Elfster makes it easy to set up Secret
Santa gift exchanges. It automates signing up, drawing people, and
even anonymously asking questions. Here's the one I made for one of my
barkadas. (Small group because everyone had to know everyone else
well…)

Christmas is about love, not shopping. ^_^ So let's have a letter
exchange! Instead of scouring tiangges looking for the perfect gift
that'll fit into your already tight budget, write a nice, long, warm,
heart-felt letter instead. Also, make one New Year's Resolution and
dedicate it to your recipient. We could all use a little help in
keeping _those_… =)

Incidentally, the organizer can rig it. I didn't, though. ;) It would
be fun to have it randomized. Of course, nothing's stopping us from
writing letters for _everyone_, if we feel particularly diligent… =)

Check out Elfster and set up your Secret Santa gift exchange soon!

Clair and my mom went shopping the other day. They started shopping at
3:30, and they ended up hanging out all the way until 11. I think
that's totally amazing. I _love_ it when my friends and my family get
along splendidly. Clair totally rocks. My mom totally rocks. =) Wow.

And my mom remembered that I bought books on dealing with quarter-life
crisis, and recommended them to Clair.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww… That's so cool!

I have fantastic friends. I'm a happy girl.

Twelve hours' time difference didn't stop my friends from a proper
birthday party for me. What can you expect when your friends are
geeks? They pulled out all the stops: cellphones for quick setup and
communication, Yahoo Messenger for
text and video, and moblogs for pictures of the celebration. Too bad a
firewall stopped us from chatting via Skype!

It was slightly weird because there were six people chatting around
one computer in a coffee shop in Manila, one person connecting from
U.P. Baguio (Mario), and of course me, connecting from my dorm. Six
people! One keyboard! Still, through the valiant efforts of Dominique
and Charo, Mario and I “heard” enough of the conversation to laugh
ourselves to bits. Mario was the only one who could see my webcam, but
he took a screenshot just so that the others could see me with my cute
hat! =)

To commemorate my birth, my friends dug into a tub of dulce de leche
ice cream. Knowing what kind of ice cream they had (and how quickly it
was disappearing) reminded me of the ice cream parties we had when I
was there. =) I remember our quest for dulce de leche, too!
Oooooh… yummy… Not to be left out, I told them I'm going to cook
lasagna later. Marcelle and Dominique remember what my lasagna tastes
like. =)

They even called up long-distance and passed around the phone for
quick birthday greetings!

_That's_ how you throw a geek birthday party.

Thanks, everyone. You really made my day special. That warm and fuzzy
feeling you gave me this morning is what's getting me through the rest
of this quiet day…

^_^

It's so great to have such friends! =D

I've just finished watching the video my friends made for my birthday
and send-off party, and now that I've recovered my
breath from laughing so hard, all I can say is… wow!

Here's a toast to a totally amazing group of friends without whom I
would be missing out on so much wonderfulness.

For my birthday and send-off party, a bunch of my friends got together
and made a video that I could bring with me to Canada. I haven't
watched it yet. I thought I shouldn't do it while I was still settling
in, while I still wasn't quite sure that this was a good idea.

I'm going to watch it later. I think I've gotten the rhythm of things
and I've found little sources of joy here.

I can't wait to see what they've come up with. =)

Ack ack ack. Three hours to go. Anyway, the party's at the Enrique
studio, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. =) We're next to Mercury
Drug. Map: 2005.07.06#5 Time: 1 – 5, program at 3. Bring your 2-year
plan. =)

If you're reading this blog, consider yourself invited.

Watched King Arthur, Ring 2 (not worth watching), Ranma, and My Little
Bride with Marcelle, Grace, Ranulf, Peppy, and Sean at my house. It
was a lot of fun hanging out with them. My Little Bride was so cute!