birthdays

Question: birthday redos

Anon Question: If you had to live your 16th birthday or your 21st birthday over and over for a month, which would you choose?
I wish I remembered either one well, actually. I have a terrible memory and don’t recall what I was doing either time. That really is why I take photos and why I keep this blog; so I can look up what I did in the past because without a trigger I can’t recall.

I’d have to say I’d relive my 21st birthday, though, because I was certainly much happier than I was at 16. I was out of the closet, I had dated women, I had had sex. I think I was sorta dating a woman name Kim H. at the time; she was yanking my chain and probably fooling around, but I was deeply infatuated with her, and I got to be naked with her on a regular basis, so yeah, way happier. God was she cute.

I don’t think I really got drunk on my actual 21st birthday. After a great deal of thought, I remember now going out to the gay bar in Muncie, because I had been going out there with a fake ID for almost two years, and I remember presenting my real ID at the door and them laughing at it. I believe I got a free drink. It was summer, but I had stayed at Ball State to take summer classes and work – I was working full time in a factory making industrial gas valves. I think I went to get my license updated that day, and I think I had dinner with Kim and fooled around, then went out in the evening.

Lots happier than at 16 at home working full time during the summer and probably not doing much of anything with my friends.

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What I got for my Birthday by Steph Mineart

So, I’m 3×13! Yay!

From my Dad, I got $100 – which I promptly used to by a pair of Crocs, and the rest I put in the bank for our trip.

From Elizabeth I got “The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World” – a book that some blogs have referred to as “library porn” because of the gorgeous photos.

And the DVD of V for Vendetta – which is awesome, because I LOVED that movie, although if you see me creeping about town wearing a goofy mask, you should probably start to worry.

From Doug and Eric, I got a gift certificate to Kohl’s – which is excellent, ’cause I really need some new pants. Not that that’s the only thing you get at Kohls, or anything, but I really need some pants.

Lori got me magic kits and a flying toy monkey from that screams and everything. He wears a little cape and flying hat. He’s already snuggled in with the rest of the monkey clan, making new friends. They’re all arguing about who gets to go to Roswell with us.

From Jen, I got “The Dangerous Book for Boys” by Conn Iggulden – which I really, really wanted, although I’m not a boy. That just means it won’t be dangerous for me, right? I’m thinking I’ll learn a lot of stuff to teach to Sam when he gets bigger. And won’t his mom appreciate that?

From Dan and Doug, I got the The Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition) DVD, which completes my set, thankfully, because I already had the first two! This means I’m in danger of having an all day Lord of Rings pajama party some Saturday. Stephanie will love it; she’ll sleep through the whole thing.

And Rachel gave me A Major Award.

From my sweetheart I got:

  • 3 pairs of shorts
  • 6 t-shirts
  • Al Gore’s “The Assault on Reason“
  • The complete, restored, annotated edition of “Huckleberry Finn” – (which I’ve raved about wanting)
  • Season 2 of Veronica Mars on DVD
  • A lawn-care book called “The Perfect Indiana Lawn” but I call it “How to become Lawn Guy” who is the neighbor at Stephanie’s old house, who I idolize because he has, well, The Perfect Indiana Lawn.
  • A remote control VW Microbus
  • And a Bike! (yay!) – I’ve been wanting to ride around the neighborhood taking pictures.

Also, Stephanie made me my favoritest pudding cake.

I am lucky to have such great loved ones…

Old Spaghetti Factory wasn’t half bad – I haven’t been there in years, so when we were spinning the roulette wheel of “places to eat downtown” (what, you don’t have one of those at your house?) and that came up, we said “hey, let’s try it.” It was a bit warm in the restaurant. But the olive appetizer was tasty, as was the spinach & cheese ravioli. And our waiter said he’d see us at downtown tomorrow! Gee, I wonder what he meant.

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What have you given us, Dr. Franklin?

It’s Benjamin Franklin’s 300th birthday.

The story goes that, as Franklin left the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he was approached by a Mrs. Powell, who asked him, “What have you given us, Dr. Franklin?”
“A republic,” he replied, “if you can keep it.”

With Alito, looks like that’s pretty much gone, now.

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