Midnight is overrated anyway.

Just a friendly reminder from our favorite cranky Jew: get all your “Happy New Year!”s out of the way by tomorrow, otherwise that ship has sailed.

I happen to agree with ol’ Larry D. By January 4, you’re beating a dead horse. You’d never wish somebody “Happy Halloween” on November 1 or “Happy 4th of July” on the 5th of July. Be thankful you get a little leeway with New Year’s. Even today, I’m going the missed-birthday route and saying, “Happy Belated New Year.” Let’s face it, if I haven’t talked to that person face-to-face yet, they’re just not important enough to warrant anything more.

New Year’s Eve was unlike any other for Team MarTar this year. And not just because we spent it in Wisconsin, though there is that. More to the point, we didn’t stay up until midnight – the first time I ever recall not doing so. In fact, we were in bed embarrassingly early. It was something like 9:42 p.m. I assume the ball dropped as scheduled, but neither of us saw it…or heard any other sort of revelry. We were out like a light!

Which isn’t to say we didn’t have a great evening anyway. Much in keeping with the theme of the day, we got an early start to our night on the town. We left the apartment at 3:45 p.m. for our first stop, a biker-themed bar in Fort Atkinson called Fat Boyz. I was impressed with the black felt billiards table with orange trim; I’d never seen one like that, and I remarked, “I love their Halloween-themed pool table!” My dear wife just looked at me and said, “Biker bar, babe. Those are Harley-Davidson colors.”

Oh, yeah…

From there, we walked to two more new-to-us places: 10-62 Saloon and the American Legion. Post 166 if you’re keeping track. We just grabbed one drink at each stop (though they were all generously sized) and some chicken tenders and tots at Fat Boyz. I had never been to an American Legion before, and in fact, wasn’t even sure anybody off the street could get in – is it like a Moose Lodge, where you have to be a member? – but the American Legion is, in fact, open to the public. This one is situated right on the Rock River, so it’s got a great view and casual yet friendly ambience. I’d assumed the crowd would be a bit older there, but surprisingly, that’s where most of the young(er)-‘uns were congregating. This was our favorite stop of the three, and I’m sure we’ll go back often.

We might have stayed out longer, but a light freezing rain was falling, and the walk along the river was pretty slick. We decided to continue the party back home.

There, we played rummy, listened to records, drank some more, and snacked on chips and queso. Even Sydney joined in on the festivities.

Spoiler alert: she didn’t make it to midnight, either.

But, you know what? Maybe staying up until midnight on New Year’s Eve is overrated. Unless you’re out somewhere celebrating, is there really a point? All I know is, I felt more rested on Jan. 1 than I ever have before. Hard to argue with that.

Maybe next year (this year) we’ll go back to our old ways, but maybe not. Let’s just see how the year unfolds! We’ll be in our own house by then, so maybe we’ll be feeling extra festive.

That’s what I’m most excited about for the new year, by the way. We have the realtor and we have the funds. We just need to find a home. Pickings have been slim so far, but hopefully they’ll pick up in the next month or two. I just tell myself it’ll happen, and when it does, it’ll happen fast.

How was your New Year’s Eve? Did you make it to midnight? What are you most excited about in 2023?

52 thoughts on “Midnight is overrated anyway.”

  1. Mom has been glued to the TV watching Junior Hockey so I joined her here and there and cheered on the young teams. 🙂

    Neither of us stayed up till midnight. Back at the family house, neither did anyone else.

    I have to say the fact that the freezing rain was coming down on and off in sheets put a damper on most people’s plans. Usually, at the very least, people go tobogganing, or skating at the numerous outdoor rinks, but this year, the weather was just too unpleasant.

    Happy January 2dn MarTar (happy now?)! May you find the perfect house!

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    1. Our freezing rain here was light and didn’t last long, but as you know (something about living in Canada or whatnot), it doesn’t take much ice to make things treacherous. Glad you got some good sleep on NYE. Happy belated new year to you!

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  2. Unfortunately, I am very pessimistic about 2023 as well as the next decade or two. It’s so ugly out there and problem-solving doesn’t seem to be occurring anywhere in the country or world either. 73 and fixed income, have lost at least 15% purchasing power with inflation. That’s getting frightening.

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  3. I was battling with a cake I made for a dinner on New Year’s Day on NYE. There was a lot of swearing.

    Then we also went to bed early, only to be awakened by fireworks over our house and people cheering/ screaming at midnight. It was raining and I hope they got thoroughly soaked. It was more of a cantankerous NYE than anything else. But December has been brutal health wise in our house and so I am very glad to see it go.

