STREET FOOD: PART 3! =D

Fans of Som's who live in Mandaluyong, rejoice! =)

The much raved-over streetside Thai...uh...eatery, originally located in Rockwell Gilidge (haha) has opened a new branch along the Mandaluyong Rotunda, right in front of the munisipyo.

Just the other night, while driving on my way home after another (!) late night at work, I called up Hubby Sweet and asked if he has had dinner already. "Yup. Corned beef."

I wanted something to help me de-stress, and corned beef just was not it.

"Uh...you want to go to Som's?"

In a heartbeat. Haha! 'D

I was just looking for a tummy filler so I just ordered the standard Chicken Pandan and Bagoong Rice. I had really wanted to order the Green Chicken Curry and fried fish (I forget now what it's called) with steamed rice, but the Hubby had already eaten, so Chicken Pandan and Bagoong Rice it is! I figured, even if I don't finish it, I can just make it baon the following day. (For the record, I loved their Chicken Pandan, but I found their Bagoong Rice too rich. Good, but too rich for my taste.)





































Hubby Sweet took his turn ordering after me. He-Who-Claimed-to-Have-Had-Dinner-And-Would-Therefore-Only-Order-Pica-Pica went crazy!

Spring Rolls. OK....this one I ended up eating with him while waiting for my orders to come out. It was already past 9:00 p.m. and duling na ako sa gutom. Yum! ^_^ I especially loved the sweet chili sauce which suspiciously looked like it could set my tongue on fire, but it was surprisingly wonderfully sweet-sour-spicy. It seemed like it was made from scratch with fresh ingredients (then again, I could be wrong =)). In any case, it sooooo beats all the starchy commercially-produced local chili sauces they pass off at the supermarket shelves these days.



Next, Siomai. Siomai?! In a Thai restaurant?!

"No shrimps, Tweet. You can try them," the Hubby countered. I did not get too, but he seems to swear by it. Oh, well. Maybe next time. =)

I thought he was done. Surveying the laminated menu, he nodded and went, "Tweet, I think I also want to try the mixed noodles." NGYAH! This one I did try. (It looked too good for me not to try it. =)) It reminded me a lot about Pho Bac, except that it had peanuts. I think, this one, Father would love. =)

Unlike in the Rockwell branch, we did not have to wait in line for a table. It may have been the late hour, or it could be that not too many people know about Som's in Mandaluyong yet. Still, the Mandaluyong branch is much, MUCH (!) bigger than the one in Makati so that's a plus. The other great thing about all these is that we only paid P530 for everything we ordered. And since we ordered enough for 3-4 people, there was enough leftover for lunch, merienda AND dinner the following day! Hahaha! 'D

All in all, that's not a bad deal. =)

NESSUN DORMA / OCTOBER 8,2008

I've been a fan of Paul Potts ever since I viewed a You Tube upload of his first-round audition for Britain's Got Talent. Something about the sad-eyed-shabbily-dressed-crooked-toothed man instantly grabbed my heart. He looked every bit like the kid in school everyone loved to pick on. (True enough, in his semi-final interview, he mentioned that singing has always been his sanctuary everytime he gets bullied in school.) He looked every bit like a man from whom no one really expects much from. Even before he could open his mouth, I found myself already rooting for him.

"What are you going to do for us today, Paul?" they asked.

"I'm going to sing opera," he shyly answered.

Pierce looked to Amanda and Simon, his thoughts betrayed by the expression on his face. "Here we go again....just another loony thinking he could sing..."

