Rome Hangover Part II

My SUPPLI according to Google...

Italian Stuffed Rice Balls (Suppli alla Telefono)

Suppli alla Telefono is Italian rice balls stuffed with mozzarella cheese and topped with pomodora sauce. I thought I died and went to heaven when I took my first bite of these scrumptous appetizers.

SUPPLI RICE BALLS
4	cloves garlic, diced
4	tablespoons olive oil
1/2	onion, chopped
8	ounces arborio rice or risotto rice, cooked (italian)
3	tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
2	ounces butter, melted
3	ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1	buffalo mozzarella
2	ounces sun-dried tomatoes
2	ounces flour
2	eggs, beaten
4	ounces fresh white breadcrumbs
	vegetable oil (for frying)
	salt & freshly ground black pepper
POMODORA SAUCE
1	cup chopped red onions
2	lbs fresh tomatoes, cut in half,seeded,and diced
2	tablespoons fresh garlic
4	ounces red wine
4-6	tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
4	tablespoons fresh chives, snipped
4	tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1	teaspoon salt
	pepper
1/2-1	teaspoon crushed red chili peppers
1/2-1	teaspoon crushed red chili peppers

4-8 servings / 2 hours 30 minutes / 2 hrs prep

~~~RICEBALLS~~~

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan with the garlic and onion.



2. Cook until soft and add the basil.



3. Add the cooked rice, season and blend it all together well.



4. Pour the rice into a bowl, place in the fridge to chill.



5. When cold, fold in the Parmesan and butter.



6. Divide the rice into small balls of equal size pieces.



7. Cut the mozzarella and sun dried tomatoes into half inch size pieces.



8. Push a piece of mozzarella and tomatoes into the center of each rice ball.



9. Reform the rice, pulling back over the cheese and tomato, ensuring it is completely enclosed.



10. Coat the rice balls in seasoned flour (salt and pepper) then beaten egg, then into the breadcrumbs.



11. Deep fry the balls in hot vegetable oil for 3-5 minutes until golden and crisp.



12. Drain on kitchen paper.



13. ~~~POMODORASAUCE~~~.



14. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat until hot.



15. Add red onion and garlic and saute until onion is soft.



16. Add red wine and reduce heat slightly.



17. Add tomatoes, basil, chives and parsley and remove from heat.



18. You want the ingredients just heated, not actually cooked.



19. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar.



20. Place Suppli (Rice Balls) on a platter and pour the sauce on and around the Rice Balls.

Are you hungry yet?

Memorie Preziose della mia Avventura Italiana

Italy gave me so much more than just a handful of memories and thoughts to bring back home...the beautiful old ruins of Rome (a wonderful present from the past...if only they can speak and tell us things we can only speculate about), the cobblestoned streets (a feast for the eyes, but a torture to the feet --- my high-heeled-booted feet!), the terribly small SMART cars (I didn't want to risk riding in one) vis-a-vis the wreckless yet incredibly skillful Italian drivers, the beautiful cathedrals, the awesome Italian countryside...the flock of sheep, the rows of olive trees...the list goes on...

But my heart has handpicked a bunch of precious memories that will be etched in my heart forever. To name a few...

.....the teary eyes of my smiling wheelchair-bound aunt, Tita Rosie, upon coming out of the Fumicino airport, seeing Rome for the first time.  Tita Rose, you made it!

.....witnessing my "Tito Father" (my mom's brother, who I grew up calling "Daddit") being made "His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales" by no less than the Pope Benedict XVI himself at the Vatican

.....seeing "Tito Father" upclose, walking about in his full black and red Cardinal regalia for the first time at the dinner hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Rome. What a sight to behold...

.....spending quality time with my hubby, dressing up like we own the world, taking 60 million pictures together and apart, and kissing after every winning shot

.....waving the Filipino flag amongst the international delegates in the crowd

.....shivering in the cold at St. Peter's Square on the first day, and melting under the hot sun on the next

.....listening to that well-known, rich and fashionable animalprint and fur-clad lady sitting with us say three times to me "I love the way you colored your hair, how did you do it?"

.....seeing the Church of Sta. Maria Maggiore bursting to its seams with Filipinos working and living in Italy and singing our "Lupang Hinirang" with them.  That made me cry.

.....holding Therese while she was sleeping throughout the whole mass at Sta. Maria Maggiore

.....seeing Pope Benedict XVI from special seats for three days in my life and seeing my parents overjoyed from their being able to hold and kiss his hand

.....seeing the tombs of my favorite Saints: St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare (my patron saint whom my parents got my name from); and saying hello and praying to the tombs of St. Peter, the first Pope and ofcourse, the late Pope John Paul II

.....seeing Michelangelo's Pieta...being able to get inside the Sistine Chapel...seeing the ruins of Pompeii (which I only used to talk about with my sister when we were kids)

  .....finally seeing the spots that I enjoyed seeing in my mind in Mr. Dan Brown's book: the roman fountains,  the staircase lit by tiny lamps from the altar of the Basilica of St. Peter leading to his tomb, the obelisks, Castel Sant'Angelo, etc.

