Breakfast

Josephine back from a visit to Josephine brought back Napoleon. Ooops, Napoleones.

Breakfast care of the French Revolution.

:D

Midnight Meditations

Ahh, the sweet sound of message alert. Beep once = instant happiness. Hehe.

********************************************

Roaming thru the house on an editing break
Closing doors against the cold, turning off
Normal lights turning on energy savers:

I stand before the kitchen admiring
The closed door making the room cozy
Reminding me of my mother’s clean
English kitchen solace against inescapably
Cooler temperatures alien to my tropical skin.

In the softer white light, this room accented soft pink and baby blue.

Peeking thru the pocket garden, I stare up at my
Second floor window, brightly lit.
That is where I work.

In the semi-dark I sit on the sofa marveling
At the cold that pushes in thru half-opened windows.
This - this weather, neatness, this feeling of home –
is the best time yet.

Sincerely Sorry

Noel Cabangon is so endearing.

Loyalists and more trooped to the AFP Theater last Saturday at 7:30 pm for his Medjas concert.

At this point I would like to sincerely apologize to the following:

Buddha for forgetting to invite him to the concert. Hehe! Peace.

The Priestess for my being confused at her asking whether or not it was ok to miss Medjas. I thought it was a non-question...(oops :p) but now I agree, it was a valid dilemma! Hehehe! Peace.

My official excuse is that I myself wasn't so sure until the last few hours prior that I was watching. I've been sick. I missed a conference. I was going to see some relatives that night.

But no, I was able to go.

Kulang na lang talaga ice-cold beer.

I don't know what it is about Noel. He he has always been able to maintain his humility and being down to earth, even in the face of talent, artistry, and ever-growing popularity. Walang yabang, pa-ulit ulit ang thank you. As in, pa ulit-ulit. While beaming.

Bago pa ang tee-shirt. Orange. Hehe!

Aside from his trademark cool voice, and endearing original songs, you also missed:
a. the cool loveable dance interpretations. ang cute! promise!
b. aiza seguerra singing kanlungan. ang sexy! talaga! mas magaling pa kesa kay noel! hahaha.
c. cookie chua singing, of course, and her comment: "Sabi kasi ni Noel, 'kapag mag-all-black ka, mag sash ka ng red.' Kaya heto, brown na lang." (hehe!)
d. and last but not the least, Capricorn Cabangon's mega super explanations! hehehe! including but not limited to: 1) why his name onstage appeared baliktad, 2) why he opened with Up on The Roof 3) why they moved the concert to November and 4)what Medjas means.

Capricorns! They have their similarities!

And I will stop myself from sharing his explanations because.... :D ... errrr, because because.

P.S. Natatandaan mo pa ba? No'ong tayong dalawa ay unang nagkita? Panahon ng kamusmusan. Sa piling ng mga bulaklak at halaman.

Ako ay aso

Been barking like a dog these last few days. I wish I could say that it was just to develop my abs (don't you agree that coughing builds your abdominal muscles, just very loudly?), but something's stuck in my tonsils. Could it be love? hehehe!


For J.W.D. from two weeks ago
(You may agree or disagree JWD)

You with your
Wistful smile
Rueful thoughts
And quiet dreams,

You seem to me now
More loveable, more reachable
More real.

Than when you knew all the answers to life’s questions.
talked quite a lot.
and laughed so boldly.

You’ve embraced the world
Plumbed your hidden depths.
And emerged anew.

No longer larger than life
But living.

*Raises white flag*

I really like going with my feelings ;-)

Two hours after ... I felt, oh, ok. "So, what's the matter then?"

When I'm ready to talk like that, it's a good sign that I can listen and won't take every word against you no matter if the word is "and." Hehe.

So *rolls eyes* I'm over myself.

See you around. ;-)

research subject: I

Process documenting case study V

1. First reaction:

rising above it
"maturity"

2. Second reaction:

sulking
"I really don't want to talk about this right now."
"I'd rather stay disappointed."
"I don't want to be negotiated out of feeling disappointed."

