From Ireland to New York
And I will be far from the action. Thankfully, the security alert around an unattended van in Times Square revealed nothing more significant than an abandoned vehicle. But between the cold weather and the crowds, I try to be out of mid-town Manhattan no later than 3:00 p.m. on December 31, which is when the police begin to close off traffic for the countdown celebrations. But I will miss seeing the New Year’s Eve Ball, a 12-foot geodesic sphere and, weighing in at 11,875 pounds, twice the size of previous balls. The 2010 New Year’s Eve Ball is covered with 2,668 Waterford crystals and powered by 32,356 light-emitting diode, allowing it to emit more than 16 million colors and billions of patterns. As I have Waterford crystal stemware on my home tabletop, I am delighted to see the modern display of this traditional craft. I wish you a safe evening ushering in the New Year as we look forward to starting afresh in 2010.