# Mundane little things you do on Jan. 1 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 28, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331 "2012-12-28T01:28:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/1 "2012-12-28T01:28:59Z")
In my ongoing attempt to add some order to my life, there are things that I routinely do when the new year begins: Put up new calendars. Change the batteries in my smoke alarms. Change the cartridge in my razor (also May 1 and Sept. 1). Change and sharpen my steak knives (I have 12, and use 6 at a time). Rotate all the canned food and frozen food (use up the oldest). Revise the Daylight Saving Time dates in my sunrise/sunset chart for the new year. Be grateful that I made it through the Medicare “donut hole.” ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/2 "2012-12-28T03:21:44Z")
I wait for my birthday presents and badger Mr. Athena into making me a cake. Hell if I’m gonna give up my birthday just cuz it’s a holiday and everyone’s hungover. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/3 "2012-12-28T15:20:43Z")
Update my address book. Yes. A real book with real pages. Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore? Grumble, grumble. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/4 "2012-12-28T16:36:42Z")
Wake up before dawn. Go to work. Eat microwaved leftovers for lunch since many restaurants are closed here. Go home. Go to bed. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/5 "2012-12-28T16:39:32Z")
Cycle the stuff in the Bug Out Bag. And that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/6 "2012-12-28T17:02:41Z")
For a little while after waking up, amuse myself with thoughts such as “I haven’t eaten anything _since last year_!”, or “OMG, I haven’t taken a shit _all year_!” or “Hey, I can eat these leftovers _from last year_!”. That, and moan how I’ve had a hangover _all year_, although this year probably not so much, what with a baby and all. ETA: uh, does that make me sound weird? I’m not the only one who does this, right? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/7 "2012-12-28T17:12:50Z")
My only “tradition” is to go for a hike. This year I’m on call, so my trail choices are somewhat limited. (I have to have cell phone service and be able to make it to the office within an hour.) ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/8 "2012-12-28T18:30:14Z")
My family has this bizarre tradition of calling eachother on the eve of of the new year to say happy new year. Then on the morning of the new year a phone call to say happy new year. Then gets together for dinner that evening and once again, wishes eachother a happy new year. I love them all but I’ve always thought it a bit mental. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/9 "2012-12-28T18:36:02Z")
I try to sleep in. I go to bed early, sleep through the midnight countdown, and attempt to sleep until at least 10 am the next day. With two 5 year olds that is less easily done now. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/10 "2012-12-28T19:09:41Z")
Deposit money in my Roth IRA. I’ve got a reminder set up to do it on the first of each month. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/11 "2012-12-28T19:47:21Z")
Clean my apartment top to bottom. Something about getting out all of last year’s dust, trash, etc. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/12 "2012-12-28T19:50:48Z")
Watch the Rose Parade ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/13 "2012-12-29T00:34:45Z")
Eat Hoppin John for luck. With lotsa Tabasco. > **[Ring in the New Year With a Bowl of Hoppin’ John!](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/hoppin_john/)** > > Ring in the new year with a bowl of Hoppin’ John! Made with black-eyed peas and rice, this Southern recipe is thought to bring great fortune without spending one. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/14 "2012-12-29T00:38:54Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > … > Change and sharpen my steak knives (I have 12, and use 6 at a time). > … How come nobody told me you were an octopus? ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/15 "2012-12-29T00:43:45Z")
I put up a new calendar and start a new agenda (notebook.) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/16 "2012-12-29T00:45:13Z")
This year, hubby is working 24 hours New Year’s eve, so I’m not sure if we’ll do the one thing we’ve done in past years. (well, he always does it, me, not so much.) We usually go to the local Polar Bear swim. He swims (dunks) and I hold the bath blanket. I thought I’d do it this year, but, then there would be no one to hold any kind of blankets. In years past, there have been only a few people, 30 or so. For some reason, last year there were hundreds. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/17 "2012-12-29T00:51:37Z")
I do the same thing \*\*Colophon \*\*does. I also try to make at least one “I’m on pace to \_\_\_\_\_ _n_ times this year!” joke. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/18 "2012-12-29T03:12:43Z")
**Picu** , I’ll be in the ocean like we do every year. (We use our shoes to hold down the corners of the blanket so we can all go in.) Feel free to join us - Atlantic City, NJ 11:30am, in front of Resorts. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/19 "2012-12-29T04:06:25Z")
I watch the Times Square ball drop on TV and switch calendars. The rest is pretty free-form. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331/20 "2012-12-29T10:56:56Z")
Dark Side of the Moon, timed to end just before midnight. Then I do first-footer. Yummy Cupcakes has a Lump of Coal cupcake, so I can bring in food and warmth/light at the same time. Of course, I really shouldn’t be the one to do this, since I’m a woman and a redhead, but Mr. Rilch says it’s my idea, so I can be the one to go outside and freeze. Anyway, it’s a darn good cupcake. (Chocolate, with a cookies and cream filling, chocolate buttercream frosting, chocolate pastilles and a chocolate truffle on top. They actually don’t have it for New Year’s; they have it for Christmas. But it’s the kind of thing you use to bribe a kid, not threaten them! And the vanilla champagne cream that they do have for New Year’s is the perfect companion. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-little-things-you-do-on-jan-1/645331.md?page=2)