....."wine being cheaper than soda and as common as water" ---Alcoholic Alter Ego!

.....my favorite fizzy/carbonated water being a staple in restaurants and stores, not just another dispensable option (I've been in love with Perrier eversince I was young)

.....LIMONCELLO, MY LIMONCELLO! 

.....the wonderful tiny shots of Espresso or Capuccino and finally enjoying them from decent breakable china instead of paper disposable cups. Hella real. (I'm sorry, Starbucks)

.....The regular tests of bravery and reflex whenever we cross the street from the Eurostars Hotel to Carrifour Supermarket and Mall (I always feared for my life whenever I crossed that road! I even tried coming up with lame excuses to avoid it)

.....walking down Via Condotti and going inside the original GUCCI store (Aldred pretended to be busy window-shopping on his own lest I catch his eye anytime to say...Mahal, can I buy this? *joke*)

.....my funny attempts to speak with the very little (and choppy) Italian words I  know and somehow still getting my messages across.  I'm proud of that.

.....the night Aldred got sick, mumbling like a helpless little baby and wanting me to hug him from the back and just spoon like that all night long

.....Mommy and Daddy taking goofy and happy pictures on the cruise to Capri

.....Lissa and Roy being trigger-happy with their cameras and competing against each other for the perfect shot...Roy as "Team Leader" of the kiddie group

.....my countryside adventure with my hubby and cousins to Citta di Sutri and Tuscania, walking around their piazza while having shots of my new love, Cointreau (French???), from yes, disposable plastic cups.

.....my first ocean sunset in Italy, watching every second of it while cruising back to Naples from Capri

.....the nightly parties at Roy and RJ's room, eating instant noodles, fruits dipped in nutella, crackers, Italian twinkies, beef jerky, Granola bars, Tim Tam and red wine (what a crazy food trip!) while downloading pics and bashing the travel agency hehehe

.....Marcus and Joaquin singing in the bus.

.....Ninong Nitoy's boys sleeping in the bus.

.....Ate Shelly sitting like a queen in the bus to Tuscania. I'm happy she's happy.

.....Kuya Joe and I, talking about his childhood days with Lolo and Lola during the two-hour bus ride back to the hotel while everyone else was sleeping.

.....Mitch making new international friends at the hotel. Her smile and undying energy. Her serving as a tour guide even if it's also her first time there.  Grazie!!!

.....watching my hubby in Tuscania, drinking in the scenery and all.  (It's a dream come true for him and me, we have always wanted to visit the Italian countryside way before this family trip to Italy hatched)

.....visiting a photographer's gallery in Sutri and buying one of his works autographed with "a Clarissa e Aldred.....and something else in Italian we can only hope means something good"

.....Trina falling, hurting her knees while still being able to save the salad take out in her hands. RJ couldn't help her because of the breakable souvenirs he was holding.  FUNNY ;P

.....Joei waking up too early for one of the events (it was only 2am!)

.....The electric train that almost split our bus in half...Trina's blood-curdling scream hehehe

.....having my portrait done at Piazza Navona (even if it didn't bear a single resemblance to me)

.....eating Crepe di Marnier, tartuffo and gelatto in galactic proportions

.....tossing the coins at Fontana di Trevi

.....my Italy-wide search for my winner SUPPLI (Deep-fried, crumb-coated Rice Croquettes with tomato sauce and mozarella)

.....Kuya Billy and his words of wisdom...his affection for everyone in the family and admirable efforts to make up for lost time...

.....Tito Gabby and his family...my crying cousins Crissy, Steph and Cindy

MOST OF ALL.....being able to spend time with my family and Rosales relatives who flew in from different parts of the world (some I've never even seen or heard of before), in an exclusive gathering on the night of March 23, 2006. This thing called "LUKSO NG DUGO" in Filipino? I felt it that one night at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino...Kindred spirits. It made my heart sing. It was so strong I wanted to keep hugging everyone and just never ever let go.  GRAZIE PER TUTTO, DIO!

Doggie Style 101

Someone sent me an SMS saying "What is Love? Love is when a puppy licks you all over your face, even after you have left him all day."

(Sorry guys, I was just tripping about the title. I know I will lure a lot of people into this blog with it. You, dirty minds!  Well, it takes one to know one...Hehehe.)

We have a dog. His name is Milo.  And we love him so dearly.  He's family!  I started training and taking care of him after my sis Trina, who's supposed to be his adoptive mom, left him with us.  He's so adorable, cute, funny and he does strange people-like things that you'd sometimes think maybe he doesn't know he is just a dog (well, what does a dog know anyway?). He is very loyal, always there by my side, following me around even if he's all tired and sleepy.  And he just sits there, watching me. But he's very naughty too.  He chews on anything he gets his eyes on...or anything that he can grab.  Toilet-training drives us up the wall too, and up to this day, there will be occasional hits and misses. 

