Surprise!

Tonight we celebrated my Dad's 51st birthday with a surprise party. Want to know how to make sure the person wouldn't think a surprise party is in the works? Wait until the year after the landmark 50th and then wait another month after that, having still had a normal celebration of the birthday (dinner, cake, presents). There is very little chance, unless someone spills the beans, that anyone would expect a surprise party then.

If you are successful it will go something likes did tonight. Everyone, "Surprise!" *pauses/freezes in place* then - Angelo, "Oh shit."

To boot - my dad was into the whole disco thing, and thanks to one of the people invited a suggestion was made to have it disco themed. No only did we have cutouts of disco silhouettes on the walls, disco balls, but we also had my dad's white platform shoes on display. He also wanted to, maybe secretly maybe not, be Michael Jackson - or at least in the group. As such, he had quite the afro. He still will only comb his hair with a pick. A bunch of his friends and our relatives bought and wore afros. The picture below is how a lot of people looked tonight. If you were wondering which one my dad is - hes in the front, slightly right center and probably the only one who looks like it might be his actual hair.

The Rain Won't Stop Us

And it didn't. Today was a great day, after a great weekend. When I woke up today I didn't think I had enough energy in me to get through the day. Last night's party was a lot of work. It is not easy to have a 25 person party in your apartment - the organizing and prep work, cooking ,etc. Luckily everyone was awesome. I had a lot of help from Claire (especially as the party wrapped up.)

When all was said and done things could not have gone better. We had so much extra food and for an apartment that has been ordering/buying every meal out of having no time to go food shopping - that's nice. Having 10 of your best friends dancing around your room with christmas music playing - everyone doing their best charlie brown moves and such is just amazing. Ill have some pictures soon.

Today we had our gift exchange and I was really impressed at how creative, thoughtful, or interesting the gifts were. Headed into the city while some friends and my roommates lunched on some of the left overs. Met up with my sisters and grabbed food at Max Brenners. If you have not been there - you should change that. Order everything.

Made it Rockefeller with them and Alex and took some pictures with the tree despite the rain. Also, a brave male proposed on the ice. He must really have had a good feeling about that one to subject his future wife to the cold rain for it. There must have been a good inch or more of water on the ice that he knelt in, too. It was great - everyone watching cheered. What it must feel like to get engaged in that setting or any where you have a slew of people applauding/cheering for you.

We finally headed home on the 7 pm bus following the eagles game via gamecast, car radio, and then tv when I got home.

Tomorrow is my dad's birthday. He turns 51. This is why i am home. It is also why, in a few hours I am waking up to make him pancakes. He doesn't know this. Nor did he know I was coming home tonight. If you know me, you know I like surprises/big gestures. So I sneak home, show up - and make him an actual meal to eat before he heads to work on his birthday before most of the world is even awake.

Night everyone.