for New years Eve??? We have spent past 25 years with same 6 couples - we all have friends outside of the group of "12" but all moved here at about the same time, 30 years ago, and have remained very close. They are coming on Mush!! We take turns hosting NY's dinner (not bad once every 6 yrs you have to set the table and do all the work) and cook filets and everyone brings a dish. Last year we tried something new - went to local restaurant and they had doo wop group - it was great. So this year still in limbo - eat in or eat out??? Wish I could find pix of New Years 25 yrs ago - I have them but where are they?? The age process is a little shocking! Of the original 12, we have had one death and one divorce - Joanna

Hard to believe 2005 is almost over. The year went exceedingly fast.

Our dear friends will be visiting from FL. We're going for dinner.

Wishing everyone a fantastic New Year's celebration!

Oh Denise each year seems to go faster and faster - isn't this what our parents would say???

We have absolutely no plans....probably stay in, cook a very nice dinner and a special bottle of wine. We're "puppysitting" here for our daughter while they go out. Last year I think we both fell asleep on the couch before 11:00. Just call us the Big Partiers!!

We're going to dinner with another couple that we see all the time. We've gone out with them on New Year's 4 or 5 times and we even spent the holiday with them in Jamica in 02. They do not have a babysitter this year so we will go back to their home and ring in the new year with their kids. Let's see if I'll make it to midnight!

Marcie: We get together at 7:30 pm and struggle to stay up till midnight - watch the ball drop in TS and run to our cars at 12:10 am to hit the pillows!!!

We'll just be here sleeping. We leave on the 6th to overnight in FLL before getting on Navigator, so we'll conserve our energy. Yeah, that's what we'll be doing.

Gil and I are headed to dinner out and then back to watch the movies we havent seen before. This year is Citizen Kane (Gil's never seen it) and March of the Penguins (neither of us have seen it) And of course champagne at midnight.

I have no trouble staying up late...it's mornings that are killers

Yes, Joanna. I now sound like my parents!

We have a hard time staying awake, but will try our best. We usually don't go out, unless to a friend's home, on NYE; however, we wanted to take our friends to a favorite restaurant of ours and have a nice dinner - and I don't have to cook. I can visit and stay focused rather than be secluded in the kitchen preparing dinner.

We are going to our friends, the ones who spend every Christmas eve with us. Nice and quiet, the way I like it!

We light the fireplace, turn on some great music, open a bottle of Veuve or Dom, open a jar of Oestra Caviar with all the fixings (Blini, Egg, Onion, Creme Fraiche) and I make a bunch of other favorite appetizer type things and we talk about the year past and future. About 9 pm we cheer the New Year in New York, at 10 we cheer NY in Chicago at 11 we celebrate in Denver and we miss the California celebration. Sometimes friends will join us before they head elsewhere and other years it's just us and the dogs.

Ah, Clicquot!!! We are headed to Paris to toast in the New Year. Anybody ever heard of Paris, Texas? LOL OK, we are actually heading down to San Antonio and are going to celebrate the New Year on the Riverwalk! We have a suite booked for three nights at the Omni.

OH thank God Don - I was thinking you and Chatkat were way too sophisticated for us - wasn't Paris TX a movie?? Our wine is sort of very reasonable $$, meat good, dip and chip sort of pre yummies, music from the 50's and we don't talk to our SO's (husbands of 35 yrs) as they are hanging out with their male friends at the grill - OH YES we have a fire - even if it is 75 in Fl we open windows and enjoy!! nothing like CA or Paris TX!!!

Don, that sounds like so much fun. I do love San Antonio. And Joanna, your tradition with your friends sounds great.
We will spend it at home. Used to go out but now I like being home.
We do go to an annual New Years Day Bloody Mary Brunch party. This is one that started years ago in our old neighborhood - everyone in their first home.

I love San Antonio, and we haven't been there in years. One trip we found the SAS factory, and the true outlet store that was attached; after that, we always went and bought shoes for Mark. Great buys.

JoAnna - we're still newlyweds - only 8 years for us! <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

Paige and I have been invited to a party in our neighborhood, but without a babysitter, we will likely stay home, cook a nice dinner, drink a couple of bottles of wine, and be in bed before 12:00.

Man we must be getting old! lol

Anthony

Kathy: Keep those flames burning - gosh I think our flames in our fireplace - we usually hold hands and snore together after the partiers leave - BUT married 33 years -

We usually are at Junkanoo each year...trying to make it & stay awake for the festivities.....this year, we have delayed our Junkanoo/Bahamas' celebration until mid January; therefore, we will have an early dinner with long-time friends in LA and then hurry home for the New York celebration;(cannot make it to our west coast time zone celebration...); then down the hall to bed we go with the dachshunds in tow....Happy New Year you all!!- michele
P.S. Joanna, that is so cool that you have friends from when you moved to Ponte Vedra Beach 30+ years ago!

Oh Michele we realize how lucky we are....our adult kids cannot believe we have this connection that they have tried to duplicate - they all have "couple" acquaintences BUT no real "couple" friends - we have raised our kids together, with friends, and it's been wonderful!!! Joanna

Nah you have young kids...and anyway, getting into bed before midnight can be fun. <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

Betty, sounds like perfect weather for us here in TX for New Years. Who would believe it? It is going to be in the 80's in San Antonio this week. I love celebrating New Years in shorts! :D

Just came for a post Christmas party down the block from my house and boy it's warm! I can't believe it was 80 degrees today. I hope winter is coming back and things cool off for New year's. Happy New Year to all my LCT friends. Nancy

Don, I love San Antonio. The Riverwalk is the perfect place to celebrate New Year's. Do you go to Beaudreau's (sp?) for dinner? Wonderful!

