All Things Considered

ArmyMommy: Traveling overseas with Tricare

2010-11-21T22:18:00.000-08:00

ArmyMommy posts are specific to topics and experiences related to our being an Army family. Civilian readers might not care ;-)

Preparations for our Christmas trip are well underway. As a new mom, I find myself adding a few extra steps in my usual trip prep procedure. One overarching concern is anticipating anything that could happen to our almost one-year-old. On top of that list are, God forbid, medical emergencies.

If you're an Army family, like us, chances are you have Tricare for your health insurance. The good news is that Tricare will cover emergency care for you and any covered person while overseas (please check your coverage). But there are a few things that you should know.

One, make sure that your information is up-to-date with DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System). If you have to ask what DEERS is, than you might not want to read the rest of this post!

Second, be sure to carry your military ID with you. For kids without IDs yet, like our baby, request a Tricare beneficiary card to help facilitate things when seeking care overseas. Do so well in advance of your trip as the card processing might take a while (I have to admit that I have not done this yet). Absent a card for the kid, a parent's ID will often be enough, but in case you are traveling with other people who might be the ones who end up taking the child to the hospital or doctor, the child's own card will be necessary. Same goes for when kid is traveling to, say, grandma's, without parents in tow.

Third, collect the names and contact information of providers in the cities or countries you are traveling to. We are going to three cities in Europe. I looked up participating medical and dental providers in these cities here. With their contact info in hand, we will know exactly who to call in case we need a doctor or dentist.

Tricare directs its beneficiaries to get help finding medical care from the US embassy or consulate in whatever city or country one is visiting. But there's also an emergency phone number that one can keep handy. The international SOS number I found off the Tricare Europe web site is 44 - 20 - 8762 8133 (collect).

If you find yourself in a real medical emergency, do not hesitate to rush to the closest emergency room. You may seek care at non-participating providers. Just make sure that you contact Tricare after you get there, and definitely before you leave the hospital or doctor's office. And by all means, keep all records and receipts! Tricare Standard beneficiaries, for example, have to pay out of pocket and are then reimbursed stateside. I'm not too clear on this part since we are on Tricare Prime so please double check.

It might also help to have the contact info for Tricare where you are going. In Europe, its:
TRICARE Area Office: Eurasia-Africa
011-49-6302-67-6314
DSN: 496-6314
teoweb@europe.tricare.osd.mil
www.tricare.mil/eurasiaafrica

For more details, read this June 2010 news release about traveling overseas with Tricare.

Finally, pack a travel medical kit. Our doctor is helping us put one together. It should include items that you usually use to treat your child if he or she has a cold, or a slight fever, as well as dosing instructions. Realize that medicines that we are used to seeing at Walgreens might not be the same as what's available in other countries. There are many sites online that feature packing lists for such kits. Here's one checklist. Add and subtract as applicable. For our baby, for example, we are skipping the teething medicine and sunscreen, and adding saline nasal spray and Vicks Baby Rub.

If you have any medical concerns at all, try to see your doctor before you leave on a trip. Oh, and make sure your kids are up-to-date on all their shots.

Now, you can worry about packing!

Happy birthday, Chino!

2010-10-29T17:52:00.001-07:00

Today is a good day. For today, we are grateful. Today, Chino turned one.

Miracles happen everyday, whether we recognize them or not. But today's particular miracle did not go unheralded. Weeks after his surgery, Chino is with his family celebrating his first birthday.

On October 4, my godson went in for his first open-heart surgery. Prayers and well-wishes flooded in from all over the globe as relatives and friends of the Nebrao and Adalla families joined in vigil for a successful operation and quick recovery.

There was good news after the operation. His mitral valve was repaired. Even better, a tube in his heart that was thought to be missing was there all along, just fused with another. The tubes were separated and were functioning well.

On to the ICU he went, where, for days, he battled a persistent fever. The risk of infection is always high after such an operation, and only a few people were allowed to visit Chino to limit those risks. Even so, he was stable and on the mend.

Then, this message via Facebook on October 12:

"CHINO'S POST SURGERY UPDATE: We were told that Chino's heart is not contracting well despite 3 blood transfusions & maximum med supervision. He will need to undergo the valve replacement a year from now (means 1 more open heart surgery!) since the said valve is not functioning back to normal. Intensive prayers... Ever faithful to the end."

Nonetheless, Clarke and Cynch were finally able to take their baby home on October 15.

At home, Chino continued his recovery, fighting off fevers, getting stronger everyday as his wound healed. On October 24, the family reported that he could sit up, though still with assistance, and was back to eating his favorite pasta dishes.

On October 26, they posted this picture on Facebook, bringing smiles to the faces of all those who have joined them in this journey.

Today (yesterday, Philippine time), they posted this message:

"As you turn one today, we praise God for the gift of you in our life. Thank you for teaching us so many valuable lessons in living and loving... Thank you for constantly reminding us to face our life's battles with full faith and trust in our God. We thank God as well for the overwhelming support ...and love from our family, friends and complete strangers who have generously shared their blessings and prayers to you during your first open heart surgery a few weeks back.

We pray that Papa God will continue give you healing and fix your broken heart, we pray that He will take away all the pain and "yayay" that you feel as you recover from your surgery and most of all, that He will always put that cutie smile in your little face everyday.

We love you Chino. We'll face your next fight holding hands and with our full trust in God. Happy 1st bday baby boy! We look forward to more wonderful celebrations of your life.

From Papa Clarke, Mommy Cynch, Ate Ikang & Ate Cacay"

Happy birthday, dear Chino, and thank you for the gift you have given us all. Ninang Abbie, Tito Vance and Mateo can't wait to meet you in person.

---

Their fight is not over. You can still help. You have until November 15 to vote for Chino here so he can win Php 100,000 to help pay for his medical expenses. Please take the time to vote now. Thanks!

Help Chino win Php 100,000

2010-09-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

Here's another opportunity to give a gift for my godson, Chino. Please vote and help him win Php 100,000 (roughly $2200). All it takes is a few seconds of your time.

Follow the instructions below.

Chino's Hug

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/poweredbyciti
2. "LIKE" the page
3. Go to "PRICELESS MOMENTS" on the Tabs
4. Enter site and register.
5. On the bottom right corner click "VIEW ALL ENTRIES."
6. Look for Chino's Hug (baby in blue "Future Atenista").
7. Click and then "LIKE" to help Baby Chino win the price for his operation.
8. Your every vote counts!

We have until Nov. 15 to put Chino on top of the voting list. Please click!

Update on Baby Chino

2010-09-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post in between spoonfuls of baby food that M is refusing to eat.

Chino has undergone further tests, and has been put on some medication, to determine how fit he is for an operation. It looks like the latest advice from doctors is for him to have the operation in 6 months' time. His parents will be deciding when exactly the operation will be done.

As for the fundraising, according to their website, the funds donated has reached Php 625,592.36 or about $14,160. They still have a long way to go until they reach their Php 2 million goal. So if you have been thinking about giving, but haven't yet, please do so. Please.

You may give in the following ways. Please note that their Paypal account DOES NOT work.

Give Through Xoom

Use your credit card (US based cards) to give.
Log in to Xoom.com register and send to
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands
Account Number: 3106523407
Recipient: Cynthia Marie Adalla-Nebrao
Address: 349 Ortigas Ave. Greenhils East Mandaluyong 1554, Philippines
Email: championsforchino@gmail.com

Give Through Bank (if you are in the Philippines)

Deposit your donations to:
Cynthia Marie Adalla-Nebrao
Account Number. 3106523407
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Edsa-Greenhills Branch

Please email championsforchino@gmail.com once you've deposited for accounting purposes.

Once again, thank you to all those who have given. I'm especially grateful to my friends who have come out in support of a family they do not personally know.

Please help. Be a Champion for Chino.

2010-08-31T23:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I learned that someone I love is going through what I would consider my worst nightmare. Tonight, I learned that a sweet little boy is in for the fight of his life. Tonight, I will ask you, whoever you are, whether you know me personally or not, to please help keep their hope alive.

Carlos Aleixo A. Nebrao was born a little over ten months ago, the third child and only son of Clarke and Cynthia Nebrao. On August 27, his dad took him to the doctor for his routine shots. But during the checkup, the doctor detected a slight murmur when listening to baby Chino's heart. By the end of the visit, Chino was diagnosed as having a condition called a severe mitral regurgitation with mild stenosis. The baby needs open-heart surgery. He needs it soon. It will cost around 1.5 million Philippine pesos.

