Last weekend was all about food, food, food. I got a pint of my super loved Häagen-Dazs Rum Raisin last Friday. It’s one of my favorite flavors, the hubby would tease me it’s because of the rum. Hehe. Our freezer is full of half-consumed tubs of ice cream. When I last looked at the freezer, pints of cherry-vanilla, chocolate-chip cookie dough and some strawberry from a long time ago are lodged there. I guess we’re flavor-hopping. Our trips to the supermarket always have a stopover by the frozen aisle, with us scratching our chins deciding which flavors should we pick. Sometimes it takes us a minute to decide, but most of the time we resort to “whose turn is it this time to pick out a flavor?” fix. The hubby picked his own strawberry-banana smoothie fruit bars. Hmm, I’m not so keen about banana as a frozen concoction, hehe.
We spent the Saturday night at our friends’ house. He prepared three home-made pizza, and it was actually really good. Three varieties pa ha - meatlovers, vegetarian, and pepperoni-mushroom. He was excited to show us how he made the pizza. Well, he had some ready-made dough he got from Trader Joe’s and then he threw in all toppings imaginable. My favorite topping was the Bosnian-style bacon. Bacon and I are not all too chummy, but I like the Bosnian variety. Our friend showed us this huge slab of meat, bacon, that is. He said his mom got it from the farm where another Bosnian was making them. It’s pretty interesting, not the usual bacon in strips we’re all familiar with.
I also made sticky rice, which they like. It’s my own recipe- product of scouring the internet for a recipe which is doable and quick to make. So it’s not quite the "biko" from back home. But biko is essentially easy to make. The one that I made doesn’t look exactly like the stuff I know, but it sure smelled and tasted like one. I, unfortunately, wasn’t a biko-maker in the past. I’ve only learned and was bent upon making these dishes recently. I remember our friends liked the sticky rice dessert we had in the Thai restaurant we went to before, and they liked it so much. I thought it was pretty much like biko, so I told them I’ll try to make one for them. But it took me a long time to find sticky rice in Asian stores. So there, I was able to make some biko with coconut cream topping.
And then, there’s sushi.... (again!). Yesterday, after going to the mall to pick up more beads at Beadazzled (heaven, heaven, heaven!), the hubby suddenly had a craving for sushi. He said I got him into the sushi habit. So we wasted no time in satiating the sushi hunger, off we went to get it! And happier were we after gorging on those bitsy seaweed-wrapped, spicy goodness. We had ten pieces each, and pining for more! I would officially list sushi as one of my could-eat-it-everyday-my-whole-life food. The other one is pizza.
Ah, food. Next stop would be Brazilian food. A lady from work who’s from Brazil is taking us to a Brazilian restaurant soon. That is one yummy thing to look forward to. I can’t wait.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Can't stop thinkin' about food
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Winter distractionS
I’ve caught a fever. A fever making bead necklaces, that is. Somehow I need to distract myself against this tenebrous mood that winter brings. I’ve caught a fever making bead necklaces- and selling them. I’ve made six pieces initially, and was able to sell them all! Now I am making more. I sold another one yesterday. I am so excited, and it got the hubby all excited about it, too. He took wonderful pictures of it.
Making necklaces can be quite complicated. I never attended a class on jewelry/necklace making, so I just sort of taught myself how to do it. I’ve looked into a basic how-to online, and that’s about it. I guess I’m still on the discovery stage and so far, I’ve gotten positive feedbacks about my pieces. And that’s super great and it makes me happy!
I’ve discovered a couple of s that somehow makes this winter bearable, exciting and yummy- salsa and sushi. I’ve gotten the kick out of salsa and chips lately. Can’t get enough of Tostitos and medium Tostitos salsa! I’m quite strange because sometimes I like food as if I’ve discovered them for the very first time.
