Saturday, July 28, 2007

Ra-ta-TOO-ee





Ratatouille ("ra-ta-TOO-ee") is a French Provencal stewed vegetable dish. The dish, originating in Nice, is fully named ratatouille nicoise. It may be served as a meal on its own (accompanied by rice, potatoes, or simple French bread), or as a side dish. Tomatoes are a key ingredient, with garlic, onions, zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, some herbs de Provence, and sometimes basil. All the ingredients are sauteed in olive oil. It is also sometimes used as a filling for savoury crepes. -- Wikipedia

last night, i was able to watch the animated film "ratatouille". i like watching movies but i'm not really much into cartoons or animated films. i have not seen the trailer of the film so i didn't know what to expect. i have heard though that it was written & directed by the same oscar winning writer-director of "the incredibles" (one of the rare animated films that i was able to watch & really like) & how well the ratings are, so i became curious & went to see it with an open mind. unexpectedly, i looooooved it!!!:D brad bird (writer-director) did it again!

for those who have no idea yet what the story is, it's about how a simple rat wants to be an extraordinary chef. yeah, the story is (like any animated film or cartoon) impossible (and quite disgusting if you would think that a rat was cooking the meals for a restaurant), but i found it cute & there were moving scenes too. the story is a complete mixture of the most important things in life--dreams, family, friendship & love (bonus--good food!).

being someone who really loves to cook, i was entertained by all the kitchen scenes. the food animation was great! (although there were rat scenes which still have that ewww-factor & made me cringe) i can relate to "remy" the rat who dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family's objection & i hope that someday soon, like him, i will be able to fulfill that dream.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Crime scenes

i love crime scene investigation.

...like fitting together puzzle pieces to see the real picture

watched the season ender of csi vegas last night. it made me stay up late & now i'm feeling really really sleepy...(damn! can't have coffee though. trying to avoid that stuff & be a little healthy so i'm stuck with my caffeine free herbal tea.)

been a fan of csi vegas for quite some time now. it triggers my curiosity how smart the crimes are planned & executed. i get fascinated & intrigued on how Grissom & the rest of his team outsmarts the criminal & eventually solves the crime. i love the characters (specially Warrick :P *wink wink*), love the details, love their lines. i even get a rush of excitement when i hear the theme song playing at the start of the show (who are you...who who, who who...hehe)! i love it to a point that i even thought of becoming one. but i'm pretty sure i need special education to be one & that it takes a lot of hard work, & if i'm gonna do it here...i'd be better just watching the show & dreaming. hehehe...

lately, i started watching csi new york & i think i'm starting to like it too. (oh no! another show that will keep me up late.) i was able to catch an episode or two of csi miami before but i honestly didn't like it, i don't like their style. i can't even believe the ad on tv that says csi miami is the "world's most watched show".

in my opinion, the vegas team is smart in a practical way (i don't know the exact term, sort of "street smart" i guess). the new york team on the other hand is wise in a "bookish way". i love how both teams remain calm in solving crimes. both don't jump into accusing someone without first thoroughly investigating & collecting evidence. as for the miami team, i find their style a bit "arrogant". i've observed that they are fast into making accusations. i particularly dislike Horatio, i hate how he sometimes tend to threaten suspects. if i were to rank the 3, i'd say number 1 for me would be csi vegas, number 2 csi new york & last csi miami.

which crime scene investigation is the best for you?

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Push the button

the clock is ticking...really fast...

(can't do anything about it. i wish there was a pause button out there somewhere)

i'm too lazy to move...

yeah...i think i'm too familiar with it & too comfortable already.

this is not good at all... i have to start moving soon.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Finally found it

after the long search, i've finally found my perfect shade of chocolate brown nail polish...

call me shallow but looking at my nails right now while i'm typing, i'm happy:)

for a change, it's a monday morning but i don't feel down. i'm quite surprised that i feel happy. nothing particularly good happened yet but i'm just feeling lucky.

i feel really satisfied with my life...

i feel so much blessed:D

Sunday, July 22, 2007

A little discipline please!!!

queue (kyoo) -- noun, verb [French, from Old French cue, tail , from Latin cauda, coda.]
-- used more in British English, while the world "line" is used mostly in American English. Canadians use the term "line up".
-- Chinese "排队", Spanish "fila", Filipino "pila"

this concept is so simple yet why can't some people understand & follow it???

it really irritates me...

a little discipline please!!!

