Althouse: Happy New Year...

December 31, 2011

Happy New Year...

... 's Eve.

Any last loose ends to the year you need to tie up today?

What are the chances you'll stay up until midnight?

If 2012 is only exactly as good as 2011, will you be disappointed?

Are you going to be a better person in 2012, or did you set a pretty high mark this year, so that staying close to that mark is the most you're going to expect from yourself?

34 comments:

Anonymous said...: - No.

- Zero. You've seen one year come in, you've seen 'em all.

- I'll be thrilled. I expect 2012 to be worse than 2011. A lot worse.

- No. I set a very low mark for myself in 2011, and I expect to sink well below it.

VW: unter; 12/31/11, 6:58 AM
MadisonMan said...: And Happy New Year to you too. I'm spending it outside of Madison.; 12/31/11, 7:13 AM
DaveW said...: I don't have any loose ends to tie up and I never stay up until midnight for the new year.

2012 needs to be a whole lot better year for everyone, especially as far as our economy recovering and getting a head of steam again.

I hope to be a better person in 2012 than I was in 2011. I wasn't nearly good enough this year. I need to get back to volunteering more and there are some loved ones I've neglected.; 12/31/11, 7:13 AM
Toad Trend said...: Probably won't stay up until midnite - way past my bedtime.

I will be disappointed if 2012 isn't somehow better. As a country, our potential is great but I'm afraid we are wasting valuable time fighting over which political party will control our destiny.

Party adherents need to do a better job of putting country first.

I wish a healthy and happy new year to all Althousians!; 12/31/11, 7:33 AM
maria horvath said...: I think I'll just take my lead from a verse by the Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828).

New Year's Day —
everything is in blossom!
I feel about average.; 12/31/11, 7:33 AM
Tank said...: 1. Plenty. I have a small business. Today is wrap up everything day.

2. 100%. Probably 100% I'll nap out from about 5 - 6 PM too. We go to a family/friends party every year.

3. I'm disappointed every year. As Mark Steyn says today - Another year deeper into denial for America. Myself, I'm fine.

4. I'm going to be the same good person in 2012. Not perfect by any means, but I've tried my whole life to do the right thing. I almost always do. If everyone did, we wouldn't need 25,000 pages of new laws, regs, etc every year.; 12/31/11, 7:45 AM
Curious George said...: Hmmm. Always loose ends to tie up, nothing new about today. That is the complexity of modern life.

I'll be up at Midnight, going to a friend's party. Should be fun.

2012 exactly as good as 2011...disappointment? Not a very definitive question, maybe intentionally so. But disappointment? No. More frustration and concern. But in my little piece of it no worries. It will be better. Started a new business this spring, 70 hour weeks...little pay. Rice and beans baby. Looks like we are done pushing the rock up the hill. Nine new contracts to close out the year. Anchor clients in two new states. Exciting times.

Better person? Hmmm...always try. I think age helps...knocks off the rough edges naturally. I'm a good dad, brother, friend, and business partner. That's enough.; 12/31/11, 8:19 AM
Phil 314 said...: Are you going to be a better person in 2012, or did you set a pretty high mark this year, so that staying close to that mark is the most you're going to expect from yourself?

" Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:12-14; 12/31/11, 8:27 AM
john said...: Like Tank I need to tie up lots of business ends today. Like deciding whether to spend more on computer and software upgrades.

Some on-line contributions I need to maked before midnight: Salvation Army for one.

And then I need to make a resolution whether to keep on reading blogs.

Have a great New Year, all!

No, that's not right. It's in our power to MAKE IT A GREAT NEW YEAR!; 12/31/11, 8:31 AM
Anonymous said...: Any last loose ends to the year you need to tie up today?

Nothing comes to mind.

What are the chances you'll stay up until midnight?

Basically 100%.

If 2012 is only exactly as good as 2011, will you be disappointed?

Absolutely. 2011 hasn't been a particularly good year, though I've had worse, and I'm hoping for a better 2012.

Are you going to be a better person in 2012, or did you set a pretty high mark this year, so that staying close to that mark is the most you're going to expect from yourself?

There's always room for self-improvement, and this New Year is no exception.

Peter; 12/31/11, 8:44 AM
Paco Wové said...: "If 2012 is only exactly as good as 2011, will you be disappointed?"

No. Relieved. The person I go to for financial and retirement advice thinks that 2012 will be an awful year economically, especially for Europe. On this side of the pond, she expects the Administration to do what ever it takes to keep the economy artificially goosed through the November election -- and then it goes to hell here, also. (This was the same conversation where I learned about her gun collection.); 12/31/11, 8:46 AM
Humperdink said...: Like Tank and John, I am a small business owner. Just a few things to clean up. Will be in bed by 10PM.

2012 will be a great year if the resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave can be evicted. My greatest fear is the MSM will re-elect him.; 12/31/11, 9:02 AM
cliff claven said...: It's always midnight somewhere. If you're on the west coast and it's midnight in NY, hell that's midnight in my book.; 12/31/11, 9:15 AM
Paddy O said...: Here in Pasadena we get two new years celebrations. The actual New Year and the Night Before the Rose Parade. Lots happening in this town! Though there are a bunch of strange looking, confused folks wearing red and white wandering around the streets...; 12/31/11, 9:16 AM
cliff claven said...: John, The Salvation Army is my favorite charity. They are the archetypal charity organization; the antithesis of the Red Cross, which lost its soul decades ago.; 12/31/11, 9:17 AM
Paddy O said...: I loved 2011, by the way. One of my favorite years of life.

