Some things I want, money can buy, but they are indulgences better left to the obscenely rich.

Some things I want, money can't buy.

I guess those are the things that hurt the most.

In no particular order, here are the 10 things I wish for this Christmas.

Metallica for Rock Band

This is one of those impossible things.

I want all the Metallica tracks ever recorded to be available for download to play in Rock Band (the game).

Lars Ulrich is my ultimate drummer hero and I want to play all his songs! Unfortunately, I doubt such a thing will ever happen. Currently, there are only five measly Metallica tracks for both Rock Band 1 and Rock Band 2 combined.

An Oakley watch

I saw this watch in a magazine two months ago and it was love at first sight.

The Oakley CRANKCASE Three-Hand Small Leather (in pink!!) is a perfect balance of sporty, cute and feminine, just my cup of tea. The only problem is that I don't actually wear watches. Haha.

According to the magazine, it costs $1,113. When I showed it to the Goonfather and told him, "I MUST HAVE THIS," he said, "For that price, you might as well buy a Tag Heuer."

I said, "But Tag Heuer designs don't suit me."

He said, "But Tag Heuer got investment value."

I said, "But I don't want to wear something because of investment value."

He said, "Anyway, $1,113 for an Oakley watch is nuts."

In the end, I decided he was right and it would be a crazy indulgence, especially since I don't actually need a watch.

A book shopping spree

I just want a day when I can walk into Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City and BUY EVERY DAMN BOOK I LIKE.

I spend entire days in bookstores feeling miserable because I can't afford to buy every book I want to read. (Libraries can't satisfy the need because they don't have enough things that I like.)

Recently, I allowed myself to buy five books by my favourite authors (a huge indulgence by my standards). I devoured one immediately and then made myself wait to read the rest. I was thinking maybe one a month, to make them really last.

The wait drove me crazy. I don't have iron willpower. I could only wait a week, each, so I'm now on the third book and dreading the day when I finish all five.

Reading is one of life's simplest but most powerful pleasures. My heart literally swells to bursting with joy when I hold an unread book in my hand so this is a very serious wish for me!

Okay, I'm sounding like a nutcase. Next!

Health

Health is something almost everyone takes for granted until they lose it. I'm beginning to feel the effects of a lifetime of neglect, playing video games and reading through the night, and substituting unhealthy snacks for balanced meals. I hope it's not too late to reverse the effects.

But more than for myself, I wish for good health for my dad, who is the most important person in my life.

He actually makes the effort to exercise and eat healthily but age eventually catches up with everyone and I get paranoid when I think about people I love suffering from fading health. So I wish for many, many more ENDLESS years of a healthy and happy life for my dad!

A major movie role

I have one leading role in a movie under my belt but I want more. Acting in a film is even better than reading a book because you actually LIVE in the stories instead of just enjoying them vicariously.

Not that I want to be fussy about the roles I get, but I want roles that are big enough for me to live through all the story arcs and experience all the rollercoaster emotions that you get in movies.

For me, acting is at the same time cathartic and fulfilling, satisfying a deep hunger within my soul even as it purges my emotional ills. So, more please (before I start getting all psychotic about it).

Boobs

I want to wake up one day and find that my bust size has magically increased about four sizes.

It's very inconvenient to be lacking in that area because I can never fit into the standard outfits you get from the wardrobe departments in film and photo shoots. Special concessions always have to be made for me, which makes me feel guilty, although it's not my fault.

And I mostly stick to wearing casual, kiddy clothes because they hardly make adult clothes in my size these days, resulting in people accusing me of acting cute.

Well, YOU TRY HAVING NO BOOBS.

I don't want to get a boob job, though. It's too scary to contemplate. I don't even dare get a tattoo!

A roomful of Barbie dolls

I think my mental outlook stopped growing with my mammary glands. I still like kiddy things and enjoy childish activities very much.

I used to have Barbie dolls when I was a kid but was never rich enough to fulfill my dream of owning a Barbie doll house with all the various furniture sets and tons and TONS of Barbie clothes.

I told myself that I would fulfill that dream someday when I'm older and richer. I will devote an entire room for building a Barbie city!

That dream hasn't died after so many years.

A drum kit

I'm still a beginner drummer but it's really hard to advance out of beginner stage without my own drum kit to practise on.

Going to the drums studio to practise requires two hours of travelling time (to and fro) which I can ill-afford these days, so I don't get a lot of practice. Besides, I have to pay for studio time.

Having my own kit at home would be sweet (except that maybe I'd then have different problems involving irate neighbours.)

To live in a medieval castle

Okay, this is another one of those childhood dreams after reading too many fairy tales and fantasy novels. Of course, I don't dream of this ever coming to pass, so I will settle for something less glamorous.

I want to have my own place, preferably something big enough to have one room for my Barbie city, one room to be a fully-equipped gaming den, one soundproofed room for my drum kit and one room to build my own library of books!

Is that too much to ask?

World peace (and happiness)

I saved the best for last!

Seriously. I still cling on to the childish belief that a peace that comes from a cessation of evil in the world will result in happiness for all.

I know that's idealistic and silly. And my friends tell me that if evil doesn't exist, peace and happiness couldn't exist because you can't appreciate sweet without having tasted bitter.

That's logical, I guess. But I still wish people didn't have to suffer pain and unhappiness.

On a smaller scale (since we're talking about Christmas wishes) I wish for happiness to touch the hearts of all around the world just this day, especially for the underprivileged, like elderly folk or homeless kids, or even lonely people who do not have loved ones around them to make them smile.

Okay, now I feel like crying because I'm thinking of all the sad people around the world who won't be enjoying Christmas this year for some reason or other. I could possibly help a few people and spread some happiness around, but there will still be a sea of sad people left over, and that makes me sad.

Told you I hate making wish lists.

To cheer myself up, I'll end this with a wish for you. I wish that all your wishes come true this Christmas.

Merry Christmas from me to you! =)