On birthdays

Today, I turned 26. As in, the clock switched over about an hour ago.

Normally, I’m asleep when my birthday starts. I like sleeping, and don’t really have many qualms about sleeping through the first few hours. Actually, sleeping in on my birthday would be a great start. But I am definitely a birthday person. I love the fact that for one day, it can be about me. I can do what I chose to (usually) and eat cake and sometimes even ice cream.

An hour ago I was at a bowling alley with my husband, and three friends from work. I’m not a bowler. I don’t really enjoy it, and I am TERRIBLE at it. But, one of the things important to me while we’re in Taiwan (and as a lifestyle choice as well) is to say yes when people invite me out. Even if it’s not my favourite thing to do. Especially when it’s something Dave does enjoy doing.

At just after twelve o’clock I got Dave to snap a picture of me before I threw a ball. When I turned around, the girls had a cake ready for me. Brooke and Dave had talked about it earlier in the day, and I got to start my 26^th birthday in one of the best ways- with chocolate cake, my husband, and some friends. And I even got to keep the cool cake knife!

Nearly every night I star gaze. I’m not totally sure why, but I can’t see that many stars here. Not like back home. Whether light pollution or actual pollution or location of the earth, five is the biggest number I’ve been able to count. Until tonight. I don’t know how many I saw, nor do I really care. And why? Because Dave found Orion’s belt, my favourite constellation! It’s one of the few I can recognize, but it just made the world feel a little smaller as I could see it all the way over here. It seemed smaller, and maybe even dimmer, but it was there!!

And now, on to the next best thing. A hot bath, and sleep. Tomorrow (today?) is HESS’s annual Chinese New Year banquet. Basically I get to put on some nice clothes, eat free food and chill with a large number of coworkers. The only issue is that it’s a work only event, so Dave has to stay home. Maybe not my first choice, but at least I’m not actually working!