Picnic at the Attic:
The novel plan had everyone excited all week (maybe except tatay who went back home after being outdoors for less than 30 minutes). From 18:00 to 21:00, the family convened at La Rioja. The grilled menu consisted of pork BBQ, milkfish, hotdogs and marshmallows which was complimented by three varieties of carbo-loaded dishes (valenciana a la florecita, penne pasta in tomato sauce and buko salad). Shifu and Bella the pugs (which eyes bulged at eating pork BBQ off the stick) provided the entertainment while Bjork kept tatay company back in Rizal. When the gprs networks allowed, talked to Volts (who sounded tipsy), Nanay Aida (Nene's mom who is already tipsy) and Nanay Alice (who demanded us to call back right away). It was a fine evening of easy chat over a simple yet filling dinner. Our small party packed up promptly at 20:00; for tatay to have his dinner at a not so late an hour and for the travellers to avoid irresponsible merrymakers along the way home.
After party activity:
After looking unsuccessfully for the Pride and Prejudice CD (which book version I am currently reading...for a week now), I settled for "Prince and Me" which I slept through sometime in the middle of the film with pooh sleeping on my arm. Subconsciouly, I stirred to wakefullness with a dead arm with only enough strength to vacate sis's couch and settle on the sleeping bag below. The sleep was restful and was timely for the hike required from Pamplona to La Rioja (namulaw gid guro tanan mga tricycle drivers).
Most welcome difference:
There is a marked decrease in the frequency of firecrackers going off from the neighbors (still Libertad is one place to be avoided on this particular holiday)
Some things never change:
As a bait, the green/white/red non-stop liner went out of the terminal but the driver got off after parking the jeep just past the curb. Routine dictated that I stay grounded and wait for the first PUJ to come out. After a full 10-minutes of waiting, the driver came back and said "lakat ta. bilin ang wala kasaka!" Imagine that nerve! Well, I stand by what I set my mind to. And so I took my seat (since theirs is the first jeep out) and relished reading Mr. Darcy's rather long letter to Elizabeth, deliberately avoiding the driver's/conductor's eyes which is sure to ruin the trip.
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