Hehe! Sulking's good. Best leave me to it. :)

Oh.

(the sound of me being disappointed)

Am so disappointed.

In my disappointment, I am detached wondering how I should react.

a. do I want to cry?
b. do i want to walk off from this day where, aside from this disappointment, my doubtless sleepless and stressed boss was being temperamental to my chapters, leaving me to wonder really about our program for chapters.

Or not. My mind jumps ahead of my reactions, wondering about the universe and all that (hehe). What does it all mean? :D Me wants to know.

I guess, there's a part of me that's grown above every day's occurences, big and small. Doubtless, it is a lesson for me. Is it a lesson in living life more? Is that what it means? Is it a further lesson in surrender and letting go?

You see, I am happy. So, while this disappoints me, it does not take away from the fact that I am happy.

(Takes a long drink of water.)

Happiness does not take away the fact of disappointment. Nor water (But it helps).

Also, I've learned time and time again that things always work out for the best. Damn it.

So I wouldn't really know what this all means until it unfolds itself. Or maybe it means nothing at all.

Huhu. Hee.

Tooosdays

A friend asked me to coffee. Another to a movie. Rommie texted to ask what I was up to.

But sorry, world. Tuesdays don’t work for me. I have therapy, and then I have sex!

As in! It’s set in stone. Like this….

“Rooo-mmieeeeeeee, it’s time for djuuuu-uuuug.” (with matching loud singsong tone, what with she in her upstairs lair and me on the shorter sofa downstairs).

But no, she ignores me in favor of her work. You see work sometimes gets in the way of Sex.

Hihihihi.

Anyway, I enjoyed myself by myself. I pounded the sofa in amusement.

“Steve, I can’t have sex anymore. I have a brain! I miss ESPN and blah blah blah blah.” That was Miranda to Steve on their sex-abundant (too much so) honeymoon.”

“Brady saw us having sex! He’s scarred for life!”
“Charlotte, he doesn’t even know where his nose is!”

Also,

“I could really be with you. … but …” Carrie and the owner of Hotel Vasectomy, to each other.

I like those first six words.

Brownie

I went for the brownie -- sticky, chocolatey, with nuts. YUM. :D

What's Your Dessert Personality?
Got this on the email. Post yours on comments? :D

Pick your favorite dessert from the list below, then look to see what psychiatrists think about you!

If you were making a dessert and you had your choice of those below (or if some great bakery was baking the dessert of your choice), which would you choose?

1. Angelfood Cake
2. Brownies
3. Lemon Meringue
4. Vanilla with Chocolate Icing
5. Strawberry Short Cake
6. Chocolate on Chocolate
7. Ice Cream
8. Carrot Cake
9. Cherry Pie

NO .. You can't change your mind once you scroll down! So think carefully, what your choice will be!

OK - Now that you've made your choice, this is what research says about you!



Angelfood Cake... Sweet, loving, cuddly. You love all warm and fuzzy items. A little nutty at times. Sometimes you need an ice cream cone at the end of the day. Others perceive you as being childlike and immature at times

Bownies... You are adventurous, love new ideas, and are a champion of underdogs and a slayer of dragons. When tempers flare up, you whip out your sabre. You are always the oddball with a unique sense of humor and direction. You tend to be very loyal.

Lemon Meringue... Smooth, sexy, & articulate with your hands, you are an excellent after-dinner speaker and a good teacher. But don't try to walk and chew gum at the same time. A bit of a diva at times, but you have many friends.

Vanilla with Chocolate Icing... Fun-loving, sassy, humorous. Not very grounded in life; very indecisive and lack motivation. Everyone enjoys being around you, but you are a practical joker. Others should be cautious in making you mad. However, you are a fiend for life.

Strawberry Shortcake... Romantic, warm, loving. You care about other people and can be counted on in a pinch. You tend to melt. You can be overly-emotional and annoying at times.