One day, I spanked him so bad after he uprooted a plant and ate some soil. (Yuck!) I know it must have hurt because he gave out that high-pitched puppy cry. And for it to come from a big, hairy, terrier!!!  He ran away from me, limping and terrified.

Then after only a few minutes, he came back and licked me and kissed me, and started following me everywhere like usual. Showing me love as if I never did anything bad.  Looking into his eyes, I saw no grudge, only a lot of affection. I felt so bad for hitting and hurting him.  I felt really embarassed and wanted to kick myself.

What right do I have to train and teach this dog? He's the one teaching me a lot of things.

Tonsilitis

9:20 pm...*gulp*...hmmm, kinda hurting.

9:22 pm...*gulp*...yeah, it is hurting!

9:25 pm...*gulp*...wait a minute. Hurting again???

Hey, you, Tonsilitis. Just what is your business creeping back into my life again? I just got done with you 2 weeks ago. So, you like me? Well, I don't like you. I just don't need you right now. I'll be going on a holiday starting Sunday. Go away!!!

Living a Life that Matters

My aunt emailed this to me last night. Worth reading.

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought but what you built, not what you got but what you gave. What will matter is not your success but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence but your character.

What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

This is Rex Barker, CS (Choosing Substantiality over superficiality ) reminding you to "Choose to live a life that matters."

My First Hate Mail

        Not a lot of things pretty much shock or frustrate me to death. I've seen people cry and I've seen people die. Ofcourse, these things move me. I grieve and I cry like anyone. But somewhere deep down inside always lies a kind of resignation that gives me peace in my heart no matter what. So I was completely stunned at myself when, for once in my life, I was restless. I got my first hate mail.

        And the most shocking thing is...I got it for writing down good things in this Friendster Blog. So I sang to myself "Tell...me...where did...I...go...wrong? (do you know that song...hehehe). So in a nutshell, someone apparently thought I was aiming the bullet at her. I was talking about my own happiness (Check out the Blog: Dream Come True). It's about the gains I got for helping out someone in her wedding ---who happens to be the hate-mail-author's friend..or ex-friend...whatever. She thought I was talking about my own joys to spite her (because she chose to stay out of the wedding).  When did my happiness ever come to be about someone else's sourness? (Lynn V...I know you're out there reading this.  Isn't this an exemplar of your comment in my "My Birthday Thoughts" blog?) So again, please sing with me "Tell...me...where did...I...go...wrong? (harharhar again, well, at least please laugh with me!).  *SIGH* Okay, so I wrote back.  Usually, common sense and good breeding keep me from stooping down that low. But, I am a firm believer of fairness and justice. And so I didn't take it sitting down (I'm so disappointed at myself...but well, sh*t happens...)

        I also told my wise friend about it. She said, "Aren't you happy? You're having an audience in your Friendster Blog!  Isn't that one of your dreams? To be able to inspire a lot of people about little things, like what Mr. Fulghum does?" But this one sure didn't seem "inspired", honey (and if I were to play with my words...I must say...this one sounded like she's "expired"!).  My friend said..."You don't get the point, sweetie.  That means you're able to reach inside the hearts of a lot of people." (Well, yes, I know there are people who tell me they read me, and most of the time they have encouraging remarks).  She said, good-natured reactions represent only a section of the population, just one half of the people. It's the anti-thesis that completes the picture.  Ergo, if you get just one negative reaction, you know you've made it. That's a lot of reach!  Wow, so I have both now.  The Yin and the Yang...the sweet and the sour...the good and the bad people...the positive and the negative.  That completes me. Plus, we really can't please everyone. It all makes sense. 

PS. For the record, and contrary to the accusation....I never ever write my blogs on purpose to negatively aim at someone. I'm also a strong believer of honesty and integrity. So, honestly, if there really is one blog that even comes close to it ...it would be this one.  Hi there! I hope you're not suffering from hypertension, because here, I'm sipping my coffee...restless no more ;o)

If symptoms persist...Do not consult your Google

I have not been feeling perfectly well since I came back from the North. Is it the food? Maybe it's just over-fatigue. I have been staying up extra late these days to do this email coordination task for our upcoming trip to Rome (don't you guys ever wonder why I seem to have plenty of time doing my blogs online, hehehe). I'm actually very busy and it’s just that thinking out loud happens to be one of my favorite stress relievers. So I type away, while the printer prints away! With very little energy I have right now (from sleepless nights, to those freaking diet rules, and having missed the gymn for eons), the only thing that drives me now is that, finally I am going to see the rest of my mom’s family again. And ofcourse do some kind of honeymooning with hubby in between Vatican ceremonies and big family reunions. But I'm feeling pretty sick actually...I mean literally. After a one week bout with tonsilitis, I felt a lump on my neck – the doctor said it’s just some lymph nodes reacting to my throat infection so he gave me Antibiotics --- super strong-broad spectrum kind…and then I developed this weird allergy to the metabolized form of this medication (whatever my cousin meant with that!), I felt tingles all over my face...I got totally scared that I forced the doctor to look me up three more times and all he said was “Relax, it’s nothing!”…and so to shut me up, he made me undergo a battery of blood tests that includes ruling out tumors, even leukemia and the like! Duh!... Duh ME...! They yielded normal results except for saying…slightly elevated euno-something…euno what? Because I think I have irritated my doctor, I felt so embarrassed to bombard him with questions again…so I consulted the most handy source of information these days…the internet. I googled it and lo and behold! It says the case is associated with some kinds of “out-of-this-world”-termed illnesses they might as well be written in French! Cystic-supercalifragelistic-ish diseases. That scared the hell out of me even more. So I had no choice but to run back to the doctor’s clinic. He said “This is what happens when you read too much, react too much and jump into conclusions. You're not gonna die. Your blood results only mean that you have allergies”. I wanted to say “But…” then decided to listen. Allergy it is then! I rest my case. Whew!