Then he sang, his voice soaring with every note.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Even before the contest ended, I read somewhere that Simon Cowell already offered him a 2 million dollar (or was it pound?) contract. Quite a bit of money for the lowly car phone salesmane from Bristol. Last Christmas, Sister Pusjing and bro-in-law G-Genius gave Hubby Sweet a Paul Potts CD. It is one of his treasured gifts. Paul Potts is actually the only artist that the Hubby refuses to download from Torrentz. He respects the guy that much, and feels that after everything he's been through, he deserves to get every bit of penny he is entitled to. =)

Last Wednesday, Hubby Sweet and I--with Father, cousin Tiririt and fave-aunt Panet--found ourselves trooping to the PICC to see him in person. He's better dressed now, the shabby, ill-fitting coat had given way to a smart tuxedo. He's better groomed as well, his crooked teeth straightened (although I really think it's a temporary guard =)). But the familiar, unsure gait is still there as he ambled shyly towards the center microphone. Despite everything he's accomplished, his innate shyness is apparent. He's not yet suave, even fumbling through some of his spiels. At certain points, he looks like he still can't believe people would actually pay to see him. Yet, that exactly is where his charm lies. Paul Potts is still raw, yet his innate talent shines through, his voice fluid and easy.

True, Rachelle Gerodias--the Filipina Soprano who alternated with him and dueted with him--got the louder applause at all turns. She with the impeccable pitch and lungs powerful enough to sustain unbelievably long and ridiculously high notes. But she's a trained soprano. Paul Potts is self-taught. He learned opera from watching shows and listening to records. He will learn all the technical aspects (he did run out of air in one song) in due time. In the meantime, both Hubby Sweet and I appreciate the fact that we got to see him live--before he turns all suave and polished. After all, the Paul Potts we saw that night at the PICC is the same Paul Potts we fell in love with in our living room.

His final song of the night was both his audition and winning piece. I've always wondered what Nessun Dorma meant. Father had joked sometime during the evening that the largely Filipino audience applauded Rachelle more because she sang Filipino songs (Mutya ng Pasig, Sa Kabukiran, etc.), while most of Paul's songs required subtitles. Haha!

Nessun Dorma translates to "Nobody Shall Sleep" in English. As Paul narrated before he sang it, it was an aria from an opera about a princess who said she will only marry someone who can successfully do some challenge (I forget now what). Those who fail will have their heads cut off. When this guy finally succeeded, she did not want to marry him, but the King reminded her that she was the one who made the rules and should therefore abide by them. The guy gave her an out. If before daylight, she is able to tell him his name (which I presumed nobody knows), he would gladly let her cut off his head. Otherwise, she would have to marry him. Hearing this, the princess ordered everyone in the kingdom not to rest until someone can give her his name.

Nessun Dorma is the song sung, full of love and hope, before daylight. For Paul Potts, the ending says it all.

Nessun Dorma: the English Translation (from Classical Music, About.com)

Nobody shall sleep!
Nobody shall sleep!
Even you, oh Princess,
In your cold room,
Watch the stars
That tremble with love and with hope,
But my secret is hidden with me,
My name, no one shall know,
No! No!
On your mouth, I will tell it when the light shines.
And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!

(No one will know his name, and we must, alas, die.)

Vanish, o night!
Set, stars! Set, stars!
At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!

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Here's the link to my original post on Paul Potts: his audition episode on Britain's Got Talent. =)

ZOOBIC SAFARI / MAY 30,2008

Just to get it out the way, I hate the name. I know it's supposed to be witty and all, but still....

For the record, however, the only thing I didn't like about Zoobic Safari is its name. Everything else, I loved! =) Maybe the presence of kids in my life really changed me. The entire time I was walking around, I thought about how Patita, Ray*-B, Woooohhh Cousin GB and Kirstie would have loved the place. See, it's one thing to see camels and porcupines and reindeers in picture books, and another thing entirely to see the real thing. =)

The tour starts with an orientation of sorts, with tigers (healthy ones! =)) surrounding the area. Some are caged. Others tied up by heavy chains. All growling. Roaring. Yikes. =D

The first part is a walking tour. While some animals are enclosed in cages and/or fenced areas, others roam around freely. It is not uncommon to be walking side by side with several ducks, a regal looking goat and potbellied pigs.

















