2009 will be a very new year

i decided not to go to hastings to ring in the new year. instead, i opted for the 2 minute drive to a bar in town. which worked out really well, as the people i sat and talked with the first time i went to the bar to watch the husker volleyball game, were already there at a table, so i pulled up a chair.
it was weird not being on the east coast for new years eve. i always have been. especially when i'm getting happy new year wishes when it's only 11:00 my time. i don't think anyone really paid attention to the ball dropping in times square, nor was there a countdown on our end. thanks, east coast, for stealing our new year.
at one point, chris and i played table-top shuffle board, which i now realize i'm awful at. in my defense, the table was fast. i should've taken a few practice rolls, but, cocky as i am when i drink and play games, i passed on the practice and subsequently got worked by the mom i shot against. "you talk a lot of shit," she commented at one point. and really, i do. but i sucked, so my best option was to get in their heads. it didn't work. we lost to moms. i rejoined the table and got another bud.

the next morning i had to cover a story in blue hill, an hour drive southwest. the event started at 9. i got there at 11. wow, it was not a pretty morning. the event, of course, was at the town's tavern. i plopped down at the bar to get myself organized and scan the scene. the woman next to me was 3/4 done an enormous birthday mug of beer. i stuck to my coffee. i'm really out of shape, elon. you'd be disappointed. the event: it has been a tradition for over 60 some-odd years now to serve what is called "hoppin' johns." i was told this "hoppin' johns" was originally served to slaves on new years day. the bean soup/porridge type concoction was intentionally supposed to taste terrible. the slaves, therefore, thought "well it can't be this bad next time." hence, eating "hoppin' johns" on the new year is supposed to bring good luck. i had a few bowls for safe measure.