I love sandwiches --

I love, love, love making my own sandwiches --

I love the days when we have bacon for breakfast because it means I can make a BLT --

I love having lots and lots of lettuce in my sandwich --

And I love biting down on it -- tasting the tang of the mustard and the creaminess of the mayo and the crunch of the bacon.

We are lucky that Iloilo Supermarket has a really wonderful selection of lettuce -- and I love going there to check out what they have. (And I think it's locally grown and organic.)

What would you have done?

Last week, I was in line at the supermarket check-out counter.  I was the next customer and was getting my card ready when I get a tap on my shoulder.

An older man asked if he could go ahead of me because he only had 2 items.  (I had a basket of 12 items.)

I pointed him to the counter beside us, which was empty.  (It was for senior citizens.)

He went there and the lady at the register refused to allow him to pay through there.  (Which means, he wasn't that old.)

He had to go back to our line -- by then, my items were already being punched in.

I could feel his impatience and hear his grumbling but I knew I didn't have anything to be worried about because I lined up and patiently waited for my turn.

On the drive home, I asked my sister what she would have done -- she narrated a similar incident during SM City's 3-day sale.  (SM Advantage Card holders get an extra 10% off during the first 2 hours of the first day and it gets really crazy.) -- A lady tapped the person ahead of my sister and asked her if she could pay first because she only had a handful of items.  (My sister had a cart and the lady in front of my sister had a lot of items as well.)

The person (ahead of my sister) pointed to the very long line behind her and told the lady to ask everyone first.  The lady got the hint and just lined up properly.

I know that I would be perceived as inconsiderate and unkind -- but, if we allowed people* to cut in line, what would be the point of lining up in the first place?

I have experienced having a squirmy Seth and a tantrum-y Anya while lining up for something but I have never, ever used them as an excuse to get ahead of a line (I have used them to get a free sample of lechon skin, though).  I line up and wait for my turn and try to manage them as best I can.

*The only exception, perhaps -- would be if the person asking is very elderly -- but, then again, most places already have an exclusive counter for senior citizens.

RIP Steve Jobs --

Yesterday, I woke up excited to check the news for the latest iPhone.  (I am planning to get one when it is released in the Philippines.  It will be my first iPhone ... and the 3rd one in our family.)

Today, I woke up to a shock -- Steve Jobs has died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Growing up in Iloilo, I would read about Apple computers in the magazines my uncle would send us from the US.  One of my earliest dreams was to own a Mac.  Even then, I saw the playfulness of the Apple design and gravitated towards it.

I didn't realize this dream until over 6 years ago -- when G and A came to Iloilo for a visit and I experienced the beauty of the Mac for the first time.  (My first iDevice was a first-gen iPod shuffle and Johann's was a Nano.)

We have not looked back since -- I am proud to say we are an iFamily -- and one of the earliest words my son and daughter said was "Apple" -- and, no, this is not because we eat the fruit in bountiful amounts.  (We do, btw -- maybe one a day.)

Steve Jobs was an exciting person -- and a visionary.  I think he and his company have challenged our perception of technology -- that it can be uncomplicated and accessible.  That it can be safe and a true companion for daily life.

There is an effortlessness to handling an Apple product that I have not experienced with any other tech device.

Thank you, Steve Jobs.  Thank you, Apple.

Zombadings! --

Johann and I watched it last week and loved it.

Johann bought a Zombadings t-shirt for himself and one for Karl.  (We actually got the shirts before watching the movie.)



Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington is not a zombie movie --

It actually isn't about zombies -- there are zombies but they don't come until much later in the film.

Remington, about to turn 21, has no prospects or plans for himself or his future.  His mother is worried and asks him to reconsider his aunt's offer of an education in Manila --

But Remington refuses -- afraid of everything he's heard about the "big city" --

He undergoes a transformation -- one he resists, in the beginning -- but it allows him to see life from the point of view of people he had teased when he was growing up.

The film is about misconceptions and how we ultimately come to the truth.

It's a quirky coming-of-age film where a young man finds himself by losing himself first.  Yes, this film has a happy ending.  (Yes, even the zombies get a happy ending.)