The walking tour goes through different "families" / types of animals, and in the rodent world, I finally saw some of those that I have only previously read about. =)

The Philippine Mouse Deer. Is it a mouse or a deer? It's a deer that looks like a mouse! Ack! Haha. I always knew "theoretically" that it was the smallest deer, but did not realize just how tiny it was. Its spindly legs looked like it could hardly keep its weight up. I was afraid they would crack. The mouse deer is no bigger than a big rock. =)

Other rodents of wonder include the porcupine, the squirrels, etc., etc. Pics follow:

One may choose to feed the animals. (Actually, I don't remember anymore if you can feed the ostrich. The camel, I'm fairly sure you can feed--as I picked up a sliver of grass for it to chew on. The ostrich, I'm fairly sure you CANNOT. Haha! =))













There are so many other animals at Zoobic, but I won't post all of them here. I do have two favorites. The first one is this goat (?) that just walks around and around, oblivious to all the people in the park. It just roams around criss-crossing the path of park visitors with nary a care in the world. =)

The second is the albino buffalo. When I first saw it, I actually squealed! For those of you who are actually old enough to remember the old Gusto Meatloaf cartoon commercial:

Bobby: Sige na, Becky. Sagutin mo na 'ko.
Becky: Ayaw ko sa'yo, Bobby...Baboy ka eh!
Product reveal: Gusto Meatloaf! May pinagsamang sarap ng pork and beef.....

Except that in Zoobic, ang anak ni Bobby at ni Becky, yung Albino Buffalo. Ang kalabaw na mukhang pig. Haha! =D

Further down the walking trail, one will eventually get to the Serpentarium, and maybe I was just lucky, but among all the reptile areas I've entered, in all the zoos I've ever gone to, in all the countries I have ever visited, it was only in Zoobic where I saw snakes that were awake and moving inside their glass cages. Since I don't like snakes (at all!), it made the dark area a bit more creepy. Still, I'm impressed that the snakes were....uh....alert. =D




















After the walking tour, all of us got herded into the tiger train that will take us to the Tiger Safari.


The Tiger Safari is an enclosed area where tigers roam free. Before entering the area, we had to transfer to an "enclosed jeep". When the Tiger Safari first opened, I've been told that they actually let live (yes, LIVE!) chickens hang out from the jeeps to entice the tigers to approach it. These days, for P200 extra per chicken, they now hang only dressed chickens--in deference to the animal rights activists. I remember my officemate Ed telling us about how, back then, his wife screamed in horror when the tiger pounced on the jeep and devoured the live chicken, while his four year old son watched, mesmerized. (Yes, boys will be boys. ;p)


These days, I think the tigers have already gotten used to the routine that they no longer pounce on the jeep. They just amble slowly towards it and eat the dressed chicken to the bone. (I suppose they have already learned that if they don't bite this time, another jeep will come along. =)). The guide advised us that the tigers are rotated so that they can alternately rest in the "Close Encounter" area (where they rest in cages) and exercise in the open Safari area. That said, it is still better to go in the morning. Habang di pa busog ang mga tigers. Haha! 'D

Way past the Tiger Safari is the Animal Muzooeum, but 'am not going to post pics anymore. I actually found it eerie and couldn't wait to get out of there. There is something creepy about walking through stuffed dead animals with bead eyes. Ack! Ngaaahh...=(

There is also a crocodile farm, and for P50, you can buy a dressed chicken to throw into the pit to watch the crocs fight over it. Uh...we did not. Haha. =) We were walking on top of the pit. Yes, I was actually standing on top of these crocs when I took the pics with my cell cam. That said, we did not exactly want to excite the darn crocodiles. Hahaha. =) (Then again, I just realized, dapat pala sa croc area na lang kami bumili ng dressed chicken. Mas mura. Haha! 'D)

Beyond the animals, though, Zoobic also has an area that "pays tribute" to the contribution of the Aetas to the region. One may walk right through the trees and shrubs to arrive at a mini-stage of sorts where some aetas perform their traditional dances. It's not a very long program, but it is interesting. (It even includes pole dancing, haha! =D) After the program, you may have your picture taken with the Aetas if you wish. Again, it's a good way to introduce the kids to our "ancient culture". If my Araling Panlipunan memory serves me right, they were the first Filipinos. Displaced by the Pinatubo eruption, some of the Aetas have since learned to adapt to life in the lowlands. It's good, I suppose, that through this, they are able to keep at least a part of their traditions alive. =)

