My husband and I don’t go out on New Years Eve. Not since we had kids, I mean. He says it’s “a night for amateurs.” Also, all the crazies crawl out of the woodwork on NYE.
When my father was still in the bar business, he had a New Year’s Eve party every year. He bought a few cases of champagne and made sloppy joes and appetizers for his customers. He gave his regular bartenders the night off, and Doug and I would work the party so that everyone could have a good time.
Every year, people that did not regularly patronize our establishment crashed the party for the free food and champagne. One couple in particular comes to mind. I can’t remember their names, but we called them “The Toothless Wonders” because both husband and wife were missing several front teeth. Doug would joke that they must have gotten into a drunken brawl one night and knocked each other’s teeth out.
The NYE party was not the first time I had to wait on these people. In college I was a waitress at South Point, my aunt Kelly’s 24-hour diner, and this couple would come in for a cup of coffee and stay all night because we offered free refills. They never ordered anything else. They never left a tip. The Toothless Wonders were the epitome of freeloading.
On New Year’s Eve in 2003, the TWs came in right before the party was scheduled to begin. I think the man’s name might have been Dennis, and her name still evades me, but for the sake of this blog entry, we’ll call her Wanda. They secured two bar stools closest to the food table, and Dennis slammed a wad of singles on the bar. Wanda ordered two tappers of Miller and lit a Basic, full flavor cigarette.
“What’s on the menu tonight,” she asked. “Sandwiches or somethin’?”
“Barbecues,” I told her. “And there will be taco trays and cheese and sausage, too.”
“We didn’t eat all day for this,” Dennis told me.
I remember laughing to myself. I’m imagined they starved themselves all day just to make sure they’d get their fill that night. The couple was never dressed very nice. They seemed to wear the same clothes all the time. Dirty jeans, worn out shirts and sweaters, and worker’s boots, despite the fact that neither worked. They lived off SSI and food stamps, and I think Dennis was receiving disability, too.
They were usually very polite, that is until they had a couple beers and began shouting and rudely bumping into other customers on the way to the bathrooms. I didn’t dislike these people, I just found them to be kind of creepy.
On this particular night they were strangely quiet. Mostly because they were constantly refilling their plates and slamming Millers like shots of whiskey. Speaking of whiskey, Dennis decided after the midnight countdown he would like two shots of Kessler. I poured the shots and rang $5.50 into the register.
“Five-fifty!” He yelled. “I’ve been robbed!”‘
I worked throughout the night, tending bar, refilling the food trays and making sure everyone was having a good time. As I was emptying ashtrays into the garbage can, I turned around to see Dennis and Wanda making out by the jukebox. I nearly puked. Customers began to notice it, too. Everyone was uncomfortable with the PDA. I didn’t want to be the one to break up their intimate moment, so I made Doug go over to them. I don’t remember what he said, but The Toothless Wonders stopped sucking face and sat back down.
The rest of the night was uneventful, save for the local lush falling asleep at the bar. This, I could handle.
“Joe! No sleeping on my bar. I don’t drink in your bed!” I hollered.
“Well, ya could if ya wanted to,” Joe slurred.
New Year’s Eve is definitely a crazy night I’m sort of glad I’m too tired to party all night. It’s amazing what becoming a parent does to your social life.
This New Year’s Eve is a quiet one. Dawson and I watched a few episodes of Spongebob. Owen fell asleep in my arms. Doug is listening to old Bob & Tom shows on the radio. Maybe I’ll switch over to ABC for the ball drop in New York City. If I’m awake at midnight, I mean.
Happy New Year! May 2010 bring you much luck, love and happiness!
My wonderful husband got me the new Michael Buble CD, “Crazy Love” for Christmas and I’m so crazy in love with the music! My two favorite songs on the album are “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)” which is a track that Michael sings with Sharon Jones (and the Dap Kings), another fave artist of mine, and of course “Haven’t Met You Yet” (video above).
I’ve already burned a copy of this CD for the car (because the original is now permanently in my kitchen CD player), and Dawson is loving the music, too.
Owen was a little fussy after his baptism, and I put the CD on and danced around the dining room with him in the Bjorn. He fell asleep instantly.
My mother is a mega Michael fan, too. I wanted to get tickets to one of his concerts in March but both the Chicago and Minneapolis shows are sold out on Ticketmaster. I’m totally bummed. Some day I will see my Michael in concert. Some day. (I hope!) For now I’ll have to settle for my DVR’d Glenn Beck program in which Michael was a guest last week. I’ve watched it at least four times already.
