IT'S PARLOR TIME! / JULY 30,2008 =D

At the risk of this adventure blog turning into a live journal on Buster J, I’m going to write about this particular bit anyway! After almost 5 weeks of being with us, Buster J has turned from a smart and spritely mini-schnauzer into an adorable, cuddly….uh….mutt. Hahaha! You’d have to wade through tons of facial hair to get a glimpse of his puppy-dog eyes. His cropped cut has given way to a wave of curls.

“Tweet,” the Hubby said one morning, “Buster is starting to look like you.” BWISET! Hahaha! He was, of course, referring to the hair. (Or at least, he better be referring to the hair. Hmp. >:p)

And so it goes that after office hours two Thursdays ago, the Hubby & I decided to bring Buster to Pet Scan @ Tiendesitas for his first ever grooming session under our wings. At P550 per dog, I thought, man, mas mahal pa yung haircut and pedicure niya! Hahaha. =) But just as most moms spend more to bring their kids to the mall parlor with the fancy car seats instead of dropping by the neighborhood parlorista who would’ve charged only P40 (with shampoo and blow-dry na), we did not even think twice about shelling out the equivalent of a few day’s lunch money for our pup’s grooming needs. Ngyah. =)

The instructions given to the groomer were pretty routine—mini-schnauzer cut, Kuya--with the only major discussion point (between the Hubby and me) being about whether we should have Buster’s foot fur cropped. I did NOT want to do it. He’s a mini-schnauzer for goodness sakes; he should have fur on his feet! I told the groomer to just make sure that the fur between his paws were trimmed and that his foot fur did not extend too much to the ground.

The Hubby protested; he wanted it cropped. I suppose since he usually walks Buster, he’s the one who keeps getting irritated every time Buster J’s fur gets wet as he pees. I tried to stand my ground. The Hubby was adamant. In the end, I gave in. The discussion in front of the pet groomer was getting ridiculous. “The only way he will see the folly in his ways is to actually let him get what he wants,” I thought, seething.

“I-poo-poodle cut ko po yung paa?” the groomer clarified.

“Kuya! Wag yung naka-shave pati yung legs ha!” I blurted out, horrified by the idea of a Buster J with poodle legs.

“Di po, Ma’am,” he reassured me, “Yung sa paa lang.”

The Hubby gave a definitive YES!

We stayed with Buster J for a while and watched him go from all scraggly to cleaned-up, the entire time reassuring him (through a glass window) that things are going to be OK. When we felt Buster settle down, we decided to steal a bit of time to get a quick dinner over at the Savory Chicken House at the SM Supercenter right beside Tiendesitas.

Now I’ve always heard about the “oldies” speak about Savory Chicken with reverence. Father, in particular, would sometimes wax nostalgic over having lunch at Savory when he was younger and still worked in the vicinity of Ermita (it was the Central Business District back then). The Hubby, on the other hand, seemed to have a real recollection of actually savoring Savory Chicken when he was young. I had no such recollection, so I eagerly trooped along with him.

We both went for the combo meal. Quarter chicken, salt & pepper spareribs, rice, one sliver of banana fritters, two small turon pieces + a glass of drink. At P195 per plate, it was not exactly cheap, but what the heck! The food arrived. Forget the rest of the food. None of them were spectacular. If I were to go back a second time, I’d just go for the chicken. I’d pay for nothing more than the chicken. In my mind, only the chicken would give me my money’s worth.

It may not look like much in the pic, but the chicken was crunchy and perfectly seasoned. Not too salty, it was flavored with some unique spice I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It actually did not taste like fried chicken to me, and reminded me more of the fried pigeons I used to savor at the Macau Pigeon House in Rockwell before the restaurant sadly folded up. Savory Chicken was the type you would dream about going back for over and over. The “oldies” were right. =)

The Hubby decided he also wanted to have it for baon the next day, and ordered A WHOLE CHICKEN for take-out. P320. Still not cheap. We just hoped it would still taste as good the following day. I suspected that it will not taste as good without the crunchy skin. Sadly, I was right. After a night’s stay in the ref, the Savory Chicken was no longer as…uh…savory. =(

We were done with dinner in no time, and trooped back to Tiendesitas to find our Buster J being bathed, then blow-dried (which, from experience I know he totally, TOTALLY hates!).

He couldn’t contain his excitement when we finally went through the door to pick him up (the entire time, we were watching him through the glass window on the other side). Hubby Sweet took one look at him and said, “Uh…...Tweet......uh, hahaba naman yung hair niya sa paa, di ba?" ACK! Hmp. >:/ I wanted to bonk him, but decided to just laugh. “Mukhang weird kase. Nakakatakot. Parang di dapat kalbo yung feet niya,” he continued.

"Of course!" I thought, but resisted the need to say I told you so.

