1. I was born at 5:01 am.
2. I found out that IU shared a birthday with Johnny Cash when one of my substitute teachers for English in high school basically told our class he was going to get high for the entire weekend to celebrate.
3. Favorite Birthday Cake, if it has to be cake: German Chocolate with coconut frosting
4. Favorite Birthday Cake, non-traditional sense: Cheesecake
5. Since I have been back from my mission, I usually go home over President's Day weekend to celebrate my birthday with my family.
6. When I was young, I got at least one kite for my birthday every year (something about being born close to March). In keeping with tradition, I gave my niece a kite for her 2nd birthday this year, which was on the 20th.
7. If I had waited a few more days to be born, I could have been a Leap Day baby.
8. I was baptized on leap day (along with nearly every other LDS person born in February 1984)
9. Today is also the birthday of Victor Hugo, Steve Blake, Hannah Kearney, and a host of other people, all of which can be found on wikipedia.
10. The Grand Canyon and Grand Tetons were made national parks on February 26th.
11. I was named after one of my Dad's childhood friends, not the bible character.
12. In 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed on my birthday.
13. I used to tell people that the only reason I liked Valentine's Day was that it meant there were less days left in February til my birthday than days that had passed.
14. I stopped having birthday parties early in my life because it meant my parents would buy me a better present (and really, what can you do at a party in February...)
15. Most common birthday dinner: when I was a kid, fajitas. Now, steak.
16. I hate when they sing Happy Birthday to you at restaurants, especially when it isn't your birthday and you are just there because you get a free meal any time that month.
17. Worst birthday meal: a few years ago when we went to this crappy chinese buffet in Provo, because it was free, and because they had remodeled so we thought it would be better. It wasn't, but it was nice of my roommates to want to do something for me on my b-day.
18. I did once have a frozen burrito for dinner on my birthday when I was in high school, because the day was so busy for my family that my parents weren't home at dinner time, but we celebrated later on, so not really a birthday dinner.
19. Birthday presents this year: hiking boots, tool kit, iTunes gift card and $50.
20. On my 20th birthday, I got a new mission companion and helped a family move out of their home.
21. In 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Japan.
22. Favorite ice cream: Cookies and Cream, no contest. I like all ice cream, but given a choice it is cookies and cream hands down.
23. February is pie month at Marie Calendars, so in recent years my Mom always buys a pie or two when I come home to celebrate.
24. When I was a kid, I used to set my alarm for 5:01 am so I could celebrate when I was actually born. That tradition has since died out.
25. Most people don't think I look old enough to be 26.
26. When I was a kid, we went to mexican food for my birthday pretty much every year (mostly Cafe Ole, then Casa Mexico)
So, there you have it. I hope you all have a wonderful day! I think it is the best day of the year to be born on, but I am a little bit biased.
