How To Ring in the New Year

Ha ha. That's not really how we'll ring in the new year around here. We're considerably more quietwhen celebrating to the new year. We've had a busy Christmas season, as usual, so we prefer the stay at home and veg approach to the New Year. This was usually the way I rang in the new year, because I used frequent the bar/pub quite often. (Me? What? At the bar?) Thus spending a night with a bunch of fools who went out once a year did not sound appealing to me. Partner, who was never a bar fly like moi was just fine with this mode of celebration. Now, I make fondue, we have a fire, we watch a movie, maybe. About 11:30, we'll argue because I want to keep watching the movie, but Partner wants to watch the whole (inane) Dick Clark New Year's Rocking Eve show. Last year we argued so intensively about this we didn't talk until about 30 seconds before the new year and when we decided we better make up over such a stupid fight before the new year came in. (Actually we won't argue this year, because I'll give in and watch the show. The sacrifices we make for our partners, eh?) Then we'll toast with champagne, call all our family members and shout "HAPPY NEW YEAR" into the phone, because invariably one or two of them will be at a bar, and then we'll don our heavy coats and Merrells and go outside and stand in the driveway with the champagne and watch some unknown neighbor across the (big) road from us set off fireworks that rival the 4th of July. At the end of the show, we'll shout our glee, but they won't hear us because there are clearly hoards of people at that party since we can hear the applause from their guests. We'll go back inside, climb the steps, turn on the fireplace in our bedroom, and sleep the sleep of the cheese and champagne laden.

So, happy new year to all of us! May we all see the hopes of our fondest wishes in this new year!