This will be my first NYE as a grandmother, so you guessed it, I’m babysitting.
Usually a friend throws a house party. As much as I like bars, the idea of going to one on NYE fills me with heartburn.
Last year I ordered pizza and slept in. I’d just returned from LA, where it was 70 degrees or so, and when I stepped into a 10 degree Chicago, I declared I didn’t give a fuck enough about the new year to go outside and deal with snow.
This year I haven’t figured out yet. Only friend throwing a party lives in an inconvenient neighborhood train-wise, and getting an Uber is going to be a bitch. I used to be fun, but I’m too tired to be fun now.
[del]A couple of bottles of champagne and a lot of drunk dialing[/del]
Seriously I am staying with friends who are having an adult pajama party. Everyone is staying until Sunday afternoon so no possibility of being on the road with the crazies.
Yes, I’m equally boring.
My wife and I share a bottle of sparkling wine and watch the ball drop while we play Scrabble or something. This year, we’ll have some family with us, and we’ll cook a prime rib roast.
Oh… and I usually spend a good chunk of that day working on W-2 forms for my payroll clients. It’s an exciting life, I tell you. 
Par Tay.
We either go to a bar owned by a friend who lets us crash at his house, or a friend’s house for their party, or a hotel/band combo, or we host a shin-ding.
No consistent tradition other than drugs and alcohol.
Ibuprofen? 
Staying home, putting a big pot of turkey and noodles on the stove and having some friends over. We’ll drink scotch and play pool and maybe watch a movie. The friends are staying the night.
Last year on New Year’s Eve, I was in the hospital recovering from surgery. This year, we will probably do what we have done in previous years. A quiet evening at home, just me and my wife, followed by some wine or champagne to toast the new year as we watch the ball drop on TV.
First of many, I’ll wager!
Might go out to Black Angus for dinner.
Then, at about 8:30 p.m., I’ll be leaving for work.
Speaking of which, I wonder how many people are even aware of why a ball drops on New Year’s Eve.
Taking the day off work to go to yoga and spend time with my new kitten (yes, I know pics are mandatory…). My friend is coming over in the afternoon to visit said new overlord. I will probably get Chinese and watch tv. I might actually stay up til 11.
I will be hooked up to the dialysis machine bright and early tomorrow (530am), then home to work until 430. My evening will probably consist of curling up in pajamas, sewing, watching TV until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore. I may be wild and order pizza for dinner.
Whatever we’re doing, I’ll be with the Mrs. at the stroke of midnight, for the 43rd consecutive NYE in a row. This tradition began with our 1st NYE after we 1st met. We’ve engaged in a wide (and wild) range of NYE activities over the decades, but now we often just struggle halfheartedly to stay awake for the magic moment.
New Years Eve over-indulging is for amateurs. (So is St. Patty’s Day.) We invite friends over, visit friends, or stay home. It’s much less expensive, less crowded, less dangerous, and less annoying.
That’s neat.
I’ll be home. I don’t like going out on drinking holidays. I got some pork chops for me and some whipped cream for the cat to try because apparently that’s a thing. I’m going to try to stay up but if I don’t no biggy.
Throw in searching for breadcrumbs, and you’ve got Passover preparation.
Home alone, drink some beer, maybe watch some Netflix/HBO Now.
I’ll be at a house party hosted by a friend.
I’ll probably do my default activity when I don’t have anything else planned: go downtown and watch the live music performances and fireworks at the port.
Or if I feel like staying home, I can sit at my computer watching some of Bartok’s music go out of copyright.
Just got more details on the downtown option, and it’s sounding much more attractive.
Park at my friend’s place and walk to the theater area. He’s docking his boat there for the night. We know that’s where he’ll be, because it’s the only place you can dock a 50’ ship in the area. Use the boat as a home base for coolers of beer, food, and bathrooms, but also be able to wander downtown if we want to.
I think I can handle that.