The ideal way to spend celebrate the new year?

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Nantahala in a beautifully appointed cabin with five dear friends and two people you’ve never met. Playing board games, arm wrestling for who gets the bed (vs. an air mattress or a couch), a group shot on the porch at midnight in 30 degree temps via timer and a tucking in shortly after. On arriving home Jan 1 at approximately 2:30, I promptly showered and paid a visit to Jennifer, spending an hour beneath her capable, magical hands. What could top that off better than a visit with the girls at Java Monkey for some hot co-co and heading directly for bed to enjoy the last of my 14 hour slumbers? Exactly.

This will be the year of responsible self-indulgence.

As she was unable to join us, the role of Kim was played by Frank, The Armadillo.

Random: We had amazing thunderstorms last night (they had to be, they actually woke me at one point) and now there are dozens of birds going bananas in the back yard. Maybe they were displaced by one of the lightning strikes? A bevy of homeless birds singing the blues from the limbs of the bald trees in my yard. How very. My soul is screaming at me to go sit in the drizzle and the aftermath…but then maybe I’ll just plant my ever growing arse on the couch after grabbing java and watch Zoolander again until it’s time to meet the girls for lunch…

As for you crazy kids – any new years antics worth talking about?