In any case, I suppose it will all grow back over the next four to five weeks. At least, I HOPE IT DOES. Hay. =)

Anyway!

Here’s Buster J with his new haircut. Please try to ignore his chicken feet. Hahaha! ‘D

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Buster slept soundly that night. I think maybe he may have been stressed by the entire thing. =( In any case, as soon as he entered the unit, he practically plopped down on the pillows we had laid out on our mats for watching TV in the sala.

“Huy, tabi dyan. Higaan ko yan eh!” Hubby Sweet kidded as he gently tried to move him, but our pup just wouldn’t budge. =)

“Huy, amo mo ko no!” the Hubby repeated, chuckling. =) No reply.

After that incident, the Hubby stopped calling him Buster, and has since referred to him by his new designation: Master. Meet Master Johnson. Hahaha! ‘D

A HOMEY CELEBRATION / JULY 15,2008 =)

In direct contrast to the big-budget, action-packed (from wake/knee-boarding, silly!) anniversary out-of-town trip last year that saw Hubby Sweet and I celebrating our 1st with a run in Lago and with a weekend stay at The Boutique, this year’s anniversary was spent more quietly.

That’s partly due to the fact that a big chunk of the anniversary budget went to the acquisition of Buster J, who has single-handedly made House Pioneer an even greater joy to come home to—despite the occasional poop & pee accidents, and the occasional sleepless periods resulting from him nudging the Hubby and me in the middle of the night to (horrors!) play.

“No more playing, Buster. Time to sleep,” I would mumble, barely awake as I roll him on his back and lull him (!) to sleep with a tummy rub. On occasion, the Hubby and I would be sleeping soundly in a tight embrace, only to be disturbed by a hairy face gently nestling itself on my neck (which would then mean having Hubby Sweet go nose to nose with a mini-Schnauzer, hahaha). It’s Buster Johnson wanting to join the midnight group hug. Suskupo! Hay….=D

Yes, the Hubby can even now officially use the excuse “the dog ate my….” without necessarily lying, after he accidentally left some important business docs by the printer before stepping out, only to find half of it gnawed up to smithereens along with the newspapers that we usually lay out for Buster J’s “comfort needs”. Yes, Buster J has turned House Pioneer upside-down and, for some strange reason, we’re…uh…happy about it. Haha. =D

Now, I had originally wanted to at least take the day off, but the crazy sched in the office made it impossible for me to do so. I had an FGD scheduled at 7:00 a.m., which I decided to skip and delegate in favor of a whole-day meeting with the Marketing Leadership Team and The Boss. And so it goes that Hubby Sweet and I just made arrangements to go with a quiet dinner somewhere we’ve never been to before. Plans to try 22 Prime @ the Discovery Suites were immediately scrapped in light of the MLT meeting and the “fearless forecast” that it would end no earlier than 7:00 p.m. With Serendra just two blocks away, we decided it was the perfect time to try Mamou’s Kitchen.

I have heard only good things about Mamou’s Kitchen. I also heard that they’re into “home-cooking”. It’s just that, I suppose, this type of home-cooking is only usually done in the hallowed halls of society’s upper echelons. Haha! I had mistakenly retained that “Mamou” refers to some elderly tita of the Aranetas, and that the menu served in the restaurant are meals usually served in the the Araneta Center Bahay na Bato (or is it Puti?). Basta, the ancestral home of the Aranetas, the Fores and the Roxases! Being the closet social-climber that I am (haha), that particular bit of trivia intrigued me. =)

The Hubby picked me up at 7:30 p.m. on the dot. Our reservation was for the 8:30 “second serving”. I opened the passenger door to find a huge bouquet of pink carnations, roses, mums and green flowers (I don’t know what they’re called) on a bed of tiny white ones. Love, love, LOVE (!) these kinds of arrangements. I prefer them to the all-rose bouquets. (Oh, but I think I already mentioned that before. =)) It’s just that they seem more fresh. More original. Less ostentatious. =)

We got to Mamou’s Kitchen in time to find some of the smaller tables free, despite the fact that we were about 40 minutes early. Yey! =) Imagine my surprise though to find out that Mamou is sooooo NOT an ancient tita, but a young, 30-something Malou Fores! (Yes, sister-in-law to the Gaita. =)) According to one of the articles posted on the wall, Mamou was apparently a name her nephew used to call her; for some strange reason, he can’t say Malou. Mamou stuck, and the rest, as they say, is history. (Hmmmmnnnn…..now, imagine if I had been culinary proficient! I could open a restaurant named Nangnang or Tita Toy. Haha! Uh…I think not. =))

