Editor's note: YourHub.com asked Avalanche fans "Why should you and 15 of your closest friends deserve to win a suite?" Here is what one fan wrote.

My birthday is December 15.  This year I will be 50.  That is reason for a huge celebration.   But, when your birthday is in the "holiday season" you are competing with unlimited numbers of parties, special events, stress and burnout.  I can't get all my friends together because of all the other things going on and even if some are free, they are all partied out and it dillutes the fun we would have if my birthday were at another time.  

I wanted to go to Europe this year to celebrate, not on my birthday but during the summer months.  But, my dog Corey, who I adopted from Denver Dumb Friends last year, has hip displasia and had to have a total hip replacement this summer.  My choice was to leave a dog in pain of let go of that dream.  He got the surgery.  I got a $5,000 credit card bill.  Did I mention I don't have an income right now?  Ouch.  But my beloved pup is doing better.

So, I was hoping to use my United miles to get a free ticket to Hawaii, one of my favorite places.  But, if you don't plan it way, way in advance and with the competition of, you guessed it, the holiday travel, it couldn't be done.

Now I am at wits end as to how to mark this very special birthday.  Sure, I can have a couple friends over or we could go out to dinner on a Thursday evening.  Okay, but a bit disappointing.  If I was 47 or 52 or something like that, fine.  But 50 should be special, at least I think so.

All my friends are sport fans.  We play softball together, bowl together, go to games together, and talk sports all the time.  The 15 friends I would pick to go with me - names being withheld to protect the guilty - would have such a great time and it would be a very memorable birthday celebration for me.

All this is, sadly, true.  You can verify it.  I'm hoping you'll save me.  I can easily hold off on my big celebration until after the new year.   In fact, it would be so much easier that way.

Thanks for listening.  I feel better all ready.

Go Avs.                           

                                                      Almost over the hill,

                                                         Karen Miller, Lakewood