Go back a few decades. It's 1990 and I'm entering high school in a new town, without a familiar face in sight. Cynthia, or Cynch, and I were in the same section of the freshman class. That's how we met. I don't quite remember when we first started hanging out. Even then, I wasn't the best at making new friends. Thankfully, she was and over the next four years, we shared experiences that I knew would make us friends for life.

How many mornings did we meet, before it was even light out, to ride around our mountainside town on our bikes, hers green, mine neon yellow? How many times did we climb into that city-bound bus to spend the day at the mall, looking at clothes we rarely bought, just having fun? And how many times did I seek refuge at her house, arriving at all times of the day, and sometimes night, heartbroken about something or other? I still laugh at the memory of the time we drank mass wine out of coffee cups at her house, to keep from being caught by her mom.

Our lives and choices took us in different directions after high school. Different universities, then different countries. She got married, started having beautiful babies, and embarked on a life as a missionary for Couples for Christ. Her journey took her to Africa and back to the Philippines, via several other countries. Mine took me to the US. But when we get together now, no matter how few and far between those reunions, we are those old friends still.

The last time I saw Cynch was a few weeks before she had Chino, in Washington DC. We were both pregnant but still managed to see the sights. I met her husband for the first time. We talked like two moms for the first time. Decades after we first met, we still managed to experience things that are new.

This too is another first. As a new mom, the news of Chino's condition moved me in a way that would not have been possible before I had my baby. Though I do not know exactly what they are feeling, I can imagine, all too well, what Cynch and Clarke must be going through right now.

I always took it as a matter of fact that our children would grow up as friends. The thought that Mateo and Chino might not have the chance to be what Cynch and I are...well, it breaks my heart.

So tonight, while my baby sleeps soundly in his bed upstairs, I ask you, whoever you are, to help give another baby, halfway across the world, a chance to grow up--to be a kind boy, a good man, my son's friend, and his mother's son. Chino could be all this and more. He only needs the chance to be so.

You and I can help give him that chance. If I've tugged at your heartstrings, then let me move your purse strings as well. Two million pesos is what they need. That's about $44,000. Sadly, the clock is ticking.

Please help. I know that in these economic times, giving can be difficult, but for Chino, every little bit will help. There is no real health insurance insurance in the Philippines. Most have to come up with the cash to pay for treatment. So if you have even a dollar to spare, please consider giving.

Friends of the family have set up a website to help raise money for Chino's operation. You can learn more about Chino and his condition there too.

If you've read this far, I thank you. If you decide to give, I am ever grateful. As you hug your little ones, or not-so-little ones tonight, please say a simple prayer for baby Chino, his family, and my friend.

I'm going back to the Philippines...

2010-08-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

...where a yaya is waiting!

While I sort out the ticket situation, I'm thinking about how best to spend the two weeks we have carved out for this trip.

So far, we have lined up a day trip to Corregidor, a weekend in El Paradiso, and a must-have visit to Los Banos. If you were going, what else would you see and do?

Here's one take on a balikbayan guide.

Breaking up is hard to do.

2010-08-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

Like many of you, I've been through my share of difficult break-ups. But this one, I didn't see coming.

See, earlier this month, I decided that it was time to stop breastfeeding. And it's been harder that I ever thought it could be.

As a first-time mom, I've been fully indoctrinated on the value of breastfeeding. No one can argue that health-wise, it's best for baby. Some of the benefits include: less gas, diarrhea, and constipation; stronger immune systems; higher IQ; and less risk of childhood obesity. For mom, it helps in more quickly returning your uterus to its original size, and it burns tons of calories, aiding in shedding the pregnancy weight gain.

And while I don't mean to over-romanticize breastfeeding, it does create a kind of bond between mother and child that only the act of nursing can. That for the first months of his life, baby relies on just mom for his sustenance is a powerful thing. So is the feeling of holding baby close--the weight of him, the warmth. It's a unique relationship, and I'm hard-pressed to think of anything that comes close to the breastfeeding experience.

This "feeling" is what has me yoyo-ing between weaning and not. It has me resenting baby bottles, throwing dirty looks at the canister of formula, and longing for the lulling sound of my Medela. Strange. And difficult.

Unlike many others (I hope), my breastfeeding experience has been difficult from the start. There was pain, physically and emotionally. Baby lost an alarming amount of weight a few days after coming home from the hospital because he wasn't getting enough milk. Without the prodding of our then-pediatrician, a man who likened baby formula to junk food, I would have popped a bottle into my son's mouth right then.

Over the course of the seven months of nursing, I saw lactation consultants, attended support group meetings, got acupuncture, bought both heating and cooling implements, used a Boppy and a My Brest Friend, and pumped, pumped, pumped.

But in the end, only one thing led to my decision to stop nursing, my arch nemesis since the beginning: mastitis.

Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue that results in breast pain, swelling, warmth and redness of the breast. And pain, did I mention pain? And fevers, chills, body aches, and some more pain. I got mastitis a total of five times in seven months, the last one coming at the end of July.

Mastitis alone is no reason to stop breastfeeding. Moms can, and are in fact encouraged, to continue nursing while being treated for mastitis. Nursing clears the milk ducts, and keeps the milk flowing. And if you feel iffy about giving baby the "infected" milk, docs say that baby's stomach acids can effectively kill any bugs that might pass through. I nursed my wee one through all five bouts of mastitis and he's never gotten sick.

So why stop now? First, and perhaps most selfishly, I want to feel normal again. By normal, I mean pain-free. Breastfeeding for me has also always been about managing levels of discomfort. Maybe I have faulty equipment, but my equipment have always been so sensitive that I couldn't wear anything but a thin cotton bra. So sensitive in fact, that I've had to encase them in plastic shells for days on end.

Second, I'm done passing harsh antibiotics on to baby. The frequency of these infections have caused doctors to give me more and more drugs to fight the infections. While all of these antibiotics have been deemed okay for breastfeeding moms, they also are always prescribed with warnings that baby will likely get diarrhea or suffer some other side effect. We've managed to avoid those (baby is on a daily regimen of acidophilus), but I just can't keep exposing him to such drugs.

Finally, I simply don't want to keep getting sick. I've gotten sick and seen more doctors in the past few months than I have in all my years pre-pregnancy. And when you can hardly lift baby because you are so weak and tired, well, that's just not good all around.

Upon reading what I've written so far, it sounds a bit like I'm justifying my decision to stop breastfeeding. And maybe I am, to myself mostly, and to other moms out there I suppose. Having gotten past the the recommended six months of breastfeeding, I feel a little bit better about my decision. Still, I think I needed this mental exercise to mollify the emotional uncertainty I have over the whole thing.

It's taken me weeks to wean baby, and we are still working on it. He's taken the bottle like a champ and seems to be doing well enough on organic formula. But at night, when he goes to sleep with dad and a bottle, I feel a little stab. He doesn't "need" me now, at least not in this sense, and it's more than just a little heartbreaking.

This feeling, the hurt of breaking up with the boob and with my baby, is a recurring theme in parenthood, I've been told. As baby grows up and becomes more independent, he will need us less and less. I look forward to it, and dread it as well.

For now, I will relish the last remaining days of this breastfeeding experience. I know I should give him a bottle now, but maybe I'll nurse him, just this once today, instead.

It's time.

2010-07-22T23:23:00.000-07:00

It's 11:24 pm.

While nursing my baby to sleep, I did something I have not done in a while--blog-hopped--and stumbled upon a post by another new mom about taking time out of her very full day to do something for herself, something beyond her role as a mom and wife, something that she loves.

She's right. And it's time.

It's time I do the same. It's time to revive this experiment. It's time to learn how to be this new person without losing the old one.

It's 11:31 pm. Baby is asleep on my lap. I am typing with one hand, even as I feel my neck begin to cramp from the strain. But it's time.

Something to do with those aging mix tapes

2009-04-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

This artist got creative with his recycling. Perhaps he too had boxes of old mix tapes he wanted to get rid of. Instead of throwing them out with the trash, he turned them into art.

Pretty darn cool.

The Jim Morrison piece above is $700. See more here.

Stumbled upon

2009-04-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

An ad from the U.P. Alumni Association. What do you think?

So the ad is about a "wiser electorate" but what about the wisdom of the politicians themselves? How can one chose wisely during an election when there is hardly any wise choices to be made?

