In honor of shanabanana 's birthday, I give you the Shana and Matt IM Greatest Hits:

Shana: she's...not a person I'd recommend for a friend to date
Matt: who said anything about dating her?
Shana: who said I was talking about you?
Matt: who said you have any friends other than me?
---
Shana: speaking of which...now you have me looking at boobs at the gym
Matt: then my work here is done
--
Shana: Dallas is such a closet hippie
Matt: I don't think you know Dallas anymore...
Shana: he's like a homophobe that turns out to be gay
Matt: I think that Dallas is the kind of hippie who just pretends to be a hippie becasue all the hippie chicks don't wear bras and put out
Shana: he hates it a little toooo much, if you know what I mean
--
Shana: I don't know BASIC
Shana: I was just making a joke
Shana: why does everyone get so freakin geeky on Yehoodi?
Matt: that was rhetorical, right?
--
Shana: but if they dated me, they must be strange
Matt: strange...like a FOX!
Shana: um, I think it's crazy like a fox
Matt: like a FOX!
Shana: riiiiight
Matt: right...like a FOX!
--
Shana: Course, it still feels like a rejection, which I wasn't exactly angling for...
Matt: well, what were you angling for?
Shana: um...not-rejection...
Matt: your command of the english language is nothing short of amazing
--
Shana: no more online sex
Matt: um
Shana: no matter how much you cry
Matt: that's like threatening me "no more cures for cancer"
--
Matt: I rule
Shana: but I still won't sleep with you
Matt: I think we've established that
Shana: just checking
Matt: you know...talking to you does wonders for my self-esteem
--
Shana: YAY! Matt!!!!
Matt: my own personal shana cheerleader
Shana: 2-4-6-....wait, what comes after 6?
Matt: putting out
Shana: of course!
Shana: I forgot to remember that
Matt: that's why you are not a good cheerleader
--
Matt: hey, you are not allowed to make comments about my sexual inadequecies without field knowledge
Shana: well then, bring it on!
Shana: (there's a great pick up line...remember that)
Matt: which one?
Matt: "bring it on"?
Shana: no, your line
Shana: but if you're talking to a guy, "bring it on" works just as well
Matt: true
Matt: if you're talking to a guy, "Hey! You're standing on my foot!" works just as well
--
Shana: [He] might also be horrified to know that there will be no cake, church, officiant, garter, bouquet toss, obedience, God, or jordan almonds
Matt: I hate jordan almonds
Shana: I hate obedience
--
Matt: same with craig t nelson
Shana: who?
Matt: he played bob
Matt: he was "coach"
Shana: on what show?
Matt: "coach"
--
Shana: you can't judge her by your standards
Shana: you are clearly screwed up

Tags: birthday, real world, shana

Happy birthday, brian81773!

Tags: birthday

My mom just sent me an email that Brayden Jacob Andersen was born this morning. He shares his birthday with Larry Bird, Tom Waits, and, perhaps greatest of all, Matt Stratton.

He is the son of my mom's cousin's daughter. I have no idea what that makes him to me. Can someone tell me the technical term for that relationship?

Tags: birthday, family

Happy birthday to my little sister, fashionarcade!

As of today, she is no longer a teenager. So I guess that means she has to stop saying "w00t" and "teh".

Tags: birthday

My sister just sent me this picture from my 30th birthday.

Left to right - my sister Debbie, me, my sister Becky, and my cousin David.

Tags: birthday, family, pictures

Had a boffo night at the Fizzle on Monday night. Drank way too much, had a great birthday jam (seriously, I danced like I sorta kinda one day might get the hang of this so-called "Lindy Hop"), had fun talking to folks, and ended up at Kingston Mines and later the Diner Grill.

Got home at 5 am, and woke up at 8 to do some work on a network for this photog associate of davelippy. Finished that, took a nap, and then went to a fantastic Columbian steakhouse for a birthday dinner treat.

Tags: birthday

This was a very fun weekend, and I'm not even 30 yet!

Last night went out for KMP's birthday (his *actual* 30th). Great pizza and an awesome DJ at Smart Bar. Had a good time and lots of drinks.

My new closet came crashing down at 5 am today, scaring the shit out of me. Loupy is coming over on Wednesday to help me try to fix it.

I really enjoyed my party. A lot. And especially my gift. I found it interesting who showed up, who helped, and who blew it off. But even though my default reaction is to feel shitty that people blew off the party, the fact that my real and true friends did so much amazing stuff for me more than makes up for it.

It's been a weekend of a lot of reflection. I had a long conversation with swingdoc on Saturday, and she opened my eyes to a lot of things to reflect on. I had some friendships reaffirmed, and other relationships exposed. All in all, it's been an interesting weekend.

But either way, I finally have a home to be proud of. And that still touches me in a way I cannot describe.

Tags: birthday

OK, I am getting really excited/nervous for this party tonight.

My stomach is going nuts. Part of it is work stress, but most of it is an-ti-ci-pation.

I was talking to Partytom about this last night - I rarely get surprised by things. I guess I live my life in such a way that I usually know what is going on. Plus, most people aren't good at keeping secrets.

I think the other thing is that usually I am on the other side of this - I am the one doing the planning, etc. Which makes me feel weird to not be. But it is good.

Chris is picking me up at work at 3:30 and then the birthday madness begins! I am in a really good mood now.