And I had sushi for lunch today. Isn’t that great?! Sushi never fails to lift up any crumbling mood. My friend gave me a box of
Winter is long, and I still have weeks and weeks to go. But I have things to keep me engrossed, unmindful of the single digit temperature and wind chills enough to make anyone insane. I just have to grin and bear it.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Thursday mania
At lunch today, the ladies at work got into some frenzied discussion about Grey’s Anatomy. They’re totally flipped out over the romance, the intrigues and all that fire about the show. And we’re not talking about college girls here going bananas over it. I’m talking about mature, PhD-ed women who eat clinical terms for breakfast and spew out therapeutic this and therapeutic that throughout the day. And they gush about how on Thursday night at 9:00 pm, nobody can pull them out of the couch in front of the TV. Now that’s what I call a happy mania.
I haven’t watched a single episode of Grey’s Anatomy, however. The ladies at work have this “how could you?” look with a mouth agape in protest shot at me. But I heard so much about the show. And of course, the latest furor involving fag name-calling by Isaiah Washington. I heard so much about Dr. McDreamy, and I’m sure it’s a good show. But our eyes are settled on a different Thursday night show- The Office.
How do I describe the show? It’s funny, but not the outrageous scream-in-your-face, silly, gag-ridden funny kind of way. I think it has something to do with Steve Carrell. He’s perfect for his role as Michael Scott- a complete buffoon who thinks he is the life of the office, but his employees think otherwise. He behaves foolishly and inappropriately, misinterprets the context of nearly every situation, is unwittingly mean! But he’s actually quite a lonely guy. If Mr. Burns is a devil of a boss in the Simpsons, Michael is the daft, galling and totally inept boss. And the funniest thing is he thinks he’s got it all- looks, brains, charm, wit, sex appeal! How many times do we encounter people (bosses) like that?! How many clueless nitwits walk on this earth not having the slightest idea how boring and stupid they are?
And Dwight! He’s the poster boy for a bizarre and neurotic, yes-boy, overly ambitious, perennially-abused assistant. He makes me laugh all the time. And Jim and Pam, who like each other but can’t quite get it to the next stage. Don’t you like that kind of love angle?
The office is kind of small and crowded, and the air reeks of boredom and dissatisfaction. It felt like being stuck in a cage, and you’re being sucked-dry of your enthusiasm and joy in life, but can’t do something about it, anyway. In real life scenario, I know it happens a lot. And the biggest clowning glory of it all is having an obnoxious boss, who can keep a straight-face in the midst of his own stupidity. We’ve all experienced this kind of insanity, no?
One of the recent funniest scenes was when Michael decided to have an impromptu Mexican-themed party, and they made do with whatever they have. And so they put the “~” over the n in lemonade bottle making it lemoñade. A kooky way of Mexicanizing the lemonade, huh? Hehe Those guys are so clueless they’re so funny. They recently won the SAG Awards for Best Comedy Ensemble!
And I’m excited for tonight’s show- Michael hires strippers for Phyllis’ wedding shower. It will be a stupidity circus! Get a taste of The Office, at 8:30 tonight on NBC.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
I'm in love!
Miu Miu calf leather tote, in Girasole. 
Narciso Rodriguez empire waist bubble dress
Jake Gyllenhaal, in February GQ
Friday, January 26, 2007
a peculiar case
Can you believe? Our Christmas tree is still standing? It’s the end of January, and soon it’s gonna be Valentine’s, and yet I still don’t have the strength to tear it down and put way the balls and all the trinkets. A pure case of indolence. No doubt about it. When I told my mom a couple of weeks ago that the tree is still there, she said to me- you’re so Pinoy. Hehe.
Anyway, I know it has to be taken down sooner or later. But when? Well, we seem to be adapted to the sight of the tree. It seems comforting. What to do, what to do? When you start hearing ads on Valentines Day on TV, it’s the time when I want to kick myself in the butt and yell to start moving my lazy rump. Nakakahiya, di ba? Maybe I’ll do it tonight.
