Winding Down

Here we are, the last day of the year. The sun is shining and the morning temperature is rising to an almost spring-like eight degrees. With luck, it may, like yesterday, reach into the high teens. But even if it does, it won’t last. Tonight, the temperature is predicted to fall to nearly ten degrees below zero - and that’s without the wind chill. I haven’t bothered to see what the wind chill will deduct from that.

I assume that some people, for reasons that has always escaped me, will brave the cold tonight, to go somewhere and watch a ball drop. While I think there may be a certain value in this type of metaphor, I’ve never understood the appeal of watching this on TV, let alone “in person.” The idea of watching this reminder, while standing in freezing temperatures along with a large crowd of loud and annoying people, is not my idea of a celebration. Why it’s anybody’s idea of a celebration, is beyond me. Maybe it makes the rest of the year seem more tolerable by comparison.

Instead, we will have our New Year’s Eve celebration at home - ordering some alleged Chinese food, watching a little TV and then heading up to bed somewhere before ten o’clock. Except for the part about the Chinese food, this is pretty much how we spend every night. I’ve seldom stayed up to greet the New Year, and so far, the New Year has arrived whether I'm waiting for it or not. I expect this to be the case again tonight and if I’m wrong, I apologize in advance.

For this New Year’s Eve celebration, Sam and I have decided to break with tradition. Tonight, along with our usual order of Chinese food, we will be ordering some steamed dumplings. This is a pretty radical departure for us, but I feel like we need to shake things up and do something to improve our chances for the coming year. We’ve discussed this idea several times and we’re both committed to moving forward with it.

I will try to be back later tonight. In the meantime, enjoy this picture of my bedroom window, taken moments ago.

About the only good thing I can say about it is that you’re looking at a thick coating of frost, not at a two story high snow bank. Think about that as you make your plans for tonight.