It was around the fourth drink that Jill-IAN turned to me and said, in her uber Brooklyn accent “You know, 2007 better be better than 2006.”

I clucked my tongue and sympathized with her – she’s had a rough year, losing her job and worse, getting brutally dumped back in May.

Drew chimes in that 2006 hasn’t been that bad, it’s just the whole getting played by the girl he had feelings for totally sucked

And so I add that my love life is DOA, but 2006 has been a pretty damn good year. Maybe even the best of years.

Jill considers this for a moment. “You know,” she says. “I love you and I love Drew. Getting to know you has been one of the best things that could’ve happen to me.”

We embrace, because we’re a little drunk — hence the gushing — but the gesture is heartfelt nonetheless.

“I agree,” I tell her. “You saved me; you’re part of why I was able to make this such a good year.”

“Awww, Neumsy,” she says in the voice she reserves for moments like this. Then she switches back to Brooklyn-tough. “What about you Drew? We’ve like, improved your life significantly, haven’t we?”
“Of course,” he answers sardonically.

I raise my Sam Adams – only $3 here, our favorite dive bar way the hell out in Brooklyn – “To our love lives sucking less in 2007.”

Amen.