誕生日おめでとう!

Tanjoubi omedetou, oneechan!

I stayed in Joey's place for about 23 hours overnight to celebrate her birthday... fine, I won't say how old, not here anyway. Hehe. We ate tons of "no-bake" baked mac, chicken, biko and chocolate cake (btw, reimburse it from me! Gomen~). On Valentine's Day, Verna stopped over to complete the Charmed Ones and take part in perhaps the first binge drinking session we've had since 3 or 4 years ago. Naie and Pops were there of course and we were itching to continue the Bleach marathon from last month. We had another visitor, Jay... dude, thanks for coming as well.

In summary,


Due to the incorrect number of candles, her age would remain a mystery for now. LOL

Soju was missing from the party since apparently one of us wasn't able to handle it the last time (ahem), but we still ended up bangag anyway from the lack of sleep. And as always, after all the crazy conversations during the wee hours, I had to finish the last drop of alcohol (why?!).

Hey, look at what I discovered after sunrise! Haha.

Anyhoo, I should say we have to get geared up for the next birthday celebrant (if you know what I mean). Hmm, I want a creative gift. Something more creative than what I gave onee-chan on her birthday (I wrote her a story).



*pictures will be posted in a semi-private album

Rare Occurrences

Shopping has always been more a luxury than a necessity in the world I grew up in. Unless we're running out of stuff to fill our bellies with or use in the shower, I don't get to shop for new things. I lived on presents, hand-me-downs and company freebies. Going around while actually spending cash as opposed to staring aimlessly at shelves is a rarity. Case in point: The mom, surprisingly, took us kids out for a little shopping as her post-birthday treat.

However, I don't think I'm shopping again anytime soon. First reason- cheap, regular clothes don't fit me. I wanted to buy what I called a "Lee Da Hae" blouse but apparently, Large still doesn't fit me... when in the US I fit in petites and small moderates! In the end, I got a smallest shirt in the plus-size section. Frustrating, no? Then there's a second reason- the salesman at the men's wear section would probably remember me as the girl who was picking out boxer shorts for herself. I helped my brother choose a pair of boxers and then just as the sales guy greeted us, my bro blurted out, "May smaller size, fit sa'yo! Turo mo, ikukuha kita and then ako na sa cashier para di nakakahiya."  When it couldn't get any worse, my mom held up a few of the items and asked how I'd like it (Mommy?!). Okay, I don't mind friends knowing I like wearing men's boxers at home, but I don't like having salespersons stifle giggles about it while I'm doing some serious shopping. So I told my mother I'll stick to grocery shopping for the mean time.

Another rare thing happened Sunday midnight until early Monday morning. Gerard, our beloved brother/Oble scholar/summa cum laude/future M.D. was online and available to talk, for once! Hehe. He's in Cebu right now after their cardio module and for a birthday with his family. It was his birthday last week and I totally forgot (what's more embarassing, I greeted Hernie and had a hunch that there was another August birthday but forgot it was Gerard's)!

Anyway... UP fam: sabi nya sobrang miss na daw na tayo and laging wrong timing yung mga dinners natin sa schedule nya. He hopes to be able to see us sometime when he's not busy (yikes, in med school, who knows when that will be diba?).

Who knows what other rare events are in store for me in the next few weeks? Like me going out, perhaps? :P

The Lowdown on Being Legal

Only seven weeks ago, I was waiting alone in a casino lobby, with a Dean Koontz novel in hand and eight steakhouse carry-out boxes surrounding me. It was three in the morning. People laughed and pointed at me and my carry-out boxes; like I was some psycho who boxed up all the customers' leftovers from the steakhouse upstairs. I was hungry, impatient and my eyes hurt from desperately trying to enjoy my novel despite the blinding yellowish lights. I watched people go in and out of the security checkpoint barricading the gambling area. I figured that if I was just friendly enough, I'd be able to get past them and into the Vegas simulation that trapped my aunts for nearly five hours; then drag them out to the real world where they can hear me say, "Let's go home."  But then I remembered my 25 year-old brother getting detained by security in the same casino a couple of months ago due to his teeanage appearance, so I scratched the plan. I'd rather wait and tolerate being made fun of by some Asian guys than get arrested. (And yes, unfortunately, of all races, my Asian brothers were making fun of me.)

Finally, it's time to strike back.

I will no longer have to keep my face turned away awkwardly everytime I enter resto bar. I don't have to let myself go hungry in casino lobbies when I can get just drunk enough in a nearby bar to piss my relatives enough to drag me home. I will no longer have to refuse a kind uncle's offer to buy me all the wine I can drink at dinner. I will no longer have to tolerate people making fun of me because I looked like a hungry kitten left by her owner.

While silently sitting at home and watching the clock tick, last Friday I became legal. There was no fancy celebration, but his guy from Animal Planet kept me smiling all night.

Image courtesy of fondosescritorio.net

Thanks to everyone who greeted by text, IM, Multiply, and all online means possible. Sorry I wasn't able to reply to each one.