Wish List 2009

With the hope that a genie will magically appear sometime this year, it only makes sense to have my wish list ready. You never know when you'll need to negotiate with an all-powerful being—might as well be prepared!

Things I Want to Have:

1. A Digital Camera

I've been traveling for a while now, yet somehow, I have zero photographic evidence of my adventures. It’s almost as if I were a secret agent... except without the gadgets, cool cars, or life-threatening missions. A decent digital camera would finally let me capture the sceneries and moments I wish I had frozen in time. Better late than never!

2. A New Cell Phone

My current phone, which I bought four years ago, has developed a personality of its own. It makes calls behind my back—even when it’s locked. It sends text messages I haven’t finished typing. The joystick works only when it feels like it, and when it does, it won’t stop scrolling. Either it's haunted or it’s staging a rebellion. Crazy, isn’t it? Definitely time for an upgrade!

3. A Laptop Backpack That Actually Fits My Laptop

My current backpack and my laptop have an ongoing disagreement about space. Instead of risking a broken laptop or a herniated disk, I figured I should get a bag that actually fits. Buying a new backpack is way cheaper than buying a new laptop—basic math, right?

4. An MP3 Player

Music makes everything better—travel, work, waiting in line, even staring at the ceiling and contemplating life. It doesn’t have to be an iPod, but since this is a wish list and not a budget report, iPod it is.

5. A New Mobile Hard Drive

I like keeping my laptop free from unnecessary clutter (unlike my actual room, but that’s a different story). My current external hard drive, a humble 40GB, is bursting at the seams. A shiny new 160GB drive would be a lifesaver. More storage, fewer headaches!

6. A New Pair of Levi’s Jeans

Between bills, responsibilities, and the occasional unexpected expense, new jeans were never my priority. And whenever I did buy a pair, one of my brothers would mysteriously claim it as their own. Funny how that works, right? Let’s see if I can actually keep a pair for myself this time.

7. A New Cologne

Maybe, just maybe, this will be the year I get lucky. Smelling nice never hurt anyone, right? (Insert hopeful chuckle here.)

Things I Want to Do:

1. Start My Own Business

I’m grateful for my job, but wouldn’t it be great to create opportunities for others, too? Owning a business sounds like a challenge, but hey, every big dream starts somewhere!

2. Get to Know My Relatives

At my uncle’s funeral, my cousins put together a genealogy chart, and I realized just how many people in my own family I didn’t even know. The funny part? Most of them live right here on the island. Maybe it's time to put some names to faces and start remembering who’s who.

3. De-clutter My Life

Books, CDs, DVDs, my closet—everything needs a serious sorting session. At this point, my clutter has formed its own ecosystem. Time to clean up before it starts demanding rent.

4. Go Back to the Gym

Ai yay yay yay yay! Enough said.

5. Manage My Finances Wisely

I believe God has given me enough—it’s just me who hasn't been the best at managing it. Time to be smarter about money and avoid unnecessary splurges. Well... except for the wish list above, of course. Priorities!

I know my list could go on forever, but setting a limit to my greed—I mean, aspirations—makes it all seem more realistic and attainable. Hopefully, right, genie? Now, where’s that magic lamp?