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.

Girls’ Day Out

Oh, I’m so happy that my friends are my friends. Today, because it was J1′s birthday, we went to eat at a Spanish restaurant (Amalia’s in BF Paranaque) and then had a foot&hand spa at Lash Studio Salon (also in BF Paranaque). And it was fuuuun!

There’s really not much to tell, I mean, there’s not much to blog about except that we saw each other, ate delicious food, had our feet massaged, our nails painted and our hands dipped in some hot wax (IKR!) while we talked about silly things and laughed a lot, which all sounds very normal and not worth noting perhaps, but I think some people take it forgranted.

I mean sure, you’ll probably be more useful to the world if you’re watching the news or thinking about how to save the economy, but I think that there is some merit to arguing about the best brand of lip gloss and saying things like, “Wala nang mas-gwa-gwapo pang basketball player kesa sa kanya ever.”

This was just one of those days when nothing monumental really happened, except for J1′s birthday, but it makes you feel happy to be alive anyway. Am I thinking too deeply just to describe a day of eating out and some manipedi fun? Probably. But like I said, I think there’s some merit to it.

And of course, pictures!

j2 and j3 wearing matching "cat with glasses" shirt

beef salpicao, "best speller" paella and salmon w/ hollandaise sauce from amalia's!

j3 getting her hand paraffin waxed. it was painful!

Afterwards, we went to a store to look for a gift for my mom’s friend’s kids. That was our intention, but of course, we ended up trying on clothes for ourselves and I spent Php350 on a ring. And that’s already with the 50% discount! Oh, but look! It’s so preeetttyyy…

my elaborate ring

Afterwards, we went to Frutti Froyo for some frozen yogurt. It was delicious. I love dessert. I wish we had more time, but all days come to an end. At least we ended with dessert. I think the best way to end any day is with dessert. Or coffee. Or both.

And if you’re wondering where the picture of J1 is, I know, I’m so stupid. It’s her birthday, and I totally forgot to take her picture. Sorry na! I only had my cellphone’s camera and wasn’t paying enough attention. Anyway, Happy Birthday J1! Thanks so much for planning this happy day!

Let’s Talk About Today

Tell us about your decision-making process.

A job interviewer told me once. And I answered her seriously. I said that I list down the pros and cons of something, and then decide on the one with the most pros. Which is what I do with important decisions. Of course, for things non-work-related, the best way to decide is by playing Rock, Paper, Scissors.

—

I was late. Or maybe I wasn’t because technically there was no actual meeting time set. And how can you be late (or early) when there’s no specific time set? So I guess the better way to put it is: E got there before I did. And because I arrived at 1:40pm, we missed the 1:30pm showing of the movie we wanted, Real Steel.

No worries, I said. The next showing is at 3:30pm. It’s only 2 hours away. But E said that 2 hours away isn’t “only”. And he said that we should just watch whatever movie that started at 2pm. It happened to be Apollo 18, which is a horror movie, and as you know, something I’m not a fan of. So, we argued. And argued. And then E remembered how we settled decisions like these–with Rock, Paper, Scissors.

2 out of 3, he said, thinking that if I got lucky on the first try he’d have 2 more chances of winning. But instead, he was the one who got lucky on the first round, and the next two were mine. So, Real Steel it was, and there were no hard feelings.

I think people underestimate the usefulness of Rock, Paper, Scissors. In the same way that the magic 8-ball is considered a toy, when I think it can be really useful for those everyday non-life-threatening decisions.

Anyway, about Real Steel: I enjoyed it, I guess because I wasn’t really expecting anything great. I knew it was a kids movie, so I didn’t pay attention much to the dialogue or even it’s plot, which is overly cliché. I just let myself be entertained by the fighting robots, though I was still kind of bothered by the very fake love story between Hugh Jackman and Evangeline Lilly’s characters. I mean, why include a love story if it’s going to be that boring? You may as well have said they were just friends. No kissing scenes needed. It wouldn’t have changed the movie either way.

