As I write this I am officially 29 (or as I like to write it “5² + 2²â€ or “--30”). The only difference I can tell between 29 and 28 is 29 is closer to 30 and 30 seems a bit too old for me. As you might notice my birthday falls on a Monday, and given that I still commute to Portland every day I don't have much time today to celebrate the slow decay of a body past its prime. Thus we had a celebration of sorts yesterday involving three of my favourite things, pizza, Frisbee, and games.

Sunday morning started like most other weekend mornings, except we both decided to sleep in and see what time it was when we awoke. Rather than force ourselves to get out of bed in order to sit through what usually amounts to a disappointing sermon we opted to play things by ear, and my ear was listening to the dulcet tones of the choir from The Church of the Inner Spring (I think Holly was attending a sermon at Bedside Baptist, so we couldn't easily compare notes). For my birthday I gave Holly a massage, and I still don't know how that happened, but as payment we played Epic Dungeoneer : Call of the Lichlord and I think she even let me win.

You can tell when a member of the Wayne Barber clan is getting older by their choice of birthday cakes. As soon as you request a German Chocolate cake you know you have managed to leave your childhood behind. Papa was kind enough to agree to make said cake for my birthday, and they dropped it off at my place early in the afternoon, disturbing one of my favourite pastimes: reading. About this time Holly was getting herself dolled up (though if you ask me she doesn't need to try to be pretty; it's one of those mysteries a husband will never know I guess). As soon as she declared herself ready we left our quiet home in search of gastronomic pleasure.

Pizza might just be the most perfect food. It covers all the food groups, and comes in one convenient package. Why people frown down upon this ambrosia is beyond me. Being the birthday boy still has some leverage left in it, even at a near-29, so I was able to bring people together at perhaps the best pizza parlor in all of Salem, Paddington's Pizza. When we arrived, a little early, I was a little concerned for it seemed closed; to my delight I discovered it was not closed but devoid of patrons at that present moment. We had the place to ourselves for a spell, and there is nothing quite like enjoying good pizza in peace and low tones.

By some stroke of genius Holly decided everyone should order their own pizza, and because she's more herbivore than carnivore (and I am the opposite by far) I was given my own small pizza and she hers. That trend was followed among the nine attendees (the Huntingtons, the Goodrows (including Bethany), and the four Barbers). All was well, and my pizza was divine, but my father's restaurant curse struck again, but not on him. The poor Huntingtons did not get their pizzas until the rest of us were done with ours. It was a minor inconvenience but no one seemed to mind and I even got to open my cards while they ate, so all was well with the world.

The plan next called for us to rally at Bush Park and play Frisbee until things hurt. This we did, but the Goodrows could not attend, however the Kershsners could. Frisbee soon ensued, and the less said the better, for Frisbee is to be experienced and not described. I cannot say how long we spent at the park, for time flies as do frisbees but soon we were piling into our cars to feast upon the aforementioned cake.

The cake was good but the singing was horrendous. Not a cat was seen for I do believe they all ran away to bury their pointy ears in anything which would block the sounds of seven people trying to sing off key. The cake made up for the temporary discomfort and once that was consumed I had a couple more cards to open and Holly gave me an early gift (When Darkness Comes for those of you keeping score at home). Still having some time left in the day we agreed it would be fun to play a game so I brought forth Apples to Apples and by some stroke of good fortune won the game.

The evening ended, and I found I was beginning to ache from the Frisbee. There were some dishes to cleanup and the reality of another work day ahead; with age comes wisdom and thus follows responsibility, and I had to cave in being that much older now. As far as birthday celebrations go this was a good one, and I still have my actual birthday to attend to, and perhaps that will be a small intimate affair just the missus and me, after all, I think I am due a good back massage.