I couldn’t be too sure, but the cold weather makes a sloth out of anybody. It’s such an agony to go out, and I feel so sleepy all the time. And yet lately, I have been having trouble sleeping at night. I think I am getting RLS (restless leg syndrome) and becoming an insomniac. See, I’m turning into a hypochondriac! I have such a peculiar case- my sleepiest times are around 2-3 pm when it’s all quite at work; 7:30 pm when it’s time to fix dinner, and 9 pm just after dinner. But when it’s time for bed, I have a hard time. And it’s harder to wake up at 6:30 am.
Can I blame it to the weather?
One thing’s funny though. Recently we purchased new bright red throw pillows. Lounging in the sofa, the minute I plop my head into its glorious fluffiness, I fall asleep instantly! It’s a good thing only if it doesn’t thwart my chores, but it does so it’s a bad thing.
I guess I am falling into a sleeping rut. What shall I do? Sloth and sleepiness is not a proper combination. I have to snap out of it, chop-chop!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
haikus of different flavor
boredom lurks; so sad, so wrong
a day without you.
Love keeps me so light
like floating on air, so true;
love moves, love sets free.
I wonder, I doubt.
If only all dreams would last.
I wish. But heart doubts.
Leave a heart so blue,
is not what I want to do.
Love, I’ll make you pure.
Until I find you
this heart of mine remains dark…
love sees, love is you.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The yogurt bandit
This incident is getting funnier. It used to be irritating. Now the more irritating it gets, the more comical it becomes. You see, from time to time we like to bring some yogurt at work and we like to eat it as dessert or a snack. What I like is the fruit-flavored, thick and creamy custard style kind. I haven’t been a long-time fan of yogurt. My hubby introduced me to the habit when we met years ago. It was funny because I never liked Yakult as a child. And when I expressed my interest to try the fruit-flavored ones, he told me I will not like it because it tasted like Yakult. But when I tried it, I found it interestingly delicious, and I liked it! And I have been a fan of the fruit-flavored ones since then.
Now back to my story. This morning, I brought the blackberry flavored yogurt at work. I placed it in the ref in the 4th floor kitchen thinking how nice it would be to have it as an afternoon snack. So after a couple of (boring) afternoon meetings today, I rushed to chow down the yogurt, finally! But surprise, surprise! The yogurt was gone.
The yogurt bandit strikes again!
Yes, there's a yogurt bandit. There had been several incidents in the past when all the yogurt that we brought at work went missing when it was time to eat it. I don’t know who’s the nincompoop who got the appetite to our custard-style, fruit-flavored yogurt and stole it. What a twerp. A total idiot. It annoyed me to heavens, after at least four times finding a much-desired yogurt gone, so the hubby and I decided to put a sticker with our name on it – taking chances on being teased about it. But it worked, since then nobody took our yogurt from the ref.
Until now. Well, I stopped the stickering bit ;) so that explains the un-labeled yogurt got stolen again. Or got mistakenly eaten. But, what the ***. Some people are so stupid. I am so annoyed, however, I can’t help to think how hilarious it gets. Is a simple tub of fruit-flavored yogurt really that steal-worthy?!
I hope the yogurt bandit have non-stop diarrhea ‘til the 4th of July.
Friday, January 12, 2007
"Kilig"
What is the English term for “kilig”? Is it giddy? Is it euphoric? Intoxicated? Kilig leapt into my mind just now because I finished reading a magazine article about having a crush and experiencing throes of kilig. That unmistakable rush we feel thinking about something good that just happened, or a thought about someone. Isn’t that the greatest feeling in the world?
Kilig is not all shivers and kicks, it is so much more. Perhaps I wouldn’t be able to define it fully if I were to explain it to my non-Tagalog speaking friends. However, we all know what it is, and would smile complacently thinking about those teenage years overcome with kilig.
