Pickles & Dimes

Not only did Shauna take me out to JD Hoyt’s, a fantastic supper club in downtown Minneapolis, for my birthday, she managed to outdo herself in the birthday present department.

This year I was lucky enough to receive a gift certificate to Amazon so I can purchase more rare, out-of-print (crappy) CDs. She also got us tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra holiday show at the Xcel in December. I really can’t wait for this show. Maybe we’ll make it a holiday extravaganza and go see Trailer Trash do their 15th annual “Trashy Little X-Mas Show” at Lee’s Liquor Lounge the night before. The two may not be the same, but seeing Trailer Trash sing The Grinch should be as much fun as Trans-Siberian Orchestra playing Christmas Eve in Sarejevo. Maybe not.

Great, thoughtful gifts from my wonderful wife.

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My favorite birthday memories are my 29th and 30th birthdays. Number 29 was my golden birthday, so Shauna and my family planned a great surprise party for me. Invites went out without my knowledge and after Shauna tipped me off that there would be a party, there was weeks of guessing on my part. The day of the party Shauna and I left work to swing by our apartment to change, and everyone was already in the courtyard of our complex. Complete surprise.

My 30th was on an island in the middle of a lake with only canoe access to arrive. There must be a post of this in the archives, maybe Shauna will even link to it later, since I’m not sure I know how to do it. But, rest assured, it was a great time if memory serves. And it doesn’t after that night.