29 December 2006
17 December 2006
I AM THE PERSON OF THE YEAR!
Time Magazine awarded the Person of the Year to ME (and YOU).
At first I thought it was a stupid idea, a cop out. But now I realize, heck yeah I deserve to be Person of the Year. Why not? Bloggers, Friendster and MySpace page owners, YouTube video uploaders--we, the ordinary people, certainly made our voices heard this year.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF US!
At first I thought it was a stupid idea, a cop out. But now I realize, heck yeah I deserve to be Person of the Year. Why not? Bloggers, Friendster and MySpace page owners, YouTube video uploaders--we, the ordinary people, certainly made our voices heard this year.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF US!
02 December 2006
Bayabas, anyone?
So I did my weekly grocery shopping today, and guess what I saw? Guavas. I was about to bag a handful when I saw the sticker price: $1.99 EACH! A fruit that I used to pick off a tree for FREE when I was a kid was going to cost me almost two dollars apop? It just didn't sit right with me to pay that much so I put everything back.
So to my friends in the Philippines, here's my Christmas wish: padal-i ko'g bayabas, bi?
So to my friends in the Philippines, here's my Christmas wish: padal-i ko'g bayabas, bi?
23 November 2006
Giving Happy Thanks
Whew! It's 10:42 in the evening, our guests have left, and my baby boy is in bed fast asleep. Our Thanksgiving dinner is over. Last year, we hosted Christmas dinner, this year it's our turn to do Thanksgiving. I started cooking at 8:30 am and didn't finish until 5 pm.
It was one helluva dinner! Here's my menu:
Appetizers:
-Spice-Mulled Apple Cider
-Edamame
-Cocktail Shrimp
-Peach Galettes
-Crackers with Smoked Gouda and Port Wine Cheddar Cheeses
-Papadum Chips flavored with Yogurt and Dill
-Grapes
Main Course:
-One mean 12-pound roasted turkey!
-Hickory Smoked Ham
-Giblets Gravy
-Stuffing
-Mashed Potatoes
-Mashed Yams
-Cranberry Relish
-Green Beans in Lemon Butter Sauce with Almonds
Dessert:
-Coconut Custard Pie
-Upside Down Pineapple Cake
Yes, I am super tired, but that's okay. Everyone liked the food and had a great time. Plus, I'm getting a nice foot rub from my hubby as I'm writing this.
Need I tell you what I'm thankful for?
Finally--here are some pictures from tonight.
Before dinner
Our annual Thanksgiving tradition.
After dinner
It was one helluva dinner! Here's my menu:
Appetizers:
-Spice-Mulled Apple Cider
-Edamame
-Cocktail Shrimp
-Peach Galettes
-Crackers with Smoked Gouda and Port Wine Cheddar Cheeses
-Papadum Chips flavored with Yogurt and Dill
-Grapes
Main Course:
-One mean 12-pound roasted turkey!
-Hickory Smoked Ham
-Giblets Gravy
-Stuffing
-Mashed Potatoes
-Mashed Yams
-Cranberry Relish
-Green Beans in Lemon Butter Sauce with Almonds
Dessert:
-Coconut Custard Pie
-Upside Down Pineapple Cake
Yes, I am super tired, but that's okay. Everyone liked the food and had a great time. Plus, I'm getting a nice foot rub from my hubby as I'm writing this.
Need I tell you what I'm thankful for?
Finally--here are some pictures from tonight.
Before dinner
Our annual Thanksgiving tradition.
After dinner
18 November 2006
Parched
So what do I have to do to get my writing juices flowing?
I just don't have it in me right now.
I've made several attempts, all ended up in the trash bin--digitally and literally.
So many thoughts waiting to be written. So many writings waiting to be thought out. (Does that even make sense? See what I mean?)
My poor blog.
I just don't have it in me right now.
I've made several attempts, all ended up in the trash bin--digitally and literally.
So many thoughts waiting to be written. So many writings waiting to be thought out. (Does that even make sense? See what I mean?)
My poor blog.
12 March 2006
My Favorite Part of the Weekend....
...is our home-made breakfast:
- Scrambled eggs with ketchup
- Waffles
- Bacon
- Home Fries
Yum!!!
04 February 2006
Happy_Misery
How apt. This was both a sad and happy week.
Sad
My boss left the company. I happen to like her a lot. She was fun to be around. When she thought we were stagnating, she found ways to challenge us. When she saw us drowning with work, she knew not to bother us, and even absorbed some of our workload. She came in at seven in the morning, sometimes even earlier, and left after most everyone does. She was dedicated and cared very much about the business.
Imagine my shock when she called me into her office one day to tell me she was leaving, and worse, that she had only one more week left. It felt like a bad prank had been played on our department. But when she started cleaning out her office, it became more and more real. When we said our good-byes last Friday, I was just beside myself. I couldn’t really concentrate on my work, so I left five minutes early (shocker!). I just wanted to get the hell out of there and forget about what happened.
