. When I was younger, my family and I took many trips to nature reserves and parks. In so many of these places, there were giftshops selling every kind of gemstone and rock imaginable. I absolutely treasured the times when I was allowed to pick out a handful for myself. Unfortunately, most of these have gone missing throughout the years. Just last year I became extremely interested in the various properties of gemstones and rocks. I received a book outlining some of the uses and beliefs about certain stones, and it really sparked my love for the beautiful rocks even further. If you are in a position where you have the ability to send some rocks or stones my way, I would love that.

6. Anything dealing with the lynx. Please be advised that while the lynx is a kin of the bobcat and other wild felines, it is in a genus all its own. The easiest way to know if an animal is a lynx is by the tufts of black hair that stick up from the top of their ears. Ever since discovering this beautiful animal when I was in elementary school, I've felt an intense pull towards it. Reading the mythology of the animal has solidified in my mind that the lynx is either meant to be a member of my totem, or a spirit guide of mine. For those not aware of Native American animism that might make little sense, but to me the image of the lynx holds intense spiritual connections. Unfortunately I've been completely unable to find anything relating to them around this area. If you can find anything at all, large or small, in any form, that holds the lynx image, I'd adore having it.

7. A worry stone or string of kombolói. My friend brought me back a string of worry beads from Italy a few years ago, but unfortunately I believe that my roommate took it with her when she moved out. To share a bit of personal information about me, I am a sufferer of obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as having some anxiety issues. Having something repetative for my hands to do really helps me a lot. It allows me to focus and channel some of my excess energies into safe, healthy pursuits as opposed to doing things that might otherwise cause problems. I absolutely love worry stones and worry beads, and would so love it if I could have one or a couple for myself. Any style would work.

8. 1/2 inch plugs, eyelets, or earskins for stretched ears. This request might not be one that many people in this community can understand or fulfill, but I have my ears stretched to 1/2 inch, and would love to build a collection of gorgeous jewelry in this size, as I have no intentions of going any larger. I know that when people are making their way through the sizes of stretching, they often accumulate a lot of jewelry that is no longer useful to them. If anyone has any in 1/2 inch lying around that they would be willing to give to me as a gift this holiday season, that would make me extremely extremely happy. My ears don't do very well with wood or silicone (except for earskins), but anything else at all would be brilliant.

09. For everyone looking for a good book to read to check out a book about autism. There's tons out there, but I truly prefer the first-person accounts of Temple Grandin, Sean Barron, Sarah Stup (my personal favorite!), or Liane Holliday Willey. So many people base their perceptions of autism on Rain Man or other vastly stereotypical media sources. I can't believe how many people have asked me if the kids I work with can count toothpicks like "that guy" (less than 10% of the autistic population is comprised of savants) or think they don't hear them when they talk (they do!). Please, please pick up a book by someone who has actually lived with this, and preferably not one that is neurotypically-centric (that is, not one whose whole aim is on "rehabilitation" or "cures). And if you do, please please please contact me and tell me what you thought of it!

10. For everyone to approach this holiday season knowing how truly cared for they are. I know that this time of year puts great stress on all of us, and the pressures of a consumerist society means that those who aren't able to give as much monetarily feel as though they don't measure up against those with bottomless pocketbooks. The changing of the seasons and the period of lengthier darkness for those of us in the northern hemisphere often lends itself to bouts of depression. I just want everyone to know how truly, truly treasured you are. Even in the times that you feel most alone, even if you don't believe in a greater power. You are all so worthwhile and beautiful. So my ultimate holiday request is that any of you who ever feel like they're having a hard time please, please, please reach out to a caring hand. If you don't feel like any are available, reach out for mine. My contact information is found just below.

For anyone who feels that they are capable of fulfilling a wish, you can reach me through the following information:

Andrea Davis
2408 North East St
Kirksville, MO 63501
United States
andavis86@gmail.com

Thank you so much, and may you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Hey all you groovy holiday kitten kats! My name is Amy but most call me SIN, it's short for SINicallyTwisted. ;0) I'm a 33 year old artist here in the New England area. I attend many comic book conventions from Boston to New York and every 2 years to Pittsburgh. LOL! Yeah, that means I'm a comic book geek! ;0p

Unfortunately though, I was laid off this year, so that kinda sucks. Blahhhh.

