Saturday, March 05, 2005
The Gang at TGIFs
The Prized Possession
Kengkawan...
Say cheeeeeeese!
I knew the day would eventually come. Tick, tock, tick, tock...... KAAPOWWW!!!! "Go shorty, it's your birthday... we gonna party like it's your birthday..." this song by 50 Cent was boppin' in my head as I arose from slumber on Feb 22. "Holy crappin' crap! You're -- years old today!" the face in the mirror said in a tone as if the announcement ought to have been splashed in the morning paper of the "Over The Hill R' Us"! Well, hey... it's better to be over the hill than buried under it dammit! I sure as hell didn't feel my age. "Why, God, why?! We made a deal!" said my psychotic inner voice. Anyway, I decided to put aside all my negative feelings because I was looking forward to enjoying my birthday dinner with my peeps ... the people who are responsible for turning me into the neurotic maniac that I am now. Thank ya, people!
Never in my life had I been serenaded that many times. I wished that day would never end. I can't remember the last time when 69 people sang the "Happy Birthday" song to me. But what made me laugh until my insides hurt was an SMS I received from our dear friend Matt H - "Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to A for Apple Aida, happy birthday to you!". Matt, ol' pal, you crack me up. I'm sure you guys are wondering "What the ---tooooooooot".
You see, it happened a few days before my birthday when I was hangin' with the two Matts (Matt H and Matt G) at the mamak. Matt H had just finished accounts class which apparently resulted in a few fried brain cells.
Aidas & Matts
Anyway, he wanted to store my phone number in his handphone. Check out the conversation as I remember it:
Aidas & Matts
Anyway, he wanted to store my phone number in his handphone. Check out the conversation as I remember it:
Matt H: "Eh, how to spell your name ah?"
Me: "A-I-D-A"
Matt H: "Huh?" (signalling he couldn't hear me as some of our other friends were at the table and two or three conversations were simultaneously taking place.)
Me: "It's A for apple ... I-D-A."
(And 10 seconds later ...)
Matt H: "Eh, why your name so weird ah?"
(Hmmm ... you could just imagine the dumbfounded look on MY face!)
Me: "Weird? It's just four letters. A-I-D-A.
(At this point, Matt blushes in utter embarassment, laughs his head off and shows me his phone... what do I see?:
....
....
"A for Apple IDA"
Needless to say, all of us at the table were in stitches. Matt's excuse was, "Aiyo sorry lah... just finished accounts class lah!" ...
So there. Matt, if you're reading this, that birthday message is still in my phone. Classic man, classic. Anyway, hours passed by and I couldn't wait to go home and shower for my birthday shindig at TGI Friday. By 9pm, all of us were chowing down the yummy grub. It was a Tuesday night so there weren't that many tables so we literally contributed to the noise in the restaurant. You can imagine my surprise when Hilyah and Ka Ling serenenaded with not one, but two songs from Alicia Keys and that I song I so love from My Best Friend's Wedding. Thanks, guys.
Moving along, the night got even better. The gang, headed by Brendon, presented me with a gift I will treasure forever, plus all the other gifts I got that day. (If I could take it to my grave, man.. I so would!) All of you who were there know I never went ultra-sonic like that before, right? I was given the "Friends" collector's item souvenir book! You could have given me a pot of gold but it would have paled in comparison to what I got. You guys are the best and like I said that night, the book is a true symbol of what you all are to me.
Could the night get any better? Hell yeah! I was once again serenaded by the TGIFs crew and was forced to blow out my birthday candles, which consisted of trick candles, while standing no less, and was asked to sing my rendition of "Smelly Cat" while holding a gigantic pepper shaker. Man, did we have a blast! Oh and yes, the night would not have been complete without imposing a dare on Latif, who scoffed down a chunk of birthday cake drizzled with salt, coke, margarita, chillli sauce, tomato sauce and some other crap. Did you really think they would have let the birthday girl off from consuming that horrendous concoction? I will lose out big time if I ever go on Fear Factor, let me tell you.
Awesome would not even describe my birthday this year. It was the most memorable one I ever had and I thank Hai Yuan for recording it on her digicam because it is definitely a treasure.
To all you guys ... love you to pieces!
The Gang at TGIFs
The Prized Possession
Kengkawan...
Say cheeeeeeese!
green leaf ;