The cast was brilliant -- Mart Escudero was amazing as Remington.  Ably and credibly playing both sides of his character.  (He's cute, ha!)   

I love that Eugene Domingo was in this film and I wish they had done more with her role.  Every time she came on screen, I was expecting her to do her usual magic (which she did) -- but I wish she did more.

Congrats to Jade Castro (Johann knew him from college!) and his crew for the amazing and well-deserved success of Zombadings!

... will there be a part 2? ^_^

August 23, 2011: A really bad day --

It started with a really bad night.

Seth came home yesterday with a cough.  It worsened during the evening and you could hear phlegm-y sounds when he coughed.  He slept nicely but you could hear him whimper and cough intermittently.

Our pedia is out of town today and tomorrow.

We're leaving for Cebu tomorrow.

The pedia-allergologist was also out of town until Wednesday morning.

Then there's news of a bagyo.  So I called Cebu Pacific to see what our options are in case the bagyo comes our way.

Since our tickets were bought during a promo, they are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to a travel fund if we cancel.  To rebook our tickets to next week would cost almost the same amount as buying new tickets.

Thank goodness the hotel is willing to extend the expiry of our vouchers to next month so that's one less thing to worry about.

Then Seth puked.

Then we missed Anya's class because I mis-read the note from the teacher.  I thought their practice was on Wednesday from 830 to 1030 -- apparently, it was for today and tomorrow.

Then we discovered one of our helpers has lice (kuto) and the kids' pedia advised all of us to shampoo our hair in Kwell.  Tried to get to kids to sit still with eyes closed for 10 minutes with Kwell in their hair.  It was hell inside the bathroom.  I was shouting and cursing.

It was especially difficult to wash Anya's hair because it's long -- I'm thinking of getting her hair cut short later.

Then we had to strip all of our bed linens and had all of our comforters taken to the dry cleaners.   (Added expense.)

All this happened before lunch time today.

RIP: Edith Tiempo --

This weekend was a sad one for Philippine Literature -- we lost both Kerima Polotan Tuvera and Edith Tiempo.

Of the 2, I am more affected by Tiempo's passing.  I remember reading her poetry and being left breathless by her very modern/post-modern style.

(Polotan's The Sounds of Sunday was a wonderfully powerful story.)

I think I've posted this poem on my blog a few times before:

Bonsai (Edith L. Tiempo)

All that I love
I fold over once
And once again
And keep in a box
Or a slit in a hollow post
Or in my shoe.

All that I love?
Why, yes, but for the moment-
And for all time, both.
Something that folds and keeps easy,
Son's note or Dad's one gaudy tie,
A roto picture of a queen,
A blue Indian shawl, even
A money bill.

It's utter sublimation,
A feat, this heart's control
Moment to moment
To scale all love down
To a cupped hand's size

Till seashells are broken pieces
From God's own bright teeth,
And life and love are real
Things you can run and
Breathless hand over
To the merest child.

She has another poem that I love -- I remember some of the words but not the title.  I will try to look for it and post it here as well.

Today --

We went mad at the National Bookstore sale --

Kids found a nice Handy Manny book at 50% off.  They also picked up a pack of DC Kids comics for 100 pesos.

















This was Johann's find of the day -- for 99 pesos!
















And we found a copy of this book for 100 pesos!

















* * *

Also today --

Our driver discovered that we the back of Johann's car got "kissed" -- it might have happened this morning while the car was parked at SM.  Whoever did it didn't even bother to leave a note ...

* * *

And also today --

We made French Apple Cake.

This is actually our second time to make this -- but I wasn't happy with the first time.  (It tasted great but it was messy.)

It's actually very easy to make -- the tricky (and messy) part is making the caramel -- and making sure the apple slices are uniform.

We actually made a mistake and started to fan from the center.

It was cute!  When we turned over the cake, our cook actually went "wow" when she saw how pretty the top was.

Recipe here.

We actually experimented and used cake flour for this one.  Will see how it tastes later.

