What were you doing during that final ten-second countdown?

Jusenkyo no Pikachu · Post by **Jusenkyo no Pikachu** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:31 pm

...when 2004 became 2005?

I myself was in Sydney watching the fireworks--a double first for me as I had neither been to Sydney before nor watched the New Year's fireworks from so close a distance. No, wait...technically, that's a lie. I have been to Sydney before, but that was only for a few hours on Boxing Day. Not to mention that I have also spent the equivalent of about a day in Sydney Airport. But anyway...

For those that have never seen the NYE fireworks up close before, here's what happened that day. First off, we met with some relatives and their friends from Regional NSW. One of their friends owns a charter boat, so they have gone and done this before. After we all got on the boat, we went down to the Harbour and anchored around the entrance. According to my father, this is actually the first time I've been in the ocean since I went on the Seacat in 1991 (although I have since been out on the Great Barrier Reef twice, he says that doesn't count as it was too calm).

At the harbour, there were several ships with lights. As night fell, these ships started to parade and we helped ourselves to food. While that was happening, one of the two kids there took a liking to me and wanted me to hold her several times. Fortunately, she isn't much heavier than my 1-year-old cousin (who was still in Queensland at the time). The parade itself was kind of pretty--I particularly liked one with our flag on it.

Now, for those who haven't tuned their telly to an image of the Coathanger shooting fireworks before, here's how it works: They have two shows--one at 9 and one at midnight. The 9:00 show has only fireworks from the middle of the Bridge, but the midnight show has them not only from the Bridge but also from several barges around the Harbour. There was one barge near us. We were all able to get a clear view of the 9:00 show but unfortunately the water wasn't calm enough and the covering had to be taken off for us to get a clear view of the midnight show. In the time between, the ships paraded several more times and I decided to visit the fly deck (the bit up top of some boats). Having not been in a significantly large boat since 96 (and having almost never been that high on a boat before), it was kinda scary. I ended up watching the start of the main program here, but in between looks of awe, I was hanging on for dear life and besides, I was up there by myself without anyone to count down with, so partway through I decided I just had to go down. I swear I heard the American Beauty theme on the radio though.

For those that have never seen such wonder, here's how it went this year. First off, the Bridge lit up during the countdown. Not so much as it did during the Olympics, but still it did light up. Then, we got fireworks from all along the bridge. Twas very pwetty. There were lots of blue ones (which pleased my mother), but I was kinda hoping we'd have the technology to do a dragon-shaped one. Or maybe I was just getting excited by the fact that I have the chance to meet Andy Serkis this year. Also, since the barge was closer, we did get distracted.

After all the fireworks (which lasted for quite some time), the Bridge lit up again. This time, the lights were co-ordinated to the unofficial soundtrack playing on the radio. It was interesting to watch. And finally, a ball that had been put in the side bit was lit up. Whether or not the ball was supposed to do something I shall never know, as the others were commenting on it. They also talked about a large HAPPY NEW YEAR that wasn't there.

After that was over, we headed back north (FYI: Sydney is in South-East NSW). Overall, it wasn't disappointing. Now I figure I'll have to go to Times Square.

Sailorasteroid · Post by **Sailorasteroid** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:40 pm

At home watching the ball drop with a bunch of people I didn't really know at a boring party. I don't like New Year's much. If you have a party, you're always looking at the clock and the party just drags, and then afterwards I'm all tired and can't wait to get to bed. Plus I screw up writing the date for the next three weeks. Not my favorite holiday.

Post by **Tiff** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:46 pm

Sitting on my computer, talking and watching South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut on comedy central.

isaisa · Post by **isaisa** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:48 pm

There was a whole drunken thing going on at my apartment. Family came over, mom made margaritas, dad opened two bottles of tequila, salsa and cumbia music was played and everyone was dancing (some drunkenly). It was so crazy that we didn't realize it was New Years until two minutes afterwards.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:55 pm

In the bathroom, sitting on the edge of the bathtub, trying to kick Majora's Mask's ass. (Don't ask why there's an N-64 and T.V. in the bathroom, you don't want to know <_<).

Tiff

Sitting on my computer, talking and watching South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut on comedy central.

Weird. What time was it on? I saw it for the first time on New Year's Eve too, but it was on a public channel at 9pm, unedited (except for three words that were bleeped out). Cartman's anime style swear fest at the end was fucking hilarious.

