I turn 30 in one week. Almost to the minute, actually. I think I was born sometime around 12:30 in the afternoon. My great aunt used to tell me that being born close to noon was a good thing…so I got that going for me, which is nice.
Lots of people have emailed wondering what’s going on, because my posts here have been less frequent, so I’ll address that for a minute: It’s summer. It’s warm and beautiful outside, and I’ve been spending less and less time in front of the computer. This is quite the opposite of a year ago, when I was sitting here for 5 hours a day, working on the site, updating the weblog and answering emails…I guess my priorities have been reassigned, because there is really nothing in the world more important to me than hanging out with my wife these days.
Speaking of my birthday and my insanely cool wife, she had a HUGE surprise party for me on Friday night! She got all of my friends in on it, even convinced my family to come out, and totally surprised me. 100%. It was really cool.
See, she’d told me that our friend Burns was going to see James Brown, and he had an extra ticket, so he was going to take her. This left me without anything to do on Friday night, so my friend Stephanie (who introduced me to Anne) and I decided that we’d go do something, and that something ended up being going to see Save Ferris at the OC Fair.
I was all excited to leave early, get to the fair in the afternoon, and eat numerous types of food (all on-a-stick of course), ride the dangerous carnical rides (staffed by creepy dudes on work release of course), and learn many exciting facts about Emus and Ostriches (sitting in a pen right next to a stand selling Ostrich and Emu burgers…on a stick of course).
Trouble was, Stephanie told me, she couldn’t leave until almost 7PM, because she was doing something really important (turns out it was setting up for my party). So I waited…played with Ferris, played Tony Hawk 3 (opened up the Cruise Ship level!) and ate some Chick-Nuggets, lamenting the fact that they were not on a stick.
Well, 7PM finally arrives, and Stephanie isn’t at my house. 7:30 comes and goes, and she’s still not there. Now I’m beginning to get anxious, because SF goes on at 8:30. Monique put us on the guest list, and I think it’s extra rude to show up late when you’re on the list.
It’s 7:45 when Steph finally shows up. I run to her car, jump in, and tell her that we may need to push the speed limt just a bit so we get there on time…and she tells me that she needs to drop off an envelope at this guy’s work for a friend of hers. She tells me that it’s right off the freeway, so it should only take 1 minute.
So I tell her that I’m going to count once we get off the freeway…which I do. I’m approaching “50” when we pull into the parking lot. Stephanie tells me, “Run this envelope in, and give it to Terry. He should be right inside the door.”
I hop out of the car, run up the stairs, and say, “I’m looking for Terry!”
Turns out there’s not a Terry there, but my wife, parents, and most of my friends are, and they all yell, “SURPRISE!!!”
I was totally stunned. It was the last thing in the world I expected, and we went on to have an insanely fun night at this place. There were batting cages, lazer tag, basketball courts, video games…funny that we had a party for my 30th birthday at a place I would have loved when I was 12. This fact really sums up who I am. 🙂
The party was awesome. I played nearly an hour of lazer tag, learned that even though I’m left-handed, I bat much better from the right, and ate way too much cake.
The best part, though, was the feeling I had when I stopped to think for a second about how hard it is to pull off a surprise party. I know how hard it is, and it really made me feel loved by my wife and friends, because the pulled it off flawlessly.
Saturday was spent doing a bunch of nothing, and yesterday Anne and I took Ferris to the Dog Beach in Orange County. If you live with an hour of this place and you have a dog, you just gotta go. It was really, really fun.
One last word on updates, and the frequency of them: I’m writing this from work, because my computer at home completely blew up this morning. Smoke and everything. So until I replace it, we may all have to spend even more time outdoors…which isn’t such a bad thing, really. 🙂
Discover more from WIL WHEATON dot NET
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
“ate way too much cake”
On a stick?
😉
Aww, that sounds pretty awesome. They really had you fooled too, makes it all the better. Glad you had a good weekend.