What are your kilig moments? I like looking at wedding pictures, and it would be on my list of kilig moments. Why? It is because weddings are a pool of mixed emotions- happiness, agitation, melodrama, guilt, pride, triumph, apprehension, hope and bliss. The look of love between the couple on their wedding day makes me kilig. The promise of a new love, the blossoming of new relationships makes me kilig, too. I delight in listening to stories of getting to know each other stages of dating, of planning a wedding, of seeing someone really likable. Basking in “I really like her/him a lot” thought is supernaturally pleasant.
An unexpected call from a loved one, an unexpected kiss, and unexpected words – these all bring flood of tender sentiments in us all. Who wouldn’t be kilig when a boy you liked brought a bouquet of flowers in front of all your friends in a crowded café? Or when a boy you recently met, and whom you really liked promised to see you after your class, and found him running up in the stairs to catch you as he was a tad late? Or when a boy gives you a tender kiss in front of his all his friends...?
Kilig moments are endless. But only if you allow it to happen. Think about the past, and you will find surprising moments worthy of kilig. Good and happy memories bring this juicy and overwhelming feeling. Love, love, love. It is a vast savannah of kilig…
This piece is for my hubby- the object of my kilig since 1999…
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
I like my greens... doused with vinaigrette
Recently I’ve noticed my growing affinity for the color green. Not that it has become my top favorite color (I can say I’m still a “red” girl), but green is popping out a lot lately. In choosing household items, it seems to me green was a favored color. When we moved into our new place more than a year ago, I chose olive green bedding accessories and picked a fresh shade of green when we decided to paint one wall.
Our new curtains are cilantro, and even the shower curtain is green- sage to be exact. And I own mint green shirts. Before winter, I oh-so wanted to buy a pair of mint-green western boots. But the verve faded when winter set in. So now, it’s officially in my what-in-***-were-you-thinking moments. I mean, really. Did I really want to trod in the yet-to-be-seen snow this winter in bright green footwear? I know my hubby is having a Nelson Muntz ha-haa! moment right now.
In the past, blue was my favorite color. Then I outgrew it and adopted red as my favorite. I like the fiery, ebullient aura of color red. If this were an instant personality test, then I’m stimulating, energetic and bold. It’s more like the personality I want to match. Reds also have incredible will-power and they enjoy pleasant and colorful environment.
Now, why do I like green? Green is sensational. It could mean a lot of things, too. Greens the foliage, greens the veggies, green the young ‘un, green the money, green thumb, green tomatoes, green light, green with envy. And of course, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I always associate green with calmness, ease and relaxation, and life.
Last weekend, the hubby and I made some avocado shake – perfect green thirst quencher. Then I started to pine for green kaong and buko-pandan. Darn. The hubby and I love the greens, too. Aragula, bibb lettuce, romaine, spinach, endives, dandelions. We’re happy to munch on these greens, but we don’t agree on the dressing. He’s a ranch person while I’m a vinaigrette person. And I don’t just want it spritzed, I want it doused, deluged and drenched in vinaigrette. That will make me a happy green goat.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
startin' the year right
We wanted to start the year right. And so the hubby started a 365 set on flickr. And this is my idea of starting the year right: banana spice cake.
4 ounces butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 large egg
2 to 3 bananas, mashed, about 3/4 cup
1/4 cup buttermilk or sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 scant teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Heat oven to 350°. Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan. In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar. Beat in egg, milk, vanilla, and mashed banana until blended.
Combine remaining dry ingredients and spices. Stir the dry ingredients into the first mixture until moistened. Spread in prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly touched with finger.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Now, let’s see. Hmm, I hope this doesn’t mean fatty cheeks, fleshy arms and chubby waistline for me.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Life is like eating artichokes
Life is like eating artichokes, you have got to go through so much to get so little.
What did you do in 2006 which you have never done before?
Can’t say.
Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, or will you make more for next year?
I’ll probably make a new one. I don’t remember if I ever made one this year.
What memorable places did you visit?