Post by **Tiff** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:03 am

peachvampiress wrote:
Weird. What time was it on? I saw it for the first time on New Year's Eve too, but it was on a public channel at 9pm, unedited (except for three words that were bleeped out). Cartman's anime style swear fest at the end was fucking hilarious.

It came on at Midnight...and it was my first time seeing it, too.

Rivalee · Post by **Rivalee** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:33 am

Sitting by the computer, listening to J-pop and Chrono Cross music, while drinking coca cola and totally forgot the time (when I realized it was past 12, the clock was 1.30 in the morning

)

LadyFlameSniper · Post by **LadyFlameSniper** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:38 am

I was at my aunt's house in NY (not the city), watching the ball drop with some realtives and friends. At the stroke of mindnight, we all started shouting happy New year to each other, got smothered with hugs and kisses, and drank some wine.

RoastedTwinkies · Post by **RoastedTwinkies** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 2:19 am

I was sitting at my computer, listening to music and posting on SMU ^^;;

Akarui Kibuno · Post by **Akarui Kibuno** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 4:42 am

I was watching some TV and eating dinner with my boyfriend. We were supposed to go to his parents' (since Christmas was with mine) to celebrate but in the end we were still a bit sick, so he thought it was risky to go since we could contaminate them. So we went for some shopping to get a lil' special dinner and just said Happy New Year when the time came, and continued to watch TV and then went to bed still watching TV XD ... this having to do with the fact that he bought "24" season 2 DVD boxset and loves it...

Cardcaptor Takato · Post by **Cardcaptor Takato** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 9:47 am

I didn't do much of anything for New Year's, but my sister got this game for the Xbox for Christmas this year called "Karaoke Revolution", so my family and I got to sing karaoke with it. It was really fun, especially when I got to sing karaoke to "Like A Virgin."

We also had a blast listening to my dad sing karaoke to Cher perfectly. ^^;; Then, when midnight drew closer, I watched the ball drop on the Dick Clark show and wished my mother and sister a Happy New Year (my dad had already fallen asleep by then). Our neighbors were also shooting off fireworks, even though they aren't really supposed to...so, I got to watch them from my bedroom window that night. That's about all I did. ^^;;

mizangelamy · Post by **mizangelamy** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 5:37 pm

I was talking to my boyfriend and watching The South Park Movie.

usachan · Post by **usachan** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 9:38 pm

Talking on the computer and watching the ball drop on t.v.

Slrjoecool · Post by **Slrjoecool** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 10:08 pm

Just sitting at the computer talking and playing gameboy.

Celexa · Post by **Celexa** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:04 am

I was in the family room with my parents waiting for the countdown on TV. At the stroke of midnight I had my media player open to Set Me Free from Sera Myu and played it ^^

SailorSpace · Post by **SailorSpace** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 1:51 pm

Sitting out front, holding onto my cup of sparkling red grape juice anxiously because I really wanted to drink it. As soon as it hit midnight, I said "Merry new year to all and to all shut the hell up and drink!" I have no clue why I said that... But after I did I drank.

Umino · Post by **Umino** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 3:54 pm

I was watching the last episode of Re: Cutie Honey (Hito no Maki) on my not-really-sorta-stoeln-from-my-sister-portable DVD player. Then, at the last seconds, I played the opening.

ONEGAI! ONEGAI!~

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:08 pm

I was in my aunt's house in NYC, watching MTV, counting down alone because everyone else was talking and partying in another room.

As I was counting down, my aunt's husband came in and asked me if I was okay, because the room was all dark and I was counting it down quietly.

WarriorPlutoII · Post by **WarriorPlutoII** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:03 pm

I was talking to some freinds of mine on AIM. One of them was most likely drunk off his rocker. The other is kinda loopy anyway. Me? I was a bit buzzed. But 24 oz of crown and coke will do that to ya.

Lady of the Light · Post by **Lady of the Light** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:02 pm

I was at a friend's house, for a sleepover. We watched movies for practically the entire night. We watched Monty Python's Meaning of Life, Spirited Away, the first Lord of the Rings (Instead of watching it, we parodied it. The entire plot of the movie is now revolving around drugs. Bill the Pony deserves more recognition. Orcs need better life insurnace, and higher pay), ten minutes of Princess Mononoke, Elizabeth, and Shrek 2.
We stopped Spirited Away for the countdown, which we watched on t.v. Exactly as it became 2005, we went semi-insane, dancing, cheering, and the like.
I was the only one that stayed up all night. The others WIMPED OUT ON ME. Growr.
They say the year will end up like how you spent New Year's Eve, so I think I'm good. ^__^