The future of newspapers

2009-04-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

Photo: Freephoto.com

With news left and right of newspapers folding, consolidating or going purely online, it's hard not to wonder what the future holds for newspapers.

As journalist by training, it is a medium I hold dear. I believe in the importance of its role not just in informing the public, but in keeping, to the extent that it can, our governments and other public institutions honest.

But I also have to admit that I have not had a newspaper subscription in years. I read the Sunday paper only intermittently. By and large, I get my news online, or on TV.

So in thinking about all that threatens newspapers, I have to admit that I'm part of the problem.

What then is the solution? Ten experts weigh in here.

Of the ideas presented, this one, from acclaimed newspaper designer Mario Garcia, struck me as the most interesting and exciting:

"If I am starting a newspaper from scratch, I may consider doing a robust Sunday edition, then creating the ultimate online newspaper for daily. I may even consider a very short, one-section, printed daily edition, but acting more like a companion to the online than a self-standing newspaper. I would print it in an A4 compact format, and I would make a sort of navigational tool to [information] that readers must know that day."

I heard Garcia speak in person while attending the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Even then, his newspaper designs seemed fresh and innovative to me.

Now if only there was a newspaper around that would be brave enough to take his suggested route. I think it would make for an interesting experiment.

I like fish too...

2009-04-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

...but this is too much.

It's Jollibee good!

2009-03-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

The New York Times ran a restaurant review of the recently-opened Jollibee in Queens.

Matt Gross writes, "Spaghetti ($4.49) is topped with a sweet, hot-dog-and-ham-studded tomato sauce, and is frighteningly addictive."

And of my favorite:

"Jollibee’s signature deep-fried peach-mango pie ($2.29) is crusty and intensely fruity, at once a Filipino thing, a Georgia thing and something else entirely. It’s worth the wait."

I wonder if my relatives in Woodside have made the trip yet. Full story here.

The obsession continues

2009-03-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

I'll take any of these with my morning coffee, please.

Organic and clean (raredevice.net)
Simply cool (nest-living.com)

For a touch of color (alessi.com)

Rest in peace, Francis M.

2009-03-05T21:28:00.000-08:00

The man was responsible for my introduction to rap, Filipino-style, with "Mga Kababayan." And for music class in high school, I sang "Cold Summer Nights" for a passing grade. One thing he always was was proudly Filipino.

So long, Man from Manila.

Help!

2009-03-03T15:22:00.001-08:00

I was a Girl Scout once, all the way through high school, in fact. Loved every minute of it too--the camping weekends, the competition for best patrol, the cheering and singing (okay, that part not so much). But for all that we did and have, we missed out on the whole Girl Scout cookie experience.

I encountered my first Girl Scout cookie at the first office I worked in. Everyone's got a co-worker who has a kid selling something at some point during the year. While I begrudgingly purchased Chirstmas cards and gift wrappers for this, that, or the other fund-raising effort, the Girl Scouts and their cookies, I looked forward to.

The season is upon us again. The little girl who came to my house a few weeks back to take our order delivered 4 boxes of cookies last week. By Saturday, we were out. Luckily, on a random trip to Long's Drugs (I never go there), we stumbled upon a Girl Scout cookie booth/table and bought more. That lot too is gone now. And today, I drove to 3 different locations, under pretense of having to go there anyway for one thing or another, looking for more Girl Scout cookies.

I wish I knew where that little girl who came to my house lives. Is it weird that I'd totally be knocking on their door right now, if I could?

For the love of God, I just want some more Do-si-dos!

Of Tony, Augusto, and Filipino pride

2009-02-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

I was enjoying a high of Filipino pride in the wake of the Philippine episode of "No Reservations" when I read this. It seems the guy Anthony Bourdain himself credited for getting him sufficiently psyched to visit the Philippines was catching flack for, of all things, not being Filipino enough.

Some background: Viewers of "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel have seen Anthony Bourdain traipse across Asia in all sorts of exotic culinary adventures. But much to the dismay of many Filipino and Filipino-American fans, he kept skipping our 7,100+ islands. Then came a contest that solicited advice, nay, enthusiastically worded and videotaped suggestions, from viewers on where Tony should head next. Enter Augusto, a young Fil-Am whose video caught Tony's eye. With his "Philippines"-emblazoned hoody and a photo of a full roasted pig, Augusto somehow gave Tony the push he needed to finally embark on a Filipino food adventure.

Tony ate sisig and taho, slurped goat bile soup, got a little education on the origins of Filipino food, and drank lots of San Miguel beer. But he also went on a journey of discovery of sorts, with Augusto, who was trying to reconnect with his Filipino roots in Cebu. A New Yorker more than a Cebuano, Augusto was, in a way, just as wide-eyed (or even more so, Bourdain being the world traveler that he is) as Tony as he coaxed the bone marrow in bulalo, or crunched on crispy lechon skin.

The criticism of Augusto seems to stem from the fact that he had only been to the Philippines one other time before coming with the Travel Channel crew. He was no expert, on the Philippines nor its food, by any stretch of the imagination. Hell, he couldn't even speak Filipino.

Thing is, he didn't need to. Anyone who's seen the episode can see that Augusto was not there to guide Tony. They had other experts (local tour guides, chefs, bloggers, etc.) for that. Augusto was there to be Tony's companion, and perhaps to illustrate the crazy, confusing amalgamation that is the Philippines, its people and its food--constantly changing, struggling to be defined, yearning to be rediscovered.

Another thing: This is not new territory for the show. In one episode, Tony goes with a Korean-American on a trip to the countryside to visit her grandfather. She too was reconnecting with her roots, dining with relatives she hardly sees and perhaps barely knows. While she seemed more knowledgeable about Korean cuisine than Augusto was of Filipino food, the storyline was essentially the same. It was a journey into a new country for Tony, made more poignant perhaps when experienced with another American finding a connection to her heritage.

Whatever the motivation, whatever Tony's reason was for picking Augusto, I think the episode was successful in giving its largely North American audience a taste of what the Philippines has to offer to travelers. We've gone unnoticed for too long, relegated to the second, if not third, tier list of people's places to visit. Seeing the show, I was reminded of the country's complexity, the noise and clamor of its city streets, against the relative quiet of what I still consider my tree-lined streets in Los Banos. It's enough to keep me going back, knowing that with every visit, there will always be something new to see and do in my old town.

As for Augusto, I say kudos to him and other Filipinos like him who desire a connection with the country of their roots. So many of us have left the Philippines, and many more will follow in our footsteps. But to those to refuse to forget, who live their new lives in new countries as Filipinos still, I say thank you. And spread the word.

In the meantime, enjoy bits of the show here:

An odd kinda day

2009-02-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

This morning, I woke up in tears from a nightmare. A little boy that I adopted was trying to kill me with my husband's guns. I kept calling my husband for help, but he was downstairs vacuuming while talking on the phone so he couldn't hear me.

Not a good way to start. No wonder today has been an odd kind of day. It's alternately cold and sunny, outside and within.

On a downswing, I found myself looking for this.

Who's thinking of the Super Bowl...

2009-01-30T14:01:00.000-08:00

...when there's UFC 94?!

Saturday's title fight should be a good one. I'm rooting for "the prodigy" BJ Penn. And not just because he looks Pinoy.

BJ Penn vs. Sean Sherk
Photo: UFC.com

Other UFC fighters weigh in on the match here.

Matt Hughes:
“I believe this is going to be a close fight. I think if it ends early, BJ’s going to get his hand raised, and if it ends later, then Georges’ will get his hand raised.”

Matt Serra:
“It’s tough to say because it could go either way,” he says. “Because that’s MMA, and of course the game’s so crazy. It’s tough to pick a winner. But, again, I think it’ll come down to strategy, and I believe Georges will be looking to put him against the cage, put him down, use his wrestling, his explosiveness and his athleticism and really just try and take him to deeper waters. Get him into the later rounds, and I think that Georges will win a decision that way.”

Sean Sherk:
“I think both pose a lot of problems for each other, and it’s what intrigues people about this fight,” he says. “The last time they fought it was right down to the wire. A lot of people said Penn won, a lot of people said St-Pierre won. But I don’t see BJ getting knocked out. I don’t see BJ getting submitted. If anything, I see a decision by St-Pierre or a knockout by Penn.”

As for me, I'm hoping for a good fight with a third round win by Penn. By submission, preferably. I'm sure my friend Ameetess with strongly disagree.

