what to do on/for 30th birthday ?

[etoiles]

Hello everybody !
yes, my big birthday is coming up in November and I am still looking for original ideas to celebrate friendship, life and all that good stuff.

Having a party at my place with some friends, spinning records, having drinks maybe a BBQ and just taking it easy was my original plan (the weather should be ok in Southern California).

Another idea would be to hike up a mountain and having some wine/fondue on top... I guess only my very best friends would make it (which could be a good thing or not, I guess I'd soon find out how many friends I really have, he he).

Anyway, I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions/ideas. The crazier, the better :D

Thanks in advance !

[Mblazened]

wow, i could never imagine being that old.... :)

[etoiles]

Originally posted by Mblazened
wow, i could never imagine being that old.... :)

why you little... (waving fist)


:p

[bousozoku]

Hide, would be a suggestion, depending on your friends and co-workers.

They may all show up wearing funeral type clothing.

I'm just thankful I was pretty much away from everyone for that one and that the people didn't know me when I had my 40th. :D

[Waluigi]

I remember my Dad's 30th Birthday. I was only like 6 or 7, but I still remember it vividly. We got all the family members we could (about 200) and threw a massive party for him at a hotel. We rented the whole pool area, and a ball room, and it was just so much fun. It doesn't matter where you go or what you do as long as you are surrounded by the people that mean the most to you. Happy 30th!

--Waluigi

[etoiles]

bousozoku: common ! it's only getting better and better, right ? right ? ;)

Waluigi: thanks ! Whatever I do will definitely include friends, although my whole family (and most 'old' friends) are overseas and I will have to catch up with them around Christmas/New Year.

So, any other suggestions for a meaningful 30th birthday in southern California (or in general) ? Skydive over lake Elsinore ? Make a big bonfire in the desert and dance around naked (eeeeeeew) ? Run around the gaslamp district in SD screaming "The end is near ! The end is near !" ?
:eek: :D


BTW: I just ordered a 12"PB Superdrive and 40gig iPod to make sure I get at least one decent present this year :D

[Doctor Q]

I have two friends who went sky diving to celebrate round-numbered birthdays. Any thoughts of being a daredevil?

[etoiles]

you know, the more I think about this skydiving thing, the better it sounds...

[Stelliform]

I am not big on birthdays. So for my 30th I am just going to hide. In fact I hate my birthday so much I usually am a crab for a couple of months before it. :rolleyes: We all have to have our little flaws. :D

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by etoiles
bousozoku: common ! it's only getting better and better, right ? right ? ;)
...

BTW: I just ordered a 12"PB Superdrive and 40gig iPod to make sure I get at least one decent present this year :D

Yeah sure. Actually, if I settled to act my age, I'd probably be hurting. :D I'm just happy that I'm not looking my age. With another one coming tomorrow, I should just forget about counting entirely! :eek:

Hope you have a good birthday! :)

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Mblazened
wow, i could never imagine being that old.... :)

at one time, that was really old for me...i was a rock musician and that was a line that the industry used to draw...before all those reunions started happening and we saw bands like the eagles, aerosmith, and others get back together for money for the middle age and senior citizenhood...btw...the original members of duran duran are back together now and they said they are proud they all still have their hair ;)

when roger daltrey of the who turned 30, the press asked him, "i thought you said that you hope you die before you grow old? what of that, roger?"...and from a generation that told people to not trust people over 30

turning 30 is definitely a turning point and marks the day that you are no longer considered to be "young" and you are far from teenagehood

and i think more than any other age, there is this nagging question of, "what have i done with my life...and what do i have left to do while i still have the energy or freedom"...it was that way for me in a big way and at the same time it was depressing

when you turn 30 this november, i reach middle age at 40 but i don't consider this as nearly as big as turning 30 was

[jefhatfield]

oops, double post:p

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
...before all those reunions started happening and we saw bands like the eagles, aerosmith, and others get back together for money for the middle age and senior citizenhood...Which reminds me... Monday I have to order Simon & Garfunkel concert tickets. They have reunited for a tour. I can't believe that the guy who wrote the lyrics "Asking only workman's wages, I coming looking for a job" ("The Boxer" from Bridge Over Troubled Water) is charging so much for tickets! Another S&G lyric more appropriate to this thread: "How terribly strange to be 70" ("Old men" from Bookends).

