[nerdy editor]Actually, that should be “May I take a nap now?”[/nerdy editor]Growing up, New Year’s Eve was always a family thing—a kind of small postscript to Christmas. My parents never went out and relegated my sister and me to a hapless babysitter. Instead, my maternal grandparents would come over and the six of us would hang out, enjoying the last waning hours of our Christmas decorations and candles, eating hors d’oeuvres, playing board games, watching movies (after we bought our first VCR in 1986, that is), and watching Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. It was clean, innocuous fun, and even after I entered those years o’ torment and horror (the early years of adolescence), spending New Year’s Eve with my family was something I enjoyed doing.
Starting in 11th grade, I think, I began spending New Year’s Eve with friends. I always resisted ringing in the new year alone, even if it meant frittering away the last hours of the year in a snooze fest with one friend, doing and going nowhere in particular. When the inevitable finally occurred two or three years ago (I did have plans, but they fell apart at the last minute), I discovered: Hey, this isn’t so bad!
And really, it’s not. Given the choice, yeah, I’d rather spend the evening having fun with good friends, but if that option isn’t available, and neither is doing something huge and memorable—like ringing in the new year in Times Square (I’ve always wanted to do that), or in London (I’ve done it twice; I’d love to do it again), or in a mass celebration in downtown DC (that’s how I celebrated the millennium)—then I’d rather be alone. Going to a crowded nightclub or an elaborate party where I barely know anybody doesn’t interest me. Going to a party just because it’s expected of me, because it’s New Year’s Eve and that’s what people do on New Year’s Eve, doesn’t appeal to me at all. And given how much I’m now working, due to my heavy freelancing schedule, spending a holiday at home without any obligations or traveling or socializing sounds like the best possible scenario for me.
This weekend I mostly cast my work aside in honor of the holiday (I worked for a bit on Friday night and for a few hours on Saturday, but barely made a dent in the freelancing stack before I tossed it aside). I never got out of my pajamas. I never bathed (ah, the joy of slothdom!). I didn’t go anywhere. I watched DVDs and read. This evening I began a hotly-anticipated art project. The weekend felt gorgeous. Tonight I’ll curl up on the sofa with a warm, furry blanket (faux, of course); some Estonian liqueur; and my cats. At midnight we’ll watch the ball drop in New York City.
As for New Year’s Day—that, too, was always a family affair when I was young. It was tradition for us to go to my aunt and uncle’s house and spend the day relaxing and fressin’ with my dad’s side of the family. Where I’m from, people are supposed to eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day to ensure good luck in the year ahead, so our day was always filled with steaming, sagging plates of pork and ’kraut (unfortunately for me, I didn’t like pork and I was sickened by the sight of sauerkraut; so, no good luck for me). It was also tradition—during the years when New Year’s Day wasn’t on a Friday or Saturday—for Kristen, our cousin Becky, and me to spend a good portion of the day gnashing our teeth and moaning about having to return to school the next day after having a week off school. Much dramatic flopping on furniture and pointed sighs accompanied our day. Also, one year we listened to Prince’s new single 1999 on a continuous loop for hours, imagining where we’d be and what the world would be like on that distant day when 1999 danced over to 2000.
This year on New Year’s Day, there won’t be much need to moan and sigh about having to return to work, because it’s not like I’m returning from a week’s holiday vacation; after all, I worked three days last week. I’ll probably just feast on Christmas leftovers (my grandfather’s divine PA Dutch potato filling), complete my aforementioned art project, watch some DVDs, read, and indulge in some sweet, sweet vegging.
2006 was a decent year; may 2007 be even better! Here’s one last questionnaire for the year:
2006 Year in Review
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
I auditioned for a game show and went to Georgia for the first time.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I stopped making resolutions a few years ago. I never kept them! But I’ve been resolving for months to buy a house in 2007, no matter what it takes.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Antoinette had her first baby, Luca, in July.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My great-aunt Mag died, but we haven’t been close in years.
