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Holiday Highlights

Merry Christmas, everyone and a Happy New Year!

Right now I am sitting in an apartment in downtown Brooklyn and to be honest it is hard to think of anything besides New Year's in New York-TONIGHT! But I also understand that it might be a little bit strange to blog about New Year's in New York when I haven't even talked about Christmas. So I've decided I will try to quickly address a couple of my Christmas highlights so in the next couple days I can talk about my New Year celebration IN NEW YORK CITY(!) without feeling bad about myself. Which is not how you want to start out a new year.

Christmas is a time of giving. It's a time to put differences behind you, make some sacrifices and sit down round the yule log with a tall drink of nog and the ones you love. Well as you all know this was a special year for me, and it was important that Christmas be a special one. It was just that. Not only because I got to spend it with my family in Oregon which I love, but I can safely say that this year included two different Christmas "bests": 1. The best gift I have ever given. And 2. The best Christmas Dream.
Christmas Gift
You should always give of yourself, but this year I wanted to take it one step further and actually give myself.

The idea started months ago. The work began a week before Thanksgiving. Then after 2-3 weeks of blood, sweat, and coffee (to assist with the 4am mornings) we held the greatest gift ever. At least to us. It was "Christmas on Columbus", a Christmas album from the 116 Boyz including Jay, Ben, Corn, and myself. Mix 4 guys with an ear for music and a heart for mankind, and in the end you get about 8 tracks of Christmas Gold... and a little bit of wierdness. The album was entirely original with the exception of one angelic rendition of Drummer Boy, which was recorded before we decided to go entirely original and the strangest version of Ave Maria-ever. The tracks were as follows:
1. Christmas Intro.
2. Waiting- A back-home blue grass classic about the roomies waiting to see if Jason will make it home for Christmas this year.
3. Drummer Boy- The traditional song sung beautifully by a young angelic stud.
4. Christmas Interlude- That strange mid-album talk track about mistle toe and extended awkward laugh.
5. We Still Believe- A dark Burton-esque song of a group of children holding to their belief of Santa.
6. Got Soul- With sounds from the 50's, this classic has verses from each of the roommates and one neighbor, including the infamous "freak-out" by J-Holla.
7. Ave Maria- Featuring Dustin Evans (or is it?), this rendition of Ave Maria is both reflective and creepy.
8. Chipmunks on Columbus- What's a Christmas with out the Chipmunks? That's what we thought so this is our original Chipmunk gem.

I wanted to post the songs for everyone, but I haven't figured out to do that yet on Blogger. I will let you know if I can figure it out...even though it might be a little bit late this year.

Christmas Dream
Dreams... From the beginning of time, dreams have driven, inspired, and moved mankind. To some dreams are simply a chemical movement during while in a nocturnal state. To others dreams are windows to the soul, revealing each persons deepest and sometimes darkest fears and intentions. Still to others, they are in fact prophetic. Whatever your belief I had a doozy of a dream on Christmas night. In fact, I might even go so far as to say it was the best dream I have ever, ever. Which in my book (or blog) automatically makes it worth a mention.

Often times I will forget the dreams I have or if I remember it will only be parts. But this time when I woke up in a slumberry bliss I was determined not to forget. So I stumbled to the dresser found the closest pen and paper and jotted down as much as I felt necessary to remember. Here's what I wrote (bear in mind I was asleep when I wrote it):
"Got to play with Suns in a game. Used small foamy ball. 1st rest-start of 4th quarter. Sat with Nash on the bench. Got paid for every stat (points, reb, etc.)."

Since I know we have some international readers I should maybe explain. The Suns are a professional basketball team in the United States. They have always been my favorite team, however recently they almost revolutionized basketball with a new fast paced style of play. Nash, is their leader. If you've ever watched basketball, it game of physical giants. Large, predominately black men who can jump higher than most can dream. Nash is the league's running 2-time, MVP(Most Valuable Player), but logic tells us he shouldn't be. He is a skinny, 6'3" white guy from Canada. He's a guy that someone like me would challenge to a game of b-ball on the streets, thinking I would really tear him up. But Nash is freak. And I am a huge Nash and Suns fan...almost to an unhealthy level. (Where for example when you are watching the last 4 minutes of a Suns-Mavs game in the airport and hear someone behind you cheer for the Mavs, you are filled with equal parts astonishment and hatred...)

In the dream, I was chosen to play with the Suns, but it was a real game. I don't remember who we were playing and I don't suppose it really matters. What does matter is that I played really good. For some reason, in the dream it was really impressive that I played (as did Nash) through three quarters before even getting a rest. Also worth mentioning was the fact that after every quarter the assistant coaches handed me a small piece of paper noting all of my stats and how much I was getting paid. I do remember at the end of the game and scoring 30 some odd points, I was going to get paid about $68,000. Not bad for a dream, eh?

I imagine "best" dreams often consist of super powers like flying or breathing under water, maybe of power like being a king, maybe of dating a supermodel, but not me. No, while you and other kids were dreaming of sugarplums on Christmas night, I was playing ball with the Suns, hangin with my boy Nash, and getting paid +$60,000. Merry Christmas to me.

And now my friends, it is 4:30 pm, and I have to get to Ritz Plaza where we are getting some passes to a "friends" apartment on the 36th (or thereabouts) floor, a block away from Times Square. Yeah, so um... Gotta run!

Happy New Year, everyone!

posted by Travelin' D @ 1:36 AM