The announcement was made over the office P.A. system at around 2:00 p.m. this afternoon: “Natalie Cooper, please proceed to the production office for your surprise birthday party.”
I hurried down and joined the others in waiting for the birthday gal who showed up fashionably five minutes later. The candles on the cake were lit and we all joined in a rendition of Happy Birthday (with completely different lyrics and melody because, of course, the original Happy Birthday song is copyrighted).
Now whenever office birthday’s roll around, I can always be counted upon to do three things:
1. Sing one half beat slower than everyone else so that I am gloriously out of sync.
2. Hold that last “yoooooooooou” for an uncomfortably long time.
3. Clap my hands and yell “Speech! Speech!” to add to the awkwardness.
After having some cake and cupcakes (I did both out of my deep respect for the Natalie), it was time for the card (I signed “J. Mallozzi – Showrunner”, just in case she confused me with another J. Mallozzi) and birthday present.
Apparently, Natalie is taking boxing lessons and now has her very own gloves.
She was eager to try them out and I volunteered –
Trevor, but he had already fled. So she practiced with Caitlin’s whose hands were a poor substitute for Trevor’s face.
I told Natalie I was going to make today’s entry a dedicated birthday blog post and she asked me to relay the following information:
– She was born in 1990 during one of the most brutal blizzards ever recorded.
– She was born in a hospital so rundown that it has since been demolished.
– Her great aunt is a rapper who performs at various senior facilities around the California area (Book now to avoid disappointment!).
Okay, everyone. Back to work.
Joe, have you mean studying my “office birthday party” singing style? I used to do that all the time back when we used to celebrate people’s birthdays with cake and singing in the section. That type of merriment is all long gone now though, since The Organization has ground up everyone’s spirits into dust like so much recycled newsprint. Wait, what were we talking about again?
Oh, happy birthday, Natalie!! 🙂
Happy Birthday Natalie!!! Eye of the Tiger and all that.
Joe, I was really excited about the show when it was first announced. But now, it will mean even more to me. Because when it premieres I will lovingly watch the credits roll on each episode and feel like I know all the people contributing their talents to make it a success. Thanks for sharing their faces and foibles. I wish you’d shared the cake and cupcakes but I won’t carp about it. Much. This is going to be so much fun…
OMgosh! 1990??!! Natalie is so young I might be able to remember what I was doing back then. I had been in my house for one year and I think I was eating Frosted Flakes for breakfast. Happy Birthday kid Natalie! (Any relation to Robert C.?…daughter?)
Okay, I just looked up Robert Cooper and no kid named Natalie. Uncle? 🙂
Happy Birthday Natalie!
What’s the #7 reference?
Barb’s birthday is Dec. 9th (the big five oh!) We’re celebrating on Sunday, but in the meantime we have two Christmas parties to go through on Friday and Saturday nights.
Happy Birthday Natalie!! Love the cake/cupcakes!
The office is still new and people are still getting to know each other, so, whenever possible, I make it a point of trying to speed along the process. In light of Natalie’s present, I told her that Joe really likes it when people run into his office without warning – preferably while he’s in a meeting, or on an important call – and punch him in the face. In fact, he would be disappointed if she doesn’t!
Please give her a work-appropriate hug for me. December babies should stick together!
@JeffW, please give Barb a hug for me for the same reason?
🎂
Happy Birthday Natalie! 😀
LOL@Trevor. 😀
Oh Trevor! Joe, you have taught him well.
Happy Birthday JeffW’s Barb!! Five Oooohhh!! ain’t so bad.
Happy birthday Natalie! Remember, swing from the hips!
Happy Birthday Natalie!!! :bear:
@ Trevor 😆 😆 😈 You are more evil than Joe, That can hurt. 🙄
Happy Birthday to Natalie….
Happy Birthday to Barb – cooolness, you are now named after another good show filmed on location in Hawaii. Barb 5 ohhhhh. I will have a couple Kona Brewery Long Boards (beer) in your honor.
Happy birthday Natalie!
And…welcome back Lawren!
Happy Birthday Natalie!
Trevor: 😆
Happy Birthday, Natalie!
1990? I was stationed in Japan.
Happy Birthday Natalie 🙂
What a fun place to work. 🙂 Happy Birthday, Natalie.
Happy birthday Natalie! From one December baby to another, here’s hoping all your Christmas presents are wholly separate and different from your birthday presents.
-Mike A.
Happy Birthday Natalie and love the pink gloves.
@Trevor: I notice that you’re conspicuously absent from these photos. What’s up with that? 🙂
Psssst, hey Joe… I was reading about food of the month clubs. There is one at http://www.candyjapan.com that Akemi might like for Christmas. Twice per month you get a box a Japanese candy. Check it out.
Super-uber-belated Happy Birthday Natalie. Cool birthday present.