New Years/New Plans

When does it all begin? Or when does it all end? Maybe? How about, when does the beginning of the end begin, again…? Either way, getting closer to New Years Eve, for me, means getting closer to awkward conversations with my friends. It seems everyone is waiting for someone else to come up with a great plan that they will be invited to get in on. I know that’s how it is for me.

I’ve had some really great New Years Eve celebrations, but in most cases someone was let down. That’s just a horrible way to spend the night. I’ve also had some really bad New Years Eve celebrations mostly because I was let down.

The awkwardness and inquiries were limited this year and I liked it best. I think over this last year I learned some very helpful lessons regarding December 31 of each year. For the future I’m going to stick to a few basic rules regarding this night:

1.Ask early: let your friends know right after thanksgiving that, “we should do something for new years.” Then every 9-11 days mention it so they don’t make plans and forget about you because they think you’re full of shit.

2.Ask your close friends to get together, but don’t go over board.

3.Don’t expect an invitation and you won’t be disappointed.

4.If you want to see a bunch of people you like, grab it tight and throw a party. But you gotta get the word out real soon and ask each person to rsvp with something they’ll bring. That keeps them committed.

5.Don’t drink and drive unless you are operating the snow plow. That way I can get home without having to worry about snow AND cops.

6.Don’t be afraid to turn down an invite. Stop it with the, “I’ll let you know,” bullshit. That really messed things up in the end. Commit one way or the other.

7.Stay in one place. Seriously, it’s just better that way.
Don’t follow any rules or attempt to pull off the perfect New Years Eve. It’s never going to happen anyway. Just try to find a flow, get rejected (or not invited), drink too much (or not enough), and go home feeling disappointed.


With all that said, last years awkwardness and miscommunication ended with the best new years eve of the first quarter century of my life. I saw a great concert and my friends are still my friends so it worked out in the end.

Here's a video from my new years last years celebration last year.