50th Birthday in the Country

A 50th birthday is definitely a reason to celebrate and in Peru you might as well do it big.  An uncle of my friend Peke (who I am currently crashing on her couch) had a birthday party that I got to crash. 

The party had some traditional Peruvian dancing...

Then they have a time called crazy hor that involves hats and balloons that oddly enough centers around a partying clown that is mostly enjoyed by the adults who are all dancing by this time.

I got some new clothes from the deal and graciously thanked the host and Peke's mother for bringing me.

I will not show a photo of the food because it will just make me hungry again if I reread this post.

My Birthday Video

I haven't really shown my day-to-day here so I figured I'd make a video of my birthday for my fam and friends back home. Warning - It can be quite boring.

Parents went crazy with the sign!!

I was greeted this morning by this photo from my parents... which was great, but they have continued with the trend...

Now my Aunt is in on it
As are my grandparents
And they have even recruited my cat to get in on the action... this is where it may have gone overboard, but I figure since I put my parents up online I should put these pics up as well. Hopefully I won't get too many more before the day is over.

Birthday Love from West Virginia

I awoke this morning to find in my email a photo from my parents that serves as an ecard.

I did splotch-out the age because I still contest that I am roughly eleven-years-old.

Birthday Loot

March 4 is officially my birthday but the loot has already started to come in. Tonight Amy gave me this selection here.

A tin of Cadbury's chocolates, glow in the dark glasses, and some bubbles.


Amy's mother and Gramps brought over these things as well.

A bottle of wine.

Beer
and more Cadbury's chocolate.


Normally, I am not one for chocolate or wine (note that I did not mention beer) but given that I have been trying to shed a few pounds I have been craving a small escape from the boring health food.

Birthday Round 1

The need of celebration and the lack of a weekend for my birthday (which is March 4) Amy decided we would celebrate it this past Friday (Feb 27).

Needless to say it has now been referred to as my not-birthday. First her Mother and Gramps came through and took me out for a couple of pints at the Fighting Cocks. Needless to say, Amy never informed them that my birthday was not actually until the 4th.

That night I also chose to start the night out at the dive bar Wetherspoon's because I was too lazy to leave Moseley.

Here are some shots.

Rob and Ben(on the right)

Amy and Dani were also there (as was Ben)

OK so let's just say there were a few people there and that Ben tried hard to be in every picture.

Needless to say it was a very loving occasion.... note that this pic did not have Ben in it.


Thanks to everyone for celebrating my not-birthday.

Jamie's Birthday and Goodbyes

The last night in Santiago for my friends from Essex just happened to be on Jamie's birthday. Granted he had already celebrated it 4 times before but this time it was actually the right date.

Jamie was on point

James danced the night away and Jamie might have spent some time chatting up the locals.


James simply was not ready to say goodbye in the morning. The boys are headed off to New Zealand and should be boarding their flight in an hour or so after I submit this.


Poor guy, he just didn't want to see me leave.


Needless to say, they will be missed. I am sure we will run into each other while traveling again someday.

Father's Birthday Gift

If you have met my father you will appreciate this more. Let's just say that he is a complicated man to buy a oresent for because he never wants anything (that is until the day before his birthday). So this year to counter-act this habit I found him something in advance. My father routinely feeds the bird in the backyard and maintains a garden; both of which routinely fall victim of small woodland animals. In recent years he has brought my brothers' paintball gun out of retirement to try and spook them, but the accuracy is not at all up to par. The old BB gun would have been the best option but it had rusted out after years of sitting in the garage.

This year I chose to upgrade to a high-powered pump BB gun with a scope on it. Yes, my father just turned 12 and I trust him enough to maintain his own weapon. This is WV so handguns can't be issued until you are 13.
Happy 12th Birthday Padre.

Birthday

It was time for a birthday again because my parents got it on nine months or so before March 4, many many years ago. The full run of picutes are on my photobucket account.

I started the night out at Hoot's where a lot of people bought me drinks and I got some free games of pool in and then played some darts. (note the sweet power line in the side of my head... once again, screw you BOB.)

Then we rolled back to the crib and pregamed for the rest of the night. I was grillin the camera.

We then went to Ember. Somebody at another table got this desert, but we were told it was too late to order food. Howard got a little pissed.

Luckily Foxfire was willing to serve us. I even got some birthday cake. I am not sure exactly where it came from but it was delicious. I am pretty sure that Zana made it all happen.

Zana owned the cake and Dustin just spaced out.

Then these guys got some wings... Howard is a vegetarian (when he is sober)

While we were wingin it, that guy was destroying the cake. Howard did not approve and Bob was jealous.

I don't really have an explanation for this picture.

D

All in all, a great night. Not too bad of a hangover and woke up to snow. The resort life is tough. Can't wait to make it to Colorado at the end of the month.

Parents Day

Before my birthday I managed to trick my parents into a day here at the shoe. The conditions were epic and my padre broke in his new skis with the $1100+ price tag. All in all, a great day. I love these people.

Padre


My mother in action

Francis working...... haha

Breakin in the new skis

I think they had a good time