Lavender & Coffee Stains

Dear Me,

Sometimes, I know why things happen as they are. Sometimes, too, I wonder why they do. I was reading this article from somewhere and it got me thinking. For the men out there, is love really enough to subject yourselves into a lifelong commitment such as marriage? Most of the time, men make a gazillion excuses for not getting into marriage.

Allow me to share some excerpts from Joe D' Mango's Love Notes:

Men can make up a thousand excuses for not consenting to marriage. But whatever their justifications may be, they just point out one simple fact - they still do not find the relationship compelling enough to make a complete turn in their lives. Love is the fire that burns the desire to be with someone forever. He may love you but he still doesn't love you enough to take the risk of a lifelong commitment. Love knows no fear, and people who marry because of love sacrifice and commit themselves in making their marriage last.

At the end of the day, it would still be the man's decision. Your task is to make him realize that there is only one you, and if he lets this chance pass, there may never be another one. He has to feel that you are the single most important person in this world for him. Loving you should be the only thing that he would want to do.....Men do take their strength from the women they love. Make him happy because he chose you instead of making him feel guilty because he passed on his chance of being with the woman who loves him more than anything else in this world.

Dear Me,

Oh, it is such a long wait! Ratatouille (pronounced as rat-a-too-ee) has been showing its trailer in cinemas for quite a while now. Hmp.

Distributed by Buena Vista International through Columbia Pictures, this funny movie will be shown in local theathers come July 25th while in the US, on June 29th. O di ba ang tagal?

Production animation courtesy of Disney's Pixar, it tells the tale of...

Linguini, a kitchen boy who doesn't know how to cook and Remy, a rat whose impossible dream is to become a gourmet chef. Now, with nothing left to lose, Linguini and Remy form the most improbable partnership that will turn Paris upside down, leading them both on an incredible journey which they could never have imagined without each other.

Remy's dreams would never get a chance to come true if it weren't for Linguini, the lowly garbage boy at gourmet restaurant Gusteau's who discovers the rat's talents and finds them changing his own fortunes. Although they start out partnered together out of mutual desperation - Linguini needing to hang onto his job and Remy hoping to finally get his chance to work in a real live restaurant kitchen -- Remy and Linguini slowly become buddies who learn they can truly count on one another. (c/o clickthecity)

Cuurently, this is my desktop wallpaper...


Promise, inip na ko mapanood ito!

Dear Me,

Out of boredom, I found myself browsing PEP, the newest entertainment online portal. Being in the house 24/7, I turned to the boobtube to lessen the ever-increasing doldrums that seem to seep in to my body. And when you are watching tv, you really cannot escape all the brouhahas of local showbiz.

Anyway, I didn't dwell on reading those stuff. But I found this one: Most Memorable Movie Lines. These are one-liners from the local movies of the good, old past. To quote:

These are lines that have withstood the passing of time, and throughout the years, have continued to gain a life of their own.

Allow me to post it here:

1. "You're nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!"
   - Cherie Gil, Bituing Walang Ningning (1985)
   
   
2. "Para kang karinderyang bukas sa lahat ng gustong kumain."
   Palimos ng Pag-ibig (1985)
   
   
3. "Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao! Nasa puso nating lahat!"
   Himala (1982)
   
   
4. "My brother is not a pig! My brother is not a pig! Ang kapatid ko ay tao, hindi baboy."
   Minsa'y Isang Gamugamo (1976)
   
   
5. "Once, twice, thrice, gaano ba kadalas ang minsan?"
   - Hilda Koronel, Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan (1982)
   
   
6. "Ayoko ng tinatapakan ako, ayoko ng masikip, ayoko ng mabaho, ayoko ng walang
   tubig, ayoko ng walang pagkain, ayoko ng putik."
   - Maricel Soriano, Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit (1984)
   
   
7. "Hayop...Hayuuup...Hayuuupppp!"
   - Nora Aunor, Ina Ka Ng Anak Mo (1979)
   
   
8. "Trabaho lang ito, walang personalan."
   - Rudy Fernandez, Markang Bungo (1991)
   
   
9. "Si Val! Si Val! Puro na lang si Val! Si Val na walang malay!"
   - Vilma Santos, Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig (1987)
   
   
10. "Ikaw pala. Ikaw pala ang sinasabi ng asawa ko na asawa mo na asawa ng bayan!"
    - Laurice Guillen, Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi (1983)
    
