Help with New Year's Eve problems.

Subject: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 11:11 AM

Does anyone one else have problems on New Year's Eve? I am one of those tedious 'life and soul of the party' animals and tend to think that I am always missing a great party, somewhere. My wife is more of a stay at home type.

Whilst we had young children, going out and partying was not really an option. Now there is no reason why we could not (apart from creaking joints), stay out and party all night long. At least for one night of the year anyway.

I did flag up that the time of year was nearly upon us, some days ago. I am worried now, as she has just announced that the problem is solved. This by the purchase of a brand new Scrabble board!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: bflat
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 11:29 AM

Maybe I can solve someones' sitter problem. I'm available.

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: GUEST,Nancy King
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 11:41 AM

How about inviting a few friends over? I started doing this when my kids were little and I couldn't get a sitter, and over the years it's become its own "tradition." Happy New Year! --Nancy

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 11:46 AM

Suggest you

1) Have your own party, invite both Scrabble buffs and loose musicians for an all-night jam session/Scrabble tournament (some musicians will show up after gigs, too, that way). "BYOB and a platter of nibblies" as part of the invite cuts down on the prep work for you.

2) Talk her into "putting in an appearance" at someone else's party where you can find the above or its equivalent. Talk about how hurt they'll be if you don't. Maybe she'll enjoy herself and want to repeat the effort, if you don't do something so embarassing she feels the need to start the new year by sending out apologies...(joke).

Sarah

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 11:49 AM

This has not been a problem for our family for the last 8 years. New Year's Eve is the time for my two kids one daughter's friend, my nephew, and a friend of ours to get together to play Dungeons and Dragons. The game starts in the early afternoon and runs into the wee hours. The only music, I'm sorry to say, is the stuff I plunk out on my guitar while we sit there.

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 12:18 PM

Playing a First Night Gig in the opposite corner of Vermont from where we are. It's a guarantee of a blizzard on New Year's Eve.

Well, at least we're performing a service for the ski industry by making it snow.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 01:51 PM

Curmudgeon made a decision years ago not to play New Years Eve gigs, so for years we had music parties. Success was usually judged by how many people were around for quiche the next morning. The music was glorious and it was a great way to start the new year.

Unfortunately, the last few years a significant part of the goup is in a band that DOES like to play New Years Eve gigs and are generally too tired to join us after the gig. So we've been trying to reconfigure the personnel around the old concept -- music to bring in the new year.

This year I think we'll be doing no holiday entertaining at all as I have techno crap scattered from one end of the house to the other while trying to clear out one room as a studio/office. If I don't get something major accomplished in the next couple weeks, I don't know where the Christmas tree is going.

I'm hoping someone else closeby wants good company, good food and good music to herald the new year -- and invites us!

Bat Goddess

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 02:19 PM

The idea of a scrabble/music party was a very good one. thanks to all.

Actually the best idea was the gigging one. Up to fairly recently we were out together playing. If we could get one for New Year, it may be the answer.

Not that I have many good memories of past New Year gigs.....

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 02:36 PM

One thing about the "First Night" celebration fad: The idea is that they're an alternative to getting smashed on New Year's Eve, and they're generally "alcohol-free," meaning "alcohol-kept-under-cover" in the real world. You don't get many drunks, so the gigs are more fun (for the musicians) than the traditional New Year's Eve bar blast.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: paddymac
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 02:43 PM

As a bit of a word freak, I could really get into a Scrabble and tunes party. "Boggle" is a fun word game as well. Seems like the games and music might share the characteristic that a drink or two improves performance at both, but three or four lowers the level immeasurably. I used to enjoy going out, almost to the point of a compulsion, but after having seen a few too many inebriates wrapped around trees and the like, I decided it was more fun to stay home with a few friends, and a hell of a lot safer. I refuse to go on the roads between 10 and three, just to give the drunks a chance to clear out. Drinking establishments here close at two, which creates a really wierd window on the roads. Whatever and however they do it, here's hoping 'catters everywhere enjoy and survive the night.

Serious partiers can spread their New Year's cheer over the year by exploring comparable festivals in other cultures. I celebrate four of them, albeit each one a bit differently. There's the "conventional" New Year's of 12/31-1/1; Muskogee (late march); Chinese (variable); and Celtic (Samhain/Halloween). Anybody know of any others?

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: Gypsy
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 11:08 PM

Walpurgis! A fabulous celebration! And, we as well, prefer to have the celebration at our home. No alcohol, lots of music, fireworks, and the burning of the old years problems in a bonfire. The firehouse is but 2 miles from us, and the hospital, 7. We hear far too many sirens on New Years to want to drive anywhere.

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: paddymac
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 07:12 PM

Gypsy - can you elaborate on "Walpurgis?". Sounds like fun.

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: GUEST,John Leeder
Date: 04 Dec 00 - 10:33 AM

Our contra dance group have held a New Year's Eve dance for several years now. We dance until 11:00, have a pot-luck meal, clear away the tables for midnight, sing "Auld Lang Syne", hugs all round, then drive home before the serious drinkers are on the road. It's worked well for us.

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: Thyme2dream
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 12:02 AM

Well, I think I'm gearing up to host a major culture shock for New Year's...Ian and I are spending our first holiday season together, this year here in Kansas. I have been trying to explain to him that a regular Thursday night in Edinburgh is more exciting than 'Hogmany' in Topeka (heck fire, we don' even unnerstand what HOGS got ta do with it no how, bunch o durned crazy Scotch guys runnin' around in them there dresses, ain't nat'rul f'yask me!) and if anyone around here tried 'first-footing' at the neighbor's you'd get shot between the eyes...sigh! I'm crossing my fingers and hoping we can get tickets to Kelley Hunt's Blues party in Lawrence...OR maybe that word game and music party idea is a really good one.

Now, if I can just figure out how to keep the drinkers and the fervent teetotalers apart at Christmas, all will be 'Merry and Brite' in the land of ahs.

Subject: RE: Help with New Year's Eve problems.
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Dec 00 - 03:14 PM

I just hope everyone that goes out on News Years Eve is careful. There's a good reason why the folks in AA call it "amateur night".