If an adult's birthday is much more than another excuse to go have a pint at the pub, it's stupid.

Oh yeah...I totally relate to the whole thing about having dinner with rich friends. It's always a bit uncomfortable when I'm invited to a high-end restaurant to have dinner, whatever the occasion, with the handful of friends who are now business executives and the like. It sucks because they know I'm a teacher, and they have to know I'm not prepared to shell out thirty bucks for an entree and another thirty or more for cocktails and wine (much more if it's wine). There have been a few times where I've felt a little ticked off about it. I rarely attend these dinners anymore now.

Backyard barbecues are more fun and less tight-assed anyway.

Backyard barbecues are the best parties, in the right season. If I had to get married again I'd be seriously tempted to have a barbecue reception.

I agree about the backyard barbecues. That's what my husband and I did when we got married. His family is HUGE, and we got married at the courthouse by a justice of the peace, so a barbecue was the most convenient and economical way for everyone to get together to celebrate the occasion. It was also a lot more fun and relaxed than a lot of wedding receptions I've attended.

It's funny you guys mention weddings...I attended my cousin's wedding in a little Texas town this past weekend. It was set up for a classic Czech-Catholic affair, except for one glaring problem: instead of barbecue brisket, sausage, and potato salad, they served prime rib and grilled chicken.

There were complaints.

A few years ago, I had a potluck at a friend's place, followed by karaoke. Best Birthday Ever.