HOTNESSSS

I’ve enjoyed the typhoon that came and broke the humidity I so dislike here in my country. I know it is selfish to think for another to come since some may be suffering due to such weather disturbances, and so I’m now wishing for even just a little rain. I miss being able to snuggle deep into the covers as I sleep and not waking up all hot and cranky and almost at a run to beat it to turn-on the air-conditioning. I even can’t have my coffee hot, nor can I have hot chocolates, unless I’m inside the building or an establishment.

Just as I’ve mentioned in my previous post, I really would want to go live some place else. Where I can have winter clothes at times and yet go outdoors, to the beach or something, some other times. 4 seasons will be best for me, I’m sure.

GOODBYE TO MICHAEL JACKSON

It definitely is a great loss to the music industry...

and personally, it is a sad news I woke up to this morning. He's been part of my childhood. I love his music and hearing them makes me remember my escapades long long time ago.

He's known from every part of the world. From every generation. And I believe that though he passed away...his music will live FOREVER.

How short life is=(.

I GOT FLOWERS!

It isn’t everyday that I get one…and it’s a nice feeling when you do so without any occasion. No matter who it’s from=)

Fresh flowers need special attention and care…that I know! I remember receiving loads of them during my younger days…and how it felt especially when there is no special occasion for it to be given. No matter who gives it, it always adds up a little height to my not so tall one (actually, I’m below being tall, hehe!)

Each time I get one, I wait for sundown before cutting the stems at an angle. I was told to do this during Sundown or Sunbreak, and that I should use a sharp knife than a scissor. I bought myself vases of different size and shape then. Some for a single bud, and some for dozens or halves. I don’t like the idea of choking them into a small container; I notice them staying fresh longer if they can breathe. I have the vase washed before arranging the flowers, and add a little charcoal or salt into the water. It’s said to minimize bacterial growth which causes the flower to wither fast. Some advised ammonia but I don’t really like smelling my flowers with a touch of urine-smell in it.
I cut the stems everyday as I change the water. It’s not just for the flowers, it’s also in avoidance of Dengue-carrier mosquito’s from reproducing in my house.

Once I wasn’t able to immediately give the right attention to bouquets given to me on my debut, and the following day, I found my grandma “steaming” them. She placed it in a container with hot, not boiling, water for a few minutes…after which she transferred them all to a cool dark place (my room then!). An hour after…it’s revived!

TIRING JOURNEY

It was really tiring journey, the ortho is way too far (or better yet, our place is far…travel seem even farther with the traffic!) Imagine my 6 hour travel time (to and fro)…and the time I stayed in my destination took only a mere hour. Infact, just 30 minutes but there was another patient before me so I had to wait my turn.

Arrrg!!! So damn tired to my bones.

ORTHO APPOINTMENT

I met with a new orthodontist this afternoon since the one who put braces on me years ago migrated to the US already. Actually she took off my brackets before she flew, but I really wasn’t satisfied fully with her work. Anyways, I was on retainers…until I lost the upper one last week! So, I have to have another one.

After 3 hours of travel, I had my teeth shown to a Dra. Olivia, of Par Excellence. Bad news is, she don’t think I need “just” a retainer…I need either an expander or braces once again!!! It seems that either my teeth weren’t really aligned properly before (and I believe this to be so…after 4 years of wearing those braces!!! Duh!? ) or it relapsed!

INFLUENCING DREAM

I had a restless night…because I had a terrible dream. In that dream, I faced one of my worst nightmares. The reason may be because it is in my sub-consciousness, and it was send forth by a triggered memory of someone connected to it.

What affected me most is the involvement of my treasure…my precious Anya. She is a jewel worth more than any riches in this world.

But this dream have its purpose…I believe it to be a reminder for me not to fall face front again. It may be God’s aide memoire of the past, that I stick to my present goal. And I say…it worked! That dream is definitely influencing.

AFTERSHOCK OF PACQUIAO VS. HATTON BOUT

Good thing the fight lasted until 3pm only, and so I hurriedly prepared for my Sunday worship and rushed out for the 4pm service. As I walked out of our subdivision, almost running actually, I hear the blazing speakers of every house in the neighborehood still watching the replays and interviews from the most awaited fight of the year. Everyone outside also still have the aftershock of the short but momentous event…they kept talking about how Manny ducked and swing for the killer punch, of the unfair clinging of the opponent, of every moved witnessed…though everyone obviously have seen it earlier.

Funny, huh?! The need to recall and verbalized what everyone have seen anyway, haha. What matters now is…the
victor is our bet!!!

MORE OF THE REFRESHING CHANGE

After the sun sets…we headed to a less soothing environment…ISLAND SONGS! Videoke time! We thought we’re all full up to our ears with the early dinner we had, but our 2hour stay is still equivalent to 4 pizzas, clubhouse sandwhich, fries, chicharaps and fresh green mango shake. (we took home 2 of the 4 pizza’s, hehe!)