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
Which reminds me... Monday I have to order Simon & Garfunkel concert tickets. They have reunited for a tour. I can't believe that the guy who wrote the lyrics "Asking only workman's wages, I coming looking for a job" ("The Boxer" from Bridge Over Troubled Water) is charging so much for tickets! Another S&G lyric more appropriate to this thread: "How terribly strange to be 70" ("Old men" from Bookends).

those guys are great

i wanted to see csn&y last year but didn't get to..work schedules

unless i go to a MAJOR city, of which there are none near me...i have to see my band of choice on a work night...it sucks

when i lived in london, there was always a weekend night for a major act ... like clapton, he will rent out a hall a week or more in a row so you can catch him in concert, no matter what your schedule is

[etoiles]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
Another S&G lyric more appropriate to this thread: "How terribly strange to be 70" ("Old men" from Bookends).

wait, I said 30 ! <cough> I am only turning 30 ! Ouch, my back hurts...:D

Anyway, I wanted to add something for people who are afraid of getting 'old' (it's ok, really)

Picasso once said:"It takes a long time to grow young"

I have partied more in the last five years than in the first 25 years of my life. My parents are retired and are having a blast traveling and enjoying life. Every age has its moments. Sure, you are getting closer to death every year, but that is pretty much the same for everybody since birth. There is no way to tell how many years you have left, so don't live too much in future, make the most out of the present (ok, a little bit of planning ahead helps, too ;)).

As an artist, I learn a little bit more every day, I couldn't do what I do today a few years ago and it is only getting better. Acquired knowledge enriches my life bit by bit. I realize that I have not figured it all out yet, in spite of what I thought when I was 20 :D

Unfortunately, we live in a society where youth and money seem to matter the most. How can you ever be happy living like this ? You are going to spend half your life chasing the money, and the other half hiding behind a mask looking for the fountain of youth...or just looking silly. Sounds like a lot of fun.

I'll conclude with another quote (Chinese proverb actually): "happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have"

...and I am still open for suggestions for my actual birthday. A S&G concert ? That won't make me feel any younger...

[rhpenguin]

two words, hooker and beer.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by rhpenguin
two words, hooker and beer.

i thought that was supposed to be one' 21st birthday;)

[etoiles]

... I just went to two bachelor's parties in a row...I am good for a while on that front ;)

But hey, it is a good suggestion :D

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by etoiles

...and I am still open for suggestions for my actual birthday. A S&G concert ? That won't make me feel any younger...

I'm surprised you were old enough to know who Simon and Garfunkel were. ;)

[Frohickey]

um... look for that AARP membership solicitation? :p

[Jerry Spoon]

I did the skydiving thing for my 25th. It was a blast. I'd do that "something I'd never thought I'd do" daredevil type stuff or the huge blowout full of just about every family and friend you could imagine. Either one makes for great memories.

An early happy birthday to you. I'm still a couple of years off from 30, but it's comin' up quick.

[etoiles]

Originally posted by bousozoku
I'm surprised you were old enough to know who Simon and Garfunkel were. ;)

My sister had an album ;) I definitely remember the picture of that tall guy with the curly hair standing behind that short guy...it was kind of weird, even at the time.
And who could forget The Lemonhead's 'Mrs Robinson' cover in the early 90s. I was in my 20s and grunge was all the rage :D

Originally posted by Frohickey
um... look for that AARP membership solicitation? :p

not sure they could really help me out that much (http://www.aarp.org/computers-howto/Articles/a2003-09-08-updatewindows.html)

Originally posted by Jerry Spoon
I did the skydiving thing for my 25th. It was a blast. I'd do that "something I'd never thought I'd do" daredevil type stuff or the huge blowout full of just about every family and friend you could imagine. Either one makes for great memories.

An early happy birthday to you. I'm still a couple of years off from 30, but it's comin' up quick.

My birthday is on a monday, so I might celebrate on the week-end before and after. Maybe some dare devil gig first, and then a good party...that way I have something to brag about when I see all my friends :p
thanks for the wishes

[etoiles]

Ok, today is the day...I am officially entering the best age :D

anyway, nothing too dramatic planned: I am going to some friends place for my birthday cake tonight. Tomorrow we are going to climb a mountain with some other friends and on saturday I am going to have a big fondue party featuring 7 pounds of cheese, countless bottles of wine and again, 'a few' friends...damn it is good to have friends. I am also planning a little video projector installation at my place, where people can navigate through panoramic QuicktimeVR shots of some summits in Switzerland (http://usa.myswitzerland.com/en/products/USP/panos/jungfraujoch_10_7_h.htm) while eating fondue and drinking white wine.

