Weekend Shopping


The past few weekends have been pretty busy. It was Jun's graduation for his Master's degree last week.

Weekend before valentines, we went to the jeweler and picked out wedding rings. The band I chose have 12 princess diamonds in channel setting halfway around the ring. It complements my engagement ring very well. Its not overpowering and very elegant. Read more about it at the wedding blog.

Today we went to the outlet mall to return my coach purchase. Hah! The sacrifices. I decided it was too much to buy a $250 bag at this moment especially were trying to save up.

Im sleepy I'll continue posting tomorrow.

Good day folks!

Wedding Blog


Friends and family are probably waiting for this please go to http://021806.blogspot.com for the wedding blog. We finally made progress.

Mechado

Another one pot wonder for my friend CL who don't like complicated cooking.


INGREDIENTS:
2 lb beef, cut into chunk cubes
½ cup pork fat, juliened
1 large white onion, chopped
2 tbsp garlic, minced
5 cups water or beef stock
2 bay leaves
juice of ½ lemon
1 cup tomato sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
salt & pepper to taste

3 medium potatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons olive oil


PRODECURES:
Make an incision on each beef chunks and insert pork fat.
This will ensure the meat pieces will remain moist and flavorful.
In a pot, place beef pieces, onion, garlic, bay leaves, lemon juice, tomato sauce, pepper and beef stock and bring to a boil.
Lower heat and simmer until beef is tender, this may take a while.
Season with salt.
Add in potatoes.
When potatoes are fork-soft and sauce has thicken, stir in olive oil.
(Optional: You can also fry the potatoes until the outside is crisp for texture)

Serve with steamed rice.

New Coke Commercial

While chatting with JC this morning at the crack of dawn, she shared with me the new Coke commercial in the Philippines...

Sana’y masabi sa awit kong ito
Lahat ng ninanais nitong puso ko
Sana saan man patungo sa buhay
May pag-ibig, may pag-asa
May saya at saysay
Sana sa bawat sandali matikman pa
Sarap ng pagsasama
At simpleng ligaya
Tara na sakyan lang
Malay mo,
Andyan lang,
andyan lang
Ang hinahanap mo....

Now that is so much better than the "I am the future of the world, i am the hope of the nation. . . " Lilet sing when I was in gradeschool.

I actually like the one JC shared better than the US version. What about you, what do you think?

Good day folks!

Featuring: Boston, Massachusetts
(Post No. 1)
One of the many plus points of living in Boston is its charm. Boston is the first city in the United States and is filled with historical and architectural delights. One I'm attached to is the Public Garden, after all its nation's oldest botanical garden. During my first year in Boston, I would go there with my backpack filled with my book, stationeries, munchies, and walkman. I would leisurely spend most of my days there writing letters to my friends, watching people pass by with their dogs, reading a book or napping under a tree. There is a Starbucks across from the park that makes it easy for me to get my coffee.

As you enter the park, you will be greeted by a wide array of plants in many shape and forms, weeping willows and lots of trees and pretty flowers set on Victorian flower beds, which change with the turn of seasons. A pedestrian bridge crosses the lagoon. On one side of the lagoon is the dock for the Swan Boats, and on the other side is a small man-made island in the middle of the water with a perfect landscape of plants and trees. Sometimes you can see live ducks and swans crossing the lagoon. I tell you, my words don’t give the breathtaking view justice.

The park is also where you can find the Make Way for Ducklings sculpture. The Mrs. Mallard and her 8 ducklings sculpture is based on the drawings of Robert McCloskey who wrote the 1941 children's classic Make Way for Ducklings, set in the Public Garden. It’s a hit with kids. When CL was here we had a hard time taking pictures of just the ducks itself because there were always be kids who wanted sit on them.

It never fails to amaze me that this park is in the middle of the city. It feels like you are transported to another place the moment you step in.

Photos take with CL August 2004, Boston Public Garden:


PHOTO: Makeway for Ducklings Sculptures


PHOTO: Beacon Street entrance across Starbucks Coffee

PHOTO: Pedestrian Bridge, courtesy of K. Stanley


PHOTO: Swan Boats, weather permitting you can ride them from Spring to Fall


PHOTO: View from the other side of the bridge


PHOTO: George Washington Statue, Arlington Street Entrance


Boston is just a small city. Most of the time you can just walk to places you wanted to see or go to. If you don’t wish to/can’t walk, you can always ride the T. This entry is part of series I want to share with you about Boston. As JC said in her blog, “I want to share things to them as if the readers are seeing the places through my eyes…” Please come back for more!

Have a nice day folks!

Esperanza, berear of all happiness!

