This gift has managed, for once in my life, to leave me speechless. Which is sort of ironic, since the gift is one that will allow me to speak to the masses. (Well, not so much "masses" as "anyone who will please download my podcast.")

I recieved a Yeti brand microphone, suitable for professional recording!!!! It's the most amazing gift ever.

It's hard for me to articulate, but I've always been in love with talk radio. As a kid I would use my cassette recorder to tape pretend radio shows. In high school I was even on a community radio station. (The topic was youth culture and violence in society.)

Today I am lucky enough to live in an era where technology allows me to make my thoughts available (No matter how insipid or inane those thoughts might be) to anybody I can con into listening. Additionally, technology is such that I, someone with absolutely no experience, can learn how to create a podcast. I'm super excited.

Here are some podcasts I hope to create: A monthly show where I read "Cosmo" magazine out loud. It will be a funny, thoughtful and provacative look and how women are taught to police masculinity.

A show where I read the news and my 8 year old daughter comments on current events. The premise being, she is as smart as the average idiot adult and if she can grasp the complexities of current events, so can everyone else.

A show where my 6th grade math students discuss what they are leaning in class. Perhaps I can find another 6th grade math class in another school who could trade podcasts with us.

Anyways, I have a million ideas. Thank you secret santa, thank you a million times over. This gift is way more than I ever dreamed I would get. I am so excited to have it. I'm bummed because I don't feel this write-up accurately conveys how thrilled I am. It's the best present ever. Thank you.