New Years...

New Years began in a small apartment in the Hollywood Hills. The building was supposedly an old monastery, but I think someone just threw up a stained glass window to make it more sellable. There were Claire, James and Chuck, from the Fallbrook side, Myself, Mikey and Pabs from WP, and a bunch of Hollywood hipsters with purposely messed hair and oddly fitting pants.

We sat around drinking and listening to a pretty decent play list of indie-rock when a crew who looked like frontmen for def leopard showed up...nice guys most of em...carrying a case of Budweiser. We continued drinking for a bit until the host turned down the radio and told us we'd been invited, en mass, to a party at a mansion in another part of Hollywood.

In typical LA fashion, we piled into numerous cars and drove in a line the four miles to the other house. Upon arrival, we walked into what appeared to be a museum to Egyptian and Indian culture thrown together in an odd fashion and about two hundred people drinking and dancing. The crowd ranged from the hipsters at our party, to people who looked like they'd stepped right out of Curb Your Enthusiasm. There was lots of drinking, lots of people (not including me or the cadets) smoking pot, and a good handful of kids running around.

We made our way outside to a nice view and seat where we continued to have a good time, laughing and talking. Around midnight, we made our way back inside to sing Auld Lang Syne (sp?) and do a champagne toast. It was not a bad way to start the new year.

Here's a gratuitious shot of my ring and my glass of champagne.