The Ego Episodes

Latest Five
I May Be Out of Here Soon - Sunday, Aug. 21, 2005
Home Alone - Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005
What's Your Star Sign? - Monday, Aug. 15, 2005
Politics. Headache. - Thursday, Aug. 11, 2005
Sentosa Outing 2005 - Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005

Monday, Sept. 13, 2004

Joycie's 21st Birthday, Part II

After slaving away daily for about a week in the lab, I figured I am a little ahead of schedule so I don't have to show up early today. I took my time eating my breakfast. And what, you may ask, did I have for breakfast? Mooncakes, of course! The Mooncake Festival is coming soon so it's not unusual that people start sampling some mooncakes for the festival. Yesterday, Donny gave me snowskin mooncakes in durian and green tea. Yes, green. Tea. The filling is colored green so normally you would think twice before putting it to your mouth. But it is nice. The flavor is unmistakably green tea but really nice and different from other mooncakes. However, I prefer the sweet durian to the funky green tea.

As you can tell, my being ahead of schedule allowed me about an hour to update. Finally!

On the actual day of my birthday, August 3 (I know, it took me a month to write this down. No, by the time this is posted, it's more than a month. That's not unusual, trust me.), my friends who happen to be my juniors, visited my room for the sort-of expected/traditional birthday cake ceremony at 12 midnight. Of course they didn't do just that.

When I opened my door, I was stunned by the sudden blast of gooey and clammy colorful stringy thingies coming at me relentlessly that I thought it's not going to end. It did, eventually, when they noticed that I was about to cry. That's not what actually happened but you get the picture. I took my cue and ushered them in before they start spraying again.

They got me a nice, big coffee-flavored cake because they knew better than get me a cake coffee-free, unless of course it's cheesecake then any flavor will do except raspberry at _____ because it tastes like medicine. Ok, anyway ... the cake was actually for cornchild and me because he celebrated his birthday one day before mine.

Everyone was jolly until they made me cut the cake. With every slice, I told them, "Ok, I'm unfair when it comes to cutting cakes." As a result, some got smaller slices, but I made sure my girls (jussy and ivy) got the bigger ones, haha!

When it was time for ice cream (yes, they bought ice cream, too, how nice), nobody wanted to eat anymore. So I stepped in and managed to convince only a few people to eat with me. Of course, I ate. I was so full even before eating the cake but when it comes to birthday celebrations, I make it a point to eat what has been prepared. And ice cream? Do I ever say no to ice cream?

In the middle of chatting, Ivy got up and suddenly covered my eyes.

Joycie: Ano 'to? Baka magspray na naman kayo ng strings. (What's this? Maybe you'll spray strings again.)
Jussy: No, no, we have something for you. It's something hard.
Evad: And long... and brown. HEE!

They did get me something hard, long and brown: A huge vanilla-scented candle! It smells so yummy I could eat it. Apparently, Evad remembered how much I gushed about the decorative candles when we went to one of the malls back home. It's really pretty. What I do is I turn off the lights and fan in the room, close the door and blinds, put some relaxing music on and light the candle. For several minutes, I lie on the bed while I look at the candle and occasionally close my eyes. Works really great after a long stressful day. So guys, thank you! I so love the candle and everything that went with it!

I mounted the candle on top of an unused blue vase I didn't know I had. Then I surrounded it with dried flowers Donny gave me on several occasions. It makes one beautiful and meaningful decorative piece.

If only my parents and sisters were here for my birthday then it would simply be perfect. But still, this year is the best. Birthday. Ever.