Friday, July 20, 2007

Goodbye Harry...

no, i don't know how the book will end yet. i don't know if harry will live or die.

having read some of the 6 books & watched all 5 HARRY POTTER movies, i can say that i'm quite a fan of the series.

tomorrow, the last book of the series would be released. (no, i haven't reserved/bought my copy--actually i haven't bought my copy of any of the 6 past books) many are excited, not only here but all over the world. unlike them, i'm not. i feel sad...it breaks my heart that the series i've come to love will now come to an end.

i think i want to buy my own copy of the 7 books soon...

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Rush

it's a great contradiction that i, being such an impatient person, do not appreciate the rush of life here in the city.

it's thursday already...(what happened between monday to wednesday???--nothing enters my mind...) time flies!!!

i've lived half of my life here in manila already (for my studies & for work), yet i'm still not used to this life. i still crave for the slow & simple life in my province. most people would find it rather boring to live in the province & would find time moving too slow for them...but not for me. most of the time, people do not believe me when i say that i'd rather live in the province, have a slow paced life & be able to enjoy the simple things life has to offer.

lately, i find myself complaining too much about how my life is a routine & how i'm so bored with it. petty things irritate me. i can't control it & it makes me feel embarrassed. maybe i'm getting tired with living here in the city...

i hate it that i have to wake up early in the morning, prepare in a rush (don't even have the luxury of enjoying my breakfast) just to beat the morning traffic. after office, again i have to endure the long drive home. at the end of the week, i often find myself trying to remember what i did in the past few days & i almost always end up recalling nothing particular that i did & i enjoyed. i feel really exhausted...

helping me keep my sanity in this complicated life in the city are my friends. they all live here. even most of my childhood friends have already moved here for work. my friends here are the only thing that keeps me from moving back to my hometown...

well, who says life is perfect? you really can't have the best of both worlds. i guess for now i just have to weigh which matters most to me...

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Bitch

this early & i'm already feeling crappy. turning out to be not such a great day for me. starting to be bitchy again but i can't help it.

i hate the world today...you're so good to me...i know but i can't change...tried to tell you...but you look at me like maybe...i'm an angel underneath...innocent and sweet...

i'm a little bit of everything...all rolled into one...

i'm a bitch...

i'm a sinner...i'm a saint...i do not feel ashamed...i'm your hell...i'm your dream...i'm nothing in between...

so take me as i am...

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

On Spiral, my Shanghai girls & Harry Potter







another buffet dinner last saturday. this time we went to SPIRAL. honestly, i'm starting to feel that all these hotels offering buffets tastes similar already. as usual, food overload! GLUTTONY.

i loved their laksa! spicy enough for me:D the churros dip was really delicious too! really chocolate-y, really sinful!!!

i had a blast getting together with my shanghai girls again. we all love taking pictures. all love to eat & we talk about food nonstop! after the saturday buffet, we swore not to eat too much anytime soon (maybe just drinks...hahaha). i realized one thing that night, it's great sometimes to be in the company of people younger than you are (just being honest here...hehehe). it's like i was able to have a break from all the serious stuffs & all the serious & older people in the office (i think 95% of the people in the office are older than i am & 100% of them more serious than i am...hahaha). fud + friends = definitely a great time!

now back to my crappy diet...:(

i was also able to watch harry potter last sunday with my sisters. it was great!!! i really loved it & i wouldn't mind watching it again! i found it a little bitin though. i really enjoyed the movie. having read the book, i imagined the scenes & it was amazing to watch my imaginations come to life.

now i'm trying to restrain & convince myself not to buy the books...

Friday, July 13, 2007

I just have to laugh at myself!

this might sound weird but i find myself rather amusing.

i know what i want but at the same time, i value the opinion of others.

as i was ordering lunch today, even with a slight idea of what i wanted, i asked the person behind the counter what to order best. after a few recommendations & a few questions, i find myself still ordering what i initially wanted (which was not among the recommendations :p).

i'm often guilty of this! i actually find it ridiculous that i still ask, even if most of the time i go back to what i wanted in the first place (whether it's among the suggestions or not).

for this, i'm giving my self a big laugh & the roll of the eye! :p

on the side: i find my dad really cute & sweet this morning. as my sister was still sleeping, he prepared her breakfast (placed the oatmeal in the bowl, dropped 1 pc. native cocoa & stirred it well). even if sometimes i get crazy 'cause he can be makulit & stubborn (which i think most parents become as they get older) i really felt touched by his gesture & through that simple act, i felt how much he loves his daughters.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Missing u...