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It took us half a day to complete the tour. P395 per person. Kids below 4 ft, P295. Kids below 3 ft, free. And if you buy tickets on the day you went for future visits, they will give you a 50% discount for it. I say this NOT because I think Zoobic is the kind of place you would want to go to over and over, but so, if ever you decide to go, and you actually know someone who will go there ahead of you, you can just ask them to buy tickets for you. Haha! =D

BTW, we took the SCTex instead of the old route to Subic. Much faster. No traffic. We got to Subic in no time! The Marketing Group left Shell (along NLEX) past 7:30 a.m. and got to Subic around 9:00 a.m.! Not bad. =D

The SCTex is past the Dau exit in case you decide to try it as well.

STOP & SMELL THE ROSES / SEPT. 30,2008 =)

Today, I woke up to a perfect, perfect start. The Hubby laid beside me, still asleep, lightly breathing down my neck as he hugged me. Buster J--who in the middle of the night asked to come up onto the bed--slowly got up from his sleep, stretched front, then back, before carefully ambling towards me on the other side and promptly rested his face in the crook of my arm. I laid still, eyes open, as Buster gently licked my face.

It was a scene straight out of a good-morning-milk-commercial-opening-frame.

Then, the blasted alarm clock rang. It was time to get up. Time to get ready.

I got to the office, and started my usual routine. I turned on my laptop and measured the number of coffee scoops I would be needing for the day. I entered my password and as my laptop was working itself up, I walked over to the water dispenser and filled my coffee carafe with cold water.

I got back in time to see my personal screen now up (perfect!) and clicked on the Outlook button for my office e-mail inbox, and clicked on the internet explorer button four times. As I was waiting for all five windows to go up, I poured the cold water onto the brewer and clicked on the coffeemaker's power button.

As my coffee was brewing, I checked on the internet explorer pages. On the first, I clicked on to activate my yahoo mail. On the second, I clicked onto the Inquirer website. On the third, I clicked onto the pep website. On the fourth, I clicked onto multiply. This would allow me to check the info on one site as I waited for the others to download. Later on, after going through the first four, I would run down my Favorites list and click on the others.

As I was waiting for all four sites to go up (and as my office inbox downloaded all the mails I need to read), I would place one teaspoon of brown sugar and one packet of creamer onto my cup.

Soon after I finished all these, the coffeemaker would finish its brewing, and the carafe would be filled with dark, aromatic liquid.

All these done in no more than 10 minutes. No time wasted. Woopee! =D

Then, I sat down, cup of coffee in hand. As I sipped, I activated the Inquirer website, ran down the headlines and found this.

Read.

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DO YOU HAVE THE HURRIED WOMAN SYNDROME?
By Margie David Collins
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:09:00 09/29/2008

MANILA, Philippines—In recent butt-clenching days, we have seen the humbling of masters of the universe on Wall Street, the deracination of venerable banking institutions, the transfer of unspeakable sums of money around the world to stave off financial Armageddon— all in warp-speed nanoseconds.“We should take a few days off and do nothing, try and make sense of it,” said a pinstriped colossus.The law of unintended consequences strikes again. The financial meltdown will reverberate for years, but has already ushered in a new age of austerity, freighted with anxiety about the way we live, our acquisitive lifestyles lived in fast-forward.

As we wrestle with these, we might find ourselves slowing down, connecting with others in ways we haven’t done, being kind and gentle. Even God, who created us in record time, rested on the seventh day.But we are what we are, it’s said, for on the eighth day, He lost interest and we have been running fast ever since.

Jet-Speed Lives

The think tank OTX found that typical urbanites cram into 24 hours what would have taken 31 hours to do a decade ago. Time-saving gadgets have given rise to multitasking: watching TV while surfing the net, e-mailing or texting friends and holding a conversation. And still we want more things to do, go faster: broadband, DVD players, IMs, e-mails, BlackBerry, iPhones, games consoles. Brain overloaded, you have to feel pixelated.