25 Way Random Things

2009-01-28T14:20:00.000-08:00

My friend Sarah tagged me with this on Facebook.

I wish I was better at making new friends, and keeping in touch with old ones.
I learned to drink coffee at a very young age. We're talking grade school here. Daddy (my grandpa) taught me how. It was instant coffee with lots of sugar and powdered milk. I remember pouring it over a plate of steamed rice and scrambled eggs. And liking it!
I dream of living in the Philippines again.
In another life, I think I could have been an architect. In this one, I'd settle for becoming a better writer.
The best thing to come out of my grad school stint was meeting V. I still sometimes can't believe he married me.
As far as I'm concerned, it's never hot enough.
When I was 6 or so, I swear I saw a vampire. He was standing in the middle of the street, in front of our house. I stared at him from my bedroom window, frozen in fear, for what seemed like forever. Finally, I mustered up the courage to roll myself off the bed. I fell with a thud, waking up my parents who wanted to know what on earth I was doing.
I have a brown thumb, which V suggests I parlay into a weed control business.
I miss being near my family.
I regret not being there when Mommy (my paternal grandma) died.
I'm scared of swimming in open water. But I love the beach. I'm deathly afraid of drowning, so I forced myself to learn to scuba dive.
I'm really good at making V laugh.
Ever since I can remember, I've always thought about adopting a kid. Or two.
I had a hard time learning the multiplication table. I used to cheat on tests by counting the windows of my classroom. To this day, I can't recite tables 7 and 8. That's why I got a calculator watch this Christmas.
I dream of being my own boss.
So far, I've lived in 17 different houses/apartments, in 14 different towns/cities. I'm used to moving around but look forward to planting roots one day. I could be happy and fulfilled in one place, as Tracey would say.
I used to be sporty and outdoorsy. The smell of freshly cut grass still takes me back to those countless afternoons on the football (soccer for the Americans) field. And the sight of my hiking boots makes me yearn for the time when I climbed mountains for the view, and the good company.
In Los Banos, my adoptive hometown, I was happiest walking among the trees.
People buying cases of bottled water at Costco annoy me. Unless you're catering a party, or going on a long road trip, or living out in the woods for months on end, there is no need for individual serving-sized bottles of water in the house. Ever heard of a pitcher and glasses? A Nalgene bottle and a Brita filter? Folks, let's all try a little harder for the environment, shall we?
I would always want to travel more.
If I ever win the lottery, I'd pay off all my friends' student loans.
I was only ever as cool as the friends I surrounded myself with. Left to my own devices, I read gossip magazines, shop at the Gap and listen to Top 20 music.
I was once described by a medical professional as a "mole producer." As in, I have lots of moles all over my body. Her terminology suggests that I will constantly make new ones. So does that mean that one day, I'll be totally spotted?
I will tell anyone who asks that I went to the gym today. Even though I didn't.
The only thing I miss about being young is being fearless.

One more reason to love Trader Joe's

2009-01-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

Well, what do you know?

They have San Mig Light at Trader Joe's!

Now you see it.

Now you don't.

Happy Monday, all!

Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul

2009-01-23T08:52:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd explain more about the exhibit V & I saw at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. But lacking the information to write knowledgeably about it, I defer to the experts.

From the National Geographic website:

The Hidden Treasure

In 1988, Afghanistan was ten years into a violent civil war. As the security situation in the capital worsened, government and National Museum officials worried the Kabul museum, home to thousands of historical artifacts and works of art, would be destroyed or looted. They made a plan to transfer many of the objects to secret hiding places.

By 1989, the transfer was complete, and caches of priceless historical objects were secured in the Ministry of Information and the Central Bank treasury vault at the presidential palace. Among the hidden treasures were Bronze Age gold pieces, hundreds of ancient coins, and the famous "Bactrian hoard," a collection of some 20,000 gold, silver, and ivory objects from burial plots at Tillya Tepe in northern Afghanistan.

Workers involved in the transfer swore secrecy and designated "key holders" for the vaults. They kept their covenant through civil war and Taliban rule at enormous personal risk.

The objects remained hidden despite nearly constant conflict and political upheaval in Kabul. But a campaign by the Taliban in 2001 to "destroy all images" resulted in the loss of thousands of irreplaceable artifacts throughout the country, including many of the items hidden in the Ministry of Information. But the palace treasures survived.

In 2003, after the Taliban had been thrown from power by a U.S. military campaign and Afghanistan's first open elections had installed Hamid Karzai as president, a report from the Central Bank in Kabul revealed that the museum trunks deposited at the palace vault in 1989 were intact.

A team of local and international experts, including archaeologist and National Geographic Fellow Fredrik Hiebert, assembled in Kabul to see the vault opened and verify the authenticity of its contents.

When the first safe was finally cracked, the team saw piles of small plastic bags with old labels, each one containing beads and jewelry. Russian archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi, whose team had discovered the Tillya Tepe objects in 1979, smiled when he spotted an artifact with a small wire repair that he'd made with his own hands.

In June of 2004, an announcement was made to the world that the Bactrian hoard and other hidden treasures of Afghanistan were found, and an international effort was mounted to preserve these collections and put them on exhibition for the world to see.

Images from nationalgeographic.com.

If nothing else, this exhibit shows us a side of the Afghan culture and people different from the images we've been seeing on TV all these years. "Hidden Treasures" goes to the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, then the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

A quick San Francisco trip

2009-01-22T12:15:00.001-08:00

Can't seem to get my mind in gear for a proper post, so here's one of images from a recent weekend in San Francisco.

Saturday afternoon was spent perusing the exhibit "Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul" at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Aside from the amazing artifacts displaying a mixture of cultural influences, the exhibit tells the story of how these artifacts were rescued from the massive destruction in Afghanistan. More info here. For those in the Bay Area, you only have till this weekend to catch it.

Saturday night went as follows, with my good friend Ameetess: cocktails at Michael Mina, show at the Punchline, and late dinner at Ana Mandara.

Sunday was a slow day. I wanted to visit the Xanadu Gallery, located in the only Frank Lloyd Wright building in San Francisco. Got as far as the circular gate as the gallery was closed. Another visit for another day. Even from the outside though, the Wright details are self-evident. Peeking inside, one sees hints of the style of the Guggenheim in New York.

For a late lunch, we headed over to the Ferry Building. Had a soft-shell crab sandwich while V had his staple fish and chips. Lots of artisinal shops to peruse, including a mushroom stall, a salumeria, and of course, a pastry shop.

Staying sharp

2009-01-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

I was just telling someone at lunch today about how I have to keep my writing skills sharp. It has become more of a challenge now that I don't have a regular writing/editing gig.

Then I found this quiz at Chuvaness' blog, on some of the most misspelled English words out there. Taking my time, I still came away with a less than perfect score (22). Try it, and let me know how you do.

While we're at it, here are some of the most mispronounced words. Many are obvious, but we can all pick up a tip or two.

Back from the holidays

2009-01-06T16:10:00.000-08:00

How's your 2009 going so far?

Good, I hope. V and I have just barely recovered from being on the go since Dec. 22. Drove to Oceanside to spend Christmas there with my family. Drove back up to Monterey on the 26th so they can spend the weekend here. Said goodbye to my family on the 28th, leaving just enough time to pack and catch our 6 AM flight to Wisconsin the next day.

Spent New Year's with V's family in Stevens Point, with a day trip to Madison squeezed in. Flew back on the 4th, arriving at home well past midnight, sans one piece of checked bag. Spent yesterday unpacking, doing laundry, and playing with Briscoe. Today, it was naps, and chores, more laundry, and dealing with things around the house that are suddenly breaking.

Is something up? Our overpriced plasma TV konked out a few days before we left for Oceanside. Then the printer decided throw out a bunch of "cartridge errors," despite the nearly new cartridges. Then yesterday, as I was cleaning up my dog's accident in my office (in a momentary lapse of reason, I gave her half a can of tuna with her dog food), the brushes on the steam carpet cleaner stop turning.

Now I have to figure out if it is worth it to get any of these items fixed, or if buying new ones is more efficient.

On another note, the holidays were fun, albeit tiring. My sibs and I, along with V and my good friend Ameetess, got happy on a few bottles of wine and beer on Christmas eve. Childhood stories were told, along with many others which had us grabbing our stomachs in laughter. The weekend in Monterey was more low-key, spent walking on the wharf, filling up on seafood, and driving the picturesque 17-Mile Drive. We also spent the day with an aunt I haven't seen in years, who drove down from Hayward for the day.

