I got an invitation to a New Year’s Eve party. I had been invited to my cousin’s party, in L.A., but told her I didn’t want to travel that far. I had not had any local invitations up until now, and it IS the 28th, so I really thought I’d be home alone, talking to Eric at 9:00pm to wish him a happy new year and then, maybe – if he could or wake up – again at midnight my time, which would be 3:00am for him. I really had no problem with staying home, but it IS nice to be invited!
Bob, whose house I had been helping to decorate, decided to have a last-minute get-together. I guess it will consist of all the losers who had nothing better to do on New Year’s Eve – including me! He said we don’t have to bring a thing, but if we wanted we could bring an appetizer or dessert. Maybe I’ll bring my chocolate-covered strawberries again. They WERE a big hit last time. I guess it will be nice to see in the New Year with some friends.
When I spoke to Eric and told him about the invite, he said I should definitely go. He was friendly with Bob while he was still here and likes him a lot. He’s happy I have someplace to go, even though he told me he’s definitely staying home that night. I feel bad, but he’s not a party animal and we usually had pretty mellow New Year’s, so it’s not surprising that he is planning to be at home.
Also, he hasn’t been feeling well. He was sick on Christmas Day and is sick again today. He doesn’t know whether he has a flu, or just stomach problems, but he spent the day in bed. He told me he can’t even think about New Year’s Eve, the way he’s feeling right now, but I’m hoping he’ll be much better by Wednesday night!
Eric and I had many mellow New Year’s Eves where we would just go out to eat and be home by 9:00pm. We’d watch TV, have some dessert, and I’d have to wake him at midnight for my New Year’s kiss. Then, he’d fall back to sleep and I’d keep watching TV. So, it’s not like we’re used to big, fabulous, festive nights out.
We had plenty of those in the last 27 years, but they were many years ago. Many New Year’s Eves were spent with friends who have a band. We’d go to wherever they were gigging that night and I’d usually sing a number or two with the band. We’d be with all our friends, get dressed up, and have a blast. Those nights were definitely fun and I look back on them fondly. I just think that once you hit 50, your New Year’s Eves are usually spent quietly with friends – at a restaurant, or someone’s house.
Our last few New Year’s Eves in NY were spent with one or two couples. We always had a great time and enjoyed the company of friends and had a wonderful meal. That’s enough for us at this stage of our life. We’re not party animals any more. We did all the partying required when we were young – that’s for sure.
Between Eric’s wild group of friends and my rock ‘n roll days, we both partied enough to last a lifetime. Even though this group I’m friends with from work are all younger than me (by about 10 years – at least), they’re not “party animals” either and I’m happy that if I go to this party it will be similar to the fun nights I’d have with friends in NY.
Last New Year’s Eve we were at our friends’ Greg and Julie’s house in Los Angeles. That was quite an adventure, because we drove there and back in the same night! It was, as we had hoped, a quiet night with friends, but their feast of fondue was so fantastic and made the evening quite memorable.
It will be nice to have a fun New Year’s Eve, instead of being by myself, so that I will have fond memories of my two Decembers in California. Anyway, I am planning to go!
I didn’t do much today. My allergies were really really bothering me again, so I took DAYQUIL, which at least allowed me to function without constantly blowing my nose, but it only worked for a couple of hours, and then I took two more. I worked on my typing project a lot. I really want to start the decoupage project but, as I explained before, once I do that I will neglect the typing, and I’d really like to get that done for Leslie ASAP. So, when I’m not typing, I’m trying to organize the apartment a little, and get things packed away that I know I won’t need before I move.
I keep thinking I may want to have some friends over, before I move, so that someone can actually see the apartment before it’s packed up and empty. We have had so few people over since we moved in. My cousin Audrey and her San Diego friends came by when we were only here a few weeks. My nieces, April and Jessica, were here in January. Jimmy was here twice. Joe and Miguel stopped in for a look this past August. My brother-in-law, Rich, was here.
Others have come to San Diego and gone (our friend Scott, and my friends, Kris, Suzanna and Stephanie) without having seen the apartment, mostly because Eric wasn’t feeling up to guests. It’s not as if the apartment is THAT fabulous, but I do think we did a great job getting it set up – and except for our new mattress and box spring we did the whole thing for about $1,500 – the couch, card table and chairs, headboard, bedding, shelving in the dining area and bedroom, coffee table/chest, and entertainment unit. I love this little apartment (which really isn’t so little) and I’ve enjoyed living here.
Eric told me he’s looking at apartments and he still hopes to move before I get there. I am excited, because the apartment he’s in right now really wouldn’t work for the two of us, but I was fine with moving there and then the two of us finding a place. It would save me moving twice, so if he can find something great and be settled in there before I come in the spring, so much the better!
So, as part of my organizing/packing, I went through a bunch of photos I had, still in the envelopes you get when you have them developed. They were all from the period 2001-2005. It’s funny, because all my photos are either in hard copy, and I don’t have them on the computer, or they’re on the computer, and I don’t have a hard copy. I really don’t need to print out pictures I put on the computer, and I guess I don’t need my hard copy pictures on the computer, except as a backup.
I know people keep photo albums and scrapbooks and organize their photos beautifully, but most of mine are still in the envelopes. I’m just not that organized! I have about 4 or 5 of those shoe-box sized decorative boxes filled with pictures from the last 27 years with Eric. I haven’t figured out if it’s better to keep them permanently in envelopes and just look at them occasionally, or put them in albums, which then takes up a lot more room, but makes it a lot easier to look at. Help!
I also don’t know why my allergies have been SO bad today, but I’m wondering if all the boxes and maybe what’s inside them is dusty, because it’s been sitting for so long. I just know that once I started organizing, I started sneezing and blowing more than ever. It’s so uncomfortable, so then I have to stop and lie down and just watch TV, or take a nap, because I feel so uncomfortable and tired from the allergies.
The DAYQUIL is supposed to be non-drowsy, but I find that sometimes it makes me tired. I also find that sometimes the NYQUIL will put me right to sleep, and other times I may be unable to fall asleep. My system is weird that way. I don’t always react to medication the way it is intended.
Anyway, today was NOT a great day. I didn’t get much accomplished on my typing project, didn’t feel well all day, didn’t do any crafting and never stepped foot out of the apartment, even though it was a gorgeous day. I was going to do laundry, but I know Sundays are always busy and I figure it’s kinder to do it on Monday, when most people are working. I’m just hoping I wake up tomorrow feeling a LOT better than I did today!