just talked to my cousin from cebu on the phone. i miss her! i miss our shanghai days!
i remember my friend (after seeing my pictures) asking me when i was still there, why i was blooming. i didn't know the exact reason why. i guess it was because my life was really relaxed there.
i miss shanghai terribly!!! (i can't believe i'm saying this)

How much longer?

i think i need something...i feel bored...

just received a memo for 3rd offense. 3 lates a month constitutes 1 offense. meaning, as of the month of June, i had 3 months with 3 or more lates already. when i received my memo for 3rd offense, i was looking for what my penalty was & ironically, i felt disappointed to find out that i was only getting monetary penalty. where's my days of suspension? why am i not getting any?

i don't know how much longer i can endure this. how much more of this? i want a BIG CHANGE but i don't know yet where to start. I'M TRAPPED...

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

You have stolen my heart




nope, no one has stolen my heart yet but this song did...

i'm currently in love with this song & i've been listening to it over & over again (love the tune, love the lyrics)...






"STOLEN"

We watch the season pull up its own stakes
And catch the last weekend of the last week
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced,
Another sun soaked season fades away

You have stolen my heart

Invitation only, grant farewells
Crush the best one, of the best ones
Clear liquor and cloudy eyed, too early to say goodnight

You have stolen my heart
And from the ballroom floor we are in celebration
One good stretch before our hibernation
Our dreams assured and we all, will sleep well

You have stolen
You have stolen my heart

I watch you spin around in the highest heels
You are the best one, of the best ones
Well all look like we feel

You have stolen my
You have stolen my heart

plus...i just learned that the lead singer chris carrabba is cute! hehehe:p

on the side (really unrelated to the title of this post) -- i was reading an article in time magazine this morning & i just learned that tempura is of portuguese origin! it was brought to japan in the 16th century. can you believe that? hehehe:D

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

1 out of 7

the list of the new 7 wonders of the world is out (www.new7wonders.com) & i've only gone to 1 out of 7! the 7 (in no particular order) are:
  1. The Great Wall, China
  2. Petra, Jordan
  3. Christ Redeemer, Brazil
  4. Machu Picchu, Peru
  5. Chichen Itza, Mexico
  6. The Roman Colosseum, Italy
  7. The Taj Mahal, India

my family & close friends would know that i REALLY LOVE travelling. it's like an addiction, an obsession, "my bisyo" (most of my salaries go to this, hehehe...). i love going to new places (be it be near or far) , discovering new things fascinates me. i love the adventure! i love seeing how things work in different places, how the people are, their language, their culture, how much they are similar or different from us & of course what i love most is discovering their food! hehehe:D i could be quite adventurous when it comes to food (except for the chicken feet which i really don't think i could eat. i imagine it to be soft & slimy. yuck! hehe). i love trying out new foods, love the local exotic flavors.

last year, i was lucky enough to be able to go to "the great wall" on a tour of china with my cousin. 1 out of 7! hehehe:D as for the other 6, if i would be lucky enough to go to these places, this is the particular order that i want:

  1. The Taj Mahal, India
  2. The Roman Colosseum, Italy
  3. Chichen Itza, Mexico
  4. Petra, Jordan
  5. Christ Redeemer, Brazil
  6. Machu Picchu, Peru

actually, to be honest, i've talked to some friends & we're starting to plan a few trips for this year & early next year. (yehey!!! *wink wink* shhh....hehehe:p) though i don't think any of the other 6 wonders of the world are in those places we plan to visit.

so i guess this just means one thing: i have to work double time! double hard!!! hehehe:D

Monday, July 9, 2007

Rainy days & Mondays always get me down...

it's monday morning & as i was driving on my way to work, it started to shower...
it's been raining almost everyday these past few days, but it usually rains during late afternoon. today though, it rained in the morning.
rainy days always seem to dampen my mood. i don't like gloomy days, i don't know why but i feel sad/depressed when it rains. (i have a friend who really likes it when it rains, it makes her happy & i find it strange.)

thank God that despite the usual monday traffic & slight shower i was able to beat the clock! i wasn't late for work:) 4 minutes more & i would have paid the penalty again! hehehe:D