As with all restaurants in Serendra, Mamou’s Kitchen is practically just a cozy nook that can sit no more than 50 people at a time. It’s both chic and homey with the dark wood and red leather upholstery blending well with the stainless steel counters, the wine bottles, the colorful glass vases and the upright chiller filled with steaks right in the middle of the dining area. I also liked that their tables and chairs were lower than the standard height—instantly raising the uniqueness level a notch higher. (I liked them, of course, because I’m petite. However, since the Hubby, who is 5’10” and all, did not complain, I suppose I can safely assume that it is not an issue with tall people as well. =))

Malou was there when we went. I’ve been told she is actually always there, supervising the kitchen, doing the cooking, running around serving dishes and chatting with the guests—as she would, I suppose, in her own home. The staff was very efficient and friendly. They were also very knowledgeable about the dishes, quickly answering our questions (or quickly running to the kitchen for the correct answers in case they didn’t know.)

Mamou is eager to please. The Hubby and I, for e.g., decided that we wanted to try both the Steak AND the Roast Pork & Chicken—the dishes that Mamou’s Kitchen is most known for. Instead of ordering the “sharing steak” size, therefore, we decided to just go with the single steak size (400g, around 14oz?), which when you think about it is really good enough for two. The steak goes with two sidings, and we decided to pair it with corn pudding and creamy spinach. Thing is, I like my steak medium-rare; the Hubby likes his medium-well. We asked if it was possible to cut the steak in half, and cook each half according to our very different preferences. After checking, the waiter came back and affirmed that, yes, it can be done. Yey! =) Soon after, however, Malou came out of the kitchen and I instantly went into panic mode, thinking that, “Oh, no! She’s going to tell me that cutting the steak up is a sacrilege and that it just ain’t done in the homes of the upper crust!” (Yes,I am prone to over-imagination, hahaha) Malou, however, simply went out to explain that she will not be cutting up the steak because “it’s sayang” so what she will do is cook it first to medium rare, then return the other portion until it is medium-well, etc., etc.. I did not understand much how she was going to do it. I suppose I was just happy that we will be getting what we want without having to sacrifice--as she put it--“the quality” of the steak. =D

Our drinks were served soon after we ordered--in practically no time at all. Watermelon Shake for me. Dalandan Crush for the Hubby. (No, the Hubby and I are NOT wine-drinkers. =)) Taking the first sip from each of our chosen bevs was particularly refreshing. Maybe it was the homey feel despite the obvious air of opulence. Maybe it was the the natural sweet taste of a cool drink after a long and hectic day at work. Maybe it was me and the Hubby out on a "real and proper date" for the first time in, uh, months. Haha. =) The drinks were definitely a good start.

Freshly-baked dinner rolls were served next. There was an option for those who prefer white rolls, as well as for those who prefer whole wheat rolls. Regardless of type, they were all very soft, chewy and warm. At first bite, I’m pretty sure I died and went to bread heaven. The rolls were—to borrow a line from an iconic ad campaign--“Uhmmm…Uhmmm….Good!" (^_^). They were, hands-down, the best dinner rolls I have ever tasted in my life! The Hubby and I finished them off in no time. On her way back to the Kitchen, Malou asked if we would like some more. How I wish I could have said, “YES!”, but I really wanted to leave room for the rest of the meal so I sadly declined. =(

In addition to the main dishes, the Hubby wanted something to warm his tummy. It was, after all, a rainy day. =) He decided to go with a half-order of Oriental Noodle Soup. (I wonder though what they use as reference for the serving sizes as this "half-serving" is actually big enough for the Hubby and me. =)) 'Am not entirely sure what the origin of the recipe was, but I'm guessing Vietnamese judging fromt the rice noodles and the little green stalks that give off a nutty-peppery taste, but I could be wrong because the soup was actually a bit spicy-sour (similar to Tom Yum). While it was good--especially after we added the Chili Sauce that Malou recommended--I suppose I was just not in the mood for soup, so I was not too hot about it. I wanted the meat. The steak. The beef! =D

The main dishes came soon enough and were served after Hubby Sweet finished off his soup. The Steak came first. Wonderfully marbled, perfectly charred, lying in a bed of olive oil and steak drippings. Half was bright red (my portion), while the other was amazingly medium-well. With it came the corn pudding and the creamy spinach. It took all of the Hubby's willpower NOT to devour the steak as I took pictures for the blog. Hahaha. =D

The Roasted Chicken & Pork were actually served almost at the same time, but I'd rather savor the steak first. It was juicy, cooked perfectly. It was the kind that can make you go, "Yes, this is sooooooooo worth it." =) The sidings were OK, but I'd have to be honest about the fact that the next time we go to Mamou's Kitchen, we'd probably order a different set entirely. The corn pudding was good, but it was too sweet to go with the steak. (It was almost like dessert!) The creamy spinach, while good, was also to...uh...creamy for my taste. I needed something to balance and complement the "richness" of the beef, and the sidings we chose were not exactly right for my purpose. That said, I decided to forego the sidings, and chose to eat the steak instead with the red rice and black beans that were served with the Roasted Chicken and Pork.

