OK now, what's your New Year's Day activity?

What is it that is done around your place on day numero uno of the new year? Watching football games, staying in the fart sack due to hangovers, cooking out?

When I'm not working, the family gets together and has a good Southern meal of pork, cabbage and black eye peas. Eating cabbage is supposed to bring you wealth and pouring the black eye peas down the pie hole is supposed to be to bring good luck in the coming year. Not sure why pork is eaten, except for the fact that it tastes real good. Since LSU played earlier on New Year's Eve, the TV will be on for background noise. Somebody always wants to watch a game. For the most part, it's a laid back day, hanging out with family and friends, eating good groceries and watching a game or two.

Local lore has it that eating the cabbage and black eye peas originated here in Louisiana. Got the following info from a Facebook post from a friend that posts a lot of local stories.

"The tradition of eating Black Eyed Peas & Cabbage on New Years Day originated here. In the late 1800's and early 1900's Frenier was a thriving isolated farming community. Most of the inhabitants were Germans turned Cajun who migrated there from the Des Allemands (French for the Germans) area. They sent home to Germany for special cabbage seed. The soil around Frenier was perfect for growing these prime cabbages and Black Eyed Peas. The Illinois Central Railroad runs close to Frenier. It was the only transportation other than boat and pirogue. The farmers at Frenier would ship their cabbage and Black Eyed Peas up to the warehouses and distribution centers in Chicago, Il. via the ICRR. They designed a label that was placed on each crate of cabbage and barrel of Black Eyed Peas that stated "Eating cabbage and Black Eyed Peas from Frenier, La. will bring you good luck" Their produce was shipped to all points in the U.S. from the Chicago distributors. Since their time of shipment was around Christmas and New Years their shipping label caught on and it became a tradition to eat Black Eyed Peas & Cabbage on New Years for good luck in the coming year. In 1915 a devastating hurricane destroyed Frenier and the surrounding communities of Napton, LaBranche, Ruddock and Manchac killing many. Manchac was the only community to rebuild. The only thing that remains of Frenier today is a boat launch and a couple of restaurants. However, some of the descendants of the original settlers of Frenier still thrive around Manchac. Just another tidbit of our rich south Louisiana."

Makes sense to me.

 

What are you nowadays, the friggin NSA?

 

Is that your New Year's Day activity?

 

I am looking forward to a fresh start after a very rough year for a variety of personal reasons. So... to set things off on a good note my January 1st plans are as follows:

1. Start the annual inspection/inventory/cleaning of my firearms collection (this will likely take at least 4 days)
2. Military vehicle collection inspection (half day job unless I encounter any significant issues). If the weather holds tomorrow I will take the MB out for a very short spin. I have so far avoided driving my trucks in the winter, but I'd really like to get it out even if only for a few minutes.

If I do I'll post photos on here.

Best regards to everyone on WW2F!

Alan

 

Nearly 11am & still in bed.

 

Work...

Although, I like George's/Alan's New Year's plan.

 

Clean up the mess from yesterdays party. Take aspirin , call family and friends. Eat the leftovers.

 

Watch some football, take a nap, then grill some burgers.

 

Sick as hell. In my bed watching TV and listening some music.

 

Still reading 'Tigers In Combat III'.

It's not just for Christmas.......

 

Recovering from last night.

 

Same thing I did yesterday: Work.
I did crack into a bottle of Crown Royal Regal Apple last night though, I was forced to be responsible and was in bed by 8:15.

 

I am going to sound like some miserable sod but the opposite it true. It is slightly rainlng , I am listening to music and at my drawing board running dimension strings on a nearly completed house. I like the feeling of completing a task I set for myself and am truly happy I will get the drawings to a contractor friend so he and his crew will start the year with a nice project for them..

Happy New Year to all here.

Gaines