I have a great Talent! --

I picked up my sewing machine yesterday and unboxed it --

The wonderful people at Monteverde (Singer Philippines) did a test run to make sure the machine was working --

I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening reading the manual.

This morning, after breakfast, I:
- learned how to wind a bobbin
- learned how to thread the needle -- my machine can do auto needle threading but I wanted to see if I could do it by myself
- played with some stitches

Our driver helped me out.  (His mom used to sew for a living before she retired.)

Later today, I plan to explore stitch length and width --

... and also learn how to sew straight.

The Singer Talent 3323s (<-- that's the machine's name, hence the title of this blog entry) is a great machine -- I'm a complete beginner but it didn't intimidate or overwhelm me -- the pedal is soft and very responsive.  I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship!

Looking for: A good Red Velvet Cake recipe ... also a good banana cake/loaf recipe--

I was reading through Ina Garten's cookbook, How Easy Is That, when I came across her recipe for Red Velvet Cupcake --

It was not something on my checklist of things to make/bake -- but, now it is --

Seth really loves the Red Velvet Cupcakes served at Dulgies (especially the cream cheese frosting) --

When I was browsing through websites for recipes, I found several very good ones -- but my main problem is, how to incorporate the best of all the recipes to make one very delicious cake/cupcake --

On Allrecipes.com, this cake got 4 out of 5 stars and had the most reviews:
Red Velvet Cake I

My problem with this recipe is the use of shortening and I feel there's too little cocoa powder (I know, I know -- it's not supposed to be a chocolate cake.)

Bakerella's recipe uses oil -- quite a bit of it, actually.  Bakerella's Red Velvet Cake

(Her cake looks so, so pretty!)

I'm also having problems committing to a single good Banana Cake/Loaf recipe --

My mom just dropped off a bunch of bananas and they're getting overripe quickly (low on the list of priority fruits to eat -- we have lychees, papaya and avocado in the house right now -- no, the kids don't like any of them.)

So the helpers and I agreed to transform dying bananas into an edible other form --

Johann has asked it to be made into the Chocolate Banana Cake, which was lovely -- and a big hit with the entire household -- but I think I want to try my hand at making just a banana cake -- one where I can put chocolate chips ...

... And have cream cheese frosting. ^_^

* * *

Update on my sewing machine --

I called up 2go and the ETA for the boat is Wednesday so I'll be able to pick up my new toy on Thursday ... hopefully.

New adventure: Sewing --

After years of waffling, I finally took the plunge --

I just paid for my sewing machine and am counting the days until I get it (5 or 6 days) --

This is the machine I got --
















It's the Singer Talent 3323 -- and I ordered mine locally through Singer Philippines.

It's not a computerized sewing machine and is just a notch up from the old-school "de padyak" (treadle) -- mine is motorized and is controlled by a foot pedal.  (My sister and my husband are worried about this because I tend to hyperfocus and can't do two things at the same time.  This is why I can't drive because I can't work the wheel and step on the pedal effectively.)

I actually had the option to get a cheaper one here in Iloilo -- an Acme JH600 -- but I wanted the extra comfort of an "auto needle threading" -- plus I didn't like the idea of having to switch discs (cams) to switch stitches.

I already have a first (and probably only project) lined up -- a fabric book cover for my romance novels.  ^_^

Really excited how this little adventure will go -- and how long I'll be on it.

Big, big thanks to C (my kumare) who has listened to me waffle about a sewing machine for x number of years now --

And to my sister for buying the machine for me.  (It's her advanced Christmas 2011 + Birthday 2012 + Christmas 2012 ... present for me.)

Chocolate Banana Cake with Chocolate Ganache Frosting

We made this a few days ago --


It's really moist and yummy.  I love that there's bananas in this (4!) -- next time, I plan to replace all the oil with homemade applesauce.

Chocolate Banana Cake:
2 cups (400 grams) granulated white sugar (replaced it with 1 cup white + 1 cup brown)
1 3/4 cups (245 grams) all-purpose flour (replaced it with 1 cup whole wheat + ¾ cup all-purpose)
3/4 cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas <-- ended up using 4 bananas
1 cup (240 ml) warm water
1/2 cup (120 ml) milk
1/2 cup (120 ml) corn, safflower or canola oil <-- I used Rice Bran Oil, which is supposed to be healthier
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract


Chocolate Ganache Frosting:
8 ounces (227 grams) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup (180 ml) heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter


Chocolate Banana Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven.


