Nothing Wins the Justice

Here's the low-down on some of what's going on tomorrow. You may want to sleep in today, 'cause there's a full night ahead!

3 pm:

Early-birds show up at 3, since they can't wait for all the goodness to kick off. They will be enjoying some light entertainment in the living room, along the lines of single-player gaming like Assassin's Creed 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Uncharted 2, and other 2's. Light refreshments will be provided.

4 pm – 5:30 pm or so:

All of you fancybuckets hit the scene, save for Elo who will be commuting from work. To give him time to show up for his share of the chow, and to allow for the meat to get good and saucy, we're going to start with an assortment of enjoyable Wii games. 4 controllers will be available, with all of the attachments and the attachments for those. Games will include Wii Sports Resort and the New Super Mario brothers, with those who get eaten by Goombas or fail utterly at miming archery techniques getting rotated out while the rest of us jeer.

5:30 pm – 7 pm:

Food, food and more food! As I mentioned before, we'll be catering this business ShagPad-style. Since we've got a vast pile of meats, and will also be serving cake, it is unnecessary for any of you to bring dishes of your own. Given the meaty nature of the delights, however, I would appreciate if one or two of you were to bring some salad and/or vegetarian options along nevertheless, for our own good health and the well-being of the lovable Ethistan. Cookies, chocolates, drinks and ice cream likewise would not go astray.

For the alcohol-loving amongst you, you needn't worry: our catering also includes a small barrel of Heineken, so beer will be on-tap.

7 pm – 7:30 pm:

As mentioned previously, my birthday never really made it onto this year's social calendar, so there will be a short low-key bit of birthday business after dinner. I get closure, you get cake, everyone gets to feel special.

7:30 pm – 11 pm:

We've got a variety of party-games to get on with as we wait for new year's. Since more sedentary stuff will be desired after all that chow, it's likely we'll be playing a round of board games first, and then picking up the pace steadily with some table games, cards, charades and the like.

11 pm – 12 am:

As the countdown nears, and everyone is forcibly reminded of why Shawn Micallef's comedy shows keep getting cancelled, we'll drown out the bad television commentary with some fine Champagne (also provided by the house). Caution: At this stage, alcohol having flowed freely for some time, there will certainly be tomfoolery. Ethistan will somehow relate it to your mother.

12 am – 2 am:

Finally, as the bright new year beckons and everyone resolves to cut down on belching and flatulence at the gaming-table in 2010, we'll be ringing in the new decade with rhythm-games, guitars, etc., and the long-awaited delights of Ashnil Karaoke.

2 am – 3 am:

Those of you who feel the need to shack up and conserve body heat in my living room may go ahead and do that. Everybody else will be chased off the premises, and possibly sprayed with a garden hose if they aren't moving a whole lot.

Further Info:

Street Address: For invitees only!

What to Bring: Bring any board games, etc., that you'd like to play, and make sure somebody is going to be bringing the Ciata, fruit juice, or other beverage, and a few of you provide sufficient salady goodness for Ethistan not to starve. 'Course, he'll give in and have a few chicken-wings anyways, 'cause they are just THAT delicious, and New Year's calories don't count.

Birthday Business: Observing any particular birthday protocol is strictly optional, but should you feel the desire to help offset the cost of food and alcohol, and/or to celebrate the pure and unadulterated good fortune that brought me into your lives (and safely back from the back-alleys of Hong Kong), then this link may be of use.

Any other Questions: For anything else, please just call me on my phone.

See you all here!

GrubLord: Incidentally, for the future, I encourage all of you (particularly cK and Elo!) to maintain a list like the one linked above.

It'll simplify matters significantly when your birthday rolls 'round.

RJorb: Wishlists are rather helpful. <_<

teh_saq: Soünds ŀîke ÿoü're aŀŀ în for an awesome nîghŧ aŧ ŧhe shag-pad.

Grüb, feeŀ free ŧo bümp ŧhîs back ŧo ŧhe ŧop of ŧhe news.

GrubLord: Thanks to everyone who came to the party. It's always great having New Year's dinner, games, etc. with you guys.

The food turned out pretty fabulous thanks to my parents' kind assistance. There was cake, funtimes, and Elo and Jorb brought cookies and fruit on top of that, so we spent most of the evening munchin' down goodies. Super Mario Bros Wii turned out so popular that it accounts for most of the rest of the time! We barely got through much else on the entertainment roster! There was a bit of champagne drama at the time of the new year countdown, but luckily (through the magic of TiVo!) the moment was saved.

Happy ten-minute-time-shifted New Year everyone!

Extra special thanks to Ash, Rjorb and the Alpha-Pete, for taking the time to weave a bit of extra Christmas magic with some thoughtful gifts. You're fine fellows, to be sure!

Ranneko: Sounds like fun, sad I couldn't make it, I guess you need to organise the party earlier next year =).

I do agree that wishlists are a great thing when birthdays and christmases are coming up, but when faced with disposable income, I find that my wishlists tend to end up added onto lists before I wait too long. Instead I try to maintain a list of things I do have to mitigate the chances of presents arriving that I already have. This is however a pretty poor substitute.

Lunzo: The section of the party I attended was very cool. The food was delicious, especially the famous shagpad recipe for chicken wings.