August 18, 2009 Birthday Celebrations

Never underestimate the ability of Play On to rise to whatever the occasion demands. After spending 45 minutes discussing weighty issues like MYMM, the ARTbox derby, trashcan art, and even personal matters, we all trooped outside to free a car belonging to one of the birthday girls. Unbeknownst to anyone and through a mind of its own, it had somehow managed to get hung up on the curb. Even though the Kingston Garage was right around the corner, six Play On members freed the car in less than 10 minutes.

Men take note: not one ounce of testosterone was involved!

Afterwards, the seeded watermelon that eluded us several weeks ago at Lake Carnegie made a special appearance as a sugar-free birthday dessert, replete with burning candles. Were it not for one tiny duck sitting on top, and a round vase supporting it from below filled with floating zinnia blossoms and lambs ear, one might have mistaken it for a land mine about to explode. It was accompanied by the biggest piece of halvah your reporter has ever seen.

A rousing chorus sang “Happy Birthday,” the obligatory group photo taken, wishes were made (to be granted soon we hope), candles blown out, and gifts exchanged. The afternoon ended with two rounds of the game that’s now taking America by storm (and has already surpassed Scrabble, Guitar Hero and Grand Theft Auto combined, in popularity) — Pas Ta Question.