Chocolate on Chocolate... Sexy, always ready to give and receive. Very creative, adventurous, ambitious and passionate. You have a cold exterior but are warm on the inside. Not afraid to take chances. Will not settle for anything average in life. Love to laugh.

Ice Cream...You like sports, whether it be baseball, football, basketball or soccer. If you could, you would like to participate, but you enjoy watching sports. You don't like to give up the remote control. You tend to be self-centered and high maintenance.

Carrot Cake... You are a very fun-loving person, who likes to laugh. You are fun to be with. People like to hang out with you. You are a very warmhearted person and a little quirky at times. You have many loyal friends.

Cherry Pie... You have a sparkling personality, with a wicked sense of humor. You have an honorable idea of right and wrong and seek justice for all. Your love of art and technology give you many hours of pleasure. You don't make friends easily, but your true friends are many.

lotion potion

YUM. There's the shimmery kind, there's body and soul oil, there's lavender bedtime.
:D

aha!

Tan tanan tanan tanan tanan tanan tanaaaaaan.

(the sound of me in pink panther panty this Saturday)


LOL! Pasalubong from the boss ;-)

(Hmmmp.)

(a soundless kumod, kusmod, pout, pang-hiwi)

Contorting my lips to in-between a frown and a pout, suffice for me to say that I miss you.

Wala lang, number 2.

Of gratitude and grace

Have let “strangers” into the home this last few days, and been kindly offered the lessons of their selves.

(Oh, they have been brought to me by HB. Thanks HB!)

There is Manong carpenter’s genuine concern. He rescued an old rattan shelf from the sidelines of the garage and gave it a fresh lick of varnish, of his own volition. He disbelieved the claims of the bragging electrician. He didn’t rise to the bait of the men next door who wanted to know if he was making a killing from putting tiles to our kitchen wall (just so the adobo doesn’t splash, you know ;-), as if I know how to cook anything including even adobo?!). He’s not making a killing because there’s no killing to be made.

I am so grateful for the fact that there is finally someone that I can finally trust, who’s not just putting me on, who’s not giving off testosterone [yabang, pare!] simply because that’s how men know how to do it, particularly when there’s a group of them together. Finally, there’s someone who appears to be genuinely helpful, and sincere, and who’s on the level when we’re talking about costs.

Feckin’ sigh of relief. Oh universe, let there be more men like Manong.

Then there is Yaya Siony’s ultra-mega-super-bilis-and-super-efficient-to-the-trillionth-degree work style. No matter that she straightened up the heart-shaped mirror I purposely put askew. Oh dang but that woman packs a punch. Whirlwind S cleaned up everything she set her eyes on, even outside the windows! She washed, ironed, cleaned, mopped, sorted, folded --- completing in 8 hours what we encourage our other ate to do in two-three days, and by ourselves, takes months. Good golly gee, I am amazed.

S’wonderful, s’marvelous.



On to other things:

I am currently learning three new things at the same time: statistics, group therapy and belly dancing.

I adore fresh fruit shakes. My favorites are watermelon, and papaya. I often make a beeline for the fresh fruit shake stands at the mall, and make restaurant choices based on whether or not they have fresh fruit shakes.

I also like a slice of papaya with calamansi for breakfast.

From belly dancing, I am learning discipline --how to move the hips, repeat only the hips! Control the movement of the upper body including the arms!

More important, there is the necessity to be centered. To draw oneself into one’s center, to find one’s balance so that one doesn’t topple over while trying to learn belly dancing. The spiritual aspect of this seemingly physical lesson – presented as a dancing lesson no less! – is certainly not lost on me!

I must at all times, hold on to my center. With both arms and both legs, and even my chin. Me, the one with a tendency to be scattered to the winds!

The teacher’s chant drums in my head for hours after the class is over: Chest out, center, contract, sit … chest out, center, contract, sit.


P.S. That by the way is the series of moves designed to come off smoothly in what may be known to you as the body language dance step. Hihihihi.

Yiheeheee

(the sound of kinikilig)

Wala lang. Wala talaga promise. :D

A Weirdo Out of the Water

Am going into therapy.
I have some reservations.