“Speed has become an addiction. Falling behind at work? Get a quicker Internet connection. No time for that novel you were given at Christmas? Learn to speed read. Diet not working? Try liposuction. Too busy to cook? Get a microwave. Trouble getting a date? Try speed-dating,” said Carl Honore, high priest of fast-growing Slow Movement, who has taken a stand against the cult of speed, to prove that slow is better.

“Our obsession with going fast and saving time leads to road rage, office rage. Thanks to speed, we live in the age of rage.”

Neuroscience studies suggest the human brain is not a great multitasking organ: To do a task well, it needs focus, not a pile-up of distractions. But with new, fast technology encroaching upon the quotidian, distraction has become a fact of life, part of the human condition.

Studies have found that many of us are suffering from continued partially interrupted state, an inability to focus, reflect and process tasks and information. Sucked into the vortex of speed and haste, we have also lost the ability to enjoy the simple things in life. We killed joy.

Heavy Cost

We have become wretched, burnt-out slaves to time. Our breakneck pace in a “roadrunner culture” is extorting a heavy human cost. Some turn to drink, others to drugs, food, work—addictions that anesthetize fracture and pain.

At 26 years old, Kamei Shuji died of karoshi—death by overwork. He worked 90-hour weeks during Japan’s stock market boom; when the market crashed, he put in even longer hours.

Women who try to do too many things at once—juggling work with hectic home life—complain of chronic stress, tiredness, weight gain, sleep problems, guilt, knackered self-esteem.They suffer, according to Dr. Brent Bost, from hurried woman syndrome. No guessing their offspring, pulled from one relentless activity to another, suffer from hurried child syndrome.

If you can scarf a burger lunch in under 10 minutes, nothing is sacred. A recent study shows that an average adult devotes half an hour a week to making love; one estimate puts 75 percent of men reaching climax within 2 minutes of penetration.Speed kills romance, relationships, your heart. Slow down.

In 1986, Carlo Petrini, a foodie from Bra in Italy, took umbrage when a McDonalds opened at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome. Pazza! In the land of dolce vita! He founded Slow Food to promote food that is cultivated, cooked and consumed at a civilized pace.

“Being slow means you control the rhythms of your life,” he said. Like-minded souls in hundreds of countries have heeded his call. Today we have similar movements—Take Back Your Time, Slow Travel, Slow Sex, Slow Cities—addressing time famine and poverty, and time sickness, which is the same thing as sickness of the soul.

“It’s not about doing things at a snail’s pace; it’s savoring the hours and minutes rather than counting them, doing everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible,” said Honore, who wrote “In Praise of Slow.”

Pleasures That Last

Andante—like two lovers’ first slow dance. Smelling the sweetness of flowers in the air after a cloudburst. The ecclesiastical glow of an evening, drinking the last of the summer wine. Listening to a tender hush, the peal of church bells, the beating of a tranquil heart. As the day departs, a hymn of thanks for pleasures that last. Standing still, watching Vermeer clouds float past the sky. Lingering. Doing nothing. In the here and now, not hurrying toward a fast-receding future.

“By going slow you might achieve less, but you will achieve better. So much of modern life is about getting the job done rather than doing it well,” said Satish Kumar, a former Jain monk.

No longer disconcerted that time is hurtling by without us, slow is resolutely gaining ground. Urban warriors seek work-life balance by reducing hours of work or working from home. Deleting unread e-mails. Leaving gaps of time in diaries. Downshifting from a life of hurry to a life of slow, connecting with people we love, rediscovering our place and meaning in the universe.Taking a gap year out of the treadmill to regain humor and perspective, far from clamorous company, madding crowds, the din of a thunderous clock. Away from the tyranny of “to-do” lists. Learning to say “no.” Taming brute nature with kindness. Soothing a bruised spirit with Zen. Breathing easy, living serenely.