Ah, yes...the Roasted Chicken and Pork. Citrusy, herby. I can't exactly put my finger on what they put in the marinade to make it taste that good, but yes, it was absolutely divine. One can actually choose to get an all pork or all chicken platter. The Hubby and I unanimously decided that the next time we go, we'd go for the all-pork version. While the chicken was good, the pork is just sooooooo much better. Now, the entire plate did not make for a a pretty picture. I mean, it was a hodge-podge of chicken, pork and a mountain of red rice topped with sweet onions, cinnamon-caramel crusted banana fritters and black beans. It had a definite Cuban influence. Notwithstanding the absence of any hoity-toity foodstyling, there should be no argument here. The Roast Chicken & Pork is a winner! At P395, it was also relatively "budget-friendly". Soooooooooooo good. Sooooooooooo worth it. =)

Now, we had wanted to go for the whole shebang complete with the dessert, but we could not even finish the dishes we ordered. 'Am not sure if we ate too quickly or if we're now used to smaller portions given our new resolve to eat healthier or if the servings looked deceptively manageable until the combination of the different food settled in our stomachs. Before we could finish everything, both the Hubby and I were ready to burst at the seams. (Me more than him, haha...hay....=)) We would therefore have to go back to Mamou's Kitchen another day so that the Hubby can taste the heavenly Pecan Pie (which I had had the good fortune of earlier tasting with The Boss and the MLT), and so I can satisfy my curiousity regarding MK's much-talked-about-and-raved-about Key Lime Pie. =)

So there! A relatively low-key second anniversary celebration. =) The best part is coming home to an enthusiastic Buster J who couldn't stop running to and fro, bouncing up and down in obvious glee that the Hubby and I were home. Yey! =) I tried to get a picture of him with the flowers and the Mamou doggy bag for posterity, but it was all for naught. I couldn't get him to sit still long enough. Hay! Yes, yes. I suppose, he'd really rather get up and smell the flowers. Haha! 'D

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If you want to try out Mamou's Kitchen, it would be best to reserve your seats before you go. For dinner, they have "two seatings". The first is from 6:30-8:20 p.m.; the second is from 8:30-closing time. I don't know what the seating scheds are for lunch.

Call 8563569 or 0917-8162668 for reservations. =)

THE TALE OF THE FISH & THE GOAT / JULY 15,2008 =D

The Hubby once sent me this. He thought it was perfect. That it pretty much summed up who we were (are!) as a couple.

I am a goat. He is a fish.

Fireworks! Hahaha! 'D

I read through it and realized, man, I couldn't agree more! =)

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Romantic Compatibility Provided by: Astrology.com

PISCES & CAPRICORN

When Capricorn and Pisces join together in a love match, on the surface, it may appear to be opposites attracting. Capricorn is down-to-earth and regimented, with a very strong work ethic, while Pisces tends to be more emotional and dreamy, and takes on the needs of those around them. This couple is honest, and can be devoted to one another. They admire one another: Capricorn appreciates Pisces's kind nature, and Pisces is drawn in by Capricorn's quick wit and tenacity.

This relationship may develop slowly, the two not necessarily recognizing its progression. But it will get stronger over time. The Capricorn-Pisces duo can really put their heads together and can be fulfilled by their partner. Difficulties can arise if Capricorn is too dominating for Pisces's sensitive side. Pisces needs to understand that this is Capricorn's style and not a personal attack. Pisces might not take too well to Capricorn's stubbornness, but can deal with it through patience and understanding. Pisces enjoys indulging Capricorn through their desire for domestic bliss, which combines well with Capricorn's need for a neat, tidy home and material goods.

Capricorn is ruled by Saturn and Pisces is ruled by a combination of Jupiter and Neptune. Saturn is the planet of dedication, authority and responsibility. Higher learning, ethics and standards are ruled by Jupiter, while Neptune influences Pisces's view of dreams and illusions. These three Planets complement one another because they have a good sense of compassionate justice and dedication.

Capricorn is an Earth Sign and Pisces is a Water Sign. Earth Signs are about possessions, and the Capricorn-Pisces partners like to surround themselves with material objects that show off their sophistication. The Water Sign relies on emotion and intuition, making the Pisces the fueling force behind the relationship, but in a passive way. Shared love of a comfortable, yet fancy, home life ensures that this couple will aspire to a higher ground.