@#"TaCsIyApO!!!"@#%

On the way home from our trip to Baguio two weeks ago, we stopped by this place called Herona in Tarlac.  We wanted to check out this restaurant called "Isdaan".  It's made of floating bamboo rafts tied to one another to create floating cottages, each with dining tables for groups of customers.  It's beautiful in there. A little jungle-like, with passageways guarded by giant statues that reminded me of some lost civilization.  But what really made it famous is the Tacsiyapo Wall.  For those who haven't heard of it, it's actually a small 4-corner nook with three concrete walls and is open at the front.  It's like your typical amusement park game where you throw rings to win a prize. Except that here, the stuff in front of you aren't prizes. And you don't throw rings.  Instead, you choose among the items there, pay for them, and yes, you get to throw them on the concrete wall.  No targets to hit.  Just a lot of anger to release! No kidding! We were so excited we forgot to ask what "Tacsiyapo" meant but eventually deduced the fact that it probably is like "Dang!" or "Sh*t" or maybe something beyond what is printable. Well, it was as good as it promised to be. We picked plates to throw simply because they were the cheapest find.  But you should have seen those broken TV sets! I mustered all my strength, thought about that one single person on earth that still upsets me to no end just by mere mention of her name (yes, I'm no saint, dahling). Then with a lot of adrenaline rush, I screamed her name followed by the word "Tacsiyapo!" and then threw my plates to the wall, frisbee-style.  With my background in Psychology, this type of activity, for it's therapeutic value, isn't new to me at all but I sure found it novel for it to sit right in the middle of a restaurant. Brilliant! So, okay, back to my plates...yes, I broke them into smithereens.  I did it for fun, but the therapeutic value of it hit me. Right in the pit of my stomach. It brought me close to tears (not that much drama really, just close to tears...well, there were tears, but not even close to the kind of sobbing that "feel good movies" are made of). But yeah, it hit me. It felt like suddenly all the pent up emotions that kept lingering in me, despite a million attempts to let them go, just ignited and burned off an adequate amount of anger content. But if you think I'm not angry anymore, no. I'm still angry. I'm just being true to myself. But it's more like a peaceful war deep down inside now. Maybe til the next wave. Or til the next snowball of thought that I hope will no longer grow with every bit of bitter recollection. Maybe I should quit thinking. Wait a minute, why am I talking about this now. I'll probably just talk about it in one of my future blogs.

Meanwhile, it's all about the Tacsiyapo Wall. Kudos to the men behind the concept. We really had a lot of fun. Now, we know where to go when we want a release. Because certainly, we would not want to do it at home.

   

 

Dream Come True

Yesterday, I did something that made me so happy.

My former classmate at the Dance School called me up Friday night to say it's her wedding the following day. That was yesterday. She even asked if I wanted to swing by the hotel during her preparations to say hi and see her. I had second thoughts about that because I have already made other commitments beforehand. I didn't know what to do at such a short notice, but I completely understood that she was rushing her wedding because she needed to work it in between immigration procedures. We were talking about this plan a few months back.  So I decided to work out my schedule and go anyway. I did this for two things: 1. I felt special that she wanted me to celebrate it with her (considering that we're new at the friendship department) and 2. I'm a big fan of weddings (knowing that this is a special once-in -a-lifetime occasion---well, for most people, and I don't want to miss it for the world). If only I can afford to change careers, Wedding Coordination will be on the Top 5 of my options.  I know it's one of the things I can be really good at. At the hotel, she was so happy to see me and I was so happy to witness it.  Then they got ready for the church.  I felt bad because her group needed all the help they could get.  She did them all by herself! And so...*DRUMROLL PLEASE*...Madam Clarisse decided to step in.  I was so happy to pitch in, I started telling the photographers (who happened to be big ones in the industry) "Hey take this good photo moment...yada yada yada".  I helped deliver flowers and stuff from the hotel to the church, in my car.  It was so funny because one thing led to another. Since I was holding the flowers, head pieces and bouquets, people started asking ME! "Ma'am, who's next in line? What's the order of the procession? One flower girl has no headpiece...do you have an extra?".  I didn't have the time to say "Sorry deary, in fact, the only one I know here is the bride, and I can barely remember her last name!". I just kept doing my best to be of help.  Even at the last moment, I was the one telling the bride, "Smile, walk slowly on the aisle, savor the moment". This carried on to the reception. I made sure that I put the cake slicer and the couple's wine glasses where they should be and circulated the guest book. After the party, I brought some of the bride's things back to the hotel (because the bellboy made me promise to return the room's wicker baskets when I was on my way out). And while I was at it, I made sure they made the room tidy and clean again after the mess of the wedding preps. Oooh all crisp and ready for Honeymoon night... I never had so much fun in my life! I have always been awed by the wedding planners/coordinators featured each week in the TV show "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" and I realized I almost looked like one of them yesterday, although not totally (coz I didn't really do the whole thing...can't really give myself 100% of the credit!). But I'm proud of what I've done. That's my good deed for the day.  But you see, that was good karma bouncing back right that very moment.  I know the couple was happy for my help.  Little do they know, they made me very happy too.  They opened the line for two of the many things that matter a lot in life...1.) Make oneself useful for someone else's happiness, UNCONDITIONALLY. And 2.) Even for a single day, make someone's dream come true. Without them knowing it, they did #2 to me...