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Two more stuff crossed off my list of stuff to eat once I get back to the Philippines — Assam Milk Tea from Serenitea and the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie from Bread Monster. And I have also decided that, my favorite tea from Serenitea is the Royal Milk Tea. If that’s the one with vanilla ice cream in it. Gah. It’s just like me to not remember the name of the drink that I like. But, I’m sure it’s not the last time I go to Serenitea. I’d like to take this moment to say how happy I am that there’s a branch in ATC. I’m sick and tired of complaining that most specialty establishments only open branches in the north. Not that that makes me love the south any less.

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I fell asleep watching Hot Shots! Part Deux on Star Movies. As a result, I’m still awake at 2am, writing on my blog, and not making a lot of sense.

Sunday at Solenad

No, there is no valid reason as to why my friends and I went to Solenad in Nuvali yesterday. Actually, it was a belated celebration of J1′s birthday (which was in January) and an advanced celebration of J2′s birthday (which isn’t until the 28th). And because one of J2′s goals for this year is to go to each and every Starbucks branch featured in the Starbucks 2011 Planner. Which are all somewhat strange reasons now that I think about it because we could’ve gone to nearer restaurants to celebrate birthdays and what does it matter whether J2 gets to see Starbucks Solenad since she’s sure to not see Starbucks Ayala Center Cebu anyway. But really, who needs a reason to spend the day with friends?

We met at McDonald’s in ATC at 12:00 noon and started for Sta. Rosa around 12:30. We arrived at Nuvali around 1:15PM and the first thing we did was go to Pig Out. We looked at the menu first before ordering, and were convinced that the chicharon rice was reason enough to pick that restaurant, so inside we went. And we ordered the following:

Pig Out Order: (Clockwise) Korean Style Tapa, Fried Dory Fish, Ensalada, Chicaron Rice

We actually ordered the Marlin first, but it wasn’t available. Oh well. At least those that we ordered were delicious though the serving of the rice could’ve been bigger.

After lunch, we decided to be the ones to do the feeding–to the koi fish in the manmade lake. Wait, let me say that again: We decided to be the ones to do the feeding–to the scary psychotic koi fish in the manmade lake.

Psychkoi Fish

I think fish feeding is supposed to be a fun and relaxing activity, but with this amount of fish, and with their eagerness to be fed, we little girls got scared. There was too many of them, and their mouths were opening and closing and they were staring and jumping and splashing water at us and it was just really creepy. It was like Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, except for fish.

So we tried to scatter the fish food as much as we could so that the fish wouldn’t all be in one place. We succeeded sort of, but we still couldn’t throw very much very far.

Psychkoi Fish and Fountain

Anyway, after we emptied the bag of fish food that we bought for P15 each, we finally went to Starbucks. J2 treated us to drinks and cheesecake because we were technically celebrating her birthday. Thanks J2! Happy Birthday!

Grande Green Tea, White Chocolate Mocha, Dark Mocha, and Caramel Affogato Frappuccinos, Mango Madness and Chocolate Decadence Cheesecake

And of course, we took a photo in front of the Starbucks, as proof that J2 has yet another branch to check off her Starbucks 2011 Planner Branch List.

J1, J2 and J3 in front of Starbucks Solenad

On our way to the parking lot, we saw a small bazaar and decided to check it out. It was sort of a mistake because we ended up buying tons of stuff. Okay, it’s not really a mistake because of course, we like what we bought. But I call it a mistake because, well, spending money on things you don’t really need is kind of a mistake. And who really needs hats like these?

Me, J1 and J2 with Doraemon, Siberian Husky and Tiger

Okay, I think maybe I’ve thought of a valid reason why we went to Solenad now: Because once in a while, it’s okay not to meet at good ol’ ATC (though we still love it and still think that it’s the best mall in the world). Right?