New Year’s with Bandy

by Felix Wong | 03 Jan 2008

The new year came with me belly dancing in front of a whole group of women. But this was NOT my idea (or wish!) It was part of a “competition” where every guy present was coerced to take part of by Susan, one of the hosts of a new year’s party in Elk Grove, CA that a good friend from high school, Bandy, and I went to.

Belly dancing was only one of the new year’s activities before the traditional new year’s countdown at 11:59 p.m. Thai and Susan—relatives of Bandy—actually had a whole night of activities planned. This included:

• Trying to guess the type of animals whose pictures were pinned to our backs. Actually, that was one objective in this contest. The main objective was for everyone else to imitate the sound of that animal the best they could. Those who could make the most authentic animal sound won “two unpaid tickets to Hawaii.”
• Dividing into three teams, each of which had 10 minutes to decorate one member with newspaper. The team who made the best costume won two more “unpaid tickets to Hawaii,” plus chocolate! My team—at Bandy’s behest—dressed up Chin in a newspaper bikini, thong, and boobs, and hence won!
• Playing the game “Dirty Minds,” with the guys vs. the girls. The objective was to correctly guess what clues such as “I have an expanding rod, I am better in a certain position, I respond to the touch of my knobs” describe (in this example, a radio). We (the guys) soundly beat the women, which proves our minds are less dirty.)

At midnight, the neighbors decided that Thai and Susan’s party was better than theirs, so a whole throng of them came in and had champagne with us.

Afterwards, they ignited some fireworks in the street, some of which not only were impressive in their colors and intensity, but for how long they lasted. Many people facetiously said, “I didn’t even know fireworks are legal in Elk Grove” but none of the neighbors complained (maybe because they were all there enjoying them).

The party was basically over by 2:30 a.m.—with a bunch of us then crashing at Thai and Susan’s—but instead of sleeping, Bandy and I were up talking until almost 5:00 a.m. I guess we had a lot of catching up to do since we saw each other last (in Colorado last January).

Needless to say, I had to put new year’s resolution #1 on hold until January 2nd. In any case, it was a very fun night. Thanks to Bandy for inviting me to this.

Oh, and if you must know, I didn’t win the belly-dancing contest. In fact I am trying to get Bandy to destroy the evidence.