I think that would depend on who's coming, and whether we're all meeting at my place beforehand.

There's a beautiful fountain on a rise over the highway and a busy intersection near my house. The city lets the water flow during the winter, and it turns into the most fantastic ice shapes. Lots of people go there to take winter photos. But there wouldn't be many people around to see us. There would be more people at Union Station, which is a traditional Kansas City New Year's gathering place, but I've never been there on New Year's Eve, so I don't know what the parking situation would be like.

I was thinking it would be fun to send out a press release in advance, so we could maybe get some news coverage. New Year's is traditionally a slow news night, so we stand a chance of getting some coverage.

Thinking about joining us? I know you're a WILD ONE. LOL!

I'm there :)

Darn. I would love to join you but that is just too far from me - I'm in Olathe.

Do join us!

Oh, here's my phone number: (816) 453-7122

If you want to meet to dance at midnight, call me!

All is not lost. Isabella is feeling better. I think it may just have been too much fun and too many sweets over the holidays catching up with her.

So ... after I heard from almost everyone who said they would come, and they all were cancelling due to illness and concern about the cold, I started calling and e-mailing the "maybes." I get hold of Masani on her cell phone, and she's actually in Olathe at Showleh's. Siham was coming over later, and she was actually going to suggest they all come up to join me. Masani is da bomb!

But I told her -- with no one really committing -- I'd called it off for this year. And she said, "Let's do it on the Ides of March!"

Maybe you can help make it happen for real next year?

Everyone got warm and cozy at home or wherever their New Year destination was, and enthusiasm for the idea died the closer it got to midnight.

I think to do it right next year, I should hold the hafla on New Year's close to the outdoor dancing site, so that everyone's there and we can run out really quickly to drum and dance i the cold and back inside to toast in the New Year.