A night I usually dread

[jay]

This is a classic date/party evening. Since I'm not generally invited to parties, and can't usually find babysitting, invariably I find myself stuck at home on New Year's Eve, contemplating my own social undesirability. If I'm lucky, I'm visiting family back East and can express my frustration by blowing up some illegal fireworks after midnight. In California, even that's not an option...

I was contemplating going to see one of my past universities (Georgia Tech) play locally in a bowl game this afternoon, but I have no one to take along and probably couldn't afford the tickets ($60/each) anyway. So I'll stay here in the office. Feh.

Comments

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

Hey, so far I don't have any special plans except to spend this evening with my partners. No wild parties. No fireworks -- of which I'm envious of mikz, because he got to see Sydney Harbour fireworks for New Year's and they are the world's best.

I'm going to Whole Foods in Palo Alto to buy a few things, then I'm heading down to the office myself. You aren't alone. See you later!

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

I wasn't invited to anything, either, and when I tried to arrange a low-key gathering here, it turned out that all my friends had plans already. And yet I'm still looking forward to this evening as a chance to have a night to myself, catching up on things I've missed on my many travels, and reflecting on the year to come.

I guess I think it's all in how you look at things.

-J

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

New Year's Day has always been more important to me than the eve. I have a tradition by which I go out in nature and *do something* -- I bird, I investigate serpentine soil ecosystems, I sit quietly at the beach, I walk along a creek. It doesn't quite matter what, but it needs to be out of the house and focusing on something basic, something besides my own self or other people.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

That sounds useful! I'd like to go out today, myself...

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

I hope that you had a worthwhile evening. I find that most of my introspection and reflection takes place outside -- in a natural setting, or on a trip. Even sitting in traffic. A night at home, alone with no specific tasks to accomplish... that thought makes me fidget. I'd probably fill it with work... we look at things differently.

(smile) happy new year, to one of my favorite people.

[spacefem.livejournal.com]

usually I try to scrape my way into a party, but this year I just didn't feel like it. New Year's Eve is a crappy holiday, especially for antisocials like myself. friends are out of town, family is way far away... tonight it's me and the parakeets!

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

It's even worse in some ways than not having a date for Valentine's Day... I sympathize.

Happy new year, in 2 hours (Central)...

[geekchick]

We're home by ourselves as well, but I'm instead contemplating my own lameness for failing to make plans. I don't find it necessarily to be a comment on my social undesirability. I'm going to make a big pot of beef stew, drink some port, and watch a movie about the American rave scene.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

"Go"? I have friends who were apparently involved in making that. Haven't watched it yet. Should fix that....

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

The movie, the scene, or both? ;-)

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Yes. The scene, and the movie as well.

[geekchick]

"Go" is a lot of fun, and "Groove" is excellent as well. The one we're watching tonight though is called "American Massive". Haven't hear anything about it yet, we just sort of stumbled upon it at Tower by accident and figured it was probably worth the hour and twenty minute investment. =)

It's not just you...

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

We actually don't have any invitations to parties tonight, either. (Of course, the past several years when we were out of town and couldn't attend, we got multiple invitations--that's how the cookie crumbles, I guess!) However, I do recall ag_unicorn saying on Sunday evening that they were hosting something at their place (in Oakland). With 4 kids, they can't afford babysitters, either, and decided to host their own kid-friendly gathering at home. We'll probably stay home, but we were contemplating contacting them and "inviting ourselves" over if we had felt more sociable. I'm betting if you phoned or e-mailed them you'd be welcome as well.

Re: It's not just you...

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

I had to opt out of that one because of the recent kid-lice problem... they're clear now, but sleeping over with other kids still seemed unwise. Running around is one thing, sharing a pillow another... sigh.

Re: It's not just you...

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

True. OTOH, you *could* have gone for a while, and then left before pillow-sharing occurred. Assuming all the other parents were OK with even that much contact, of course. But it does seem the better part of valor just not to expose a whole new crowd at this relatively "early" time in treatment.

*sigh* indeed.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

I hope you didn't feel too blue :-(

When I was a teenager, I was very good friends with a large Scots family, and they used to invite me to a truly awesome Hogmany each year. The only New Year's party I've been to since I went to college which was in the same league, was 1999/2000 at a Saxon manor house in the Yorkshire countryside - we saw in the new year standing on a hearth stone dating from 1000 AD.

So, to me, New Year parties are usually a bit hum-drum, except in very rare and special years. I don't have any high expectations, and I'm usually right :-) New Year does have some emotional family connotations, though, so for me the most important thing is to know that I am loved, even if my loved ones can't be with me right that moment.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

It wasn't a good time, but I'm better now :-)

we saw in the new year standing on a hearth stone dating from 1000 AD

I'm envious, a bit... that sounds both social and introspective at once.

the most important thing is to know that I am loved

I hope that you had a happy new year in that respect, dear.