Joanna, it's so neat to have long term friendships. My parents have celebrated New Year's (plus many other occasions) with 6 couples. They have been friends for over 50 years...knew each other from elementary and high school.

Betty, I remember you talking about the Bloody Mary party last year. By the way, what happened to the pictures of your Christmas? I wanted to see the dolls.

We will be going to our friends' house. I think there will be about 6 couples (some of whom we don't know). Not sure what the plans are but I'm sure we'll end up in front of the outdoor fireplace with glasses of champagne.

Joanna - what a wonderful tradition for all those years - sounds so fun!

Don, San Antonio is a great place, we've been there a couple of times, for our neice's wedding and for Frank's brother in law's retirement from the Air Force.

We will just be at home. Oldest daughter, son in law and kids coming up from Richmond. We will put the kids to bed early and just have a nice leisurly dinner, hopefully making it to midnight. Since we didn't see them over Christmas, it will be fun just catching up.

Going to bed early with a good book.

We went to a nice party with a bunch of friends last night, that was our New Years Eve I think.

New Years day, on the other hand, we are spending in a bar atop our Hard Rock Cafe, listening to a great band. Surrounded, no doubt, by people with hangovers.

We are having friends over and planning on having a quiet dinner at home and just hanging out.

Trish

We stay in nosh on caviar and other fun apps. Paul drinks champagne I have wine - we watch movies. Typically make it to about 11PM then watch the stealth bomber circle over our place before they do the fly by at the parade the next morning. Very cool.

Happy New Year to all my LCT buddies!

We love San Antonio also, but this year San Antonio is coming to us. Our son, who is the director of the Burn Unit at Brooke Army Medical Center there and his family will be at our house for New Years. Our son and his wife are going out with friends he grew up with--we're babysitting. The kids will want to stay up till Midnight, so I guess we will too.

Nancy, hush about the cold weather returning. Let's keep it nice and toasty here in TX for awhile and make those in Florida jealous!!! LOL

Donna, I think we are going to go to Boudro's, but not on New Years Eve. We have reservations at a special New Years Eve party at our hotel at Bolo's Grille with entertainment and dancing. That way we aren't too far from home.

Peggy, you have a very special son. Thank him for us, for what he does. Y'all enjoy your time with your grandchildren.

Peggy: I know you must be sooo proud of your son - Joanna

Big kudo's to your son Peggy!! What a meaningful, job he has! I'm sure the kids are happy to be with Grandma and Grandpa and stay up so late.

Peggy: When we have our grandchildren (10 and 11 yr old girls who can stay up all night!~~!) as soon as they see me "reclining on couch" say "You're not falling asleep are you???" Good luck for NY's Eve!!!!

Donna, talked to my hostess for the New Years Day party this morning. After almost 40 years, this is the last year. :( She & her husband have decided they want to start sailing over the holidays. They are big fans of HAL, although they did sail on the Diamond through the canal several years ago. He doesn't like to fly, so if it leaves Galveston, you often find them on board. They visit many of the same ports each time, but it's the cruising experience they love - not the stops. Next year won't be the same without this party, but what a wonderful tradition it has been.

Well Betty, you could keep the tradition going and host next year's party. How do you like that? I'm now planning your social calendar. Still want to see pictures of your Christmas decorations!

Didn't Betty post her Xmas dolls??? Gosh I hope so....Tony and I were just talking about meeting people on a cruise from LCT and how fortunate we have been...so friendly and just what we expected -only once did we meet a couple we thought would be soooo great from LCT posts...not at all what we expected, aloof, name dropping, yada yada, not interested in joining in - SO happy that rarely happens - Joanna

.......How right you are, Joanna.

Betty, I'd like to see your dolls too. Where are they? Have fun at your Bloody Mary Brunch. Definitely need to keep that one going!

:) Michele

I posted the Christmas doll pictures & for some reason they disappeared after 2 days. So I removed the link. And now I have put the Xmas ones away until next year & deleted the pixs from my memory stick.
Problem with keeping the Bloody Mary Brunch going - I would want to add some of my other friends that aren't invited now & not invite a few that are invited now. This will require some thought - but at least I have a year.
Wouldn't you rather come to a Derby Party & drink Mint Juleps, and eat southern ham, asparagus & strawberries?

I saw the dolls!!! I knew I wasn't dreaming -

Just got back last night from our 5-day trip to Mammoth Mountain -- it was great! We had a fabulous condo with a gourmet kitchen, which worked out well since I cooked all but one meal. And the skiing was terrific!

Anyway, as for NYE, traditionally I make Lobster Thermadour. Usually this is with my brother-in-law and his wife, but this year they're in Mexico, so we're having our next-door neighbors over for lobster for the four of us. Then after dinner, another neighbor is having an open house, where we will all congregate to drink champagne and watch the ball drop.

We all moved into this neighborhood at the same time too, about 8 years ago. There are about 7 or 8 families who hang out together, and our kids are growing up together -- between us we have a whole crew of teenagers now, as well as a few younger ones still in elementary school. The kids are all going to hang out at another neighbor's house and have pizza -- the boys will all be playing video games, I'm sure, and the girls will be babysitting all the younger kids at this house, so we grown-ups can have a kid-free night.