Butter, or spray with a non stick vegetable spray, a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) pan. Set aside. 


In a large bowl whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.


In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs, mashed bananas, water, milk, oil, and vanilla extract.


Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir, or whisk, until combined. You will notice that the batter is quite thin.


Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.  


Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.


When completely cooled, frost with the Ganache.


Ganache:
Place the chopped chocolate in a medium sized stainless steel, or heatproof bowl. Set aside.


Heat the cream and butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat (can also be heated in the microwave). Bring just to a boil. 


Immediately pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth.


When Ganache has completely cooled, beat until soft and fluffy (I use a wire whisk). Then spread the frosting on top of the cake.

I'm ready for rain! --

The tipping point was last Wednesday, I was bringing Seth to school and it was raining buckets.  I was wearing Crocs, which I thought would be fine --

And they were.  They hold up fairly nicely being sploshed around in muddy, puddly places --

But my feet were not fine.  They were wet and cold and icky --

I went ahead and ordered a pair of Plueys from ReadyforRain.com and they arrived today.  (I got a pair of the Origami Me.)

I have to say I love how to look on my feet --

I'm not looking forward to another heavy rain day but I am excited to test drive these --

Then I might get a pair for Seth ... and maybe a pair for Anya ...

And my sister just saw them and now wants a pair for herself.

Thanks to Esel and her team at ReadyforRain.com for facilitating my order!

If Your House Was Burning, What Would You Take With You?

Interesting blog/site --

Link here.

Wow --

I Want a Real Love
by Jonathan B. Tucker

i want a real love
i don’t want a halmark, disney, fairytale love
i don’t want a flowers and chocolate and let’s lie to each other just to make it work love
don’t want your make-up, hair, nails and heels plastic love
or your i’m so real i’m unreal, get used to it love
NO
i want a D.I.Y. love
a sugar how you get so fly? love
a giving all we can until we die love
an original love
a so crazy intense it might be criminal love
a we’re inside each other’ thoughts
subliminal love
a you know me better than i know myself love
a show off coz we bad like that love
dancing wild and pretending we know how to waltz, swing, tango
fun love
a character love
an actor artist activist love
defying the stereotypes we epitomize love
i want a changing love
a room rearranging love
i don’t want a stay like this forever love
i want a growing, blossoming, blooming, falling, decaying and being born anew love
a nutrient rich love
not a soda pop and snack love
i don’t want a high school college vending machine love
insert money, select one, wait for it to fall in love, love
i don’t want a store bought love
don’t even want a bentley fresh off the lot love
i’d rather have an old busted bicycle love
a jump on my handlebars and watch out for them bumps and potholes love
a biodiesel bus pass waiting 36 minutes to stand on a crowded crosstown ride with too many smelly strangers just to see you love
i wanna be you love
a let’s trade clothes and jobs so i can actually be you love
i want a teacher’s love
not a corporate business love
give me a 501(c)(3) nonprofit love
a do it for the love love
don’t need your money love
give me a funny love
a bugs bunny love
a we can act like kids even though we grown love
a you make me smile without even doing anything love
a whisper inappropriate things in my ear at formal events love
a grab me down there love
i don’t want your fear love
don’t want your who’s that girl you were talking to insecure love
don’t want your i get super jealous because i just love you that much excuse love
give me a juice love
a mad respect, lick my neck and my WHHOOOOO love
a 180 proof love
a fire, wind, water, earth, and heart love
a with your powers combined I am captain love love
i don’t want your drugs love
i want a squeeze me real good with them hugs love
a we don’t mind sleeping outside with the bugs coz we animals love
i want a chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, squirrel monkey love
and i know you know what i’m talkin about because you’re my love love
swinging from country to country you’re
far above love
you know me better than i know myself love
sometimes you make me wanna yell love
i don’t wanna kiss and tell love
but your lips got me ringing like a bell love
a don’t take a shower because i love your smell love
i want a hands on each other sweet rub love
a california bubble bath in the tub love
a ten years later still making out in the club love
a gettin old together and growing some chub love

i want a real love
i really do
so tell me love, please
what do i have to do
to find that real love,
with you?

