Christmas

Altogether, my Christmas was excellent. I received far more than I asked for (or deserved, if you ask me) and I am thankful for it all. The highlights of this Christmas' unwrappings include a five-disk, collector's edition box set of Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks including an entire disk of remixed and unreleased music. (!!!) The amazing and unique thing about Hans Zimmer is that he doesn't just write the music for the film, call it quits and collect his paycheck, he explores all the possibilities for the themes he creates by writing extended, elaborate suites. Disk four of the set includes suites for the Hoist the Colours, Beckett, Davy Jones and Singapore themes and though all of these suites are unbelievable to hear, they pale in comparison to the 11 minute suite for the At World's End love theme. This track is breathtaking and moving. It stirs so many memories for me from the end of an amazing chapter of my life*. The set also includes a 'Behind the Score' featurette with Zimmer and the other important players from the series.
I also found Mac's latest and greatest operating system, Leopard, in my stocking this Christmas. It is beautiful, and I mean that in a way that only the true Mac enthusiast will understand. I haven't come across any glitches yet. Then again, by now I can pretty much tell what will and won't piss off a Mac; don't go against the grain and you won't find a single issue.
My iPod has a slick new case now, one that is rubber-based and will hopefully absorb some of the shock should the unspeakable happen.
Of course, there was cash, which I appreciate because it lets me put it where I want it. Now, more than ever before, I am becoming super-conscious of how expensive my life is. To be honest this subject is one I never really talk about more out of guilt than any other factor. Financially, my family is relatively well-off. My parents have always been there with whatever money I may have needed for this or that. To put it bluntly, I am spoiled and I feel guilty about it. I look around and see so many of my good friends working their asses off with two and three jobs for the money that I just somehow have. These days I do have jobs, they're just jobs that can be done from my laptop and the comfort of my own home. This summer I will be getting a real, daily job, not because I have to but because I want to. Right now, I have a horribly warped perspective on life. I sit around and sulk because none of my friends are online or can do the things I'd like to do. Of course, it's not that they don't want to, it's that they're always working to have the money it takes to have a little fun once in a while. I need to feel that too, as crazy as that sounds.
So, on this Christmas (now Boxing Day if we're being technical) I would like to express how thankful I am and that I am consistently humbled by the gifts I receive, both beneath the tree and in the heart. I have some of the greatest, kindest, most genuine, most hard-working friends anyone could ask for. I expect too much from them, I'm afraid and I am working consciously to change that. After all, it's not all about me. That much, especially now, is clear.

Thank for everything and I hope you all had Christmases even greater than mine.



*More on this chapter in a later post.

Have You?

Have you ever been so tired you can't get to sleep?
Have you ever had so many things you wished you could say but can't find the words?
Have you ever felt so deeply for a group of people that every second you're apart feels like forever?
Have you ever wished you could stop time, just for a moment, so you could be with those people without worrying about a thing?
Have you ever had a friend become a brother?
Have you ever wanted to show someone how much you care about them but can't, for the life of you, find a way that does justice?
Have you ever just wanted to sit and talk?
Have you ever lost sleep worrying about a friend?
Have you ever lost sleep worrying about yourself?
Have you ever dreamed of a happier tomorrow?
Have you ever felt time slip away?
Have you ever felt like nothing you do will ever be enough?
Have you ever known the answers to all of your questions and none at the same time?
Have you ever expected too much?
Have you ever just wanted to sleep?

I have.

What I've Been Up To

Man, it's been almost a month since my last post. Sorry about that. First semester is over and I'm back home for a solid month of Christmas break. The last few weeks of class were busy ones, hence the obvious lack of blogging. Final at Art school are a little different than those at State school. They're not written tests (Except for Art History) but large, multi-step projects due the last week of school. In all honesty, finals week wasn't as bad as I'd imagined it would be. The work load stayed about the same and after each class we thrived on the feeling that we were one step closer to Christmas. I managed to squeak out of all of my classes with an A- or higher (except for Color Concept, the class which is the absolute bane of my existence). I made the President's list, which I'm pretty proud of, and I'm actually excited to go back to school (almost exclusively because I moved to the fourth floor and will now be living with people who actually grasp the concepts of sanitation and respect).
So far, break has been everything I'd hoped it would be. I made it to the second pep band game of the year and had fun catching up with everyone there. I gazed upon the glorious thing that is the iPhone as Mark was texting Zandra during the game. The band phoned in an expertly arranged version of "The Birthday Song" to Mr. Eastham as he sat at home, no doubt glad to be away from the madness for once.
We had Part 1 of our many Christmases Saturday and I managed to rake in a few dollars as well as a damn cool book about the concepts and making of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Sunday, I had the distinct pleasure of attending my best friend Casey's Eagle Court of Honor ceremony. Seeing all the pictures and hearing the stories made me wish more than I ever had before that I'd stuck it out in the scouting program. Although, from what I hear, Case is glad to be able to finish that chapter of his life.
Tuesday, a bunch of us graduates met up at Madeline's for a day of Christmas movie madness and our usual over-the-top brand of merriment. We were at BV as class let out and it was awesome to see the old crowd again. After school we headed to that most-familiar of meeting places, the Mean Bean, for some caffeine and casual conversation.
Being with the people you love the most has a way of reaffirming your faith.With them, there are no worries, no deadlines, no heartache, just pure love and friendship, the kind that can withstand months apart and even the most trying times. With them, all is well in the world again. Thank God.