Birthdays

◊ Last week was David's big surprise birthday party. He was getting kind of down because no one had remembered it. He did not see it coming at all. I heard the expression on his face was priceless. I heard about this because I actually did forget about it. Later, Sara called wondering where the heck I was. Oops. In some ways, my absence assured the complete and total surprise of David. All of the other room mates disappeared, but he did not suspect that he was being lured into a party because his room mate was sitting right there. Sadly, by the time I got there all of the cake and most of the sangria was gone.
◊ Today I found out that Lira's birthday is tomorrow. She wants me to go clubbing with them at 23:00. Great. Just great. In my time in Europe I have discovered that I really really hate clubbing. Perhaps it is the terrible music or the overpriced drinks. Perhaps it is because I must show my inability to dance. Mostly though I think my problem is that I hate to pay good money to stand in crowded, smoky rooms where I cannot breathe or see. The smell will not come out of clothing and I will not be able to see clearly for days. On top of everything, I have class at 9:15 the next morning.
◊But yet I probably will still go. Don't ask me why, especially since those of us going will most likely wind up rescuing them from some overbearing guys once they are well and thoroughly trashed. That is what I have observed them using groups of friends for on previous excursions. I suppose I should be looking forward to this. Some people around here seem to think that partying is why we are in Prague but I just cannot bring myself to think like that. Tomorrow night is going to be terrible for me, and the only thing worse will be dragging my sleepless self to class the next morning. I have been told that clubbing, like most other things, takes practice to enjoy. I guess I just have never had the patience to practice at things I do not initially enjoy.

◊Oh yeah, and as for a present, I just so happen to have a large stack of Swiss chocolate that I can always pull something out of.