Natter 48 Contiguous States of Denial
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
When was the last time you had fun on New Year's Eve?
I’m not sure what year it was… maybe Dec 2002? A friend and I went to St. Louis, where another most excellent friend from college was having a housewarming/NYE party. So we were there for, I dunno, 5 days? We got to sleep in bunk beds, and I helped install a bathtub, and saw old friends I hadn’t seen in ages, and on New Year’s Eve they had bunches of people over and all the food in the world, and we played kazoos at one point. And their house was beautiful, even in the midst of their renovations. I think it was from the 1800s, and had a separate servant’s staircase, and was just so cool.
It was more about being able to hang out with those particular people than the festivities, really. I miss my friends. Sigh.
But I frequently have the same problem with NYE that I do with my birthday, where if I try to make big plans, I end up disappointed and depressed. I can think of one other fun NYE, but that was when I was dating the sociopath and it's quite possible that I'm just not remembering it very well. Usually I just putter around at home now. Which is the relaxing kind of fun, at least, and safer for everyone.
Right. It is the law of physics about two objects not being able to occupy the same space at the same time. Whatever that law is called.
I call it, "So sorry! The escalator let me off here. I don't know
how
I bumped into you!"
My version of elbows is fashion-forward. Or, just forward. I put up my arms like a boxer on defense, except further forward, and start pushing with my forearms. Really, the elbows are rearguard, and for punitive purposes. Although kicking in the shins is much less subtle.
WAY more than serviceable.
I was being just a tad facetious. Basically, there was no merely good chamagne that year (though one of the people was being snotty about the bottle of White Star someone brought).
Stand right, walk left, dammit!
This. So very this. Though I'm not going to blame the standers if whoever made the escalator only made it a single-wide.
I haven't been commuting anywhere for a while, so my Metro rage has faded, but yeah...barging into the car or standing right. in. front. of. the freaking door as if the out-coming folks can simply pass through your spectralness? Oh, that bugs.
To be honest though, the worst offenders are often NOT tourons. The new culture of cellphone invisibility cloaks is making the train way less pleasant what with the 'you did WHAT? and no you DIDN'T and can you pick up x and Where ARE YOU?!' conversations.
Confession time. As much as I am fairly zen about the out-o-towners, I have put together a list of the various fines the non-thinkers are frequently eligible for...and I use it in a sometimes mean spirited way. My favorite is when the visiting family brings their tot on wheels into the train car, slobbering one of those red white and blue rocket pops all over the place. I sidle up all conspiritorial and say, "That's a $50 fine you know. The sign says no food...that means you." The panic is a bit too fun to watch, I'm afraid to say. Where can they put it, they ask? "You notice there aren't any trash cans in here right? That's because you aren't supposed to bring anything in. I'm sure the station master will have something to say at the next stop.' One poor grandmother actually stuck a popsicle in her handbag to hide it. I tried to feel bad.
I'm all for keeping the kid from screaming. Anything to keep the kid from screaming.
Or people who stand at the bottom (or top) of the escalator, trying to get their bearings. We get to push those people down and trample them, right? That's the law, right?
Sighhh... I fear I am guilty of this. I have major escalator fear when going down and do tend to pause. BUT I MAKE A POINT OF APOLOGIZING IF I GET SOMEONE STUCK BEHIND ME, TOURISTS!!!!!
THERE ARE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU!!!!!
I'm all for keeping the kid from screaming. Anything to keep the kid from screaming.
At my MiL's house Owen started asking for his usual apple juice. And by asking, I mean screaming repeatedly when I explained to him that Nana didn't have any. He continued crying for it as we sat down to dinner. Bless my SiL, since she grabbed her purse, ran out the door and reappeared 10 minutes later with a bottle of apple juice.
I try to respect "no food or drink" rules but when it comes down to my kids, I'm going to pay any freakin' fine they want to throw at me if Owen wants some fruit juice or cheeze its.
I have absolutely given Emeline food on the subway out here if she's cranky or fractious. And out here, it's a $120 fine and you get ejected from the train.
But as Allyson said, anything to keep the kid from screaming.
when it comes down to my kids, I'm going to pay any freakin' fine they want to throw at me if Owen wants some fruit juice or cheeze its.
Can't be said enough.
This NYE = staying home and going to bed early. Hopefully watching the full parades for the first time in years.
Last time I had fun.
I've had fun several years since Imoved back to NY - 1998 swing party at Ratner's Deli, 2000 in Times Square, 2001 at the Waldorf was more fun as an idea than in execution, low-key parties at my place and at a friend's in 2002 and 2003 (maybe 2004), and last year was fun.
I tend to not have fun anymore if too many people are really getting drunk where I am. Odd, I know, but it helps for me to know it and plan accordingly.
