Happy New Year to all!!  I thought I would post a picture of one of the most popular places to ring in the New Year.  This is a shot from the Marriot in Times Square, where my family and I were fortunate enough to stay earlier this year.  As we were checking in, the extremely cheerful worker at the front desk asked us if we wanted to upgrade our view.  An interesting proposition, and one I was not prepared for, but I had my camera with me, and cameras go nicely with upgraded views.  She noticed that we were in the city to celebrate a birthday, and saw we were intrigued by the whole notion of the upgrade, even if it was an extra $150 a night.  She quickly volunteered that there was no better way to celebrate a special event, and that she could probably get us a “Ball Drop Room”.  ‘Nuff said…we went for it.  So we rode the elevator up to the 38th floor, found our room, and as we entered, we were greeted with the view you see here.  We all stood in front of the floor to cieling windows like stupid fools with mouths agape for 10 minutes.  Instantly, we knew we had made the correct decision.  We actually considered skipping our dinner reservations just because we wanted to stay here and watch the scene below.  Take my advice on this, if you’re ever offered a Ball Drop Room at the Marriot Marquis in Times Square, take it.  Unless of course, it’s actually New Years Eve, because this same room goes for $6000 on that night.  That was the other selling point the desk clerk used while we were making up our mind about the upgrade.  She simply stated we were getting one of the best views in the hotel for over a 90% discount!!  Now that’s salesmanship at it’s finest.

Anyway, have a happy and safe New Years celebration, no matter where you choose to ring in 2016.  I will be home with my family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I will be making plans for 2016 over the next few days.  We’ll see where that goes.  I resolved for 5  years to start this blog, and it finally happened at the tail end of this year.  Progress to be sure, but a little slow.  Maybe I can do better going forward.  As for the holiday, I wish you each a happy 2016, filled with many blessings and good fortune.  All the best!!!  We’ll see you soon!!