GRIN.

I mean I'm going into group therapy class :D. At New School.

I mean I miss UP and my familiar crowd of strange creatures from outer space with the biggest kindest hearts and the bravest boldest souls.

When Dark Lord (my favorite teacher and the one who encouraged me to go to New School) learned I had gained entrance to New School she texted: “Mwahahahaha. Mwahahahaha. My minion in Catholic School.”

Hehe! We are both agreed I need the specific training for the degree I am seeking at New School. But it is a Catholic school.

And to many of us steeped in feminism and irreverence (not necessarily related all the time :D), and conscious of the sins of religions on the persons and souls of women, being in Catholic school is really being …

A weirdo out of the water!

Yup, yup, that’s me, indeed!

My last class at UP was under Dark Lord and it, too was group therapy. There were twenty of us women from all walks of life, from all sorts of ages, wearing all sorts of shoes, lugging all sorts of "baggage" and flying and falling on all sorts of wings, with beating hearts, who met up once a week every semester for our version of “group therapy.”

We had intense complex personal and heartwrenching discussions and revelations on many topics under the general topic – Gender, Culture and Ideology. We firmly bonded, us with our varied backgrounds and different takes on our mothers, on fashion and consumerism, and on being bitches even.

That is why I have reservations that my class on group therapy with its objectives of personal healing thru group interaction (learning by doing), with my nice young classmates and other “counselor types” will pale in comparison. Ahhh, but I am putting the cart before the horse.

Not a good attitude to take Ms. Psycho. (:-P but that sounds good)

Duni, Veve

My hairdresser is all of 18, today. Golly gee! [soundtrack in head: where is the little girl I carried? ... i can't remember growing older, when did they?!?!? :-P] x one million. How they do grow up and grow tall. :D

Sistah, cheers!!!! Can't wait to go out drinking with you again, and driving too (separate occasions).

Mwah, mwah. Love, Manang J whose hair has gone all streaky now but is as straight as it ever was!

Some Notes on Lake Sebu

There I was chatting idly with the documentor I had just met, Ms. Bon and I go, “Do you know Ning?” And she goes, “Yes, Ning. blah blah blah blah” (storytelling about Ning and those FGD’s Ning told me about years ago with the lumad and the evil settlers! ... Hehehehe, Hi Ning!)

I don’t know what to say about how it just happened again that I found myself in the vicinity of Ning’s life and important milestones/ persons/ locales. It’s a bit like how I met Ning in the first place. I just get thrown into her path regularly. In 1999 (was it?), Magya came by our old San Pedro 8 house and told me about this nice cute and funny Fil-Brit girl who had come to the office, with whom we must hang out (Magya and I being frequently thick as thieves).

So there I was at Lake Sebu, inadvertently stirring up the dust from Ning’s previous travels. Ahhh Ning, we are meant to be, I see yet again ;-).

Another thing. Staring at Lake Sebu, it became pretty easy -- a consciousness slipping over smooth as silk -- to see how the land belongs to the lumad. Can you imagine them? People indigenous to the land, whose land it is, who fish, and live and breathe with the lake and the land. The land is their life and they make their life with the land.

Sa kanila talaga iyon mga kapatid. Kitang-kita, maliwanag pa kaysa araw, ang nagiging masamang epekto ng tinatawag nating “development aggression.” Ang pagpasok ng kung sino at kung anong negosyo sa ngalan ng kaunlaran na nagpapasira lamang sa mapayapang pamumuhay ng mga lumad at laluna na ng kalikasan. Para bang napupunit na styropor na nakakarindi sa tenga.



At some point during the three-day meeting I attended, we took an hour-long boat ride around the Lake. Huddled in my sarong (me being lamigin), I sat pensive and silent, my stillness and lack of words disturbing some of the people I was with, being so at odds with the men’s joviality, for they were mostly men in their forties and fifties during that boat ride. They asked, “Mingaw man kaayo ka ‘Day?” (Why are you lonely?).

