27 on the 27th

ali celebrated her 27th birthday with an after-dinner pizza-pasta-drinks party. the day before, after my so-so interview i went to glorietta in the hope of finding ali a nice xmas/bday gift. i've always said i'm not really good at shopping for others and buying gifts for whatever occasion isn't any different. i think i walked the mall a good hour and a half in my very uncomfortable leather shoes that i was really ready to give up. i finally settled on a few books by some of my favorite authors rather than a really cool coffee table book about manila's restaurants because i had a sort of limited budget.

the party should have been a reunion of sorts, for those who are still part of the big blue and those who have decided to pursue new adventures elsewhere. it was too bad that some folks were not able to make it that night. being back there at ali's house, i couldn't help but reminisce how many parties and unplanned drinking sprees we had the time ali was still part of the big blue. those were some of the best times with the big blue barkada - well, nothing lasts forever right? as usual, the unbeatable bene-jowell tandem took centerstage after a few drinks mingling and passing around shots from table to table. ali's beau, brian, showed us his vocal stylings throughout the night. i didn't really drink much that night, a bottle of beer, two shots of a dark brown liquid in an efficasent-oil kinda looking bottle (lol) and a full shot of gin. it felt like i was really in a better place after - at least in my head. its funny but being away from alcohol for quite some time, i can't handle it as much as i used to before - can't be the age thing di ba? maybe i'm already done with the whole get-drunk phase and i'm really much more of a social drinker nowadays.

i packed up half-past midnight - i didn't plan to get drunk that night anyway. it was great to see everybody, even meet ali's beau and officemates. its probably the last party for 2007 and it was a great one.

i am very thankful for those who gave presents - thank you for remembering. ali, your gift was perfect - i don't have to tell you how much i love it. thanks!