Well… New Year’s Eve, huh? I can’t say that I really made any particular resolutions, but I’m sure in a few weeks I’ll write out my regular list of goals for 2006, as well as reviewing the ones I made a year ago and seeing how I fared. Anyway.

Today Anastasia and I went and saw Elicia, who’s staying with a friend of hers here in Tampa at the moment. She gave us a nice bottle of sparkling wine for the end of the year and some instructions to Anastasia about making Black Eyed Peas, which is apparently a traditional food to make around here – something that you eat a mouthful of straight after the clock ticks over. I have no idea where that tradition came from and no one could tell me. I’m hoping that the taste won’t have any adverse effect on my opinion of the band.

We then went to Priscillas to pick up some things (food items, more cooking advice, etc. etc.), then to an ATM to get cash for the game tomorrow before heading home. Anastasia made sure she had her peas going nicely and so on while I did some work on my computer. When it was about time, Anastasia got her landlady-neighbour to have the peas and watch over them, then we got all nicely dressed up and went out to dinner, which we had been planning to do.

We went to J. Alexander’s for dinner, remembering to call ahead to cut down our waiting time (they don’t take reservations). The food was excellent – Anastasia had a very nice steak and Dace will be happy to know that I got the ribs. The waiter was spectacularly attentive and very friendly and the kind that I would probably tip in New Zealand as well. Don’t get me started on the whole tipping thing here. I feel like it’s a cultural stupidity and they should just build it into the prices (and wages) and that those that go the extra mile should get a tip. ‘Nuff said.

After out lovely meal we drove back to the house and then visited Anastasia’s landlady. She had her daughter and a friend of hers over for the evening, both of whom were very amiable company for an hour or two while we were there. Anastasia and I then went back home and sat down with each other to chat and see in the New Year. Apparently everyone in Eastern Standard Time (or thereabouts) watches Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve in New York City on television for New Year’s, in which a very old man tries to cue younger people with the events, then is off about three seconds as he makes the countdown, despite the counter on the screen and the giant, light-emitting ball that descends to light up a big 2006 sign when the year ticks over. Very weird. One of the younger hosts decided it would be great to stand next to the shimmering, scantily clad Mariah Carey as the year ticked over. Good on him. Anyway, the year ticked over, Anastasia and I kissed and I popped open the sparkling wine (Mum and Dad would both have been very impressed at the calibre of that pop) for some bubbles. Happy New Year!

I have to say that I didn’t really like the Black Eyed Peas.