well well well, today is the big day, my 23rd birthday. how will i spend it? let’s see, it’s noon and so far i’ve talked on the phone with my lovely friend shannon amidst a few rounds of playing max payne 2. both were really fun — she’s doing super well, and i shot up a lot of bad guys. she’s sort of my inspiration to push ahead in this year’s dating game, since she’s got a serious boyfriend she likes so much and who’s so handsome and all that. i’d like to think i can do just as well for myself; besides, there will always be that little twinge of ‘i can’t let her win!’ attitude no matter how mature i am most of the time about it. nothing but love though, i’m just jealous she’s so set up and i’m still working on the romantic part.

the remainder of the afternoon will probably be of the relaxing pre-party variety. do a little light cleaning and putting away of easily-breakables. read a little. decide what delicious cocktails we want to buy and then go buy things to make them with, pour them into, keep them cool, and possibly munch on between them, so i don’t throw up after several rounds of drinking them. and probably dinner with the best friends who show up early before the rest of the crowd gathers.

i have to say yesterday was a pleasant surprise, birthday-wise. my team at work was all super-nice, and my bosses got me gifts they definitely were under no obligation to get. and the whole crew went out for a birthday/chinese new year lunch which was a lot of fun. it was a really good day and i have to say as far as my job goes, i’m pretty satisfied. birthdays seem to have a similar evaluative effect as do new years, but since that was so recent i think they got split, with the 1st being a time to plan on personal changes, and the 24th being a time to realize i’m in a great place career-wise, so at least i’ve got a piece of the pie figured out.

you know, i wish i had some birthday pie. hear that everybody? someone bring me a birthday pie tonight. all this pie talk has made me hungry. i meant this to be a quick ‘it’s my birthday!’ post but look at all this introspection — perhaps some lunch will straighten me out. don’t forget to come to the party tonight if you’re in the hood.

[now hearing this: hey mercedes, who really ought to have dragged wheat out to the west coast to keep touring with them this year, but noooooooo, we’ll probably get saves the day again. WEAK.]