Ringing in the New Year

It's been quite some time since we have gone out to a big party on New Years Eve. In fact, I can't even remember the last time. It's either order in some food and watch some movies, spend the night at a ski hill, or some other relatively passive activity. A far cry from our younger years of whooping it up till the wee hours of the morning. No big plans again this year.

After much discussion we decided to go to the movies down at the AMC theatres at Dundas Square, then just wander around to see what's happening downtown. The remake of True Grit had just opened, starring Jeff Bridges in the role of Rooster Cogburn. We spent part of the afternoon watching the original John Wayne version, and I had forgotten just how great a movie it was. Both Dennis Hopper and Robert Duval had roles. Great flick. (As a side bar it got me thinking of the great heros/anti heros I have identified with in the movies over the years including: Colonel Augustus MacRae in Lonesome Dove, Major Reisman in the Dirty Dozen, Aragorn in Lord of the Rings, The Outlaw Josey Wales and Baloo the Bear in the Jungle Book.) Anyway, the movie was good, but it felt like I had already seen it. Jeff Bridges was great as usual.

After the movie, it was so nice out we decided to just walk around. Nothing much really happening at Dundas Square though there were a couple of old guys playing away on the corner (see pic). Good to see them belting out the tunes and having a blast. This was one of the few times I have actually sprung a little cash for a street performer. Over at Nathan Phillips the crowds were starting to build in anticipation of the nights outdoor concerts. Didn't really garner any interest from us as the acts are designed for people born after 1980, so off we wandered.

We headed over to Queen Street to take a look at the windows in the Bay. Hard to believe with all the shopping there over Christmas, we did not stop to take a look. There were five windows of, each spectacularly arranged. Again, because it was so warm, we took a long stroll up to Yonge and Bloor, finishing the evening downtown at the Hornero Restaurant (528 Yonge Street). Was an excellent relatively inexpensive Italian place. Reminded me of Mario's, our favorite place in North Conway, New Hampshire. Mary Lou had linguine and a Cabernet Savingon, I had the usual Chicken Parmasean and a flurry of Caronas.

Mary Lou was looking good as usual, though she doesn't seem to like her hat. Can't seem to convince her that it is very stylish. A quick trip home on the street car, I put Mary to bed, then headed out to the deck with a Cuban (cigar that is, not a seniorita), the phone, a bottle of scotch and my guitar. Had a blast ringing in the New Year, yaking it up in several phone calls and sending a few drunken emails. Played all the tunes I had written over the past year, strummed a little Eddy Vedder and worked on Zepplins' Going to California, and came up with a few ideas for new songs. But most importantly, was some brainstorming on an action plan that will lead me to retirement, or semi retirement, the day after my last mortgage payment in 2014. Haven't worked it all out yet but it will require learning Spanish, taking dance lessons, upgrading my guitar skills, and small arms training:)