Happy, Happy, Happy New Year!

1,000th post on 1.1.11

Grumpy and I have never quite managed the perfect New Year's celebrations since we arrived in Naperville. Folks around here often prefer a quiet nice in. The only time I would ever opt for that was if George Clooney popped round for a cuppa, so the idea of doing so on the big party night of the year is a big "no no" for us.
We've tried everything. Going to friends, eating in a restaurant then coming home before midnight, a huge hotel party where everyone was half our age - nothing really worked.
Up until yesterday morning it looked like this year would be our worst yet. We had absolutely nothing to do at all. Then, hero that he is, Grumpy managed to squeeze us in at a local hotel. Trouble was that didn't start until 10 p.m. so we had some time to kill first. This is how it panned out, and how I was able to actually celebrate 2011 three times in one day.
9 a.m. Off to the DuPage Children's Museum for their ninth annual Bubble Bash. This is a way for families to celebrate with a fun event with a countdown to the New Year at midday. (I was actually covering this for my magazine so not quite as odd as it sounds for me to be there). I had a chance to wish our Mayor "Happy New Year" before he started the countdown. Technically it was only 11.50 a.m. but since he was 12 hours early anyway, no one seemed to mind.
4 p.m. Arrived at Quigley's, our Irish pub. They have a countdown at 6 p.m. but the place got so busy we had a quick drink and left.
5 p.m. Riverwalk. With the weather a balmy 55 degrees, we came across several people we knew. We sipped free hot chocolates and clinked little bells handed out by the Downtown Naperville Alliance.
6 p.m. Countdown no. 2 at the Carillon. This seemed slightly less odd because after all it did coincide with the English New Year and at least by now it was dark. Stumbled across Geordie Sue and her family and some other British friends. Very nice of the city to do this just for us I thought, although the idea is to make a family friendly event. Not sure the good folks of Naperville ever stay up beyond 10 p.m. even on New Years.
7 p.m. Had less than celebratory burger for dinner because all the good restaurants booked.
10 p.m. Quick change at the Lisle Hilton. At first it seemed there was only us and one other couple ready to dance the night away, but that changed when we realized all the partying was going on in another room.
12 p.m. Celebrated the New Year yet again with a few hundred of our newest 'friends'.
12 noon Enjoyed famed New Year's hotel brunch to make up for lack of dinner the night before.