This is my 2nd year of doing Holiday Wish Lists, thanks to my rockin' awesome friend fieryredhead whom introduced me to it. I fell in love with the idea and try to help out the best I can every year. ;0)

Let see here, what wishes can I think of?

1. More LJ Friends! - I love meeting people! Whether it be online or at shows. hehehe! ;0)

2. Prince Matchabelli Cotton Candy Body Spray - I LOVE this body spray and use it all the time, even at shows, which has pretty much become one of a few of my 'signatures' (the other is bright red hair!) but I use so much of it that it's becoming increasingly harder and harder for me to locate it.

3. Anything with the word SIN on it - Since everyone calls me SIN a lot, I've grown a fondness to anything that has the word SIN on it. T-shirts, mugs, stationary, you name it! Whether it's store bought or handmade, I love it!

4. Sewing Patterns - Asides from working on artwork and going to shows I also love to sew during the weekends and recently got back into it. I think I just love being hands on creative! ;0p

5. Sewing Tutorials or Tips - Since I'm so rusty at sewing (late teens/early 20's was the last time I played around with a sewing machine) I would love to learn more accurate terms and How To's on the subject. Some of it has come back to me but I've forgotten a lot. ;0(

6. Fabric - This is a given isn't it! hehehe but yeah I would love any fabric, even fat quarters! ;0)

7. JoAnn Gift Cards - Another given huh, but JoAnn's does have some art supplies as well.

8. Jem & The Holograms - Anything related to Jem & The Holograms! I'm a HUGE Jem fan! Even cosplayed as Halloween Jem back in 2006. ;0)

9. The Little Mermaid - Anything related to The Little Mermaid! I love The Little Mermaid! Both Disney's version and the original Hans version. Big mermaid fan!

10. Surprise Me! ;0)

So there you have it, my 2009 Holiday Wish List. Hope to meet lots of uber cool new people and may all of your holiday wishes come true!!!

*kisses & hugs!!!*
~SIN

( Mailing Address & Email )

Hello again, fellow Holiday-ers! This is my fourth year in this community, and I was very much looking forward to it this time around. Online I am known as Kiki, but I will provide you my real name below. I am 25 years old, living by myself on the Illinois side of St. Louis. Despite holding two jobs, I am still broke (bloody bills!), but I will do my best to fulfill some wishes.
I've already started a prayer list for those of you who requested such. I have lots of movies to give away as well. That said, here is my list.

1. My pie-in-the-sky wish is a printer for my computer. I have a bad history with those things, and no excuse for such. We just do not get along. Alas, I still need one. I have Windows 7 (and that, among other things, is why I'm broke, ha ha).

2. Monty Python stuff. Despite this being one of my major fandoms, I am severely lacking in quantity. I already own Holy Grail on DVD, but that's all! So...episodes of the show (VHS or DVD), books, posters, a dead parrot (just kidding)...all would be wonderful!

3. Along the same lines, I wish for movie posters, or any kind of posters, really. My walls could use a bit more oomph. I have a lot of Harry Potter and the Beatles...I'd like some horror/sci-fi movie posters. (A Children of the Corn poster would be smashing!) Check out my profile for ideas.

4. These movies (VHS or DVD is fine): Troll (1986), Trick 'r Treat (2009), any of the Friday the 13th movies, the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Movie, and the TV series "Fawlty Towers" with John Cleese.

5. New RL friends. Anyone live in the vicinity of Edwardsville, Collinsville, Bored-out-of-your-mind-ville, Illinois? Can we hang out or chat? :)

6. Be good! E.T. says so. Save the planet, adopt a child or pet, smile at a stranger, grant wishes! Negative energy tends to accumulate during the holidays, especially if you work in retail. Don't get caught up in the petty things...remember what Christmas is really about.

That's about it. Have a lovely season. My information is below. If you plan to send me something, drop me a line via comment or e-mail first so I can keep track. Thanks! :) :) :)

( Contact info )

My friend Jenn:

"I don't have boyfriends. I have confidence intervals!"