The thing is, I wasn’t. Lonely. I was happy! I was just annoyed that I was riding a motorized banca when I would rather have been rowing / kayaking round the Lake, losing myself in the stillness and in the silence. At least until I start to scare myself and row back to the resort for some company, hehe!

Being an out and out introvert, I live in my head :P. (But I can be fun too ;-)).

Journey home

Oct. 29, Friday

At ten on that bright and clear morning, I perched my butt behind the man driving the motorcycle and we went riding up and down the road surrounding Lake Sebu. There was the lake shimmering under the sun, in this beautiful pocket of South Cotabato; and there was I smiling at the thought of me and my hot pink backpack riding a motorcycle on these empty roads (albeit behind a man :P). I was being taken to Surallah, half an hour away – I was going “wheee!!!” in my head at the same time that I was facing the delicate problem of how to stop myself from sliding down the seat and bumping into the driver’s butt each time we went downhill! A predicament. My shoulder bag nestled in front of me came to my rescue, saving me from embarrassment and allowing me to chat companionably with the guy about this and that.

He said: “Yes. That’s a corn field.” “There are actually three lakes in this area.” “Yes, they have tilapia in that one too.” “Oh the waterfalls are that way on the road to the right.” Hehe, interview portion, in other words.

Half an hour and a hundred bucks later I was on the non aircon bus in Surallah, happy to be back in the land of GPRS signal. My email inbox listed: your free astrology.com horoscope for the day, astrocenter.com, and today’s tarotscope. Plus I could see that my high school batchmates were at it again – sending one-line personal messages to the entire egroup.

Forty minutes later, the bus wheezed into the station at Marbel, Koronadal. I smiled my way into the non-stop aircon bus for Davao, skipped to the donut place for some supplies and a pee, got into the bus, and scowled at the tinted windows that stopped me from looking at the world outside.

Another forty minutes later, almost into General Santos City, the bus ejected us into another bus already en route from Gensan to Davao. Goodie, goodie, great, I was all for arriving earlier in Davao. Bus number three had clear windows, and I made myself right at home in my two seats – whipping the curtains out of the way, tucking my feet under my legs on the seat, ogling the view of winding roads and mountains, reading pages from my book, snoozing. Two and a half hours later, I got off at SM City Davao (hehe, they were having a sale!).

After the toilet stop and ignoring hunger pangs, I hied off to Aldevinco in a cab. I desired more of those hugely colorful sarongs for a skirt and for a bedspread, and perhaps to give away to “remind you of me.” :-P

Half an hour later, my mature self let go and I made my way to the airport. Flight was delayed for two hours! The last PAL flight from Davao is always delayed but I don’t mind being late anytime as long as I can get to Manila in one piece and without traumas. As I have gained in years, so has my uneasiness with planes. I had my meal, changed into less travel-worn clothes, slung a new pashmina round my neck (it gets cold in that airplane I tell you!) and got on board.

No my trip didn’t end there! I got out of the airport at a quarter before ten in the evening! I decided to take the bus because I couldn’t be bothered to wait a long time for a cab at the departures hall and the coupon cabs just cost too much! Imagine this, I paid P23 bus fare, would have paid almost P250 for a metered taxi, and about P800 for a coupon cab! Amazing. For as long as my hurtling bus didn’t take on holduppers. Hehe.

At 11:30 pm, after 13 ½ hours travel time, military checkpoints in Mindanao, and having tasted three tilapia dishes – fried, escabeche-ed and grilled fresh from Lake Sebu – in three days, I was finally home.

I put down my bag, took a quick shower, and went out to meet a friend I haven’t seen for many months.

Hehehe!

New School Quickie

Oct. 30, Saturday

Saturday morning, the Priestess volunteered to accompany me on my day’s mission: enrollment. I was off to my new school to officially join the ranks of its studentry (stud entry, Microsoft Word corrects me) but seeing as I had traveled 13 hours the day before and had had only four hours sleep to renew my energies, I ended up with only one hour to make some headway. I set my mind to at least claim my admission slip at the new school.

