The holidays always seem to creep up on me, and when they do they’re gone before I really enjoy them. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed the holidays as much as I do today, and I’m trying to maximize them while trying to balance the rest of my crazy life.
The first step was to plan my new year eve with all my friends. The planning is complete, and we’ll be together at one of the Chicago NYE hotel parties. So many people have this preconceived idea about these parties, but my first experience was so good that I decided I wanted to repeat it this year with some enhancements. First, you have to have the right state of mind. Accept the fact it’s going to be crazy, there are lots of people, and you may not get that special attention you’ve come to expect with your favorite bartender. The next come to Jesus moment is you’re going to pay more than you’d like for the experience. Yea, it’s over one hundred dollars for a ticket, and yes it’s probably more than you spend on a Friday night, but this is NYE and it’s finally the special occasion that you’ve been looking forward to all year (at least I do). Planning this event several weeks back was my first enhancement. Planning was tough since so many folks have a hard time planning that far ahead with what has become the normal chaotic life. The next enhancement was to bite the bullet and rent a room. Yes. I live downtown, why would I do this? Well, it’s really simple actually. The party can begin when you check into the hotel, and it won’t end until you close your lids in the next morning if you so desire. Reserving a room allows both you and your date flexibility that would otherwise not be possible if you’re not staying at the hotel (which I’m sure is intended).
The next step was to finish Christmas shopping prior to December. Shopping for someone special has always been something I enjoy doing. I typically have an “ah-ha” moment where I know exactly what I’ll be buying for the person in question. Most of the time it’s very specific, so buying early is key to my successful shopping experience. My Christmas shopping started well before Thanksgiving because I knew that I wouldn’t have much time or patience for other shoppers as it got closer to December 25th. I can say with the exception of a few items, I have all my major purchases complete, and I’m ready for the holidays to begin. Now, we’ll see if they really like them.
The last step to maximizing my holiday experience is getting the heck out of town. The plan for a vacation was hatched back in October, and it included white sandy beaches and drinks poolside. Unfortunately, little did I know, those plans should have been made in September (a lesson learned and will be applied next year). The backup plan still includes drinks by the pool, but they’ll be served by folks in Wisconsin. I’ll still have a great time, and I guess the best part I won’t have to climb on a plane.
Happy Holidays Folks!
