Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

I want to start off by thanking everyone who puts up with my tardy posts and actually reads this silly, ranting, and narrative of my life.  This blog has been viewed over 750 times since its creation back in September 2011. So thanks for that!

Now, onto the actual post.  My new year celebration was not what I expected nor what I had planned. My original plans for the evening fell through, as per the usual.  I was on my own for the evening.  Though I was determined not to let this get me down.  I decided that I would still go out to my favorite pub in the city.  This pub isn't your typical pub.  When you think of an Irish pub something very different comes to mind.  For the most part, that image in your head is quite accurate.  But this pub is different.  It looks like it belongs on the Sunset Strip than it does on a small riverside street.  The pub doesn't have an Irish surname as its name, nor does it look like a humble establishment from the street.  The outside is painted with flames and its known as Fred Zeppelins.  Inside the pub is dimly, but adequately, lit.  The music over the speakers isn't the latest pop hits nor is it traditional Irish.  Instead it is an assortment of classic and modern rock hits ranging from Queen to Rob Zombie.  As you would expect, the average customer is not your average person.  As the only alternative pub in town, everyone who is different tends to gather at Fred's.  Its one of the few places where I can go and feel like I am back at home, surrounded by equally weird people.  Its a place that if you go alone, you will end up making a friend pretty quickly.  When ever I venture out on my own I tend to stop by Fred's at some point. So that was my plan for the evening.

I headed out to Fred and after ordering a pint of Guinness I was joined in conversation by several members of a motorcycle club.  The guys were very nice and I was quite surprised to find a group of Harley riders here in Cork.  After sharing a drink with them, the pub started to get a little more crowded as the midnight hour approached.  I was separated from my new biker friends end ended up talking to a new group of people.  They were a mixed lot, some from Ireland, some from England.  They were very nice, and someone kept buying rounds of drinks for everyone, myself included!  I couldn't turn down a free drink.  With midnight only a few minutes away, the bar staff walked around and handed out several bottles of champagne and packets of noise makers and poppers.  The bar counted down the final 10 seconds of 2011 together and on the stroke of midnight, popped the bottles of champagne.  Unlike back at home where we counted down to New York's celebration, here we counted down to London's celebration.  It looked like quite the party in London!  Big Ben is an impressive sight to see at midnight on New Years!

The night wound down after midnight.  And after another round of drinks, I headed home.  It was a unique new years.  I do not like spending holidays away from family and friends but I guess it has given me the opportunity to make new friends.  I am back in class starting Tuesday and back to the daily grind from then until the end of the semester.  I am excited to be back in class as it gives me something to do during the days.

Happy New Year Everyone!!