Peace
Happy 30th for this week.
being 30 is way cool- old enough to know what you’re doing and young enuff to enjoy it.
Cheers Wil
Shaun
What is this “outside” of which you speak…?
Now *that’s* a great way to celebrate turning 30. Not so painful after all, eh?
I hope you get to go eat something on a stick, soon, though. There’s probably a place at the mall, staffed by people in funky hats. They’re frightening, but if you don’t look too hard, you can buy a corndog and not have nightmares later 😉
Sorry to hear about your computer. Glad to hear that you had a great birthday party, and a surprise to boot.
Mmmmm, cake.
It’s all about the cake and the par-tay.
Wait, that’s really cool. A friend of mine’s turning, like, 31 this week.
Of course, I miscounted and thought it was 30.
She’d be flattered, I’m sure.
But hey, TV’s Wil Wheaton is only a year younger.
That can’t be depressing.
Mmmm, cake.
Wow the big 30. Whatever you do don’t watch the Queer as Folk show about turning 30. I turn 25 this year and am still freaked out about those big even life point numbers.
Wil you’re left handed too, cool:). They say that left handed people are good at math, that holds true for me, what about you?
I tried to pull off a surprise party for my Mom once and it was ruined at 9pm thae night before when she was talking to her friend and her friend asked her how was the party. So I know how hard it is to pull off the hardest part being keeping it a surprise, of course. So kudos to your super kool wife and everyone else involved for pulling it off flawlessly.
That is just too! cute Wheaton.
All your monkey boxers have been making up B’day songs for you, thinking of what to get you and all that , “wish you the best crap.”
They F’n worked hard and in one fell swoop, it’s all for nothing ’cause you already celebarated.
Thank goodness I can stop payment on that birthday present check.
Happy birthday Wil.
On a stick.
Danko
Wil, that sounded like a great time! If 30 is gonna be that cool, what about 40? 🙂
Happy early birthday, Wil!
The OC Fair’s got a good lineup this year – will you be taking in any of the other shows?
Pics! Where are the party pics?!
Someone must have had a digital camera!
Wil, you are truely blessed to have such a wonderful wife and wonderful friends.
Enjoy your summer.
Wil we are ALL still 12 years old!
Why do you think we all come here again and again?
To hang out at the clubhouse!
(.sniff..the Monkeyboxers shoulda been ‘vited!!)
Happy Birthday for the appropriate day whichever one it turns out to be, sorry my math(s) isn’t very good. You offer hope to all those of us who see 30 yrs old as a a long way away but still to close for comfort.
I hope when i am 30 and my joints begin to creek and my WWDN T-shirt and mug are both faded and stained with a decade of salsa dip and cheap beer, I can still play Video games and air hockey without heeding the disapproving, burning gaze of my peers that are drilling holes into the side of my skull, whilst at the same time enjoying the company of scantily clad college netball players. Ahh to dream.
Only time will tell.
Enjoy the day Mr Wheaton
HAPPY B DAY WIL!(what ever that means anymore)
Your feeling younger every year…
I’m not sure about lefties being better after math, but I’m a righty and I’m pretty good. It actually surprised me to hear you say you were a lefty, Wil, because I like to think that you and I think very similarly. Maybe it doesn’t make any difference at all.
Happy Birthday Wil! Wish I could’ve seen the look on your face =D
Uncle Willie Happy B-Day!!!!!! We just had a suprise b-day party for my aunt Saturday. Hope you have a great week Wil. Just remember, your not 30 years old your thirty years young! 🙂
Happy Birthday. Yay for good eats!
Jess
So who among the Wil fandom knows the joke behind the title of this post? Wil, I can’t believe you left them all hangin’ man? And on you birthday?!!?!?!? 😉
Hey Unca Willie,
I’m happy to hear that you had a Bitchen time Friday for your Birthday. Sounded like a good way to top off at 30. (Oooo that didn’t sound good.)
I’m still freaking out because you missed Save Ferris. Damn, why don’t they come out this way? Oh yeah, I live in HELL!!!!!