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Jack's back

yehey! jack's coming back home! time really flies...it's been more or less 5 months since my sister left for beijing to study mandarin for one term, like i did in shanghai. tomorrow she's coming home. though not for good 'cause she'll be leaving again next month to take her masters degree in boston. (more on that in my my future posts) i'm really happy & excited to see her. she's younger but she's like the achi (older sister) i never had:D

double yehey!! my dad's flying to manila tomorrow too! for those who don't know it, i'm from bicol & grew up there. me & my sisters transferred here in manila when we started high school but we still have our "home" (not a mere house) in bicol. my parents still live there & we have a small business there but me & my sisters stay here in manila by ourselves (independent living...hehehe) to work/study here. we try to go home during holidays but almost every month my dad or mom comes here for a week or so to visit us.

triple yehey!!! HARRY POTTER will start showing next week! i'm not really a fan of fantasy/fairytale movies, those which don't reflect reality, but HARRY POTTER is one of the exemptions. really looking forward to watch this movie. i'm sooooooo excited!:D

quadruple yehey!!!! tomorrow, i'm planning to take my sisters to the new biggest bookstore here in the philippines---FULLY BOOKED---5 stories of pure bliss! i've always loved books... i love going to bookstores... spending time browsing books... buying books... to be honest, lately so much things occupies my time & my mind that i'm not in the mood to read. i still have a few books unread at home that either me or my sister bought before. hopefully going to fully booked tomorrow will get me back in the mood to read.

wow! so many things to feel "yehey" about.:D and to think the new week hasn't even started yet. looks like a great week coming:D

Friday, July 6, 2007

Got milk?

was really hungry a while ago but had late lunch 'cause i needed to finish some work. now i'm having a f*cking stomach ache...i need a glass of milk to soothe my stomach ache.

anybody got milk?

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Unlucky?


"may balat ka sa pwet!", that's what they say when someone's really unlucky.

i don't have one but i feel like i must have an invisible one! hahaha:)

some circumstances when i feel like i do...
  1. my first time to go to boracay with my barkada, we were met by a storm i think a day or two before we left to come back to manila, so we had to extend another day.
  2. my last boracay trip, the day we were about to leave for manila, it rained really hard in boracay so our flight was cancelled & we had to extend another night.
  3. this morning, while i was driving on my way to work, i saw a bus in one of the emergency bay in edsa & i thought to myself "Thank God that so far I haven't met any trouble with my car". then after passing by a gas station to fill up, my car went through a hole in the road & i didn't realize that the hole was that deep & big until guess what??? it caused me a flat tire!
  4. i started my blog today & after writing my first post, as i was figuring out how to attach my link into my account, the internet was down!

sometimes, i feel really lucky too!

  1. on my recent trip to phuket, the time for my connecting flight from bangkok to manila was just right. i still wanted to shop in the duty free airport of bangkok so i prayed for a delayed flight back. can u believe it! God answered my prayer & so my flight was delayed 3 hrs!!! 3 hrs more for me to shop:D
  2. last friday, when i got home from meeting my high school barkada for dinner in libis & having some drinks & coffee in greenbelt with my sgv barkada, i noticed smoke coming out of the hood of my car. when i asked the driver to check it the next day, he told me the radiator was broken already! it was really bad that we couldn't bring it from our house to the repair shop anymore & we had to ask wheeler's to tow the car to bring it to the shop. they couldn't repair it anymore and had to replace it. good thing i was able to go home safe.
  3. when i had a very bad flat tire this morning, it was really near the office already. near enough for me to be able to park my car in the parking lot.
  4. i was feeling really bad about the internet being down a while ago that i had to have something to cheer me up so i went to my favorite coffee/tea shop--CBTL--to get my tea latte & i discovered something good! their biscotti!:D

i guess we all have our lucky & unlucky days...


as one of my new favorite song from maroon 5 goes, nothing lasts forever...one moment i feel cursed & the next i feel like the luckiest person in the world!:D

My First Post

i've been reading different blogs for almost a year now, mostly about food (because of my love for cooking & eating) & also blogs written by my friends. i have always wanted to start my own, but because many things occupied my time (like studying Mandarin in Shanghai & now, going back to work), i didn't have time to start my blog until now. also, another reason why i didn't have the guts to start my own blog was because of questions bugging my mind like, "what if there comes a time that i don't have anything to write about anymore?", "what would others who get to read my blog (if there's any...hahaha!) say about what i write or how would they react?", "what if my grammar's wrong?", etc...

i realized now that i've been thinking too much!!! i feel i need & i want an outlet to express how i feel & say what i want. to hell with what people would think & say, what do i care? :)

thanks to my friends-- jenny, vanj-- for inspiring me to start my own.