Capricorn is a Cardinal Sign and Pisces is a Mutable Sign. While Capricorn tends to focus on one project at a time, Pisces floats from one thing to another as the feeling strikes them. Because of their flexibility, Pisces may become interested in Capricorn's projects. In turn, Capricorn needs to allow Pisces to enjoy many things at once and not take it personally when Pisces gets bored with something that Capricorn is focused on. Capricorn will stick with Pisces's pursuits even after they've moved on to something else. In return, Pisces can sometimes show Capricorn that flexibility is better than a strong determination to do things a specific way.

What's the best aspect of the Capricorn-Pisces relationship? It's their unique blend of temperaments. Both partners enjoy sharing their lives with someone else, and both like to help the other achieve their goals. Their difference in temperaments makes theirs a highly compatible relationship.

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Happy 2nd anniversary, Sweetie!

Here's to many, many more to come! =)

I love you always,

T =)

THE SWEETEST THINGS =D

I'm reverting back to a food post. Some of my avid blog fans (actually, only one, haha) have been wondering why I have not written about food in quite a while.

Today I will. As some sort of valedictory address. Haha! My OB told me I'd have to work with her. I have to lose 10-11 lbs. (Yes, Marts. The T&T personal Marinduque pics I posted recently are old. Hahaha! 'D) So, I will. I have joined The Hubby in eating nothing but steamed or oven-baked fish and brown rice during weekdays. I also bought new running shoes earlier this week because the soles of my old rubber shoes hilariously turned to powder as I did the running rounds with Hubby Sweet at Boni High last week. HAHAHA!!! 'D

So, anyway! Today, I say good-bye to some of the sweetest things I've ever come across. (These have actually been milling about in my blog photo sub-folder, and thought this would be the perfect time to mark them off as "done". =))

SWEET SURRENDER / The Sweet Life by Ange, SanLo Village. I have previously raved about this sweet dessert (click here if you want to backtrack). It has become the cake present of choice for the Hubby and me. Translation: everytime we feel we need to bring something to a get-together, we take a side trip to SanLo to get one. =) Sadly, these days, my slice has to be significantly reduced. Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!

So, goodbye fluffy merengue!

Goodbye, yummy yema!

Goodbye, mantecado ice cream!

Goodbye, graham crust!

I would sadly need to give you all up for now. =(

COLD ROCK / The Fort Strip, Greenbelt 3. The Hubby and I scream for ice cream. If we could, every meal out would be capped with a scoop (or two) of delicious, frozen cream. If we're in Rockwell, we automatically end up walking around after dinner with a cup of FIC pistachio ice cream. If we're "budget-mealing" (haha) @ Market, Market, we always end up with an ube and queso cup from Mamang Iskoopero (yes, the one owned by Tintin Bersola and Julisus Babao). Still, when we're in a splurging mood (or if we're particularly stressed, haha), meals @ Hossein's will always be followed by a trip to the shop next door. COLD ROCK. Never mind that a KIDDIE cup keeps setting us back P160.00 to P190.00 (pre-price increase) PER PERSON. Ack! Never mind. It's all worth it. =)

The Hubby usually just lets me pick his mix. He does not want to be bothered with having to work through a million and one possible permutations. After a disastrous first-ever combination c/o the then 2-year old Patita (blue bubblegum ice cream with M&Ms, gummy bears, and marshmallows), I have since learned that (1) frozen marshmallow and gummy bears don't taste good (haha), and (2) that I should learn to trust in the following mix instead:

FOR T&T - peanut butter ice cream, fudge brownie, COOKIE DOUGH.

FOR HUBBY SWEET - banana cream pie ice cream, Reese's peanut butter cups, COOKIE DOUGH.

Anything with cookie dough, I suppose, will be good. Haha!

I tried the cheesecake & boysenberry combination once. It's actually pretty unique AND good, and it is a combination I would also readily recommend to anyone. Still, everytime I try a new combination, I only find myself wishing for my peanut-butter-fudge-brownie-cookie-dough-combo. No more. No more. I must give Cold Rock up.

With the nearest outlet only a block away from the office, however, may the Good Lord above and everyone else in heaven help me. Ack! =(

PASTILLAS DE LECHE / Iya Guingona, Market Market. Out of curiousity I bought these during one of those Baker's Fairs @ Rockwell. I've been told they're also sold in one of the fruit stands in Market, Market, although I admittedly don't know which one. Now, I love pastillas, and the fact that these are gigantic make them even more special. The unique selling proposition aside from the size, I've been told, is that they're made with carabao's milk. I don't know how true that is, but I'm inclined to believe (yes, I'm a fool for these things, haha). The thought of carabao's milk instantly takes me back to my childhood. Back then, Mother used to buy from this elderly lady who would occasionally pass by House Better to peddle carabao's milk in softdrink bottles sealed with rolled-up-banana-leaf "corks". Mother used to buy it for Noni (my fave grandma) who, back then, still lived in House Makati. House Better was still practically provincial then; House Makati no longer was. In any case...I once again digressed. Ngyah. =)

