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1. New York, New York

Suddenly I had a few days off. With just a week before New Year's, where should I go? Why, to Times Square, of course!!

2. Times Square: 42nd & Broadway

I took the morning flight from Toronto to New York, just a short hop away, and after a brief bus ride, arrived in style (well, some definition of style, anyway) at Times Square. It was 3:00pm, T-minus nine hours. Everyone seemed relaxed, most were walking around aimlessly, taking pictures, chatting about nothing to pass the time, pondering where the best place is to see the ball, as "seen on TV" and everyone's object of fascination for the day.

3. NY's finest. I think.

But, here's Times Square, and the ball was no where in sight. Where could it be?? I went up to a passerby to asked, but before I could say anything, she asked me if I knew where it might be. No one seems to know. Finally a friendly police officer told me to get a spot north on Broadway, as the ball could not be seen from 42nd, and in any case the the ball would not be unveiled until 6pm, T-minus six hours.

4. One million strong, and growing...

Little did I know while I was asking for directions, the police had begun barricading the streets, already closing the five block radius from 42nd till 46th and rapidly shutting down more blocks to the north. I ran up 8th Ave. as fast as I could looking for an open street, and ended up at 47th. Thousands and thousands of people were pouring in from all directions. By 4:00pm, I was literally trapped in a sea of people, there was no room to move at all. The official estimate called for over one million revelers would swarm the Square. Luckily, though, my spot near 47th and Broadway turned out to be the perfect viewing place.