Quelle surprise!

Well, the Viking horde came out to play yesterday, to celebrate Otis's thirtieth birthday! I didn't get a picture of everyone, but I want to thank all the Vikings who turned out:

Rjobbj
Phjilljip
Pjam
Ioe
Krjistijn
Rjyjan
Bjethjanie
Djiane
Vjic
Ljinda
Ien
Mjary
Mjarijsa
Sjoapjy

and Viking Diva Mjel

(remember, archeological evidence shows Vikings came in all sizes)

Otis actually began her birthday celebration with a new sweatshirt and then brekkies at the Sunlight Cafe. We took a little trip to the dunes at Golden Gardens, since the weather was somewhat cooperative. Otis was exuberant in her appreciation of the natural wonder of the beach, while I was little more restrained.

After a midday break, we had dinner at Bamboo Gardens and dessert drinks at Caffe Ladro, both dangerously close to the scene of the surprise.

The Viking Horde was assembled at the Center Skating Rink as planned, and they gave Viking Princess Otis quite a fete. Otis seemed to grow into her horned hat, exhibiting both berserker power and sultry scandinavian allure. The gang had a great time ice skating as well as "ice skating," and there was only one major bodily injury (which was treated with ice).

dancing or falling?

bjethanie contemplates skating

Ien, pre-injury

After the skating, a hard-core group of seven went to the nearby mcmennies for tots!

en två tre fyra fem sex sju

Was Otis surprised? Sort of. A few kittens were let out of the sack by some non-Vikings or pre-Vikings, so she knew something was up; but she didn't fully tip until we were just about there. It was great fun any way it worked out.

So, as the journalists say, that's

-30-