A brief lull in the holiday madness

Yesterday was less social than the few previous, which meant I only called three people and had two over (emony42 and her husband R). Lyns and R came by to visit and drop off her alarm clock, which is one of those sunrise-simulating ones, so I can test it to see if I'm willing to drop the money on one.

I tried it this morning, and I DID actually wake up a bit more thoroughly than for my phone alarm -- but I also woke up enough to remember it was my day off and I could go back to sleep, so my morning was still shot. Oops.

We chatted about all sorts of things -- among others, my dreams of spending money I don't have on some kind of media machine that would let me play my (perfectly ripped, exhaustively tagged, beautifully organized) FLAC sound files from my PC over my living room speakers*, and hopefully allow for netflix and such as well. I'd been thinking of a purpose-built computer, but L&R suggested an Apple TV, which turns out to be a hell of a lot cheaper and do everything I want.

Except.

It requires the PC's from which it streams music to be running iTunes, and I won't allow iTunes on my machine. I hates it, precious.

Still, now I've got an idea of the type of thing I should be shopping for, so I'm looking at competitors. I almost wish I'd asked E for something like that for Christmas**, but too late now. :P (E gave me an anniversary present, then told me he'd take me shopping for my Christmas present because he didn't have any idea and he knows I'm picky**. Since we just happened to be standing right outside the REI at Clackamas Town Center when he told me this, I now have a really AWESOME biking rain jacket that I won't be able to use for a few months).

I know I'm getting ahead of myself in the 'major purchase planning' department -- I still don't have a housemate, though there's a guy lined up to sign a lease on Friday. I think it's displacement activity for the studio, really. Since the city halted my plans to make a BIG change to my house, I'm trying to figure out all the little ones that would make the house nicer -- new speakers, better music access, new TV stand, new couch cover, etc. I'm not actually buying any of it; just day dreaming.

Now it's time to wrap E's package (both less money and WAY less practical than mine from him, but I think he'll like it!), do some dishes, and start sketching my New Year's cards. :D I'm excited for tomorrow, mostly because I get to see E, Kiyoko, and madalchemist's reactions to their presents (I love seeing anyone's reaction, but those are the three I'm excited for this year). I went from being excited about getting to excited about giving years ago, and I have to say it's a great feeling... though I do sometimes stress that my own pickiness about getting will screw up someone else's excitement in giving (see footnote two, again).

ANYHOW: On to wrapping! AND BELUGAS!

And maybe, just maybe, I'll get my little bro to whisk me away to the parental household early enough today that I can take a luxurious Christmas Eve BATH!***

Merry Christmas!


*Especially when I get NEW living room speakers. I... kinda killed the set I had when I moved in to the house. I have this awesome ancient JVC tuner, see, and it's fully capable of blasting out speakers at volume mark 3 or 4. So now I'm using the old set from the bookshelf system I had in college, and they're decidedly meh.

**It's really kind of embarrassing. E gets wonderful, wonderful gifts for me; he really does, but one Christmas he and dad BOTH got me new PC speakers (I returned both and got one even nicer set; better speakers and I wasn't playing favorites!) and last year he got me a bathrobe that I exchanged twice (I wanted long; then it didn't fit quite right... but it's still the bathrobe E got me in my head). I can understand him being a little worried.

***My house has no bathtub. At this point I wish I'd remodeled the bathroom instead of slaving away on plans for the studio. Arrrrgggh.

Oooh!

After digging around in Wikipedia a bit, it looks like I may be able to set up a uPnP thing with hardware I already have, either through madalchemist's PS3 or the TV. I'm not sure yet because A) it's a type of tech I've never dabbled in before and B) my main desire is for audio and audio doesn't currently go through the TV or PS3 (well, game audio for the PS3 goes through the TV, but music goes from the DVD player to the awesome tuner to the speakers).

Further digging is required. And probably further headaches. And I should read enough that I actually know what the hell uPnP is, 'cause I haven't the foggiest.