In Stevens Point, V & I did the rounds of visiting his relatives. On New Year's eve, we caught up with aunts and uncles over lasagna and, for me particularly, multiple slices of red velvet cake. Watched the ball drop in Times Sqaure while sitting in a country bar, with V's brother Seth, his old friend Corey, and a bottle of the local brew. On the 2nd, V, Seth and I spent the day in Madison, visiting the "Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired" Monona Terrace, the state capitol building, and the dearly missed Outback Steakhouse where we introduced Seth to the wonders of the Bloomin' Onion.

More importantly, V got to say a final goodbye to the 128-year old farmhouse that was home to his granparents and dad. He walked the rooms, the barn, climbed up the hayloft, peeked into the chicken coop, and spent time with his grandma remembering the years he spent growing up in that farm. I took pictures until my hands hurt from the cold.

To top it off, I got my Marimekko wall hanging and my Gorillapod, and Briscoe got a snazzy new collar from the in-laws.

All things considered, it was satisfying holiday spent with family and friends. Laundry, repairs and the rest of our real lives aside, we recognize that we have been blessed and are ever thankful.

Best wishes to all in 2009.

Is it raining where you are?

2008-12-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

Sun and sand. Old friend. This in the background.

It's getting Christmas-y in here!

2008-12-13T18:18:00.001-08:00

Hand-me-down ornaments, fresh out of the storage box.
My mom brought these from Manila years ago.

Two hours later...

Merry Christmas!
(Briscoe is too excited about the tree.)

Chicken soup for the soul, Filipino style

2008-12-12T06:27:00.000-08:00

During a recent trip to Las Vegas, I had occasion to calm my stomach (after a night of drinking) with a bowl of arroz caldo at the local Chowking. While their version was by no means special, even a little greasy to be honest, it had all the ingredients I needed to set me right again--a winning combination of comfort food, with a dose of nostaligia.

I love arroz caldo. Again, like champorado, it takes me back. Back to the Laguna of my youth. Back to Saturday trips to the wet market in Calamba, where my mom would drop us kids off at the arroz caldo counter so we can eat while she shops. Back to my grandma's house in Cabuyao, and the many afternoons when my siblings, cousin and I would have arroz caldo as our after school snack. It also takes me back to college, when my building-mates and I trekked to a new Goto King that opened at midnight, offering free food for the first few diners. We dug into our warm bowls of rice porridge alongside construction workers and tricycle drivers.

It is our version of the cure-all chicken noodle soup. Only heartier from the rice, spicier from the black pepper, and saltier from the fish sauce.

From Wikipedia:

Some provinces prefer the Spanish-influenced arroz caldo (literally hot rice), which is often mistaken for a European dish due to its name. Arroz caldo is actually a Chinese congee that was adapted to the tastes of the Spanish colonial settlers who patronized Chinese restaurants in the Philippines. As the Spanish could not pronounce Chinese, they gave it a Spanish name for easy reference.

A few weeks ago, Bayds, an old college friend (now a doctor in Florida), texted me about her misadventure in attempting to make her first pot of arroz caldo. Hers ended up looking like gooey fried rice. But it gave me the idea of attempting my own creation.

The recipe is easy enough that I wonder now why I never tried this before. Start with some garlic, onion and the all important ginger. Throw in some rice, some chicken broth and pieces of cooked chicken. Cook till rice is done and you have arroz caldo.

I cheated a little by using store bought chicken broth.

Threw in some hard-boiled eggs to make it a heartier meal.

The usual condiments include ground black pepper, fish sauce (not shown) and kalamansi (or in my case, lime). Add to suit your taste.

It wasn't that hard at all. One mistake though, I made too much and ended up eating arroz caldo for lunch three days in a row. It's safe to say that I've had my fill of the stuff for now.

There's hope for you yet, Bayds!

I loosely followed the instructions of Connie of Pinoy Cook, substituting regular eggs and omitting the kasubha. Her full recipe is here.

What not to give

2008-12-11T13:50:00.001-08:00

If you're like me, you are still in the process of getting your Christmas gift shopping done. And at some point over the last few weeks, you've probably asked yourself what on earth else you can give your dad, or your co-worker, or the mailman, that he/she hasn't gotten yet.

I don't have any answers for that question (I'm resorting to getting underwear to family members, for crying out loud!) But this list tells you what to definitely avoid.

I've given magazine subscriptions, and I know for a fact that they were appreciated. I've received them too, and liked them (Thanks, Sonia!). It can work, if you are thoughtful enough about your selection.

Other things on the list seem obvious: don't give your old things; an I.O.U. is just tacky; and who would ever want a singing fish (wait, we had one!)?

But this caught my attention:

8. A dusty tin full of edible stuff

This is not a tin of just anything—everyone loves getting homemade cookies or candies or a favorite cake and holiday tins are great for storage. I'm talking about when you're in the dollar store and you see some extra-dusty tins on the bottom shelf filled with, say, those chocolate turtles. And you have no idea how long they've been there, or if what's inside is even edible. But you buy a couple anyway because you're desperate for a few last minute gifts. And the person you give it to opens it and the chocolate-whatever inside is stale and the candy breaks their tooth.

While at the local dollar store yesterday afternoon (where else can you score rolls of wrapping paper and bags of ribbons and bows for a buck each?!), I spotted a middle-age looking guy filling his basket with Christmas-y mugs stuffed with what looked like peppermint candy. He was pulling them from deep within the bottom shelf of the Christmas food aisle, just as entry no. 8 warned above! The man was in front of me at the check out counter, so I know that he paid all of seven dollars and change for what I imagine to be his gifts to his co-workers or maybe his employees (or his secret enemies?).

The kicker is that as I was about to get into my car and drive off, I see who else but the dusty Christmas mug guy climbing into a shiny Porsche Cayenne. I guess he has to make up for his car payments somehow.

Merry Christmas!

Dreaming of a Manila Christmas

2008-12-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

I'm dreaming of a Christmas spent in the Philippines. The last Christmas I spent *home* was in 1997. Going back now, I know that the experience won't be quite the same. Most of my family is here, scattered all over the US and Canada. Same with friends. But I'm looking forward to a new kind of Philippine Christmas, spent with the hubby, and maybe (just maybe) kids later (much, much later) on.

Christmas time is the prime season for balikbayans visiting the Philippines. For most of us who have not been there in a while, we yearn for the old, while searching for the new.

For me, the old means hanging out in Los Banos, visiting my lolo's grave in Loyola, driving along Katipunan perhaps, breakfast at Pancake House, a weekend in El Paradiso (the private beach of family friends), and so on.

The new, well, I would need help with that. Cecile of Chuvaness suggests, among other things, checking out the Salcedo Market on Saturdays, a meal at Antonio's Garden in Tagaytay, and shopping at a Team Manila lifestyle store. See her full Balikbayan Guide here.

What are your Manila/Philippines musts?

Spreading warmth, one cup of cocoa at a time...

2008-12-10T13:20:00.000-08:00

Updated: 12/15/08
The finished product.

I must admit that I'm not always the best neighbor. I don't hang out in front of my house, having conversations with whoever might be passing by. I haven't attended a single homeowners' association meeting. I've never had coffee or tea with any of the other wives on my street. And I've never invited any of my neighbors into my house just to hang out.

That said, I wave when I see anyone on the street as I drive by. I say hi to anyone within earshot when I go to walk my dog. And if anyone ever knocks on my door asking to borrow some eggs or a cup of sugar, I'd be happy to help.

But since it is Christmas, it might be time to do a little something extra. Thus my Christmas neighborhood gift idea.

Initially, I thought a tin of baked goods should do it. After poring over recipes in cookbooks and online, after two trial runs (of a cookie and muffin recipe), I copped out and choose the easy route. For me, that means no baking at all.

I found this recipe for a hot cocoa mix on Food Network's web site, from one of my favorite FN stars, Alton Brown. It's super easy. Just mix all the dry ingredients, pack, and deliver. To make the mix a bit more special, I got good quality cocoa powder, organic too.

The recipe calls for a pinch of cayenne pepper. Don't be afraid though. It doesn't make the cocoa spicy, just adds a lingering heat to in your throat after a few gulps. Really nice actually.

It's very important to mix everything well, lest one gets a whole chunk of salt or cornstarch in one spoonful. Sifting helps too in working out the clumps.

