2010

Happy New Year!! Not to let the location ruin things, I spent the past few days making a Times Square style ball - constructed out of two back-to-back hard hats and over 500 left over Christmas lights. Just before midnight I strung it to the flag pole and raised it to the top. A group of us joined for cigars, near beer, and plastic champagne flutes with sparkling apple cider. As the countdown began, I lowered the ball to the ground. Not quite perfect, but it was quite nice. With the plastic hats and party horns and glowing orb and fake champagne, everyone found it a little easier to get into the season.



I concluded the night with the traditional and almost mandatory sharing of the Beef Stick. Perhaps not the pomp and circumstance of previous New Year's Parties, but it's still an important part of what makes the New Year so great. The beef stick tradition now spans both coasts of the United States and has infiltrated Afghanistan. For those who have no idea what I'm talking about - well... I'm sorry.

I will not wax poetically about how 2009 was full of changes and how 2010 is going to be a great year... I just wish you all a wonderful and Happy New Year!