And in 5...4...3...2...1...

[Riovanes]

Yup... Rio's having his last truly significant birthday this weekend. As of Saturday, February 8th, I will officially be legal for all horrid-tasting, stupidity inducing liquids available on the market... And aside from having a penchant for hard lemonade, I really don't think anything's going to change.

I had some goals to accomplish before turning 21... And I've made most of them. Here's a quick rundown (this is all building up to a punchline, I swear):

1. Complete GTA3, even though that last mission was dang near impossible - done.

2. Complete Vice City - oh yeah, did that easy.

3. Complete Kingdom Hearts with the secret ending - not nearly as difficult as people told me it would be, but then again, I'm a munchkin in RPG's - I tend to be 20 levels or more over the required for any battle. And the dalmations were simple enough to find.

4. Earn my black belt in Shuri-Ryu - booyah. That's all I can say. It's been 5 years, but booyah.

5. Find out how I placed in the fanfic contest - ... ... ... er... ... ... Well, we've still got til saturday! And really, whether I'm 20 or 21 when I find out, it doesn't matter... Doesn't actually matter when I find out, I'd rather have the judges take their time than rush things - I'm really not all that worried about it - I just couldn't resist squawking a bit - but I suppose that's to be expected of me, eh?

[Lady Kreliana]

Drink responsibly, Rio. If you're in need of a bartender, I'm *cough*almost*cough* certified.

[blincoln]

Just wait until you're an old fogey like me!

I recommend the whiskey sour =).

[Umah Bloodomen]

Originally posted by blincoln
Just wait until you're an old fogey like me!

I recommend the whiskey sour =).

Don't listen to the old man....drink Sex on the Beach. I can drink those things like water.

[Lady Kreliana]

Try a Blue Hawaiian.

Ok, I've never had one myself, but they're fun to make...and they're blue! Plus they're a fufu drink!

[Chris@Crystal]

Rio,
I recommend trying a Tokyo Tea.
*Buys Rio a Tokyo Tea*
I think it has 5-6 different kinds of alcohol in it.
A good way to get messed up really fast.
Happy Birthday by the way.
~Chris
Crystal Dynamics

[Riovanes]

Heh... If I were staying in-state, then I'd be able to update you on how things go a little faster. As it is, I'm going to Springfield tomorrow night, and then it's off to St. Louis for the big 2-1.

I plan to begin the night with a 48 oz. Porterhouse steak dinner, with peeled baby potatoes and green beans, and a BIGASS tankard of Sam Adams.

After that, I'm doing a club or two, and then the bars until about 2 am. My best friend in the whole world is going with me as my sober-buddy (I was his sober-buddy for his 21st, so we sorta take care of each other that way - we're like brothers, really), so I know I'll be safe. Plus, although I'm not much of a drinker, the few times I have hit the bottle have proven to me I have a relatively high tolerance. That, and I'm a slow drinker, so I plan on building to a nice night of idiocy very, very slowly.

Wish me luck, folks - if I come back with all my parts attached, I'll be sure to let you know on Monday!

And thankee for the birthday wishes. Chris, if you want to give me a REAL gift, find a way to break it to me gently when I lose the fanfic contest, eh? *chuckles*

BAH!!!

[Jedilvr]

Seeing as how you are going to be gone on the actual day then, Happy Birthday, in advance.
And I found something I thought you might enjoy.

The Rules of Writing
1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)
6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
7. Be more or less specific.
8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
10. No sentence fragments.
11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.
12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
14. One should NEVER generalize.
15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
16. Don't use no double negatives.
17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
20. The passive voice is to be ignored.
21. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.
22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
23. Kill all exclamation points!!!
24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth-shaking ideas.
26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.
27. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.
30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
32. Who needs rhetorical questions?
33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

And finally...

34. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

[Riovanes]

Heh... That's great, Jedi! I'm gonna print that one up and tack it to my door (no, really, I'm an English major in addition to working on a book - so this is doubly hilarious!).

BAH!!!

[Raz]

Happy Birthday Rio!

And-a three-two-one--

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday, dear Rio!

Happy Birthday to you!

And Scooby-Doo too!

[Omega One]

I don't care, but I'm like that when it comes to birthdays...

Happy birthday anyway

Just ummm.. don't get too drunk that you forget how you got that bruse on your arm

[Jedilvr]

Glad you liked it. I remembered your major and as soon as I read it thought you'd get a kick out of it. Have fun on the trip, just get back safely.

[Plink]

Yay! Happy birthday Rio!

Though, uh, where I live, I've been legal to drink for over a year now. Not that I bother, I'm weird enough as it is! Have a lot of fun, and don't embarass yourself too much. You have your 40th to think of...

*flings some more confetti around does a dance before falling over.* Owww....O.o;;

[Riovanes]

Originally posted by Plink
*flings some more confetti around does a dance before falling over.* Owww....O.o;;

Looks as if you've been doing my celebrating FOR me... *chuckles*

Seriously, thanks guys - the well-wishing is much appreciated.

BAH!!!

[The Amazing Rando]

Happy B-day Rio, don't start thinking you can do whatever Dante can once you get wasted.

wise man, you gonna pay the bill when the man who wrote the song wants his royalties?

[Riovanes]

Originally posted by The Amazing Rando
Happy B-day Rio, don't start thinking you can do whatever Dante can once you get wasted.

wise man, you gonna pay the bill when the man who wrote the song wants his royalties?

Of course I wouldn't be able to emulate Dante when I'm trashed.

...
...
...
...

Wall-running and air-hiking require total sobriety.

Duh.

BAH!!!

[The Amazing Rando]

Originally posted by Riovanes
Of course I wouldn't be able to emulate Dante when I'm trashed.

...
...
...
...

Wall-running and air-hiking require total sobriety.

Duh.

BAH!!!

Maybe a rookie can only do it sober, but us vets are fine at it, till we start showing off to the ladies to buy them a drink. Gotta watch those landings

[Lady Kreliana]

Wall running and air hiking are nothing! Now, Devil Triggering...that requires some mad skillz.

[Scathach]

Happy Birthday Rio. Hope you have a blast. Don't do anything I wouldn't do....err... is there anything I wouldn't do?

........

........

.........

Oh! Oh! I know! Becoming a bank clerk! I'd never become a bank clerk! Don't become a bank clerk! Yeah! WAHOO!

(Please excuse me, i've had to much sugar methinks. Oh well, the good thing is that it'll soon were off........ *snore*)

[X-Sabre]

Happy Birthday!