When Alanis said (or sang), "like rain on your wedding day, a free ride when you're already paid, a good advice that you just didn't take...", I figured, life's really full of ironies (or strictly speaking, based on Alanis' examples, bad luck).
Went to Batangas last Tuesday for a three-day conference with the company's agency leaders (aka Branch Managers and Agency Development Managers). Was anticipating this trip because when I saw the promotional video of the venue (called Villa Angelina), I was instantly captivated.
Lemme tell you a little bit about the place. Located in Nasugbu, the villa is a three-level mansion-like home that exuded a Hispanic feel both in its interior and exterior. Made of concrete, and a combination of glass and wood, the place is excellent for teambuilding activities, informal or laid-back conventions, or even plain relaxation with a LARGE group of friends or family. The keyword here is large. It's got six bedrooms (combination of family and guest rooms) and a den. All in all it can lodge more than 24 people, all comfortably bunked in one bed (i.e. 1:1 ratio). Extra beds and sleeping bags are of course optional.
For people like me who like to cook (recipes later!), the ground level kitchen is relatively roomy and proper. The same level brings you to the porch (or veranda) which gives a majestic view of Nature's work of art: legions of greens, several flame trees in full bloom, vivid colors of bougainvilleas, and bright blues of pristine sea. The lower level offers a lounging area where food may be served, the whole floor covered with trellises of bougainvilleas. The lowest level is where the pool and jacuzzi are located. One dip in the jacuzzi, and you wouldn't want to leave.
Aahh. Paradise.
Now, the irony...or the bad luck.
At the exact moment our Space Gear parked at the villa, My entire body started freaking out. And this ain't from excitement or awe. I'm talking MAJOR freak out translated into chills, throwing up, and queasy muscular feeling. Halfway through my facilitation of the workshop portion of the conference, and almost a gallon of hot Lipton tea, my body just gave up. With all the color drained from my system, I collapsed on my bed...clothes, shoes and all...missing all of the night's, uhm, revelries.
You would think that the sickness would go away after a long, restful night's sleep, eh? No (indulge me on this and pronounce this as "nyeeewwwww"). Day two was worse: joining the trio of chills, puking, and nausea, were fever, back pain, splitting head ache, sore throat, and the nasty cold virus. Excellent. A perfect double quartet of affliction. A quick SMS consultation with my doctor friend in Quezon City, and a nurse friend in the UK, I got a confirmation of my biggest fear: that I have contracted the flu virus. Bummer.
As I slept (and coughed, and sniffed, and sneezed, and ached...) the day away, the conference went on, with the laughter, the music, and the fun. Yes, I was missing out on the conference's most important moments as I stared at the ceiling while making friends with shadows of my hand.
When early evening fell, I decided I've had it. There was no way I was going to leave this paradise-like place without at least dipping in the jacuzzi. Mind-over-body being real or not, I "forced-heal" myself into feeling better...or at least slightly better than shitty.
Two hours of Magic Sing session with the ladies and a few glasses of sparkling wine later, I was serenely loafing in the just-warm-enough jacuzzi...with more sparkling wine.
Irony/bad luck? Bite me.
No comments:
Post a Comment