We really had a nice bonding time!

REFRESHING CHANGE

Native dinner atop the waves of Manila Bay, we shared fish head of Tanigue Sinigang (a one dish soup-based meal of salmon family fish and vegetables boiled in tamarind) sizzling sisig (a hot spicy dish of grilled then sauteed pork head with liver and chili pepper), laing (a hot vegetable dish using gabi leaves in coconut cream), crispy pata (authentic Filipino dish of deep fried until crispy and golden brown pork leg), pandan smelling rice in palayok and a pitcher of iced tea.
Camera forgotten with a sniff of these mouth-watering, superb array of food!

Fishing Village caters to those who loves to go fishing, and they cook and serves the catch as per request. Though, they also have selections of native Filipino cuisine, may it be chicken, meat, fish, seafood and vegetables.

Huts made of bamboos and palm leaves whispering with the breeze encased us as we partook our meals in rattan underplate with banana leaves over it. What a refreshing change from home-cooked meals.

It is a relaxing day. The whole fam all content to just enjoy each others company, the sunset, the soft fishy smell of the water, the distant voices from the other huts and the soft singing of a wandering trio carrying their instruments: the bass and solo guitar and tambourine. Each one capturing the moment with her own camera,… posing, clicking. A memory for keeps of a refreshing change!

GARAGE SALE

Been looking at my closet this morning, a picture of a man with bulging, full to bursting belly comes to mind…and an idea of having a garage sale popped out of my head.

This could be the answer to my problem with space due to the increasing bulk of toys coming in every month. Imagine the almost 4year collection of teethers, rattles and pull-along toys; to musical instruments, stuffed toys and dolls; toy cars, puzzles, and early books. They seem to be everywhere. I even had some stocked in boxes, and some in closets.

And I’m not the only one to have a change of wardrobe. So does my Anya, because the baby has turned into a little lady. Actually, I should have done this long ago! Instead of giving away those baby things, from tiny dresses to walkers, all in prime condition…should have put it up for sale. It’s nice to give it away, but still, I also have lots of purchases for Anya’s continuously growing limbs.

COFFEE ADDICT ME

Yummmy! I've always loved coffee...and moreso now that it's raining here in the Philippines.

Since it is a long weekend, starting today friday(May 1 - Labor Day), the whole fam is all in. We then decided to go malling, and went to our favorite hang-out, Makati.

I dragged them to MY favorite place to be...Seattles Best! I get to have the best hot choco-mocca I've been craving for since yesterday. UNSURPASSABLE! Simply BEYOND COMPARE!

Slurp!=)

GET TOGETHER

I invited a few new acquaintances in our church group. Don’t really know them much yet, and I’m not sure if we’re gonna click…but sharing the same passion for pasta is a start. So, in this getting-to-know-each-other nite, I prepared a “pasta bar”. A few varying sauces, toppings (tuna, bacon, chicken strips, meatballs, cheese) and choices of 4 cooked pasta (famous spaghetti noodles, twist, shells, and flat noodles); and basic tomato sauce, pesto and basic cream sauce. With it are toasted slices of French bread and tossed some greens.

The evening was a success. Everyone enjoyed dinner…better yet everyone enjoyed the company of each other. I hope this starts the friendship I’m hoping to blossom.

Here are the sauces, you might wanna try this yourself one day…

BASIC TOMATO SAUCE
1-1 ½ K plum tomatoes
¼ c olive oil
2-2 ½ c finely chopped onions
3 cloves garlic
3 broth cubes
1c chopped fresh parsley
3Tbsp chopped fresh oregano
1-1 ½ Tbsp fresh thyme
1c water
To taste salt and pepper

1. Boil tomatoes, peel off skin, chop. Set aside.
2. Saute onions in heated oil, add garlic.
3. Stir in broth cubes and celery.
4. Add chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and herbs. Let simmer and pour in water.
5. Season to taste.

BASIC PESTO SAUCE
38g fresh basil leaves
4Tbsp chopped garlic
1c walnuts
2Tbsp garlic flavored seasoning
½ c grated parmesan cheese

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender
2. Blend till smooth
3. Pour over pasta

BASIC CREAM SAUCE
½ c butter
½ c flour
1pc chicken broth cube dissolved in: (or fresh chicken broth)
1 ½ c water
1pack thick cream
1tsp nutmeg

1. Heat butter in a pan, add flour until cooked through
2. Slowly stir in dissolve broth, continuously stirring
3. Add cream and nutmeg.

YOUR TREAT!

