Today was my birthday, yay! I actually wasn't as sad or anything this year, last year I remember not wanting it to be my birthday and feeling kind of sad about it. I think that was because I was turning 20 and that felt like a big jump from 19. 21 Also feels like a big jump from 20, but not as big I guess. 21 feels like way more of an adult age. Anyways, I woke up to my mom singing me a little happy birthday at like, 6 AM in the morning. I had to get up so early because I had my 5 year check-up appointment for my spinal fusion today, and that was in St. Louis. We were also going to do some stuff in St. Louis for my birthday, so my whole family was going to go. After I got up and Janell also eventually got up, she brought out the basket that she had made for me after my mom and her went shopping yesterday, and it was honestly awesome. The Lego desert skiff set, Can't Buy a Thrill CD, a JBL speaker, a box of penguin crackers (my favorite), a pack of Hershey Cookies and Cream (also my favorite), two Buzz Balls, and two frozen margarita things. Those are honestly the best gifts I've ever gotten for a birthday. So after I opened those, I continued getting ready. I decided to wear a button-up shirt, because why shouldn't I dress a little nice for my birthday? So we left probably sometime around 6:30. It was a decent little trip up there. I finished episode 2 of Arrested Development because I already started rewatching it after I finished the first three seasons a week or so ago. But I guess we mainly just talked on the way up there.
Once we got to St. Louis, we went to my appointment first, which was at the children's hospital unfortunately. 21 years old and still going to a hospital for kiddos. But it was kinda cool, the waiting room had an Xbox that a kid was playing Lego Marvel on. So I went in with my mom and my dad and sister stayed in the car in the parking lot. Luckily my mom went in because the co-pay for the appointment was $150 dollars. Apparently our insurance used to cover more, but since Southeast was taken over by Mercy, it doesn't cover as much anymore because this hospital was kind of a competitor or Mercy. But yeah I filled out the little iPad survey they make you do, and then I went back. I had to get changed into a gown and get another x-ray, which cost ANOTHER $150 dollars! So 300 bucks for today's visit. Useless visit by the way. But yeah I got my x-ray and had to take my shorts all the way off, the nurse said I wouldn't have to, but yeah I had to. But all that went good. Then I had my actual meeting with Brian Kelly, my doctor that did the surgery five years ago. And that all went good, except my mom was making me sound like a little baby. He was like, "You doing anything fun for your 21st?" And my mom was like, "We might be going to Six Flags," because we had just been talking about going to Six Flags while we were waiting for him to come in. And I think he was expecting me to say I was gonna go out drinking or something. But yeah overall it was a really quick appointment and we were out of there pretty quickly.
Once we got back to the car, we decided to actually go to Six Flags. Before that, I was thinking about going to the zoo, but maybe Six Flags would be more fun. Janell said she'd rather do Six Flags. But before we went there, we were going to get breakfast, but we couldn't really decide where to go. I said I was fine with just McDonald's so that's where we went, even though Janell did not want to do that. But it was really good, I got two Sausage McMuffins, love those. And I used the code on my account for everyone's meal that gave me double points for breakfast, and that gave me 8,000 points. That's enough for like, five free cheeseburgers, plus some points to spare. Awesome. And we ate in the restaurant because Six Flags didn't open until 11 AM so we had some time to spare. We also went to a Dollar General and Old Navy across the street because my mom was looking for a fanny pack. I don't think she found one, but my sister found a bag from Old Navy that she wanted instead.
But after all that, we finally made our way over to Six Flags. I hadn't been here since like, 8th grade I think, so like seven years ago. So I really don't remember this place too well. And I didn't go on any roller coasters because none of the people I were with wanted to (cough Colton cough). So I actually was kind of excited. We sprayed some sun screen on and walked towards the entrance. And soon enough we were in after waiting for a bit.