    
11. "Akala mo lang wala...pero meron!! meron!! meron!!"
    - Carlo Aquino, Bata, Bata...Paano Ka Ginawa (1998)
    
    
12. "Gutay-gutay na ang katawan nyo...pati na ang kaluluwa nyo!"
    - Sharon Cuneta, Pasan Ko ang Daigdig (1987)
    
    
13. "Sabel! This must be love!"
    - Carmi Martin, Working Girls (1986)
    
    
14. FPJ: "Ang problema sa'yo, maaga kang ipinanganak."
    Sharon: "Ang problema naman sa'yo, huli kang ipinanganak."
    - Sharon Cuneta and Fernando Poe Jr., Kahit Konting Pagtingin (1990)
    
    
15. "Wala akong pakialam...ibalik mo sa akin si Jun-jun. Ibalik mo sa akin ang anak ko! Ibalik mo sa akin si Jun-jun. Ibalik mo ang...ahhhhh!"
    - Vilma Santos, Paano Ba Ang Mangarap (1983)
    
    
16. "Kung saan, kailan, at paanong labanan, magpasabi ka lang. Hindi kita uurungan!"
    - Sharon Cuneta, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin (1984)
    
    
17. Alice: "Mamamatay ako, Ate, pag kinuha mo sa akin si Alex!"
    Lorna: "Ipalilibing kita."
    Alice: "Ate, please!"
    Lorna: "Nung inagaw mo sa 'kin si...muntik na rin akong mamatay. Puwes, ikaw naman ngayon ang mamatay."
    - Lorna Tolentino and Alice Dixson, Nagbabagang Luha (1988)
    
    
18. "Simple lang naman ang hinihingi ko. Kung hindi mo ako marespeto bilang asawa, respetuhin mo naman ako bilang kaibigan. Kung hindi naman, respetuhin mo ako bilang tao."
    - Vilma Santos, Relasyon (1982)
    
    
19. Rene: "cheetaehhh...ganda lalake!"
    Echo: "ulol! Sinungaling! Panget! Panget!"
    - Rene Requiestas, Cheetaeh
    
    
20. "Kung hindi tayo kikilos sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?"
    - Vilma Santos, Sister Stella L. (1984)

Dear Me,

Though I tend to travel a lot, whether for business or in pursuit of my carefree desires, I really haven't visited the entire Philippines. I really wanted to. I hope that someday I will be able to.

So, how much of the Philippines have you visited? Try this out from Lakbayan created by Eugene Alvin Villar.

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

Dear Me,

It was a pleasant day the other day. The heat emanating inside our room was replaced by the cold breeze blowing from the outside. A very nice morning indeed!

While papi was taking his bath (for an hour - hehehe), I tidied up our room - straightened the bed cover, the tumbled pillows, books and stuff lying around. Then, I decided to iron his barong tagalogs that he would be wearing for one week. I was told that ironing clothes everyday wouldn't help in reducing our electricity bill.

Anyway, I was half-way done with the ironing when papi came out of the bath. We both had breakfast and afterwards, off he went to work.

I resumed my attention to my chores. I cleaned the table, wiped it clean. Next, came the dish-washing.

I decided to cook an early lunch. Thinking about it, I was (still is) running out of recipe to try/cook. Having beef and pork for lunch and dinner everyday is also becoming icky for me.

I checked the fridge and I saw squash and okra. Hehehe. I only had one thing in mind: ginisang kalabasa at okra. Well, it tasted good (at least for me). Eating vegetable could be such a good taste equalizer once in a while. Don't you think so?

By 11am, I was done preparing/cooking lunch.

Here's the highlight of my day: making my sweet dessert - Mango Float.

Actually, I learned doing this yummy sweet through papi's sisters back in Cebu. Since then, I've been making them when ripe mangoes abound.

Why don't you try this out? =)


Ingredients:
1-2 packs of MY San Graham crackers
1 can of Alaska condensed milk
2 tetra packs of Nestle All-Purpose Cream
6-10 ripe, sweet mangoes

Directions:
1. Slice the ripe mangoes.
Separate the seed from the sweet, yellow meat.
Place the edible mango in a platter.

2. Pour the condensed milk and the all-purpose cream in a bowl.
Mix and stir evenly.

3. Layer the graham crackers in a glass or plastic container.
Start putting the mangoes on top of it.
Then, fully whip it with the milk-cream mixture.
Make sure that you have a creamy whip
or else your float will taste dry.

