Saturday, April 12, 2008

Just call it a day

I'm not too sure which was more fun - cutting my birthday cake four days before my birthday in the office pantry ("We wanted to surprise you, hence the early celebration." was my team's explanation) or reading the creative emails forwarded to me afterwards.

=======================

From: GM [very creative member of my team]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:38 AM
To: [My team]
Cc: [My lunch group]
Subject: important date

On 13th April, a little girl was born.

She grew up to have many adventures, and became the leader of a band of marauding raiders who sack the Boston Coast [my team reports to the Boston office] from time to time.

She now reclines languidly against the big-ass pillar of protection and looks over the land through a far-seeing glass.

In gratitude for her leadership, the Boston Raiders are planning a feast to celebrate her day of birth.

Join us in contributing ideas for the celebration, or the Raiders will pillage your cubicle!

-A very sleep-deprived GM

From: GK [yet another creative team member]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 5:12 PM
To: [My team, My lunch buddies, other Team Leaders]
Subject: Re: important date

Fantasy version (written by our budding fantasy story author GM!)

Join the Boston Raiders in their great feast – a vast celebration of the birth of our leader!

In preparation for the feast, the Raiders have planned to pillage some nearby villages for the following:

Food
- One entire roast chicken for our leader, adorned with a magic sparkler that will make her wishes come true (any varmint caught sullying the chicken will be made a slave to be given to the PAs for the year)

- Corn muffins (or other baked goods) kindly volunteered by our Guardian Valkyrie in Pink [colleague of mine who like everything pink and even sports a pink parachute...errr I mean parasol]. She will dispense the baked goods at the needed time with a twirl of her mighty Parasol.

- Insert other food items of choice – what can you grab while pillaging? Don’t get too distracted by the women, and no furtive gorging!

Drink
In view of the latest Prohibition from On High, the Raiders are off the beer/wine-wagon.

Please grab whatever drinkables you can find, or suggest a few types and we will plan a raiding party to obtain them.

And the simple version:

We are holding a birthday celebration for Sayesha tomorrow. Her actual birthday is this Sunday but we wanna surprise her (and GM is out of office from this Thursday onwards) so the best day would be tomorrow… I hope there are no violent objections.

Thank you all so much for your kind contributions. We are going to get a card (which everyone will have to sign really quickly!), a cake and a gift during lunchtime tomorrow… and apparently a roast chicken, I dunno why! If anyone has any other bright ideas, please feel free to chip in.

The details are as follows:
Time: 3.30pm
Place: Pantry
Note: Please do not walk to the pantry in a big group.

Hope everyone can make it!
From: Team Boston

====================

The older you get, you start realising what a fool you had been all these years to actually consider birthdays "happy" occasions. What is there to be happy about anyway? With each passing year, you get farther from people and farther from yourself, you discover more flaws, more disappointments, more regrets, more judgement, more cynicism, more things (and people) that annoy you, and more things that don't matter. I know there's supposed to be a textbook list of GTAGO (Good Things About Growing Older) but frankly speaking, at this point in time, it seems like a rather bullshitty list. And when the guy who matters the most is sent by his 'village leader' to the other side of the world, there's no end to TLODTTTAAYBA (The List Of Depressing Things To Think About As Your Birthday Approaches).

I guess that's the reason why your loved ones sing really loudly on your birthday and stress on the "HAPPY" in "Happy Birthday to you!" multiple times.

To distract you from how depressing birthdays really are.

Ah well, it worked. :)

Thanks, dear colleagues (and ex-colleague who not only still remembers my birthday but also how much I love cheesecake). Kinda reminded me that life's still good. I still have things (and people) I love and those that love me. Love you guys, for the very successful attempt at cheering me up. Love to be working with you. Love my job.

Ahem, not a big fan of Viv's though. :/



46 comments:

Sanchit said...

umm nice post.. but u oughta be :) on ur birthday.. i agree u discover more things about yourself, more follies.. but it makes u more experienced, more mature.. and the +ve list also goes on bah bah bah... :) anyways time to rock on, happy birthday...

and yeah.. gold..

hope u have some good time while i toil in ma office..

