Sinigang na Buto-Buto Festival

Alam ng lahat ang karakas ng mga kalalakihan (at madalas mga "paminta") na pumupukaw sa aking pansin: Payatot. Matangkad. Matangos ang ilong. Bihirang ngumiti. Bihirang magsalita. Si Mother D. ang kaalyado ko sa buto-buto (actually pasok din siya sa profile, ayaw niya lang sa akin)... Siya at ako ang nakakaunawa ng linamnam nila. Por ejemplo...

Noong isang gabi, napanood ko sa TV Patrol na dumating sa Pinas ang Madrid Team. Wala akong amor sa football. Pero napanganga ako sa mga players. Parang isang batalyon ng mga mas matangkad na Gael Garcia Bernal.

Agad kong ibinalita ito kay Mother D. Sabay naming ipinagdiwang ang linamnam ng walang masyadong laman. Binalikan din namin ang paborito naming eksena sa El Crimen Del Padre Amaro... yung tinutulaan nil Padre Amaro ang leading lady habang... ay basta. Hanapin niyo na lang.

Pero taob kaming lahat kay Mama N. Ito ang picture na tumambad sa FB. Uulitin ko ang comment na nilagay ko.

"OMG. OMG. OMG. Walang hasang. Walang kaliskis. Walang pwedeng itapon. :D"

One of the first PROUD GIRLFRIEND Moments

From the December 27, 2000 issue of "Pilipino Star Ngayon."

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=115062

Thanks, but no thanks

It's my 7th month with my employer. I received this.















I am touched, I am flattered, I am thankful.

BUT - I said it six months ago, and I'm saying it again - I already found love.


I'm not letting go. Besides... Money can't buy me love.

From my 2nd and 4th month... I'm lucky.

TLO First's: Wall Art

TLO got a hold of a pencil and was attempting to scribble on the wall. What's a mom supposed to do? Support siyempre. Ganito 'yan anak... Eh fast learner. Good luck.

01/04/12 6:07 PM

The Wall

Zooming In... First Artwork :D

Recipe: Toge-der Again With Tofu

Feeling ko lang, this is an original recipe. My personal adaptation of ginisang toge from your suking tagaluto and/or karinderya.

Disclaimer: Note that I'm no expert. Matakaw lang ako. I'm from the tantiya-tantiya-nakukuha-sa-tikim-ang-tamang-lasa school of cooking. Walang sukat-sukat dito friends.


Sangkap:
Bawang
Sibuyas
Kamatis
Toge
Tofu


Paano Lutuin:

1. Igisa ang bawang at sibuyas hanggang maluto of course.
2. Ilagay ang toge (at kung ano pang gustong isama, gaya rito may mga buto ng manok galing sa manok na pina-fillet ko sa palengke)
3. Medium fire - pakuluan ng mga 10 minutes
4. Maglagay ng toyo (bahala ka na kung gaano karami)
5. Ilagay ang tofu
6. Budburan ng asin at paminta (tantyahin mo na lang ulit)
7. Haluin at maghintay na maluto ang tofu
8. Hayaang magpahinga ang mga nahilong sangkap sa low fire. Tantanan mo sila for 3 minutes.

Pairings (sosyal!):

Masarap itong kapareha ng pritong isda, especially tilapya.

Happy Birthday Ms. A

It was Ms. A's birthday yesterday. Her office looked like a shrine with all the gifts. Really liked the flowers from her best friend. These are real flowers. Shelf-life is at three weeks.

It was Ms. A's birthday but she was the one who gave me a gift. She told me about Randy Pausch. Google orWiki him for his story. Below is his famous "Last Lecture" and a transcript is available here.

Thank you Ms. A. Every minute spent with you is like a birthday (quote inspired by Noreen).

Plant, in the name of love

Meet the two new residents of my secret garden: Aloe Vera and Lila. Got these babies from SM Makati's "tiangge" area near the supermarket. Initially, I was scared they won't make it. They looked like they're dying. To Whom It May Concern: It's heartless to put (living) plants "on display" inside malls. Where will the poor things get their sunlight? Anyways, it's been four days since I transferred the abused plants to their new homes. It looks like they'll make it.

Aloe Vera is my first attempt at functional plants - meaning can be used for something else outside of "visual entertainment." That's a personal definition, don't judge, don't ask. Someone very close to my heart requested for it. Tatanggi ba ako?

