The year of the Ox has finally arrived. I spent the last remaining hours of 2008 cramped between strollers and over bearing people, trying to fight away the frigid air and navigate through the lands of tomorrow, fantasy, frontier and adventure. By the time I left Disneyland in the wee hours of 2009, I was tired and cold and ready to call it a day, but that will never take away the fact that I had an amazing time, even with the annoyances. It’s the best place to be for New Year’s Eve, believe me. Note to parents of kids aged five or younger: If your kid can’t walk on its own, then you have no business bringing them to Disneyland. Yes yes, I know, it’s fun, it’s meant for kids, they have a good time, yadda, yadda, yadda. But you know what? They don’t have a good time and most importantly, YOU don’t have a good time and that ultimately means that people like me don’t have a good time because of you and your backwards thinking of dragging a whiny, crying, stroller-loving child to a theme park full of people and rides and crowded streets and long lines for food. I mean, what are you thinking? Do you think that 2-year-old you are carrying even cares? Do you think he will remember this place? No, the answer is he will not, annoying and ignorant parent. He will not. But I will and you will. I will remember how long it took for me to walk a couple feet because you and your crowd of stroller pushers blocked entire walkways. You will remember that you did not have a good time because you dragged your rugrat to a crowded, cold, over-priced park, that, let’s face it, was not made for small children, and on New Year’s Eve no less! Ok, I’m done.

As you can tell by the photos above, which were all taken by Nathalie, we went a bit mental after the clock struck 12. There are many more photos from the first minutes of 2009, but the sheer craziness of our faces might frighten you. Suffice it to say, we had a more than splendid time. Here’s to the new year, to new choices, to new goals, to new solutions, resolutions, health, wealth, love and happiness. Here’s to a year of  more writing, blogging, publishing,  creative ideas, reading and reporting. Here’s to a year full of more laughter, less sadness, more walk, less talk, more beauty, less pain and everything in between.

It’s 6:57 a.m. and I’m coming to you live from Los Angeles, where the sun has just come up and the air is as crisp and fresh as it will probably be for the entire day. You might think I’m a bit mad for being up at this hour, but I assure you what I’m about to tell you might be madder: I am planning on driving to Disneyland with my best friend and sister to buy tickets for entrance in the park for New Year’s Eve tonight. Because of a fiasco last year, in which we arrived too late, and found that tickets were completely sold out, then subsequently had to buy California Adventure tickets (ugh) and then decided to be sneaky by getting into the main park through the Monorail that runs through Downtown Disney, which we succeeded in doing by the good grace of a stranger who had extra tickets to get us through, we are trying to make sure we get in this year without the hassle, and believe me, it’s not easy. We’re making the 42 mile trek now so that we can buy tickets, drive back and go later tonight. Oh, what a chore. Because of the craziness that will ensue tonight and tomorrow, I bid you adieu, internet, until the new year!