Maryum said...

silver!!!!!
Oh god... such excitement,,, havent read the post yet.. will read it and comment.. yeh msg sirf silver ki khushi main.. lol

shub said...

you'd better be more cheerful this birthday than you were on the last one.Else I'll kick your butt!

Maryum said...

awwww.. u are missing viv... superman will surprise you i m sure...main pichle 2 din se soch rahi thi k kisi ka happy birthday hai 13th ya 12th ko and mujhe yaad nahi aaraha tha.. it was you.....
as u can see k bronze bhi mera hoya... hahaha... so does bronze and silver mix and make gold????(wishful thinking.. but one shud dream big haina)..luv and best wishes for tomorow... will say happy birthday tomorow..

Maryum said...

and shub didnt claim the bronze so its mine....:D

Unknown said...

HEPPY BUDDAY TO YOOOOOO :D

Just Jane said...

:O :O :O

birthdays are depressing to you??

has this been posted by an imposter? :P

or is our sash finally growing up?
:)

wishing you a wonderful birthday tomm and a great weekend! :)

Unknown said...

here is a post that made me think differently about buddays

http://vishymn.blogspot.com/2007/09/today.html

V said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
V said...

happy bday, girl :-)

Technofun said...

Hey Happy Birthday ... Its not been a year since I started reading this blog ... But will surely remember next year :)

Also birthdays are good... atleast they show you people still love you...

And haa .. birthday post are also good... It put smiles on many face :)

(wish I will get gold some time :) )
all the best and have a rocking year ahead

Unknown said...

Happy B'day!! :D

And yeah, u r right about birthday, Whats to be happy, you are getting OLDER!

Bivas said...

Okay...its past 12 in Indianow so officially...Happy Birthday Sash! :-)
N cheer up!

Stone said...

ohh boy, those were some complex mails.
***

C'mon age has nothing to do with b'days; everyone love b'days n enjoy the importance. Though very few dare to admit it :-)

I'm sure a big surprise is on the way from our wicketkeeper boy!

Happy Birthday!

Iday said...

Hmmm... I'm not a fan of Viv's job too, if this is what it does to you guys! Knowing you guys, i'm sure Viv will do something to make up for his absence.

Hope you had a great birthday :)

Amey said...

People born in April are the best, as you must know :D

Happy B'Day!!!

Yogita said...

Happy Birthday Sayesha!

manju said...

Happy Birthday, Sayesha :) Hope you had a great day ! Ya, with bdays people get older, but its a nice feeling when people who care about you remember and wish you on your day ! Cheer up girl !!!

Kanan said...

Happy birthday, Sayesha! :)

Nemo said...

Happy Birthday Sayesha! :)
Nice post!

soleil said...

I loved the way you told the story :)
All the people I love were on the other side of the world on my birthday but I still managed to feel their love ;)

Urv said...

Bhai, kal to apka Happy wala budday tha! :) Main to khushi ke maare talli ho gaya tha, to wish hij nai kar paya. To Bhai, Happy budday. Cheers Bhai :)

Anonymous said...

Belated Happy birthday Sash bhai. Wish you a life filled with happiness, success and contentment. May all your dreams come true and may you write more and more to keep us amused! :P
Cheers!

Sri said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAYESHA!MAY ALL UR DREAMS AND WISHES COME TRUE!:)

mythalez said...

"heppy happy" birthday!

and to add to ur points against 'happy birthdays', with every passing one you also discover things not yet done/achieved :P

Tejal said...

Haappppyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Birthdayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! (er..belated)
Hope it was gud :)
Ahem..Viv, abhi hi jaana tha to other side of the world?! :S :(

sd said...

Happy B'day Bhai. Have a bash!

How do we know said...

happy birthday, belated.

Sayesha said...

#Sanchit,
Thanks yaar! And you're right - bah bah it is! :P

#Maryum,
:D

#Shub,
Hehehehe! I behaved, okay? :/

#Maryum,
Thanks! :D

#Ipanema Girl,
Thanks!

#Janefield,
They have been totally depressing in the last 2 years. And you guys should know. :)

#Ipanema Gal,
Yeah...

#V,
Thanks! :)

#Technofun,
Thanks! :)

#Sanket,
Thanks! :)

#Bivas,
Hehe! Thanks yaar! :D

#Stone,
//ohh boy, those were some complex mails.