And the plot thickens...While I'm crossing my fingers and praying for my Aloe Vera's continued existence, here's a "stray" that I found at the rooftop. It doesn't look like someone's taking care of it. Parang pusang gala. I want to take it home.

Oh tukso, layuan mo ako... Magnanakaw ba ako for love? Abangan.

Be The Best of Whatever YOU Are!

Got this from Tina D. I just love it.


If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley — but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass —
But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,
There's something for all of us here,
There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do,
And the task you must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can't be the sun be a star;
It isn't by size that you win or you fail —
Be the best of whatever you are!

TLO First's: Denim Jeans

 All photos taken last December 31, 2011

"How much is that doggie in the window?"

Also the first time nag-show time sa mall. Nagwawala for the world to see. Whew. Kakaibang karanasan. Try it sometime... Haha!

New Year's Eve (Perfect Date)

Hindi pa bumababa ang tama ng napakasayang putukan. Hahaha!

Lahat ng mga elemento ng masayang date ay napasa-akin noong gabi na nagpalit ng mukha ang kalendaryo.

12AM. Sa rooftop. Panalo ang fireworks display with public display of affection. Noong makatulog na si TLO,  1:30AM, nakasingit na kami ng date. First time kami tumira ng wine sa aming home sweet home. Kumarir pa kami ng wine glass. Sinabayan ng patay ng ilaw, sindi ng kandila (ni hindi nga scented, pang-brown out lang), mahinang WRock music (salamat at tulog ang mga maingay na DJ) at Facebook surfing (nood ng The Office bago yon).

Hulaan niyo na lang kung paano natapos. Ahahay!!!

TLO First's: Girly Top

First time TLO (The Little One) wore a girly blouse. And mommy's bracelet.

All photos taken last November 20, 2011 (Grocery Day)

Reunion pa rin

 Martina's mom passed away last 12/28/11. Text brigade agad sa mga super friends. Kanya-kanyang reply. Ang mga maaasahan gaya ni Mimay at Zhailyn, kaagad nakipag-areglo ng petsa. Yung iba, maaasahan din naman (haha!) pero may mga nauna nang plano kaya sa ibang araw na darating o hindi na makakarating kaya text-text na lang. Meron ding tanga. Alam mo yan, Orlando. Ako ba ang sabihan ng condolence?

Maraming kaibigan ang hindi mahagilap kaya isang FB shout-out ang naging optimistic panawagan. Kelangan lang may pangil, para walang magulo. Awa ng Diyos, wala namang nag-like.

Gusto kong sumasabit sa mga family gatherings nila (Ninang) Martina at Kuya (Ninong) Ronnie. They are a family, they are a team. Saka ang dami nilang mga pakulong creative activities. Nababalitaan ko, may mga program kung saan may mga special numbers ang mga bagets.

Si Mommy Pines +, isang beses ko lang na-meet. Pero ang dami kong alam na kuwento tungkol sa kanya galing kay Martina. Wala naman akong masyadong masabi sa kanya kundi, rest in peace. Saka thank you for bringing Martina in this world. Isang malaking regalong panghabambuhay ang makasama ang iyong bunso Mommy Pines. Saka dumamay na rin ako ng wish - kaming magkakaibigan, please keep us together forever and ever (sabi nga ni Madonna). And saka sana next time na mag-reunion kami, wala na sanang dead.

(L-R) Mimay, YummyliciousLady, Zhailyn at Martina

Zhailyn, Mimay at Kuya Ronnie

Zhailyn, YummyliciousLady at Kuya Ronnie

Happy new year, people!

Since I turned 25, every new year's eve was a convenient excuse to be drunk and publicly display grief over elusive dreams.

A few minutes ago, TLO (The Little One), the Hubby and I were at the rooftop of our apartment. Fireworks display, courtesy of everyone who didn't care about blowing up their money in the skies, was amazing. In the middle of a kiss with the hubby, TLO sandwiched in our embrace, the world stopped moving for a special (and kinda late!) realization... After five years of waiting, I made it to my vision of heaven. I am a wife. I am a mother.

So this new year's eve, I lovingly dedicate my alcohol consumption to dreams fulfilled. :@P

Whatever it is that your heart longs for, hold on, hang on, don't give up... One of our best teachers in college said: "No matter how fucked up your life is right now, everything will eventually fall into place."

Keep dreaming. Keep loving. Keep healing. "Eventually" will come when you're ready.