To all you single DUers living alone.............

[Chipper Chat]

who were NOT at Times Square tonight, did not go to your local Elks Club, not even to a local bar.......
with no family or friends around to witness Father Time make his annual exit.....
If you feel lonely or a bit sad because you have no one to share this moment with....
either by choice or by circumstance.......
Perhaps you are haunted with the feeling that no one cares:

Take comfort in the realization that right at this transitional moment there are thousands, perhaps millions of others out there JUST LIKE YOU.........
.....ergo.....
I (and the other DUers posting below) wish to YOU a very Happy New Year and a prosperous 2009!
..............you are not alone.

[Critters2]

1. Thank you, Chipper Chat. I hate this night. I always refer to it as

"prom night for adults". The world's way of emphasizing that one is alone.

So, thank you! :hi:

[Lorien]

19. You and me both!

which just goes to illustrate what the OP is saying. Fortunately my neighbors invited me over for drinks, but usually it's just me and the cats. Just like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving....it stinks!

:hug:

[oldtime dfl_er]

25. Im with you

I always stay home on New Year's Eve. It's the best place to be.

[Berry Cool]

60. Yeah--prom night for adults, and to make it worse, it's followed by Valentine's Day!

Luckily, I didn't spend it alone, but I was with family. Maybe some other time...

Happy New Year, and thanks! :hi:

[ChazII]

62. Valentine's Day is

much worse than New Year's Eve.

[hlthe2b]

2. What a very nice and considerate posting...

My very best to you, Chipper Chat.... I have my precious doggy girl, but was too exhausted from work to think about going out. In reality, I usually prefer to stay in on New Years...

I raise a glass of wine to all my fellow Duers, young and old, single and those in relationships, and to all the furry and feathered pets that keep us sane.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! :toast:

[Chipper Chat]

28. Thank you 2b

You are right about "pets keep us sane." For that reason alone my cat is worth all the $$$ I've spent on Purina Cat Chow, Little Friskies, and annual vet visits.

[liberalmuse]

3. Thank you. You are a doll.

A Happy New Year to you as well. May all your dreams for the new year be realized.

[Warpy]

4. I went out around noon

and people were already weaving all over the road. A four mile trip to get a prescription filled was a thrill a minute.

There is no way I'm going out there tonight.

Happy and prosperous new year to all the rest of the sensible people spending it at home tonight, alone or with family.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. It's amateur night...

I'm just as happy to stay home with the cats. Happy New Year; may it suck less than the last one. :hi:

[Chipper Chat]

7. Cats know.

They just know.

[madamesilverspurs]

8. Hey, I was gonna say that!

About it being amateur night, I mean. No cats, but me and the dust bunnies doing just fine.

HAPPY YESWEDID YEAR, everybody!

[latebloomer]

9. Ha, I was thinking about "amateur night" just now

That's what the recovering alcoholics I used to work with called it. God they were funny!

Hope, health and happiness to all you good DUers in the New year!

[Lorien]

20. Amen! nt

[EFerrari]

6. I'm alone here except for the critters and have nada desire to be anywhere else!

There are some kids down the block that are nice and loud. I hope none of them decide to drive anywhere. :)

Happy New Year, guys, and thanks for the great company. :loveya:

[JanusAscending]

10. Thank you !!

And a very Happy New Year to you and the rest of us "loners"!! I lift my cup of cheer (hot chocolate) to us all!:party: :toast: May 2009 be all that we hoped for, and beyond our wildest expectations!!

[YvonneCa]

12. Happy New Year to you...

...DC. :party: :hi:

[JanusAscending]

26. Right back at ya!

Sitting here at my 'puter with my "fluffer butt" laying under my feet, waiting for Mom to go to bed. Doesn't have a clue about New Years, but he's a warm body! Lets have a prosperous and peaceful one, aye???:hi: :hug:

[Triana]

11. Thanks! I stay home with the cat by choice and...

...watch fireworks on the computer - safer. Warmer too.

But - still nice to know I'm not alone in being alone! :)

[murielm99]

13. My husband and I went out to eat tonight.

We had reservations at a local place that was packed. We ran into friends and had a good time. It was low-key and fun.

I can remember spending a couple of New Year's Eves alone after my first husband died. I was young when I lost him, and the first year was tough.

That first year, I was the only one at home in my neighborhood. I think it must have been obvious that I was home alone with my cat and dog. We were visible, is what I mean. Several houses in the neighborhood were robbed that evening. None of the houses closest me were touched. The thieves must have seen that someone was there, and my dog would have barked his head off if he had sensed anything unusual. He was a good boy who was friendly with everyone in the neighborhood, but very wary of strangers. Sometimes I still miss him.

I didn't mind being alone on the holidays. It became a time-out or sorts, a time to renew myself for the work week ahead. I am glad now to have family, but being alone is not the same as being lonely. Being alone sometimes is healthy.

[lostnotforgotten]

14. Thanks - Been Single Since My Divorce In 1995

Appreciate the thought.