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof". --- Richard Bach, Illusions

For the first seven years of my life I was led to believe that my Mamu (my grandmother) is my mother and Mama (my biological mother) is one of my sisters. When the reality was broke into us in 1987, I was crushed. I felt betrayed. Soon after, Mama left for US leaving me and my brother in Mamu's care. Mamu was there to witness it all. The happy and sad affairs of my life. She was there for the all monumental and not so important occassions. She was my greatest fan!

Mamu cared and nurtured me and my brother S as her own kids. Nothing can harm us. Even if that means putting her life and happiness in line. All this I never quite realized until the day I left to be with Mama. It's really true that you don't quite appreciate the value of those you love until they are gone. I still miss the little reminders, the nagging in the morning to wake up and get ready, the warm milk waiting before I go to school, the kisses ( you can't leave and arrive the house without kissing her), our afternoon singing, her jokes, the good food and the hugs she would give me while we lie in bed on Sunday mornings.

Mamu was there for us, as a mother, a father, a friend, a mentor, my lawyer and sometime an enemy. She is the reason I am who I am today. I don't think I would even be any better person had I grew up with my parents beside me. She never made me feel that I missed out a lot in life for not being with my parents. For this I am thankful for having her in my life.

This post is a tribute to Mamu now she's old and always sick. I fear of one day not being able to hold her hand or hug her or call her tell her my mostly nonsense stories. I fear of not being able to cry and tell her what I feel or share joyous occassions in my life.

Esperanza that is Mamu's name, in Spanish her names means Hope, in my dictionary her name means everthing!

THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS (Bette Midler)

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine,
that's your way,
you always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name -- for so long,
a beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and ev'rything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth,
of course I know it,
I would be nothing with out you.

Fly, fly, fly away, you let me fly so high.
Oh, fly, fly, so high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.

Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you,
the wind beneath my wings.

I love you Mamu, thanks for everything....

Quote of the Day...

"There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go". --- Richard Bach, The Bridge Across Forever

Happy Birthday, Mother



PHOTO: 1985, a year before my mother left for US.

Happy birthday, Mother,
Even though you might prefer
Life without these markers,
Each too public to defer.
Now that you are a year older,
Sing to us your own sweet song,
That we might celebrate your life,
Rejoicing all night long.
Each of us has love to bring,
Each a special song to sing,
To lose your heart among.

Happy Birthday, dear Mom
From my heart right to you
Just know how much I care.

Good day to you all!

That night we stayed at The Manhattan Club in Midtown. Let me tell you, that place scream of elegance or poise and everything that is nice. J’s aunt owns a timeshare for the hotel like residence. It's nice to have connections sometimes.

J and I walked around midtown area and toured Central Park, Rockefeller Plaza, Grand Central Station, Time Square, Broadway, and other popular hotspots. It was 3:00am and a lot of people are still on the streets. There was so much to see and much more to do. Truly, New York is a city that never sleeps.

In seven years, we have traveled back to New York many times. For concerts, government affairs, revisit the 69th Avenue area, buy jewelries, see friends and sometimes just for the heck of it. I think aside from my first visit (above) two more trips were memorable to me. First, when I met Ate J and C in 2001, second, when I CL came to Boston and we took our first ever Statue of Liberty visit in 2004.

It was August 19, 2001, a day after my birthday. J and I drove to New York and found our Inn at 47th Avenue. After a few hours of sleep we call Ate J and we went to meet them at their hotel located near Grand Central Station. She was with a good friend, C. Now C was a teacher at PCS also, too bad I do not know her. She is a nice person. Ate J, is more like an older sister to me than a former teacher. I’ve known her since I was 10. Our first encounter was her telling me she’d wait for me in PCS to be her student. Little did she know that I would be one of her worst nightmares. In high school, I became close with JC, CL, RR, LS, EC --- friends I will forever cherish and have. Ate J was our Chemistry teacher and more so our bigger sister. We’d confide in her about our “kitas”, our “pluggings”, and whatever we don’t agree upon. Ate J was the glue when we friends would fight and fall apart. After highschool graduation I lost contact with Ate J. I was so excited to see her again. We went to Roosevelt and ate at Tropical Island. We went to sightsee in Midtown and went to the Empire State Building. We parted with a promise that we will see each other again and not lose touch anymore. To this date, we may not talk everyday or get in-touch with everything that’s happening in our lives but I’m assured that Ate J and JC, CL, RR and I, will never forget each other. We are friends, no matter the time and distance that separates us.