NYC and Outer Banks in North Carolina
What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
More courage and more patience
What date from 2006 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
July 23-26th “lighthouse hunt” in North Carolina.
What was your biggest achievement in 2006?
My newest rep: a good cook.
What was your biggest failure?
Can’t seem to identify a penny, a nickel and a dime
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mine and hubbys!
What did you get really, really excited about?
Birthdays and anniversaries
What song will always remind you of 2006?
Bad Day by Daniel Powter from American Idol
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier!
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter, unfortunately
What do you wish you’d done more?
More exercise
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Temper tantrums
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate last year?
Sadly, yes.
What did you do on your birthday?
Dinner at McCormick & Schmick’s with the hubby
What kept you sane?
Quiet comfort of home and that there’s always tomorrow
Who did you miss?
Mom, and Bub (my dog who replaced me in my mom’s world - my mom’s enfant terrible)
Tell us a valuable lesson you’ve learned in 2006.
That it doesn’t make me less of a person if I can’t please a lot of people, and that growing old isn’t that bad
What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself?
I’m a good wife ;)
The most touching experience you’ve had this year.
When the hubby got sick, and I took care of him.
What did you hate most about yourself this year?
I always have bad timing in throwing a bad mood. I never learned.
Quote a song lyric which sums up your year.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand,six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
(“Seasons of Love”, Rent)
Was 2006 a good year for you?
Yup. Life has been good. Can’t complain.
What was your favorite moment this year?
A lot! David’s birthday, my birthday, weekend trip to NY with friends, summer trip to North Carolina, our anniversary…
What are your favorite months of the year?
June, July and December
What are your least favorite months of the year?
January and February
Do you have a new year’s resolution for 2007?
To be more assertive.
What was your most embarrassing moment of 2006?
Let’s not even go there.
What are your plans for 2007?
Cook more. Bake more. Play tennis more. Read more. Travel more. Eat less. Study more. Start a new hobby. Learn new skills. Work harder. Stay healthy. Get more sleep. Make more new friends. Become a pet parent (maybe). Always be happy.
Monday, December 25, 2006
A happy Christmas, and a merry mix-up, too!
It’s Christmas Day! But it’s raining here… What a soppy way to spend a wonderful Christmas day. But anyway, a happy Christmas is still a happy Christmas, be it rain, shine, snow or a mix-up midnight mass; or here or there or missing family and friends.
We spent the Christmas eve at our friends’ home and of course, the center of attention that night, except for the delicious feast, was the 3-year old Stefan, who expertly tore off the wrappers of his presents. Well, we got some presents, too. Some nice, some junk hehe. But as we always prompt ourselves- it’s the thought that counts. For our good friends who hosted the party, we got them a good-humored wooden plaque which said: “My Wife Wanted A New Experience, So I Showed Her The Kitchen”. They were delighted with it and unhesitatingly hang it in their kitchen wall, like a religious icon for the wife, a self-proclaimed kitchen skeptic (and proud of it!).
Earlier last night, we went to hear Christmas Eve Mass at our parish. The schedule online said 9:30 p.m. for Misa Noche Buena. Well, we blissfully (albeit unintentionally) ignored the information, fixated on the 9:30 pm. So imagine our shock when we realized the 9:30 pm Mass was the Spanish Mass! So we heard the Mass in Spanish and I tried to keep up with the prayers and the songs. My Beginners Spanish was no match for the priest who rapidly spewed out his sermon, I had no time to catch all the words, hehehe.
But I must admit, it was a great experience. It was unexpected, but a fortunate incident nonetheless. I found myself singing with “hosanna, hosanna, hosanna en el cielo…..”- the only nearly-familiar song phrase that night. I loved it. I guess there’s a different kind of spark channeling our interest with a language we are still learning to speak, we got ourselves more into it. It was one-of-a-kind Christmas eve story, surely.
Hope your Christmas was happy and memorable, too!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
¡Segundo!
