rainy days and mondays...

...always get me down.

It's a couple of hours before i'm off back to Manila, and it's downright pouring, which makes me a bit uneasy about my flight. Yes, folks, after spending asmall amount of time here in the province, i am flying back to messy Manila for some more work during the season of Xmas.

It's been quite a hectic couple of days, right from when i landed until the time i am about to fly off again. My lola's traditional 24th eve party was, as usual, filled with cousins and uncles and aunts to the brim (as of current count, i have 45 first cousins, and that's just from my mom's side!), not to mention a peppering of those lunches and dinners "sponsored" by an uncle or aunt who recently flew in from elsewhere. For christmas day we had to go off to the beach where we had another christmas party, this time for people in who work with my folks, as well as mingle with most of my parents' friends. I tell you, what i thought to be a slacker's paradise of a vacation quickly got fizzled out into something resembling a vacationer's nightmare.

Still, despite the horrendous activities i had to encounter (withstanding nosy aunts and tackless friends who tell me i'm FAT for the nth time, dealing with annoying bratty cousins, smiling ever-so-keenly towards people you don't know who pester you with information about yourself you'd rather not tell), it was good seeing my family again and once again uphold the tradition of bickering, guilt-tripping and yes, thanksgiving. ;-) I loved seeing my niece for the first time, see my folks check out the gifts i gave them (they weren't pure gold, but hey, i personally bought them!) as well as be happy knowing that my brothers didn't throw my gifts away (haha).

Ok, selfishness aside: I am very happy to spend time with my family. We may not be the ideal family, but hell, i love them and yes, i am glad i came home this christmas.

+ + +

ON other news, i do hope the people in the asian areas affected by the quake are doing better, or at least getting all the help they can get. I hope the rains stop... and soon.