PAST CELEBRATIONS (OR LACK THEREOF)

i always make a big deal out of my birthday. it is something that i look forward to every year. i'm not one of those people who can forget their own birthday (like my brother - how is that even possible?!!). coming from a big family (and being one of the younger ones in the family), birthdays had always been an anticipated affair for me. i used to get presents from all my siblings (i was much cuter and loveable when i was a kid). and every couple of years, my parents would throw away parties on my birthday (being first in class sure had its benefits.. eheh). but as i grow older, i seem to celebrate my birthday more with my friends and less with my family. probably because i was no longer at home during my birthday. and probably because the mere fact that i grew up from being a cute, adorable boy to this cute, adorable young man (ahaks!). everyone knows that celebraating with friends are much more fun!

throughout the years,i've had some good birthdays that i still remember. but i've got my share of not-so-pleasant birthdays as well. and i'm taking this opportunity to document them. you know, so that 25 years from now, i can have something to help me reminisce about the then good ol' days. so this entry is pretty much dedicated to myself 25 years from now (i hope i'd still be alive by then). but you guys can read it if you want to..heheh

GOOD BIRTHDAYS

8TH BIRTHDAY

it was sooo much fun, it was stress-free (cos my family did everything for me... even picking up and dropping off my friends) and i got loads of presents!!! most of the presents were books - something i liked so much (it was so easy to satisfy me when i was younger). i remember getting a lat comic book from my brother and ceritalah lagi! volume 5 (remember that book?) from my dad and some tractor that can transform into a robot thing from my neighbour which i hardly touched (early signs of plu-ness eh?). but, one thing that i can't forget about that birthday was that i got 3 bars of lux soap from a classmate as a birthday present. but it was wrapped nicely so i still loved it. :P

19TH BIRTHDAY

it was a triple celebration (celebration for september babies) cum class reunion for me and matriculation friends (i was in first year of uni at that time). the whole class (those who were invited.. there were a few not-so-cool or just plain weird classmates which we didn't invite) was there. not many of us had cars back then, so we really had to squeeze in) i think they were 20 people in 4 cars (3 of them kancil). we convoyed from my uni to mcdonalds bandar utama (this is pretty much what we all could afford back then). spend hours in there. the whole class pitched in and got each on of us a pooh bear (yup, from mcdonalds.. how convenient). but it was a lot of fun!!!!

24TH BIRTHDAY
organised a birthday party at my apartment. something which turned out to be a VERY challenging task. i had to deal with a crazy deadline at work a few days before the party (some million-dollar proposal which we eventually won :) ), which required me to go finish work at 11-12 midnight on a daily basis. but in the midst of the late nights, i still managed to draw a map to my house (using microsoft visio, nonetheless :P) and send out email invitations (with the map) to all my friends. borrowed my sister's deep fryer (half of the menu involved some deep-frying of some processed food..hehehe). i even bought a dvd player just for the party. and my housemates were such good sports. they helped me with the preparation for the party and entertaining the guests. and the party went well (no bodily injury, no shortage of food). everyone had fun (kan shima kan? hehehe). the party started at 4 pm and the last guest left at about 12 midnight. and the next day, i had to drive down to ip*h for an audit. penat.. but it was worth it!

25TH BIRTHDAY (SESSION WITH EX-COLLEAGUES*)
my friends got me on this one.they pulled a prank on me. a couple of days before my birthday, we (me plus four other girls) decided to meet up for dinner on my birthday. but that morning, one by one called me up, wishing me happy birthday and at the same time apologising for not being able to make it that night - making all sorts of excuses (ada makcik nak datang rumah la.. kena stay back at work la). everyone except shima. i was already very disappointed, but i decided to still go and have dinner with her at chilli's OU. those who 'cancelled' actually came. they were laughing their heads off, mocking how terrible i sounded on the phone when they told me that they couldn't make it. cess!!

BAD BIRTHDAYS

(SWEET) 16TH BIRTHDAY
it was the year when i first started boarding school (i was in form 4). and it was the first birthday away from home. it was the quietest birthday that i had. i was waiting for MY friends to wish me happy birthday in the morning. but no one did. class went on as usual. i remember feeling so miserable that day. thankfully, that night, my english literature classmates gave me a birthday card. thank god for that - i was ready to commit suicide that night (KIDDING!)

(KEY-TO-FREEDOM, LEGAL-AGE-TO-DRINK) 21ST BIRTHDAY
my birthday fell on the exam week. usually my friends and i would go out for makan2 on my birthday. but that year, everyone told me that they're not available for celebration cause they needed to study. they've passed me birthday presents earlier.so on my birthday, i decided to treat myself for a movie at the golden class (gsc mid valley). it was recently opened at that time and i wanted to try it out. but i found out that on that day, the golden class was showing a period movie (lord of the rings or gladiator or something). and i am DEFINITELY not a fan of such movies. so, in the end i opted for rat race that was showing at one of the regular theatres. didn't enjoy it at all as my whole "treating myself on my birthday" plan was jinxed. after the movie, i had lunch ALONE (on my birthday!!!) and went back to college. pretty sad, eh?

25TH BIRTHDAY (SESSION WITH HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS*)
not only did they had to postpone it to the 30 september (cos everyone was soo busy), it sucked because there was an impending crisis between 2 of my close friends (some drama about one girl 'stealing' the other girl's love interest. i tell you i've got some really dramatic friends). so in the end, one of them didn't come and the gathering was in a rather sombre mood. and i got some not-very-desirable presents. hint: don't ever give me chocolates for my birthday (i'm not your girlfriend and i'm already fat as it is), or a witch hat (i'm not a witch nor do plan to become one). or a plastic jack-o-lantern (i don't celebrate halloween). i know you're trying to be cute - but i'm a VIRGO. i'm PRACTICAL. i like practical PRESENTS. got it? eh yeah, and instead of getting me a birthday cake, they got me strudels instead, i hate strudels. (ok la ok la ..it's the thought that counts. but putting more thought into these things would definitely count MORE)
*last year, i had 4 separate birthday gatherings - 1 with high school friends, 1 with uni friends, 1 with ex-colleagues and 1 with (then) current colleagues.

anyway, this year will be the first time that i'm celebrating my birthday outside the country. and i'll be celebrating my birthday with a bunch of people whom i didn't even know up until 7 months ago. i'm seriously not expecting them to throw me a surprise birthday party or anything (seriously - what are the chances?), so i'm planning to throw a small makan2 session myself on wednesday. not expecting any presents too (again - what are the chances?). just want to start the year with some good deeds as a sign of gratitude that i'm still alive. well, that AND to show off my new karaoke set to my officemates :P

oh and by the way, you guys are invited. this wednesday, 8.30 pm (GMT +4.00). just give me a ring first alright. hehehe ...