Janell and I split up from my parents pretty soon after getting in and I think American Thunder was the first ride we went on, after we found a bathroom for Janell. And it really wasn't that busy in here, it seemed like it was going to be because there were a lot of people in the parking lot, but it really wasn't. But that ride was fun, a pretty average roller coaster. Then we went on Mr. Freeze I think? That ride was crazy. Unlike any roller coaster I've been on before. It launches you backwards through a dark tunnel, and then there a big drop and you start going forwards, it was awesome. We rode it twice in a row because there was like, no line. Then I think we did The Batman. There was a pretty long line for that one, probably 45 minutes or so. But Janell confessed her love for her two lesbian managers, I sang Feliz Cumpleanos, and we saw an entry level trans guy, so the time passed pretty quick. That ride was alright, but didn't really seem worth the wait for me. I'm not really sure what we did next, it may have been the Boomerang. That one didn't have too long of a line and it was pretty fun. I think that was the only roller coaster I rode the last time I was here. Mason Diamond called me right before we were getting on that one to wish me a happy birthday and ask if I wanted to do anything later. So I told him maybe, but right now I was in Six Flags getting on a ride, so I couldn't talk to him long. But that was nice of him. Then I think we met up with my parents and ate. The food here was really expensive, like 20 bucks for chicken tenders, twenty bucks for a normal cheeseburger. I ended up getting bacon, ranch, and cheese fries that were around 14 dollars and those were pretty great. Janell got a taco salad thing and my parents got a burger. After we ate, we rode some more rides. We went on the Screamin' Eagle, and that one was crazy. It was really rough and it's a pretty old ride, 49 years old is what the guy said. So I had a headache after that one, but it may have been my favorite. We also did the Sky Screamer, which was like the swings but it went really high into the sky. That one had a long line, we didn't think it'd be too long, but it was. Probably over 45 minutes. Then we did the Joker, and that one also had a super long line. The longest I think. I'm not sure how long, but we were there forever. And then when we actually got on, I got put next to this man-child (Sabrina Carpenter?) who was actually going crazy. He had a son but was acting like a kid. He literally pulled a "can I get a hoy ya?" Like boy, you're 35. And he kept talking to me and telling me he's scared but we're in this together. And he smelled really weird, like a mix of cigarettes and vomit. And also, that ride almost took me out. At first it wasn't bad, but it got pretty bad. It's one that swings back and forth and also spins. I think it was because I already had a headache, this made it way worse. I actually felt like I was going to vomit after getting off the Boomerang, but here, I really felt like I was going to die. I literally just had to close my eyes eventually because the ride felt like it was going on forever. And that guy next to me was still trying to talk to me while we were flying through the air. But it was pretty fun. After that we did The Boss, which was another wooden, rough roller coaster. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting, but it was pretty wild. Next, I think we met my parents at this saloon show. We didn't really sit with my parents because they were right in the center row, pretty close to the stage, and that was a little to close for us. So we sat a ways off to the side. And luckily we did because this was a show where you could've been called up to the stage. So luckily I didn't get called up. They sang that Money Money Money song from Cabaret, and the show was about these saloon workers who were after money but ended up with chocolate money? Very interesting. After that, Janell and I rode the Fireball, which also gave me a crazy headache. That ride just was not enjoyable for me. It's a ring that you spin around and around on and I felt like I was going to die. Like my body couldn't take it. Six Flags had a lot more thrill rides than I remember. More than any park I'd been to. We rode a couple more, and I think one of the last ones we went on was the river rampage one where you're on a raft, and we ended up getting super splashed and my dad was kind of mad he got so wet. He was worried about his wallet and all that. But Six Flags was pretty awesome today.
After Six Flags, we walked back to the car and of course, you know we had to go to Cane's. I love Cane's, have to get it every time we go to St. Louis. So I got that and my parents got that, but Janell of course had to be different and she wanted Chick-fil-a. So she got that, it was pretty close to Cane's. She ordered it to-go on mobile and then got scared because she thought that she accidentally ordered from a mall because the address was Arnold Mall, but it was an actual normal restaurant. So crazy. So I ate some of my food, and then fell asleep on the way back home. I actually ended up putting my seat down and then laying all the way down, half in the trunk, so I could really stretch out. And I basically slept all the way back home.
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| dad drying his money from the river rampage |
On the way home, Mason had texted again to ask if I wanted to go out tonight. So when I got home, I texted him sure. I mean, it's my 21st, I might as well. They were actually going out already because it was Sophie's (Jordan's girlfriend) birthday, too or something. So I got ready at home, brought one of my new buzz balls (the blue one) with me, said bye to my parents, and left. I went to 333 and drank my blue buzz ball in my car before I got out. Owen and Mason pulled up and they picked me straight up from the parking lot.
The first place we went was Katy O'Ferrell's, and that was pretty nice. I'd only ever been here with Olivia, Paige, and Lennon last year, and that was a whole different vibe. But this was nice, I showed them my ID, I am now officially 21, and I think all I got here was a beer because they were pretty cheap. I'm trying to think who all tekes were there. I know there was Mason, Owen, Jordan, and I think Whitlow. Also, I didn't buy any drinks or anything tonight, they were all paid for by someone else, so that was nice of them. I think Mason bought my beer. I think they also gave me a free shot here because it was my birthday.
The next place we went was Blush, and it was also pretty nice. This place was more laid back. Here, Sophie's mom started talking to me some, but she was nice. It was kind of odd she was there, because I could never imagine my mom going to bars with a bunch of young people like this. But it was cool, Jordan bought me an amaretto sour here, and that was good.
The last place we went was Blue Diamond, and this was probably the busiest place. The boys ordered a pitcher or two of beer, so I drank some of that, some of them were playing pool, Sophie's mom bought me a mystery shot, it was pretty awesome. I also started talking to this one girl who was one of Sophie's friends, Savannah, so that was kind of cool. And I actually stayed later than the other guys.
When we left I think it was just me, Jordan, Sophie's mom, and Sophie and some of her friends. And it was Sophie's sister who picked us up and brought Jordan and I back to 333. And then I slept on the couch there.
So I would say that my birthday was pretty amazing, probably the best birthday I've ever had. From my present basket this morning, Six Flags, Cane's, bars, talking to people, it was great. 10/10.