To make the hot cocoa, just mix how at least two teaspoons (more if you like it rich) with hot water or warm milk.

Pack in jars.
Ready for delivery!

Full hot cocoa recipe here.

Christmas tree is up!

2008-12-08T22:33:00.000-08:00

It took a while, but our Christmas tree is up.

Started shopping around by stopping at the Monterey County Fairgrounds where a seller has set up shop. They had trees of all varieties and sizes. But boy, were those trees pricey. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not about to shell out upwards of $60 for a tree.

Pretty trees. Also pretty expensive!

So I waited, looked around for a while, eventually spotting a great deal from one of the local supermarkets. A six-foot Douglas fir for only $19.99!

We picked up the tree Sunday night. Because our dinky electric saw couldn't cut through the trunk (to chop off about an inch of the end, as recommended), we couldn't put the tree in its stand yet. Tree had to sleep in the garage for a night.

Trimming the trunk with a saw that works.

The tree is standing now, drinking up as much water as it can, I bet. But we're giving it time to spread out and unfurl completely before decorating.

After a few hours, it's looking a LOT fuller than I expected.

Trip Playback: Thanksgiving in Vegas (Part 1)

2008-12-08T11:23:00.000-08:00

I really should have taken more pictures.

That said, the Vegas trip was a success. Good food with good friends, old and new. It was relaxing too, which is a surprise considering every other time I've been in Vegas has always been a whirlwind of activities.

Getting there was easy enough. V & I drove a little over 500 miles, in about 9 hours. Hit some traffic along the way, on cursed CA 58, but that was to be expected. The drive home, on the other hand, was another level of hell. More on that later.

Got to Bally's and checked in without problems. Bally's is an older hotel, but at $59 a night for a holiday weekend, I could not pass up the deal. It's connected to the Paris Hotel next door, providing easy access to better restaurants and such, and is centrally located on the Strip, at Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road. I knew from reviews on Tripadvisor (a valuable tool for travelers) that a renovated room is a must. We were given a renovated king room in the North Tower, sacrificing a view of the Bellagio fountains. But I'll take a nice clean room over a view any day. Quick review and more pictures here.

As soon as we unloaded our bags, the eating and drinking ensued. We met with V's old friend Adam, who is now a Vegas local. First meal of the trip was dinner at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris. V had excellent steak frites (fries were more like chips, and very yummy) while I had some grilled chicken breast served with green beans. Tried their Frangria, their signature French sangria, but was not a fan.

After dinner and a quick change of clothes, we met up again at New York New York's new club, Rok. The club itself was so-so, and if I wasn't with friends, I would've been in a sour mood about waiting in line. After about 45 minutes (ugh!), we were let in. It was crowded and filled with scantily-dressed young twenty-somethings--really not my scene any more. Things got interesting when after about a half hour, some performer took the stage. It was Mya, of "Ghetto Superstar" and "Lady Marmalade" fame! Soon after her set, we called it a night. Not bad for our first few hours in town.

One more thing, if you're in New York New York, check out Nine Fine Irishmen. The band is pretty cool, and most nights, Riverdancing ensues.

Where else did we eat and drink?

Trader Vic's in Planet Hollywood

First caught a show at the upstairs LA Comedy Club. Dinner was downstairs, in the main dining room. Food was okay. I had some stir-fry lobster and a mai tai. Trader Vic has a Polynesian theme, so be prepared for a tiki-overload. Prices were fair.

Red Square in Mandalay Bay

Looking for a quiet place to sit, drink and talk, we headed to Red Square in Mandalay Bay. The room has a cool, Cold War Russia theme. They have a vodka vault, where apparently, they've stashed the frozen head of Lenin. A headless Lenin statue greets you at the restaurant's door. The drinks menu was understandably heavy on vodka and martinis. The place is quiet enough for conversation, if you can get a table at the bar area. Only diners get so sit at the booths in the dining area. Martinis went for around $15.

Gallagher's Steakhouse in New York New York

Dinner and a show is one of my favorite ways to spend an evening. With Zumanity tickets at hand, we headed to Gallagher's. The impressive display of aged meats is enough to get your mouth watering, if you are a steak fan. Which I am not. But the husband is, so off we went. I opted for a filet mignon because it was the smallest cut on the menu. It came charred and tough. Needed two glasses of wine to wash it down, and ended up eating some of V's aged NY strip. I would have complained and asked for a different steak but with only 20 minutes before curtain, there was no time for a do-over. Expensive, and in my opinion, not worth it.

AGO at the Hard Rock Hotel

One Thanksgiving, many moons ago, V and I suffered the indignity of a hotel buffet Thanksgiving dinner in Washington DC. Even in the land of buffets, I was not about to risk another disaster. We booked a five-course prex fixe dinner at AGO at the Hard Rock Hotel. Honestly, there was no rhyme or reason to my pick of this particular restaurant. I liked that it was Italian, I suppose, and I'd never seen the inside of the Hard Rock Hotel. I also liked that at $50 per person, the meal came with wine pairings. I'm a sucker for wine pairings!

Dinner started with a glass of bubbly, then salad and a generous antipasti plate. I can never pace myself at dinner so I ended up eating it all. That and most of the bread basket. Then came some butternut squash risotto. Then a plate of both roasted organic turkey and maple pork loin. At this point, I couldn't even touch any of the sides, I was so full. Finally, there was a plate of mini desserts, including pecan pie, and Grappa to wash it down. Overall a satisfying meal at a reasonable price.

On the way out, we perused some costumes on display that were worn by famous performers. The collection included Britney Spears' school girl outfit, and the chaps ensemble Christina Aguilera wore in the "Dirrty" video.

Pho Saigon 8

The most satisfying meal of any trip, for me, tends to be the most down-to-earth ones. In Vegas, it came a steaming bowl of pho at Pho Saigon 8. Way off strip, deep in the heart of Vegas' Chinatown, I found the pho chin nam to be particularly soothing after a night of drinking. Super cheap and super good.

Jollibee and Chowking

I couldn't pass up the chance to eat at these Filipino fast food staples. At Jollibee, I had the Chickenjoy with rice and gravy, the sweet spaghetti and a peach mango pie. V had a hamburger. He said, "Which is the regular hamburger?" Meaning no weird sauces and additions (like a slice of pineapple).

At Chowking, I had arroz caldo and a small bowl of beef noodles. Yes, I was hungry and I wanted to eat everything. V had a combo plate of chicken teriyaki (or teriyucky) and spaghetti. After, we shared a halo-halo :-)

That's the food part of the trip--overall, satisfying and enjoyable. I'll post about Zumanity and Red Rock Canyon later.

Going back to the horrendous drive home, we left Vegas at noon, anticipating the crush of holiday traffic. But we weren't prepared for what actually ensued. Almost as soon as we left the Strip, we were in stop-and-go traffic. After hours of driving, we finally reached the Nevada-California stateline in Primm, a mere 40 miles away from the Strip. We finally pulled up in front of our house at 3 AM! The 500-mile drive took 15 hours! I could have flown to Japan in that same amount of time. Lesson learned: On the last day of a long holiday weekend, leave at the crack of dawn. Better yet, leave a day early.

Tired and in disbelief that we survived the long drive from hell, V & I crawled into bed thinking still that we had a great Thanksgiving getaway. Thank God for that!

Manny! Manny!

2008-12-07T22:14:00.000-08:00

I didn't watch the fight, as I was at dinner with some new friends who are moving to Monterey soon. But I had V checking his Blackberry for updates.

A solid win for Manny Pacquaio. Someone Filipinos every where can be proud of. (And easy money for my dad. Haha!)

HBO recaps the Pacman's amazing journey here.

I thought this was funny too, as an extra bonus: “Zero crime rate in NCR during the Pacquiao fight, except for a lost wallet in a crowd of watchers in Tondo (in Manila) at the public free viewing area due to excitement,” said Bataoil. Read here.

HBO also aired a series of episodes featuring the prep both Pacquiao and De La Hoya did leading up to the fight. It's funny to see Manny's giant entourage! "Eleven of them squeeze into a two-bedroom condo." Keeping it real, Pinoy-style! And talaga ba namang may Magic Mic pa?! Also, his dog is cute.

I found the little bit about his wife, Jinky, interesting. I sense a bit of tension there, at least as far as this episode goes. Did anyone else pick that up?

