Today is the first time in two years that I saw myself reporting for work on a holiday. In the midst of relishing the not so ordinary scenario that surrounded the whole office, I had these thoughts:
- My former office mate James tied the knot over the weekend and browsing on Facebook, looking at their wedding pictures, I just realized, I am undeniably getting old. It is now I know that the things that used to scare the shit out of me for so long (marriage and having kids) were actually part of reality, of which I had thankfully learned to accept.
- I am no longer used to being at the office on a holiday. I know silence is my favorite ally but going to work on a holiday leaves me with a weird feeling. Being here in my seat while the silence and the cold enveloped me, looking at those empty couches and passing through a quiet, dim-lighted lobby which is normally occupied with busy HR people and young ones hoping to land a job, there's this difference that's indescribable. This is one of the times that I thought excessive silence is unbearable.
But when I think of it, doing this has its perks (aside from the monetary side); the road is not chaotic, commuting to work is a breeze. The power of imagination and concentration is working far better than how it is on a busy day. I simply console myself with the thought that someone out there is on the streets either trying to respond to a the call of duty, mingling with strangers trying to know how he can be of any help.
In the end, thinking of where am I and where he is makes me mumble that doing this is worth a sacrifice -- at least once in a while.
You read it right. As I write this, it's already a Friday morning. The studio peeps at work observed a long (Philippine) holiday weekend this week and come Monday, it's our turn -- to commemorate US Labor Day.
I'd like to think that this is fun! Celebrating two identical holidays only on different dates. I am a Filipino and had been residing in the Philippines all my life, so by default, Labor Day really is on May 1. But since I work for a foreign company, we observe US federal holidays so we'll be having Labor Day by Monday, September 5. I might not have a rest day for the first of May but I get to have it come Monday (plus, the May 1st holiday is paid! Win-win situation, eh!).
So, what do I have in mind in store for the long weekend?
Sleep- Being in a job where we're required to work odd hours, getting a restful slumber is an ultimate luxury. Enough said.
Read- I'll be curling in bed with two issues of Reader's Digest and the book First Love. I purchased the book almost a week ago after becoming hooked with Match Made and I want to devote time to savor each story in this second book. Oh, and lest before I forget, I received a wonderful surprise from one of the writers/ authors in the previous book. But that's reserved for another post. I'm also into reading articles from The Philippine Star. I've been following Francis Kong's Business Matters, but I never thought that lawyer and former senatorial candidate Adel Tamano is also a columnist for that broadsheet and he writes interesting pieces in his column too.
Write- I decided to try at hand again at writing short stories (that's the effect of Match Made for me). I have the title and the plot. I just need to organize the whole idea but I need time to work on the whole thing.
Blog, blog, blog- I know I've neglected this blog lately and I've got to update this over the weekend. Stories had been piling up and I'm excited to share them with you -- including that day when I personally met a famous Filipino "celebrity" in a public event.
Clean the Clutter- That includes from my room (which I clean on my own every weekend) and my inbox. I have to delete unnecessary letters and group the other ones according to their respective folders (wish me luck on this).
Visit a place - I haven't been to my alma mater for a long time and given some new, happy events happening to people I knew from my college years (specifically with my former teachers), I want to take time and see them for some bonding.
Weird but shopping is not part of the list. Right, probably, a little window shopping would do the trick.
If there's one more thing people look forward to when it speaks of the holidays, it's the gifts for the never-ending Christmas parties. I'm sure people will agree that on occasions like this, some money is allocated to something wrapped with a bow on top.
I am one of those people. As of this writing, I am on the lookout Googling for unisex Christmas gifts that are not limited to Starbucks or bookstore gift certificates. Just over the weekend at the end of my shift from work, my best friend Apple and I dropped by this store named Clipper in Ever Gotesco Ortigas. The finds are actually fun and unique. I was able to locate a branch of the said store in Sta. Lucia East yesterday and I might purchase one of the items in the said store. Although, I am still hoping to try other alternatives like scouting the tiangge and Christmas bazaars for other items. I even thought of making a gift by myself.
If you do have suggestions for unisex Christmas gifts, please drop me a comment, because right now, I still haven't thought of what to get yet.
photo courtesy of Google.
And I never thought we're doing it so early! These photos will prove it!
A Christmas wreath with two pairs of holiday stockings welcomes you to our home...
A small shelf still adorned with stockings, mini Christmas trees and stuffed bears...
In our home, it's not the elves that sit side by side Santa. We have Christmas teddies as his bodyguards!
And this is the one that I love to bits. As if we're not that much excited for Christmas!