To celebrate our second wedding anniversary (December 18th), the hubby and I went to a Spanish tapas bar. Since I am persnickety when it comes to dates, anniversaries and fussy little details only OCs like me can devour, I was a little grim nobody remembered our anniversary (well, except for Mom and Roselle!). The hubby said, nobody ever remembers any wedding anniversaries. Is that true?! Well, I remember most of my friends’ wedding anniversaries or the dates they went steady. Hahaha!
So there. I can’t help it. I’m always a sucker for anniversaries. So at this place that we went to, we ordered paella valenciana, gambas gabardina, brocheta de pollo and chorizo al parilla. And this marvelous drink- sangria margarita, a wicked mixture of triple sec, tequila and white wine. ¡Increíble! I love it to the last drop. The hubby was teasing me because I got all giggly (it meant I was drunk, hehe). I was quick to order the drink to the waiter, but he was quicker to see my i.d.!
I had a great time. Despite the tough brocheta de pollo, the dinner went well and it was a great little celebration. I love anniversaries! I believe that it’s a must to celebrate every little thing you’ve got, before detachment and dispassion become a way of life and before you know it, you’re both drained off passion and left to rot. So celebrate! No matter how cheesy it gets.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Lady of the Baking Pan
It was a weekend overloaded with baking and… Lord of the Rings. I made chocolate fudge cake for Darko’s (our friend) 27th birthday on Saturday. It was sprinkled with pastel sugar stars, and although I failed to make its milk-chocolate frosting to my desired consistency, it was not entirely unfortunate-looking. Darko’s 3 year old nephew Stefan ooohed when he saw the cake, but he asked, “does Jasmine’s cake have eggs?” Poor boy, he can’t eat anything with eggs. Then on Sunday, I made devil’s food cake with chopped cherries for our wedding anniversary. Our wedding anniversary is today! We’re two! Yaaay.
On Sunday, after going to church and an hour and half shopping for supplies, we spent the rest of the day (and the night) watching the Lord of the Rings on TV. The hubby hadn’t seen the three movies in full length, but I was able to convince him to watch all three. After all the “who’s that?”, “how come?”, “what happened?”, “don’t tell about the next scene!”, and a quick, quick nap- he liked the movie! The Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite movies. And my top two favorite scenes (in The Return of the King) are: when Arwen saw a vision of her future son on her way to Grey Havens which prompted her to return to her father, thus rejecting her Elvish immortality; and when Aragorn asked the ghoulish ghosts who betrayed his ancestors, “Fight with me”.
What a weekend. Can you imagine doing all that baking and watching all three Lord of the Rings movies at the same time practically up to eleven thirty at night? Not to mention I still have to make a pineapple upside down cake for tomorrow’s Christmas party at work. Therefore, I call mine self… Lady of the Baking Pan.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
an ode to my manic state of mind
Ever felt like a chattering teeth wind-up toy? Hopping maddeningly, aimlessly all over the place? I was a wind-up chattering teeth for a day. I woke up yesterday morning, with a sense of foreboding, not in a cataclysmic sense but a kind of sheepish admittance because……. (drumrolls, please) I left a lot of work undone the previous day.
Tuesday was a day of nonchalance. I left a lot of emails and tasks half-done because I got myself busy with getting annoyed and angry. As usual, over things which doesn’t kill me actually, but nevertheless I let myself soak into a state of angriness. It was gratifying, while it lasted. So yesterday, there I was catching up with my accumulated emails, and then happily cramming up urgent tasks in between this-and-that phone calls. Mr. Time Management would promptly (and zealously!) mark me an F!
I thought I work best on the eleventh hour. Well, that might have worked a long time ago. I was tempted to believe now that it’s still legit. But it wouldn’t save my bottom now, which is why I thought parading such a racket should be a once in a blue moon thingy only- ONLY when you’re in a manic state of mind. In the midst of that manic state, a thought came across my mind- that it was actually good! Satisfying… in a foolish kind of way. But then again, I’m not sixteen anymore who’s postulated to do such sheepish things.
