Downtime

Let's see, ever since I can remember I look forward to the time in a week when I don't have to think about school, then work and now obligations.  I used to think that Saturdays was my downtime.  Even though I wake up early, I have the option of not getting up - reading books, watching television or surfing the net. 
I used to welcome being sick because this is the time when I can concentrate on reading boring books.  I think, I was able to finish Brother's Karamazov, Crime and Punishment and yes, Northanger Abbey because I had the flu. 
Holy week is also a traditional downtime - I remember "marathoning" a whole season of Seventh Heaven, Jack and Jill and Young Americans (all Studio 23 programs) years ago.  This is also the time when I get to eat lots of frozen singkamas (jicamas,well I thought all the while the English term is turnip but after googling - turned out it's jicamas).  One holy week too, I cleaned out the closet - gave away shirts, shoes, and stuff that I haven't used for a year.  Sometimes, I do this in December when I use up all my vacation leave and pretend I'm still a student enjoying my Christmas break. 
Downtime in Japan is always Saturdays.  I don't do anything - wake up around 10 or 11 a.m., drink milk for breakfast and forego eating lunch until 2 or 4 in the afternoon.  Then, just choose between surfing the net or watching re-runs of Japanese dramas.  Laundry is done on Sundays after going to church and malling with Melissa or just plain hanging out with Mina. 
Just this morning, I realized after flipping through cable channels, drinking coffee and surfing the net - Sunday has become my downtime.  On this day, I've discovered BBC programs like Nobel Minds, The Story of Maths and now Tropic of Capricorn.  Come to think of it, updating this blog has also been one of those downtimes.....