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.
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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
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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.