Bad Start for My Long Break

I took a break from work officially from May 1 – 15. But since April 30 fell on a Saturday, I had an early break from to me would be one of the longest leaves I will take willingly. Unfortunately, it didn’t start the way I wanted.

The evening of April 29, I had dinner with some friends of mine (from I know dubbed as the "Dinner Crew"). Since the LUG days we have been going out at least once a month and eat out, and the group would usually consists of me, Paul, Noel, Ricky, Leonard and Dino. Sometimes we invite other people but most of the time, it would usually be just the six of us. Anyway, so we ate dinner at Cebu Lechon and had a few drinks in "For the Road" both of which is located at Fort Bonifacio. So, we really enjoyed that night always finding a way to laugh about something.

When I got home, a letter was waiting for me. It’s actually a letter that I have been dreading ever since. For close friends who I have mentioned what’s been happening in my life would know what that letter is. Hence, part one of my bad start.

Anyway, it was okay…people have been telling me not to be worried. So I am trying up to the present to not worry.

Next day, I was dragged by a cousin of mine to go to Greenbelt to look for a phone and trade in their old 3310. It really wasn’t that hard. I got the gist of what features they wanted and just tried to look for the best one and of course the cheapest too. After looking around for 45 minutes, debating on what phone to get, we finally decided to get the 6610. Then off we went to Megamall for lunch. It really slipped my mind that there was a sale there so we had a hard time looking for seats at the food court and I couldn’t find the sandals that I was looking for…oh well.

Then I met my friend, Leonard to get my complimentary copy of DC Kids and my payment for my article. It turns out that we actually got a raise. Yay! Even though it’s a small raise, it’s a raise nonetheless. Now I have more load on my celphone now than usual. Though I didn’t use my money for that though, as I was roaming around Megamall, I found a stall that’s selling original VCDs for 75 bucks! I got to find 2 VCDs that I have been waiting to go down eversince, "Count of Monte Cristo" and "Broken Arrow" (yes, I buy original VCDs. I try my best not to pirate if I can help it). With my leave now, I might be able to watch those DVDs and VCDs that I have been buying but have yet find time to watch them all.

Anyway, after we went to Megamall, we headed back to Makati to find the shoes that my cousin was looking for (all other stores don’t have the size that would fit him). Anway, after looking at 5 different shops plus SM Shoemart, we finally found the shoes that would fit him in Tobys. That in tow, my cousin and I were on our way home…well almost. I have to get the van from the shop. So cousin in tow, we have to take a cab to Evangelista to pick up the van. Then it was on our way home.

But when we got home, we have to leave again to have dinner in Cainta. I actually thought that my younger brother would be coming with us so that he will be driving but I was shocked to find out that he didn’t want to come to dinner. That left me the only driver that night going to and from the very traffic streets of Cainta. -_-

Hence, Part two of my bad start.

Dinner went well and we got to sort some stuff pertaining to the letter I’ve mentioned earlier. Here’s hoping that with all the things that I have given my cousins they would be ready for what’s to come.
Then we went home. We arrived at our house at around twelve midnight and we still need to fix some stuff because we were going to Manaoag the next day. So we got to sleep at around 1:30 am and then wake up at 4:30 am to get ready to leave the city by 5.

It didn’t work as planned because all of us woke up at 5am. But since we had everything prepared, we all had quick showers and were heading out of our village by 5:30am. We met up with my relatives by 5:45am, and then we head out for Balintawak to pick up my aunt and cousin then off we go to Manaoag. Initially the plan was for my younger brother to be driving the whole morning because I drove the night before. But my younger brother isn’t really a morning person so his senses weren’t really that active. When we made a pitstop at Balintawak, he asked me to drive all the way to Manaoag.

Hence, Part three of my bad start.

But off we went to Manaoag anyway with me behind the wheel. It wasn’t that bad. It was my first experience driving on long trips and I was really trying to push myself how long I can last behind the wheel. I was doing pretty well trying to catch up with my uncle who was driving around 120-130 kp/h. But then, suddenly the van’s aircon died. It was still giving out air but it wasn’t cold! We were speculating there was a problem with the Freon (is that how you spell it?) and because of it we were driving without air-conditioning. It was okay at around 6-8 am but it was beginning to get hot at around 9am onwards. So on our way to Manaoag Church, we were dusty, dirty and grimy.

Hence, part four of my bad start.

When we reached the Church at around 12nn, we heard mass and got cleaned up a little. Got to rest a bit in one of the sacristans’ rooms that the parish priest lent to us (I have an uncle who is a priest there). On our way back, my cousin CJ volunteered to drive all the way to the place where we’re getting lunch. So on our way to lunch I was just lounging at the back with the rest of my cousins talking about Gunbound. One of them, JR by name was begging me to give my Gunbound cap to him. I was really thinking whether or not to give it to him but by the end of our trip, I gave in. Now, my cap has a new home.

Anyway, we had lunch in one my aunt’s friends. It was really yummy. We had our fill of pork binagoongan, grilled tilapya, sinigang na bangus, vegetable salad and lechon. And while there we were discussing if we will continue on to go to Baguio. After some debate, the whole group decided to go ahead with the plan. So after lunch, we thanked our hosts and was supposedly on our way with my younger brother finally driving…but then my aunt’s mother called and told us not to head for Baguio anymore. So, all of us weren’t really happy about that decision but we turned and headed for home anyway.

Hence, part five of my bad start.

But not going up to Baguio was a blessing in disguise, when all of a sudden, the oil icon on the van started to light up. Stopping at the nearest gas station, we saw that our oil was leaking. And further checking made us see that we are almost nearing empty. We were speculating that it was the reason why the aricon wasn’t working but we still need to know what’s really wrong when we have the van checked out again. Anyway, after trying to temporarily fixed the problem. We were heading home…at a slow pace (60-80 kp/h).

Hence, part six of my bad start.

I guess the heat was getting to me and my initial driving stint that morning was already taking it’s toll on my body that I had a heart attack. They have to look for the nearest hospital and try to treat me there before we can actually finally go home. I was paralyzed from the waist down when we finally got out hospital.

Hence, part seven of my bad start.

Finally we got back to Balintawak, had a very late dinner (my cousins have to carry me from the van to the house and back again…poor guys). And finally started to head for home.

I was bed ridden for two days because my legs didn’t want to cooperate. For two days I was just at home lying in bed…watching TV (couldn’t even watch VCDs and DVDs because the player is outside the living room) and cross stitching. I wasn’t able to read the book I’m reviewing and for some reason I am having a hard time writing up the episode guide for Teen Titans. I really didn’t understand why it took me two days to get the feeling back on my legs…it usually just takes me 2 hours, 3 if it was really major. But it took two days to get the feeling back. It’s actually scary. I do not want to experience that again. Not having to move my legs was really a frightening experience.

Hence, part eight of my bad start.

But now I’m back on my feet and the first thing I did was make Leche Flan and bake merengue…maybe tomorrow, I will be able to bake cookies. Here’s also hoping that I can get my mind back to creative thinking so that I can reach my deadline. I still have yet to finish my book and still have yet to start writing that episode guide. So, I’m crossing my fingers and after this, I’ll start typing again.

Anyway, I still have 11 days to enjoy my break. I really hope that the bad start will be all behind me and that I will be able to enjoy what's left of my leave. =)