New Years, a Recap.

New Years Eve. Almost always a great time, don't you think? True, it can be highly overrated, and there are some years when I crave movies and my couch and a few close friends as opposed to spending the big bucks, putting on heels, and drinking way too much champagne. But since I figure once we have kids, those nights will be all the more likely, we may as well enjoy it  for all it can be now!

This year we headed to Heron Rock Bistro for our night. We did this last year, and had a blast. This year was also a great time, though we left earlier than the previous year because the live music turned out to be jazz as opposed to electronica dance music like last year (no offense, jazz....you're fine for dinner, but not for boogy down productions). The 5 course meal (at $60) was delicious - fresh Effingham oysters, prawns, prosciutto wrapped halibut, green tea sorbet, lemony dessert. Mmmm. Unfortunately, I tend to lose my appetite the later it gets in the evening, and after a few cocktails, so I couldn't finish my main or my dessert. As we had a late seating, they spaced out our dishes so that we were eating until just about midnight. Then, they popped bottles of champagne so everyone had something to toast with! It was a lot of fun and, I'm not gonna lie...a bit blurry by this point.

mmmmmm

Me and my future sister in law

Meliss and AZ sippin on cocktails

My bro and Chris enjoying themselves

What I got to look at all night

Somewhere around 1 am, we left. We needed to dance (see comments about dinner jazz above). So about 10 of the 16 of us decided to head back to my place. Of course cabs are at a premium, but we only live about 2 km away from the restaurant and it wasn't raining, so we decided to walk (in fact one of the many reasons we chose to repeat our location from last year). This turned out to be my favorite part of the night. It took us about an hour and a half to walk the distance as we kept stopping to cheer on fellow NYE walkers. And, a drunken stumble is not complete without a walk through Beacon Hill Park (safety in numbers, my friends) and a 45 minute pit stop at the playground. Much howling at the moon, swinging, wrestling in the wood chips, and acting like 8 years olds ensued (albeit tipsy 8 year olds).

While the boys discuss things like BMW's and politics....

...the girls take self portraits.

We then made the final 5 minute trek to our place, where we put on Gotye (at my insistence), set up some NYE shisha action, and danced baby danced like the world is ending. And yelled. And laughed. And pumped some bass on the new GZA record we got. And used our Christmas lights to jump rope in our living room. And realized that cabs were not going to happen. Ever.

Finally, at about 6 am (after about 2 hours of me trying to stay awake) I slept for a couple of hours. The three people who were not within walking distance to their homes, finally gave up and crashed on our love seat (ouchie) and our blow up mattress we reserve for such occasions. At 7 am I woke up to get some water and briefly considered staying up (as I often do, and then regret) and noted that everyone was still zonked out. Went back to bed until 930 and then  got up again to check on the dog and noted that the couple on the floor had sobered up and snuck out to head home to their own beds in the meantime.

Our last guest was unable to get a cab until 1030 am. That must be a new record, right?

We spent the day relaxing, having brunch with my family at the Marina and generally feeling like a giant bag of ass. As per usual. While my husband went to the annual Victivus party our friend always throws (and I never ever ever go to), I got in my PJ's and finally got around to watching the final season of Entourage and was in bed asleep by 11. With one more day off, and another chance to read, chill out, and watch some movies, I am now feeling almost back to normal. Revenge of the two day hangover, indeed.

Next year, we'll change things up a bit. Who know what 2012 will bring? Will we be celebrating with a quiet night at home, or will we be dancing until our feet hurt? To be continued.