Birthdays mean parties?

What a strange concept! I can't even fathom when the last time I actually spent time with more than one person on my birthday was, let alone knew enough people to warrant actually having a get toghether or party. Yes, once again I'm grateful that other people have more fun on their birthdays than I do and invite me, so I can live vicariously through them. Moving on...

So it was Ildiko's birthday, and she wanted everyone to get together and go see Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Ildiko, Eldon, Brie, David, Warren and Abby all went. I managed to get off work early enough to go, but the showing they all had tickets for was sold out! I was pretty upset, because I really wanted to go, and because I begged my boss to get off early enough for nothing.

Just when I thought I was going to be twiddling my thumbs for 2 & 1/2 hours, I get a bulletin on my myspace account from my old high school buddy Robert. (Sorry, I can't bring myself to call you Bobby.) Apparently it's his birthday too! I called him and he invites me to another guy we went to high school with's house for the party they're having. Oddly enough, all four guys who lived in the house were named Chris!
I haven't seen these guys in literally a decade, and it turns out they live down the street from me! I headed over there, Robert gave me a big hug, and fixed me a drink. Chris and Robert and I spent a bit recalling our old Video Production class days and even an embarrassing Drama story I had forgotten about. It was sorta like a high school reunion, only cooler because I actually knew and liked the people there. I still have to get together with Robert later and show him the video tape I teased him with last night. Footage from the "after party" from our Prom night in 1994. Hopefully you're reading this Robert and Chris.. because you'll get a kick out of this.....

I miss Heather Agosta... I wish I could find her again.

When Narnia let out, Eldon called me and I headed down to Mio Gelato to meet up with them for some icecream and conversation. Gelato is an Italian ice cream that is denser and tastes richer than regular ice cream. But, it has less fat than most ice cream, because it’s made with whole milk instead of cream (though no one would argue it’s good for your diet). The dense quality comes because very little air is whipped into it, unlike standard ice cream.

I asked for a lemon Italian ice and the girl behind the counter looked at me like I was crazy. I explained to her what it was and she says it's not lemon ice its lemon "sorbetto", which is what people who live on the east coast refer to as Italian Ice. If she knew what I was talking about, why did she have to make it a point to correct me? Its like asking for a Large at Starbucks... I guess I'm just not trendy enough to live here.

We stayed there till they closed and then I took Eldon to play Santa Claus for Melissa's sister. He was dropping off presents Melissa had sent her from Thailand. (By the way, thanks for the purse Melissa, that was really sweet of you!) When we got there she was playing WoW, with all the enthusiasm, distraction, multi-tasking skill and enthrallment I had in the 5 years I was an Everquest addict. Eldon and I watched as she showed the game to us a little. I had seen it, as my friends Matt & Lenea, and my other friend Matt are all converted from full- blown EQ addicts to having WoW as their time sink drug of choice.

I can't do it again. I won't. I refuse to allow myself to crawl back in to the dark, dingy, hole of online video game addiction. For the first time in my life, I finally have friends to live vicariously though, that aren't just voices & pixelated elven images with names like Bako and Khaladar, Kzan and Kellindil, but real, honest to goodness people who invite me to leave my house and have fun with them instead of guilt tripping me into staying home and playing the game because they don't have anything to do that night.

That, and I think my dogs would literally flop over dead if I became addicted to something other than them. :)