4. Continuously apply #3 till you finished everything.

5. Chill before serving.


More or less, it took me 30 minutes to make it.

Are my directions clear enough? Hehehe. If not, you can always contact me. =)

Dear Me,

In compliance to A Year Of Reading, here is my update for the month of May. My last update was February 2007. Just the same, I was able to read a number of books.




March-May 2007
. Valhalla Rising by Clive Cussler
. Lost City by Clive Cussler
. Nights In Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
. Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler
. YoungBlood 2.0 (Philippine Publication by Inquirer.net
. YoungBlood (Philippine Publication by Inquirer.net
. The Janson Directive by Robert Ludlum

February 2007
. When We Were Gods: A Novel Of Cleopatra by Colin Falconer
. Precipice by Colin Forbes

January 2007
. The Not-So-Perfect Man by Valerie Frankel
. Sacred Stone by Clive Cussler

. Books In 2006



. Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy
. The Godfather by Mario Puzo


Book Synopsis

Valhalla Rising by Clive Cussler
Dirk Pitt's NUMA survey ship happens to be in the vicinity when the world's newest and biggest cruise ship founders and sinks, giving Pitt the chance to stage the daring rescue of nearly 2,000 passengers. Among those who perish is a famous scientist whose revolutionary engines powered the ship to her watery grave; while Pitt is unable to save Dr. Egan, he rescues his beautiful daughter Kelly from the sea, and later from a murder attempt aboard the rescue vessel. Pitt and his trusty pal Al Giordino track the sinking to the boardroom door of a multinational conglomerate called Cerberus, whose evil CEO has designs on the world's oil supply. He'll do anything to keep Egan's advanced engines and secret formula for frictionless oil off the market -- even sabotage another vessel, this time a luxury passenger submarine.

Lost City by Clive Cussler
Kurt Austin, leader of the National Underwater and Marine Agency's Special Assignments Team, battles international evildoers again in the fifth installment of this excellent series. There are several parallel plots: a mysterious aviator has been found frozen in a massive glacier; a mutant seaweed is threatening to choke the world's oceans; a giant submarine is roaming the thermal vents of the deep sea area known as the Lost City; and the secretive, arms-dealing Fauchard family, run by ruthless black-widow Racine and her homicidal son, Emil, is up to no good. Also there's a mysterious 16th-century helmet, a search for the philosopher's stone and an island of filthy, mutant cannibals. Austin's love interest is lush, sensual Skye Labelle, an archeologist specializing in arms and armor. Austin and his band of merry men fight to stop the Fauchards from reaching the ultimate evildoer's goal: world domination.

Nights In Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
The story of two middle-aged people who meet by chance in the small North Carolina coastal town of Rodanthe. Once again, a housewife who has focused on everyone but herself indulges in a brief, intense, secret affair with a stranger who changes her life forever. As the story begins, Adrienne Willis is 60, the divorced mother of three grown children. To help her troubled daughter cope with the untimely recent death of her husband, Adrienne tells her the tale of her love affair, which took place 15 years before. At the time, Adrienne was an uptight matron whose ex-husband had just left her for a younger woman. This rejection colors her entire life, and Sparks realistically portrays a vulnerable and isolated woman who throws herself into raising her children to escape her despair. Paul Flanner, her paramour, is a surgeon and an obsessive workaholic with no genuine connection to his wife or son, whose world completely falls apart when one of his patients inexplicably dies.

Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler
When mysterious black obsidian skulls and other artifacts of an exceedingly ancient culture begin to turn up in odd places, Dirk Pitt jumps in with both feet. It soon becomes dangerously apparent that a powerful, amoral group of fanatics calling itself the Fourth Empire wants the strange discoveries to remain underground. Pitt teams up with a beautiful red-haired expert in ancient languages to decipher the meaning of the artifacts. They were made 10 millennia ago in a then-temperate Antarctica by a seafaring civilization advanced enough to predict its own destruction by a comet impact. Now the Fourth Empire (whose literal and figurative progenitor comes as no surprise) is predicting a similar disaster in only a matter of months, and preparing to take control of the earth.