Yeah, we're grad students. Also known as DORKS.

I so want to see this!

My holiday_wishes list for the year!

http://community.livejournal.com/holiday_wishes/1472952.html


( Read more... )

Hey there.  It's Waldo, back for year... 4?  I think.   I'm a 4th grade teacher in a very inner-city school.  You know the ones: if I want them to do a poster, I have to give them the posterboard.  All of my kids get free lunch... that kind of school.  So some of what I'm asking for is for me and some is for them. 

Just a quick note: used media is my friend.  Books, CDs, DVDs that need a new home are very welcome. 
Textile stuff (yarn and such - anything I can't wash in hot water) that has been in home with or around cats is extremely problematic for me due to an absolutely insane allergy. 

One additional note: I am not a Christmas person.  I'm a Yule/Winter Solstice person if you find anything along those lines, but more importantly, I am not a Christmas person.  Thanks.

My list:
1.  Crochet stuff: Yarn, hooks, patterns/books for someone who is very much a beginner.   I'm planning on crocheting cat/small animal toys for people on this list, so even remnants can be put to good use.

2.  Fandomish stuff.  Trade books, fics, icons, whathaveyou.  My big favorites right now are NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS, Torchwood, House and White Collar. If anyone felt up to making cover art for any of the stories at my smallwaldo journal, that would be awesome.

3. Stuff for my students.  There's lots we need, like colored computer paper or construction paper.  Markers/Crayons/Colored pencils.  Chapter books!  For kids in 3rd and 4th grade (Think Goosebumps or Hannah Montana/Mary Kate and Ashley  type things).  They also like non-fiction books that are made for children.  Animals, outer space, careers...  Also, postcards!  I'd love to have postcards and/or letters from all 50 states and as many countries as we can manage.  Just a quick hello (a few words in your native language if it's not English would be awesome) and a note about what makes your country/region special would be fantasitc! 

4. Ferret Stuff: treats made for ferrets, bedding (hammocks and little cuddle cups and the like)  Or ferret stuff for humans.  t-shirts (size L or bigger), jewelry  or whathaveyou.  If you aren't sure what's good for ferrets you can check either my Amazon list or pretty much anything at Doctor's Foster and Smith Ferret Store.  (If you're looking at snacks, my ferrets have dietary 'issues' - read: old and fat issues. :)  They like Bandits and the dried chicken bits - not the stuff that's like jerky, the stuff that's like styrofoam)

5. Photography Stuff.  I recently got a dSLR camera.  It's a Canon XSi.  I could use any kind of accessories that you think of.  Data cards, filters, lenses, a better neckstrap... pretty much anything that will fit that camera.  Including gift certificates to places like snapfish.com or shutterfly.com.  There's a few things on my Amazon list if you're wondering what accessories my camera can take.

6.  Coffee type stuff.  Little one-pot packets, whatever... I'm pretty good to try anything once.  Unless it's that bizarre pumpkin stuff.  Not a fan of the pumpkin flavored anything. :)  Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts cards also will certainly be put to good use.  (* last year someone sent me some *AMAZING* caramel coffee - it came in a flat, silver packet... I'd love to at least get the name of that brand, since I was a dork and tossed the package before noting it.  Thanks!)

7. Idiot proof recipies - I seriously dislike cooking, but I'm kind of bored with the same 6 things I can cook without screwing up.  I have a small crockpot, a George Foreman grill and basic apartment appliances.  Assume that if I can screw it up, I will, so you know, feel free to dumb down the cooking terms as far as you can. :)  I don't eat seafood or much in the way of pork, but chicken, beef, pasta, vegetarian... that's all good. :)

8. Fun Socks/Slippers. It's chilly here in Chicago and I have hardwood floors in my apartment.  I have a size 6.5 shoe.  While on a trip this past fall I found socks specifically sized for 6-7 shoes (as opposed to the norma 5 - 9 that end up getting all saggy and loose) I'd love more socks that are made to fit that well.

