New Year's vs. Valentine's Day

[ladybug_archive]

So, New Year's Day. Hopefully the year will be good. 2013 wasn't such a bad year for me, but I know it was for some people I know.

Pondering more on the holiday, it's interesting how in countries like Japan it's the big family holiday and Christmas is more for couples, whereas in the States it's just the opposite. Of course, things to do with couples aren't the most exciting thing in the world for me, since I'm not in a relationship and am not really interested, so it makes sense that the States' version of New Year's wouldn't be that appealing to me. But then, thinking of New Year's for couples, that makes it like Valentine's Day, a holiday I do like. What's the difference?

Well, Valentine's has CHOCOLATE! And cookies and cards and Valentines. And sometimes plushies and figures and other fun things as gifts.

New Year's has ... a new year.

Doesn't seem like much of a toss-up to me.

Actually, there were a few times I got New Year's presents. My most favorite is probably Ivy, a My Little Pony from the Generation 2 years. But usually we're so broke after Christmas that New Year's presents are not conceivable.

Sometimes we try to have a dinner. We don't always, but this year we will. And we usually do what Dad wants and see some movie or another at home.

New Year's Eve was pretty much a disaster this year. (No, I don't really want to talk about that.) Hopefully today will work out. If it doesn't, I'll have to give an all-around, rousing thumbs-down to New Year's, Version 2014 A.D.

Comments

[yamsteapot.livejournal.com]

I spend most New Year's with family or in solitude. For the last couple years, my family has been going out to a local Chinese restaurant that has a big buffet on NYE. Though I stayed with my mother last night, I sort of had wanted to be alone. I like to approach it as a day of contemplation and reminiscence. I try to do things that reflect what I'd like to see in the new year. We were watching Hobbit stuff though, so that fulfilled what I was looking for.

I guess I find a lot I like about New Year's because I find myself continually reinventing myself to try and make a better, happier me. And New Year's feels like that marker and starting place to see where I've been and where I'm going.

My family gave up on Valentine's day gifts and chocolates ages ago. I don't really even get cards anymore except for my grandmother (who finds every holiday a new reason to find cat greeting cards). Though I'm sure my stepfather will find my mother something for V-day, because he's like that. I've all but lost interest in the holiday (especially as I've tragically been trying to cut back on my sugar intake).

Sorry to hear your NYE was kind of a wreck. Hope today was better!

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Chinese buffet. Yuum.

That's good that you had a fulfilling time, even though you had rather wanted solitude.

I should be more like that. Instead, even though I know I need to be a better person than I am, I don't have much patience or discipline for reinventing myself (or for resolutions).

Yeah, I have to be careful on how many sweet things I eat. It doesn't take much and I'll feel ill.

New Year's Day was thankfully pretty good.

Thanks!

[yamsteapot.livejournal.com]

It was quite delish, though I couldn't eat much of it considering I'm still coming off the flu from the last two to three weeks. Equally, in regard to sweet things, I have two chocolate oranges my mother put in my stocking that I can't eat quite yet because chocolate keeps making me cough. Wargh.

Resolutions are more or less meant for breaking. More and more I go for nebulous things (such as the ones I put in my New Year's post), though I guess things like "eat healthier" could be nebulous as well (though I find most people don't treat it as such).

Have you watched the extended of The Hobbit yet? I appreciate it more now that I've watched it a few times as well as the Appendixes and such on the editing and writing choices.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Aww man, that's a bummer. The flu is evil.

I might end up considering trying something.

Yep! That was my first time watching The Hobbit in any form, actually. Haven't seen the special features yet, and as you may recall, I'm not usually so big on commentary tracks. I barely have time to watch long films at all, let alone listen to people talking all the way through them. Although I love some of the information that comes from them, when they're useful. Ugh, I've heard some commentary tracks on stuff where the people just ramble on and on about random stuff instead of talking about the shows and the characters. **headdesk.**

I'd definitely be interested in stuff about the editing and writing choices, though.

[yamsteapot.livejournal.com]

It is. It took out most of my winter break. Though I found I actually don't have to go back to work for another week and nearly cried in relief. So it gives me some more prep time and a chance to finish some of the things I have to get done before I go back.

The Hobbit is actually the first time I've watched every single minute of the Appendixes. I was absolutely enthralled with it. A little disappointed there isn't a cast commentary as I've never been big on director commentaries (even though Peter Jackson is a delight to listen to).

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

That is definitely a wonderful thing!

How many features are on the discs besides the movie itself (and the commentary)? Looking at the box, I only saw two listed.

[yamsteapot.livejournal.com]

The regular extended edition is just two discs. I bought the 5 disc edition, which has three discs of about 9 hours of bonus footage.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, wow. I figured I must be either missing something or that there was another edition. How in the world much does yours cost?

[yamsteapot.livejournal.com]

On Amazon it was only about $22 before shipping, which is a lot cheaper than I remember the special editions of the LoTR being when we got the 5-disc editions of those.

The Wal-Mart 2-disc edition is actually a rip-off because half the features they claim on the disc aren't actually there. I'd bought it originally and found out the hard way. I sent it off to Heather as a Christmas/birthday gift because I figured the chances of being able to return it were slim (and she was feeling rather down). I turned around and got myself the 5-disc edition and it was a worthwhile investment (in my opinion).

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. Very good price indeed!

Ugh. That's terrible that stuff they say is there isn't. **headdesk.** But at least you made use of it.

[pleasant-valley.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that your New Year's Eve was a bit of a disaster. :(

I'm not at all interested in couples or relationships either. I guess I'm an odd duck because I much prefer being on my own. I've never cared for Valentines either - I just wait till Easter to gobble chocolate! ;)

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Luckily, New Year's Day was alright.

Solitude (or just being with immediate family) is very nice.

I love candy for both Valentine's and Easter. Muwahaha.

[northeastwind.livejournal.com]

Same here about 2013 in general-- I'VE been fine, but it seems 2013 realized it had one last chance to be awful and messed up a lot of New Year's Eves for people who had already had bad years. I'm glad your NYD was better!

Chocolate definitely makes up for any lack of interest in romance, I'd say. LOL. This is sound reasoning.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

LOL! That's a good way to put it. Poor people.

Me too!

Yes. LOL. Chocolate makes everything useful, even holidays meant for romance.