5. What countries did you visit?
England
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A HOUSE!!! And maybe a bit of free time.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
29 September, because on that day I returned to London for the first time in over seven years and it felt so goddamn good!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving a ridiculously intense workload and a shocking dearth of downtime without having a complete nervous breakdown.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to buy a house. Failing to begin saving for the trip to Eastern Europe I want to take within the next few years.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just a double bout of pink eye—nothing overly major.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My favorite thing would be the handmade skulls-and-cherries purse I bought at Smithfield Market in London. Runners up would be the mirrored sunburst candle holder I bought in Athens, GA, and the black satiny trenchcoat dress I bought at Forever 21. And my new flat-screen computer monitor, of course!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Plath’s, because he hasn’t sprayed the furniture in months. (But secretly I think the Prozac actually deserves the accolades for that!)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Someone whose name I can’t say!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Into quarterly tax payments (my freelancing is really nailing me to the wall, tax-wise), into my savings account, toward my London trip, toward bills, and toward Christmas presents.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Returning to London after seven years away!
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
“Your Ex-Lover is Dead,” by Stars, because I listened to it over and over again.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I’m in the same position, really. Still living in the same shitty apartment, still focused on buying a house, still working nonstop. The only difference is that I now have my tax situation under control (I’m paying quarterly taxes, which I didn’t do in 2005).
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Saving money and vegging.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Working!
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my family at my sister’s house.
21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
I spent it alooooone, just like I spend most New Year’s Eves, but that’s okay with me, because, like I said above, if I can’t spend it hanging out casually with my closest friends or rocking out in Times Square/Trafalgar Square, then I’d rather be alone.
22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
No, although there was an unfortunate crush that didn’t go anywhere. (Shocker.)
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
A tie between Lost and The Office.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope. Well...wait. I now hate my neighbors more than I did at this time last year, because my hatred for them just continues to grow and grow with the passage of time.
26. What was the best book you read?
Mmmm…I guess I’ll say The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, because even though his writing style kind of bugs (he violently swings between being overly flowery and overly sparse; his punctuation is erratic), the book really stands out because it was such a stomach-churningly bleak tale—probably the bleakest book I’ve ever read. It’s one of those books that makes me feel so grateful for what I’ve got in my life. Second runner-up would have to be Graves without Crosses, by Arved Viirlaid.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Joshua Radin
28. What did you want and get?
For Christmas I got pretty much everything I asked for.
29. What did you want and not get?
A house.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
In terms of what I saw in the cinema (and I barely saw anything): El Método. In terms of what I rented: V for Vendetta, Cube, The Eye.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 and spent my birthday in Athens, GA, with Annida and her husband. They got me a fab tombstone cake and took me to dinner at REM’s favorite vegetarian restaurant.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had managed to buy a house, thus releasing me from the hell of my apartment.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
It’s the same as it was the year before. On weekends comfort is key—sometimes I never even get out of my pajamas. The rest of the time I heavily favor vintage dresses, A-line skirts, chunky platform heels, secondhand clothes, flared pants, Aarikka necklaces, and the necklaces I make out of old ’80s earrings.
34. What kept you sane?
Dreaming about my future travels and buying a house. Friends. My cats.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
My #1 TV boyfriend John Krasinski.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The disintegration of the wall that is supposed to separate church and state.
37. Who did you miss?
Friends I didn’t get to see.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn’t meet any exciting new people!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
I’m really, really lucky. (But that’s something I’ve always known on some level.)
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
A song lyric that is actually from 2006:
Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It’s the wrong kind of place
To be thinking of you
It’s the wrong time
For somebody new
It’s a small crime
And I’ve got no excuse
This year on New Year’s Day, there won’t be much need to moan and sigh about having to return to work, because it’s not like I’m returning from a week’s holiday vacation; after all, I worked three days last week. I’ll probably just feast on Christmas leftovers (my grandfather’s divine PA Dutch potato filling), complete my aforementioned art project, watch some DVDs, read, and indulge in some sweet, sweet vegging.