Just felt like sharing ;)

to infinity and beyond !

[wdlove]

Happy 30th B-Day etoiles. That is a beautiful panoramic view. Thank you for sharing. Did you buy anything Apple? Fondue was very popular here in the US back in the 60's and 70's.

[etoiles]

Originally posted by wdlove
Happy 30th B-Day etoiles. That is a beautiful panoramic view. Thank you for sharing. Did you buy anything Apple? Fondue was very popular here in the US back in the 60's and 70's.

Thanks wdlove ! The cool thing about the view is that you can click on the names of other summits which takes you to a new panorama etc. It is especially nice if you travelled there and know/recognize some of those places. Kind of ties everything together. I am originally from the south (in the alps), but grew up in the north, which is a whopping 200miles appart...

Fondue definitely has this 'communal' feeling, I can see how it must have been popular in the 60's. I think it is a great way to get some interaction going around the table. My American and British friends usually need a little bit of direction at the beginning of the evening (stirr, don't just dip the bread in the cheese. And look each other in the eyes when you say 'cheers') but after a glass of wine (or two) everybody is a champion :D . Plus it reminds me of home of course (little tear in the corner of the eye).

As for Apple gear, I bought a 12PB superdrive, 40gig iPod and all sorts of cables, bags, sleeves etc. Upgraded to Panther, of course. I also just ordered a photo album through the iPhoto store and bought a few songs on iTMS. This stuff rocks !

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by etoiles
I bought a 12PB superdrive, 40gig iPod and all sorts of cables, bags, sleeves etc. Upgraded to Panther, of course. I also just ordered a photo album through the iPhoto store and bought a few songs on iTMS.
______________________________________________
Doctor Q's fantastic doorprize winner 2003You'd be a winner even without the door prize!

[Giaguara]

i think when i'll hit 30, i'll be pretty much dead ..

anyway. if i'm not ..

what i'd want to do in that case...

take an aeroflot plane to s. petersburg (russia, not florida), and have a cocaine party. then maybe try paracadutism or something similar ... or drive a ferrari etc. lets say all those things that i somehow always wanted to try once in my life but never did as i was too afraid (aeroflot etc) or would be afraid to become addicted to (cocaine, i'm pretty sure i'd like it. which i don't like).

[eyelikeart]

Good question. Everyone treats 30 as this big deal, like it's the ending of one's youth. I'd like to get a surprise party though, just for the sake of it. :D

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
Good question. Everyone treats 30 as this big deal, like it's the ending of one's youth. I'd like to get a surprise party though, just for the sake of it. :D

hey eye,

that's just four years away

do you still feel like you are young?

when i was 26 i was already divorced and i did feel old and somehow my youth came back to me and i realized i was young when, a couple of years later, i hooked up with a 43 year old woman for three years...i felt very young again

age is really mostly in one's head...but now that i am days from 40, i do feel some physical limitations and somehow i think i will just get used to that and not notice it so much anymore but my more rubust days are still pretty fresh in my memory

[eyelikeart]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
hey eye,

that's just four years away

do you still feel like you are young?


I know, it's weird to think about it. There's times when I feel like time has passed by, like the 20th Anniversary of E.T. last year, or watching my little sister married & having a baby any day now.

Other than that, I feel fairly young still. I don't have any health problems, save for allergies. I still get carded whenever I shave, which is fine. Physically, I'm in better shape now than I was 10 years ago. I eat well & exercise regularly, try to keep a positive outlook on everything, and make fun out of things I enjoy, so I feel it's those types of things that keep a person together well.

I also think I have some good genes from my dad's side. He's 72 & still working. He doesn't look old, sometimes acts like an old man, but is pretty busy & active for an age when most people are sitting around watching tv or not doing much. His mother is 94 & lives alone still. She had heart problems as a child, but somehow she's managed to live this long and she does it alone. They've thought of putting her in a home, but we all feel it would only hinder her spirit & end up killing her.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
I know, it's weird to think about it. There's times when I feel like time has passed by, like the 20th Anniversary of E.T. last year, or watching my little sister married & having a baby any day now.