“A poor life this, if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare,” wrote the poet WH Davies. So, let the hours fly. Unplug. Save yourself. Slow down.

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Quite ironically, after reading this, what exactly did I do? I opened up another window and started blogging. Ack!

MUST.

SLOW.

DOWN.

=(

CHECKLIST! / AS OF SEPTEMBER 22,2008

In June 2007, I posted this blog in my old, now inactive friendster blogsite. I thought it's about time I did some checking. You know, just to see how far I've gone--and just how far I would still need to go to get things done. =)

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TO-DO LIST

I’ve always had this philosophy about getting things done. If I want to make sure I WILL DO AS I SAID I WOULD, I tell other people about it. I know my ego enough to know that once I tell other people that I will achieve something by a certain time, my ego will not allow me to slack off lest I don’t deliver. Hahaha! It has worked well in the past. The other day, I was reading through my past blogs and was quite happy to note that everything seems to be on track, and that the only thing posted in a past list that was really delayed and generally left undone was the installation of the shelves in the kitchen cabinets. (For the record, it’s not because of any lack of effort on my part. It’s about not finding the right ones. Ack! Hahaha. =))

In any case, I figured, if I post this List-of-Things-to-Do-Before-the-Year-is-Over, I will find that by December 2007, I have accomplished all of them.

Here goes:

1. I want to be able to save enough money to pay for AT LEAST 50% of the cost of this townhouse in Loyola Heights that we’ve been eyeing. Blame it on Robert Kiyosaki. We want to start building our source of passive income. This townhouse will only be the first in the series of properties that we will acquire. I want to be able to at least acquire it by December this year.
2. I want to be able to get this business that I’ve been tinkering with in my head off the ground. I want to be able to complete the business plan by July. Do the soft launch / trial run by August. Use all of September for any adjustments and getting all the business registrations completed. Go full-blast by October. No, I don’t intend to resign while doing this. By December, I hope to have a clearer idea of the full potential of this business idea. I need to know if, push comes to shove, it could be successful enough to be called a decent Plan B–if and when I decide to leave the corporate world for a set-up where I have more control of my time.
3. I want to be accredited as a "contributing writer" for one of the magazines out there. I have always fancied being a writer. I just never pursued it because, well, because I know brand management pays more money. Hahaha! At this point in time though, I crave to be part of something creative. So there. I will send out samples of my work (do blogs count? hehe) in the vain hope that some editor will take notice. I am even willing to work for peanuts. Hahaha! At this point in time, I just want to be able to do something different and something totally unrelated to my line of work.
   

I’ll stop at three to keep the list manageable. I promise to post an update by January 1,2008. Hold me accountable if I don’t deliver. =)

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Hmmmmnnnnnn....This checklist is even more delayed than I thought! Haha! 'D

On #1....Hmmmmnnnn...'Got sidetracked. Totally forgot about Robert Kiyosaki and bought a bigger place instead. Haha! 'D Uh....does it count that after we move into House Royal next year, we will put House Pioneer up for rent? Haha! =D Sya, sya. I'm cheating, I know. =D The Kiyosaki Agenda will find its way back to the top of our list eventually. Right after we finish paying for the Royal (both in the figurative and literal sense) amortizations. Ack! *Sheepish grin...=D*

On #2....Hmmmmmnnnn....business plan.....business plan....uh....can business reviews and marketing plans count instead? ACK! Hopeless. Hopeless! Must really get back on track. Hmp. *Eyes rolling with tongue sticking out, followed by an exasperated BAH!...=/*

On #3....Hmmmmmnnnn....let me pose the question again.....uh......do blogs count? HAHAHAHAHAHA...hay....=(

I have quite obviously been remiss. Hmp! >:[

Must get going now.

*Deep, deep, sigh....=(*

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN!, PART 2 / SEPT. 18,2008 =D

A few weeks ago, K sent me photos that instantly had me waxing sentimental. Earlier, as I was browsing through the book on mini-schnauzers that Father bought, I found myself wondering (with a slight tinge of melancholy) just how Buster J looked like as a pup. I don’t have to wonder anymore! Yey! ^_^ (Thanks, K. =))

This is Buster J, at 3-1/2 weeks.

