Just like Steve Martin, all I really want for Christmas is for all the children of the world to join hands and sing in the spirit of harmony and peace. Wow, that would really be something. Logistically challenging, but totally cool and inspiring.

Truth be told, there are some other things on my list. I don’t want to appear materialistic, but I thought it might be revealing to share my list. It’s not that I’m expecting anyone to buy me anything – just an acknowledgement that it’s likely someone will have the unfortunate task of getting me a gift, and I wouldn’t want them to waste a minute worrying about what to get me.

Christmas lists are hardly rare these days. The Globe and Mail had several of its columnists post their top picks recently, and the list was filled with ridiculous things like $700 Hermes beach towels, $1,000 cashmere sweatpants, and an $18,000 watch. You won’t find me padding my list with unrealistic items just to appear trendy – Santa sees right through that kind of stuff.

So, here it is…

Books
Bill Buford – Heat: An Amateur’s Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany
Cormac McCarthy – Blood Meridian, No Country for Old Men, The Border Trilogy
C. Hitchens – God is Not Great:  How Religion Poisons Everything
Daniel Levitin – This Is Your Brain on Music
Bret Hart – Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling

DVDs
Extras: Season 2
Kenny vs. Spenny: Season 3
Planet Earth:  The Complete Series

Music
The New Pornographers – Combat, Twin Cinema
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
Allison Krause and Robert Plant- Raising Sand 

Other
Gap Project (RED) hooded sweater
Nice knit scarf, preferably with stripes
Moleskine 2008 Daily Planner
Tivoli Model One radio
Audi R8 in mugello blue pearl