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We don't do New Year's Eve up in too grand a manner in my household. Post-2004, any year that hasn't been rung in under a shower cap and a steaming headful of lice treatment has been considered an unmitigated success. This year, I've made my first batch ever of ginger ale (from a recipe in Jennifer Reese's laugh-out-loud cookbook *Make the Bread, Buy the Butter), *to be used later tonight in Dark and Stormy cocktails. We're going to attempt to watch all three of the Lord of the Rings movies with the boys as we sit on the couch eating Chinese takeout but we'll stop the DVD player long enough to watch Dick Clark ring in the new year--particularly since we've all added wishesto the confetti that will rain down on the revelers at Times Square at midnight. Not exactly exciting fare but as long as everyone is safe and healthy, it's good enough for us.
Many of the other GeekMoms are planning on quiet celebrations, as well.
- Kathy told me, "We'll be going to the mall so the boys can spend their Christmas loot and have dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Then they'll be meeting friends at the local First Night celebration -- their first night out on the town without us, I do believe. Husband and I may just stay in and watch The Big Bang marathon until it's time to meet them for fireworks at midnight...____
- Laura adds that the members of her family are are all "devout practitioners of Slacker New Year's Eve. This means no dressing up, no rushing, no late night driving. We slouch around at home with our kids and let the old year slide away. It's wonderfully relaxing."____
- Sarah is pregnant, so plans on an early night: "This year: a Rick Charette concert and 6pm fireworks for the kids then in bed by nine for me!"____
- Mandy's plans are similar, "We'll be watching some movies (X-Men: First Class and maybe one more) after the toddler is in bed."____
- Patricia seems to be the token extrovert of our group. She told me, "We are fortunate this year to have two party invitations...we'll visit the first one briefly but the second is a neighbor around the corner with a pool, hot tub, and lots of beverages to enjoy! Both parties are family-friendly, with stacks of board games and Wii play for the kids. At the second party, though, we are in charge of the fireworks -- stand back!
However you choose to spend the night, in the midst of a crowd or with only your nearest and dearest nearby (and perhaps a glass of spiked eggnog, as Corrina suggests), everyone at GeekMom hopes that you have a safe and happy New Year.
And in the words of my 12-year-old: See you next year!