I’ll be okay.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!
Wil,
Speaking of posts, I am glad to see a new one from you. Happy birthday Wil I hope you thouroughly enjoy your day. I am so saddned to hear of the fate of your computer. I so look foreward everyday to comming here and seeing a new post. It now appears that I will have to wait 3-4 days in-between your posts. I guess I can hold out. In the meantime have a good 30th b-day I know I’m heading for 31 this year so I know what your feeling. In the meantime I’ll spend time inside (don’t care much for the summer heat)and you run out and buy that much needed new PC so you can get to posting when you not spending time with the family. Which above all else is most important. Happy Birthday Wil and make one of those gifts a new PC. Until your next post(which I will be hanging on for).
MATT……………………………
Dude! Very cool!!
So Left Handed huh!!! Me too- you know what they say- ” Lefties do our way-and better!!!!
;p
Once you turn 30 it’s all downhill dude.
You know Wil I can tell you used to be a really cool guy when you were young.
Happy birthday! I love food on a stick. mmmm Corn dog’s. Good luck with your computer. I know how it’s like to loose all your file’s like that. It sucks!!!!!!
Am I really the only person that caught Wil’s movie reference with today’s weblog title of “SUPPLIES”?
Kudos Wil on referencing the Weird Al classic “UHF”.
Happy Birthday next week. Welcome to the 30’s. Don’t believe the skeptics. It’s all UPHILL from this point.
happy birthday! happy birthday!
whoppy do! whoppy do!
open up the presents! open up the presents!
Just for you! just for you!
I’m a lefty too… apparently we die sooner.
Hmmph. At least I’m a woman.
Happy birthday Wil, may you have many more happy ones.
redhaiku
This is exactly how we celebrated my husband’s 32nd birthday – or nearly anyway. 🙂 I rented the local arcade for two hours after closing – it was across from the movie theatre so I just told him we were hitting the flicks. He spotted friends of our sitting in the arcade and said, “Isn’t that Shayna and Marshall? Let’s just go and say hello…” so we did – and then he turned to walk back to the movies when folks jumped out and yelled “Surprise” and the light dawned and a wonderful time was had by all. 🙂
Happy birthday, Wil!
Happy Birthday Wil. 🙂 I’m sending healing thoughts to your computer, so turn it on and see if it’s working! (Of course my “healing thoughts” have never worked before, so you might want to keep a fire extinguisher handy.)
I always thought you must be left-handed; it’s the way your mouth goes when you do wry smiles and things.
Enjoy your last week of twentysomethingdom. I am 25 in a few months. A quarter of a century? That is scary.
And we *must* see pictures of the party! (BTW, when is the Gallery returning?)
LMAO @ SUPPLIES!
good one. 30 is great- I finally feel I have my shit reasonably accumulated. You will enjoy it. Your wife rocks! I am also married to a man whose wife rocks! So I know it when I see it.
Happy Birthday Wil- Be 12- enjoy.
on a stick-
Dammit, I own and love UHF, and I can’t remember where the hell “Supplies” comes in, outside of the whole Michael-Richards-as-a-bumbling-janitor thing.
I’m so confused. Time to break out the tape…
Happy Birthday, mate!
Outdoors? No, there’s no such thing! *holds hands to ears* lalalalalalalalala…
Hey if you need food on a stick why not drive up to Fried Dough On A Stick In A Bag With Syrup, and get a Fried Dough On A Stick In A Bag With Syrup. I can’t remember exactly where it is, all I know is it is somewhere between San Fransisco and Canada. 🙂
HAPPY 30th!, I remember when I turned 30, god that was long ago (not to long ago, but far enough)…sniffle, to be young again…Hope you have a great day. Let us know what you get for your birthday! Just kidding, I don’t want to know about you and the wife doing the wild thing and how the bed and the curtains need replacing, not to meantion the paint needing to be re-done cause you two peeled it off the walls!! So leave that part out! ROTF, anyway have a happy birthday.
