This World’s Okayest Dad mug is pretty sweet, don’t you think?

Money can’t buy happiness. I know that. But you know… Nice things are still nice sometimes. Realistically, I don’t really expect to receive anything from my wish list. This is more just an exercise in daydreaming and convincing myself what I actually want to buy for myself. After all, Father’s Day is just two weeks away and I deserve to treat myself to something, right? Right.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

DKC: Tropical Freeze

As a lifelong fan of Nintendo, I’ve owned almost every console the company has ever released. And they’re really good at getting me to buy almost the same game over and over again. Well, I got a Nintendo Switch last year and even though I haven’t had as much time to play it as I would have liked, I want more.

The Donkey Kong Country titles on the SNES were tremendous and now there’s Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Switch. Yes, it’s basically a Wii U port, but I never got a Wii U. I’m also very interested in the recently released Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, as well as the upcoming Mario Tennis Aces and Super Smash Bros., both of which should come out before the end of the year.

Most AAA Nintendo Switch titles go for about US$60, with the noted exception of US$40 for the Street Fighter collection.

A New Computer

Razer Blade Stealth

The computer that I’m using to type up this blog post is eight years old. While it has undergone a couple minor upgrades here and there, this rig is definitely looking a little long in the tooth. I’m probably due for a new machine, which is totally justified because I rely on my computer for my livelihood.

At this point, I can’t decide if I want a desktop or a laptop. The former will understandably offer better performance bang for the buck, but the latter is way more versatile. (And I want to replace my Ultrabook, which is several years old too.) In either case, it needs to be powerful enough to handle full HD video editing as my current rig struggles with editing the weekly vlog. That means dedicated graphics are a must.

To that end, as gorgeous as the Razer Blade Stealth (about US$1,600) might look, it probably won’t cut the mustard and I’d need to get something bigger if I was going to get a laptop. At the same time, something like an iBUYPOWER Gaming Desktop PC (also about US$1,600) might be overkill.

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud

Sometimes, good enough is good enough. It’s true. That’s how I’ve fallen into a routine and a comfort zone with my aging computer along with the aging software. But maybe that needs to change. I’ve been interested in Adobe Creative Cloud for some time and the subscription model means that I’d always have the latest version.

The Photography package, which includes Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC, is US$10/month, whereas Adobe Premiere Pro on its own is US$21/month. I could just opt for the All Apps package at US$53/month, but I don’t think I really need or want any of the other programs anyhow.

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II

Canon G7 X MkII

You may be noticing a theme here with my Father’s Day wish list. Yes, they’re all related — tangentially or directly — to my vlogging adventures. I started out with a really cheap Canon point-and-shoot before upgrading to an older Panasonic micro four-thirds camera that I use currently.

While image quality and audio quality (with the aid of an external microphone) are decidedly better with the larger camera, the rig is also far less discreet and convenient to use. I’ve thought about grabbing the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II (about US$650), but like most other items on this wish list, I’m having a hard time justifying the cost. I think I would prefer the G7X over a Sony RX100, though, by virtue of the flippy screen.

More Nerdy T-Shirts

NDT Shirt

So, this is probably the most affordable option of the bunch. Most of these shirts are typically around the $20 range, give or take. I’m not really looking for anything in particular; just something nerdy that aligns with my geeky interests.

This Neil deGrasse Tyson shirt is bad ass, I’d say, especially since it integrates a coffee reference. I also like the Mitzy Drawing Shirt by “Wheezy Waiter” Craig Benzine for some inexplicable reason. Really, though, almost any nerdy t-shirt will do, particularly any of the “geeky dad” variety in some way.

What about you? For all the dads in the audience, what’s on your wish list? Or what are you thinking about getting the fathers and father figures in your life for Father’s Day?