May 13th, 2009, same glasses, same ponytail, same business outfit, I went to work as usual at 6:20am. I got to work by 7:00am with two dozens of Timmy’s donuts. It was this thing in our office that people usually bring in treats on their birthdays… I guess it was just like how we used to do in elementary school, remember? So very quickly, people knew it was my birthday and started to wish me a happy birthday when I bumped into them in the hallways and washroom. About an hour later, whole bunch of them showed up around my desk and started singing happy birthday real loud, which I’ve never seen it happened to other co-workers on their birthdays, so I was truly surprised and touched!! One person suggested a “group hug” after singing the song, but we all knew it was too lame to do so the idea went down the drain and faded in laughter. After everyone went back to their work stations, I continued to read e-mails, reply e-mails, write more e-mails, attend meetings, have lunch, play cards, write e-mails again, attend more meeting until 3:30pm (yes, my boss asked me to worked 1 hr overtime due to a Scope of Work meeting schedule, and that was extra $70 for me, so why not).
Got home around 4:20pm, took care of the dogs, fed the cat, watched family feud and deal or no deal simultaneously (occasionally judge Judy), vacuumed the floor, mopped the floor, changed the sofa sheets and then Grace got home. She told me that we planned to eat out that night with Jen (just 4 of us). We had to wait for Leo to get home from work; so I decided to take the dogs out for a walk while waiting for the family member to show up. Even though it was a bit chilly for a May day, the walk went pretty well – no Cherry rolling in the wet mud nor Honey showing friendliness to other dogs by chasing them across the street and dragging me along with her. After the walk, Jen showed up with 2 cakes in her hands, I was like…why 2 cakes? I thought it was just 4 of us. The response I got was that other people will show up later…
Other people? Enough for 2 cakes? I rushed up the stairs and started putting my contact lenses in and makeup on realizing that there would definitely be pictures taken later evening…lol. Jen also showed up with a Conair steamer (a gift from David and Jen together)…the steamer was not for cooking, it was like the Tobe steamer for ironing clothes that had been repeatedly advertised on the tv shopping channel for ages. Anyway, I will try it out soon.
David called to say happy birthday around dinner time because he was a loser and would be in the lab for the rest of his night…So Jen, Leo, Grace and I went to eat the Ramen on Yonge near Centre Point – it was NOT good! So later we went to Centre Point and ordered KFC hot wings– it was GOOD!! By the time we got home it was close to 9pm, soon the Wang family showed up with Citadels; the Wang’s family was going to drive over due to the light rain, but Mark figured even if they had driven, there would be no parking space at my house, and they would end up parking at their house and walk over, so they decided to walk… then Bruce showed up, then Daniel & Angie showed up with a basket of home-made alphabet cookies with MY name! 
The cookies were delicious! Lastly Leo showed up with a pair of tiring puppy eyes, we all thought that he just came out from the lab downtown U of T… We talked, we laughed, we sang, we ate the cake, and played Citadel until midnight. Towards the end of the board game, Steven revealed something unbelievably great about the game – whoever reaches 8 districts is immune to Warlord attack! In other words, in the previous two team games we played (Steven and I a team), our team “technically” and “legitimately” WON both games and Rick + Sunny could not have illegally attack our districts at the very end of the game!!! Muhahahahahaha!!! That news made me felt like my life was complete…maybe that was a tiny bit exaggerate
d, but hey, talking about competitive activities…
Finally, I want to thank Jen and Grace for putting the event together, everyone who showed up at my door that night, everyone who left me birthday wishes on fbook, everyone who texted me the birthday wishes, and my parents who did not call, but sent me pictures of them having tons of fun in China with no words nor messages what-so-ever via e-mail while I had to wake up before 6am the next morning and still go to work for the rest of the week! I mean, what else could I complain? Love always!
