New Year’s Rotten Eve
Does anybody really have fun on New Year’s Eve?
I can think of three New Year’s Eve occasions I’ve had that were fun. Three out of thirty-something that are within my range of memory – that’s a pretty sad statistic.
The first was either 1998 or 1999. Kyle and I took the DC Metro to a shindig at the Capitol City Brewing Company. I wore a skimpy Betsey Johnson dress that wouldn’t even fit one of my thighs now, and we drank beer and played casino table games all night.
The next was actually Y2K. I was in the midst of an IT consulting gig, but I had no obligation whatsoever to stand around in a data center waiting for certain disaster to strike. Kyle and I went to Game Night at the house of some friends. I went to bed at a decent hour, and Kyle stayed up literally all night, playing poker and Risk.
The final fun New Year’s Eve was last year. Kyle and I went to a party with Stacey and Travis. Kyle went to bed at a decent hour, and I stayed up until I tucked my skirt into my tights and decided that was a clear signal I’d had enough.
But the rest of my New Year’s Eves have been unremarkable or better left unremembered. I’ve spent them with boyfriends, with friends, with strangers, and alone. I’ve watched Dick Clark on TV, and I’ve gotten caught in the crush of people in Times Square. I’ve been relieved when the night was over, and I’ve dreaded the next morning (usually when I knew I’d have a hangover).
Really, what’s the point of going out on New Year’s Eve if you’ve got kids? Either you spend a fortune on a babysitter in order to attend a party hosted by friends, or you spend a fortune on a babysitter AND tickets to some event where you’ll dine and dance with hundreds of strangers. In both instances, someone has to stay sober enough to drive – because unless you’re partying in Manhattan, you aren’t going to find a cab – and even if you’re sober, you’re probably surrounded by drunk drivers.
Plus, whether you wake up with a hangover or not, it’s a sure bet that the kids will be up at the crack of dawn and on their worst behavior all day. Forget napping; you’ll be lucky if you can withstand a dozen rounds of Ring Around the Rosie without puking.
So I have to admit that this year, I’m glad to have an excuse to stay home. Not only am I on the wagon, but it would be more frightening than ever if I tucked my skirt into my tights.
December 31st, 2007 at 5:23 am
New Years Eve is overrated for sure. About 15 years ago (waaay before kids), I told my dad that I didn’t want to waste one of my few days off with a raging hangover so I wasn’t going out for NYE. He said, “wow, it took me until I was 40 to figure that out.”
Now I am using the “I have to run on New Years Day” as my excuse to stay sober, save money on a babysitter and relax!
December 31st, 2007 at 6:22 am
I plan on going to bed at my usual 7:30. Chances are, I’ll be up at midnight nursing a cute little baby anyway. To celebrate the new year, I’ll eat too many cookies and treat myself to some vicks vapo rub that might make my stuffy nose breathe better. That’s living.
December 31st, 2007 at 6:49 am
Yeah, New Year’s is definitely overrated. I have a few that are memorable too. When I was a senior in high school, my best friend was living in England and I visited for the holidays. We went to London for NYE and that was insane. I also saw Phish at the Boston Garden about 10 years ago and that was quite an experience. Other than that, we’ve had some nice dinners out, friends over, etc. which have been nice but I’m usually too tired to even make it ’til midnight now with kids.
December 31st, 2007 at 7:20 am
Yeah, we’re pretty stuck in the land of:
“So, should we get some shrimp?”
“That depends. Do you want to go to the grocery store?”
December 31st, 2007 at 7:21 am
Somehow the tradition has become getting together with another couple here at our house. OUR HOUSE! Makes me so happy every year I don’t have to go anywhere yet still get some social time.
Happy New Year!
December 31st, 2007 at 7:39 am
I have a long and bitter relationship with NYE. It’s my birthday, so I feel like I should be doing something fun. We’ve tried everything, but like you say, it’s all too much trouble.
The best thing to do, we’ve found, is have just a few people over for a nice dinner, and they can stay the night if they want to have drinks.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:24 am
New Year’s Eve, also known as Amateur Night.
If you need a special occasion to drink champagne and get silly, I don’t need to go out with you. Let’s do that some random Friday and leave January 1st to the idiots.
It’s even impossible to get a cab in Manhattan. Honestly, WHY BOTHER?
