Happy new year!

So fun to count down the new year with thousands of people!

15 minutes!

We have a clear view of the ball. Raining lightly. Huge crowd...zillions of people...everyone laughing and happy.

We r caged but happy

Police let us into a great cage....that is....the one right next to our hotel.

We can see the ball. People singing and laughing. A few scattered umbrellas. The people next to us have been in the cage for about an hour and look really cold....but most folks look like snowmen....all bundled up.

Hitting the streets....lots of folks lined up already

We r plastered next to a window and out of a cage for now.

Everyone starts hooting and hollering in a mile long wave! It's stupid but cool.

People are starting to practice kiss.

Heading out to party

Whoooooohooooo

Oh my gosh it's so exciting.

The crowds are incredible! It's pretty warm out and the snow melted.
The police cage you up in half block sections....Once you are inside
you can't get in or out. The crowds are caged up right now up to 47th
street ...(the ball drops on 42nd)....we are back in the hotel and
watching the streets. As the crowds get closer ...we will head out.

Ton's of police....they seem rather used to it all...they are all wearing multiple guns and it looks like each of them has a stun gun....my hub wondered how they keep they're pants up....with all that weighty equipment hanging from their belt.

Fortifing ourselves......

People are already lining up in the square. Phooey not me ... We just
had a wonderful early dinner with an excellent syrah at Trattoria
dell'arte...one of my favorite places. My hub noticed I was sitting right in front of a naked man's butt....lol.....lucky me to pick such a spot...lol

With a belly full of pasta and wine....I'm a happy camper. People are
tootings horns already and lots o'folks are laughing and smiling.

We're watching the crowd because we are aiming to see the ball drop from
51st street. The hotel doorman says we must check hourly to see how
fast the street is filling up.

So far we're good to roam yet.

Police......

Whoa..... Just looked out the window. Hundreds of police bunched
together. Must be getting their assignments????

I wonder if the police are all from NYC? Does the city have that many
cops?

Afternoon of the Eve

The snow stopped and it's warmed up. Despite the buildup of police
and folks.....I'm happy to be here .

Was grumpy this morning, not because of the weather, but for some reason was still miffed about our dining experience last night.

Went to a restuarant called Milo's recommended by a friend. He said it was casual but it was dressy casual and we were undressed. The waiter apparently thought he would punish us for the slight and in comparison to the next table our service was crappy....yet we were
paying the same $$$$.

My blood starting to boil especially when we sat there and he ignored us. It was one if the few times I told hub to cut the tip....finally free from the place....I was immediately almost knocked over by one of these bitch women in a long fur cost.

Ever since we arrived here...I've been pushed aside by women wearing long fur coats......what?...is there a rule here that says if u want to be a pushy bitch your uniform du jour is a long mink?

So when this one pushed me last night I spun around and was ready to have an altercation... Just then my hub rubbed my arm and calmed me down. So I behaved.....but I did let hub know what I intended to say....he rolled his eyes and I felt better.

Oh and just so u would know....the B- woman was wearing a grade of mink equivalent to squirrel..... Lol.

Good Morning New Years Eve

Big fast fluffy snowflakes said hello this am.....this should
be....uh....fun!!!

The hive is hummmmming

If you imagine Times Square as a bee hive and imagine the queen bee called her bees home .....that's how Times Square feels right now.

Every hour more and more people are congregating and buzzing around.
The sidewalks are full and don't even think of eating anywhere close to the Square unless you're very patient and prepared to wait a long time.

Our solution to the building hive was to catch a subway down to Soho.

What a fun hip eclectic place and the crowds were mild. In no time ...we had found not only a great a pizza place but lots of stores to duck into....from hat shops to bone shops to art shops. I
bought my Obligatory New Years eve sunglasses and if course my fuzzzy boa.

We decided to take in some history and toured an old synagogue on the lower east side. To get there, we walked through some real untouristy streets in Chinatown....small shops ...lots of local shoppers and goods on the street...a bit tough and a litte seedy but cool.

Back to the hotel to rest. Helicoptors buzzing around....police sirens blazing here and there....and the hotel left Eve instructions which tells us not to break open our windows and sit on the ledge. Okay I never thought of sitting on a 2 inch ledge!!