It is here. The moment we have been waiting for for 364 days, since we woke up extraordinarily hungover January 1st, 2007. Can you feel it?

New Years Eve has to be one of the most, if not the most, anticipated holidays of the year for the 20-somethings of this country. Planning begins weeks earlier. What bar should we rent? Who is going to throw the next greatest party? What beautiful girl am I going to find to kiss at midnight? Hours upon hours of thought build up to the night.

Expectations:

So you and your friends decided to spend the night out on the town. Seems smart right? There are going to be tons of people out. Everyone having a great time. Immense amounts of alcohol on every corner. The perfect bar has been chosen: part DJ, part dance floor, part friends, part…WOMEN! You arrive at the bar at 9:30 sharp. Fashionably late, but still plenty of time to catch a buzz and mingle with friends prior to the midnight festivities. Everything is great. The perfect combo of hip-hop and that typo of techno you can actually stand is playing. You are amped. The women are all dancing with you. Your friends are buying shots. The bartender is giving out high-5’s. Life is good.

It is 11:30 and for the last 20 minutes you have been talking to that one friend of a friend that you have always had an eye on - after all she is a legit 10. She is in your circle of friends, but also not in your circle of friends, so a New Years kiss is seeming like a better and better idea. The guys come over with more shots in hand, the ball drops, everybody screams, you get your kiss, 2008 is sure to be a great year!

Reality:

8pm roles around. People are getting ready to go to the bar. Excitement is high. Cabs are called. Phone busy. Cabs are called. Phone busy. Cabs are called. Phone busy. Shit. “Well, 2 people out of this awesome group of 10 are just going to have to drive us to the bar. Volunteers anyone?” 45 minutes later, you realize that literally everyone in the city is driving at the exact same time. You didn’t know this many cars existed. They do. And when you are trying to park next to the bar, they exist there as well. Its OK, a 1 mile walk in the freezing December air is just what you wanted before the party. Oops, you forgot to bring a jacket because you didn’t want it to ruin the perfect style of the vertically-striped button down you are wearing. Fashion before comfort on New Years, always. Oh there’s a little rain, awesome!

Finally, there’s the bar across the street. You have made it. Fun is about to start! “Hello, we are with the XX party, here for our reservation.” The bouncer responds, “oh sure, just get in line and you will be right in.” “But wait, we have a reservation. Do you understand the meaning of a reservation?” (am I in a Seinfeld episode?) His death look appears to understand the meaning of a reservation, but apparently it only applied to you if we were at the bar before 8pm. Another setback. Its ok, a 17 person line is nothing compared to the walk you just made. You are almost home free. What’s that you say Mr. End Of The Line Person? It is one in, one out?? Great, cause that’s what people do on New Years - come to a bar and leave pre-midnight. Well, as long as 17 people had that plan in mind you should be in in no time.

11:30 roles around. You are first in line! All the women you brought gave up an hour ago and went to the dive bar down the street. But you are men. You have been to Vegas and know the meaning of a line to get into a bar. You will make it! 11:45, just in time, lets get shots. Well at least the line at the bar is inside and warm. “HEY, six touchdowns please….hello? Six bud lights too. Pay attention to me, I will tip…PLEASE!” Midnight. The ball drops. Screams everywhere. You look around for the mysterious midnight kisser and realize you are surrounded by your friends…your guy friends. “What was that you wanted?” “Oh, uh, six touchdowns and six beers, thanks.” It might be past midnight, but you are drinking, you are in a bar, it is New Years, its fun time. So why is everyone leaving? Maybe the night peaked for them at midnight, but don’t they realize that 6 fun guys just got in and want to party? Shit. Well at least you have easy access to the bar now. Lets get drunk.

2am. Cabs are called. Phone busy. Cabs are called. Phone busy. Cabs are called. Phone busy. hmmmmmm

HAPPY NEW YEARS