Best New Years Ever!

Do you remember your best New Year's Eve celebration ever? You'd think mine would be a tale from many years ago when I was a youngster. I did whoop it up time or two back then. Alas nothing seems too memorable.

Roger and Robin with fro

There was this one time in Atlantic - at the Super Bowl. We had probably made the route from one end of town to the other (remember The Villa?) before settling there for a night of bowling and pinball. No, not really - we were boozing it up with noisemakers from the looks of these photos.

Todd Pellett and Chris Deardorff

During our child-raising years in Creston, we often "grouped up" the kids with other people's kids and a babysitter or two, before going out on the town. One year we played Pitch and other games at Cass's until 3 a.m. Another year I recall staying quite late at Crittendens - Jello Shots were served, along with Jagermeister. The guys were horrible at Pictionary.

Christmas Tree at 30 Rock

My favorite New Year's Eve wasn't all that long ago - spent in New York City after the ISU Cyclones lost the Pin Strip Bowl game. It was 2011 and we were there with McKims, McFees and Conovers - a group who knows how to spell FUN! We'd spent the day being tourists - visiting Ellis Island - so fortunate that the weather was unusually warm.

Betty's Name

Ellis Island was a moving experience - especially since Betty Brown, Diana's mother (RIP) had mad her way to the United States from Italy through there. D rubbed her name from a wall in the yard there as the sky tried to weep a bit. We walked around Wall Street that day too - bullish!

That evening we'd made the decision we weren't going to go far from our hotel, which wasn't anywhere near the dropping ball and the mobs! Dwight had scoped out a Korean restaurant for us to try. Sake anyone? We were nearly mowed down by a crazy Korean on a bike after we ate - I still chuckle about the look on Diana's face as she dove out of the way.

Just a couple blocks from our motel a new bar had opened. It was called Churchills - and Winston was even present in the restrooms, giving speeches. We were a little weary around 10ish when we got there - and it wasn't too crowded. We decided to sit in the front room which was quite empty. Dwight tried to get Marilyn to take off after one beer, but she was having no part of his ear tug signal. It was NYE in NYC!

I came up with an idea to assist this new business in attracting customers - if a group actually came in the door (we tried to look welcoming) we'd yell "SCORE!" and clap and cheer! That would make them smile and feel happy and stay. The manager was very thankful.

The place started to fill up. Towards midnight people started to dance - our group included. At one point I realized I was dancing to the New York song in New York! Thanks Frank Sinatra. Diana McKim danced with an African American woman. Then we all did YMCA together - it was very surreal.

Cheers at Churchills

We didn't get back to our hotel until after 2 a.m. The doorman was a former ISU football player - from the Dan McCarney era. We sat in our room and had just one more drink - not wanting the night to be over - it was that good!

It's fun to dance in NYC, right Donnie? 

You know when you plan a big event you have expectations that interfere with your perception of how things play out. That night I didn't have any expectations - and it was one of the best nights of my life!

Of course the next year we were at a bowl game in Memphis - it was cold and rainy. The Cyclones lost again and we didn't feel like going out. So we sat in the hotel with McKims and Conovers playing the Creston Game. We didn't have the best possible players there - Sharon and Jeff...The rules are simple. Give a couple clues and the others have to guess who you're talking about. The guys ended up having to go out for pizza and more liquor...
That was fun too - but not NYC fun...

Paul and I attended the ISU basketball game last night - pregaming at the Ehrecke's house. After the game we had a beer at Scheman with them. I was asleep in my bed by 11 p.m. No dancing for this girl this year. I'm looking forward to a good 2015 though - I'm trying to live it without built up expectations. It's more fun that way.