Other than that, I feel fairly young still. I don't have any health problems, save for allergies. I still get carded whenever I shave, which is fine. Physically, I'm in better shape now than I was 10 years ago. I eat well & exercise regularly, try to keep a positive outlook on everything, and make fun out of things I enjoy, so I feel it's those types of things that keep a person together well.

I also think I have some good genes from my dad's side. He's 72 & still working. He doesn't look old, sometimes acts like an old man, but is pretty busy & active for an age when most people are sitting around watching tv or not doing much. His mother is 94 & lives alone still. She had heart problems as a child, but somehow she's managed to live this long and she does it alone. They've thought of putting her in a home, but we all feel it would only hinder her spirit & end up killing her.

if i were a betting man, i would say you have longevity in your genetics:p

i have a friend who is 300+ pounds, drinks and smokes, but has low cholesterol...same with his brother who is a jehovah witness minister and will not see a doctor due to religious grounds...and they eat junk food and anything else as long as it is edible but i think they will live long because of the genetics god gave to them

most people in their situation die in their 40s or 50s

but in their family, the father drinks too much and is overweight and nearing 70 and he still has a very robust spirit and more energy than men half his age...the mother, while overweight, is over 65 is does not have one gray hair

his grandmother is severely overweight and wrought with medical problems since the beginning of time but she is over 90...the grandfather drank himself but he is over 90 and neither grandparent were health nuts

the one exception to the longevity of the family is one uncle who died from alcohol abuse and he was only 51...but he used to drink 50 ounces of hard liquour every day or other day...and for beer, he could very easily polish a 12 pack without a buzz so he overshot his fortunate set of genes...if he didn't drink so much, i think he would have lived into his 80s or 90s

[wdlove]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
[BOther than that, I feel fairly young still. I don't have any health problems, save for allergies. I still get carded whenever I shave, which is fine. Physically, I'm in better shape now than I was 10 years ago. I eat well & exercise regularly, try to keep a positive outlook on everything, and make fun out of things I enjoy, so I feel it's those types of things that keep a person together well.

I also think I have some good genes from my dad's side. He's 72 & still working. He doesn't look old, sometimes acts like an old man, but is pretty busy & active for an age when most people are sitting around watching tv or not doing much. His mother is 94 & lives alone still. She had heart problems as a child, but somehow she's managed to live this long and she does it alone. They've thought of putting her in a home, but we all feel it would only hinder her spirit & end up killing her. [/B]

You have absolutely the correct idea. Keeping active, eating healthy, and mental simulation goes a long way to live a long, productive, and happy life. It's not the quanity but the quality. It is best to be in familiar surroundings as long as possible. Before WW II people continued to work, there was not retirement. I'm glad to see that more people are returning to active lives.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by wdlove
You have absolutely the correct idea. Keeping active, eating healthy, and mental simulation goes a long way to live a long, productive, and happy life. It's not the quanity but the quality. It is best to be in familiar surroundings as long as possible. Before WW II people continued to work, there was not retirement. I'm glad to see that more people are returning to active lives.

i used to read all these business and finance books and one day i saw this business book at borders called "die broke" and it has made more sense than all those business books put together

one of the tenents of the book, besides leaving this world with nothing, was to never retire since retirement almost always meant an early death

i once heard on kgo abc radio that there was a study done on a past harvard business school class of several hundred people...and while all achieved financial success and independence (they probably started that way), every one of them who retired except one had died and all the ones who didn't retire were still living and all in their 70s

[eyelikeart]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
if i were a betting man, i would say you have longevity in your genetics:p


I'm hoping so. My mom's side is a different story: diabetes, ocd, cancer, cystic fibrosis & digestion problems. My sister actually takes from that side more, I just have bad allergies/sinuses. If anything, it's motivation to keep myself in the best condition I can, even if for peace of mind. ;)

[noel4r]

how bout driving up to Vegas and do some gambling, drinking, clubbing and the unmentionable?

[Doctor Q]

Vices like smoking and overeating and lack of exercise have one good point that nobody points out: You get to improve your health by giving any of them up. When I read the 10th article of the month that says "Here's a great health tip - give up smoking!" I complain that I already exercise, eat right, and exercise. Since none of these health articles give me any useful advise, I'm obviously doomed!

