Confession

I play my music loud to drown out the realities of my life.

--Cbake

The Christmas Depression

I know where the Christmas Depression comes from.

It comes from spending hours and hours at a mall, and coming up with no good ideas whatsoever for what to buy everyone in your circle of friends, family, and friend's family.

And so, a poem:

O, Christmas Depression, I know where thy origins truly lie,
From endless days spent in shopping malls, and as hard as we try,
No good ideas spring forth from our minds of what to buy,
I guess its gift cards for everyone again this year. Oh, *sigh*.

--Cbake

All I want for Christmas... and my Birthday

Wow. Totally forgot about my birthday coming up one week from today. It sort of slipped my mind with all the work I've been doing, and in thinking of what to buy others for Christmahannakwaanzakkah, I forgot to think of what I myself wanted for the Christmabirthday combo.

Or maybe I just don't want to think about the fact that I'm going to turn 25. Time for the quarter-life crisis freak-out.

But for those of you who are wondering what kinds of gifts are up my alley, here's a partial list of goodies I'd like to play with.


THINGS I WANT BUT WILL PROBABLY BUY MYSELF

1. A Mac computer with Final Cut editing software
2. Nintendo Wii
3. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess game for the Wii


VIDEO GAMES

1. Yoshi's Island DS (for Nintendo DS)


DVDs

1. The Green Mile: 2-Disc Special Edition (to replace the one that was stolen)
2. Cars (because its the first Pixar film I never saw in the theater)
3. Little Miss Sunshine
4. Come on, you know me, I'd be happy with any DVD. They're like extreme catnip for me.


ACTION FIGURES

1. any character from the show LOST, particularly John Locke


IPOD ACCESSORIES

1. something that will let me clip my iPod to my shorts or arm or wherever- just so I can run and workout without having to carry it in my hand anymore


BOOKS

1. World War Z by Max Brooks (collection of memoirs from survivors of the great zombie outbreak of the future)
2. The Last Christmas (graphic novel about Santa trying to find the last living girl in a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies and mutants)


MUSIC

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - The Complete Recordings
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - The Complete Recordings
3. Mario and Zelda Big Band Live CD - Amazon
4. Old Boy (soundtrack) by Yeong-wook Jo
5. Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest score by Hans Zimmer


Well that's just a quick list I pulled from the ether. I can't think of anything else at the moment, though I know lots exist; my brain has been a useless pile of mush lately. This list may be updated as I find more things I'd like in the course of buying presents for others. And of course, don't use this list as the end-all be-all of what you should shop for me. If you find something that you think I'll like, chances are I will.

--Cbake

'Tis the Season

Friday was our next-to-last day of shooting on the film "Who's Your Caddy?", and our set was a bar called the Modjeska in downtown Augusta, GA. Apparently, Augusta residents have a monthly festival on the first friday of every month, aptly named, "First Friday", where they have people performing live music, selling crafts, cooking up good eats, and having themselves a good ole' time.

It was my 7th day in a row working, the day was growing late and I had just found out we'd be working longer than 12 hours. I wasn't in the best mood possible, and as I made my way to our truck to grab some empty boxes, I found myself walking in the small park where the festival was being held. As it was dark and chilly, there weren't that many attending, but Christmas Carols were being sung, wonderful smells of hot dogs and other foods were in the air, and a huge Christmas tree was lit up at the end of the greenway.

I got to the truck, complained to our driver that we'd be staying a bit later, and headed back to set grumbling to myself, hungry and wishing I could stop and eat some of those deliciously smelling foods.

But then, unexpectedly, things got better. When I got to the park, I found that one of my favorite Christmas songs, aptly named "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole, was playing over the loudspeakers. Young teenage girls and boys were flirting underneath the Christmas tree. A middle-aged couple snuggled together in the chilly air on a bench as I passed. Up ahead was a tent under which sat Santa Claus. And I mean, it was really Santa- white beard, long hair, round belly, jolly nature- the Spirit himself. But he was alone- no Elf or Mrs. Claus with him, and since there weren't that many people around, he didn't have many kids come to tell him their Christmas wish-lists.

I felt bad for him, but as I passed the couple on the bench, a mother and father came up with four young girls, and one was yelling "Santa! It's Santa come on!" The girls ran past me, excited and eager to see Father Christmas.

I turned around to watch, and just as I did, I saw that first girl run up to Santa and give him a big hug. As "The Christmas Song" came to a close, the other girls caught up to their older sister and jumped on Santa too.

It was just one of those perfect moments. The Tree, the teens, the couple, the music, the smells in the air, Santa, and that innocent joy that children have during this holiday season- it made everything, the whole day, the whole shoot, worthwhile just to experience that one moment where it all came together perfectly.

I went back to the shoot smiling.

--Cbake