Oh, well. Everything fell into place, luckily. I felt the rush, and it must have been a tailor-made cure to my intermittent feeling of sleepiness of late. It sure did jolt me back into haste. Come to think of it, acting like a wind-up toy, what a sight I must have been. But who cares? ¡Vivas!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
"evolution of my emotions in a day at work"
9:30 am
10:35 a.m.
12:20 p.m.
3:20 p.m.
3:23 p.m.
3:25 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5:32 p.m.
All's well that ends well.
Monday, December 04, 2006
it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
It seems like I’m all set for the December gaiety. Well, not quite.
I have a tree set up, wrapped our Christmas presents early, has mailed our Christmas cards even earlier, and I even put a tiny red Christmas bell in our front door knocker. I think that’s enough Christmas décor for us. Maybe some poinsettias when Christmas is really near.
Last weekend, we did some additional Christmas shopping. And as usual, the hubby complained it was “too exhausting”. But despite his boredom, he never growls at me, which is why I adore him to bits. Anyway, we were looking around for presents for our Secret Santa at work. I wanted him to get the strawberry-colored mini fondue set. But he disliked it. Instead, he chose a set of scented Chesapeake Bay candles. I tried to dissuade him, but come to think of it, it was a cute choice ;) I hope Monica and Caren will be happy with our gifts.
It’s going to be a month awash with little celebrations for us:
8th- Darko’s farewell potluck lunch
18th- wedding anniversary!!!
19th- Secret Santa party at work
24th- Noche Buena at Darko and Janet’s place
I made cherry cheesecake last Saturday. A little mishap happened, but with a lot of help from the hubby and a quick rescue effort, the cheesecake was picture perfect. And scrumptious, too! I brought some at work today, and they liked it. Me happy!
I got another load of books from the local library over the weekend. And I hope to read them all before the year is over. Biting off more than I could chew?! My goal is to read (and reread) all the Classics I could lay my hands on before I get 30. Hmm, that’s a tad too ambitious? First on my list is Don Quixote (I got the book from the latest load), then maybe the Canterbury Tales, next would be A Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights), perhaps I could go for The Song of Roland, then The Divine Comedy. That’s the end of the list, before I get too carried away. Well, maybe I could squeeze in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Do I really believe I could read all those in less than 8 months? Oh well, that feat, if- and only if I could achieve it, could be another worthwhile blog entry. Until then, I could leaf through my books page by page, and then slowly slither my way to this goal. But for the meantime, I just want to think about Christmas and enjoy Christmas….
Monday, November 27, 2006
we have a tree!
Finally, our “first” tree was set up last night.
After last year’s non-Christmas, I insisted we keep up with the tradition of Christmas decorating this year. I may not have buntings or an ostentatious Parol, or maybe some cardboard Santa face but I was thrilled with our little tree. But a tree topper is still missing, and I’m still on the mission of finding a nice, charming one. I still wanna hang a wreath on our door or add more trinkets to our tree, or maybe some poinsettias and berries here and there...
A most ubiquitous décor back home would be the Nativity Scene, however, I may not have luck in seeing one here. I did, however, experienced a true (Pinoy) Christmas sparkle- never ending carols played on the radio. We were expecting to hear carols not until after Thanksgiving, but one radio station started playing lovely classic carols at least 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. So we’re getting an overdose of Christmas songs and carols driving to and from work.
The long Thanksgiving weekend was a much anticipated break. But like any other holiday breaks, it’s much too short. Our break was mostly spent waking up late (except for Black Friday, when we joined the throng of early shoppers!) and watching movies on DVD. We also went to a Thanksgiving dinner at our friend’s parents house. Her turkey was extra-yummy this year. We are perennial dinner visitors at their house (birthdays, Thanksgiving, New Year, etc. etc.), we’re sort of the “extra non-family family” to them.
