I turned 30! Its an end of an era in my life. I feel so much older perhaps because 30 seem to be so far away when I was in my teens and twenties. I used to relate the age 30 with maturity, self-fulfillment and security -- financially, career-wise and serious relationships and or raising a family of your own. I feel old but Im still as childlike as always but the concept of mortality and the nagging health issues Ive been having these past few months bother me a lot.

For my 30th birthday, Patrick and I took the afternoon off and decided to go to King of Prussia. Then we had a late lunch at The Bamboo Club Asian Bistro. The restaurant is known for its amazing Asian cuisine and ambience. Patrick gave me a shopping spree at the Sanrio store (I didnt buy a lot, I was not in a shopping mood on my birthday!), he also gave me a bouquet of roses. Then, we visited more shops, I got to do some early Christmas shopping and then we had light dinner at The Cheesecake Factory Restaurant because we wanted to have room for dessert. We split an appetizer and had a slice of cheescake each. Patrick ordered the original style cheesecake while I had a brownie sundae mousse cheesecake. Yum, yum! Then we went home. That was pretty much how my birthday was! We got home sometime after 10 pm. When I checked our answering machine for messages, I was glad to hear that several people from different corners of the US and the Philippines called to greet me a Happy Birthday. My cellphone was full of messages too and some people emailed as well.

So thank you to all of you who remembered my birthday. Big thanks to Patrick --for making my birthday fun and all the hot pink and silver gifts, add to that the Hello Kitty lap desk and micro fiber blanket, Sandra --for the Grey's Anatomy DVD, Precious moments figurine and Hello Kitty notepad, Benz, John and Kite -- your gift is a delight! It will be a nice touch in our Hello Kitty themed bathroom, Raquel -- for the Hello Kitty overnight bag, my sister and family -- the nice blouse, Peachy Pie -- for calling and chatting with me even if you are paying for the overseas call. Thanks again, everyone!

Being thirty makes me want to make changes, good changes in life, I have a long list of the things I should do, achieve, improve and even get rid of. I'll let you know how that turns out. In the meantime, I know that the following weeks will be a series of medical related activities. Im not looking forward to that but Im hoping for good results.

Its the eve before my birthday... I'm almost thirty! Well, its an end of an era, gone are the days when Im twenty-something.

In my 20's ...

I earned my college degree (was 19 yrs and 7 months when I graduated)
I got my first job
I put up a small business
I helped raise my nieces
I lost my dad
I moved to Pennsylvania, USA
I visited and explored a lot of the states in the US
I became independent
I took my masters degree in the US
I have had some harsh realizations in life
I got published (articles and write ups)
I lost some and gained some friends near and far
I met a wonderful man who became very special to me
I have more medical issues
I solidified a handful of friendships that will last a lifetime
I fell in love, got engaged and got married

That pretty much sums up my life in my 20's...

So as the gate to my 30's is opened, I can only hope for better things, lasting friendships, happy marriage, growth and wonderful memories!

Ive been stuck at home all day, feeling achey all over, with stuffy nose, headache and scratchy throat. It started Monday night when I felt a cold was coming, I took Airborne and loaded up on vitamin C. I know it wasn't going to prevent it or cure it but Im hoping that it will lessen the severity and shorten the duration of the symptoms of a bad cold or flu.

I went ahead and followed my Tuesday schedule, ending the day with a quick to the salon. Ive been meaning to get a haircut for the longest time so I set the appointment last weekend and decided that though I am fighting the sniffles, I should just go ahead and show up at the salon. So I had a haircut - chopped 6 inches from my hair. Its still long though despite all that hair gone, it can still be tied up on a pony tail and its still a few inches past my shoulder. Im turning a year older next week and wanted to welcome that with a haircut. hahaha! :0) Had my brows waxed too and in half an hour, I was done and off to meet the tub of hub a.k.a. Patrick.

We decided to have dinner at Macaroni Grill and after waiting for 15 minutes, we were finally seated. Since I wasn't feeling well, I decided to just got a big bowl of their pesto mushroom soup and Patrick had their chicken salad.

So we had a nice dinner until it was time to get our check. It took a long time before the server brought our check and when it finally came, Patrick slipped his credit card in that black leatherette folder where they had the check. The server came and took the folder and then the long wait starts. It took her forever to bring us back Patrick's card. After about 15 minutes of waiting, the manager approached us to tell us that the server lost Patrick's card and that he and the other servers will be looking for it. So we had to keep waiting... we waited for another 20 or so minutes until we both felt it was time to go. They have not found the card and so its probably the case that someone picked it up and didn't surrender it to an employee. So we left and as soon as we got home, Patrick reported the card as missing and cancelled it.

We didnt hear back from the Macaroni Grill manager who said that he was going to call as soon as he finds it.

Now, not only was the server not apologetic (in fact, she even tried to avoid us after the manager revealed that she -- the server, lost our card), they didnt even offer us something while we waited. Not even coffee or tea or dessert... not that we wanted to take advantage or we needed anything but it would have been nice if they offered since they were causing the delay to begin with.

Anyway, so Patrick is waiting for that replacement credit card and I hope it arrives soon.

Ive gotten a few " Happy Birthday" emails from some of my friends as early as last month! I got a card (sent through snail mail) from a friend in California early July and I got the first card sent via snail mail from the Philippines today. The greetings are starting to trickle and though Im trying to ignore the fact that I will be turning 30 in 2 weeks, the cards and messages certainly remind me of the milestone birthday lurking around. :)

I appreciate those who really take the time out to write and mail a snail mail card. Nothing beats snail mail! Its more personal, it shows that the person has really taken the time out to send their wishes and greetings. Not to say that emails and text messages are less appreciated. Im really just a snail mail kinda gal. And I try my very best to send snail mail cards and letters to family and friends on their birthdays, Christmas and other occasions. I know that there are times when they get lost in the postal limbo world and they never get my cards or letters but I still try and hope for the best.

When the greetings start to trickle, it reminds me of how birthdays bring thoughts and memories of the person who is celebrating a birthday and how I discover once more the joy of being remembered and wished well by family and friends near and far. I realize too who actually take the time out to send me greetings, call or even send gifts... that brings that warm fuzzy feeling inside. :)