Don't do the cigar thing. Tobacco smoke really bothers my eyes. However, when I'm feeling especially contemplative, which happens annually between Christmas and New Years day, I've got a set thing I do. Set up a chair by the sliding doors, so I can look out on the night, especially if it's snowing. Instrumentals in the background, something that most people would consider dark and depressing. exactly what depends entirely on the moment. The beverage is a special concoction of my own making. Get some semisweet chocolate, and shave it down (Wiliams-Sonoma offers it pre-shaved in a can, but it is much cheaper to do it yourself). Heat milk on the stove until it just starts to bubble on the edges, then spoon in four tablespoons of chocolate for every cup of milk. Stir until the chocolate is fully melted and blended. Then, add a shot of Grey Goose for every cup of milk. Sit back, look at the snow, listen and sip, and try to decide what course to steer this ship of life onto for the next year.
