Still weird.

Rung in the new year in an appropriate way -- in my car. Me, and a few (six or so) other cars on the New Jersey Turnpike. Midnight came as I approached an overpass just before Exit 7. I listened to the Philadelphia countdown on NPR, then saw the fireworks shortly thereafter. First song, after switching stations, was REM's "It's The End of the World As We Know It," then Garth ("Ain't Goin' Down Til The Sun Comes Up"). I arrived at my friend Jaime's about 12:45, quickly got drink in hand, then watched Chicago bring in 2000 -- and thought of Jamie and Brad and Michelle there, and Heather in Austin, all welcoming the new year at that time.

The first person I actually spoke to in 2000, though, was the Turnpike toll collector taking my 70 cents before the bridge into Pennsylvania. The second was the toll collector taking my $1.65 at the exit off the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

It was nice to be reminded that I was not the only one with a job that meant I had to work on the holiday.