December 31st, 2007 at 10:38 am
My daughters 10th birthday is soon, so she decided to have a bunch of her friends over tonight for a party. It works for me. A few years ago, we had my son’s birthday party on New Year’s Eve with their parents who were all friends/neighbors of ours. I guess I have really embraced my mom-ness.
Hope you have a good night!
December 31st, 2007 at 11:11 am
Yeah, we’re staying home, too. We have another couple with kids coming over to spend the night, so at least we’ll have friends to talk to.
New Year’s is kind of lame when you have young kids. Ah well, any excuse to drink a little champagne is fine with me.
December 31st, 2007 at 11:20 am
I seem to remember a mutual NYE circa 1988 with another smoking hot CHS girlfriend (Jamie), my psychotic boyfriend, and his racist friend. No parents, and perhaps we quit smoking that night too. . .for a few days. Now if that is not memorable, well, I will not send you a copy of a Barbie birthday card.
Thinking of you on the beginning of a new year- and sending many great hopes for a spectacular 08 for you and your family.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I’ve always dreaded the pressure to have fun and excitement on this day. Heck, I’m spending them with my in-laws, perhaps I’ll take a dip in the outdoor hottub, but odds are: we will be in bed at 12:01.
Happy New Year MGM! May your skirt and tights remain in their proper place.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Kate, I disavow any recollection of that evening. I certainly don’t remember placing an urgent call to you: “Get over here and control your boyfriend!”
December 31st, 2007 at 12:37 pm
I hear ya. This is a totally overrated holiday.
Although, 10 years ago on NYE I had my first “official” date with my now husband. That’s kind of special. But not worth staying up until midnight, when I know I’ll be up in the night with the Pumpkin.
I think my sister has the right idea. She’s having a few people over in the afternoon/evening with their toddlers, and they are celebrating the Parisian new year (just so they can celebrate it at 6:00 instead of midnight). No babysitters, no late nights, no expensive dinners/tickets. That’s my kind of celebrating.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I prefer staying home on New Year’s. But tonight we’re going over to a friend’s house with a few other couples, all of us have kids the same age. We’ll let the kids stay up until, say, 8:30pm before we take them home and put them to bed. Which means I’ll be in bed by 10. Sounds perfect to me!
December 31st, 2007 at 3:05 pm
We’re going to a kids-included party too. It’s the only way to go IMHO. Jeff made two kinds of jello shots: blueberry martini and prosecco! Oh and some virgin ones for the small fry too.
December 31st, 2007 at 6:02 pm
One of the best New Years I ever had was when pregnant – the evening itself wasn’t so spectacular but waking up for the first New Year in many many years without a horrific hangover was quite something. Won’t be this year either, cheers!
December 31st, 2007 at 7:56 pm
It’s not even 9:00pm yet and I hear drunk guys outside yelling and blowing off fireworks while I am all cozy indoors watching a CSI marathon, quite happily.
Happiest of New Years to you and yours!
December 31st, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Yeah, clearly I’m not out partying either if I’m here writing to you. Happy New Year, nonetheless.
December 31st, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Here’s the the Betsy Johnson dresses, skimpier than our thighs.
Note the time stamp on this comment, btw. And I’m not pregnant.
xo
December 31st, 2007 at 9:38 pm
uh, that’s Here’s “TO” BJ dresses.
Yeah, I’m a bit drunk. Fuck me.
January 1st, 2008 at 5:19 am
You could be like us – crazy enough to invite our friends and their kazillion kids over. I thought the kids were going to come through the ceiling at one point, it sounded like a herd of elephants. Mercifully, everyone but the kidless folks left by 10 PM and even the kidless ones were gone by 11:30, so I was able to clean everything up and still watch the countdown. Color me pathetic.
Next year I’m voting for the islands.
January 1st, 2008 at 7:26 am
I find that when holidays are used to drink or eat in excess, well, it’s just that, excess. Gluttony. I’m no angel, but I think the magic is found in the everyday, not in the seven or eight pre-designated special days.
Here’s hoping that your joy multiplies as your family grows this year.
Happy new year.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:55 pm
NYE is my least favorite holiday. And seeing as we have had a pukefest for 2 years running now, I don’t see that changing any time soon.