Happy New Year's!
Originally uploaded by erickpineda527.

Once we were back at midtown we had a shocking and disappointing surprise. The police had closed off all the streets down Broadway and were forcing people into gated corrals all the way back maybe 10 streets down. We could only move forward if people ahead of us left. It was ridiculous. Shivering from the cold we waited 4 hours with others. We made the best of it by chatting all night with our neighbors. Some people invented games to interact with other groups like playing a tune on a New Year’ noisemaker only to have some other group respond in turn. It was like a weird mating call. It also helped that the female party revelers in the apartments next to us were flashing the crowd.

Finally, the countdown began and we were all happy to watch the teeny speck of the New Year’s Eve Ball drop about a mile away. What you see on TV does not represent well in real life. To be in the center of Times Square you literally have to camp out at noon in 30 degree weather and not move from that spot for 12 hours. Sure you get to be on tv. Sure you get party favors. Sure you get to laugh at Ryan Seacrest’s stupid jokes, but you also have to stand there with no food or bathroom breaks ALL NIGHT. If you leave, you’re out never to return…