9.  The good old standby:  My .  Which is full of all kinds of stuff. :)

10. And my one big thing: a netbook.  I'm a Mac person when I have the choice, but I'd love to have a little tiny netbook that I can carry around in my backpack when I don't want to bring the whole big Mac laptop.  Not looking for a particular brand or anything.  Even a used one that still gets online and has a battery life of more than an hour would rock.


If you feeling so inclined to help me out, you can ask for an address at smallwaldo@gmail.com.  If you're thinking of sending a card or letter to my students, please let me know as I'll have you address it to them and send it to the school.  Please put Wishlist or something like it in the subject line of the email so I make sure to get back to you ASAP.  Thanks so much for looking over my list!

Hi, everyone. I'm Tonya, and this is the second year that I've done this (though not consecutively. I believe 2006 was my first year. I'm 31 and live in Kansas, USA.

It's been a rough year, but things are starting to look up. I'll be getting back to work (my first real job in almost five years) in January, and hopefully back to school within a year. My family (Parents and I) had a home fire in January. We weren't insured, and Dad spent the first 8 months of the year on worker's compensation, so putting things back together was a little rough. Luckily we had absolutely incredible support from our church, family, and friends. They gave us back our home, and so I'm hoping to be able to give back to some other people this holiday season. We're still pretty broke, but we're getting through it.

So anyway, here's my list.

1. There are a few charities that I'd really like to see get some support this year. I'd be thrilled if you could give your time or your money to Habitat for Humanity, particularly for their Gulf Recovery program. Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf 4 years ago, and they're still a long way from recovery. The need there is still tremendous. Heifer International runs a great program meant to lift people out of poverty in a sustainable and re-creatable way. If you have some spare books lying around or spare DVDs, Comic Books, etc, think about sending them to a deployed soldier through Books for Soldiers. There are a few hoops to jump through these days, but it's so worth it. I have a family friend in the National Guard. He's spent four of the last eight years deployed overseas and will soon be leaving again. He has lots of people to write him letters, and send him the small creature comforts that we take for granted, but he's always telling us about buddies who never receive anything and how that can just drag them down.

2. I'd love a layout for my journal made just for me. I'd really like to have a Leverage layout (especially one that featured Eliot and/or Parker), but I'd adore something non-fandom related as well. A left side-bar is a must, and In really need easy to read text. I don't like pink, but other than that I'm good with pretty much any possible color scheme.

3. For the fannish types out there I'm looking for fanfic and fanvid recommendations in some new to me fandoms. I'm not picky about genre or pairings (Gen, het, slash, and femmeslash are all fine with me), but these alternate between the tiny, I don't know where to look fandoms and gargantuan, I don't know where to start fandoms. These are: The Spectacular Spiderman animated series (the newest of the animated series where they are in high school, I've tried all the comms I know for Spiderman), Tin Man, The Mentalist, dueSouth, The Sentinel, and The Dresden Files.

4. Be kind to retail workers -- I think this is something different from the standard Random Acts of Kindness. It is so very easy to get caught up in the stress, rush, and craziness of the holidays. Our tempers can be short with everyone, and employees of retail stores tend to be on the receiving end of that more than most people. Just try to remember that they're just trying to do their job. Their day has probably been just as stressful as yours, and yelling at them really doesn't help. If you're having a good enough day to remember, a simple thank you is something that is pretty rare and always appreciated.

5. Books -- New, used, digital, it doesn't matter to me. I love to read, and lost nearly 300 books in the fire. I'm slowly rebuilding that collection, but I'd appreciate anything I got. I'd love to have anything that really struck a chord with you, or made you see the world in a different way. Fiction or non-fiction, it's all good. I have a particular weakness for the urban fantasy genre and post-apocalyptic sci-fi, but I'll read pretty much anything but romance novels. Graphic novels to Westerns to Lit-fic to social commentaries. I love it all.

6. Cookbooks/Recipes -- I feel like these need a separate entry, because I really really want them separate and apart from my desire for fun and interesting things to read. I love to cook, and between my mom and I we probably lost 100 cookbooks. Mom prefers good old-fashioned homestyle cooking, but I'm particularly fond of regional and ethnic specialties. I love Indian and Thai food especially, and baking. If I could only ever get one cookbook back that I lost, it would be the More With Less cookbook. Best granola and high-protein cookie recipes I've ever found, and I miss them a lot. I'd also take copies of any of your favorite recipes, whether they're written out on a card and mailed, or just e-mailed to me.