I was wrong. When we got there, I had all of half an hour.

It took one minute to get my admission slip. In fact, it took longer to sort out all my papeles.

The Priestess and I started laughing. My admission slip came with step-by-step registration instructions, as well as a letter detailing point by point (as in #1, #2, #3, and so on and so forth) my standing and the requirements I needed to accomplish at the new school (such as completion of some prerequisite subjects that I did not take up in my undergrad). We were laughing because at UP, it could take you up to two days just to try and find out exactly what your standing is! Especially if you’re a “complicated” student like we were sometimes ;-). In fact, it could take you several days trying to get up your nerve to ask “the authorities” just what your standing is, and then you need another couple of days to put the pieces together once you start pleading your case. No one person can tell you exactly what it is or if one person can, it appears that that one person is hiding behind several filing cabinets in a locked room in the topmost tower of a decrepit school building, and only he knows the real score! Really! Hehehe! Not even the UP President knows what he-in-a-tower knows!

And get this, that’s just to find out your standing! We’re not saying you’ll have been in possession of your registration materials by then! Hehehe! That could take up to next semester!

We doubled over laughing! At the end of half an hour at New School, not only did I have my admission slip, but I was officially enlisted, checked and assessed. I needed only to pay my tuition, so there!

But the tuition! The amount could stop you laughing for the entire schoolyear, hahahaha! The joke’s on you! Hehehe.

Anyway, at the end of registration, we said that we preferred to have experienced having to survive in the jungle, before undergoing easy-peasy enrollment. Rather than the other way around!

What else? After lunch, we wandered around a home depot in Ortigas, lusting after lamps, ladders and this mirror that just makes you look beautiful! I mean more beautiful! I must go back and claim it!

Then in the middle of browsing undies in the mall, something “challenging” happened! But I think we did quite well. (Well done, gf, promise :-))

Later that night, tired out, three of us (with roomie) fell asleep on three sofas. Hehehe.

P.S. This day too I finally tasted fresh durian!

2 weddings and a walk

Oct. 31, Sunday

And yet another thing about going to the provinces. Right away you notice the air! Metro Manila air is filthy! Out of the metropolis, it is immediately clearer and fresher!

Sunday, girlfriend and I decided to walk to UP to enjoy its car-lessness. Fresh air! We walked out of the house fresh as daisies from our showers. We soon realized we had showered only to feel immediately grimy and stinky from passing cars. How ironic that in order to get to UP where the air was fresh, we had to inhale transport fumes on the way.

We sat for a while at the Sunken Garden to enjoy the sky, and at the sight of an airplane, talk about how flying freaks me. More irony here: to enjoy the peace and quiet of our spot, we sat facing each other, the better to watch each other’s backs for anyone who might walk towards us with bad intentions. Yup, cellphone grabbers and the like.

Later, at HB’s to get my Psych book (Hi HB! Thanks HB!), we saw Monsoon Wedding on DVD (Hi Ning!). Gorgeous gorgeous movie! I gained my new favorite male character -- the father in this flick. That’s the man! Vulnerable, loving, tough, strong … picks himself up, dusts himself off, and starts all over again.

We also saw Laws of Attraction, but after Monsoon Wedding, Laws was like, in Kati language, daw tae. Hehehehe! Vulgar but true.

Five Million Burps Waiting to Happen

Nov 1, Monday

Packed our high spirits and good intentions and trooped to the swimming pool for a reunion rendezvous with Ramon, aka the caretaker of “our” pool ;-) Unfortunately, Ramon said he did not really miss us. Hehe, denial king. The good part was we had the pool to ourselves for the morning :D.

When our stomachs called out for lunch, we moved to our planned “treat of the day!” Hear this great news ladies and gentlemen from Iloilo, we moved to … tan ta na nan… Nes and Tat’s!!!! At their new branch at Congressional Avenue!!!