To Wear or Not to Wear, That is the Problem...

I believe majority of my sisters in my species will agree.  A bra is quite uncomfortable to wear at times, and we're like eternally stuck to wearing it. Not that I totally loathe the idea because it's fun and sexy most of the time...those black lace ones I love, those fabrics that enhance you or the ever loyal supportive kind that hugs snuggly for physical action like dancing and working out.  And oh, those hot ones that feel so good being peeled off by someone else hehehe. But I must admit that I am totally revolted by those tightly wired ones and those that short of squeeze the life out of you. (Yesterday, I "de-boned" one of my expensive ones. But then, it didn't look nice).  So, isn't it "OH SOOO LUV-LEY!" to walk about, run around, or "bounce" about like all of a sudden you feel a cool breeze around you like you've never known before. I personally would prefer to go commando (the female version) at times, if only they don't attract that much attention...Oh well. All you sisters who agree with me, raise your right........(hand).

To Dance, or Not To Dance...that is the question.

Today, I received a letter from my former dance school saying that I'm entitled to a 2-month scholarship in Manila.  But it's in Manila...but I so wanna get it!...They also said that if we qualify, we might even get a One Full Year Scholarship...I don't know...Priorities are different now...plus, it's in Manila...how?...oh well...just thinking out loud...I don't want to say that this will be that one big opportunity that got away...Perhaps I should ask Marta...or Sandra...hello you guys...are you taking it?...can you hear me?... How about you guys in Friendster...What do you think?

My Supermarket Secret

I just realized...everytime I get bored, I make a side trip inside the supermarket to check out those food sample freebies on the promo booths.  Just thought I'd share it with you guys. It's a fun way of getting a good snack when you don't feel like spending. Trust me it's fun (and surprising too!).  Talk to the serving lady and say, "wow it looks good"...sometimes, pretend you're going to buy some. Well, sometimes I end up buying the stuff I try anywayz. (Like today, I brought home this new Lite Butter, yummy!)...Or most of the time, I grab the goody and just leave it out at the check-out counter, hehehe. Cheap huh.  Well, that's the cheap bone in my body workin'. I can almost hear my Als saying "Cheap Ass, Wifey!". But come to think of it, we make those promo guys happy about their jobs! ;o)

Philippines, My Philippines!

I went on a typical Balikbayan tour to Manaoag, Pangasinan...Baguio...Vigan, Ilocos...Tarlac, Pampanga.  I had a blast with hubby's La Familia from California!

I say typical balikbayan tour...learning about history of the Spanish occupation...the Jap War...a pilgrimage to the wonderful old churches...the scenery...the SUNSET! (best one for me, so far!)...and there's so much delicious food shoved down our throats...enough to feed a family for a month, and we gulped it all down in 4 freakin' days! I wish more Filipinos will try to see "Our Home" first instead of discovering it's beauty only after having left Philippines.  There's so much to see within this side of the fence!

Philippines is beautiful.  It's awesome and it's MY Philippines. It's my HOME. It always will be, wherever I go. (nothwithstanding the fact that it's very hot and it gives me a fat waistline!)

    

To my dearest Friend

Hi! You probably won't get to read this,  but I'm writing anyway.  I have a headache, but it doesn't keep me from wanting to say all that needs to be said.


Exactly one year ago, or almost...you disappeared.  You totally, totally disappeared from my life. Not just mine, but seemingly from everyone's...your other "friends". We don't know why. Well, maybe we do a bit, but how come you didn't even leave a word? No goodbyes, no messages. Nothing.  You disappeared like a bubble.  Gone.


This left me feeling angry and sad.  But as I think about it, my anger probably rooted from selfishness.  I guess my thoughts were just too focused on myself, on what kind of a friend I have been.  I was sad and angry because maybe I wasn't a good enough friend for you.  I thought I could help but I fell short. And I thought we both will live up to our promise of being "angels" looking out for each other. After all that's what both our full names say. Thinking of that is damn too selfish, ain't it?  I should weep for you and not for myself.  I should weep not for me being deserted or for losing a friend and a shoulder to cry on, but for you who is fighting your own battle out there.  It's probably tough.