7. Spices -- This is probably the most expensive thing to replace in our kitchen. I'm getting there, slowly, but I could still use almost any spice, particularly specifically asian or Indian spices. A few years ago, someone sent me a huge jar of Garam Masala. It was a Turkish import and the secret ingredient in my holiday turkey. It will be missed this year, but I'd love to get more of it, or even just find a supplier so I can have it again next year. (round plastic bottle about five or six inches tall with, I believe a gold or yellow plastic lid. Most of the label was in script I can't read, but I do remember that it said it was from Turkey, mostly because it always amused me that it was my #1 turkey ingredient)

8. Avenue Gift Cards -- I mentioned that I'll be starting a new job in January. They don't require me to dress up a whole lot, but I will be expected to have business casual attire. I haven't had to wear anything fancier than jeans and basic pullover type shirts in so long that I'm not sure I have anything to wear. I know I'll be getting a little money in December that I plan to put towards a work wardrobe, but a little extra couldn't hurt. I love Avenue's clothes, and it's the only store that I've ever been able to buy a shirt at which I didn't have to have altered to fit properly, so this would be much appreciated.

9. Jewelry -- I used to have about a million necklaces, bracelets, and rings (size 8 1/2 or 9). I'm looking to start rebuilding my collection. I prefer white metals to gold (sterling silver and stainless steel are my favorites) and love things with no stone or pretty much any colored stone. My birthstone is garnet, and I love them. Other favorites include green amber, hematite, opals, jade, and pearls (real or glass, doesn't matter). Even just something simple would really make my day.

10. And the requisite seemingly impossible item -- My laptop, quite miraculously still works, but I'm scared to death that it could die at any moment. The case is kind of melty, and it's just not quite right. I'd really like to replace it. It wouldn't have to be new and I'm not picky on platform. I would like something at least as good as it was, which isn't very. It's old (2002) with 512 MB of RAM and an 80 GB hard drive, running Windows XP. It's plenty of computer for my day-to-day use. If you've got an old one sitting around gathering dust, I'd be pleased as punch to take it off your hands. Like I said, I'm not picky about platform. I'm familiar with Windows, Mac, and several builds of Linux.

Wow, this ended up much longer than I had really intended. Thank you to everyone who takes a look, whether you send anything or not. Also, a big thank you to the maintainers of the comm. If you need my physical address, you can e-mail me at delwyncole (at) cox (dot) net. Thanks again and Merry Christmas, or happy whatever holiday you celebrate.

(That's 'holiday wishes' in Chinese!)
I'm a Bostonian teaching abroad for one year in Gongyi, Henan. It's a rather out-of-the-way city, without many foreigners or foreign influence. It's nice to be more immersed in modern Chinese culture without those pesky foreigners everywhere, but it can make a girl feel a bit cut off. And that's where the wishes come in.
1) I would really, really like a letter. Or a postcard. Tell me about your hometown, or your pet dog. Anything. I don't get much mail, just the occasional care package from home, and every piece of mail I get brightens my day.

2) Similarly, I'd love a surprise. I'm not picky, and I have a well-developed sense of whimsy.

3) Queer-positive anything. Websites, blogs, magnets, hankies, inspirational quotes, whatever. I know of one other not-straight person in this city of one million, and I haven't even met her. I know there are others here, but having a little emotional support never hurt anyone.

4) Good fanfic recs. I read Harry Potter, pretty much any pairing, but I prefer femmeslash and slashyslash. I like multi-chaptered fics, but my only requirement is impeccable grammar.

5) Music! I like country, europop, trance, folk, classical, techno, fado, bluegrass, industrial, metal (German)... I'll try anything. I've been on a country/europop kick for a while though (weird, weird mix), so if you have a favorite track in either genre, let me know!

Thank you so much! If you leave a comment or PM me I'll email you my address, and if you tell me yours I'll definitely send something back. Zaijian!