I don’t usually buy CDs, because I love my iTunes, but Michael Buble is one musical talent that I will forever love and support and I’m so proud of my husband for getting me a perfect present (plus he didn’t have to spend a trillion dollars to make me so very happy.)
Do you love Michael Buble? Share your Buble love in the comments!
For several days I have suffered blogger’s block. I want to write, but nothing seems fit to blog. I’m so busy being wife, mother and household manager that I rarely have time to sit down and tap the keys.
Owen is ten weeks old today and he has grown so much in the last few weeks. He still eats often. I call him “the linebacker” because he is rock solid. He’s almost 13 pounds! I think we’ve hit the 3-month growth spurt because he’s back to eating every 2 hours or less. I miss those few short weeks when he’d go three hours between feedings.
Dawson is 5 1/4 years old and has acquired somewhat of an attitude these last few days. When I ask him to do something he gives me these looks that could kill, and he says things I would expect from a teenager instead of a sweet pre-kindergartner. Lately, asking him to get dressed in the morning or put on his pajamas at night warrants a snotty remark. When I ask him why he is acting this way he storms off to his room and slams the door. I’m hoping it’s just a phase. Doug thinks he does this for attention because he’s no longer the one and only child. I’m sure he’s right.
We had a wonderful Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve with Doug’s parents and siblings and their spouses, and his aunt and uncle were present, too. Dawson and Owen made out like bandits with all the new toys they received. I may have to down size to make room for the new additions.
Christmas Day we traveled a few miles to my parents’ house. My brothers and sister gave Dawson more toys! We should never need to buy any toys for at least a year. My brother Nathan’s girlfriend (future sister-in-law, I hope!) made a beautiful afghan for me. It’s so gorgeous. I’m going to take a picture of it to post at Flickr. I love it so much!
Tomorrow is Owen’s baptism. We need to get up early to get everyone ready and out the door on time. I’ve been so busy trying to get things done, and I’m so tired these days, I’m afraid I’m forgetting something. I’m sure everything will be just fine. I really need to learn to worry less.
In other boring news, I’m really considering taking the rest of the year off from blogging. I just don’t feel like forcing myself to write. I know this blog needs an overhaul, a little refreshing perhaps. If I’m going to be completely honest, I’m also feeling the need for more privacy in my life. I almost prefer to shut TDF down and blog anonymously.
Maybe I’m just tired.
Maybe I need to take a break until I have something interesting to say.
My dear friend Rebecca makes the most beautiful jewelry. We met through blogging of course, and when she began her company Cheeky Jewelry I was super excited. When I saw her pieces, I made a very long wish list.
You may remember me posting about my very first and most favorite piece from the Cheeky Collection. I wear that bracelet so much that people sometimes ask where it is if I haven’t put it on. I also have a beautiful silver necklace with beads that Rebecca made and matches absolutely perfectly.
Have you seen the beautiful Eternity Circle Necklace? It is fabulous:
Her earring designs are brilliant:
Love, Love, Love!
Because I love Cheeky Jewelry so much (did you know I love it so?), I’m hosting a giveaway, compliments of the lovely Becca! She is giving one lucky reader a $30 gift certificate toward the purchase of your favorite piece, just in time for the holidays. Every girl deserves some special jewelry to wear for that New Year’s Eve office party!
To enter, simply visit the Cheeky Jewelry Facebook page and become a fan, then come back here and leave a comment telling me your most favorite piece from the Cheeky Jewelry collection. You can leave a link to the item in the comments if you wish! I love seeing other jewelry lovers’ favorites. Please be sure to leave your name and a valid e-mail address so that I can contact the winner.
This giveaway is open until Tuesday, December 22nd, until 11:59 p.m. CST. The winner will be chosen at random on December 23rd.
Dana began her Mom career in 2004 with the birth of her eldest son, Dawson, aka The Doodlebug. She spends her days catering to a 5-year-old, she denies her habit of compulsive vacuuming, and just recently gave birth to Owen, aka Monster Baby. She's definitely living La Vida Loca and wouldn't want it any other way. More About Dana.
Contact: thedanafilesblog [at] gmail [dot] com RSS Feed
Bring home to the office with family photos on your desk calendars!
