Jots and Tittles and other Random Things

Andre's "Old2New" Celebration (Shenanigans, really)

Ah, New Year's Day - the day everybody gets a "clean slate" so to speak. We will work on making ourselves slimmer, stronger, more organized...and on and on it goes.

But for New Year's Eve people tend to want to go out with a "bang". The food can be as elaborate as shrimp cocktails to something as simple as pretzels and cheeseballs. Champagne(or sparkling cider for those underage) or doctored punch.
Some of my memories of New Year's Eve parties involved watching Dick Clark's Rocking Christmas Eve (with Dick Clark, of course). We would have party hats and horns - bought at the Dollar Store - with their silver or gold tinsel around the cardboard base. Since we were at home, pajamas were the main attraction for haute couture. Usually the ones we got brand new for Christmas.

Food - Cheese and Crackers, cocktail mini sausages in BBQ sauce out of the crockpot, apple juice or sparkling cider in plastic champagne glasses. Paper plates, as not to fill the sink up with dirty dishes for New Year's Day. If we had any ham or turkey left over from the holidays, we would make sandwiches up as well. Dad would have his holiday shrimp ring with cocktail sauce, as no one else ate them.

Making the things are pretty easy. This was one of the times that Mom splurged on store bought stuff. The cocktail sausages were put in a crockpot with BBQ sauce and a 1/4 cup grape jelly. The sandwiches were on regular sandwich bread with Miracle whip (mayo) and a slice of cheese.

Memories are comforting to me, as my family isn't close in proximity any more. It also hurts not to have my sister here anymore.

That is pretty much what we did as youngsters. New Year's is a time of self reflection, if at least for a short while, and party food. It rang in the end of the holiday season, and back to the "norms" of life.



WC - 300




Dec 30 prompt ▼

Food and Drinks - Andre needs help preparing. What is your favorite sips and snacks to have at a party? Why is that? How do you make them? What is the most unusual food and drink that you've had at a party or gathering?

Plan The Evening - December 31





I don't do a lot of planning, per se; but I do like to have snack food around. I will have to look and see if I can stream the New Year's party at Times Square, as it is the closest I'll probably get to a formal "Happy New Year". Hopefully I can find a channel who is airing it. I'm not sure if anyone in my household will be up to celebrate with me, but we shall see. Lots of finger food for the next day, for sure. I won't "cook" until after the 2nd, I'm sure.

It will be quiet for the most part. I don't know if there will be neighbors setting off fireworks for the New Year. Don't know what the "law" is. If there is fireworks, then I'm sure there will be some upset barking from pets. I've got my meds set up for this next week; I just have to remember to take them.

Otherwise, I will wish anyone who is awake a "Happy New Year". The kids go back to work Tuesday, except for my daughter, who has a doctor's appointment. Then it is same ol'- same ol' around here. It's getting to be pretty much just another day, except that I can open up my new calendar for 2024.

I hope everyone else has a good time bringing in the New Year. It would be kind of cool to go out, and perhaps celebrate at a bar or something, but I'm too much of a home-body nowadays.


December 31 prompts ▼

At midnight between Dec 31 and Jan 1, how do you normally follow the tradition to "ring out the old and ring in the new" (bells, drums, barking like a dog, firecrackers, fireworks, just quietly watching TV, . . . ? How do your neighbors make noise to celebrate and what's your thoughts on that?

Word Count 185




Day of Recovery -


Happy New Year! Last night, I watched my son play Madden Football - until about 10'oclock. Then I found an interesting documentary about the volcano Krakatoa...then I was able to streamline the Times Square Ball drop. Then another documentary about sodas. It was definitely an eclectic range of going's on. I did hear one set of fireworks, but nothing too over the top. It was as though a neighbor wanted to celebrate, but not get a lot of people upset. No cops were called, so I guess that's a good thing. I made a candy cane holder in the shape of a gingerbread man for next year. Oh, and I had a glass or two of Blackberry Merlot. Tasty. We had cheese and crackers with beef summer sausage, and also, my son made some cheeseburgers for dinner. A quiet night all around.

WC - 117

01 January 2024 prompts ▼

What did you do last night at Midnight WDC time? Your time zone may vary, such as New Zealanders having New Year Day supper (or whatever the evening meal is called there).