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    1. I saw a pic of the cake. It looked incredible. Good job, profanities aside!

      Are fireworks even legal there for NYE? They used to be allowed in Vancouver, WA, when I lived there early on, but were outlawed many years ago now.

      Here’s to a healthier January for all y’all!

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      1. Fireworks are not legal. And yet fireworks go off all over LA for every major holiday. Two year ago some idiot set them off on NYE and lit the hill behind our house on fire. Luckily the fire dept is less than a mile away. At least this year it was raining, so there were far fewer going off. Pretty sure it was my LAPD asshole neighbor setting them off this time. I am sure he was sad none of the hated trees that “dump leaves on his car” burned.

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  5. Another classic Seinfeld reference, Mark! That sounds like a great NY’s eve. I haven’t made it to midnight in years. Seems arbitrary!

    Wishing TarMar the best in 2023. Can’t wait for the house journey. Maybe you’ll buy one and complete the move in two weeks – just to keep things exciting and on par for TarMar. 🙂

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  6. The variety of pool table felt available now is ridiculous. Lots of people do their favorite teams colors but we love our traditional English ivy green. Harley is pretty cool though.
    I was in bed before ten as well on New Years Eve though the husband stayed up to watch the ball drop. He made it to 11:49. 🤣

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  7. Sounds like a perfect NYE! I nearly made it to midnight but went to bed a bit before that, read some and then stayed awake until the fireworks/bombs insanity was over. 2023 will be positive and negative as all years are. I will deal with the bad and celebrate the good.

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  8. Your observation regarding the pool table’s Halloween-themed colors was funny.
    It sounds like you had a very nice NYE. 

    I caught up on some Tiktokking and my husband watched his college football team lose. The final hour of 2022 was spent by all of us gathered around the Christmas tree talking about the year to come

    Happy 4th of July. 😂

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    1. Michigan fan, eh?

      I love how you spent the last hour of the year! Is that an annual tradition? Do you also burst into “Auld Lang Syne” at the stroke of midnight? (Please tell me you also burst into “Auld Lang Syne” at the stroke of midnight…)

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  9. I’m in the majority here Mark. In bed by ten but I did hear a few firecrackers at midnight although nothing like our neighborhood does on July 4th. I had no idea you could just walk into an Am. Legion hall either! I wonder if they opened it to others to help increase revenue since they are NPO’s and the extra $ goes to their vet programs. Happy 2023! That seems generic enough for any of the next 363 days I think.

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  11. Hey, Mark! Happy… uh… happy… mmm… uh Monday! I didn’t stay up. I almost never stay up. Total fuddy-dutty when it comes to that. Jan 1 is just another day to me. Sounds like you had a great jaunt, though. Love that Tara had to correct you on the pool felt. Ha-ha. Or Har-har (ley.)

    Sydney! Hooray for Sydney!

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      1. I don’t know what he expects from New Years…I figure nice dinner, pleasant company and I’m happy…he’s got some idea in his mind that he’s dean martin and the rat pack are ready to head to the copa…

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  13. I was trying to light a figgy pudding on fire at a friend’s house. Alas, either I didn’t warm up the rum enough before lighting or it wasn’t a high enough alcohol content. Knew I should’ve gone with Everclear. We just played games and I didn’t make it to midnight either. Happy 2nd of January!!

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    1. OK, I know figgy pudding from the song, but had no idea it was actually something people eat. I couldn’t even tell you what’s in it and had no idea it was something you’re supposed to set on fire. I’ll have to look into this more. Happy 3rd of January!

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  15. I woke up at 3 am the previous day, so there was no staying up for me. The funny thing was, my son and his wife watched the OSU game with my husband till midnight and they get loud, but I managed to sleep through it.

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  17. I would have thought the same thing about The American Legion; that is as like a Moose Lodge. Good to know.
    I love that you guys can waltz down the street for drinks and food. (weather pending) I’ve never thought it was any more special to stay awake past midnight on NYE…what’s the big deal? Nothing.

    Goodness….I miss Larry David and his dry, crass humor!

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    1. One big reason why we want to find a house in our current town is because of its walkability. We’ve never had that before, and it’s kind of addicting.

      I hear they’re currently filming a new season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Can’t wait!

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      1. CYE?? Oh, now I have something to look forward to. I mean, not that I don’t have a boatload of stuff, but you know!

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  18. Mark, I happen to think 2023 is going to be a great year for all of us. And mind you…I’m not normally the optimistic kind. Just got a feeling. 2022 was certainly a BIG year for your family, and I wish you and yours all the best for the New Year! (I even think the Broncos and Brewers will have a better year…)

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