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.