Friday, January 1, 2010

Cheers! Here's to 2010


Happy New Year!!!!!!!
So hard to believe a year has just come and gone. We spent a quiet evening with our neighbors, the Flamingo's. They invited us over for some Chili at 6 pm. When Hunky J told me the time I began to worry b/c our neighbor Mr. Flamingo can barely last until 10pm. I asked him if he was sure we were suppose to be there that early and if he was sure they were going to make it to midnight to ring in the New Year. He said, yes. He said he had his own doubts about the whole thing and verified it and even double verified it with Mrs. neighbor. We were scared we would be ringing in the New Year solo and I guess for Hunky J that is a complete no no. Any who, we had a few other invites but being across from the neighbors meant I was close to La Princessa in case she needed me, puffy cheeks and all. Also it meant we were off the road which is a great relief for me since I'm always the designated driver and who wants to be the designated driver on New Year's Eve.
We played games, quite a few. Let's see we played Uno Spin, for some reason that always turns out to be such a long game with the Flamingos. Then we played Pictionary, boys versus girls. We played two games with two sets of rules. The second set of rules, I don't know who came up with these allowed the first team, us girls to continue until we missed a word. Well, it turned out to be a long and boring game with Hunky J, Mr. Flamigo and his son were fading fast b/c us girls were totally awesome. haha
Then we played Fact or Crap, that was a pretty entertaining game and then we moved on to the final game of Uno Attack. I would have to say Pictionary(first version of rules) and Uno Attack ended up being my favorite. I kept telling Hunky J we should of bought Guesstures and the reply was never with any words but a look with the hairy eyeball. Which means quit finding ways of spending money. Budget is on our list of New Year's resolutions.
Any who, we made it. After one bottle of champagne, I like champagne, and 3 cups of coffee and baileys for me, I was wide awake in welcoming in the New Year.
The Flamingos said they were prepared with oodles of champagne. The word they used were gallons. That comment kind of scared me b/c last I knew I hadn't seen a gallon jug of champagne anywhere. I soon found out that they like to save their champagne from years past. We all had the same questionthat night, does champagne go bad? I now have an answer for any of you wondering. Before I answer this experience is based on Korbel Brut. I'm sure there are champagnes that can be saved for years and years and be good. I'm not a champagne connoiseur but as far as Korbel Brut that answer is, Yes, it does! We weren't brave enough to open the most vintage bottle from 1997 but we went with a 2000 bottle of Korbel Brut. The color-a little darker than usual. The taste-Yuck!!!!! Thank goodness I didn't taste it, Mrs. Flamingo was the taste tester and the look on her face said it all. We then progressed with last years bottle of champagne as the time was ticking closer and closer to midnight. I kept asking, are you sure this will be O.K. I can run like the wind back to my house b/c I do not want to ring in the new year without champagne. Everyone, including my husband, reassured that this bottle was a lot better b/c it had better color and it did taste better according to the tiny sample sip from Mrs. Flamingo.
I gave in, took a deep breath, and we all gathered to watch the countdown. I had my glass in hand, my husband to the right and my daughter to the left. I can toast to the New Year and I now have two people to kiss at the stroke of midnight. 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!! CHEERS!!!!!! As I hear the Flamingos kissing behind me, I'm waiting for my New Year's kiss. I'm waiting, I'm sending the hairy eyeball to my husband hoping he will feel my stare. I finally had to smack my husband b/c he was swaying back in forth in never, never land. He even looked at me and asked what? What?! Where is my kiss? Good Lord, that is when you know the romance is gone. Then I turned to my daughter and gave her a big smack and she responded with an ouch and quick pull away from me b/c I hurt her puffy cheek. Geez!!!!!
Even though the response wasn't what I was looking for from either one of these two, I wouldn't of wanted to spend it with anyone else.
And just in case your wondering about the champagne, last year version wasn't good either. Mrs. Flamingo, Mr. Flamingo and myself managed to say cheers and take a couple of sips and then all three of us walked to the sink and poured our glasses out one by one. As for my husband, who was completed toasted, he commented that it wasn't that bad and drank it down. I really think he has a stomach of steal. LOL
Happy New Year everyone. May you and your family have a wonderful and prosperous New Year. I'm off to cook some cabbage and black eyed peas.