Fat guy in a party hat: New Year's Eve was a lot of fun this year.Before heading out to celebrate the New Year, EJ and I had a nice quiet celebration in my Garapan apartment. We stayed in for most of the evening. I made her dinner. We watched a movie. We shared a bottle of wine.
The Korean Party Girl wouldn't stay cooped up all night, though. We hit up the three most popular bars in Saipan. All three are within walking distance, so naturally we took my scooter.
I'm a princess, damn it!: The people at Ocean's were handing out tiaras. I never knew a plastic crown could make a grown woman so happy.The party at Ocean's had some sort of Miss America theme or something. Everyone was handed a sash with a title written on it and all of the girls were given cheap plastic tiaras. These tiaras were very exciting. If a girl happened to walk through the front door without picking one up, one of the other girls would grab her arm, tell her about the tiaras and then they would both rush back out the door to get one. A moment later they would both came back in, smiling as they adjusted their tiaras.
Our sashes could say whatever we wanted. EJ was Ms. KPG, Kathy was Ms. Naughty Spice and Tracy was Ms. Sassy Pants. I was Mr. The Chosen One.
Then it was time to go to the next bar.
Thai Party Girls: These girls are crazy. Godfather's, Johnny's, and Billy Bones were having a street party on the side road in front of their bars.
They set up a stage in the middle of the road and had a clock counting off the time until the new year. They hired some ultra-cheesy, funny looking ex-army guy to be their host.
God, what was his name? Oh yeah, Brad Ruszala.
Guns on the microphone: Brad is turning into Saipan's biggest celebrity. Better make that Saipan's only celebrity.Godfather's is Grand Central Station on Saipan. Last night was no different.
KSPN's Lannie Walker and Morgan Rose were there.Don't you just love Saipan?
Pattie GOALman was also out last night and she was...gasp...wearing a dress! You looked great last night, Pattie!We were still at the street party around midnight. When it got close to countdown time everyone in the bars poured out into the streets.
Brad was up on stage giving away Western Union, PTI and Budweiser promotional stuff. Our group grabbed a lot of stuff and then gave it all to Jeff Turbitt's son Alex.
At the stroke of midnight the fireworks went off all over Garapan.
After midnight we walked on over to the Flair. If Godfather's is Saipan's most popular bar, then the Flair is Saipan's coolest bar. They've got cool flashing lights that seem to light up with the music and they do a Tom Cruise in Cocktail show every night.
It's a different crowd from Ocean's and Godfather's, too. If Ocean's attracts the mid-thirties yuppie crowd and if Godfather's attracts the older white guy looking for a hot Asian wife crowd, then the Flair attracts the college age crowd, with a heavy dose of Korean Party Girls.
Good times at all three bars, trust me.
We didn't stay out too late. My Mom called to wish me a happy New Year around 1:30 AM and I was already asleep.
I woke up this morning and started my New Year's resolutions right off the bat. I made myself breakfast at home and called my Mom back in Florida.
In a few hours I'm leading a group of people on a hike down to Forbidden Island. I went there last year with Diana, EJ and Walt. I'm hoping to make this annual hike a tradition.
So far EJ, Jeff, Carl, Aya, Tracy and Scuba Brad have signed on. If you want to come, just meet us at the top of the trail at 12:30 PM. Call my cellphone if you need directions.
Happy New Year!
...and Happy Birthday to Miss Diana "Like the Cat" Felix. I think she turns 23 today. Could be 24, but I don't think so...and I think she's older than 22.