Tags: birthday

Thanks for the ideas and input for my 30th birthday party.

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to ignore all of them.

I was informed the other night that I am not allowed to plan my own birthday party. A friend of mine decided to take it upon himself (with the aid of another friend, although he hasn't told her this yet) to plan it all.

All that I am allowed to do is give him a guest list and then show up. So it will be a surprise. Neat.

I am actually kind of touched by this. I've always wanted someone to throw a party for me.

Tags: birthday
Current Mood: touched

So like I posted earlier, I'm trying to think of a good theme for my birthday party. I want to think of the thing that most clearly defines "Mugsy".

To you, what is that thing?

Poll #366108 When you think of me...
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

When you think of "Mugsy", what do you think of first?

Tags: birthday, polls

So I turn 30 in December.

I kind of want to do something cool to celebrate the occassion. For example, last year for his 30th, my friend Lou threw a great "7 Sins" themed party. It was perfect for him.

In a few weeks, davelippy turns 30 and is having a costume party (it's right around Halloween). It will be teh awesome.

Anyway, I've been trying to think of a good idea for my birthday. Last year I had a "Vegas" themed party that was kind of a bust. I didn't have too much fun.

So I need ideas for the birthday action. I've had a couple so far - here they are:

Road Trips
Possibly head out of town to someplace cool with good friends. Vegas was suggested, but I'm not getting a lot of people seeming interested. NYC was also suggested, but the Y6A trip seemed to be the big NYC trip. Another suggestion was New Orleans.

Party Time
There's a cool venue that is actually an old speakeasy that Tracy found. It's a neat space, but you can only get it with an open bar package. So if I were to have a party there, there would probably be like a $30 cover, but it would be for open bar. I'd really like to do something with that space, but can't figure out what. There's a stage in there, so something with improv could be cool. Backstreet and I thought of having a "talent show", but when I ran that by folks, nobody seemed to think that anyone would participate. I thought it would be cool though - it could be like American Idol with me being one of the judges. Because for my 30th birthday, I think the most important thing is that all night I want to feel superior to everyone else.

Anyone have ideas?

Tags: birthday
Current Mood: thoughtful

So my birthday party is Saturday, December 6th.

If you didn't get an Evite, let me know.

How better to celebrate my birthday that with a Las Vegas themed party? Come join me at "Matt Stratton's Lucky Moo-Shoe Casino" (aka ********) for a night of revelry, music, and good times, plus some surprises!

You are encouraged to dress according to the Las Vegas theme, but it is not required. BYOB.

Tags: birthday

So my birthday party will be in a couple weeks.

I am going to do like Louis did, and have it in a bar in a private room. But I want a good theme (his was "7 Sins"). I wanted to do a Vegas theme, but Illinois is super strict about casino nights; we can't do gambling at all, even for fake money.

Also, if the theme could somehow incorporate GOGA*, that would be good too.

Poll #206304 What should my birthday party theme be?
Open to: Friends, detailed results viewable to: Friends, participants: 5

What should the theme be for my birthday party?

* - Girl on Girl Action

Tags: birthday, polls

OK, just got back from a birthday lunch with my mom and stepdad.

I have to say...this thing where my stepdad is nice to me is kinda freakin' me out. We used to get along really well...until I was about 11. From then on, we did not get along so well. Basically, he was a hellraiser teenager, so I think he assumed I would be the same way. Then, after I went to college and moved out, we basically just sort of were civil to each other for my mom's sake. It was always very tense.

But all of a sudden, lately, he is nice to me! I was at my mom's for Grandma Bea's birthday a couple of weeks ago, and John (my stepdad) and I had a great time. He shared his good bourbon with me, and we talked about computers (he's turning into a total hardware geek), politics, and conspiracy theories. And it was a conversation that was among equals; it didn't feel like he was talking and I was just listening. He listened to everything I said, and we discussed.

My stepdad is a very smart guy. I learned a lot from him when I was younger; I remember sitting around the breakfast table and learning about the concepts of Mutual Assured Destruction (nothing like discussing the Cold War using juice glasses as visual aids). It's pretty remarkable to me that he seems to respect me in what I know now.

Anyway, he has NEVER come to visit me before. Even my mom rarely comes into the city (in the two years I lived on Wellington, she never came to that apartment). But apparently it was his idea to take me out to lunch for my birthday. And amusingly enough, I discovered (last night when giving him directions), that he used to live just down the block from my old apartment. So we went to see it today and he told stories of living in that neighborhood. He was about my age at the time too. It was really weird. But kinda cool.

m.

Tags: birthday, family

I am always amused when my 19 year old sister imparts wisdom to me.

This is from an email she sent me on my birthday:

"I think it's really cool that you are around more. I know mom loves it. She loves you a lot....probably more than you'll ever realize."

Hehehe.

In related news, it turns out there is nothing wrong with her heart. Now they think it might be her thyroid. Or maybe she's just in really, REALLY good shape (she has a resting pulse of 40).

m.

Tags: birthday, family
Current Mood: amused

So Saturday was my berfday.

For some reason, we went to Columbus, Ohio for it.

( Columbus Recap )
m.

Tags: birthday, swing dancing

I'm really bad at answering the question "What do you want for your birthday?"...so I figured I'd let you all help me out.

Poll #79571 Mugsy's Berfday
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 4

What should people get me for my birthday?

Tags: birthday