This is Buster J, at less than 2 months old.


This is Buster J, a few days after we got him from Chicopoms. (He is the one on the left. Haha! ;p) He was so tiny then, he can actually comfortably curl up on my lap and sleep during the trips from House Pioneer to House Better and vice-versa. So tiny, I could actually pick him up with one arm. So tiny, I didn’t mind having him sleep on my chest as I laid down on the sofa watching TV.


These days, I find that I now have to struggle every time I pick him up—even when I use both hands and one leg to prop him up. These days, he is already “tall enough” to see out the window so he never really sleeps during car rides anymore. These days, I find that I am barely able to breathe every time he climbs up on my chest to sleep. He’s quite heavy for his size—as most schnauzers are. He’s not fat. He is, as they say in the vernacular, siksik. =D Thing is, he seems to think that he is still tiny. So he still expects to be picked up every time he makes lambing. He still expects to sit on my lap—no matter how uncomfortable he is—during drives. He even looks at me quite accusingly (a mixture of irritation and wonder glinting in his eyes) every time I try to move him from my chest to my side before he falls asleep.

That’s because, these days, this is the face that greets us every time we walk through the front door. It is the face that bugs us every time our full attention is required. Meet Buster J at 7 months. Long-haired Buster J. (Because we’re still waiting for his “poodle-foot-fur” to grow back just a weeeeeeee bit longer. Haha! =D)


Just the other night, as I watched him with Ragdoll, I came to a surprising realization. I should stop buying Buster J puppy food. He is now a dog.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! =(

Hahaha. =P


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Who is Ragdoll?

Ragdoll is Buster J’s best friend.

NOT! =D

Ragdoll is actually MY bestfriend. Hehe. Ever since I got Ragdoll for Buster J, he has stopped pulling and ngawing on all the rugs and floor mats at home. Haha! =D Now, I just have to figure out a way to keep Buster J off Father's new cushions--which, quite coincidentally (and unfortunately), all look like big, plump, square cousins of Ragdoll. Ngyah. =D

THE STOCK MARKET / SEPTEMBER 18,2008 =D

Nope, this is not about the Lehman Brothers collapse that has resulted in major market downturns across the globe--which in turn has probably resulted in Bro I-gue hyperventilating to the wee hours of the morning. This is about the new restaurant on Bonifacio High Street, which was originally meant to be the lifestyle store of the pineapple and tomato company, but has since evolved into a Hamptons-inspired bunk.

THE STOCK MARKET. Now, only the pineapple remains. ;p (Thanks to Thelmy for the pic of the store exterior and interior. All other pics were taken from my cell camera. Haha. =)

This week is dry run week for employees (and their families and friends) with the primary intention of revving up the waiters and restaurant personnel in time for the public soft launch next week (rumor has it they will be giving a 20% discount whole of next week, but 'am not really sure).

Hubby Sweet and I tried out the menu for dinner last Monday with Buster J in tow so we had to sit outside. We were asked by The Boss and Jo-P to pretend to be demanding customers so the waiters can be trained to handle demanding patrons in the future. The Hubby and I, however, have made a promise never to be masungit to the waiters IN ANY RESTAURANT before the food is served, lest we end up eating more than we bargained for. Haha. =) So we ended up being demanding, but nice. Hehe. =D Quite coincidentally, BPI ended up calling me about reinstating my "invalid" internet password just as we were about to order. (Long, stupid story about how my password was rendered invalid when their website timed-out which resulted in me being blocked out just when I needed to double-check if the account had funds enough to support some post-dated checks I issued a few months ago. HMP! >:/) The blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-complete-with-raised-eyebrows-and-sharp-tongue discussion took a bit so that should probably count as test #1. (For the record, I was being masungit to BPI, not the waiter. Hehe.) While I was blabbering over the line, the Hubby noticed that Buster J was thirsty as hell so he asked the waiter if he can have a plastic cup that we can use as his makeshift dog dish. Waiter came out with a small, round plastic/disposable microwaveable dish filled to the brim with water. Complements of the house. Bravo! Haha! 'D