Wherever you are, I hope you are doing alright...or even better. I may be happy with my life, but it doesn't mean we can't be friends if you are unhappy with yours.   I always pray that you will find the same blessings I found, and that you will finally discover the grand design that God has prepared for you.  There's always one for each one of us. Maybe this is part of your design. Walk further and go for it! And when you are ready to come back to the world... and to our friendship, I'm still here for you. Just waiting. I don't break my promises.

Random Thoughts

Ala-Una. Madaling araw na.Malamig ang simoy ng hangin...hindi naman pasko. Tahimik. Natutulog ang aso sa paanan ko, habang umaandar ang electric fan. Kaya siguro lalong lumamig. Nag-iisa ako. Kamusta na kaya ang asawa ko? Sana mag-enjoy sila sa Tahoe kasama si Felipe. Bakla ba yun? Hehehe. Joke lang. Hinihintay ko ma-install ang Google Earth sa PC ko. Para masilip ko na ang mga bahay ng mga asungot sa buhay ko! Hehehe. Miss ko na ang mga kaibigan ko. Si Peter, si Dave, si Willie. Lahat lalaki! Ang hirap palang magsulat sa Filipino. Nababaluktot ang utak ko. Teka, sino pa ba ang nami-miss ko? Lahat ng kabarkada ko noong isang taon. Inuman, kainan...mga halakhak.  Wala na atang patutunguhan itong sinusulat ko. Lumulutang na ang isip ko. Tatapusin ko na ito. Bakit lahat ng sentence...(ano nga ang tagalog sa sentence?)..ah, pangungusap...bakit lahat halos ng pangungusap ko nagtatapos sa "o". Ay, windang na ako.  Sa wakas, gumagana na ang Google Earth...aabangan kita sa bahay mo!

Sh*t happens...

Last January, I was trying to fix some pearl accessories to give my mom. I ACCIDENTALLY SUPER-GLUED MY TWO FINGERS TOGETHER. ...(Aldred kept laughing and I kept screaming..."It ain't funny!"--- < I had morbid thoughts of nurses slicing them apart with a knife>. Well, hubby ended up loving me more for my funny clumsiness.")

Last February, my aunt's flight was cancelled due to excessive snow in the airport of destination - Narita, Japan. (She ended up stuck in a nice hotel and so I met her there to enjoy the sumptuous lunch buffet!)

Today, as soon as I got back from my trip up North, I rushed to my PC to catch up on my Basic Italian lessons.  Only to find out that my audio doesn't work! THE DOG CHEWED ON MY SPEAKER CABLES..yes, cable with an "s"...(I'll probably be buying a better one pretty soon).

I don't know why I'm writing this. Just thought I'd document this to remind me that life is a series of random positive and negative events that exempts no one...that regardless of what you do or who you are, there will be times when fate will pick on you. That's one truth I have been embracing for years (learning it the hard way) and it has always helped me cruise through life...nice, sweet and easy. It's a struggle sometimes still, but everytime I remind myself of this truth, serenity sets in...

I get frustrated when some people still don't get the point. Besides, everything happens for a reason. I believe there's always a brighter side to things. In fact, there are still some "silver linings" I'm waiting for in my life right now, but I know they are probably just around the corner.  I can't wait!

Carpe Diem!

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit. 

-HELEN KELLER

Ain't This Heaven...

It's 9pm and Aldoy is laying down beside me playing poker or some fish game in his PDA...I'm online just checking my emails on my laptop. Just being lazy with hubby...something different from all that traveling, eating out, and holiday stuff...and just taking time out too, from all that huggin-kissin-and d works! Hehehe. We had dinner at the porch. We brought out the picnic chairs...candles and all. But nothing fancy, no filet mignon, soup or anything that is hard to spell. We had the Fil-Am kind of feast...pancit, inihaw, bistek tagalog...mangoes and my fave "brownie bites" for dessert(thanks to COSTCO!)......just "chillaxing"...nothing in our minds...aint this heaven...

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! WISHING YOU A NEW YEAR FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES, WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES, AND LIVES FULL OF PEACE, HAPPINESS AND LOVE...

Truffles

It's late...I'm wide awake...

craving for Anette's Truffles.

That bittersweet chocolate that explodes into

a luxuriously warm touch of wine

rolling down my tongue...

What the heck...Pahingi naman!!!

Bi-aaaatch in the Prayer Room

While I was raging upset, I considered this Blog-worthy...now, I'm having second thoughts about it.  I don't feel a thing anymore, but I still want to prove the point. Oh well, it's this part of me that just doesn't back down on people with an attitude. I may be nice, but I enjoy putting someone to his place when the situation calls for it. Watch out!


