Oh happy (birth)day

Not that I make a big deal of my birthday. But it was a terrific day, thanks to some surprises.

Surprise #1: I got to work early and was working diligently when I heard whispering outside my office and there were three of my dear friends and colleagues with a birthday cake, a real work of art: chocolate sponge layers with chocolate cream filling, topped with chocolate whipped cream and FRUIT! Blueberries and strawberries on top, with kiwi, dark cherries and black raspberries hidden in the center.

Then my boss, our newest team member, and my next-door office neighbor appeared. Seven people in my office is quite a crowd. I don't often get teary-eyed at 9am, but the thoughtfulness and caring of these folks, 3 of whom have worked for me, was sweet, touching, and unexpected.

Try as we might, we could not cut the cake into the usual skinny slices, because the slices fell apart. When cakes and other baked goods appear, the remainders usually are put by the coffee. But with 7 not-skinny slices gone, the cake didn't go very far. I made sure our long-time admin got a piece, because she's a quiet, shy person who works hard and gets no credit. Boy, was that delicious cake. Cake for breakfast! Yum!

Surprise #2: After the birthday party I returned to my computer and I discovered it had been attacked by some malware that put pornographic web pages up over and over. This is a surprise at 9:30am. I called our Help Desk, and they told me to shut down the computer and bring it to them.

Surprise #3: How long would the Help Desk have it? The rest of the day. Well. I really wouldn't be able to get any work done at all. There were no loaner laptops available. I went to my boss. "There's no point in you staying," she said. "Happy birthday."

I'd planned to leave for Burlington at half past noon to get my hair done. Instead, I left at 11 am!! I got all my errands done before my hair appointment, and got to make fun stops afterward - at a yarn shop, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Cabot Cheese and Green Mountain Camera. I got home at 4pm, not 6pm, to find birthday greetings from family and a birthday box from my sister.

Birthday bonus: The Help Desk has my laptop. That means I'm absolutely unable to do any work at the office this weekend. Oh happy day!!