Minute Warnings – Page 72 – The Diary of The Deranged Writer

30-Minute Warning IV

OK. What can I type here in under 30 minutes even if I’m lazy as fuck?

Tonight is our last night here in Cagayan. My legs are sore and I have a bit of a cold, and that explains why I’m lazy to write. But I have been doing a good job blogging frequently since February 6, and I don’t want to ruin my streak. So, here I am.

Tomorrow at 6am, we will go back to Manila. A part of me is glad to return home; another part is dreading. There are a few things in the trip that I find disappointing, but overall I had a great time. I hope we can go back to Cagayan annually like we used to, and I hope we can bring more companions. As they say, “The more, the merrier.”

As for my legs being sore, I got the pain from a 300+ step journey to Cape Engaño Lighthouse in Palaui Island, Santa Ana, Cagayan. Good grief, I’m so sore. But I got several photos of the breathtaking 360-degree view of Dos Hermanas Island, so the pain is somehow worth it. Now I have more content for my Cagayan post, and I hope to finish everything next week. I will see.

As I said, tomorrow we will go back to Manila. Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday, so we will expect traffic and a few closed establishments. And there will be more closed shops on Good Friday. With that, I will take another break and reflect, and then I will get my favorite affogato at Satchmi on Black Saturday or Easter Sunday.

And time’s up.

30-Minute Warning III

What can I type here in under 30 minutes?

I have been in my province of Ballesteros, Cagayan the past 3 days. And I have enjoyed walking on the beach in the morning and before sunset, eating local delicacies like Batil Patong and empanada, sharing stories with my uncles, aunts, and cousins, and taking photos and videos of interesting things I see there. For the 1st time since I started working for my parents on January 16, 2023, I’m really taking a long break that is beneficial for my mental health and I love it. I made time for checking my socials and blogging after a long day, but only for an hour or 2. That’s how I’m enjoying being in the province that much.

And while I’m enjoying my time here Ballesteros, Mother is also having a great time. She is partying with her high school friends and classmates at the beach and at a function hall, and she is also one of the organizers. And by the looks of all the photos she sent in our family’s group chat, it looks like the events are a huge success. Congratulations to my mom and the entire organizing committee!

As I said, I made time for blogging after a long day. For the past 2 days, I’m trying to compile my travel snippets in Cagayan. But I think it will take a minimum of a week before I finish everything. I will see about that.

Tomorrow, Mother, Uncle Elvis and I will go to Santa Ana, Cagayan, a 2-to-3-hour drive from Ballesteros. Her high school batchmates will be there as well, and we will stay there until Wednesday, April 5, 2023. And Uncle John (no, not that Uncle John, the former Ministop convenience store) told me that Santa Ana’s beach is Cagayan’s answer to Boracay. That’s a pretty tall order, uncle. I’m extra stoked now especially since we will go back to Manila on Thursday.

Damn. I need to sleep now. Our trip to Sta. Ana will start at 5am. Yes. That’s so early.

And time’s up.

30-Minute Warning II

So, what can I type here in under 30 minutes?

I have been in an adjustment period since January 16, 2023. I have been working in the family business for almost 3 months. And tomorrow morning, I’m taking a long break. I’m going to Cagayan Valley with Mother and Uncle Elvis, and the vacation lasts from April 1 to 6. Yes, it’s almost the entire Holy Week.

Actually, the long vacation is Mother’s idea. She has been planning her high school reunion with her friends since October 2022 (I think), and then she tagged me along. I have not said a firm “yes” to her right away. I only said “yes” 1 month after working in the family business. Weekend breaks are cool, but I think having a long vacation every once in a while is better for my physical and mental health.

As I said, I have been in an adjustment period. I have been so immersed in work, I have not replied to any of my friends’ messages except when it’s their birthday. I feel so bad for not replying to them. Tomorrow I will start reconnecting with them. I hope they forgive me for not replying right away.

Currently, I’m charging my Nikon D3200, Sony Handycam (yes, that good ol’ video recorder), and Samsung A52s 5G. I’m bringing all of those devices and trying on recording and document as many moments as possible. Maybe this is the start of my vlogging journey? We will see about that soon.

Anyway, my gadgets are almost ready. My clothes are ready. My toiletries are ready. We’re leaving tomorrow at 2am. And it will be a 20-hour ride. (I think.) We’re all praying for a safe journey.

And time’s up.

Header image: EvgeniT of Pixabay. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2022.