Okay, so I started my secret birthday get-away in the prayer room.  I was so excited to pray and spend the first hours of my birthday with God, that I forgot the rules! (Take off your shoes in the Prayer Room, before the Blessed Sacrament).  So there I was oblivious to the world when a fat old lady (sense my feelings here? hahaha) approached me and said in a really loud and arrogant way "you know, in the prayer room, you take off your shoes. Take that off. Even I do that. Even Priests do that...Look at me...I do that...yada yada yada".  Ofcourse I knew that, I just completely forgot.  But she could have said it in a nicer way.  She sounded like she's the mean fashion police in there and even more kingly than the One we were actually praying to. Imagine a religious woman who leaves her prayer chair in the middle of prayer just to bitch around. ("Our Father who art in heaven, holy be....wait, here's some bully material.....give us today our daily bread..."). Exactly how we imagine that "Mrs. Know-It-All, Old Lady Mean Mother Butler of the Church" stereotype. I did what she told me to do but I wasn't in the mood to be meek that day. She made me feel so stupid on the most sacred day of my life.  Like I didn't know anything about the Church (Excuse ME!). Like I was some ignorant Paris Hilton copy who was bound to pluck eyebrows on Holy Ground. And I am nothing like that!  (It's not my fault that I look gorgeous hahaha *jk*, and I'm certainly no dumb belle). So, she thought she scored a point on me when she went back to her seat to say the rosary (dang how these women can be rude one second, and pretend to be an angel on the next breath...) Good thing I had my journal with me. I tore off a page and wrote her a letter. (I would have approached her but I wasn't going to create a scene among those who were there praying and not caring about other people's shoes). I explained that she shouldn't have done that and should have said it in a nicer way instead, as a woman of the church blah blah blah...,that she did sound like she was the only child of God who knew everything in prayer....blah blah blah,...and that I'm very sorry for it, not to her, but to God.  God probably wouldn't even have cared if I was wearing the shoes which my hubby calls Hooker Boots (for Role Play ;P *jk*). Hehehe. So I stood up, and handed her the letter.  I was bent on teaching her that she should stop being arrogant in her ways and I was out to prove that she was wrong about her impression of me. Normally, I wouldn't have cared.  But this woman had to learn her lesson...


First, she should know that there's always a nicer way of saying even the ugliest of things. Not really sugar-coating them but I call it "Breaking it to me gently" style.  What if she did that to a depressed and suicidal kind of person who came to the prayer room as his last resort, how would that person feel being short of kicked out of the House of God? She's also a regular in church, her behavior should reflect the teachings. Maybe that's why some just turn their backs on the Catholic Faith. It's the people that represent it. Well, I'm not about to digress into a dissertation on the Effects of Swell-Headed Mother Butlers on Catholics. Well, on the other hand, MAYBE I WAS JUST OVER-REACTING :o) .  I think so...haha. Because it happened on my special day. But then again, someone has to put her to her place eventually and I took the liberty of being the one to do it.  Everyone is fighting their own battles.  I had my own set of concerns to pray for and certainly, I didn't need someone like her pushing me out of momentum. Well, maybe she was that way too because she's fighting her own battles. (a severe case of constipation?) Then I'll just try to understand as well. On hindsight, I probably should have remained meek and patient. But then again, I usually choose my cases.


After I gave the letter, I felt better and was able to concentrate on my prayers. At least that's the ony bad thing that happened on my birthday. Nothing is perfect anyway. That old woman almost made me walk out on her, but then, I would have walked out on God too. And the devil would have won that day.  No way.

My Birthday Thoughts

My birthdays have always been sacred and special for me (well, whose birthday isn't?). It has always been a celebration of life ...a thanksgiving to God for all the blessings and graces bestowed upon me throughout the year. And mine were mostly celebrated with the special people in my life...partying with friends or eating out, drinking, playing, dancing, out of town trips, eating...eating...eating.

Lately though, I've been so busy (busier than when I was Sales Manager...or when I was Lead Teacher or when I was wrestling with my papers for my Masteral Studies!) And to think, now I'm practically a stay-at-home wifey!  I guess that happens.  Just because one isn't working, family and friends tend to think he has all the time in the world to do things for them. But I'm not complaining.  Just laughing at the realization of how much responsibilities I have on my shoulders now.  The Christmas rush is here, I have tons of paperwork for my mom's upcoming reunion and stuff to do for family, and other things to do that other people may only begin to miss when I decide to pack my bags and give Harry Potter a visit in Hogwarts.

I just wanted to stress the point that it has been chaotic for me lately.  Not depressive, just chaotic. Lots of parties too, lots of fun, lots of noise.  I remember telling my friend Raquel that I am thankful for the good life I have been born into and the way of life my family introduced me to...that includes the social circle and the never-ending parade of events I usually need to go to. But yes, I do long for the simple life too. 

I guess that's one of the things I am hoping for in the States, where no one really knows me, or where we live close enough to be in touch but far enough to get too entangled with so much stuff. (Although I was quite disappointed with the privacy I wished for in the States when not too long ago, my hubby and I experienced THE GREAT PINOY GOSSIP of all time - thanks to some nosy people who didn't leave the bad habit behind when they migrated from PI).  But well, I think of myself as part-selfish still, about giving it all up, where my family name is almost passport to anything, (being able to cut through long queues, getting VIP privileges), and most of all, being regarded with respect even without trying to earn it.

