The (holiday) weekend, succinctly

Our NYE this year is best summed up by this email invitation:

"Let's face it...we are old. While prior generations are out partying on December 31st let's enjoy a nice evening of wine, cheese and quiet conversation.

Ok we are not that old. But who really wants to go out and spend $100 to get into some crowded bar full of Chicago girls wearing clothes that are way too tight for their body types, wait 45 minutes for a drink and then wait an hour for a cab in the freezing ass cold. You guys are all invited over to our place this New Year's Eve. We'll have pizza and drinks and no one will judge you if you leave at 10 after midnight because you are "tired" or have a "job" or if you just need to take advantage of that small window of drunkenness where your significant other actually finds you attractive but before they pass out."

Well said. So we started the "chilling out festivities" early at a Sun Bowl college football game watch party with our Notre Dame crew... 

Followed by a low-key night in a Gold Coast high-rise, wearing jeans and pigging out on pizza. There were noise-makers, bubbly, loud kids (and grown-ups, too) and Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve even though we somehow missed the ball drop...

And a post-New Year's lunch in Chinatown with friends, Katie and Josh. Grandma would be proud!

After the slew of fall and winter holidays have swirled on by, I always get sad when I think how there are no more festive holidays come January 1. Reality settles in – and so does the long winter – and it's back to business as usual.