Happy
It was especially difficult because that same Friday, we found out our baby’s gender. (I’m not telling—you’ll all have to wait until the big day to find out!) It was a wonderful feeling knowing what to expect. No longer do we have to call the baby “it.” (Note to self: avoid using pronouns.) During the sonogram, the baby was so active and would not stop kicking. At one point, the doctor exclaimed, “Look, your baby’s doing yoga!” It was funny, and luckily, the doctor was able to capture the moment. Aside from determining the baby’s gender, we were also able to see, among many other things, the brain, the heart, the spine, and their cross-sections. We even saw the four chambers of the heart pumping. It was simply amazing.
Our next task is to pick out a name. Who knew it would be this hard?
Sad
My boss left the company. I happen to like her a lot. She was fun to be around. When she thought we were stagnating, she found ways to challenge us. When she saw us drowning with work, she knew not to bother us, and even absorbed some of our workload. She came in at seven in the morning, sometimes even earlier, and left after most everyone does. She was dedicated and cared very much about the business.
Imagine my shock when she called me into her office one day to tell me she was leaving, and worse, that she had only one more week left. It felt like a bad prank had been played on our department. But when she started cleaning out her office, it became more and more real. When we said our good-byes last Friday, I was just beside myself. I couldn’t really concentrate on my work, so I left five minutes early (shocker!). I just wanted to get the hell out of there and forget about what happened.
Happy
It was especially difficult because that same Friday, we found out our baby’s gender. (I’m not telling—you’ll all have to wait until the big day to find out!) It was a wonderful feeling knowing what to expect. No longer do we have to call the baby “it.” (Note to self: avoid using pronouns.) During the sonogram, the baby was so active and would not stop kicking. At one point, the doctor exclaimed, “Look, your baby’s doing yoga!” It was funny, and luckily, the doctor was able to capture the moment. Aside from determining the baby’s gender, we were also able to see, among many other things, the brain, the heart, the spine, and their cross-sections. We even saw the four chambers of the heart pumping. It was simply amazing.
Our next task is to pick out a name. Who knew it would be this hard?
09 January 2006
I Should Have Seen This Coming
Dearest friends,
I have been keeping a secret for quite some time now, and I feel the time has come for me to confess.
Four months ago, I tested positive for hCG.
As you can imagine, this news came as quite a surprise to me and David. I underwent several tests to validate the accuracy of the result and all of them came back positive.
Things changed since that fateful day. Now, I’ve become slower, weaker, and sometimes, more irritable. I get tired very easily. Oftentimes, I fall asleep just watching TV and yet, I keep tossing and turning every night, unable to find a comfortable position. From what I have read, things will become even more uncomfortable in the coming months.
But I’m ready to face the challenges of this condition. Thankfully, I have David by my side. He has been very supportive and understanding. Without him, this would have been very difficult. (He is, by the way, partly responsible for this.) I also know that you, my friends, will be there to support me, and I thank you for that.
Finally, I take solace in the fact that this condition will not last forever. It will, however, bring forth a responsibility that I will carry for the rest of my life.
To learn more about hCG, click here.
I have been keeping a secret for quite some time now, and I feel the time has come for me to confess.
Four months ago, I tested positive for hCG.
As you can imagine, this news came as quite a surprise to me and David. I underwent several tests to validate the accuracy of the result and all of them came back positive.
Things changed since that fateful day. Now, I’ve become slower, weaker, and sometimes, more irritable. I get tired very easily. Oftentimes, I fall asleep just watching TV and yet, I keep tossing and turning every night, unable to find a comfortable position. From what I have read, things will become even more uncomfortable in the coming months.
But I’m ready to face the challenges of this condition. Thankfully, I have David by my side. He has been very supportive and understanding. Without him, this would have been very difficult. (He is, by the way, partly responsible for this.) I also know that you, my friends, will be there to support me, and I thank you for that.
Finally, I take solace in the fact that this condition will not last forever. It will, however, bring forth a responsibility that I will carry for the rest of my life.
To learn more about hCG, click here.
03 January 2006
A Peaceful New Year’s Eve
Last year, we welcomed the new year with a bang. Actually, plenty of it, considering all the firecrackers we lit.
This year, we went the peaceful route. Since this was our first New Year’s in the house, we declined an offer to join relatives for a celebration.
Instead, David and I spent it alone in our house. We had a nice home-cooked meal, sat by the fireplace, watched the ball drop on TV, and toasted with milk (mine) and chocolate milk (his) in wine glasses. We called family and friends to wish them well. Then we cuddled. In silence. Just our hushed voices and the crackling fire.
It was the perfect way to end a crazy year, and usher in more craziness to come.