The Janson Directive by Robert Ludlum
Paul Janson, a former covert operative turned private security executive who's stranded, abandoned, and marked for murder by his old colleagues when he manages to survive an unsurvivable mission. Rescuing renowned philanthropist and statesman-without-portfolio Peter Novak from the clutches of the terrorist who murdered his wife and unborn child, Paul Janson watches, unbelieving, as the plane carrying Novak back to freedom explodes before his eyes. Soon after the first post-mission attempt on his life, Janson begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

When We Were Gods: A Novel Of Cleopatra by Colin Falconer
Fifty-one years before the birth of Jesus Christ, in the fertile Nile valley, 18-year-old Cleopatra ascends to the throne of Egypt upon the death of her father, Ptolemy XII. Inheriting a palace that more closely resembles a snake pit than a home, crowded with family and advisers, Cleopatra must come to terms with the heavy burden of royalty and its inevitable loneliness. Her only trusted friend is Mardian, the giant eunuch who has been her tutor since childhood. From an Egypt desperately attempting to retain its hold on ancient religions and traditions in a rapidly changing world, to the hypocritical halls of the Roman Republic, the young queen weaves her web of seduction, ensnaring not only the cold, driven Julius Caesar but also a playful Marcus Antonius. Falconer's Cleopatra is vulnerable, intelligent and liberated, defined by her wit as much as by her beauty.

Precipice by Colin Forbes
Tweed, Paula Grey and Bob Newman stalk their most dangerous enemy yet. Leopold Brazil, dominant figure in the West, has a secret plan 'to change the balance of world power'. Philip Cardon and Eve Warner see the grim murders of General Sterndale and his son in Dorset. Eve is a strange personality, tearing at the emotions of Philip, still grief-stricken by his wife's death. Two more murders occur as Brazil visits his Dorset Mansion. And Tweed hears of a new deadly assassin, The Motorman.

The action sweeps to Geneva where Paula fights for her life. Tweed and his team fly to Zurich. There is war on the streets. Tweed struggles to uncover the secret of Brazil's global plan, to locate twenty key scientists - in communications and the information superhighway - who have disappeared. The Motorman strikes again.

The Not-So-Perfect Man by Valerie Frankel
Frieda Schast lost her husband, Gregg, to cancer over a year ago and hasn't been interested in dating -- until a sexy actor named Sam Hill walks into her life. Suddenly, she's swept up in a passionate liaison and loving every minute of it. She faces the disapproval of her older sister, Irene, a writer for a business magazine who would like to set Frieda up with her colleague David. Irene is frustrated with her husband, Peter, who needs to lose a good 40 pounds. Frieda's younger sister, Betty, is grappling with her own romantic problems; she's always been overweight and defensive, but when a sexy guy at work breaks through her barriers, she finds herself unexpectedly falling in love. Frieda is so caught up in romantic bliss that she barely notices her sisters' problems until Sam leaves town for an acting job and Frieda begins to wonder if she's fooling herself about their relationship after all.

Sacred Stone by Clive Cussler
Eric the Red's A.D. 1000 discovery of a radioactive meteorite has present-day life-or-death ramifications. Aboard the Oregon, a state-of-the-art warship disguised as a rusty tramp steamer and manned by some of the world's finest ex-military and intelligence operatives, the men and women of the Oregon - "mercenaries with a conscience" - known collectively as the Corporation, offer their services to various countries and individuals with specialized security and military needs. The Corporation's chairman, Juan Cabrillo, has several pressing concerns: supply security for the emir of Qatar, who is attending a conference in Iceland; track down a nuclear bomb that has gone astray and pick up the aforementioned meteorite, which has just been found ensconced in a mysterious shrine. These jobs become dangerously complicated when industrialist Halifax Hickman, a man fueled by revenge and hatred, enters the picture. The meteorite, the atomic bomb and a vial of plague are to be used in attacks on holy sites - Israel's Dome of the Rock and Saudi Arabia's al-Haram mosque - and at an Elton John concert. It's a deadly game, but the brilliant Cabrillo is a master player, moving his pieces at lightning speed on several boards until he outmaneuvers his opposition in this action-packed page-turner.

To My Dear Beloved Philippines and countrymen,

Allow me to share this editorial from the Manila Bulletin in celebration of our 109th Independence Day this June 12th.

Today marks the 109th year of the proclamation of Philippine independence, a day we can proudly tell the world that we have developed democracy and competence.

It is also the time for increased sense of civic-spiritedness and patriotism, love of country, and love for one's countrymen, which should be manifested by the participation of every Filipino in nation-building.