Hehehe! Editors ne likha tha... :P

//I'm sure a big surprise is on the way from our wicketkeeper boy!

There'd better be! :/
Or Viv had better be reading this! :D

#Iday,
Thanks! And double thanks for calling! That was a surprise! :)

#Amey,
//People born in April are the best, as you must know :D

Muahahaha! I swear! :D
ps: Et tu, Brutus? :P

#Yogita,
Thanks! :D

#Manju,
Thanks! :)

#Kanan,
Thanks! :)

#Nemo,
Thank you! :)

#Soleil,
Thanks! :)

#Urv,
Hehehe... ja ja do chaar aur chadha le! Meri taraf se! :P

#Lively,
Thanks so much! :)

#Sri,
Thank you! :)

#Mythalez,
Ack! True true! :P

#Tejal,
Thank you! :)

//Ahem..Viv, abhi hi jaana tha to other side of the world?! :S :(

Tu toh fan club ki President hai, suna de usko! :/

#sd,
Thank you! :)

#How do we know,
Thanks! :)

Jaya said...

Happy Birthday Sayesha. Birthday excitement might wear off with years but not the birthday party fun!

Iday said...

//That was a surprise!
And to hear 'golden gali' from you on your birthday was really awesome!!! I was SO hoping you wouldnt realize why i asked the number :) I'm very glad it worked!

When distance prevent plans of pani puri treats from materializing, friends have to resort to such super-magic tricks to kushi-fy the bhai :D

Just Jane said...

why have your birthdays been depressing? i have no idea. guess its what you make of the day yourself.

Shan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shan said...

Hey Sayesha,

Belated Birthday Wishes To You...

You Have Grown Older and Gave Lots of Love, Fun & Happiness to lots of people...By Growing Older You are yet to Give lot's 'n' lot's...

So 'Growing Old' is Happy :))

Happy B'day dear Sayesh...

Vaijayanta Chattoraj said...

Happy birthday Sayesha :)

Dont worry about about getting farther and farther from friends & yourself and this world. Just take a chill pill and enjoy life. Live each moment with happiness without thinking about the future/past. All I want to say is, "Aj Ek Zindagi Jee Lo, Aaj Ek Khushiyan Baat Lo, Kya Pata? Kal Ho Na Ho?"

Anonymous said...

Kya Sash bhai, only thanks bolke nipta diya? No drinks in the bar?

anshuj said...

Happy Birthday Sayesha! I guess this has to be a belated wish, this year.

Sayesha said...

#Joy,
Thank you! :)

#Iday,
Hehe.. yeah you did manage to fool me there! I shouldn't believe you so much! :P

#Janefield,
Yes, you're right. I make it depressing. It's very fun to do that. :)

#S,
Thank you! :)

#Vaijayanta,
Thanks! :)

#Lively,
Drinks toh fultu free flow hai every day! :D

#Anshuj,
Thanks! :)

Just Jane said...

Sash,

That you need a shrink is obvious, but from the looks of things, your poor shrink will need a shrink at this rate! :)

Sayesha said...

#Jane,
Erm... this time I was actually sarcastic. But never mind. As Madonna says - nothing really matters. :)

Unknown said...

@Sash, regarding the convo b/w you and Jane:

One, that was not sarcasm. Just a pathetic attempt to do so where there was no need in the first place. Jane wasn't being sarcastic or snide.
Secondly, you're right. "nothing really matters"...except for that lousy little smiley perhaps which you use as a bleh kind of tool when nothing occurs to you.

And don't tell me I should not get involved. I am badtameez, you see.


Navdeep

PS: 'Nothing Else Matters' is a Metallica song. Better concentrate on Hindi songs only. Half-baked knowledge looks dumb, especially when used to show-off.

Unknown said...

Oh, I just saw it was 'Nothing Really Matters. Apologies for the PS. Genuine ones. I'm not too keen to waste my sarcasm skills here.

rt said...

Belated happy birthday!!!

may you have a great year (of writing blogs, and we have agreat year reading them :))

Sayesha said...

#rt,
Thanks for your wishes! :)

VIDYA said...

Belated happy bday ,Bhai!Bole toh hardik shubhkamnayein!

Sayesha said...

#VIDYA,
Shukriya shukriya. :)