[Doctor Q]

Here's an interesting question: The "seven deadly sins" may be bad for society and signs of bad character, but which are actually bad for your health if you give in to them?

Avarice (greed, desire for material goods)

Envy (desire for another's abilities, position, situation, or possessions)

Gluttony (desire to consume excessively)

Lust (desire for physical pleasures)

Sloth (avoidance of work)

Vanity (pride, excessive belief in one's abilities)

Wrath (anger, loss of temper)

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
Here's an interesting question: The "seven deadly sins" may be bad for society and signs of bad character, but which are actually bad for your health if you give in to them?

Avarice (greed, desire for material goods)

Envy (desire for another's abilities, position, situation, or possessions)

Gluttony (desire to consume excessively)

Lust (desire for physical pleasures)

Sloth (avoidance of work)

Vanity (pride, excessive belief in one's abilities)

Wrath (anger, loss of temper)

we all have had all of these at one time, even if for a day

greed used to creep up on me during my mba school days right at the height of dot.com

envy was something i experienced as a kid a lot

lust was more of a younger thing with me and the libido has fallen now that i am 40

vanity was there in the brief time i was thin and at the same time confident

wrath was fully alive when i had my baby brother to battle with

right now, in the midst of trying to build up my knowledge and contacts in my computer business, i have to be very confident or at least come across as such to compete and i have to be careful not to become too big headed or napoleanic like some of my other competitors have in the computer repair business who are either phds or millionaries, fixing windoze, or both

i live in a rural area with a decent amout of businesses and a lot of well to do retired computer phobes so for a computer tech, it's the land of milk and honey and money does grow on trees here if you are aggressive enough to make it work and get contacts

weird thing is most of the great talent are geeky introverts and many are hermits and they will never endter the field because when computers mean business and they mean money, you have to be just as much of a social person as an hr professional and that weeds out the great majority of computer grads or self made techs

[Doctor Q]

There are two sides to every coin. You could flip each of these sins and look for the good in the other directions:

Avarice -> enterprise

Envy -> goal setting

Gluttony -> not giving in to society's message that everyone should be skinny

Lust -> a healthy body attitude

Sloth -> efficiency, delegation, avoiding being a workaholic

Vanity -> confidence

Wrath -> honesty, not keeping it "bottled up", outrage when you see injustice

We all exhibit some of these attributes from time to time too.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
There are two sides to every coin. You could flip each of these sins and look for the good in the other directions:

Avarice -> enterprise

Envy -> goal setting

Gluttony -> not giving in to society's message that everyone should be skinny

Lust -> a healthy body attitude

Sloth -> efficiency, delegation, avoiding being a workaholic

Vanity -> confidence

Wrath -> honesty, not keeping it "bottled up", outrage when you see injustice

We all exhibit some of these attributes from time to time too.

i think christiany, especially the catholic church understood these fine lines

but somebody should of told them about these sins when they came to the new world and had a looting fest

in my northern california county, we decided not to observe columbus day...and let me tell you, with high rent and mortgage and low pay due to low region population, we really need that extra monday just to make the bills

even the rich have to work if they are to have the basics of the rich...two cars/one new, kid in private school, funds for jr. to go to private college, and all insurance paid up and current

things they took for granted yesteryear like a yacht, pony, full golf membership at pebble beach, yearly european vacation, and other amenities are out of reach of the rich where i live

[chrisfx811]

you could do what i did...
go home and bang your 20 year old girlfriend

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by chrisfx811
you could do what i did...
go home and bang your 20 year old girlfriend


he he

when i was 30, my girlfriend was 44:p

[wdlove]

Originally posted by eyelikeart
I know, it's weird to think about it. There's times when I feel like time has passed by, like the 20th Anniversary of E.T. last year, or watching my little sister married & having a baby any day now.

Congratulations on your upcoming status of being an uncle. You could be Uncle eye.

For you being close to 30 that is still very young, no where near middle age. I think that hitting 40 was the most difficult for me.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by wdlove
Congratulations on your upcoming status of being an uncle. You could be Uncle eye.

For you being close to 30 that is still very young, no where near middle age. I think that hitting 40 was the most difficult for me.

uncle eye...that's too funny, really

instead of big brother watching you, it could be uncle eye watching you:p

watch out for any illegal activity, uncle eye could be watching

uncle eye wants you to join the cia

wwued...what would uncle eye do?