October was such a hectic month and before it bids its last hurrah I found myself under the weather -- unsettled, unwell and queasy. My croaky voice even betrayed me that I was compelled to keep it shut, which of course, delighted my roommate. Because my boss was in his 3-week European respite, my office work load proved to be lighter than usual. This rare opportunity permits me to do things, my way… But before reality sank in, I was already ensnared in the convoluted events that flooded my October…
Close friends knew for sure that October is the month of my birth. As early as the first week, I was already pre-occupied with throwing birthday treats for family and friends. The first one was in my office. The celebration in my office was a triple treat as I shared birthday with two other co-lawyers. We treated the office with Chinese food, brazo de Mercedes ice cream for dessert and two bottles of crisp Sangria. The next was my treat to my girlfriends from the judiciary. This time, I went Italian. Unaware that it was a treat, I surprised them with pizza and pasta. Then came the much-awaited Libran nights (with four other Librans in the spotlight)… Fabulous guys, gays and girls flocked to our usual watering hole to celebrate that night with us --- singing, dancing, drinking and sharing yummy food. It was indeed a party of quadruple fun! Come the very date of my birthday, I spent it with family. We had a quiet dinner at a famous American restaurant in Serendra. The original reservation was cancelled due to the unfortunate bomb incident that happened early on that day. Later that night, me and hubby proceeded to the chateau and drank vodka tonic until the wee hours of the morning. It was a moment of uncontrollable laughter.
October profusely overflows with numerous activities in my kids' school. First, there was this El Dia de la Hispanidad (Filipino-Hispanic Friendship Day) where I found myself rummaging all-over the city to look for my children's Spanish costumes. We were also tasked to prepare Spanish food to be brought to the Agape. Then, there was this Guardian Angel's Feast day for Nursery pupils, where my little daughter was assigned to lead a prayer through singing. (Of course, the mom helped in memorizing the lines). And the most dreadful of all: the second Periodical Examination. Again, the mom played a major role in the review. I was literally trapped in the four corners of my home, posing as a look-out to any straying, stubborn kids who refused to study their lessons. My night life for the week was zero. I was overwrought indeed!
The Third Friday of the month had me an Italian Cooking Galore with Friends. The head cook was in full-battle Chef's gear setting the mood for a real culinary delight. Brimming over the dinner table were different kinds of pasta (I love the tuna Tuscany!), salads (I love the fresh mixed fruit) and a wide array of sumptuous appetizers, from the beefy and cheesy nachos to the poultry a la Kentucky. Thanks to our talented featured chefs for the night!
Then came some filial obligations… The 28th of the month, We were heading to a far-away province to visit the dearly-departed ones (on my hubby's side). It was a six-hour drive from Manila. While there, the children had real fun enjoying the freshness of the surroundings, the crisp coolness of the air and the abundant greens everywhere. The 29th of the month, we dropped by at my hubby's hometown in time for the Barangay election. We were mostly on the road…
And of course, October will not be complete without the Halloween party. This year's Halloween party was different than the usual. There was no creepy costumes, no high-pitched music, no loud parties, no screaming aplenty. Just a handful of friends all clad in black (The black theme was intended for picture-taking purposes only). The idea was originally to share scary stories over delectable home-delivered dishes and numerous bottles of Martinis. But the night ended up with some, imparting their own romantic adventures and heart-breaking dramas. By the time the party was over, I was really very ill. I cannot laugh. I cannot even utter a single word. My voice sounded guttural. It's time to go home and to take my much-needed rest. It was a break I so well-deserved. Anyway, a long extended weekend is looming ahead…
