So here's the thing...
I've realized that I don't like announced surprises. That might seem like oxymoron, but you know, someone says "I've got a little surprise for you", or they take some action that gives away the fact that a surprise is inbound.
The ones that aren't announced, in any way, so say, a birthday-gift is an announced surprise, are pretty much no fun for me, and I'll tell you why:
I have a pretty creative, plotting, sick and twisted mind. Meaning that whatever you have in store, I most likely have cooked up something in my head during the time between the announcement and the actual surprise that's better, in my world, than whatever you thought of. This, sadly enough, most often leads to disappointment. I say stuff like "most likely" and "most often", because even I have been taken by surprise. It just happens less frequent than it used to.

Also, it might be that many of my "friends" are conditional, and can't be bothered to make the effort.
The ones that do, I love you guys.