This year, we went the peaceful route. Since this was our first New Year’s in the house, we declined an offer to join relatives for a celebration.
Instead, David and I spent it alone in our house. We had a nice home-cooked meal, sat by the fireplace, watched the ball drop on TV, and toasted with milk (mine) and chocolate milk (his) in wine glasses. We called family and friends to wish them well. Then we cuddled. In silence. Just our hushed voices and the crackling fire.
It was the perfect way to end a crazy year, and usher in more craziness to come.
02 January 2006
Holiday Hangover
This was the first holiday spent in our house. (Last year, we spent Christmas and New Year’s in the Philippines.) David decided to have the whole family over for Christmas Eve and I gladly stepped up to the challenge.
Ambitious as I was, here’s what I had on the menu, almost all of it homemade:
APPETIZERS:
Honey Dijon Mini-Chicken Drumsticks
Mango Galettes
Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips
Avocado and Goat Cheese Dip with Plain Tortilla Chips
Garlic Salsa (from a jar)
Cheese and Crackers (Smoked Gouda and Port Wine Cheddar; all store-bought)
MAIN COURSE:
Honey-Glazed Ham (store-bought)
Breaded Turkey Cutlets
Sotanghon
Green Beans with Lemon Butter Topped with Toasted Almonds
Mashed Potatoes (made awesomely by my sister-in-law)
Sweetened Yams (another awesome creation by sis-in-law)
DESSERT:
Leche Flan
Apple Pie (courtesy of pop-in-law)
Coconut Custard Pie (store-bought; didn’t quite work out!)
Coffee
Hot Chocolate
Eggnog
Bonus: I adorned the Christmas tree with a variety of chocolates so guests could “pluck” them from the tree.
Hungry yet?
I had everything planned a week in advance, but as always, nothing ever works out as smoothly as one intends. I was going to start cooking the day before, but all I managed to do that day was marinate the little chicken drumsticks.
The following day, realizing I had my work cut out for me, I woke up extra early to get things rolling. I re-organized my schedule and managed to finish preparing the appetizers just as the guests started to arrive.
The main course was easier to prepare than I thought. But I have to say, had it not been for David’s help, the whole thing would have been a big mess.
End result: Everyone loved the food and had a great time. After all our hard work, seeing the satisfied faces of our guests was all that mattered. That, and opening the presents.
Next up—New Year’s Eve. Quite the opposite of Christmas Eve. But more about that later…
Ambitious as I was, here’s what I had on the menu, almost all of it homemade:
APPETIZERS:
Honey Dijon Mini-Chicken Drumsticks
Mango Galettes
Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips
Avocado and Goat Cheese Dip with Plain Tortilla Chips
Garlic Salsa (from a jar)
Cheese and Crackers (Smoked Gouda and Port Wine Cheddar; all store-bought)
MAIN COURSE:
Honey-Glazed Ham (store-bought)
Breaded Turkey Cutlets
Sotanghon
Green Beans with Lemon Butter Topped with Toasted Almonds
Mashed Potatoes (made awesomely by my sister-in-law)
Sweetened Yams (another awesome creation by sis-in-law)
DESSERT:
Leche Flan
Apple Pie (courtesy of pop-in-law)
Coconut Custard Pie (store-bought; didn’t quite work out!)
Coffee
Hot Chocolate
Eggnog
Bonus: I adorned the Christmas tree with a variety of chocolates so guests could “pluck” them from the tree.
Hungry yet?
I had everything planned a week in advance, but as always, nothing ever works out as smoothly as one intends. I was going to start cooking the day before, but all I managed to do that day was marinate the little chicken drumsticks.
The following day, realizing I had my work cut out for me, I woke up extra early to get things rolling. I re-organized my schedule and managed to finish preparing the appetizers just as the guests started to arrive.
The main course was easier to prepare than I thought. But I have to say, had it not been for David’s help, the whole thing would have been a big mess.
End result: Everyone loved the food and had a great time. After all our hard work, seeing the satisfied faces of our guests was all that mattered. That, and opening the presents.
Next up—New Year’s Eve. Quite the opposite of Christmas Eve. But more about that later…
01 January 2006
Happy New Year!
Well, hello!
New Year, New Me.
I'm back and I hope to stay around for a while. Many things happened while I was "off-line," and I'll try to talk about them as much as I can.
Lastly, I took the liberty of adding links to some blogs I frequent. If I forgot anyone, or if you want your link removed, please let me know.
I miss everyone and hope to hear from all of you soon.
New Year, New Me.
I'm back and I hope to stay around for a while. Many things happened while I was "off-line," and I'll try to talk about them as much as I can.
Lastly, I took the liberty of adding links to some blogs I frequent. If I forgot anyone, or if you want your link removed, please let me know.
I miss everyone and hope to hear from all of you soon.
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