Back to the topic at hand! P250 per box (which, BTW, is sooooooooo much better and cuter than the generic carton boxes of the traditional pastillas, don't you think? =)). At 24 pieces per box, that roughly comes up to a little more than P10 per piece. Is it worth it? Pwede nang pang-Christmas gift. Hahaha! 'D I know, I wouldn't mind receiving one. Hopefully, by the time Christmas comes around, I would have lost enough pounds to sneak in a few bites. Haha! =D

DULCELIN MANGO TORTE / Food Court - Market, Market (Sandwiched between Marina and the fruit stands). I've been in love with Mango Torte for most of my adult years, and to this day I have to say that, in my opinion, the Cuerva version is still tops. I just hate the fact that you have to pre-order (when they were still in SanLo) or that they decided to place their "to-go bakeshop" at the Petron Station outside the Dasma Gate (which would require me to drive through EDSA, take a U-turn somewhere and drive back). Since I am a modern woman (naks, haha!) who places convenience among my top 3 purchase drivers (the other 2 being taste and value-for-money), I have since fixed my mango torte cravings by trooping to the Dulcelin Booth in Market, Market instead (no more than 3 blocks away from the office =)).

The other good thing about Dulcelin @ Market 2x is that you don't have to pre-order the Mango Torte. You can go anytime and a box of frozen, yummy, sinful mango torte will be made available for you. At P900 per box, some will consider it pricey though. Still, you have to tell yourself this is not some run-of-the-mill sponge cake you can get from Red Ribbon or Goldilocks. It has a nutty-graham-butter base, a gigantic-plateful-worth of mango balls, and, yes, enough whipped cream to block one of your arteries. Despite the fact that it is deceptively light to eat, it is definitely not one for the faint-hearted. No matter how tempting it is, one must also learn NOT to think that Sweetened-Mango-Balls = Fruit = Healthy, and that Cream-&-Butter = Dairy = Calcium, and therefore good for me. Haha! 'D

There are others, of course, among them Mrs. Yulo's Strawberry Shortcake and her Turtle Pie. I don't have pics because everytime I get them as gifts, I get too excited, I automatically devour them without taking pics. Hahaha! Patay. =)

So, sya! Goodbye muna sa kanilang lahat!

I gotta go and work now (and work-out later).

Happy weekend, everyone! =D

HIS NAME IS BUSTER JOHNSON! / JUNE 25,2008 =D

With our second anniversary coming up in about three weeks, Hubby Sweet and I had to decide on what we were going to do for Anniversary Year 2.

Should we take another trip somewhere?

With us having bought a bigger, more family-sized unit recently (which will only be available in October next year), and with the Baby Project hanging over our heads, however, we knew that all plans for an out-of-the-country trip would have to be deferred. (Goodbye, Beijing Olympics! Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!).

It would be pretty tough, however, to top the recent butanding experience with another local trip so I thought we'd give travel a rest (FOR NOW =)).

"We should get a dog," I texted the hubby, off the top of my head, "A small one so he won't feel cramped inside the unit."

"Let's name him Johnson," he replied. Haha! 'D (Family joke. Long story. =))

We did not even have a discussion about whether we should get one or not. The Hubby has been bugging me for a dog since last year when they started allowing pets in House Pioneer. (Prior to this, his first ever Christmas gift to me would have been a beagle. At that time, we weren't even BF/GF yet and he did not know that pets were not allowed at my place. Before he could deliver it to me, his best friend Riki, who lived in the other tower, told him that I will not be allowed to keep it. And so it came to past that on that year, Then-Suitor-Pa-Lang-Sweet went home to his provincial ancestral home with beagle in tow--now repositioned as a Christmas gift to his parents. Haha! 'D)


Discussion #1: I wanted a small dog. Hubby Sweet kept telling me to look at pictures of Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Labradors and, goodness, French Mastiffs! "They're friendly," he said. "Yes," I countered, "They're also bigger than our house."

Discussion #2: I wanted a small dog. Maybe a shih tzu or a pekingese. I grew up with 2 pekingeses who believed they had the same birth right as I did in House Better. Haha! Being royal dogs, pekingeses can be spoiled brats, but they can also be adorable-to-the-max. When Benji and Sugar died (not at the same time of course), we all found ourselves in extreme mourning. Having a pet die in House Better is like having a real member of the family pass away. (There is actually a corner in the garden that we used to call the "Sacred Ground". Every November 1, as kids, we also lit candles for all our dogs who passed away. Haha! 'D) In High School, my friends and classmates would actually laugh because in the middle of class, tears would start streaming down my cheeks. "What's wrong?" they would ask. "Namatay aso ko," I would reply, at which point, they would all guffaw. They just didn't get it.


