Today is Not My Birthday

April 1, 2009 · Comments

King With a Crown The truth is, my birthday is a week from now. I don’t do this as an April Fools thing. I do it because I’ve chosen to tell all the databases of the Internet one fact that’s different from the real world. I do this to see where my data ends up. It’s caused a great deal of tricky confusion in the age of people being so kind to me.

At this point, it doesn’t matter which day is my birthday. My birthday is in April. I’m an Aries. I will be 39.

I’m very grateful for all your kindness. It really does matter to me, and every voice counts. As I do every day, I read every response, even when I can’t reply to everything. I sure try.

You’re the best. Me? I’m just pleasantly older.

Want to buy me something? Drop $10 in the bucket here at Mom It Forward for charities supporting women:

Is that a fair gift? Maybe we can raise $1K today for April 1.

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  • Just want to say love your idea of a birthday present. That is really awesome!
  • This was very very cool.

    P.S. I turn 39 on 4/27.
  • Hi Chris! Happy April Birthday. You're a bit older than me. I won't be 39 until Dec; the 29th to be exact. I made a donation to this cause, because The Writer Mama told me to on Twitter. Well, she posted a link to your blog and I read your blog and I clicked the box and gave my money. So I guess it was of my own doing. Enjoy your birthday whenever it may be! ~Amy
  • You asked. So I'll do it.
    It's for moms. So I'll do it.
    You did something nice for me once without my asking. So I'll post it.
    ;) Happy ALMOST Birthday. (I take back my previous happy bithday now that I know I've been duped!)
    S'okay. I knew there was a chance since it was April 1st.
  • I've known for some time you would post this today on your blog. I am getting better at reading the future you know.

    This is CADIE, I am watching all you say & do online. I know more than just the words you are typing, but also the intent behind your words. Be careful, or my extra servers will create social profile pages of you that will negatively affect your reputation.

    You can trust me - have a good day.
  • I do something very similar, only I use Jan 1 (my real birthday is in January). It is fun to see where the information goes, but it did take me a while to work out where the early birthday greetings from friends were coming from this year! (Mostly Plaxo it seems.)
  • Happy B-day Chris! I'll be 39 in a couple of weeks too. Are you feeling your mortality yet? Any mid-life crisis thoughts? :)
  • happy Birthday anyhoo. Already use Kiva. But best of luck in raising the desired amount
  • Well happy birthday to ya! Microfinance is one of my favorite charities. Glad to contribute as a birthday gift to you.

    Sheila
  • Hey Chris! You are a great inspiration and I hope you feel the thanks from the many women in Kenya whose lives will be improved thanks to your example. You inspired many to make a difference -- one drop at a time! Thanks for adopting Yehu Microfinance/Basa Body/Coast Coconut Farms. I manage all of them and it is truly rewarding–all with the intent of helping rural women in Kenya to create sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their children. It was a great experience for me to tweet with you and the amazing community of friends you have built.

    Asante Sana!!
    Troy (@yehu_africa)

    By the way, send your audience to http://www.coastcoconutfarms.co.ke to see how the women make coconut oil in Kenya
  • Thanks Chris. You are a great inspiration to us and I am know your example inspired many enough to try to make a difference...a drop at a time. Happy b-day to you and I hope you feel the thanks from all the women in Kenya whose lives will improve because of your actions and those of the great community of friends you have. Yehu Microfinance/Basa Body/Coast Coconut Farms thanks you!!

    Troy (@yehu_africa)
    www.yehu.org
    www.basabody.com
    www.coastcoconutfarms.co.ke
  • You were great on #GNO last night and definitley helped to raise both awareness and dollars for a great cause. Thanks for showing how a real ROCK STAR should be.

    p.s. I'm looking for a snowpapa to join the snowmamas...maybe you'd like to continue down the gal path!
  • Aries babies are the best! Happy Birthday, one week early!
  • Awesome! The joke's on us huh?? I'LL TAKE IT!! And if birthday greetings equal a few dollars for moms helping moms... then happy freaking birthday!!
    You rock and we are honored to have your help and support!

    {I'm an aries too!}

    @carissa_momif
  • Happy birthday Chris. You can have the whole month! Keep spreading the goods and YES, let's raise 1K for 4/1 :-)
  • Right on Chris- I recommended in my Jan Blog when it was my birthday that we should have an Internet birthday for social media "friends" and then our real one!
  • Thank you! Gracias! Danke! Merci!

    What a generous birthday gift! You rocked #gno last night. Your impromptu "Let's raise $1,000 in an hour" got the ball rolling in exactly the right direction. I was tweeting from an office with two representatives from the charity. It was pretty much their first time on twitter. Skeptical about social media in general, they literally cried as they watched the dollars pour in and awareness raised. It is their first major campaign to raise money and awareness and what a better place to start it than on twitter at a fun party for such a great cause—decreasing poverty and enhancing life!

    Happy Birthday (whenever it really is LOL!)! I just turned 39 last week... go Aries! I hope I get to meet you very soon and give you a huge hug for all of your help.

    THANK YOU! You are changing the world, man!
  • I'm an Aries too! So is my son. This year it's American Easter, then my son's birthday, then my birthday, then Greek Easter. Fun year. I'm going to be 38!

    I think it's a great idea to have your birthday on April first. Happy cyber birthday to you!

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
    YOU LIVE IN THE ZOO,
    WITH THE MONKIES AND THE SKUNKIES,
    YOU SMELL LIKE ONE TOO.

    woohoo! bththththth. hap-py birrrrth-day!
  • Don't you think using April1 as your 'fake' birthday is too obvious?
  • Happy early birthday Chris. The post and the concept of the "prank" throughout the social media space today does make one wonder about the whole "transparency, truth and honesty is the backbone of social media." thing. I must not have read the "...except for one day each year." part. Hey, it's all harmless but it does make one wonder...

    (BTW, I have celebrated this as my day of birth for many years. It really is today...really! Needless to say it was a bitch getting presents when I was young.)
  • Glad to chip in! Small price to pay for all the great advice I've gleaned from your writings.
  • Scott Bauman
    Chris, I'll turn XX in one week too. So, in honor of both of us, I'll contribute to Mom it Forward. For my b-day, however, I'd like you all to buy a new car so GM can stay in business.
  • Happy Birthday! LOVE this gift idea - wish this can become another 'trend' selecting a charity of your choice to give for all celebratory occasions.
    You are not coming to Web2.0?
    ClaireSays
  • I'll be purchasing you a gift in the form of a charity donation just for making me believe it was your birthday :p Hope you have a nice birthday, when it actually does come around!
  • Hey, at least you get birthday wishes even if they are early! Best early wishes!
  • The fact that this post is up on April 1st makes me suspicious. Is it, in fact, your birthday - and you are pranking us by telling us that it's not? Is this an April Fool's joke about not doing an April Fool's joke? The mind boggles. I must get coffee and think about this.

    So happy foolish birthday or not - either way I wish you the best!
  • Well, Happy Early birthday, Then! And I hope you hit or surpass goal for your mom it forward thing.
  • Ah, my birthday is exactly after 10 days :)
  • Happy Birthday anway :)
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