Birthday Weekend

Nothing beats a weekend birthday.  Loved it as a kid, love it now.  This way I got to savor the birthdayness all weekend long.  

Whatever happens that displeases me, I get to say, “But it’s my birthdaaaaaaaaay…”

Before Pinky went to work on Saturday, she gave me a birthday card, where inside, she wrote that she asked a number of my friends to join us for dinner at our traditional happy hour bar downtown.  She wasn’t sure how many were actually going to attend because when she had to leave messages, she said not to call back, so I wouldn’t see their numbers on the phone’s caller history.  (Those redheads are so crafty!)

As is her custom, my mom called me at 1:30, the time of my birth.  No, she doesn’t swear at me.  She always says that all she could think was “Oh boy oh boy oh boy…”

For as small as she is, I was betting on, “Get it out, get it out, for the love of all that’s holy, get this thing the hell out of me!”

Regardless, it’s always nice to get the principles together when celebrating the day of one’s birth, and recount the experience.

October 1^st, 1961, 1:40 pm.

So later when we got to the bar, two of my best friends were able to join us:

My former “work wife” Pamela (aka Sunshine, who I wrote about here,)

and Sitcom Kelly, who I write about all the freakin’ time.

We had a grand time together, me and three of my favorite womens.  I also realize that I am very fortunate to have a girlfriend that understands that all of my friends here are women, (not to mention my numerous Blog Sisters,) and doesn’t give me grief about it. 

Sitcom Kelly got me a bottle of Jack Daniels (perfect for every occasion and always the right color) and a handful of lottery scratch-off tickets.  I won $3.00!  That’s enough for a “forty” of Bud Ice!

Pamela said she purposefully left my present at home on her counter, so that her husband would notice it.  Then that would provide her with a perfect alibi to come out to my usual sports bar one Sunday, to watch football with me, under the guise of bringing me my present.  (We usually look for a Sunday where my Steelers and her Cowboys play at the same time but neither is on TV.)

So we ate, drank and made merry, thus making bluzdude a very happy dude on his birthday.

The next day was game day and my brother Ed invited me over to his house to watch the Steelers game.  Also, nephew Sammy was having a couple of his friends over to celebrate his birthday.

Having a house full of 6-year old boys is kind of like living in the monkey house at the zoo… constant chaos, but a barrel of laughs.

Balloon Ball was a big hit.

As there was a Steelers game going on, I had to concoct some game day mojo.  Since Sammy just got a Naughty Man jersey for his birthday, I figured I’d wear mine as well.

White Harrison jersey with throwback white long-sleever with Steelers socks.

Sammy and Uncle Bluz: The Naughty Men

Alas, it didn’t do me any good, as the Steelers got clobbered, 17-10.  The game wasn’t as close as the score, as the Texans defense put a pretty good whompin’ on the Steelers offense.

Note: I also have to move the Steelers Gnome back to my desk.  I didn’t think it would be a big deal with me not watching the game at home, but I might as well be on the safe side.

I also really ought to lay pretty low at work, with the Steelers gear too, unless I become a target for the henpecking of carrion-eating Ratbirds fans.  And to that end, my brother got me a perfect birthday present that lets me support the team, yet stay inconspicuous. 

Steelers all-weather, water-resistant jacket with muted black logo.

Muted black logo on the jacket.

This is perfect for me because whenever I’m wearing a Steelers jacket to work, they tend to have distinctive gold striping or highlights.  Every time I cross a busy street, I feel like the drivers are about to rev their engines for target practice.  With this jacket on, you’d have to be up close and paying attention to see that it’s a Steelers jacket.

So all in all, I was very happy with my birthday weekend.  I spent time with my favorite people, reaped lots of birthday greetings via this site and Facebook, ate good food and had some nice drinks.  All of which helped distract my attention from the fact that now I’m officially OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!!

[Sob!]