OMG! + update on my Macbook --

Kevin Spacey!

Richard III!

Singapore!

(and Sam Mendes!)

!!!!!OMG!!!!!!!

November 17 to 26!

Details here!

* * *

Update on my Macbook --

I brought it to iCenter this morning and they were very helpful and sympathetic.  Sol (Apple Tech Guy) explained to me Plans A to Z of how he intended to recover my files and save my computer.

I got an update just now and he has successfully retrieved my files.  Yay!  (All those pictures, drafts and my Book Depository spreadsheet are saved!)

So now he'll try to fix the hard drive.  He told me he'll let me know later today.

Am keeping my fingers crossed.

~Sigh~ =(

My white Macbook died on me tonight.  It's stuck on the loading screen and I've tried everything and it hasn't gotten past the loading screen.

Thank God that iCenter opened here in Iloilo so I'll bring it in tomorrow and hope they can fix it (or, if they can't fix it, retrieve my files -- my photos!  my beautiful, nicely organized Book Depository spreadsheet!) T_T

I was planning to replace my laptop later this year -- and was planning to get a hard drive to transfer my files -- but now is not later -- and I wasn't ready to say goodbye.

Sad night. =(

Been a while -- one of my favorite quotes to reflect to

From the moment they wake they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue. I have never seem such discipline.
- The Last Samurai (movie)


When Johann first showed me the levitating girl, I was spellbound.  She's a Japanese girl (who doesn't levitate, really) but jumps beautifully and takes a picture of herself ... jumping.


Her pictures are beautiful and tell such quirky stories -- when I look at them, I try to imagine that moment when her camera is set and she only has a few seconds to find the courage to jump (she does this sometimes in a public place) -- and I think about the people who are there and I wonder about what they are thinking.


Enjoy~


Yowayowacamera


Then I found this feature on Yahoo about an artist who makes very small sculptures and leaves them out in the public for people to discover.


Slinkachu's Tiny People, Big World

New recipes to try --

Sticky Toffee Pudding in a Jar
-- I love the idea of ice cream and caramel sauce.  Am not too sold on dates.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
-- I've only made cheesecake once and it wasn't a complete success.  It was more cheese than cake.  Maybe the 2nd time's the charm?

Such a lovely satchel! --

Our Cambridge Satchel arrived in the mail over the weekend!

When I was ordering this through Schu, I was having a hard time picking the size and color (because the colors are all so, so beautiful!) --

We ended up getting the smallest (11") in green and I think I made the right choice!

(I keep saying "we" because this is actually a belated gift for my sister who lives in crossbody bags.)

I couldn't resist taking it out for a "test drive" and -- I really enjoyed it.

It isn't for me, though -- all it could fit was my wallet (big-a** wallet) and my phone.  It's perfect for my sister who doesn't really bring around a lot of stuff.

I could imagine giving this to Anya when she's entering high school.  (I'd love for her to hold it and smell it and know that this is a bag with a story -- and I know this bag will live long enough for her to use it because it is made of genuine leather.  It just needs me and my sister to take care of it. ^_^)

Thank you to Schu for facilitating my order.  (Great customer service!  A boon for people who live outside of Metro Manila.)

Consolidating myself --

I decided to delete my other blog Little Temptations (littletemptations.blogspot.com) --

I was finding it harder and harder to decide whether to post on this blog or on that blog so I decided to just consolidate.  (To my Multiply friends, apologies for the 27-blog entry deluge.)

I realized something (kinda good) -- while it seemed that I had a lot of wants in my head, when I put it down to paper (and seriously think about it), it dawned on me that I didn't really want or need a lot of them.

I think it's nice to embrace and accept our impulses and it's even nicer to indulge ourselves now and then.  ^_^