Friday 26 February 2010

plans

My birthday is up in 9 days! Will have the great crossover then - the great crossover when I'll be leaving the 20s. Have no specific plans yet. But am excited about it already!

Sunday 21 February 2010

My cover on "Soulmate"

was bored hence I decided to record my cover of Natasha Beddingfield's "Soulmate"

Saturday 20 February 2010

dessert!

I just had a session with my dentist for my monthly orthodontics check-up hence I was in the lookout for soft food -- my newly adjusted braces is just killing me and my teeth from the pain.

Hence, I opted for Pizza Hut for their Lasagna. It was good, although I still think Greenwich' lasagna tastes waaaaay better.

But what made me happy with my lunch at Pizza Hut was my Mango Panna Cotta.

Panna Cotta is basically an Italian dessert which literally means "cooked cream". It is made by cooking slowly together milk, cream, sugar and gelatin just below boiling point.

Pizza Hut's Panna Cotta is set amidst rich mango puree with sweet real mango slices and a cherry on top. Although I would have preferred the "cooked cream" to be aesthetically more velvety smooth as you cut a slice into it, the taste was just velvety smooth though. The mango flavor blended right with the panna cotta flavor that it was just a riot of pleasant flavors in my palate.

Yum indeed!

(this post is also posted in my goodfoodhunt.wordpress.com foodblog site)

Thursday 18 February 2010

relaxin'

In crowded Metro Manila where a nice, peaceful park is such a rare find, I found my haven this afternoon. Been looking for a place for the longest time now where I can enjoy the lovely late afternoon sun, blue sky and refreshing wind. And I finally found it this afternoon at the rooftop of Gloria Jeans Coffee Shop in Commercial Avenue, Alabang.

My chai tea latte and the lovely blue sky. The sunset this afternoon was a warm orange glow; warms the heart as well.

Tuesday 16 February 2010

A HERO!

Kat brought this news, a train incident in Koenji Station in Tokyo, to my awareness this evening. And I can't stop but be in awe with the hero, be immensely amazed with the man in the story who saved the woman's life by his bravery and quick thinking. WOW, WOW - is all I can say.

She owes her second lease to life to this young man. And I can only hope there would be more men like him in this world.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/man-saves-drunk-woman-from-oncoming-train-after-she-falls-onto-tracks

Monday 15 February 2010

seesaws and swings

I never did like the seesaw when I was a kid. Of course any other kid would want to be on the "up" side. But then much of your happiness on being on the "up" side depends on the kid on the other end of the seesaw. It was not only the being up and down that is dependent on the other kid. The rythmn as well as the speed of being on the up and down was dependent on your playmate as well. I remember making a number of strategies, sort of cheating, yes, just so I would always be on top or at least just be on the same level with the other kid - if I can't be on top then the other kid can't be on top as well. Hence, I cunningly adjust my seating position from the central axis depending on the weight of the kid on the other end. Hence, it was not always a fun game.

I liked the swing better, even up to now (although my liking it up to now has a bit of the romantic in me working). I think why I liked it better as a kid was that you can be happy on your own. If you want to be as high and as "up" as you want to be you can just propel yourself as hard as you can. If you want to slow things down, you can just use your feet as break and you're swinging in slow motion already. You can be up whenever you like. And when you want to slow things down, it will also be at your own pace. I loved it.

But in a way, it is lonely. You are enjoying it, alone.

The seesaw would be good now. As long as you don't mind being on the downside sometimes just so your partner can be on the up side. This would be okay as long as your partner would also be happy to have you on the up side for as long as you want to. You can keep the seesaw going for as long as you and your partner wants. There would be no cheating now. It should be a matter of give and take. Being mindful of your partner's happiness as your partner is mindful of yours. Give and take.

Sunday 14 February 2010

HVD

A happy Valentine's Day to one and all! =)

Spread a little love around. Spread happiness around.

Friday 12 February 2010

Milkshakes (Before Sunrise)

I super like the "Milkshakes" poem in the movie "Before Sunrise" :
Daydream delusion
Limousine eyelash
Oh, baby with your pretty face
Drop a tear on my wineglass
Look at those big eyes
See what you mean to me
Sweet cakes and milkshakes
I am a delusion angel
I am a fantasy parade
I want you to know what I think
Don't want you to guess anymore
You have no idea where I came from
We have no idea where we're going

Launched in life
Like branches in the river
Flowing downstream
Caught in the current
I'll carry you. You'll carry me

That's how it could be
Don't you know me?
Don't you know me by now?




(credit to Onipsi for uploading)

Thursday 11 February 2010

you'll be blessed

My friend is now currently assigned overseas at site office hence he wouldn't be with his ladylove this Valentine's. Thoughtful as he is, he thought of ideas on how to surprise her on lovers' day which of course included asking favors from friends. I was tasked to buy flowers and chocolates.

The flowers were easy as they can be delivered to the office tomorrow by Designer's Bloom. the chocolates were a problem. I need to wrap them. Gift-wrapping section (with pay) in SM is already closed for the day and the only other open service is exclusive for those "Premium" card holders only. I didn't bother to apply for a shopper's card so I don't have that. Hence I can't avail their free gift-wrapping service. My dilemma is that I really suck with gift-wrapping. I can sing, I can dance, I can even do voice-over acting. And I'll write. But anything related to handicrafts, anything related to arts crafted by my hand is a total disaster - even as simple as gift-wrapping. So giving my friend's ladylove a chocolate giftwrapped by me was worrisome.

My dilemma must have been written all over my face that the clerk in the gift-wrapping section offered to wrap my gift for me, for free, using their resources (he even asked me to choose what wrapper would I like! and of course it wasn't illegal since I also bought the chocolates on the same store) and even wrapping it with such careful and artful detail that I can't help but deeply thank him and give him a really big smile while saying an incredibly genuine "you'll be blessed!".

I wanted to give him a tip but he wouldn't accept as (he said) they are forbidden to receive tips from shoppers and customers. Now THAT's great customer service. Bless him.