After Benji and Sugar died, Mother decided she wanted a shih tzu. Her name was Princess and she gave birth to Pattie, Scud, Patriot and Pancho. (They were born during the Gulf war, =)). Pattie got traded off for Trendy (who also answers to Friendly or any other name that ends in "y", haha!). Pattie was a Princess black-&-white carbon-copy; Trendy was brown and white like her mom--who belonged to the same breeder as Pattie's dad. Mother intended to sell off the pups, but only managed to sell one. In the end, she decided she couldn't sell the rest. She loved them too much. Scud was "given as a gift" to my cousin J (who was Mother's inaanak). Pancho was "sold" to our next door neighbors in House Loyola (where I stayed during my college years). They begged (!) to have him, even mounting a "party" on the day we gave Pancho to them. A few months later saw me asking Ate Inday to bring P10,000 back to our neighbors in exchange for getting Pancho back. The novelty of a new pup has gone, and they were not treating him right, and if they will not hold their end of the bargain to treat him like family, they can shove their money up their stupid, mean @*#. Lech. >:\ They accepted the money; we got our dog back. By that time, Pancho had turned from a sweet, adorable pup into a broken, angry, bitter dog. It took some time before we could "heal" the anger out of him. Weeks and months of nurturing eventually made him believe he can "trust" people again. He actually reverted back to his sweet nature, but you just know he was never really the same. To the very end, he was sweet only to us, but no longer to those he considered as non-family or strangers. Hay.... =(

In between the pekingeses and the shih tzus were the mongrels (among them JInky! =)), a japanese spitz (Snowball, of course! haha) and Buttons (who was part shih tzu, part maltese, "purong aso" hahaha). We loved them all like family. (Sorry, couldn't post pics of the rest. The pics are in House Better and I haven't scanned them yet!)

Did I digress? =D Anyway!

I wanted small dog, but the Hubby did not want a pekingese nor a shih tzu. He suspected (quite correctly) that he would end up walking the dog more often than I would, and he did not want to walk around with a "frou-frou" kind of dog at the end of his leash. Hahaha! 'D O, sya, sya. =D After researching online, we finally chanced upon the one dog that seemed perfect for our situation. A mini schnauzer. Yes, we decided, we will get a mini-schnauzer. =) (Click on the link if you want to know why we decided on it. =))

Everyone, meet BUSTER JOHNSON!!! =D

We found Buster online through a link in Pet Finder. =) We did not want to get a dog from a pet shop, believing that dogs raised by breeders are not only of better quality, they would also tend to be more loved. We found Chico-Poms, and among all the rest, I was most impressed by the fact that before they answer your queries about the dog you want to purchase, they actually ask you a series of questions about the conditions under which you will be raising the dog you intend to buy. They wanted to make sure that their puppies will only go to good homes, they said. "Soul mates!", I thought. Haha!

We got a quick reply from K soon after I submitted our forms. We went to see our pup on the same day we got the reply. We brought him home that same night.

After a quick trip to Tiendesitas for a few essentials (and quite a few non-essentials, haha), we finally arrived in House Pioneer for Buster's first night in his new home. YEY! =)

By the time we got him, however, he was already 4 months old and already knew his name to be Buster. Johnson would therefore have to be relegated to his second name. BUSTER JOHNSON. Parang goon. Haha! 'D

He was shy at first, but eventually warmed up, walking around the unit, probably wondering about what strange place he has found himself in. His nails clicked on the wood laminate all night as he alternately walked around, stopped, and run around playing with the Hubby's old tennis balls. Not used to having another living thing in House Pioneer other than each other, the all-night clicking on the floors kept Hubby Sweet and I up all night. Hay....It was like having a little baby, except that this one did not cry. =) I was practically a zombie at work the following day. It did not help that everyone kept on asking me, "Puyat ka?" HAHAHA! Ack. =)

During our visit to the OB last week, our OB told us NOT to get a dog before we have a child. She said there was no scientific evidence for it, but she suspects couples get distracted too much by the dog, they forget about getting down to the business of having a child. Haha! After the first night, I would have to consider this as practice. Man! How could I not?! =D

Early the following day, I heard from Hubby Sweet the one thing I have also once heard from Sister Pusjing and Cousin Tiririt about their respective husbands, G-Genius and cousin-in-law V.

"Tweet," he said, looking confused, apologetic and hopeful all at the same time, "uh.....nag-poop sya."

I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth at the time. "So? Pick it up," I said, not really understanding what the big deal was.

"I don't know how to pick up poop."

Yeah, right! HAHAHA!

Hay!