As you Ilonggos will attest, Nes and Tat’s or rather Tatoy’s Manokan (Nes and Tat’s is Tatoy’s progeny) is many an Ilonggo family tradition, and is certainly a local institution. Many Sunday lunches of my elementary and high school life was spent gobbling down the tasty native manok and seafood at Tatoy’s Manokan. As in, gobble/ lamon/ eat yum yum yum. And who cares if your classmate and your other classmate and their families are at nearby tables and yet another classmate and her or his family have just pulled up the driveway. They too are gobbling. It’s that so reliably good.

Later, going away to college and for work, our concept of homesickness and homecoming inevitably included Tatoy’s. Was there ever a sembreak or Christmas break that did not include a trip to Villa Beach for Tatoy’s -- and later when it was put up practically beside the mall -- Nes and Tat’s? No, never. Otherwise it would have been tantamount to not having come home at all.

But now the good news is here they are in QC. And they were open this November 1. And we were the only customers when we waltzed in. We oohed and aahed over the familiar menu. We talked our way, no, consciously entertained ourselves thru the painful intervening minutes between ordering and being served. We drank a full glass of water each.

And when at last, our meal arrived – kinilaw na shrimp, kinilaw na tangigue, lechon manok na native, pork chop and to each her own drink – loud grunts and groans could be heard from our side of the restaurant. Haaaaaay, ka namit. Namit gid ya! Namit times one million! The kinilaw dishes were freshly made, and the vinegar was chock full of panakot – bell pepper, onions, and chili pepper. The manok was oh so tasty. And the rice was one bandehado (hehe).

As the Priestess put it so succinctly – Kung ari ka di, daw malimtan mo na lang ang mga problema mo. (hehe! If you’re at Nes and Tat’s, all your problems melt away!) Comfort food finest!

Actually we were a sight to behold! Visible for being the only customers, highly appreciative, and voraciously eating, we must have hugely amused the staff scattered around the resto. We were initially suspicious when they came bearing three cups and three saucers after all that we had ordered had already arrived. It turned out we were being given free dessert!!! -- – ginatan and kalamay hati – and we were only halfway thru our meal!!! We sighed with gratitude, and much much later, sated, we ordered coffee to go with the divine kalamay-hati.

We urge you, please, please, please visit the kanamit-namit Nes and Tat’s at Congressional Avenue, and give them no reason whatsoever to pack their chickens and head back home! Here, we want them, in their authentic splendor!

And isn’t a November one spent stoking one’s appetite for living also appropriate to the day?

(For the rest of the account, check back again when I've managed to burp :P)

Lazy Tuesday

Nov. 2, Tuesday

Hehehe, I also have funny days with roomie. We bicker all the time, like some old married couple attuned to each other’s ways and “weaknesses.” We bicker for fun and in jest (when it’s serious, we go into our own rooms, or chat thru our issues). We eat, we laugh, we shop and go for beauty treats.

This Tuesday, we were up to some mischief ;-). Giggling like two naughty kids afraid of being caught by the teacher. Oh, you’ll know soon enough!

We also discovered this new books and coffee place along Morato that has divine siksik (as opposed to fluffy as in pan de sal) tinapay to go with their coffee. Unfortunately, you buy before you read. But at least this means a bookstore is now open in Morato after the malls are closed. This has been a long-time need of us QC denizens.

At another bookstore, I also discovered two books worth giving me for Christmas (hahahaha). One is on spiritual activism by Claudia H. and the other is a book on birthdays, stars and numbers that contains an accurate and flattering description of January 8’s – hehehehe!

But anyway, I was also the good person (not good woman, because reproductive work needs to be done by all, men, women and children including gays lesbians and asexuals) for having done my laundry, mopped the floors, and done some ironing this day!!!!!

I am getting the hang of this blog as diary thing! What does it matter if I bore you to tears with all the details for as long as I get it all out of my system! :D

As I inherited from my sister turning 18 this Monday (ohmigod sisterrr how you’ve grown and I am ancient), TTFN. Tata for now!