Turning 18, and maybe learning some valuable lessons along the way

Well today, according to my calendar, is the 5th of November and that, my friends is my birthday. Now the 5th of November of 2006 was not just your average day - no, in fact it was the 18th 5th of November that yours truly has lived through.

Today, in the eyes of the law - I become a man. Hmm...

To celebrate this milestone, I had a party last night. This party had been in the pipeline for some time - quite well planned. A special shout-out goes to, apart from my mum who pretty much did organise the whoel thing single handedly, Hoddle for the sheer enthusiasm she put into this event! Go Hoddle!

So I rocked up around 6pm in a shirt that was probably smelly and somewhat wrinkled after an hour and-a-half long car trip from Brisbane, where I had an exam earlier in the day. Now from previous experience I should have been prepared - whenever my family attempt to host some sort of gathering, it doesn't just rain - it pours. Maybe the Government should give us some sort of cash initiative to have more parties to try and break the drought or something, I don't know. But yes, it poured for at least an hour drowning out the sounds of music with the earth-shattering splish splash of water on the hall's roof. Eventually however, it died down and people started to arrive (thank God, I always have a terrible feeling that nobody is going to turn up).

I can't really recall the events of the night in chronological order, so instead, I'm going to name people and tell list what they gave me for my birthday... And if you didn't get me anything, well...shame on you! Just kidding!! I love you all!

James - A bottle of whiskey

Nikki - A bottle of vodka

Julie - A bottle of wine (can you see a pattern here?) + scratchies on which I won $7

Hoddle - a sort of drawing/"inking" as I call it, of Alf and Gumby (my childhood favourites) attached to like some sort of timber so I can like... I don't know, mount it on the wall? lol + A DVD about Egypt for when I go in about a year and she came out of cookie retirement to bake me the world's best bakery-related items in the world!

Alysse - the book I've been wanting for about a year now, "Romanitis" by Sophia McDougall

Daniel+ Family - The Da Vinci Code Extended Edition DVD

Greg - "Absolutely Absorbing Australian and New Zealand Bathroom Reader"

Degan - the boardgame "Hungry Hungry Hippos!" YEAH!

Peter - "Picture" magazine... Oh Peter...

Gede and Jarrod - a $25 voucher for ice-cream at Baskin Robbins! Mmmm...icecream!

Lauren - $30 Sanity Gift Card

Other Family - money and gift vouchers

My Uncle Mark and Aunty Leanne put on the beer

But perhaps the most surprising of all was my Uncle Michael and Vicki who managed to find an Alf doll on Ebay that was exactly like my childhood "best mate" that I recently lost, and was devastated about. Sounds stupid I know, but you get really attached to these things... So yeah, that was so unbelievably fantastic

Tim - One of those rubber things you stick between your toes if they're sore... or so Leena explained to mw

Leena - socks in which she embroided my name into

Jack and Alexis - One of those "20 questions" contraptions that tries to guess what sort of object or whatever you're thinking of - HOW DOES IT KNOW!!? lol

Sam - Mark Latham's book of quotes + Stickmen

And not to mention an assortment of creative cards from the likes of Beth, Corrin and Tegan

I know I've forgotten people and I'm sorry but you know, I'm operating on minimal sleep right now... I promise I will edit this if I think of you!

So the night went well, including everybody in the room now being able to say they've seen me naked - we won't go there.

The party wrapped up, I turned 18 and I went out with Hoddle, Nikki and the like to suss out the Toowoomba "night life". Yeah, clubbing pretty much sucks as I already knew before I went out, but I think if I were more "tanked" so to speak, I'd enjoy it...maybe!

All in all, very great birthday and I just want to thank you all for making it a very memorable occasion and for making me feel so special and loved.

Peace out,
Brentus