Flirty at Thirty

My birthday got started with seeing my parents, which is a good present. Although the surprise party Karen was planning for me was ruined by one of my co-workers I was still excited to have a party. I knew the date they were celebrating, and Ben was in on it, I just did not know what. We headed to one of what I think is a very attractive pub, Market Bar. It is in an old building that has great detail , the only issue is, since the space is so open, it is hard to hear people. We had a few pints there while everyone arrived. Past colleagues that I had not seen in a while came in from out of town, some of Ben's co-workers, my co-workers and some of the other friends we have made along the way. Good mix of people for sure!

We then headed to Ukiyo's, a Korean Karaoke place. I was just touched at the gifts and who came, I was just so happy to have everyone I care about in Ireland there. Since were were about 30 people deep, we had to sit at two tables. The girls even had a fantastic cake that had candles that I got to blow out! Dinner was over in a flash as I was just sooooo excited. After dinner and dessert and a few more drinks, we headed downstairs for the fun to begin!

Now, for the record, I have never done Karaoke, I sing terribly, I have made fun of my own singing before when I was working at Benson's radio station. But this is completely different. We hired out two rooms that each half could fit comfortably into. Since you can shut the door, you are only singing for your friends and with your friends, so you are just there to have a good time, not worry about the fact that none of you can sing. The boys sort of took over one room, with even Ben pulling out an aggressive version of AC/DC that I did not know he had in him. Everyone else was as surprised, it was great! Daddy Pierce made sure since it was MY birthday and I could play any song I wanted, he is so good to me!

We sang for hours and when our voices were reduced to shouting whispers we were off to the next pub. Most places would not let in such a large group so people started dropping off. The last 10 of us finally got into South Williams pub, where the music was crap, but I ddid not have to walk in my heals anymore. One by one I said goodbye until Claire and I were the last onse to wrap up the night with a little Jack as the lights came on. Since it is impossible to get a taxi at 3 since everyone else is, I had her walk almost all the way to my place on the other side of town where the taxis come back into town, knowing she could catch one. I got my last birthday hug, tucked her into a taxi and went home. A good 30th birthday especially since in my wisened age, I did not wake up with a terrible hangover. I still remember my own mother's 30th hangover, and I was not ready for that sort of pain... this year!