Archive for the Christmas Category

The Month that WAS

Posted in Christmas, Family, Life, Travel on January 5, 2009 by Scarlett

December as always, is the busiest month of the year. And having an eleven-day off from work helped me manage a whole caboodle of affairs in my hands and somehow kept my stress levels to a manageable (if not minimum) stage.

My holidays this year seemed to be the most special thus far. First, my cousin and her family flew in from Canada after 14 years to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary here. And I, until now, is in awe how all five of them were able to fit like sardines in my tiny room, not to mention all of their suitcases and stuff.

Second, organizing their silver wedding affair is not a joke. Though the event was planned one year ahead, things crop up at the last minute and trivialities such as missing misalletes and misplaced wedding rings could turn your head upside down. But after some bloopers and minor glitches, the event went out well. Maybe I could set up my own events organizer office in the future.

Third, spending the holidays in Boracay was a first. Boracay welcomed us with big waves and heavy rains while the sun decided to shy away from the over-crowded beach during the whole course of our stay. Despite all these, this brief Boracay escapade was a blast.

Then there’s the countless Christmas parties and family reunions you have to attend to, staying until the wee hours of the morning and waking up a couple of hours later to attend the traditional simbang gabi. Then add up a number of driving errands for your balikbayan visitors after office hours, all these are squeezed in to your daily December life. At times like these, energizer drinks are my best friends, if not for these wonder drinks, I don’t think I could pull it off or my physical body would have given up long before the Christmas eve strikes.

So there. It’s the first day of work, remnants of the holidays are written all over my face, but things are slowly getting back to normal. Reality is gradually creeping back to my system and before I know it, I’m back to my feet again.

Cheers! 

A Post-Christmas Post

Posted in Christmas, Thoughts on December 26, 2007 by Scarlett

All right. After months of preparation, of scuffling with the mad crowd to shop for the right Christmas gifts….Christmas is over in less than 24 hours.

So while everyone else is still in the holiday mood because New Year’s day is still ahead, and just as everyone’s tummy is filled up with festive food, I am busy making a mental list on post holiday clean up.

Sorting out gifts. Okay so we’ve received quite a number of gifts this year. Admit it, some are useful and some are uh err so-so  but hey, it’s the thought that counts right? So time to sort out gifts for immediate use  and gifts who’ll find their way inside the trunk for temporary storage - neatly tucked and sorted out according to size and color. They’ll find their purpose some other time. Uh oh, don’t get me wrong! I.don’t.recycle.gifts. Because I believe in the Karmic cyle of giving gifts – what you give out will be given back to you a hundred-fold. So who would’ve wanted a hundred mugs, figurines and other thingamabobs? Uhm, let’s just say it’s a priceless collection through the years. Lol. 

Clearing my inbox. Networks heaped millions of bucks during the holidays because of text greetings. And your cellphone also run out of memory  because of these text messages from people who care to remember. But it’s about time to clear them out already, including unknown numbers which you have inadvertently erased in the past.

SPA splurge. I’m suffering from a holiday fatigue. And in as much as I want to hit the spa for a nice soothing massage this very moment, I think I will have to postpone this until after the New Year is over.

Shop for thyself. All through the holiday season, I was so pre-occupied shopping for  everyone that I’ve never bought a single gift for myself.  Best time to hit the malls and shop with whatever is left of my 13th month pay. Aside from brawling with fewer people, bargains are a- plenty after the holiday rush.

Getting rid of the holiday fat. Ok this is an issue since time immemorial. I’ve been consistently storing fat regardless if it’s the holidays or not.  So this time, I will make sure it does happen. Fitness First here I come!

So there. At any rate, the holidays ain’t over yet. So I think I have to postpone doing these things in a couple more days.

:-)

 

Nine Mornings

Posted in Christmas on December 25, 2007 by Scarlett

Nine mornings. Nine consecutive masses held at dawn. Getting up at half past three in the morning to attend mass.  Nine mornings of deprived sleep….. almost less than 5 hours of slumber. Oh well, it’s one of the things which reminds me of the presence of Christmas season. The morning drive to the church, the whiff of fresh rice cakes right infront of you and the cool breeze that touches your skin as you enter a jampacked church.

Nine mornings. Nine days before Christmas. A personal undertaking through the years. Without an expression of that proverbial wish-that-comes-true at the end of the 9th day, but just a personal prayer of a more fruitful and blessed year ahead.   

I’m done…..so until next year!And here’s to you my blog mates…..

May you find JOY to fill your homes and PEACE to fill your hearts this BLESSED SEASON.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!