Well another birthday has arrived for me. For the typical person, turning 29 isn’t really that noteworthy or significant. However, it just so happens that this year my date of birth is on a Thursday Rundown! It took me some time to come up with the birthday-themed slant I would take this particular blog post but I finally decided on an idea. I have decided to write about my coolest birthday parties.

Before I dive in, let me preface the below five events by saying this: I didn’t really have much to choose from. Growing up as a kid I usually had Halloween-themed parties at our house. Always fun and all, but nothing to really get crazy about. Then, throughout the majority of the past 15 years I was either working late on my birthday or simply just didn’t do anything. With that said, here we go (in chronological order).

Limousine Cruise – For my 8th birthday, my parents surprised my friends and I with a limousine! My parents staged what seemed like a typical birthday party at the house. Once all of us came inside, they told us to look out the window. Waiting for us was a stretched limo. We had a fabulous time. To get the full details, click here for the blog post I wrote in August of 2014.

Major throwback to when I had a limo at my birthday party. In this photo I am wearing the hate of the limousine driver.

Laser Quest – In my day I have played laser tag at numerous locations. However, I have never played it at a better place than Laser Quest in downtown Spokane. Strategically built with three floors and high quality equipment, this was the place to go when I was younger. My parents reserved the party room where we got to hang out in between the TWO rounds of laser tag we played. It was a great 10th birthday.

My 21 Run – I had heard everyone talk about how awesome their 21 run was prior to embarking on my own and I honestly didn’t know if the hype was for real. It was. Turning 21 was one of the best times I have had in my twenties. I became acquainted with the downtown bar scene in Missoula that night. I turned 21 on a Monday but my group was nice enough to still take me out at midnight on Sunday. In those two hours I managed to consume the magic number everyone shoots for on their 21 run* while surprisingly remembering most of it. My birthday group that night was made up of various people of different interests and backgrounds. But all got along and made it a special night.

This was me 8 years ago on my 21 run. I am holding up my ID to show that I am legal.

Pizza Free-For-All – You can only do a 21 run once, so I made sure to dramatically scale back when I turned 22. Although some might call it a “hangover birthday,” I had no problem having 13 people join me for terrible food. The location of this feast was at a place called Freemo’s Pizza, an all-you-can-eat $5 pizza place in Missoula that couldn’t even hold a candle to Cici’s. It was one of those places where people would go just to make fun of the food. We practically took over the joint as we pushed a bunch of tables together to make us all fit. With the outdated arcade games and the bicycles hanging from the roof as a backdrop, it was a great way to start that particular year of my life.

The First of Many – Of course birthdays don’t get much more memorable than when you celebrate them with your soul mate. My first birthday in Myrtle Beach was spent with my fiancé (who was my girlfriend at the time). After work, Sidney and I went out for drinks and then dinner. We came back to her house and I opened up gifts. She then presented me with a huge candy bar cake that she made for me. With my family joining via Skype, my loved one on the east and my loved ones on the west sang me “Happy Birthday.” It was a great kickoff to the many, many more birthdays I will celebrate with Sidney.

Last year I spent a very memorable birthday with Sidney.

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I am off to enjoy the evening. My second birthday in Myrtle Beach will be very much like my first. Thanks to all for the texts, calls, and social media posts. Don’t Blink.

* I don’t condone binge drinking. However, on this night I was able to take 21 shots. Thanks to great friends with safe habits, I was always in good hands.