Jo-P soon arrived--probably to check on how things were going--and panicked when she saw us sitting outside. "You're not allowed to eat out! Go inside!" I countered, "Jo-P, I have my dog. Unless you're OK with me bringing him inside..." As it usually is with Jo-P, she had a 180 degree shift in temperament, looked at Buster J and went, "Well, hello there, little cutie!". Doing another 180-degree shift, she then turned to me before going inside, "OK. You can be practice na lang for all future customers who will eat outside because they have their pets with them." Hahaha! OK.... =D

Now, being on a serious-fish-only-during-weekdays-mode, Hubby Sweet ordered the healthiest dish on the menu: the Spice-Crusted Sea Bass. (The full recipe names are actually longer, but I can't remember them because they are kilometric. Haha! =D) According to the Hubby, the pricey fish was worth it. Buti na lang! =) Now, I am not a fan of Sea Bass. I think it's a little bland, but I'm plebian. I actually like Tilapia better. Haha! Still, I did try Hubby Sweet's dish just for the heck of it and found it to be light, but mildly tasty (because of the spice crust and the aioli lace). I also liked the bed of salad it was on; the dressing tasted peanut-y. The Hubby, overall, was satisfied. =)

Being a serious karne-vore (;p), I went for the Cobbler Pie "of cut-up steak, etc., etc.". (I only retained "cut-up steak". Haha!) It was highly recommended by officemates who decided to take their turn at the dry run earlier that day over lunch. It was good, but I suppose I really like my steak just grilled and juicy. The Cobbler Pie--as the name suggests--is actually a stew with the filo pastry creatively plated as triangle-shaped flaky bread instead of being used as topping to seal off a ramekin. Still, I wouldn't mind recommending it to others. It's serving size is actually big enough for two so if you share it with a friend, it will actually give you great value. =)

Hubby Sweet ate his meal with The Stockmarket Peach Soda. Very light and bubbly. Almost Shandy-ish. I like. =) Actually, I LOVE. =D I ate mine with a pick from the interesting Smoothie list. Pineapple-Lychee. I LIKE too. But I don't love. =D

We ended the meal with the Key Lime Pie which was good, but those who know my dessert preferences well (think Lola and friend Cheffy) would know that I like any lime- or lemon-based dessert to be REALLY tart, otherwise, what's the point? That said, however, I think The Stock Market's Key Lime Pie would be perfect for most who like their desserts sweet with only the slightest hint of tartness. For the record, I did like how the the crusty, sugar-laced lime rind blends with softness of the cream and pie. =)

Yesterday, The Boss asked the entire Fruit Team to eat at the restaurant for another round of dish trials, and I have come to the conclusion that there are sooooo many other dishes at The Stock Market that are much better than the dishes Hubby Sweet and I tried.

My new favorites from yesterday's food tasting: the Fancy Cheese Pizza and the Lamb Steak with Banana-Berry Smoothie. (Wine is also available on the menu, but I don't drink so....) The Chicken-Pesto Grilled Sandwich was great too. =)

By next week, I've been told that they would already have available the "famous" Porterhouse Steak from The Lodge @ the pineapple plantation high-up in the fertile plateaus of Bukidnon. ;p Those who have been lucky enough to have tried the steaks there would know that they are bigger than plates and juicy-marbled enough to send you to steak heaven. I can't wait! So, yes, I suppose, there are reasons enough for us to go back. =D

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Congratulations to Jo-P and The Boss for the birth of their baby (finally! =D) The Stock Market is on B1/B3 Bonifacio High Street. It's right next to Friday's.

I've been told that it opens to the public on soft-launch basis next week. It goes full blast on the 1st week of October.

Call 8566300 or 8566301 for details and reservations. =)