Christmas wishlist

2008-12-02T16:54:00.001-08:00

V & I attempted to get some shopping done at midnight on Black Friday, at the outlet mall in Vegas. We lasted all of an hour before we gave up and went back to our hotel.

I like shopping but have very little patience for trying things on. I also have a low tolerance for crowds and long lines. So online shopping suits me perfectly.

While shopping for others though, one inevitably finds something for oneself. Here are some things that I'm *wishing* for. Might give you some ideas for what to get for the folks on your list.

Gorillapod

It's hard enough trying to get your digital point-and-shoot to consistently produced decent shots. But throw in low-lighting, a slower shutter speed and unsteady hands and you end up with bad night pictures almost every time. This funky and handy tripod will take care of that. No flat surface? Not a problem. The Gorillapod can wrap its arms/legs on poles, tree branches, and wine bottle necks, among others. Comes in cute colors, and you can opt for an unpackaged unit to cut down on plastic packaging waste. The unpackaged ones are cheaper too ($21.95), so it's good for your wallet and the environment. Comes in different sizes so it can handle anything from a small camera to those massive DSLRs.

Marimekko wall hanging

I'm always looking for ways to counter V's growing collection of military prints. Nothing against them, just not my style at all. And since there are not enough wall space in his office to accommodate all his nicely framed prints, they end up spilling into the rest of the house. Marimekko is an established Finnish textile and clothing design company that makes everything from dresses, to plates and mugs, to bedsheets and tea towels--all with really funky patterns. This Marimekko wall hanging is made of 100 percent cotton, machine washable, and super cool. And it's on sale!

Simply Vera Vera Wang Quilted Faux-Crocodile Flat Tote

I've tried on several pieces from Vera Wang's Simply Vera line, without much success. Her dresses would look cute on the rack, and then really not cute on me. Same with shoes. They look really good in pictures, then you see them in person and wonder if you were even looking at the same thing. But among her handbags are some real winners, at least in my estimation. This is one of them. Comes in black too, and is the perfect size for carrying my MacBook. At $89 though, I thought it was a bit much for something you would get at Kohl's. But now that it's on sale for $53.40, I think I like it even more.

What's on your Christmas wishlist?

Happy birthday, Maan!

2008-12-02T10:54:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to have lived with two very smart, very cool girls while in college. Joanne and I went to high school together, and braved our freshman year in the big city together. Maan, her younger sister, joined us a year later.

We had our fair share of drama, and while it all seems like a lifetime ago, I will never forget the friendship and the love they both shared with me.

Maan was the go-getter among us. She was always out there, charting a new path, trying newer and harder things. Now a mom of two and living in London, we are worlds apart in distance, but never in affection.

Thanks for everything, Maan. And may this year be the best one yet.

(Holy crap, did you just turn 30?!)

PS. I stole your Friendster picture. I hope you don't mind!

Loving Frank

2008-11-28T07:02:00.000-08:00

In another life, I think I would have been an architect. In fact, that was the first thing I wanted to be when I was young. But I thought, with my utter inability to draw, that I couldn't be one. So I took another path.

As an adult, my appreciation of architecture continued to grow. And although I still can't tell a Doric column from a Corinthian one, I know a Frank Lloyd Wright building when I see one.

I don't remember when I first learned of Wright, but I remember clearly how I felt the first time I saw the Guggenheim Musuem in New York. Walking its spiral ramp, seeing artwork in that light, I thought, the man was indeed a genius.

Through books and pictures, I saw more of the man's work. A few years back, I visited my first Wright house, the Robie House, in Chicago.

Next month, I'm going to Taliesin. Wright built this dream house for his long-time lover, Mamah Cheney. While this was the place where the two of them could live in peace (they were both married to other people), it too was the site of their love's tragic end. Mamah died in Taliesin, as one of the victims of a fire set by a deranged servant. Today, it's the home of the Wright Foundation.

Do you love Frank? Re-imagine his love affair with Mamah in the historical novel "Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan.

Rocking Thanksgiving Vegas style!

2008-11-26T07:36:00.000-08:00

Off to Vegas today. I've got 8 hours of driving ahead of me. Yey.

I've been to Vegas countless times, but I still haven't run out of things to do. On the menu for this trip: a hike in Red Rock Canyon, a Cirque de Soliel show, Black Friday shopping at the Premium Outlets (or an attempt at it). Also, meeting up with friends old and new.

On the menu food-wise: some decent pho, Thanksgiving dinner at the Hard Rock Hotel's AGO, maybe some Jollibee or halo-halo from Chowking.

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving, wherever you are.

He sings too?

2008-11-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

Loading up on songs for an 8-hour drive. This one's catchy enough. But someone tell me why Kanye is now singing?

Fundraising season

2008-11-25T09:51:00.000-08:00

The other day, I received in the mail a fundraising letter from my godson, Darren. Something to do with raising money to buy computers for school (that's the L.A. Unified School District for you). Instead of selling cookies or other knickknacks (so far, I've purchased gift wrapping paper, Christmas cards, chocolate covered raisins and pretzels from neighborhood kids for various school fundraisers), my godson is selling magazine subscriptions. He gets a credit for each subscription that he sells. As an incentive, if I buy two subscriptions, he gets a glow-in-the-dark Scooby Doo t-shirt as well.

The list of available magazines is long, and the prices a little elevated. And since I already have subscriptions for the ones I really want (Budget Travel, Domino, Real Simple), I can perhaps indulge in others that I'm just sorta interested in.

I was looking at Architectural Digest as my top contender. The mag is an established one, well respected, and for some, the bible on interior design and style. Remember when AD was doing a feature on Charlotte's Upper East Side apartment in Sex and the City?

While perusing some articles online, I saw that November's issue has a feature on writers and their homes. See if you think the author's writing style matches up with their taste in interior design.

Rudyard Kipling's (The Jungle Book) study in England exudes old world country charm. Seems like a cozy spot to curl up with one of his many books, though those chairs could get uncomfortable after a while.

My least favorite space of the lot is Terry McMillan's (Waiting to Exhale) house in NoCal. Something very bar-like about it. And I hate all the chairs.

The quintessential New York apartment of Neil Simon (Lost in Yonkers). Clean, contemporary, with a gallery-like quality.

Michail Crichton's (Jurassic Park) 100-year-old house in New Jersey. Love the mid-century modern touch. I'll take those Eames chairs any day, but it seems every one and their mother has a Noguchi table these days, so I'll pass on that.

Not quite The House of the Spirits, but Isabelle Allende's Bay Area home looks like Allende to me.

So order no. 1 looks like Architectural Digest. What else should I get?

Photos: ArchitecturalDigest.com

My Monterey Guide

2008-11-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Monterey.

Four months ago, V, Briscoe and I moved to this town on the central California coast. Located 115 miles south of San Francisco and 350 miles north of Los Angeles, Monterey offers an excellent quality of life and unparalleled beauty, or so says the City of Monterey web site. For the next 18 months, we are here to find out.

Monterey served as the first capital of California from 1777 to 1849. After the Mexican-American war broke out, it was here that Commodore John Sloat raised the American flag claiming California for the United States in 1846. Here too was where the first constitution of the state was drafted.

The Custom House, where Sloat first raised the American flag in July 1846. This is the oldest building in California, and the state's Historic Building No. 1.

Monterey is also known for Cannery Row, an area made famous by the John Steinbeck novel of the same name. Commercialized fishing in Monterey Bay started as early as 1853 when Chinese immigrants began exporting fresh and dried fish to nearby San Francisco. In 1895, the first cannery was opened, packing salmon at first, then sardines, which was plentiful at the time. Canneries opened, one after the other, and by 1945, the canneries of Monterey was a $22 million industry.

But the booming industry suddenly declined, blamed largely on overfishing. With the fish gone, production plummeted. The last sardines were canned in 1964.

Today, Cannery Row has been revitalized to house restaurants and shops. Others would say it's a tourist trap. But those who look closely will find the vestiges of old Ocean View Ave. underneath the souvenier shops.

Ocean View Avenue, where most of the canneries were located, officially became known as Cannery Row in 1958, 13 years after Steinbeck's book was published.

There's more to explore in Monterey. Join us in getting to know this other city (okay, town) by the bay.

I don't know about you...

2008-11-22T16:10:00.000-08:00

... but I thought Twilight sucked. Am I missing something here?

