Jurassic Birthday

Remember when you were a little kid, and every birthday party you went to had a theme?  Some of the classic (read: old-fashioned) themes were Clowns [shudder] or Princesses or maybe Cowboys and Indians?

And then of course there were the one themed after your current childhood flavor-of-the-year TV Show or must-have toy (which eventually got a TV show too): My Little Pony, Transformers, Care Bears, Barbie, G.I. Joe, Power Rangers - and more currently Toy Story, Spongebob, or Cars.  Every little detail from banners to cupcake liners to napkins ALL coordinated together.  It might sound like I'm complaining, but I'm totally not.  I'm nostalgic.

Now that I'm a full fledged adult in my LATE 20s, I feel like birthdays have lost this whimsy.  They're still great of course, but there's an expectation of behaving and entertaining one's friends like an adult.

"Please join me for an elegant cocktail/wine & cheese/craft beer
soiree at my favorite Lounge/Cafe/uptown loft for the annual
celebration of my grand entrance into the world."

Lame.
OK, not always lame - because sometimes cocktail parties or fancy nights out are fun!  Take my amazing New Year's Eve 2012 for example:

Fancy, classy, and absolutely delightful.

But sometimes I long for the days of fun parties in the park, or at Chuck-E-Cheese... When you found yourself surrounded by not only your favorite people in the world, but your favorite things (like Buzz and Woody!) just because they were your favorite.

Well, I'm happy to report that I got the royal treatment for my birthday last week!  Royally themed, at least.  and no - I don't mean Princess.  If you didn't know (though most people who know me do) - I am a dinosaur nut.  Jurassic Park is both my favorite movie AND book.  I have a Brontosaurus* tattooed on my ribcage.  I would have double-majored in Paleontology if UGA had a program for it.  Basically, I love dinos.
And everyone knows it.

So last Friday (the 13th - not so unlucky for me it would seem) I walked into the office, and had this reaction:

"Why??" you may be asking.  Well it just so happens that not only was the entire office waiting behind the front desk (where I sit) to yell "SURPRISE!" - 

But they had also turned my desk into a Jurassic Park jungle paradise - 

Complete with dinosaur sounds and the JP soundtrack playing in the background for atmosphere!

My life seriously felt like a movie scene.

So decorations?
Check.

Party favors?

Check.

Themed Cake?
DOUBLE CHECK!!

Ask me if I could have been happier.

Nope.  Best work birthday ever.

P.S. Be on the lookout for further birthday posts!

Truly the holiday that keeps on giving!