The Start Of The Longest Vacation

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I am officially on leave starting today. This means, my vacation begins today and will end on the 4th of January 2009. And yet, even if I will be having this year's longest Christmas holiday, I would be missing a lot of Christmas parties. I missed the ILHZ Christmas party in Cauayan. I am about to miss the Christmas party of the BHW's tomorrow in Cauayan. I am also certain that I will miss the Christmas party of the municipality on Monday. And oh yes, I am not also certain whether I can go to the Christmas Party of the College of Medicine this Saturday. I am also quite sure that I will miss the Christmas Party a la reunion of my batch from high school. If there is one Christmas party that I am sure to attend, it is the Christmas party of my son in their school this Friday.

It is very ironic considering that I should have been in the position where I can afford to attend all of these parties. My only regret is that the Christmas parties with my staff in Candoni could be my last Christmas parties with them. My contract ends in October of 2009. Although I was able to contribute funds for the food and prizes for the giveaways and games, I know that one's presence is still more important. The giver is more valuable than the gifts.

So, what to do with the remaining days of my longest vacation? I personally consider this longest vacation as an opportunity to spend with the family. It has been a while since I had spent quality time with the family. Now is the opportunity of a lifetime.

So, there are plans to watch the fireworks at SM mall this Saturday and also another display of fireworks in Lopue's East the day after Christmas. Of course, during Christmas eve will be the traditional Mass and dinner with the family. I am doing the cooking, as usual and I have already prepared the menu for this year's Christmas dinner.

Originally, a week-end stay in Boracay would have been great but the time was too constrained so it was erased from the list of to-do things. Maybe a quick swing across the Guimaras Strait just to have an overnight stay in Iloilo will do enough, or a trip across the Negrense mountains to Cebu for another day of visiting the tourist spots.

In reality, there isn't so much anything to do. Perhaps, the irony here is, I will be having the longest vacation but with so little things to do.

So maybe, I will just go hunting instead riding on an aduka sending SS across the map. Yes, I am back playing Gunbound and this time, my son is hopping along.



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