Same Old Same Old Birthday

I turned 31 last Monday.  Nothing's changed that much as far as birthdays go:

• Our house is still the same.  The loan I applied for with the Home Mortgage and Development Fund is still up for approval, even after 1 month since I submitted it.  Even if it does get approved, there is still the question if the loan proceeds would be enough to cover the construction of the house as per the design specifications.  Especially now that I foresee most of my life savings going to mama's treatments.  Oh well.  If push comes to shove, I think our termite-riddled, flood-predisposed, leaky-ceiling house is still habitable . . . in the absence of a high-intensity earthquake.
  
• I still celebrate my birthday at home, with relatives.  With spaghetti, macaroni salad, and pansit.  This year, with two rolls of Red Ribbon cake.  So much for my initial plans to bring mama and my nanay-nanayan to the Isdaan restaurant in Tarlac for a birthday lunch.  But then being extravagant is really not the way to go during these times.  Although I do get to eat out with friends and teammates to celebrate, it would be nice if I'd be able to do the same food trips with my family as well.
  
• I stil don't have a girlfriend.  Starting to think I'm not meant to have one, too.  Pretty simple logic.  It shouldn't be this hard if the end-state was me having my own family.  The push and pulls that I'm going through, both from work and from family, it would take a pretty understanding lady to go through.  So, single-blessedness is not necessarily out of the question these days.
  
• I still get gifts.  This year, it's a wall clock from my Ate Weny, and classy hankies, socks and a necktie from my Nanay-nanayan.  Then there's the fiery red Armani polo shirt from my Ate Mitz, and Appeton from one of my friends, Irene.  At 31, it's kind of weird to still be receiving gifts from the people who gave you gifts since you were 1.
  
• I still don't feel old.