# What to do, what to do... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 10, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-what-to-do/303261 "2005-05-10T18:17:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-what-to-do/303261/1 "2005-05-10T18:17:58Z")
…What to do for my birthday? So it just hit me today that I should do something. I turn 20 ( :eek: ) in two days, and while we’re planning on having a group party sometime this month (as me, my roommate and two of our friends all have our birthdays within 1 1/2 weeks of each other, plus one of the guys across the road has his later this month), I feel like I should do something on the day. I just have no idea what. Hitchhiker’s movie is out–already saw that one for my roommate’s b-day. I don’t like going out drinking by myself, roomie is gone until Friday and I only have a couple close friends in the city right now. I’m not working right now (starting a job soon though) so I’d rather not spend much. Which leaves me wondering, just what is there to do? There isn’t a lot here besides going to bars. I could hit up some of the more touristy things downtown, or I could just order in some food. Which is probably what I’ll end up doing. Or I’ll have my first shift that day. Whatever. Anyone have any better suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-what-to-do/303261/2 "2005-05-10T18:27:16Z")
Rock climbing? ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-what-to-do/303261/3 "2005-05-10T18:36:46Z")
You live in North Carolina…? If so, swig! - another awesome North Carolinian to add to the list! Anyway, I don’t know that area well so I can’t really suggest anything. Go to the Outer Banks? The historic downtown area? Dress up as Black Beard and teach everyone a lesson? Sorry, I can’t think of anything, especially anything to do in your specific area. I’m not a real-big birthday dude, really. (Oh, and you’re way too far away to bring a cake or anything. Sorry again, I suppose!) ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-what-to-do/303261/4 "2005-05-10T18:41:19Z")
Do what my parents do - pack up for the weekend and take off to PEI! Cheap cabin rentals, bring some friends and some tunes and buy pizza. Okay, that might be a stretch. I don’t know Halifax well. I only know the big, big hospital, and that’s no fun. Well… the elevators are kind of pleasant… Yeah, I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-what-to-do/303261/5 "2005-05-10T19:20:42Z")
Get yourself a tattoo or a piercing! ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-what-to-do/303261/6 "2005-05-10T19:50:49Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#): > > You live in North Carolina…? If so, swig! - another awesome North Carolinian to add to the list! _laughs_ No, I’m in Nova Scotia actually. So thanks for the suggestions, but I don’t think I’ll be crossing the border anytime soon. **Venus** , I did that a couple years ago (well, actually, a friend paid for the piercing). I plan to do it again someday, (stupid thing grew over–my fault) just not right now. And I’m not getting a tattoo until 1) I can settle on a design and not change my mind and 2) I finish, or am close to finishing, university. Otherwise I’d totally go for it. Right now I’m leaning towards food, since I really don’t want to spend much–I just asked my parents for money yesterday, which I _hate_ doing, and I’d rather not do that again before I get a paycheck. Although the Harbour Hopper and a new DVD are also looking pretty attractive ---
**Author:** ![TwoOnSunday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@TwoOnSunday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoOnSunday)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-what-to-do/303261/7 "2005-05-11T15:58:20Z")
I used to _ **HATE** _ my birthday. For the last 8 years my friends have warred over where to go and who to invite. So, for the past two years, I’ve told them to just ignore the day - that’s ME time. Last year I went to the local Italian restaurant (the first time I’ve ever eaten a sit-down dinner by myself) and read a book (strange at first but it made me feel quite independent). This year, I went to the art museum and then to my favorite ice cream shop and then shopping. When I got home, my boyfriend had cleaned my apartment, made dinner, and even decorated a cake (the best birthday surprise ever!). The moral of this story, is don’t stress about it. Wake up that morning and think about what you could do that would make you happy and who, if anyone, you’d like to see. If you decide its sitting on the deck, or staying in for some delivery and a rented movie, fine. If you want to round up the crew and go dancing, fine. Just let it happen. You’ll be happier in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-what-to-do/303261/8 "2005-05-11T16:14:46Z")
> [@TwoOnSunday](#): > > I used to _ **HATE** _ my birthday. For the last 8 years my friends have warred over where to go and who to invite. So, for the past two years, I’ve told them to just ignore the day - that’s ME time. Definitely ME time. I take the day off of work and usually go on a road trip. I love just going on a drive and exploring. Find some new place you’ve never visited and just play. If you have a car: Road Trip; If not: Find some unexplored bit of town and play; either way buy yourself a present (preferable something you want but don’t NEED - a special food treat counts.)