Confessions of A Naughty Girl

New Year's Eve 2004

Hmm well, today is NYE. Fabulous. Honestly, I hate this holiday. Least favorite of the year. There's always so much hype about how wasted and fabulous we're all going to get while we bar and party hop, and then you find yourself not nearly drunk enough at 3 am when your friend comes over to tell you that some random guy named Chuck (no, not Chuck from the Chief Source, a random guy) that followed you to this party and you will later find out is a coke addict and major alcoholic has actually just passed out in your friend's plate of homemade spinach dip and you have to find a way to throw him in a cab and get him home, even though he doesn't live in Chicago and doesn't know where his friends' house is. (True story, 2 years ago.)

I think the only thing I like about this holiday is the inevitable period of reflection that comes with it. 2004 was a pretty significant year for the world, our country, and I suppose it was pretty significant to me as well. In the midst of what was then my new job, I started supporting myself and finding out what it means to be "independent" (it means broke). I graduated with my Master's degree and found out what that contributed to my credibility (nothing so far, but hopefully something in the future, I'll let you know). I had my first blind date this past summer (miserable), got involved with two guys who had girlfriends (I know, horrible), and really flipped for someone, only to have it not work out. And I'm surprised? And those were only the highlights. But as bad as I may make it sound, every piece of this year was a learning experience. I wouldn't trade any of it. It really does make me want to go bigger and better next year (insert pun here, because I'm sure that's what you were thinking).

At our office holiday dinner last week, one of my co-workers asked us to pick a color and a verb to describe what we hoped would represent our 2005. I picked "yellow" and "focus". Without getting too personal, 2004, for me, was about meeting obligations and standing on my own two feet. And with luck and hard work, this next year will hopefully be about my having the courage to go after the things that I've really wanted, now that I've paid my dues. Do they make a Hallmark greeting for this? They should. It's good stuff, I think.

Anyway, as mentioned earlier, this New Year's will be pretty low-key for me, which is good. I do look forward to making and receiving a number of drunk dials, though, from friends near and far. To everyone out there who I do like, have a safe and happy New Year. See you in '05 (or, um, tomorrow). Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to get some new undergarments from Victoria's Secret in honor of the New Year. Woo hoo.

posted by KA @ 1:59 PM