"You Say It's Your Birthday..."

Today, I turn 39 years old. 

If you think I look younger, there's a star in your crown in Heaven; If you think I look older, nobody's talking to you!

Instead of the usual birthday gathering where everyone showers me with vodka, Girl Scout Cookies and toys purchased at Leather Sport, I have, believe it or not, a better idea...

According to The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers, 39 is the smallest mathematically uninteresting number. The book claims that it is also the first number that is simultaneously both interesting and uninteresting, thereby avoiding the paradox.

I agree that 39 is both interesting and uninteresting ("At our age, we're too young for the old people and too old for the young people; we are the generation gap!" - George Furth, COMPANY), but seeing as how 20 year olds think of me as "the Daddy type" and 50 year olds tell me I'm "just a baby," I don't think I'm avoiding the paradox AT ALL! I'm running into it at full speed!

But I have a year before any "Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's 40!" signs are hung over my head, so I want to start right off and work to make 39 much more interesting than uninteresting.

Which is why, for those of you in Chicago, I am foregoing the usual birthday bash at Sidetrack (I can hear the sigh of relief already... Mike...) and asking that, instead of a gift, you join me tomorrow at Hydrate Bar's fundraiser for actor Will Schutz.

Will is a veteran Chicago actor with credits at City Lit, the Side Project (he recently played Robert in Side Project's production of Philip's play PERFECT),  and many other companies.  He has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and, like so many freelance artists, he does not have health insurance. So...

Tomorrow from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Hydrate, your donation at the door ($20 suggested) will get you open bar for those two hours WITH appetizers. And best of all, the funds raised will help cover the cost of Will's treatment. 

I've only met Will one time, after his performance in PERFECT. He is a wonderful, sweet man and I want to help in whatever way that I can. If we can meet there tomorrow, spend some time celebrating my birthday, AND raise a little more money for Will in the process, it would make me very happy.

So if you're in Chicago and available, join me at Hydrate tomorrow (Friday) between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. If you're not and would still like to make a donation to help Will, visit his fund's site here.

So, no gifts. Your donation helping Will is all that I want. 

And if you want to meet up with me before 9:00 p.m. tomorrow - - and you're in need of a showtunes fix like I constantly am - - I will head over to Sidetrack around 7:00 p.m. I'll be in Ten Forward.

Hope to see you tomorrow! Email me or leave a comment if you have questions or need any further information about the fundraiser for Will.

P.S. In the picture above, I'm the one with the "missing a front tooth" grin. And there are two birthday cakes because my cousin, Rhonda, was born the very same day (and year) that I was. And no, the pink cake was not for me. I have no idea what's going on with "Number 7."

P.S.S. Happy Birthday to my good friend Java at my life, or something like it. Today is HER birthday too!