2006 was a decent year; may 2007 be even better! Here’s one last questionnaire for the year:
2006 Year in Review
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
I auditioned for a game show and went to Georgia for the first time.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I stopped making resolutions a few years ago. I never kept them! But I’ve been resolving for months to buy a house in 2007, no matter what it takes.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Antoinette had her first baby, Luca, in July.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My great-aunt Mag died, but we haven’t been close in years.
5. What countries did you visit?
England
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A HOUSE!!! And maybe a bit of free time.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
29 September, because on that day I returned to London for the first time in over seven years and it felt so goddamn good!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving a ridiculously intense workload and a shocking dearth of downtime without having a complete nervous breakdown.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to buy a house. Failing to begin saving for the trip to Eastern Europe I want to take within the next few years.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just a double bout of pink eye—nothing overly major.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My favorite thing would be the handmade skulls-and-cherries purse I bought at Smithfield Market in London. Runners up would be the mirrored sunburst candle holder I bought in Athens, GA, and the black satiny trenchcoat dress I bought at Forever 21. And my new flat-screen computer monitor, of course!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Plath’s, because he hasn’t sprayed the furniture in months. (But secretly I think the Prozac actually deserves the accolades for that!)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Someone whose name I can’t say!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Into quarterly tax payments (my freelancing is really nailing me to the wall, tax-wise), into my savings account, toward my London trip, toward bills, and toward Christmas presents.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Returning to London after seven years away!
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
“Your Ex-Lover is Dead,” by Stars, because I listened to it over and over again.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I’m in the same position, really. Still living in the same shitty apartment, still focused on buying a house, still working nonstop. The only difference is that I now have my tax situation under control (I’m paying quarterly taxes, which I didn’t do in 2005).
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Saving money and vegging.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Working!
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my family at my sister’s house.
21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
I spent it alooooone, just like I spend most New Year’s Eves, but that’s okay with me, because, like I said above, if I can’t spend it hanging out casually with my closest friends or rocking out in Times Square/Trafalgar Square, then I’d rather be alone.
22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
No, although there was an unfortunate crush that didn’t go anywhere. (Shocker.)
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
A tie between Lost and The Office.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope. Well...wait. I now hate my neighbors more than I did at this time last year, because my hatred for them just continues to grow and grow with the passage of time.
26. What was the best book you read?
Mmmm…I guess I’ll say The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, because even though his writing style kind of bugs (he violently swings between being overly flowery and overly sparse; his punctuation is erratic), the book really stands out because it was such a stomach-churningly bleak tale—probably the bleakest book I’ve ever read. It’s one of those books that makes me feel so grateful for what I’ve got in my life. Second runner-up would have to be Graves without Crosses, by Arved Viirlaid.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Joshua Radin
28. What did you want and get?
For Christmas I got pretty much everything I asked for.
29. What did you want and not get?
A house.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
In terms of what I saw in the cinema (and I barely saw anything): El Método. In terms of what I rented: V for Vendetta, Cube, The Eye.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 32 and spent my birthday in Athens, GA, with Annida and her husband. They got me a fab tombstone cake and took me to dinner at REM’s favorite vegetarian restaurant.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had managed to buy a house, thus releasing me from the hell of my apartment.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
It’s the same as it was the year before. On weekends comfort is key—sometimes I never even get out of my pajamas. The rest of the time I heavily favor vintage dresses, A-line skirts, chunky platform heels, secondhand clothes, flared pants, Aarikka necklaces, and the necklaces I make out of old ’80s earrings.
34. What kept you sane?
Dreaming about my future travels and buying a house. Friends. My cats.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
My #1 TV boyfriend John Krasinski.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The disintegration of the wall that is supposed to separate church and state.
37. Who did you miss?
Friends I didn’t get to see.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn’t meet any exciting new people!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
I’m really, really lucky. (But that’s something I’ve always known on some level.)
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
A song lyric that is actually from 2006:
Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It’s the wrong kind of place
To be thinking of you
It’s the wrong time
For somebody new
It’s a small crime
And I’ve got no excuse
song heard most recently before posting: Eyes Without a Face—Paul Anka
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