hide and seek

I hate being surprised and it's very hard to pull this off.

Case in point - the only surprise birthday party for me was thrown two years ago. My friends pulled it off because they had so many lies going.... they didn't know which was the truth anymore. Needless to say, this doesn't happen very often.

I always want to know everything. If we are going out, I want to know where, how long and why. It's built into my DNA - I can't help it. I will indirectly find out key details which can blow a surprise too.

This definitely doesn't help with gift giving either.I have always searched for birthday and Christmas presents, too. Back when I realized there wasn't any Santa, I would make it my mission to search out each present. As I got older and more like Nancy Drew, I would even search for my mom's receipts from her holiday shopping. (Sorry, Mom, but I couldn't help it.)

I even discovered one of my birthday presents hidden in her bedroom closet. I think it was Gem and the Holograms. Even at 8, I managed to pull off a "I'm-really-surprised-but-I-already-knew-what-I-was-getting" look.

Fast forward 15 years later and I still search out for clues. You know you have issues when your boyfriend tells you he's keeping the presents at an undisclosed location and not your house.

BF- I'm guaranteeing you don't return any of my presents this year.
Me - Yeah right, did you get me Paris Hilton perfume again?
BF- I'm going out on a limb here. I'm promising something I've never promised before. You won't return anything.
Me- Did you think the same thing last year? Because if that's the case, you are screwed.
BF - No, last year I knew you'd take stuff back. This year you won't. And, I won't disclose the location or price of where your gifts are.

Five bucks said they are stored at our friend's house or in our storage units because our keys our mysteriously missing.