A Quick Blurb About Me: girl-shaped and 27 years old. I’ve been doing holiday wishes since it started and never cease to be amazed and touched by the many kind people that participate. I have a goal every time of trying to grant at least 100 wishes, so here’s to aiming for another year! Here are my 10 wishes this time...

1. Holiday Mail
My biggest and most important wish - cards, postcards, notes, letters – anything really! I don’t have any blood-related family so I don’t get much mail in general aside from bills. I always use the cards to decorate my apartment as I get them so it really makes the place feel festive and happy.

2. LJ Friends
Because I’d like to have an active friends list again. A lot of the people I’ve known online for the last 7+ years have kind of drifted away. Check out my profile for details – if we have some things in common, please friend away!

3. Labyrinth (1986 film) related stuff.
I Labyrinth. I really, really love Labyrinth – it’s the theme for my bedroom and I cosplay as Jareth at least twice a year, so Labyrinth related stuff is awesome; old newspaper clippings, any of the books/comics/photobooks, a drawing you’ve made yourself of Jareth or the goblins (I actually can’t stand Sarah), something that’s a barn owl – I just can’t get enough Labyrinth stuff really.

4. Celtic Design Jewelry
New or used, triskelions, triquetra, Celtic cross - I’m not picky, I just love these designs and adore having any jewelry that reflect those beautiful works of art.

5. Things from Ireland
Honestly if someone could get me a chunk of Irish sod I’d squee for a few months like a lunatic. I want one for my altar space sooooooo much. Seriously, no joke. Or, you know, I’d be happy with postcards, pictures, tourist-y kistch, etc. too. I’m especially fond of Co. Galway and Connemara (Kylemore Abbey is so pretty!).

6. Things from Ukraine
Especially from Kiev. I love religious icon artwork, Orthodox crosses, pictures, egg ornaments, postcards, and anything of the Monastery of the Caves is extra awesome. Things in the Old Slavic language too are extra awesome.

7. Nag Champa Scented Things
Specifically Satya Sai Baba Nag Champa - I love this scent! Incense, soap, perfume oil, or those nifty little balm pots – they stopped selling them locally and this makes me very sad. I’ve heard there are also Nag Champa candles – I’d love to have some if they exist!

8. Artwork
I have some fandom and cross-fandom characters and pairings I’m dying to have drawings of, but I can’t draw worth beans. Almost all of it of it’s Labyrinth or Vampire Chronicles related, so if you’re an artist that doesn’t mind drawing slash pairings and is interested in granting this wish, I can get you details and some reference pictures. If slash pairings are you're think I'm still always interested in drawings of single characters by themselves too.

9. Queer Stuff
Rainbow colored buttons, stickers, an old pride flag maybe you don’t want anymore – anything really! GLBT book recommendations are welcome too.

10. Star Ornaments
Any five-pointed or seven-pointed star ornaments. I hang them up on my wall in place of having no photos to put up.

( My Address... )

Hello everyone!!! =)
I’m Alessandra, 30, from Italy and I’m an elementary teacher.
I believe it's my 3rd year of participating and I can’t wait to start granting some wishes!
Here are mine:

- Makeup that I can’t find here in Italy, especially Bare Escentuals, Mac, Urban Decay eyeshadows, Opi nail polish.

- Anything from London: it’s my favourite city in the world and I’d really love to receive postcards, souvenirs etc…anything that could remind me this wonderful city!

- Anything about the Phantom of the Opera’s London stage production or anything West End related.

- Sweets and chocolates ;) I am a total chocolate girl but any and all candy is welcomed!

- Holiday cards!

- Handmade anallergic jewelry or any other handmade accessory.

- School supplies for my children at school: stickers, pens, notebooks, etc…

- Surprises: Something you stick in an envelope or in a package and surprise me with!

- Good vibes/prayers/fingers crossed for my family!

Thank you and have a great Holiday Season!

If you need my address, email me at alessandra.poletti@gmail.com - thanks!
And please include a link to your wishlist as well.

Love this community, and I'm so happy to be part of it again. What a great dose of Christmas spirit with which to start the holidays!

