funkmaster-b, pickled parrots, and jager trees

New Years was an exercise in slacking till the last minute but everything working out anyway, which like pavlov's dog, just reinforces my tendencies to drool when you ring the bell.

Its always stressful trying to figure out the best thing to do, the most fun, the most raucous and memorable event to attend, and usually disappointing in the end because of your high expectations. The cure? Low expectations and minimal planning!

It was like, one day before New Years and everyone was like, 'ugh, no plans, maybe we just won't go out this year'. Between all of my friends no consensus could be reached as to what to do... The Ravens Stadium event was just right for some, too expensive and high maintenance for others. Parties around town seemed like they might not be cool if you didn't know the people there. etc. etc. and for some odd reason, it seemed people were looking to me, the girl who can't decide what to eat for lunch, to make the final decision! So, the day before new years, at an awesome Thai lunch with V, I jokingly said, 'The only way to make everyone happy and get everyone down here is for your friend Brian Funk to have a party at his house."

So, V called him and ballsily (no its not a word, so what) made my half-joke blossom into reality by telling him, 'we decided the only solution to our new years dilemma is for you to have a party at your house and I'm bringing all my friends. The party will involve dinner and drinks. It will be at 6:30.'

And, cool cat that the funkmaster-B is, responded with 'ok, good idea!'

So, yay, everyone came down to the city for a candle-lit dinner party in Funk's awesomely beautiful rehabbed Canton house. After eating and hanging out and drinking some awesome frozen strawberry margaritas, we walked down the street to the Pickled Parrot (where they had a christmas tree made entirely of Jager bottles!) for the countdown and (draggingly long) fireworks. It was fun and not too stressful or high maintenance, not too much running around, etc., and all of my (local) friends were there, yay! It's a happy new years indeed and a great way to start off the year when you are surrounded by those you care about the most. (And everyone gets along. And nobody throws up. :P)