2012 looks like it might beat it out.

But for that we must continue to pray that possibilities morph into realities -- the essence of hope.; 12/31/11, 9:17 AM
Craig said...: It's a quarter to twelve in Manila. I'm going to the roof deck. It's amazon the whole city doesn't burn to the ground.; 12/31/11, 9:51 AM
edutcher said...: Loose ends? We found out one of The Blonde's credit cards was hacked, so that has to get cancelled.

Midnight's about 50-50. The Blonde and I may quaff a bottle of sparkling grape juice.

It needs to be a whole lot better, although I think Paco's financial planner is partly right. I think where he goes wrong is that GodZero is trying to forestall an oncoming tide and it won't work. One way or t'other, when the Euro (or, for that matter, Red Chinese) crash comes, it will take us with it when it hits.

And, yes, I can always be a better person.

A Great New Year to all the Althousians, especially the Hillbillies, and continued love and happiness, and maybe a reward for all their hard bloggery this year, to Meadhouse.; 12/31/11, 9:57 AM
Deb said...: 1. Yes. I have $30 in my medical spending account - use it or lose it.
2. Not a chance.
3. I hope 2012 is at least as good - for me personally - as 2011. I hope, for the country, it's a whole lot better.
4. I always try to be a better person but it's a uphill battle.

January 1st is somewhat poignant for me because it is my mother's yahrtzeit.; 12/31/11, 10:05 AM
caplight45 said...: In 2011 I got to meet Ann and Meade in the madness that is Madison, Wisconsin. Not sure I can top that in 2012.; 12/31/11, 10:10 AM
Anonymous said...: Speaking of loose ends, did you decide to stick with the present blog format instead of switching?; 12/31/11, 10:28 AM
Roger Sweeny said...: The chance that I will stay up until midnight is not statistically significant. It is less than 5%.; 12/31/11, 10:29 AM
bagoh20 said...: 2011 was possibly the best year of my life so far, and I didn't take a vacation, do any travel, nor fall in love. In fact, it was a year of mostly hard work, but I was lucky enough to help a lot of others more than I ever have been able before - to remove doubt and anxiety, and replace it with purpose, promise and joy. I hope it's just the beginning, because it's enormously fun and satisfying. Bring it, 2012 - we're gonna have a ball!; 12/31/11, 10:48 AM
paminwi said...: I'll be at home with the animals since my husband is on call at a local hospital ready to take care of those who may need surgery tonight.

Please don't visit him - we always pray for a quiet night.; 12/31/11, 10:54 AM
bagoh20 said...: Amateur night people. Please be careful, for they know not what they do.; 12/31/11, 11:07 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: 1. Yes. Same as Tank. Business end of year. Wrapping up software accounting program and transitioning to a new program. (Peachtree to QB 2012 on advice of CPA) Setting up a new company on new software YUCK! Probably will wait and procrastinate anyway and do it all next week.

2. Zero. If I'm up past midnight it means I have to go to the bathroom or the cat has annoyed me.

3. I'll be grateful if it is as good as 2011, since I really expect it to continue on the same trend as the last 4 years and suck incredibly.

4. Always strive to be a better person. My goals are to finish projects before starting new ones. The UFO's are starting to really pile up in my crafting areas. UFO=unfinished objects.

Happy new year!!; 12/31/11, 11:14 AM
john said...: toby - glad you noticed. Any charity that has actual boots on the ground gets favored in my book.

Worst "charities" are any that have "police", "firefighters" or "sherrif" in their name.

Or the March of Dimes.

Give before midnight (or you'll end up putting it off again)!; 12/31/11, 11:28 AM
Darcy said...: Are you going to be a better person in 2012

No. Probably not for lack of trying, though. Which is the inherent problem.

Happy New Year, Althousians.; 12/31/11, 11:41 AM
deborah said...: I keep the ends out for the tie that binds.

I hope to be a much better and happier person this coming year.

Happy New Year to all!; 12/31/11, 12:15 PM
Simon said...: Last year, I resolved to read more fiction and to lose weight. I did both, although I managed to find the weight again! So this year I suppose that I will resolve to lose some weight again (perhaps even banish it); I'll add tightening up my music theory and sight reading. (I've been taking latin classes, so this doesn't really count as a resolution, but aspirationally I'd like to be at a point by this time next year where I have a working knowledge of it.)

Stay up until midnight? No-o-o-o.; 12/31/11, 12:24 PM
C R Krieger said...: Not staying up until midnight. The wife has to play for the Nine o'clock tomorrow morning. I sure hope to be a better person in 2012. But, how I grow should not relate to how the year goes.

Regards — Cliff; 12/31/11, 1:20 PM
Joe Schmoe said...: This year I pledge to be kinder and gentler, especially to those with whom I disagree.

Ah, fuck that.

Ann, thank you for your efforts on this blog. It's informative, provocative and entertaining. As are all of the commenters, who rock.

Off to enjoy the day with family. Probably won't see midnight as we have 3 kids under the age of 6. If I'm up it will be to rock the youngest back to sleep.; 12/31/11, 2:08 PM
caplight45 said...: Not sure I've stayed up for the "Ball Drop" since Y2K. Tomorrow we don't have an early service but I'll still be up at 4:30 AM.

Just got the year end financial stats. I hope the Salvation Army did better than we did. Not as many year end bonuses this year.; 12/31/11, 2:17 PM
Wally Kalbacken said...: I'm going to be the same ornery SOB in 2012 that I was in 2011.; 12/31/11, 5:22 PM