[tularetom]

15. Grandma and I turned down all the invites from the kids and grsndkids

so we could spend a quiet evening together. It's a miserable foggy night out here and I'm happy just to be here where it's warm. Our neighbor came over for a glass of wine but she has gone home now. The dogs are sleeping the horses are in the stable and it's just us and the cats. I'd welcome any DU'er that happened by and I wish you all feliz ano novo.

[Jane Austin]

16. Mr. JaneAustin and I are

spending a quiet one by ourselves at home, too.

Well, except for the 13 Golden Retrievers!

Gotta bring 'em inside for the night so the fireworks don't spook 'em in - yikes! - two minutes.

[Chipper Chat]

23. Does each dog have his own bedroom?

Are they jealous of each other for your attention?
Do they fight over each other's food?
Do you feed them steak or Old Roy?
....curious one-dog owners want to know.

[Jane Austin]

38. Welll . . . .

Does each dog have his own bedroom?

They take turns in our bedroom - four at a time - and have their own HUGE crates in the family room for when it's not their turn.

Are they jealous of each other for your attention?

Of course! They're obnoxious about it, nudging each other away.

That's why we give them separate time with us.

Do they fight over each other's food?

Nah. They don't fight over anything. We feed them in shifts, so there are only a few at a time to manage. The worst that would happen is that one of the pushier girls would get the most food, and a couple of them would rather play than eat. :)

Do you feed them steak or Old Roy?

We feed them a human-grade food - Canidae, plus raw bones and a few extras like fish oil, acidophilus and raw veggies and fruits.

And anything else they can get their paws on. :)

[Chipper Chat]

39. TY

Thanks for the info

[progressoid]

57. Good grief. That's a lot of poo to deal with.

[Jane Austin]

58. Yes, but we throw it out in our woods and it fertilizes the plants there. n/t

[YOY]

64. Mrs. YOY and I do the same

A quiet evening once little YOY is asleep with a bottle of wine.

[Rhiannon12866]

17. Thank you! But I'm not exactly alone...

I'm blessed with the company of one yapping dog and two insane cats! :crazy::rofl:

[143tbone]

18. This thread made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Thank you. n/t

[Divine Discontent]

21. ty! eom

[blogslut]

22. The beauty of the Interwebs

We hermits can share this night with all the other cocooning singles.

(confession - my college kid is with me for the winter break but normally, it's just me and the kitties)

Here's to all of us!

[FloridaJudy]

24. Thank you

I'm not exactly alone. I have my all critters near me. Did I ask for four cats? I don't remember doing so, but the cats disagree, and the dog's been outvoted.

But I can't hear much celebrating at all tonight: usually there are loud parties and fireworks, but the neighborhood's really subdued this New Years. I guess we're all staying in and praying for better times.

[Mabus]

30. FloridaJudy, my evening was a lot less lonely because of you

My husband spent most of the evening playing online poker. I spent most of mine with you and a few other DU'ers on facebook. I enjoyed our exchanges and I promise I'll get back to you on your Green Patch tomorrow. But now the hour is getting late (or should that be early) and I should get to bed. I'll talk to you again and soon. Until then, thank you for making my life a little brighter. :hi:

[shireen]

27. thank you. And best wishes for the new year to you too. nt

[Dem_4_Life]

29. Thanks and Happy New Year to you too!!!

Just me and the cats tonight. Much safer this way. Here's to a great 2009!!!

[Ex Lurker]

31. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't lonely sometimes

but it's for the best. Some of us just weren't meant to be in relationships. The old saying "there's somebody for everybody" just isn't true.

[dana_b]

37. I agree

thank God (or whomever...) for really good friends.

[Th1onein]

47. ~

Once you give up on that idea, life's a lot easier. I enjoy being alone. I get more work done when I want to work, and I relax when I want to relax.

I'm usually never lonely, though.

Happy New Year! I went to bed at 11pm last night, so no party for me. And I don't want to be out with the amateur drunks tonight.

I'm now a non-smoker and a non-drinker. How did THAT ever happen? Yehaw!

[Raksha]

32. Thank you...and a very Happy New Year to you too!

[Shardik]

33. Happy New Year!

Lonely guys! :)



I'm right there with you with a smile on my face.

[Waiting For Everyman]

34. Thanks for thinking of us Chipper Chat! Happy New Year!

Home alone and not sad, here. Actually last year was much worse, so as hard as it is now it's still an improvement - and that gives me hope.

Love to all of you guys! :grouphug:

[Cetacea]

35. Posts like your rekindle my faith in DU. Happy New Year

O8) :toast:

[dana_b]

36. Happy New Year from another loner!!

but not really lonely. thanks for the good thoughts. :hug:

[Froward69]

40. Thank you

I had begun yelling at the cat.

[joshcryer]

41. Thanks

That's sweet. :)

[elocs]

42. Thanks for the Happy New Year, but I love being alone and am not lonely at all.

I enjoy my own company and the simplicity that comes with living alone. The only thing I do not like about living alone is that when things go missing I have nobody to blame but myself. My New Year's Eve tradition is to go to the laundrymat because there is nobody there then. I just got back and it went perfectly.

