3:31 on 4/24

My mom calls me at 3:31pm (the exact time I was born) every April 24th. I think that is the sweetest gesture. My parents rang today to sing "Happy Birthday" on their way home from the pool. I could hear the beeping of their golf cart backing up in the background. Ohhh retirement...

Friday - night was a blast. Thanks to everyone who came out (I think we had 20) to On the Border. Sorry I wasn't able to mingle with everyone who was there. The food wasn't that great, according to Ben, but my huge Raspberry/Peach Margarita swirl was scrumptious (Ali, you would love it) and set the mood for the remainder of the night.
After a few detours, we made our way to Kildare's in West Chester. The band, Juliano Brothers, wasn't what I was expecting though. They were a good cover band, don't get me completely wrong - but not the type of band you would expect to hear at a hoppin' bar. Luckily my Bombay Sapphire gin and tonics kept me moving and dancing, which was enough to get Clarita's beau cutting a rug. Oh that was fun!
After Kildare's, Ben wanted to head to his house to beer pong it up with Rich and some old buddies. I finally got to meet Mike's girlfriend, Ashley, so that was hunky-dory. We eventually made it home around 3:30am. I wasn't feeling the lateness of time, so I guess that's a good thing at my old age.

Saturday - was a lazy morning after an eventful night. Many apologies to Josh and not really helping with the move.
After getting a lil nauseous in the car ride to Cracker Barrel, Ben and I met up with Jer and Mr. Clarke for brunch. I love those guys - always a good time, especially with scientific conversations acknowledging that cocaine may be a cure for Alzheimer's. Afterwards, Ben and I hit up Philly and the Franklin Institute. We had tickets to see the traveling exhibit: Tutankhamun (Tut for short) and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. It was so amazing to see artifacts of over 3,000 years old. The detailing on the jewelry all the way to the confinettes was phenomenal. We also saw the IMAX presentation of Mummies - Secrets of the Pharoahs (recommended by Ericka if we wanted any clue as to what we were looking at in the exhibit). It was very informative, cheesy music and all.
Ben and I continued our tradition of having-something-go-wrong-while-traveling in Philly. I won't blame anyone *cough* but we pretty much walked about a mile out of the way to the restaurant where we planned on eating. Unfortunately, we had time constraints, so after walking all over town trying to find this restaurant, we gave up and ate as close to the Franklin Institute as possible. We settled down at Tír na nÓg on Arch Street. Let me tell you: I love cheese. If you love cheese too, order the Tír na nÓg Cheese Plate. It is a selection of Irish and International cheeses including market fresh fruits and breads. YUM!
After the shows and exhibits, we met up with Rich and his friends at New Deck Tavern in University City. We drank some beer, met new people, and planned our next transportation screw up (again, I won't blame the same person from before). Long story short, we cut our time spent with Rich so that we could have an extra hour critiquing the life of a pigeon in Suburban Station.

Sunday - was another "get-to-sleep-in" day. I don't come across those too often - especially not two in one weekend. Anyway, Ben and I pull our usual Sunday afternoons of lunch at Cosi and a movie at Oaks. Hot Fuzz is a movie and half, at least at first. Then it kept going, and going and going... But, if you enjoyed Shaun of the Dead, you can't go wrong.

A few special thank yous are in (no particular) order:
Jenn, for bringing Aaron and yourself to dinner AND for finding a birthday card with my name on it.
Rich, for getting Ben's butt down in a timely fashion.
Josh, for getting me a DVD player to replace my non-existent one.
Mom and Dad, for always calling at 3:31pm on my birthday.
Paige, for calling and leaving me a message of good news of being in town next week.
Jenny, for calling and chatting it up with me.
Ericka, for bringing me not one, but two special desserts and not ugly flowers and for keeping me company on an otherwise (acceptably) lonely birthday.
Ben, for not REALLY forgetting my birthday.
Lori W., for perfectly timing the arrival of my birthday card.
Nurse Joanne, just for being you! (and the delicious treat)
Crystal, for climbing out of her death bed to help celebrate my birthday.
Rob, for coming! His birthday is next :-)
Celine (and Brian), for not forgetting about her ex-co-worker/cous

and for everyone else who sent me messages/text/wall posts/cards/etc...

Much love,
~Les