Questions that make me think I’m not the “what you see is what you get” kind of person

In the past two weeks, I’d been asked the following:

1. Are you Japanese?
2. Did you just come from the beach?
3. Are you sick?
4. Did you sleep at all?
5. Did you cut your hair?

I’m clearly seeing something else in the mirror if people are asking me these questions when as far as I know, I’m not Japanese, the last time I went to the beach was over 6 months ago, I feel fine, I was able to sleep for a full 8 hours the night before someone asked me that question, and it’s been over a month since I last had my hair cut.

Especially since the people who asked me these questions are people I see on a daily basis, now I’m wondering whether there’s something wrong with my vision.

Signs I’m On My Way to Becoming an Old Maid

#1 – I see my crush standing alone and looking bored but instead of coming over and striking up a conversation I think, “But the song playing on my ipod right now is so good I don’t want to have to stop listening to it just to talk to another person.”

So I walk on by.

On Phone Calls

For future reference, I would just like to state that for me, these are the only phone calls that you are allowed not to answer:

• from someone who’s selling something
• from someone who’s asking to get paid

The rest of the time, especially when you recognize the number because it’s saved in your phone book, you should answer your phone because you never know. Even if the call is from an acquaintance you’re not particularly fond of, you never know if he/she will give important information that will affect the rest of your life. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

And if for example you were too busy to answer the phone call, maybe you were in an important meeting or in the shower, it’s not that difficult to send a text message to the person who called you to ask what it was about. Or if you’re one of those people who think that “If it’s important enough, then they’ll call again.” then that’s fine, too. You don’t have to send a text message. But, do try to answer the call that comes after the one you missed. It will only take you a few seconds to decide if the call is worth taking or not anyway. If it does happen to be about something you don’t want to talk about, then make an excuse to hang up. But don’t, I repeat don’t, just let your phone ring and ring and ring and ring and ring and ring. And ring. Because it makes me feel like a fool. I mean, it will probably make the person who’s calling you, whoever he or she may be, feel like a fool.

Because “Party of the Year” was ripe for the taking

I’m kidding of course. It was most definitely not the “Party of the Year”. Or maybe it is, but only to me. But I think my friends had fun, and I’m glad about that.

You see, my high school friends and I used to celebrate our birthdays with each other. Especially J, since her birthday is in the summer. She would invite people over to her house and there used to be 20 or so of us. Now though, everyone else is busy with their own thing and we hardly see each other anymore. We only get updates on each other on Facebook, and that’s just not the same. Plus, I miss my former officemates, too. I’m sick of getting jealous, looking at their pictures whenever they all go out with each other. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I didn’t quit that job at all. And yet another plus, I had to celebrate my birthday with my current officemates, too. We’ve been inventing so many occasions that it’s nice to have a legit reason to meet each other and be drinking on a Sunday.

So really, I just used my birthday this year as an excuse to see all my friends. I would’ve invited more if I could but there were money matters in the way. Sorry about that. Anyway, I had a really fun time. It was nice seeing friends I hadn’t seen for a long time, and also those I’d seen less than 24 hours before Sunday night. And I’m glad they got along. I mean, they mostly did, didn’t they? There weren’t any fights that broke out, and I think people found the games fun. Because yes, there were games. It was really a kids’ party, because you know, I’m in denial of my real age and time is merely an imposed construct anyway.

Dinner was inihaw na liempo, barbecue chicken, inihaw na tilapia, pancit bihon, sinigang na hipon and some pichi-pichi from my friend.

For dessert, we had 4 layers of Leche Flan.

Blowing of Candles! And everyone sang the Happy Birthday Song while clapping their hands.

Obligatory Birthday Photo – After blowing out the candle, we pose for a photo. It’s tradition!

But you know, this was Sunday night and my birthday was really on Monday. Some of my friends waited until midnight so they could greet me as soon as September 17 came ’round, which was the point of having the party on a Sunday night. I’m so happy my friends made it even though it was Sunday. Because Sundays are usually family days, but maybe my friends and I are close enough that we’re all like family? Haha. Ang senti lang.

Anyway, my actual birthday was spent with my family. My parents and I went to a resort in Laguna for swimming, and for dinner, we ate at Sam Won Restaurant in BF Pque. And the waitress remembered me from a meal I ate there 2 weeks ago. What good memory she has. Not that I wasn’t thankful. She remembered what I ordered back then, too, which was exactly what I wanted again this time so ordering was easy.

(L-R) Kuya, Papa, me and Mama in the best Korean restaurant in the Metro. At least, according to me and based on my experiences.

It was really a fun and interesting 24 hours, September 17, 2012. Of course, September 17, 2011 was interesting, too, because I was in New Zealand at the time and we were celebrating the Peñafrancia fiesta at my aunt’s house. And my birthday last 2010 was interesting, too, because it was spontaneous and it involved very different people from the people who were at my birthday party last Sunday. I like celebrating my birthday. I like it because I get to see my friends and do happy things like watch a movie, eat delicious food and play silly games. The gifts and cakes and attention are just bonuses. But even if they weren’t there, and even if it rained so the day wasn’t perfect, it was really fun, and it was a really happy birthday.