Turning 22 on 2/2. Yes, I'm a dork. But at least I'm wasn't the first to say this.
My birthday is one week away, and usually, at least the past three years, I've started planning a few weeks in advance what I'd be doing for my birthday. This year is weird...I don't have any plans yet nor have I even thought about it. I'm considering going to downtown Annapolis again like I did last year, but I'm still not sure. And I wanted to go to Atlantic City, but now I'm not sure (but if anyone wants to go this Saturday, give me a call...I might be going). It just doesn't excite me like it used to, maybe because it's just a reminder that I'm just getting old with nothing else to look forward to (age wise at least).
I think I'm finished with the days of planning big old celebrations and making it seem like a much bigger deal, when it really isn't. Now that I think about it, it's silly that I even celebrated my 20th birthday as "Mark Padilla's Weeklong 20th Birthday Celebration" when 20 years gets you nothing but another year to wait until you're legal to purchase alcohol. If anything, I should've at least followed that up with a two week or a month long birthday celebration for my 21st, and I at least considered it when I thought about going to Mardi Gras last year.
But when I actually think back to the past five birthdays I've had, I realized that I've forced myself to have a good time, one way or another, but mostly with alcohol. So here it is whether you want it or not...in celebration of "Mark Padilla's turning old/22":
2005: 21 was a good birthday. I actually sat at the bar at Pusser's and had the my first legal alcoholic drink in the most fitting of places. Then it was off to the Sly Fox and then to Ram's Head. Later on in the week, I was surprised with a surprise party, except I ruined it by going upstairs before anyone could surprise me. But once in a while, surprise parties are really nice, especially when you've never had one...
2004: The year of the weeklong 20th birthday celebration. If I look back at old posts, I can probably find out exactly what I did each day, or at least what I had planned out, but it involved a lot of drinking each day. I remember getting two birthday cakes, and getting sick off a melted ice cream cake. Oh...and I got punched a lot - punishment from everyone on my floor for punching them all the time. And I think I went to Red Lobster with the fam and had 70 or 80 shrimp because they had all-you-can-eat shrimp.
2003: This is where my memory gets a little fuzzy because it's been three years. I think it was the same day as the super bowl, the Bucs and Raiders...and I remember getting the fooseball table and a pickle card. And at one point going to Chevy's within that week and getting the usual sombrero. But that might be it...I guess 19 wasn't very memorable. But it was a good year - meeting a lot of new people, new experiences, college.
2002: The year of 18. I remember buying the usual lottery ticket and porno, and later in the night arguing with people over where to go, and at one point everyone almost going home, but a few of us ended up going to Friendly's (Adrian, Ryan, and Liz) and then going with Pat to a strip club (my only trip so far).
2001: I sat at home. Alone. Now that I think about it, maybe this is why I always made a bigger deal about birthdays than it really was.
I think I'm finished with the days of planning big old celebrations and making it seem like a much bigger deal, when it really isn't. Now that I think about it, it's silly that I even celebrated my 20th birthday as "Mark Padilla's Weeklong 20th Birthday Celebration" when 20 years gets you nothing but another year to wait until you're legal to purchase alcohol. If anything, I should've at least followed that up with a two week or a month long birthday celebration for my 21st, and I at least considered it when I thought about going to Mardi Gras last year.
But when I actually think back to the past five birthdays I've had, I realized that I've forced myself to have a good time, one way or another, but mostly with alcohol. So here it is whether you want it or not...in celebration of "Mark Padilla's turning old/22":
2005: 21 was a good birthday. I actually sat at the bar at Pusser's and had the my first legal alcoholic drink in the most fitting of places. Then it was off to the Sly Fox and then to Ram's Head. Later on in the week, I was surprised with a surprise party, except I ruined it by going upstairs before anyone could surprise me. But once in a while, surprise parties are really nice, especially when you've never had one...
2004: The year of the weeklong 20th birthday celebration. If I look back at old posts, I can probably find out exactly what I did each day, or at least what I had planned out, but it involved a lot of drinking each day. I remember getting two birthday cakes, and getting sick off a melted ice cream cake. Oh...and I got punched a lot - punishment from everyone on my floor for punching them all the time. And I think I went to Red Lobster with the fam and had 70 or 80 shrimp because they had all-you-can-eat shrimp.
2003: This is where my memory gets a little fuzzy because it's been three years. I think it was the same day as the super bowl, the Bucs and Raiders...and I remember getting the fooseball table and a pickle card. And at one point going to Chevy's within that week and getting the usual sombrero. But that might be it...I guess 19 wasn't very memorable. But it was a good year - meeting a lot of new people, new experiences, college.
2002: The year of 18. I remember buying the usual lottery ticket and porno, and later in the night arguing with people over where to go, and at one point everyone almost going home, but a few of us ended up going to Friendly's (Adrian, Ryan, and Liz) and then going with Pat to a strip club (my only trip so far).
2001: I sat at home. Alone. Now that I think about it, maybe this is why I always made a bigger deal about birthdays than it really was.