December 8
11:15 PM
It’s almost mid-December but why does it feel like freaking August?
Where did November go? Work has become such a rat race that I think I re-lost my concept of time (if that was possible).
Signs that I am the poster boy for work-stress:
1. My cellphone inbox contains 1,800++ messages… about 1,682 of which should have been deleted aeons ago (I’m no sentimental fool). Then all of a sudden, precious phone conked out an hour ago (Memory full…delete some messages…Not enough memory to perform operation). This is history repeating itself. This has happened before because my phone was super-congested. I know what will happen next…I have to bring it to Nokia Care Center who will reformat my phone and delete all the junk messages (including the 118 messages that I was planning to immortalize).
2. I have to consume 1000-calorie worth of chocolates per day. Be it Van Houten, Maltesers, Curly Tops or Flat Tops. Chocolate creates a false sense of gooey happiness, especially when you deal with Dementor-like creatures in your everyday life. The same effect can be achieved in gulping a Starbucks Hot Mocha.
3. I last finished a book in March. And it was the bathroom-book-thin The Magician’s Nephew (a.k.a. the REAL Book Two of The Chronicles of Narnia). After that I started an Ann Tyler novel which I didn’t finish. Then a month ago I picked up The God of Small Things and only read until page eight. Being a Harry Potter fan, it is pathetic to realize that the movie version has caught-up with my perusal of the book version. Yes, I started Order of the Phoenix but only got to about 6 chapters only.
4. The last movie I saw in the movie houses was Superman Returns. Thank God for them pirates that I am a little updated on the boob-tube favorites. Entourage and Grey’s Anatomy rocks!
5. I didn’t enjoy my birthday. True, I took a day off. But it was just like an ordinary Sunday spent at home catching up on the zzzzzzzss.
6. I am not feeling any vibe on Christmas. Three years ago I was the Grinch…to me Christmas was another Hallmark marketing ploy. But I had enlightenment after watching The Polar Express. But at these high-strung times, even getting my 13th month bonus is a non-event. And so I’m singing the theme from The Grinch…Where are you Christmas? Why can’t I find you… why did you go away?
7. I do not know how I will find time to buy gifts for friends. Maybe the Metropolis is filled with losers like me which will prompt the malls to open 24/7 to cater to our hectic schedules. If worst comes to worst I will give my friends a Starbucks GC. This coming from a champion when it comes to “personal” gifts.
8. I am dreading the new year. New Year = new principal = new challenges = new peaks of stress.
But I refuse to succumb to the lackluster Christmas spirit. One way or another, I have always looked forward to Christmas. Yes, I hate the long queues at the malls and supermarket and a little bit of the sentimentality. But I do love the nippy air and the blanket of contentment and happiness that seem to envelop the place. Not to mention that people become nice or extra nice during Christmas (haha…me included). It seems like for that brief window of time... we have a small glimpse of heaven.
Here’s my TO DO LIST to be in the mood for Christmas:
1. Finish buying 60% of the gifts for friends and officemates. That is coming from zero, mind you.
2. Buy a new pair of casual shoes.
3. Contact at least 5 friends I haven’t seen in 6 months and plan a get-together.
4. Buy a Motorola Razor OR upgrade my iPod Mini to a 60G Video iPod (help me decide).
5. Buy a ridiculously-priced nice pair of jeans and shirt.
6. Buy one book and one CD I have been itching to buy.
7. Buy something new for my house in Manila and in Bulacan.
8. Get wasted at least 2 times before Christmas.
9. Finish wrapping #1 in a week’s time.
10. Listen to Christmas CDs when in the car.
Bonus: Friends say they find it difficult to look for gift for me… although I’m far from being the boy who has everything. So since it’s Christmas and to make their life easier, here is a list of things I HOPE NOT TO RECEIVE:
1. CD case – I have gazillions already from past Christmases and this is the iPod generation, mind you.
2. Anything religious – I am a devout agnostic
3. Mug – enough said
4. Key chains – except if they are from Paris
5. Fake Louis Vuitton or Girbaud wallets – trust me when I say I know the real from what isn’t
6. Picture frame – for the nth time…I am no sentimental fool
7. Planner – I have what I want...a Starbucks planner
Best Gifts I have received from Christmas past (in no particular order):
1. A closet organizer
2. A CD case masked as a turtle stuff toy
3. a card from Unicef in lieu of a gift (I have always been an advocate of charity work).
4. Bedroom slippers (how did they get my size right, I wonder)
5. any shirt that fits me
6. bedroom linens
7. pillows (one saying Mr. Incredible)
Don't get pressured. As I said, I am extra nice during Christmas.