Unlike previous years, where the title of the Holiday Gift was almost automatic in appearing in my skull, I had very little inspiring me when putting this year’s model together. Two themes kept resurfacing — ‘It Is What It Is,’ and ‘Be What You Are.’ Too often, I’ve come across items or people who seemed almost obsessed with being something it isn’t. if you live within yourself, I’ve found, things are a lot simpler, and you have a greater chance of success.
Thanks to the people that got me from Point A to Point B this year:
- The remainder of the Three Amigos, Marty Yawnick and Thomas Moore III;
- Woody, who really needs several days sleep in a row and will not get it;
- Adrian, for (mostly) ignoring the fact that I don’t call back when I should;
- Jane, for being a constant friend when I really didn’t deserve it;
- Lorae, for correctly identifying the Bad Idea when it presented itself;
- Efrain, because a better wingman does not exist on this planet;
- Mary Candyce, who thinks my crooked toe isn’t that bad;
- Dave, Travis, Melissa, Sully, Sean and the No Frills Staff — when you can name most of the employees at one bar, you know you’re in trouble;
- Jodi, for reminding me I still have something left to offer the world;
- Susan, for having faith in me when I didn’t do a whole lot to warrant it;
- Suzanne, for patting me on the head and telling me when I was so very wrong;
- Rose, whom I owe a trip down the California Coast in the coming year;
- Bonnie, who kicked me in the ass at the best possible time;
- Maggi, for being a bad influence in a good way;
- Jamie, for still talking to me;
- Big Dick Hunter, for keeping me on your speed dial;
- Lynn, for proving to me that being twisted doesn’t necessarily mean you’re being bad;
- Ted Estrada, for being my advocate when you probably didn’t want to be;
- Marc, for not selling me out to the DirecTV police when you had the chance;
- Ricky, for being a beacon in a dark time;
- The whole gang of misfits at Friday’s Front Row, because you deserved better than the Rangers gave you;
- Jamey Newberg, for honoring me with a chance to contribute to a worthy cause;
- Joelle, for making me giggle uncontrollably;
- Kelly, because a random new friend is always a good thing;
- Rachelle, for keeping me in some small corner of her mind and dusting me off from time to time;
- Chance, for making me “Your Number One... Guuuuy...”;
- Angela, because every day working with you was a treat in and of itself;
- Chris, Jenna, Ethan and Jacob, much love, happiness and zerberts;
- Ali, Nathan, and Mikey — may your bags always be full, and not of rocks;
- The whole gang from the Somesuch-Whatnot and Whatever E-mail Discussion Lists;
- And you. Yes, you.
This disc was produced, mastered, and packaged on November 15-17, 2003, using Mac OS X. Track listings are available at CDDB.com.
See you all around the bend.
