My Hectic Birthday

Last Friday was my birthday. Here's what happened:
I woke up with a sense of optimism that today, felt like I was wiser :P I know I’m hitting the big 3-0 and being unmarried, it’s not something to shout about. Yet, I’m not feeling the pressure. Instead I feel defiant today and dare anyone to make any jibe about me still being single at this age. Fortunately for such person, no jibes came my way today. Did the day turn out the way I wanted it to be? Not exactly, I wanted to take leave but still came to work because there were some books that needed to be checked today. It wasn’t a lot, so I was hoping it would be a calm day today. How wrong I was.
The day started well enough but things became markedly busy around 8.30am when I had to check two book proofs that just came in from the printers. Luckily my colleagues helped me out and we managed to finish by lunchtime. I still got to go out for my birthday lunch with my friend. After lunch though, I was becoming antsy because a book of mine that was supposed to be delivered that afternoon hadn’t come in yet. My colleague called the printer a few times and they said the books were on the way. When I retold this tale to my friends later that evening, one of them said, “Never trust the phrase ‘on the way’!”
By 3.30pm, I was pacing up and down. I had to find out what were the procedures if I were to accept the books on behalf of my other colleague whom I knew would go back as soon as the clock struck 4.30pm. He told me how but he also gave me a bunch of obstacles: the books had to be paid for before we could accept them, the warehouse only accepts stock that come in by 4.15pm, and the security guards at the gate would only allow the lorry to come in if they come before 4.30pm. I was exasperated at hearing the many things he uttered. Can’t we have a little leeway? The books that were coming in were urgent because the author has a book launch this Monday at 9.30am. Finally, after consulting a few people I managed to find solutions for all the obstacles mentioned. First of all, its okay to receive books for which the authors have not paid yet as long as you get permission from the head of department (we had that). Secondly, since it seemed likely the book would be delivered after 4.15pm, we asked the printer to deliver the books at the front door; we will receive the books ourselves and keep it inside our department if it was necessary (the plan was to straightaway put the books in my colleague’s car but she had to leave around 5pm). Finally, just in case the guard wouldn’t let the driver in, I messaged the driver; asking them to call me if the guard wouldn’t let them in. I guess if you meet any stumbling block, all you have to do is find a solution and ignore people who easily say no to everything. I understand they can’t always accommodate last minute requests or they’d be saying yes to similar things more frequently, but this is something that happens once in a while. You need to be more flexible people!
Anywho, the books arrived around 4.30ish and the driver told me he went straight to the warehouse. I said don’t go there since it’s probably closed but the driver said he had to since it was raining. So I went to the warehouse to see the situation and surprisingly the warehouse was still open and one of the warehouse guys had already signed the delivery document. So all we had to do now was put all the books in my colleague’s car. She brought it to the back and one of the warehouse guys helped us carry the books into her car. Unfortunately, she couldn’t fit all the books, so I brought my car to the back and put in the remaining books. To add for dramatic effect, we had to do this in the rain which was slowly but surely getting heavier. I thanked the warehouse guys once we were done. When my other colleague told me earlier that the warehouse would close at 4.15pm, he portrayed the warehouse as an inflexible department but it seems like he was wrong. They let the printer drop off the books there eventhough the printer came around 4.30ish and they even helped us load the books into our car. Guess it just shows you shoudn’t judge anyone until you meet them in person no matter what anyone says about them.
Once the book shenanigan was over, I had to rush over to meet my friends for tea. Earlier I had frantically messaged them saying that I might not be able to make it due to work. My friend suggested meeting at a café nearby my house instead of meeting at 1U so that we have more time (I had to leave around 7pm because my family was having a gathering in conjuction with my birthday that evening). I left the office around 5.15pm and reached the café around 5.45pm (I avoided the highway). After all the running around, I could finally put my feet up. It was fun seeing my friends again. We chatted about many things but it was most fun when we reminisced our school days. I thought it would be rushed but we had more than enough time by the time we left around 7.30pm (my house was only 5 minutes away).
When I reached home, the house was full with my nephews and niece, brother and sisters. It felt “festive”. I wasn’t late since my younger sis hadn’t arrive home yet so I had time to unwind first. We had dinner around 8.15pm. My mom cooked all my favourite food: there was spinach fetuccine and eggplant parmesan! :D Kaklong brought dinner rolls. After dinner, my sis brought out my birthday cake. I was a green tea and red bean cake (mmm!) with three candles :P My mom also made chocolate mousse. Everything was delicious. I know everyone went to bed that night feeling extremely full. I know I did. I was extremely contented as well. Tired too. All that running around was exhausting. Things didn’t go exactly the way I would have liked it to on my birthday but I was happy with how it ended. Arigatou, minna! :D