Anticipation

For the past weeks of hectic work days, my only stress-reliever was to anticipate the surprise birthday celebration I was attempting to organize for Paolo.

I will be working at least 10 hours a day - without having the liberty to leave my desk even during lunchtime - and then work another 8 hours during weekends as well. In between those hectic hours, I would try to surf for the perfect venue for the suprise, look for friends who are willing to help, or try to research how to contact his friends without having to ask his help. It came to a point to a point that I felt more stress with this attempt but was well worth it anyway. Some friends we're willing to help (thanks to all of you, by the way!) and that made it a lot easier. After 300 pesos worth of cellphone load for "text brigading", some hours spent messaging his friendsters, some more hours chatting with his friends who were helping me (Laya and Nap, thanks again) and an almost unending wait for his vacation leave to get approved, the so called party finally happened.

I reserved the place for 15 people (basing from those who confirmed, I was expecting about 8 people) at 7 PM. At around past 8 I finally got into the place and found around 8 people there, just enought to satisfy my expectations, so I said, I can call over the celebrant and get this thing going. Paolo came and he didn't look surprised at all, more of confused. Hehe. Maybe because his body clock has been so messed up lately (having to work night shift one week, then the next during normal hours, etc). Anyway, dinner came and so did some more guests. All in all, more than 15 people came to celebrate with us, and I was really really pleased with that (Thanks again!). The tsikahan did not take rest for even a minute, you can hardly hear the background music because of people talking (mostly from Rigel) and Pay's laughter. Hehe.

It was really very gratifying to see my friends, Paolo's friends, his officemates, my relatives, his relatives, all in one room. :)

It makes me want to organize and think of more excuses to have them all together again.
I know I should have organized some games, or program, or as some has requested - videoke, as part of the party but I didn't. I should have gotten party hats, or balloons, but didn't. Well, I was just hoping people will come join us for dinner full of chit chat with friends anyway.

That's exactly what happenned, a night full of laughter, meeting new - old friends, beer or iced tea, and a lot of stories to tell.

~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~
Thanks again to those who came, and expect that those kinds of gatherings will happen again... videoke perhaps?
I will post the pictures as soon as I find my missing usb cable.