Like It's 1999

People, I am overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed in a very good way, that is.

For those of you not in the know, Friday was my birthday. I haven't much been in the mood to celebrate a birthday since I turned 30, and so I generally spend the day hoping nobody remembered, getting PISSED off when certain people did forget, (du weisst wer du bist, Ferkel!) and just not wanting to have a party or do much of anything.

This year was different, however, and I decided I would not only allow myself to celebrate it, I wanted to have an honest-to-god party. Since the much younger Josh's birthday is the day after mine, his wife Lauren and I decided that we'd celebrate it together. The party ended up being at a restaurant owned and run by earthy-crunchy stoners - which by the way, happens to be one of my favorite places in Chicago. The service is random, but the food is diverse, the prices are low, and the beer selection is bountiful.

We were a group of 17, which surprised me to no end. Pessimistic as I am, I just didn't expect a turnout that large. C&A came out from BFE, S&K - who have the tightest scheduling of anyone I have ever met - actually changed plans to be there. A new transplant from Brazil came to play, as well as people I hadn't seen in ages. I heard a lot of laughter, and drank well under the threshold of forgetting a single thing. So really, this evening was quite the success.

I also got an unprecedented amount of loot this year, not just from the party, but from people who lived too far away to be invited. Gifts always make me a tad bit uncomfortable (the receiving part, not the giving.) I went a bit speechless a couple of times. Sitting here with the loot though, I am having total recall of why I loved my birthday when I was a child. Check this out:

• Lauren and Josh gave me a substantially-charged Starbucks Card. Good for a laugh, given my quest of late to shun the makers of liquid crack. But make no mistake: I will cherish this card and I will use it!
• Chris and Amy bought me Mozartkugeln from their trip to Germany. Kitchy and silly, these little balls of goodness contain AUSTRIAN chocolate, pistachio and marzipan.
• GZ gave me a HUGE novel called Ausgebrant by one of his favorite authors. I've started reading it, and it rocks.
• Stenns sent me the key to many eloquent ways - or rather Effective and Appropriate ways to craft corporate communications.
• Mikey the Blogless also sent me a communications book, PLUS Little Miss Sunshine.
• Betster not only sent me the Holy Grail, but also the special 30th anniversary edition of SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK!
• The Little Fireman sent me a card of a fireman, in which he wrote, in legible print, "You are nice!!" (QVELL!)
• And from Dr. B I got a too-generous-to-be accepted gift certificate to Village Cycle.

I feel very fortunate and very spoiled. Thank you everyone!!