Holiday Guide: Michelle's Wish List

Bossypants by Tina Fey and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
I'm treating this one like a two-pack -- kind of like when you buy a double mouthwash because CVS is having a sale. I love funny, smart women. It's kind of my weakness. So two -- count 'em, two! -- books by two of the funniest women currently making television? Come on. Also, yes, I know I promised to read Bossypants after the summer was over, but I just didn't. Don't judge me.

Registration to the Army Ten-Miler
Two years ago, I ran the Army Ten-Miler with my dad, wearing an anti-"don't ask, don't tell" T-shirt. If I start training for it now, by the time October rolls around I can wear a "Yay, (sort of) Equality!"

A stupid iPad
I'm an Apple user for life, but I gag a little when I think about the ridiculous consumerism that Apple products encourage. Still, you can't ignore amazing technology. ($499 and up, Apple.com)

Freaks and Geeks, The Complete Series, Yearbook Edition
Confession time: I've never seen a full episode of Freaks and Geeks. I hate myself for saying that, only because I know I would love the show, and it's people like me who caused the show to be canceled after only 17 episodes. Anyway, if there's one good way for me to atone, this is it. ($69.99, Amazon.com)

Canon Vixia HG20
For capturing all of my hilarious high jinks in high definition. Read a review.

These boots.
In the winter of 2005, I had a dream. A dream where I walked down the street in chocolate-brown suede round-toe wedge boots. No crazy stitching. No frills, patches, or other ridiculous embellishments. In the years since, I've not been able to find the exact version of those boots in a store or online. Everyone in my family and many of my friends know about the Dream Boots. Even my sister-in-law, the best shopper in all the land, went on an Internet quest for the boots to no avail. So, six years later, I'm conceding. I saw these at the mall a couple of days ago, and I just might go buy them ...i f I can muster the courage to do so, without worrying that I'll only bump into the real Dream Boots on the clearance rack at Macy's. (This is as close as I can get to the Dream Boot.)

An Italian Vacation
Yeah, that's a lot to ask, but in 12th grade my English teacher told us that if we went to Italy at any point in that school year, we would get an automatic A in the class. Since then I've been intrigued by Italy -- the food, the art, the architecture, the people, the politics, the language, the cinema. While my sister and I plan a cheap trip to celebrate her graduation from a master's program, I'll just dream of my own Roman Holiday sometime in the future.