Men....! =D

MEDALS & HONORS / JUNE 14,2008 =D

There are a million and one things to write about. I definitely won't miss writing about this. The Hubby is a silver surfer. Haha. OK, technically, he did not surf. he wakeboarded his way to second place in the Men's Intermediate Division of the Lago de Oro Perpetual Cup 2008. WOOOOHHHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Being the stupid wife that I am, I tried to capture his run on video, only to find out much later that I did not have enough back-up memory. ARGH!!! Darn. >:\

In any case, I suppose the run would just have to live on in everyone else's memory--with the run including the single most daring intermediate move made on the "wall" that day. As the wakeboarders would say after an awesome maneuver, that was TOTALLY SICK! Haha. =D

So never mind the gold. I've always been a staunch advocate of the "Tin Cup" mentality. (Tin Cup, you know? As in Kevin-Costner-Renee-Russo-Tin-Cup? Haha! 'D) Years later, very few would remember who won which medal, but that move on the wall will be remembered for years to come.

Congratulations, Sweetie!!! Here's to the Men's Open next year!

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! =D

THE MARRY MONTH OF JUNE =D

This being the last week of June, I thought I'd sneak in this bit. I once read that the "June Bride" is actually a myth in the Philippines. They say that while the June bit applies in the northern hemisphere (it being summer and all there), most weddings in Manila actually happen in the months of December and January, with a smattering of weddings leading up to Valentine's. Kase daw, at least kung may mga kamag-anak na uuwi from abroad, pwede na isama ang Christmas and New Year sa mga dahilan ng pag-uwi. Hahaha! 'D

Still, in the month of June in the year 2008, no truer words could have been phrased as far as I was concerned. Dalawang bandila ng Bataan ang bumagsak! Hahaha! 'D And, no, I was not referring to the brides. =)

Cut to May 29. I received an unusual text from Mao, my HS BF (best friend, silly, not boyfriend!), asking me for my office landline. As soon as I picked up the phone, I knew something was up. I thought he was calling to tell me that he was already leaving for Canada. Earlier on in the year, he told me that he will be following his fiancee to the land of maple leaves and that they will get married there, although at that time, the date was not set yet. I told him to give me advance notice as I would have to file a leave from the office (and these days, my leave forms have to be approved and signed by the president, no less, ACK!).

"Aalis ka na?" I asked as soon as I picked up the phone.

"Nope. Not yet. Change in plans," he reverted.

"Di ka na ikakasal?" I asked, confused.

"Gagu!" he replied, "Change in plans, meaning we're getting married before I fly to Canada!" He then launched into a long-winding explanation as to why they would have to tie the knot before they process his papers.

"Oh, I see," I said, getting increasingly giddy at the thought of my best friend FINALLY getting married!

"When are you getting married?" I asked.

"Sa Tuesday. June 3," he said, matter-of-factly, "Can you make it?"

HUUUUUUUWHHHHHAAAAAAAAAATTT????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crazy! Hahaha! Still, if the date has been set, I have no choice but to rearrange my work calendar. Cancel meetings. Move meetings. Resched cuttings. Ack! Anything for my best friend and his girl. =)

And so it goes that on June 3, my best friend Mao married Lil--the only girl he ever introduced to me!--in civil ceremonies followed by a quick snack in Jollibee, and finally a magnificent lunch with closest family and friends in attendance at the Shang Palace in Makati. YEY!!!!!!! 'D The church wedding will follow, of course, and the Hubby and I intend to be there--wherever and whenever it may be. =D

The following week then saw P&P getting married--ironically on June 12, Independence Day. Hahaha! Unlike Mao's and Lil's, this wedding was 15 years in the making with a slight deviation in between. (Then again, let's not dwell on that minor cut in the timeline, shall we? Haha.) Mao said it all in his "best man" speech during Pierre's wedding. As we were all growing up in good, old CSA, he practically pledged his allegiance to only one girl. Unrequited, of course, but that's beside the point. Haha. The point is he was the type who sticks. The type who loves and sticks. Fast-forward to years later in good, old ADMU where--with the benefit of an expanded horizon, new experiences and new acquaintances--he finally left the old notions behind.

On our senior year in college, he met and fell in love with Pat. We used to kid around that he was just having a "Senior Moment" (you know, senior in college, must have a girlfriend before we graduate). Hahaha! Guess what? That "Senior Moment" has been going on for the last 15 years. Through hell and high water, right through the Filipino-Chinese (mis)connections. It was long overdue when they finally announced that they were getting married, but when it finally happened, it was a beautiful, beautiful wedding. Simple, but one that felt--beyond the shadow of any doubt--absolutely right. =)

So congratulations, Mao and Pierre, and best wishes to Lil and Pat!

As Hubby Sweet would always say in his "best man" speeches, "May your marriage be modern enough to survive the times, and old fashioned enough to last forever!"

Much love,
T&T