If I find your site again, (oh duh I guess I could toss it up into my favorites, Sweet it worked.) I’ll see if you posted anything to this, betcha don’t…Yes that was a challenge….lol
later guy!
Tye
Remember one thing, your only as old as you feel and as young as the spouse makes you. (Don’t ask, it sounded good when I wrote it.)
Captain of the Enterprise! Sir!
Happy Birthday, dude… join the club (gasp! A lot of us Gen X-er’s are hitting 30!)
Anyway, I would totally recommend a new AMD ATHLON XP to spank away that old fired-up (sorry) computer of yours. Get a GeForce 4 then play Grand Theft Auto 3 (much better then on the PS2!)
I envy your party….. hmmm.. now I’m hungry.
“Let them eat cake!” – Marie Antoinette-prior to her beheading.
Wil,
Happy B-DAY next week. Sounded like a great party. Enjoy the great outdoors and get a fire extinguisher for that computer. It wants a vacation too.
F.G.
I didn’t get “Supplies” at first either, but once someone mentioned UHF I totally cracked up.
KJB: It’s just after the Rambo-esque scene, when the bad guys have the Weird Al and Michael Richards characters, and you think all is lost…. and then there is a noise from the Supply closet.
The bad guy opens the door and the Japanese cooks from “Wheel of Fish” jump out and shout “SUPPLIES!” and go on to summarily kick some bad guy butt.
“Surprise” –> stupid fake accent –> “sulplise” –> “supplies”
Get it? Ha ha…. well, you had to be there.
Well, Happy Birthday Wil!
It seems incredible to me that you are so young! Not only are you way, way younger than me; you’re actually closer to my grandkid’s ages than my grown “children”.
It seems I’ve been a major fan of yours forever. TNG was, and remains my favorite TV series of all time. And your work there was incredible; simply incredible.
And I’ve even followed your lead and have built my first “real” website on the hosting service provided by the guys at logjamming.
So, Happy Birthday again! And thanks so much for your hard work, for the many hours of entertainment you’ve provided to me and my family, and for the good example you set for all of us – even us older dudes.
And many happy returns!
Oh, btw, you’re developing into one hell of a good author. If you ever collect some of your posts here and publish them as a book, there’s lots of us ready to buy it.
I’m eagerly waiting for the party pics to be posted! Wow, do I wish there was a digital camera to see your face. By the way, where did the party take place?
Of course, just as I join WWDN, you lose interest in this place. Story of my life. *sigh*
That has got to be one of the coolest surprise parties I have heard of! Your wife is a true master to pull off such a grand plan with complete and total success! That sounds like so much fun!
Best Birthday Wishes
A lost and bewildered Baboons cousin
:p
Happy B-day Wil!
I’m glad you had a good day.
and roscoe is right you are a good author and many of us here eagerly await your book.
Happyyyyyyyyyyyyy Bdayyyyyyyyyyyyy
The big 3-0! I’ve got just under 3 months until my big 3-0. Congrats!
That’s awesome about taking extra time at the beach, with the fam, whatever. I’m expecting a surprise party this year … because my wife NEVER throws one for me, so there’s no way she’ll get me.
Again, congrats … share the experience of turning 30 with those of us that are nearing the crest of that hill.
OOHHHH.
Thank you, Da Schmiz. You’re a lifesaver.
Gedde Watanabe ROCKS.
Happy Birthday!! It’s ok if you post less, you’re livin life.
I don’t think that you should ever feel a slave to your blog, or your e-mails. It’s nice to be grateful for fans and people who read you… but a blog is something you should write because you want to, not because other people want you to.
Have a happy summer. 🙂
30? Amazing! I’m 36 and I thought you were younger! Oh, well, I’m 4’8″ so I look young myself! I hope you had a great birthday, and I can’t wait to see you in the last Star Trek & Jane White is Sick & Twisted! I hope you’re at the beginning of a long and happy career!