Why are the U.S. messages so filled with "what are you doing?" and "What do you plan to do?" messages? Do people live vicariously by others' experiences, or is it that by asking it gives the originator the opportunity to brag? I am intrigued that you don't write more often by what you did, rather than what you plan to do. Whatever your plans, do travel safely.

We're going to see "Phantom of the Opera" after dh gets off work early. I have no idea what we'll do in the evening, though. Probably hang out at home with the kids.

Lee Ann

We are having three friends in for a wacky buffet and a movie, then we're playing "SceneIt - TV Version" until the Ball drops........ We're having hot dogs with the works (because my friend and I have missed them so much on our diets), real Maryland crab cakes, cole slaw, shrimp cocktail, spinach dip in the bread basket, cheese ball w/horseradish and dried beef, Pina Colada cheesecake, strawberries and marshmallows dipped in chocolate........ and other things are being brought ... what, I don't know! And LOTS of Reisling and Champagne... (Making up for all the healthy eating the last six months! :p )

Have a fun New Year's Eve, all!

Um... strange post Hyacinth. Not quite sure what to make of it. This is a travel board, where people post where they have been and are going too, right?

Anyhoo, we will be dining with 10 other family members at Bertolini's Italian (chain Italian) tomorrow night. The BIL will not be spending 2 hours trying to get to Las Vegas Blvd this year....

Have fun everyone!

HyacinthBucket, very strange. Can you say Troll? Aarnold, it just ain't working! get with the program.

If any of you are on Oahu, come on over to Longhi's at Ala Moana Center! I'll be having dinner with some friends there as we welcome in the new year and watch the fireworks go off at midnight.

Oh I love to read stories of where people have gone, where they stayed, what they ate, what they saw. Similarly I enjoy reading travel plans unfold as someone asks about a locale and others suggest things to see, do, or avoid. But I cannot understand the interest in what anyone plans to do tonight. Unless I am invited, of course!

Post on Saturday what you actually did do and I will be all ears __ er, eyes to read about your experiences, particularly First Night celebrations held in so many cities. Have a fun evening everybody. Be safe & return with your tales. I shall be reading.

A group of about 25 of my neighbors will be here at my house. We've done this for 5 years now. It's a great time and no one needs to drive.

Supervising party (all girls) of our 14 year old daughter's friends and worrying about what our son is up to with his college-freshmen friends.

Sounds like everyone has some nice plans.

We are going to have a quiet one this year. DH works until 11 p.m., and when he gets home we will head out to our oceanfront property that we bought just after New Years last year. We will pop the cork on some bubbly and dance under the stars. It'll be just the two of us, as well. ((L))

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year and a happy and healthy 2005 which is full of fabulous travels!

Hyacinthbucket, what a strange post! Sometimes, people just like to "chat"....no bragging, just friendly banter among like minded individuals.

We are spending the night at our daughter's home so she and her husband can go to a ball benefiting the Humane Society--it's called "The Hair Ball!"

We will enjoy our little toddler grandson, and tomorrow we will cook a ham and black-eyed peas, which southern tradition says you must have on New Year's Day for good luck.

Then we are off to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl!

Happy New Year!

Byrd

Wow, sounds like great times. Love the poker, and the wedding party sounds special and fun. We are 7 years and counting, and I doubt we will ever meet our ship. We are too happy without the baggage of each other's many descendants and ancestors. Plus I am a dinosaur, an independent woman who loves the perks of paying my own way.

My group of 10 couples from cards/bowling neighbors when we were young and could walk to each other houses, usually get together on NYE at one particular couple's home. But they are TRAVELING to Texas this year and therefore everyone is coming to me. There will be 16 of us this year.

We are having homemade manocotti, shrimp, sausage cooked outside on the big bbq(it is 54 in Chicago-ha,ha!) and many treats and libations.

WHICH channel/program do you suggest we background? Connan is supposed to do a midwest midnight, I think. Any good ideas? We have good music and do watch the Times Square drop. I used to fool my kids when they were small enough to con, and it got them to bed an hour earlier. No children ever at this party. We also play word games and I may drag out the hard Chicago quiz this year. There have been lots of changes and the answers may be interesting. You get first letters as a clue. ie. midget flybys would be Meigs Field. Korbel for midnight. And if we are supremely lucky we can get our special male duo to do their rendition of "You Lost That Loving Feeling." And they are not Don and Phil, but sound just like them.

Happy New Year 2005, everyone! Good times and safe driving to all the revelers.

Lobster sounds great! I've never prepared it only had in restaurants. If I buy Lobster the grocer will steam it. Do I get it steamed and then broil it? I'll be cooking filets on the outdoor grill so if I do steak and lobster can anyone tell me how to grill it?

WOW! Great plans people...I get to wait up for my 18 year old and worry as he and his friends make their way into NYC for the festivities. Happy New Year to me!

Since it is Mr.GoTravel's first NYE not working in something like a gazillion years, we are going out with a group of friends to an overdone, overblown, too much party.

Hoo boy, am I excited. Can't wait.

We are actually recovering from the early New Year's party we threw last night, lol! Amazing how you can find the Tylenol at 3am in the dark.

We do have some lobsters to cook for dinner tonight. Just not wanting any alcohol to go with it...just lots and lots of water:)

Bucket Woman, what happened to that vacation "on holiday" you told us about last Friday where you would be gone for two weeks? We all need a break from your Policing of Fodors. And don't tell us you are on vacation with an internet hook-up wasting your time bothering everybody. BTW, did you take your other user name Aarnold with you?

We are going to dinner at a tiny neighborhood Italian restaurant, then back home to sip champagne and watch the ball drop on TV. If history serves as a guide, the neighbors will take their fireworks into the street and there will be a show. This is legal, as we live just outside the city limits. It's quite warm here in Austin, so it should be a nice evening for a neighborhood fireworks show.

Hyacinth Bucket, I would invite you over to ring in the new year with us, but I do not live in a very exclusive postal code, as you do. My neighborhood looks more like Daisy and Onlsow's. However, the next time you invite me for coffee and biscuits or a candlelight supper, I will remember to remove my shoes and mind the walls. I know your wallpaper is VERY expensive.

Happy New Year and Happy Travels to all!!

HyacinthBucket,

Our fascination with what we are planning to do, as opposed to what we actually did lies deeply within our Puritan roots, those of self sacrifice and sexual deprivation.

We Americans are all talk about how great it's going to be, but when it comes to cosummating the relationship, alas.....