February 10, 2026
Today I turned 33.
I woke up feeling well-rested after a good night’s sleep. My dreams were vivid and strange, unfolding in sharp, disjointed sequences. In one, there was a vampire inside my house, an unsettling presence lingering in the background. In another, the toilet on the second floor was backing up, a quiet domestic disaster. The scene then shifted dramatically—I found myself at an enormous university in Las Vegas, so large it contained a mall and even a casino within its campus. At some point, LA Chinatown gangs appeared in the narrative, adding another layer of intensity before I finally woke.
When I got up, I checked the weather. It was sunny with a high of 45°F—warm for a February day. The brightness outside felt fitting for a birthday morning.
I arrived at work and immediately joined a meeting. It was my seventh day at Encore. The meeting was hosted by Sumana, the VP of App Development. She came across as strict but kind. Afterward, she showed me around the office and introduced me to various managers and VPs. It felt like a formal welcome into the larger organization.
The office had provided lunch for everyone—turkey and salami wraps, chips, salad, fruit, and even a taco station. I chose the wraps. It was a pleasant surprise and made the day feel a little more celebratory.
After lunch, I walked to the outlet mall for some exercise. It’s only about eight minutes from the office. The mall was nearly empty, a stark contrast to the usual weekend crowds. The quiet made the walk peaceful.
Back at the office, I was assigned to research SSO login integration for our Checkmarx scanning app. I submitted a report to my supervisor. Later, I received a call from the mailroom—there were packages addressed to me. Inside were a computer and two monitors. At first, I assumed they were for my remote work setup, but a coworker mentioned that we don’t receive equipment for remote days. After checking with my supervisor, we realized it was a duplicate order. My manager arranged to have it sent back.
I left work shortly after 5 p.m.
When I arrived home, Luisa had a surprise waiting for me. She had picked up Chinese food—short ribs and fried rice—and a birthday cake from Tous les Jours. Soon after, friends arrived to celebrate: George, Isabel, Olivia, Alberto, Serena, Samantha, and Allen.
We shared wine, and some had coffee. We ordered pizza from Domino’s. Eventually, we gathered around the cake, and they sang “Happy Birthday.” The cake was delicious.
The evening wrapped up around 9:30 p.m., and everyone headed home. I thanked Luisa and told her how much I appreciated everything she had done. It truly was a wonderful 33rd birthday—simple, warm, and full of thoughtful surprises.