I’ve always known that I am a workaholic. And like any addict, I’m glad that I’ve finally gone through the first stage: Admit that you have a problem. Yes, I’m admitting it. I’m Gail, and I’m a workaholic.

So now, you want to know what this workaholic did while in Puerto Galera with her husband and his colleagues? Ok, I’ll tell you.

A workaholic will pay P90 per hour to get internet access at the beach. Internet access in Puerto Galera is so darn expensive. It’s not surprising though. After all, people visiting the beach don’t really go there to log on and check emails, do they? They go there for the fun at the beach. Those who do need internet access are either Friendster addicts, business people, or total nerds like me (mind you, I’m not a Friendster addict)—people who would desperately need the access and willing to pay a premium.

Yes, I admit it. I did do some work in Puerto Galera. I replied to a few client emails, and did some unfinished jobs for the Philippine Blog Awards (see? That’s how much I love you guys, I’d dedicate three hours of beach fun and P270 just to make sure that the Awards runs smoothly hehe). Well, let’s just say I didn’t have the heart to dump everything on Abe’s lap while I was having “fun” at the beach.

A workaholic will spend a reasonable amount for cell phone load in order to check up on work status. I know it sounds horrible, but I was bugging our programmers for updates and updating clients while I was at the beach through text messaging and calls. I don’t know why I did that… I just can’t help it, you know? I probably won’t rest about the Awards too if I didn’t finish my end. Maybe it’s just me, but I really am the type of person who doesn’t like leaving things hanging.

A workaholic will take pictures to put on her blog and use as stock photos. Now this, I can’t avoid. I probably inherited my dad’s need to “capture the moment” when it happens. There are just some things that are too beautiful to not take pictures of, like it would be an opportunity wasted if I didn’t at least have one photo of it. Yes, it’s probably just my dad’s journalistic instincts getting the best out of me, but hey, come on. It’s not everyday I get to watch sunset at the beach.

A workaholic will not go snorkeling because she might drown and not finish her pending jobs. I’ve already disclosed that I can’t swim even if my life depended on it, so I feel no shame admitting I was scared to death at the prospect of swimming with only a life vest on deep water.

Fine, fine. The “pending jobs” thing was a totally lame excuse. I was just too scared to go snorkeling, so I just got myself a henna tattoo (hopefully, it’ll still be visible during the Awards night hehe) and hung out with some of Marc’s colleagues who were also left behind while Marc went swimming with overly friendly Nemos and water snakes (thank goodness I didn’t know how to swim—I’m deathly afraid of snakes, water or otherwise).

A workaholic will use beach sand and a stray Two of Spades card if she can’t have Photoshop. I’m sorry, but I can’t help it: I just have this need to do artsy things wherever I go. Marc kept bugging me to go swimming (or at least wading… I can’t swim, remember?!), and it wasn’t only until after I finished my crab sand sculpture did I plunged into the sea. Geez. I actually got a sunburn for making sand art on the beach, and not because I was swimming 😛

Well, regardless of these nerdy moments, Marc and I were able to relax at Puerto Galera. Though we were in an incredibly tight budget (my dear husband “conveniently” forgot to withdraw enough cash for us to splurge with), we were able to have at least a taste of Galera fun. We so regret not being able to join the Band of Bloggers for a beach weekend (we became Abe’s dog-sitters because I had the unfortunate makings of a bad cold), since I have never been there yet. Now, I finally got a taste of it.

And yes, my bitchiness did go down a notch. It’s now safe to send me gazillions of emails again. Heh.