My almost-in limelight pineapple upside down cake, which made a recent appearance at the Thanksgiving dinner will soon roll in next at the office’s Secret Santa party. I’m excited about this Secret Santa thing. Such a juvenile delight, no? Although I got a terrible, terrible present from my Secret Santa last year, I’m not discouraged one bit. However, this poor gift choice point is just so upsetting, don’t you think? I mean, who would shriek with delight over a box of an all-purpose greeting cards as a present? I’m not being hypercritical but I find it hilarious.
My so-not-a-fan-of-gift-shopping-and-gift-giving hubby surprisingly insisted on picking out Christmas gifts for our close friends, which delighted me, of course. Making decisions on appropriate gifts for each person is as critical and fulfilling as making a life-changing decision, (hehe). Gift-giving with all its frills- from choosing the wrapping paper to matching the ribbons and bows and sticking in the gift tags- is mind-boggling to most husbands. But for me, it’s fun art.
So I hope it’s gonna be a happy Christmas. We’re two kiddos alone and away from friends and home. But with our pretty, teeny tree, it will be a joyous Christmas, after all.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
"it takes a long time to grow an old friend"
circa 1985
One of the things we fancy is our shared interest and enthusiasm in reminiscing the erstwhile happy, carefree childhood years and of course, reunions. The last one that we had was in 2003, and we had a blast! And although through the years, it’s getting harder and harder to arrange a reunion, we know and we believe it furiously that we could……. one day, have that “grand” reunion.
Monday, November 20, 2006
no time to be crabby!
Ingredients for a laidback weekend:
sleep ‘til lunch
shisha
Chesapeake Bay blue crabs
a quick trip to the carwash
2 hilarious movies on Sunday night
I guess I am merriest when the weekend is started right. Meaning: a schedule-free Saturday morning. Because it means I could sleep until... whenever. Last Saturday, we woke up at 11:45. Ah, bliss. After an idle lunch and more do-nothingness in the afternoon, it was time to go to our friends’ house for an evening smoking shisha. Before that, we made a quick stop to the office and then got some fries and apple pies at McDonald’s. Shisha schmisha. It was great, but that’s all there is to it. Perhaps next time when they invite us to smoke shisha again, we might have to turn them down. I had a suspicion that they only wanted us to be at their house because they wanted a second opinion about their ongoing argument that night. Shisha was an excuse, hehe.
Anyway, it has gotten steadily cold over the weekend. After hearing Mass on Sunday at noon, we headed for a quick trip to the carwash. Sadly, the hubby’s Katie has been a little neglected lately. She needed a little polishing, but the matter of spending at least twenty minutes standing in the severe cold polishing Katie in the carwash parking lot was too unappealing, so we decided she’s already “clean enough”.
The hubby had a sudden craving for crabs, so we were headed next to the supermarket for some Chesapeake Bay blue crabs. Tiny, tiny fellows. I haven’t tasted crabs ever since I was a small girl since I have an averse reaction to eating crabs. I let the hubby cook the crabs, because when I saw the first crab thrown into the steaming pot of water, suddenly, I felt like a killer, a crab murderer (!) But I tasted the blue crabs, anyway. I was almost convinced I’ve outgrown the allergic reaction to crabs and the itching afterwards was just a figment of my imagination. But I’m still itching now so I guess I still can’t eat crabs.
The hubby complained how tiny the crabs were and there wasn’t much to eat! That was the tale of his Sunday crab craving. Then it was time to watch some movies on DVD. We watched Nacho Libre and Little Man. In between movies, there was a one-hour pause to give way to our beloved The Amazing Race. The two comedies were good. Not brilliant. But it keeps you laughing the whole time, which for me, is a good measure how funny the film is. It wasn’t bad at all.
Two movies in one night. A DVD, a projector, speakers. It’s a good alternative to seeing a movie in the movie house. Inexpensive, plus you can curl up in the couch in your colorful socks. Who can get crabby with these conditions? Not us.