Birthday requests

From the last post until now, I've done things, seen movies, enjoyed life and am now slightly suffering the effects of a cold that my immune system is trying desperately to beat. I started feeling ill when I woke up yesterday with a sore throat, but I took an Airborne (yes, I swear those things work) and it died down until later in the day. Today, it took me about 15 minutes to pull myself out of bed and my eyes and throat have been dully aching all day so far. I really could take a nap, but that wouldn't be productive now would it?

I can tell my immune system is trying really hard instead of giving up (like it usually does) because I'm not completely incapacitated yet. However, I'm not 100% sure whether that should be heartening or disheartening.

I'm tired and I've been tasked with writing out a wish list for my birthday (which, from this day, is only 15 days away) by my sweet boyfriend, my wonderful parents and my lovely little sister. Sheesh. I love birthdays, and they're always fun, but I can never figure out what I want in time.  I knew a few weeks ago what I wanted, but now I can't think of anything. I guess I'll brainstorm it out here so that I'm doing something semi-productive...sorta.

Hmmm...what do I want....OH! There's a book coming out next Tuesday that I've been wanting forever: Dreams of Joy by Lisa See. It's a sequel to one of my all-time favorite books, Shanghai Girls, and I even reread that one to prepare myself. Granted, I've read Shanghai Girls more than three times already, but that doesn't matter; I'm ready! I guess I can wait a few days to get it...I AM currently reading the latest MASSIVE Margaret George book, Elizabeth I, and I don't think I'll be done with it quick enough for me to justify buying Dreams of Joy for myself on its release date.

Ooh...and now that I'm thinking about books, I would really enjoy getting my hands on The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir. She's my favorite nonfiction author and the Tudor rulers are her particular speciality. This book finally came out in paperback recently, too...hmm. I'd love that one.

Umm...I know I'll love "Tron Legacy." Didn't see it yet, but I know I'll love it, so I guess I want that.

I kind of want the video game "Red Dead Redemption" because I like the "Old West"...but I hated "Grand Theft Auto," and that's just the "Old West" version of that game by the same company. Why did I hate GTA? Because I suck at driving the car. Yeah...that and I hated the cell phone. It was always ringing with the stupid cousin character asking you to go out with him and get drunk and hit on boring looking strippers in the "titty bar." Yeaaahhhh...that's nice. I can't decide one way or the other about it because boyfriend says it's going to be a lot like GTA, just on a horse. Here is one of our conversations about it:

Ryan: "If you don't like the car, what makes you think you'll like the horse?"
Me: "...because it's a horse?"
Ryan: "I bet the mechanics of it are similar - if not the same as - the cars in GTA, just bumpy instead of smooth."
Me: "But I like horses."
Ryan: "..."
Me: "And I'm good at shooting."
Ryan: "Then try GTA again. You'll get a feel for the driving if you don't give up on it."
Me: "But there's no horses."
Ryan: "..."

He loves me.

Hmm...what else? Oh. I know I want to go to Metrocon this year JUST so I can dress up as Eri Sawachika from "School Rumble." (AND hang out with little sister and her fun friends, but that's beside the point.) I watched the whole anime series and read the manga and fell in love with the hilarity and the characters. I'm even writing a lovely little fanfic, and if that's not a seal of approval from me, then I don't know what is! As for how that relates to my birthday, well, I want mia mamma to help me make a vest for my Eri costume a la this picture:

It's their summer school uniform and Eri's the blonde one, though that doesn't make a difference, clothes-wise. I can find the shirt, skirt, socks, bowtie and shoes separately, but I need the vest. Seems simple enough, huh? I know she's over doing costumes for me and my many manias, but she said she'd help, so she also told me that I have to think of something else to ask from them for my b-day. ARGH! ...maybe an eBay gift card to help me find the right parts of the costume? It's no fun to open present-wise, but it's something I want...

**EDIT**
After posting this blog and doing some thinking, I found it best to just suck it up and order the dang costume on eBay via a cosplay house in China. I did it once before with a store that had great feedback and I received a fantastic costume just in time for the convention. This store that I just ordered from also had fantastic feedback for their items and I ordered two "School Rumble" summer uniform costumes: one for me and one for my sister. Why? Because I asked her what she was going to this convention as and she said she didn't know yet, so I just suggested she pair up with me like we have before. It's always fun and it's also getting her to watch this hilarious anime! Yay!
**EDIT OUT**
Summary of my list with some extras:
~Dreams of Joy~The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn ~"Tron Legacy"
~MAYBE "Red Dead Redemption" game
~eBay gift card
~Anything related to the anime/manga "School Rumble" that's not the Harima keychain or cell phone charm (because I bought those earlier this month) - maybe the actual physical copies of the animated show?
~Anything with a pretty mermaid on it would be nice.
~Having my parents finally able to close on the house they want (which might happen in the next day or two).
~Physical copy of "The Virgin Queen" starring Anne-Marie Duff by Masterpiece Theater - it was AWESOME and I want to see it again. I already bought the soundtrack via iTunes. ^_^
~Any good costume drama movie that I haven't seen - OR - one that I have seen and don't own (like "Downton Abbey" *swoon*)

...so that's basically books and movies and a real wish. A magic wand, eBay and Amazon gift cards, maybe? Oh man. I'm boring.

***Post Script***
Parents closed on the house! Yay! No more magic wand needed! (Unless it can get me a sliver-blue Kia Rio and 2 Dodge Durango badges. Hee hee. Duran Duran mobile planning phase stage one commence!)