August 12, 2004, 6:15 am. I am in Chinatown Boston falling in line to ride the Chinese Bus headed to New York, armed with tickets, a camera, I was ready. Right next to me is CL, dressed in her girly outfit and dainty slippers. A day ago, I was anxiously waiting, pacing back and forth the arrival area of Logan International Airport waiting for the flight from Chicago where CL is coming from. Last time I saw CL it was JC's debut and I was exited to say the least! Anyway, after a few words sparring with some noisy asian amazons in the bus, we got to NY and started our trek. Our first destination in the City, Chinatown, we were looking for a place to have lunch. There was a popular belief that you can judge a good restaurant by the amount of cars outside or in our case by the amount of people lined to get seated. After 15 minutes or so we are seated at Grand Imperial Restaurant. Nothing fancy, just an average Chinese restaurant packed tightly with mostly chinese folks and non-english speaking servers with their carts of dimsum. I did not know what to expect until CL told me that she know's what she's doing. English menu and point system (turo-turo) helped us! It was good food. It was an excellent place! Off we started trecking Canal Street--- the haven for pirated VCDs, imitation designer stuff and lots of sourvenir stores. We picked up some stuff for our friends back in the Philippines and shopped some more. That left us with only few minutes to spare and almost missing our ferry to Liberty Island from Battery Park. Of course I took a lot of pictures, how can I not after all I'm with CL. The queen of camera! Taking a picture with the great Liberty behind you is quite tricky. But the scenery is great once your over 100 feet from the ground.

After Liberty, we walked around the city for hours and hours with just few breaks to take pictures and food at Grand Central Station. Those train platforms at Grancd Central reminds me of Horry Porter movies. We walked until our feet were way beyond sore and we cannot walk anymore (it fell like they are going to fall off). We were trying to maximize CL's time. We got back to Chinatown, NY and found out we missed our bus. With not much money left and no place to go we went to the Port Authority and waited for the next Greyhound to Boston. Finally at 12:30 am a bus arrived and around 5:30 am we were back in at my apartment. That was one tiring day I would never forget my whole life. My first Liberty visit with CL!



(Left to Right: Rockefeller Plaza, Statue of Liberty, Times Square)


Have a nice day everyone!

Old News...

Whew, it's been exactly two years since I last blogged, I actually deleted the old posts. Tossing my paper journal and grabbing this seems to be very liberating.
Here are some major things that have happened!

Went through an emotional roller coaster trying to salvage relationship with BWL. I shouldn't have kept anything to myself. I could have saved all the tears. It's all in the past now.

We moved to a bigger, better apartment, its actually a townhouse, acquired furniture some new, some hand me downs.

Met JM online whom I became real close friends with, we talked on the phone daily for hours. Her and GM hooked up. She moved to Massachusetts. Were somewhat estranged now. Oh well!

Went to the Philippines in the summer of ‘03; enjoyed the company of friends and family even for just five weeks. Spent a lot of times with IS, JP, JC and BL. BL is funny and great to be with. Definitely the chemistry is there. Too bad we'd never be more than just friends. JP, I could never complain about her patience and her love! JC, she's cool as always --- we hung-out and talked endlessly like we've never parted. IS, she's a newfound friend; we spent more time than I did with any of my other friends during my visit. We spend endless hours bonding over coffee or dinner everyday and we’d even close SM.

Talked to a couple people whom I have unfinished business with. Spent a lot of time with friends and family.

Finally met AOM again after five long years. Going to the local Pares place ended our night.

Helped Mommy more (who keeps getting sicker as days go on that it frightens me)

Attended my goddaughter's 2nd party and realized it really bothers me if she's upset with me. Somehow we have this love-hate relationship and its amazing how a two-year-old kid can tore me apart into pieces, I love her dearly.

Missed MQ & RP's wedding. Bad, REAL BAD on my part. I wasn't ready to see BWL yet.

Severed ties with JM and JC, misunderstanding went out of hand, I stopped figuring out what went wrong and who wronged who.

Christmas was spent at the house for the first time, it felt so grown up.
Back together got engaged!

Started then stopped and went back again to wedding planning. Status à nothing’s done and set yet!!!

CL was here! Never in a million years I would think that we would spend some time together here in US. We shared our first Statue of Liberty and Boston Freedom Trail experience. We got stuck in New York and spent a long time waiting for the next Greyhound. She thought me how to appreciate dim sum and I was never the same person again.

Traveled to New York numerous more times after that. Thanks to the Chinese Bus it only costs $20 to go and back.

Traveled to Pennsylvania – his aunts house for some holidays.

Traveled to Orlando for 10 days and spent some time harassing Pooh. Seen Epcot, MGM, Universal and spent a lot of time in a swimming pool. We also went to Fort Charlotte. I realized I can live the life of Floridian (if that is how you call them). Maybe as soon I graduate, I can get licensed in Florida. After all, there are still vast areas of land that have yet to be developed there.

Went to Vegas for my last trip in 2004. It was so much fun. Learned how to play Roulette. We have to go back and see Venetian and Mirage Hotels.

Can’t remember all of it now. I will post them as I remember them along the way….

Good Day folks!