Geez, I think I said too much.  I just want to say that for this year, I wanted some silence in my life even for just a day. I wanted to dedicate my birthday toward refocusing and centering myself once again, re-owning my life, tuning out all the noise and just letting all the peace set in, getting ready for another year of new experiences and the wisdom that come with these.

And so for my birthday (Dec. 16th), I disappeared from everybody for a change (not a lot of people had real good clues where I was and it was fun just thinking about it, weehee!!!).  I moved my occasional "LOVE MYSELF DAY" to this day and it was a quiet celebration thanking God for being born.  I got what I wanted. Privacy, Peace, Serenity among others.  Heaven did it again.  I'm spoiled and happy. See, God always lets me get my way.  And so now, I'm ready for people again.

Happy Thoughts

Okay, so the past week had been great! I spent a lot of quality time with my brother-in-law Edwin and his wife Bingbing (who I happened to be friends with since 5th grade!)...We had a blast, eating, singing, and behaving like teenagers dancing at El C with our friends... (The same circle who's been there for my hubby and me when we were just starting).  Today though,  some things took a sharp turn.  Oh it has nothing to do with my bro, haha.  But things made me so sad today. Really rock-bottom sad.  I know this too will pass but you know how it is when things just seem to be the end of the world. I'm just trying to think happy thoughts right now.  Somehow, they help me pull through all the time, really!  So what kind of happy thoughts am I thinking of? I stored some pretty good ones in my memory bank for emergency, specifically for times like this! Let me see...first would be, when Aldred said "Finally, you're the ONE. I love you and I want you to be my wife." That made me cry buckets...What else? Oh, yeah, me and my friend Merv many years back in Manila during one of my first times driving around the city, I actually reached several places twice in a row ("Hey Clarisse, didn't we see this same statue an hour ago?")...we were laughing so hard that he actually told me to remember that day whenever I'm sad (here you go, Merv, I remembered!). What else, oh, my famous "Caroline thoughts".  I will always remember that teaching year with her as my student.  She sure left me with so much memories I couldn't even count them.  But that one memory that always brings a smile to my face is when she said "Teacher C, I love you more than you love me" and I said "No, Caroline, I love you more than you love me".  And she said "But Teacher C, I love you 155 thousand times! See, I love you more than you love me". 

SEE, I FEEL BETTER ALREADY...

Tough cookies don't crumble...

Lately, life has posed a lot of nerve-wracking challenges for me, which threw me into a rollercoaster of emotional ups and downs.  I'm not about to go through the nitty-gritty details of my life (as always...you know how much I abhor gossip), but what I do want to say is that I think I'm coming out tougher than ever.  And to think I have always thought I can already give Andres Bonifacio a run for his money! My friends always said I am a tough cookie.  I'm just happy to have finally proven that, once again.  Maybe it's my infectious optimism about life, or my Brady Bunch family tree, or just pure luck.  Or well, maybe, it's what I have learned in stick-fighting / Arnis...the stronger you blow, the more painful the hand feels, but eventually it goes away, and if you just keep fighting, it will be all worth it. I'm just happy with myself.  I'm happy with the journey God blesses me with.  My heart is overflowing with love.  And I can laugh and play and dance whenever I please.   But it sure doesn't take away the fact that things are making me tougher than I already am.  I remembered my favorite line in A Few Good Men, as said by Colonel Jessep (Jack Nicholson)... ''I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me, so don't think for one second that you can come down here, flash a badge, and make me nervous.''  Why did I put that here?  Simply because that is soooo ME!

 

Liars Got To Hell

that's all...

Ok here we go...

Wow. Talk about first times! This is my first time to BLOG, but come to think of it, most of my close friends know about "Angella's Thought for the Day" (That's me!). Yup, that everyday message I used to pass on back in those days when unlimited text messaging was free...and maybe way before this Blog fever even caught up.  It's 3 am, AS USUAL and I'm not sleepy.  I have long been waiting for a great opportunity to start my Blog.  I envisioned it to be grand, but ok, here we go! Nothing.  No fireworks, no drumroll.  Just me, sitting here by myself, missing my hubby. So lonely... HAHAHA!!!! ;O) Gotcha! I'm actually just tripping, I'm okay and happy.  Yes, I do miss hubby but 1 more month and I'll be back in his arms. Woohoo!!!.  I just can't wait.

Seriously now...wow, so this is what it feels like to be on the patient's couch.  I'm just so used to being the Shrink, sorting things out for others, that I forget how it feels to be listened to...or analyzed (which I hate)...well...strange...(I MISS MAY ANN).  So this is how it feels to talk to me! Just jokin'. But well yeah, whoever you are reading this, you're my shrink now, you have this tall order to keep me sane in bad times, stay with me in sad times, and most of all, laugh with me during the best of times.  I leave you no choice.  NiTeY-NiTeY!!! ;)

PS. I have a 3-day old extra piercing on my right ear (the cartilage part)...it still hurts.  Can't wait to wear the bling! ;)