High school friend Fe invited to meet up with me to discuss a business proposal, in addition to a long-time needed reunion. It has been four long years since we last been with each other. Though communication never faltered, we still were eager to spend a few hours together.

We met at the Mall of Asia, and had scrumptious meal at Italianni’s. It’s just the two of us, but we greedily ordered a huge pizza and a platter of greens. French bread was initially served, and with my cold latte’…started the 2 hour feasting.

It was really nice to look back on our HS days! The day was filled with laughter. We both updated each other of whereabouts and of news of our other friends. Apart from the superb food, the resto’s spot made it even more satisfying. The famous Manila Bay is in the distance, the continuous gust of wind coming from it in addition to the splendid sight of the beckoning surf almost made my eyes shut close with total relaxation. The soothing bossa nova whispering nicely from the speakers added to the tranquility of the surroundings.

I really had a magnificent time. Thanks to Fe and Italianni's! Even had a take-home pizza we were not able to stuff in our overly full tummy's=)...And I am definitely going back there for another “etched-in-your-mind-forever” time!

CHANDELIER

I was lying face up in our family room floor…

…assessing the men vying for my attention. It seems that lately, they all have one goal in mind, and that’s to get a little more physical with me!

Grrr! Boys will always be boys! Large potion of their brain are focused mainly on sex, tv and car!

BOWLING

I’m feeling a little athletic today, so I donned my comfiest attire and put the car in gear with my sibs. We went to a nearby sport complex and started rolling the ball down lane 4 and 5.

Bowling’s been a family past time that we don’t do so often anymore, thus, it’s mostly spare now than strike, haha. But the cool air-conditioning, a box of pizza and cans of soda’s definitely helped loosen us from the crankiness that arose from the summer heat.

Well, infact we had fun. So much so that we plan to do this again soon. Even invited a few cousins nearby for a tournament (whoa!)…just a few games, haha.

LTO (Land Transportation Office)

Time to renew my license! I went to LTO yesterday, the agency responsible for the monitoring of it in our country and filed the needed requirements.

It’s distressing though that the verification I did in their website before I decided to do the 1hour travel to their location has been to no avail. The prices they posted for each processing step is way too low. (Yes, there are a lot of steps…which BTW I find not necessary. Not only are they time consuming, but also made just for them to charge more costs!!!) This makes me wonder now if there’s inconsistency between branches…or if it’s the “common” corruption through red tape in the Philippines (grrrr..)

One employee even confirmed my suspicions when I openly mentioned fixers (those people that willingly by-pass procedures for a cost) and the banner hanged by their office reminding penalty of punishable by law to fixers. He said “It’s nothing but a front” and that fixers are still swarming around the place. I second him for that since I have encountered three in the two processes I’ve gone through.

Duh?! When will this ever end….

SINGING TIME

We love to sing!

What can be more time-passing than the videoke?! You don’t get to notice how time flies as you watch the mic being passed…and join in the singing of one song after another. It is not only enjoyable, but relaxing as well.



And that's what we did this afternoon...we were singing as the rain continued to pour down.

A “RAINY” SUMMER DAY

I’m not kidding…it is raining. And what a welcome occurrence amidst intense heat and wanting-to-end humidity. The thunders last nite have pre-empted this all day drizzle. If at first it aggravated the heat, now the invisible steam that seem to be coming from the pavement have probably vanished through the atmosphere…and the air have finally normalized to breathing temp.

I’m sure most people in the neighborhood are wishing for this gift from the heavens to last a few more days (hopefully until before the week ends on Friday) just as I do. And then, the sunshine is welcome to pop back on the weekends for another mostly awaited summer get-away.

ONE ORDINARY DAY

I’m just lazing around all day yesterday, and by late afternoon, I popped myself up in a bunch of feather pillows with a book to fill-up the remaining time of the day. With an ice cold four-seasons on my side table, and lite music to soothe my senses. At one time, I closed my eyes and had a short nap. I woke with a jolt to a loud thumping a few paces away…my little girl with her drum set. I watched her with a smile on my face. So content am I just to look at her, prettily perched on her tiny stool with her long hair parted in the middle in two separate pig-tails.

The humid day dragged on, night time came…and still, it’s just one ordinary day.

PLANTING ACTIVITY

Kids, toddlers especially, want to always have a part of household chores, and in everything else. They wanted to be doing something adults does, want to be part of the routine. Like cleaning, food preparation,…even gardening. Since they are in the learning stage, everything new amazes them.

And so does a seed growing! I gave Anya some beans to grow. She loves the daily routine of watering it, especially the “responsibility” of this task given her. She was so excited when she saw, within two days, that it was starting to sprout out.

It’s astounding how her joy becomes my joy! How her eyes twinkled with delight…how she gave me her dimpled smile. Simply worth giving her the stars!!!