Oh why so difficult, Summer?

I seem to be jinxed when it comes to travel-related concerns. Remember that Manila trip I had blogged about a few weeks ago? Yup, you guessed it right... cancelled! Not that I'm sulking about it. I was kind of relieved actually. It's hard to push through with a trip when the people you'd be with are half-hearted about the event you'll be attending. Let's leave it as cryptic as that. At least I got to spend the money on something more useful. 

Another dilemma that came up recently was the choice of summer getaway for me and my college friends this coming May. We cannot seem to agree where to spend those two days together! Chances are, the destination will be a spur-of-the-moment choice of the group by May 26th. Oh well, I just hope this one will push through. I definitely need a breather and I could use their company even for just two days. 

Dear Summer, be kind to me. I know I'm not an outdoor-type of person but I really want to enjoy this year and I hope you'll cooperate as well.

All work and no play…

Makes me a dull girl? Hmmm, almost. I just realized I never once took a week-long vacation last year. No beach outings, no out-of-town trips... nada! I was stuck being a corporate slave. Or maybe I was just too much of a homebody.

But nevertheless, I'm working on changing my luck this year. Summer is meant to be enjoyed, right? And I'm doing just that. For someone who has never been out of the city in like eight years, I have a trip to Manila planned in April (work reasons). Yayyy! So excited to see my friends who are already based there. Plus I have this summer outing of our department to look forward to. Woohoo, beach time!

Then by May, it's reunion time for me and my best buddies from college. The fact that we've been friends for almost a decade now is still so surreal. One of them proposed that we go to Coron to celebrate the first time that all 5 of us will be together. The thing is, I'm not sure my budget would permit that. Kuripot na kung kuripot, but I have some bills to pay noh! I’ll just have to cross the bridge when we get there. Bahala na si Batman. I’m sure we can work something out.

My Grown-Up Christmas Wishlist

I'd be a hypocrite to say I don't crave for material things. I do. In fact, every December we've made it as a project to save up for a certain gadget or appliance that we fancy. Everything is paid in cash. The credit card is considered an evil entity in this household as long as spending patterns aren't normalized. And because I have bills to worry about, wishlists are the only way I'm motivated to work even harder for the things I really want. Allow me to share to you ten things I really want to receive (or buy) this holiday season, or hopefully by 2011.

A Canon 1000D camera - Not for me, per se, but rather for my sister. She has an eye for taking great pictures and I want to encourage that talent. Besides, we need a new camera if we are to push through with that summer trip to Tandag next year. Who knows, this might translate to better profile photos on Facebook right?

A Xabi Alonso soccer jersey - An imitation would be fine, but an original (branded) one would be even better. Those who know me are aware of how much I adore this guy. Who wouldn't love the name Xabi, eh? My World Cup 2010 memories bring me nothing but pure joy because of him and the rest of La Roja. If only the guy can be cloned.

An all-expenses paid trip (one week) to any provincial destination of my choice - I say this time and time again... I am in need of a long-overdue one week vacation. Working in a BPO environment can be very toxic. Once in a while, you need to de-stress yourself to relieve the pressures of the job. If someone offers me a (free) tour of Vigan or Iloilo for that matter, I'd haggle for leave credits from my boss and gladly go on that trip without batting an eyelash.

A domain of my own (http://iamnofangirl.com) - Pretty far-fetched for now since I have no credit card. But who knows? Right now I'm enjoying my renewed interest in blogging. It's always nice to read through your past entries and realize how much you've grown emotionally (and physically!) since you wrote it.

DVDs (original ones) of my favorite TV series – Ugly Betty, Modern Family, Criminal Minds. Any of those three would be fine. Ugly Betty keeps me grounded and focused with my attitude at work. Modern Family provides me the necessary humor I need in my stress-filled life. Criminal Minds is my form of escapism on what it would be like if profiling was my current job.

I might add more but these are the immediate answers that came to my mind when coming up with this year’s wishlist. I never did one for my birthday so I think this should be aptly called, “my birthday-slash-christmas wishlist for 2010”.

The One where I’m alone for the weekend

First off, yeah… it's an obligatory Harry/Ginny photo from Deathly Hallows. Can you believe it? Thirteen days more to go! Vacation leave has been approved for the 19th so I'm all set. It's the beginning of the end... of my teenage years. Joke! Truth be told, I started reading Harry Potter back in 2001. I was already a senior in college. (Trivia: Chamber of Secrets was the first book that I finished) I always knew OBHWF was end game back then. Felt relieved that JKR had the same thing in mind by the time she released the final book. 

On the other hand, my sister's friends are currently in Cebu for a short vacation. I envy them. I can't stop blabbing about vacays since I haven't had any out-of-town trips for quite sometime now. Loser, right? I know! But work demands so much of my time. I am slowly turning into a workaholic who has no time for fun. Huhuhu! They brought us durian jams from Davao though. Nothing is stopping me from making mango-durian float over the weekend. Tastes like heaven, I tell you.

I am glad Sheila (my sis) finally gets the chance to enjoy a day-out with them since they all live in different cities. Reunions like this happen once in a blue moon. Like my college besties, their friendship has withstood the test of time (them being friends since high school). Take a wild guess where they’re spending the weekend? 

BANTAYAN ISLAND!

Can I just die of jealousy now?