Filipinos have made their mark as an optimistic race, with a positive disposition despite difficulties and uncertainties. Thus, in spite of being confronted with crisis, the Filipinos would never be put down but would always find a way to resolve the problem.

This character of the Filipinos is reflected in our social institutions, from the family, to the Catholic Church and other religious congregations, to the increasingly inclusive and responsive political institution - the government.

Being independent also means being in charge of one's destiny, working endlessly for the common welfare, instead of blaming others for our lack of progress. We should work together in unity and harmony, set aside our past and resolve the differences through forgiveness and a resolution to think of our country before ourselves. This way we will be better off than we are and more humane in our dealings towards the greater Filipino community.

As we commemorate the 109th year of Philippine independence, let us work together for our country, our economy, and our society. Let us join hands as a unified people to move the country forward.

Itaas ang bandilang Pilipino! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Some people may tend to question if we really are free and independent from whatever form of bondage. Some will also make accusations, point a finger, rant about not being free from anything. There is only one thing I can say: Think and analyze before you speak of anything. Have you done an ounce of something to prove your point otherwise? Stop complaining and act.

Dear Me,

This is my first time to participate in this meme. Let me see how this one will work out.


Appetizer
What do you consider to be the ultimate snack food?
For me, it will always be anything potato. You know, french fries, potato chips & strips, potato balls - the best with a chosen dip for the day. =)

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), about how popular is your last name?
I think it will will be a 9 in my father's hometown in Pampanga. A 4-5 here in the metropolis.

Salad
Who is your all-time favorite sitcom character, and why?
That will be Mr. Bean. At first, I thought how hateful it would be to watch how people can be so dumb. But I was wrong. Mr. Bean gave me a tummy ache for too much laughing.

Main Course
Do you shop online? If so, name some sites you like to browse for goodies.
Yes, but not too often. I only shop for books and stuff, either at Amazon.com and Ebay.ph.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I think ___________ should be ___________.
I think I should be selling some hard-to-part stuff/things to friends to make space for other important things in our room.

Links to other Friday's Feast diners!
1. juzahlyn
2. tegdirb92
3. Kim

Dear Me,

Here's another Thursday Thirteen! Since I am due to give birth come October, I (hubby gave me full authority) am thinking of what beautiful names to call my baby. =)

Actually, I want two names for my baby. I just don't know which yet. *hmm* I prefer Russian or Spanish-sounding names. Please feel free to share your ideas. =)


Thirteen Names I'm Thinking Of -
For My Baby Boy (if it will be a boy)

1. Ivan
   
2. Anthony
   
3. Vaughn
   
4. Alex/Alexander
   
5. Yuri
   
6. Paolo
   
7. Dexter
   
8. Marcus
   
9. Erick
   
10. Bryce
    
11. Alejandro
    
12. Diego
    
13. Miguel

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Prudence
2.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Dear Me,

It had been a month since we got hitched. We had the civil rites last May 2nd. It seemed like yesterday.

Since I resigned a few days before that, I didn't pursue looking for a new job. So, I am definitely one of the many housewives out there right now.

If you're going to ask me how it's like being at home 24 hours a day, I can say that it is absolutely boring. Of course, I do the house chores but still, doing the same things, the routine, all over again (everyday) drive me insane.

But on the bright side, it gives me a certain type of gratification - I can do the things anytime I want. I don't have to follow a strict time code to do stuff. I can sleep (I do have siesta every afternoon) and eat anytime I desire.

My everyday schedule when hubby leaves the house:

1. tidy-up our room
   
2. sweep the floors of the entire house
   
3. wash the dishes
   
4. do the laundry with the aid of mr. washing machine
   
5. read a book while the laundry is on the roll
   
6. cook lunch for me and my father
   
7. log in to the world wide web (internet)
   
8. continue reading a book
   
9. siesta time (snooze)
   
10. wash the dishes from lunch
    
11. cook dinner
    
12. take a cold bath
    
13. wait for hubby
    
14. have QT together (watch episodes, chat)

Well, that's about it. From Monday to Friday, this is how my day goes.

Sometimes, I get so blue with all these that I tend to demand more time from him. Hehehe. =)

Anyway, I always look forward to the coming weekends because we can spend more time together. Like last weekend, we watched Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End, shopped for our monthly groceries at SM Tayuman, etc.

I need to log-out. Siesta time! =)

PS. still compiling photos from the wedding.