[Qanisqineq]

43. Happy New Year to you all

I'd rather be lonely and alone than lonely and with someone. I'm the latter and it is much more painful.

[SammyWinstonJack]

52. So true.

[lonestarnot]

44. Happy New Year!

:hi:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

45. How very sweet

Thank you so much for that. I feel like that most of the time and there have been New Years Eve's like that before. But I was fortunate to have welcomed in the New Year with my Pastor and members of the Church congregation at a party in his house

I agree -my deepest and sincerest thoughts, prayers and best wishes to everyone (including you Chipper Chat) for a blessed, wonderful, safe and prosperous 2009. And thanks once again for this thread -it speaks much to your generosity of heart as a person Chipper Chat

[Chipper Chat]

46. Such nice comments - thanks.

Right now I am taking care of my semi-invalid 86-yr-old mother. My dad is in a nursing home and she is struggling with "being alone." It is a new experience for her. Mitigating circumstances include a lovable Lhasa Apso doggie and a fluffy white cat.

[robinlynne]

48. Thank-you so much! Happy new Year!

[sinkingfeeling]

49. Thanks, but there is nothing I love more than my solitude!

[pipi_k]

50. For the lonely (and maybe even the alone if they choose)

I knew a young woman (in an online group) who constantly complained about her family and her husband's family not inviting them over for holidays, not calling, not coming to their house, etc.

Whatever the issues were with the family dynamics, I didn't know, and I don't care to know them. It's their business.

So anyway, this young woman complained and cried and complained some more about how lonely and rejected she felt. That's when I and a couple of other people very nicely suggested that if her (and her husband's) family of origin didn't want anything to do with them, there was no reason why they couldn't go to a nursing home or someplace and "adopt" a family. Or maybe even sign up to deliver meals to shut-ins.

I did that one Christmas. Even though I was living with someone at the time, the relationship was one of those "better to be alone than to be in the presence of someone else and feel even MORE alone" types. Anyway, we both signed up to deliver meals on Christmas day. He drove, I got to actually deliver the meals...typical, really, for so many reasons that he thought he was passing the more odious task onto me. But what I found was that I actually got the better of the deal, talking to people, seeing them being so pleased and appreciative of this Christmas dinner packaged in styrofoam and delivered to their doors by a total stranger. A couple of times I was near to tears just to see how thankful some of them were.

I'll never forget it. It really put a lot of things into perspective, you know?

Anyway...just a suggestion for people who are lonely at certain times of the year. Look around to see if, and how, you can make the life of just one person better and I can almost guarantee that your heart will be lightened tenfold.

peace...

:)

[WyoHiker]

51. THANKS!

Fortunately, it was a relatively self-pity-free night.

[otohara]

53. My Hubby Works All The Time

I feel like I'm single - he's a chef, and doesn't get home till late and later on weekends. College kid out and about - never sleeps in his own bed when he's home on holiday. I'm not complaining however, because the son graduates this brand new year and he'll be back - and then I'll really will complain unless he gets a much needed job.

[supernova]

54. Thank You, Chipper Chat

And Happy New Year to you as well.

:-)

I would love to have someone to have New Year's with, but I've been alone at NY's for a long time now.

*Sigh*

[meegbear]

55. I've never had a date for New Years Eve ...

either staying in or going out. For me, it's par for the course.

[LWolf]

56. That's sweet, thanks.

I guess I could have hooked up with family; they are close by and I have no idea what they were doing.

I went to bed at 9:30, and slept peacefully. I'm one of those rare lone wolves who PREFERS solitude to company.

I did call my oldest friend in the world, 1000 miles away, and talk to her for an hour. I did check in with my mom to make sure she was doing okay and didn't need anything; she just came home from the hospital.

To be honest, I didn't even know it was New Year's Eve until a repair man working on a problem at my house yesterday morning told me. I'm on vacation, and don't pay attention to the time or day. By the time evening came around, I'd forgotten.

Until I checked in at DU this morning.

While I was content, I know that I'm the exception, and that there were many people who may have been lonely or a bit sad, and I am touched that you remembered them.

:hug:

[Lucian]

59. I rang in the New Years alone.

It sucked.

[Control-Z]

61. My night started out

a little achey. All three kids out doing their own thing. One in the mountains, snowboarding, one at an all night concert in LA. One in another state. But I got over it quickly and spent the evening with a friend.

It's pretty hard letting go - especially with the younger ones. But they are safely home now - and back to being the pain-in-the-butt teens that they are. :o) And that makes me happy and right with the world.

[Catbird]

63. Early to bed, early to rise

I got to bed early New Year's Eve. If I had stayed up past midnight, I would have felt crummy today. As it was, I felt great.

[Skittles]

65. I'm alone, but never lonely

I guess I am lucky to not comprehend lonliness - I'm content to be alone