Jen's Blog

My Birthday

Overall, I had a great day yesterday. Gary and I had done most of the celebrating during the weekend, so it was a rather laid-back birthday. My dad called first thing in the morning and we talked for a few minutes before I had to go get ready for work. My aunt Kathy had written to me to say that she thought one shouldn't have to work on one's birthday. Maybe, but since everyone else has to work, it's sometimes being more fun at work than being by myself.

A few people in my group took me out for lunch (another benefit of going to work); we went to a Japanese restaurant for sushi and teriyaki. Joana, whom I knew from Incyte, also gave me a "Bridal Bargains" book. Looks like I need to get serious about this wedding stuff now! The rest of the group couldn't make it, so we're going out again on Friday (I like to extend my birthday for as long as possible.) They gave me a bottle of champagne, which I should put in the fridge this morning for spontaneous consumption.

After lunch, when we got back to work, there was a big basket of flowers and a balloon at the front desk. I wasn't going to even bother to see if it was for me (I didn't think it would be) but my friends insisted. And hey, wow, it's for me! Of course we all automatically assumed it was from Gary, but when I got to my desk and opened the card, I was surprised to see that it was from my sister Melinda and her hamster Winnie! She had been very clever about looking up my work address without me finding out (to the point of me worrying that she had sent my gift to Incyte by accident.) I was so touched...I wasn't expected flowers, and getting them from my sister was just awesome!

I couldn't get a good picture of the balloon, but the flowers are beautiful. The pink flamingos in the background (you can barely see one on the right side) were a birthday present from my other sister from a few years ago.

Gary had to work late yesterday (mandatory overtime Mondays and Wednesdays through May) so I had the house to myself when I got home. Which was just as well, because I talked to my mom, my aunt Kathy, my step-mother, and both my sisters! I finally got a chance to eat (leftover orzo salad and veggies from Sunday's party, good stuff) a bit before Gary got home. We had cake and ice cream, finishing off a pint of Swiss Vanilla Almond, but leaving a lot of cake for today. To end the day I opened presents.

Only a few people's presents had arrived, so I won't elaborate too much on what I got. The weirdest thing was from my mom. It's a small green rubbery plastic object, about the size of bar of soap; it came in a box that proclaimed it was a "Golla Buttmobile." It's made in Finland. We have no idea what it is, but my guess is that it's an ashtray. There is a website on the box, but Gary and I are each going to bring it into work and play a guessing game with our friends before we look it up. The neatest thing that was actually useful was from my dad. It's called a "stapless" and it attaches up to 4 sheets of paper together without staples. It cuts a small slit and a tab in the paper, then folds the tab over and into the slit. Hard to describe, but it works really well. It really makes me wonder about where people go shopping for me!

Now my birthday is over, but there's a little more celebration to come. Gary bought me headphones, which should arrive tomorrow. And some time this week he's taking me out for dinner, since he couldn't yesterday. And eventually we'll have a party, which won't be for my birthday (since it's too late) but should be fun anyway.

Posted by Jen at April 29, 2003 07:46 AM