What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Only since living in Texas have I gone out on New Year's Eve. This year marks the third year (though not in a row) that I have gone out somewhere to celebrate New Year's Eve. This is the first year that Jamie will be able to go with me.

I've talked before on here about our good friends Jon, Julie and Spencer. Jon plays electric bass in a country/western band - Clint Taft and the Buck Wild Band. Sometimes, Spencer plays fiddle on some of their songs - mainly when the band is playing at a family-friendly place. Tonight, they are playing a New Year's Eve bash at Lubianski's Dance Hall & Feed Store in St. Hedwig, Tx. (Yes, Becca, I did say dance hall AND feed store. I guess it's a feed store in the front and a dance hall in the back. I asked if it was kind of like a mullet - you know, business up front and the party in the back... Yeah, yeah, I know, lame joke. But I still liked it!) Lubianski's has been a St. Hedwig, family-owned, family-friendly tradition since 1949. Another plus, it's smoke-free and kids under 12 get in free.

So, Jamie and I are going to go root for Spencer, have some fun, and have a good time with friends tonight. Oh, and our friend Michal (who also happens to be my boss' daughter) will be going with us, too. She loves country music, and she's a sweetheart (whom Jamie absolutely adores!), so we should have lots of fun while we're there. I doubt we'll stay until the ball drops and the doors close, but we'll have fun, anyway. Happy New Year, everyone!

I Guess I'm Officially a Texan

Rachel and I went out last night to a dancehall called Midnight Rodeo to celebrate New Year's Eve. It's the first time in my life I've ever been able to go out on New Year's Eve (or Amateur Night, as Becca calls it!). We weren't too worried about getting home safely, though, because it's only about three blocks from my apartment.

Rachel's brother Greg spent the night to babysit the kiddies. I bought them all they needed to make Shirley Temples for them to drink for New Year's Eve. That's a family tradition my mom started and one I've faithfully upheld for Jamie. In fact, this was the first year I wasn't the one at home with Jamie fixing them (sprite/7-Up, grenadine syrup and marachino cherries).

Anyway, so Rachel and I went out and shot some pool, danced, shot more pool, danced some more. Then one of Rachel's friends made me officially (sort of) a Texan. Yep, he taught me how to Two-Step. It's loads of fun! Now when I go out again in about two months I'll actually be able to dance to the country, twangy music, instead of just watching.

I say it will be about two months because Rachel made me promise that I would go out with her somewhere without the kids at least once every two months. It seems the fact that school, kids and work was wearing me down was getting quite obvious to everyone last semester.

Anyhoo, Happy New Year to you all!