Shirl and Dew's Blog: New Years Eve

Last day of the year! Time for our big New Years Eve bash. It took us a while to get set up and the games ready. Elder Smith kept popping down to check out what we were doing and to get a little advance action on the games. We all tried bowling with the toy bowling set, and the ring toss, just to make sure it wasn't too hard! Even Joyce and Joseph, our cleaning people tried their hands at the games, and gave them their okay.

Our party began at 7pm and we started with food, what else? We had three kinds of soup, clam chowder, cheese, and vegetable, then three salads, rolls, chips and dips, and dessert. And miracle of miracles - I threw all the plastic wear away!!!! REALLY!!!

Dinner - before the games

We had the “Glimpse at 2008" DVD, and it lasted about an hour, and then the games began. Everyone seemed to enjoy them, and we tried to mix up the sitting down games with the action games. I think Dew and Elder Hallstrom thought they had a lock on “Round the World Ping Pong”, and both got knocked out early.

We finished up the games and cleaned up and headed upstairs to the Watson’s balcony to watch the fireworks. They were slightly disappointing, not nearly as good as last years, and a real step down from Octobers. I think the economy has hit the fireworks as well as everything else, or else they are saving up for Chinese New Year.

We got home about 1am, and the city was just getting warmed up. For a couple more hours we heard people shouting and horns honking, and motors racing down Hennessy. It was the noisiest I think I’ve ever heard it, and that says a lot.

Times Square was supposed to have about 200,000 people and they must have all walked down Hennessy to get home. And we thought the Chinese were reserve and quiet! Not so!

All in all it was an enjoyable evening, and I couldn’t help but feel regret that we won't be here next year, but it only lasted about 10 seconds!