Here are my wishes:

1. Join my community and do all you can to be an active participant. Since the LJ cut refuses to work for me, here's a link: http://community.livejournal.com/betherevolution/profile. Participation there has slowed to a crawl (including my own due to things going on in real life) and I’d like to have it pick up again. If you want to talk about making a difference in the world, discuss your favourite causes, read about the causes of others, please join! I only ask that you try hard to be active. I’m more likely to get motivated myself if I know people are paying attention. If you’d like to friend me as well, I’m all open for that.

2. An iTunes gift card is always nice. I love music and never seem to have enough.

3. Anything snowman themed. I love my snowmen.

4. Holiday cards are always loved and welcomed happily.

5. Holiday decorations, whatever they might be. I’d love to have some new ones to help decorate my new house.

6. Music in the form of a downloadable file, burned CD, or even just a recommendation. I’d love the music to be something that expresses a message you believe in. I love message/socially conscious songs, and I’m always looking for new ones to check out. If you’d like to explain to me why the music speaks to you in that way, bonus!

7. Anything having anything to do with Africa. I’ve grown to have a deep love of the continent, and would love anything at all to do with it, be it books, art, or whatever.

8. To complement the one above, anything to do with African American history. It’s the area of history that fascinates me the most, and I’m trying my best to collect whatever I can on it.

9. Check out this link http://www.covenanthouse.com/ and if you can find it in your heart to donate to them, that would be wonderful. This time of year is the hardest for street kids in many ways, and anything you can do to help them would be great, even if you want to donate to another organization or in a more personal way. I’d love to hear about it if you donate, or even if you sign up for the newsletter. It’s one of the subjects about which I’m most passionate, so anything you can share about the subject at all, including personal experiences, would touch me to hear.

10. Throw away any preconceived notions that you might have about any group of people, be they regarding race, gender, sexual orientation, criminal record, religion, culture, political affiliation, or whatever else you can think of. Examine why you have those feelings and try to get rid of them, because things like that do the world no good and hold back progress. We’re all human beings, and we all deserve understanding and compassion. Just because someone is different from you and/or has experienced things that you have not does not mean there’s something wrong with them. Without tolerance, the world will not become a better place.


Thanks so much for reading! Please e-mail me for my address if you can grant any of my wishes. E-mail is thegayle@gmail.com. Please put "Holiday Wishes" in the subject line.

Happy Holidays!

Everyone was stirred crazy, even the mouse. Hello! I'm Nancy. 36, single mother, living in California. I've been with the comm, since it was conceived. I'm OG hardcore. J/K! I hope you have a great holidays this year. Let's move on to my list of wishes, shall we.

1. Amazon Wishlist - anything on my wishlist will make me happy.

2. Tokidoki handbags - I've always dreamed of having one and never could find it. If you have one and you don't want it anymore, I'll give it a good home.

3. MAC or HIP makeups - I love me some MAC or HIP makeups, if you have unused ones sitting around. I'll be happy to have them.

4. Xmas Ornaments - I love Xmas ornaments. I collect them, too. I'm finally getting to getting my own tree this year. I would love to decorate my tree with any ornaments you can spare, especially handmade.

5. Silk Ties - I collect silk ties, or ties made of any kind of natural fibers. I also turn them into ascots and cravats. I am not picky. If it's loud, I'd probably love it and wear it with my steampunk outfit, or make a bustle out of it.

7. Gift Cards - I'd love to have gift cards to Jo-Ann, Michael's, or Home Depot.

8.Truly Victorian or Laughing Moon patterns, especially Truly Victorian 365, Truly Victorian 368, Laughing Moon #101, and Laughing Moon #103. But, any of the patterns are great love, too. If you have any Truly Victorian or Laughing Moon patterns lying around I will love to have it.

9.Seeds from this list for my Sulcata tortoises, Claymore and Zweihander.

10. Handmade Scarves - I love handmade scarves. I'm not picky about the color. as long as it's around 5-6 feet long. The louder the better. If it's bright and gaudy, fuzzy and slubby, I'll even wear it with my steampunk outfits.

To contact me for my address, please email me at faerydragonet@yahoo.com and put Holiday Wishes 2009 in the header. Well, off I go to fulfill wishes.