I have not read the book, though I have it. As soon as I get over my disappointment over the film, I might go ahead and read the book to see what all the fuss was about. Because frankly, the film version did not deliver.

Overall, I found the movie to be painfully slow moving, taking forever to set up the relationship between Bella and Edward, but falling way short of evoking the sense of deep connection between the two. Are we to take the many long, awkward looks between the two as the sign that their very souls were connecting? For all their tree-climbing and baseball-playing, Bella and Edward did not seem like the star-crossed lovers in their portrayal. Mina and the Count successfully displayed a much more authentic connection in Bram Stoker's Dracula, and did so with less screen time.

It did not help that Kristen Stewart, who played Bella, seemed incapable of any facial expression other than the scowl she had on. She literally looked like she was in varying levels of pain the whole time.

Did anyone else find the Cullens' almost ridiculous level of paleness distracting? You don't even have to look too closely to see the layers of white foundation heaped on the actors' faces, especially Peter Facinelli, who played the family's patriarch.

To me, the real appeal of any vampire flick lies in its particular take on the vampire mythology. Where do they come from? What can they do? How can you fight them? In Twilight, we got little by way of the Cullens' backstory. There was a mention of an interesting history with the Quileute people, who supposedly descended from wolves. But it stops there.

Worse, these vampires seem impotent, even ordinary, shredding any ounce of vampire mystique that the film might have had going for it.

Any good film adaptation of a book needs, at the very least, to be able to stand on it own, to be able to tell its own story. Viewers shouldn't have had to read the book to understand the nuances of the characters, nor the intricacies of their story.

Overall, Twilight left me feeling unsatisfied, with a sneaking suspicion that perhaps there was something else there that simply ended up on the cutting room floor. But to blame the film's weaknesses on the harsh reality of filmmaking also does not suffice. The movie could have been a fresh re-telling of the age old story of ill-fated love. It could have been our introduction to a modern day vampire, a contemporary Dracula, dashing and young. But it was neither. Instead, Twilight is a sappy love story told at a turtle's pace resulting in a film that is altogether unimpressive.

I'll take an episode of HBO's True Blood over this any day.

Fierce!

2008-11-19T10:22:00.000-08:00

Say what you will, but just don't hate.

This guy is FIERCE!

As seen on today's "The View."

Reminds me of D, a guy I went to college with, who had the whole "Honey" (Mariah Carey) video down, complete with pool diving action. Hilarious!

One thing though: I think this guy can use a sandwich.

A WINK and a Smile

2008-11-18T22:20:00.000-08:00

I write all the time. I get paid for it some times.

My most recent writing project was a feature for Big Builder Magazine on an emerging demographic of home buyers: women with income and no kids or WINKs. Read it here.

Thanks for the opportunity, Sarah!

It's vampire season

2008-11-17T22:30:00.000-08:00

I've always been afraid of vampires. In fact, I'm convinced I saw one, standing in the middle of the street in front of our house, when I was 9. Either that or it was a very vivid dream.

I've also always liked vampire movies. And while I watch the whole world, it seems, go crazy in anticipation of the "Twilight" movie, I've been getting my vampire fix from HBO's "True Blood."

With only one episode to go in the season, I must say that the show has taken some rather crazy turns. But ridiculous as it may seem to some, TB has kept me intrigued. In fact, I might be hooked. The town of Bon Temps has some real characters, including a shape-shifting bar owner, a vampire blood addicted Lothario, and a gay cook/drug dealer/homemade porn star.

Add to that the town's resident vampire, Bill (who is hip enough to play Wii in his spare time) and his heroine Sookie (who, by the way, can read people's thoughts) and you have the makings of a show that is so wacky at times, it's hilarious. But spooky enough too to be dead serious.

More than anything, it's interesting to see what a world where vampires are out and mainstream-ing could be like. And what better place to see it all unfold than the Louisiana bayou.

Did I mention the show is being executive produced by Alan Ball, the same guy who brought us another of my favorite HBO series, "Six Feet Under?"

I now know who I'm going as for Halloween next year!

Today's prescription: a little perspective

2008-11-12T10:27:00.000-08:00

V & I have been talking a lot lately about how unfortunate it is that we will not get to travel overseas this year. We promised ourselves a long time ago that we will take the time (and resources) to go someplace new at least once a year, before we have kids. We figured, this is the time to indulge ourselves, before kids change our priorities.

But due to the current economic situation all over the world, we thought it prudent to put off our planned Christmas trip to Mexico. If there was ever a time to cut out unnecessary expenses and shore up savings, it's now.

Last night, I was feeling extra bad for the fact that our trip has been cancelled. We deserve it, I thought. We don't splurge on anything else. We don't buy stuff for the sake of stuff. I went to bed thinking of the next trip we will take, promising that it will be bigger and better than the one we missed out on.

Last night, I was feeling sorry for myself. This morning, I found this.

We truly have a lot to be grateful for. So I'll start today with "Thank you."

Amen to that Mr. Miller

2008-11-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, V & I took our dog on her first camping trip to Big Sur. We are lucky enough to live within an hour's drive of what is arguably the most striking stretch of coastline in California, wedge between the Santa Lucia mountains and the Pacific. The rugged beauty of this area--its majestic Redwoods, dramatic cliffs, and thunderous surf--have inspired many over the years, including writers like Richard Brautigan, Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller.

"It was here in Big Sur that I first learned to say 'Amen,'" Miller once wrote. "Here I will find peace. Here I shall find the strength to do the work I was made to do."

Big Sur demands several more visits, and we will be happy to oblige.

Along Hwy 1. Bad picture but it's all I took. It was overcast that entire weekend.

We stayed at the Big Sur Riverside Campgrounds and Cabin. Having originally booked a tent campsite, we switched to this cabin when we heard of the rain forecast that night and the next day. We didn't think it was worth the hassle of having to clean and dry out all out camping equipment for an overnight stay.

The cabin came with a picnic table and firepit. If you're wondering about those concrete blocks in the back, they're there to keep mud out. The campground was getting ready to close for the winter season. Because of the fires in Big Sur this past summer, there apparently is threat of a kind of mud flood over the winter, when the rain starts. Since so many trees are now gone, nothing will hold the water and mud at bay. Thus the massive concrete blocks barricading the campground buildings from the river, which is close by.

Not very pretty but the campground owners have learned from experience. Apparently, a similar situation happened a few decades ago, leaving their cabins with about 3 feet of mud inside. They wrapped the concrete blocks with plastic for additional waterproofing, I suppose.

This is the Big Sur River, which looks more like a stream now. It's about 50 feet directly in front of our cabin. This is where our dog had her first swim though I don't think she meant to jump in. Not photos of that, but the look of shock on her face was priceless.

Big Sur is dotted with state parks and beaches, including Pfeiffer Beach. We squeezed in a visit to the beach before day light ran out.

Something kinda creepy in the sand.

V & Briscoe

Beautiful, even on a cloudy day

We spent the rest of the night around a fire, making smores with Nutella. I know now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I'm not a smores kinda girl. It was fun to try though.

Briscoe did not like the fire. Here she is staying as far away from it as she could.

Never did like that word

2008-11-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

Spotted at the Maiden Publick House in Big Sur, CA.

Chimay: Belgian beer and cheeses made by Trappist monks. Chimay is apparently the name of the municipality where the monastery is located.

"Here, in this heaven of peace and silence where since 1850 Trappist monks have dedicated their life to God, products are made which, in themselves, gladden the heart of man."

In Tagalog, chimay is slang for maid.

Dogs dine in style

2008-11-06T07:12:00.000-08:00

Bent plywood cuteness for dogs. Too pricey for my taste though, at $210 for the large one.Photo: Pet-super-store.com

Great design for daily living

2008-11-05T08:25:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how good design can elevate everyday items into things of beauty. Some items I want in my home:

Eva Zeisel's Classic Century Dinnerware Originally designed in 1952 by designer Eva Zeisel, reissued by Crate and Barrel. One word to describe this collection: graceful. I especially want the teapot, coffeepot and sauce boat.

Bodum's Columbia sugar and cream set

I'm kind of obsessed with sugar and cream sets. Don't ask me why. This is one of my favorites. So sleek and cool.

Pier 1 Orbit Chair

Mid-century flavor + homey wicker = cool chair

I waited too long to get these. When I finally needed them, they were gone--discontinued! Why Pier 1, why? You just discontinued the one item that gave your brand a cool cachet.

How do you gift wrap a water buffalo?

2008-11-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

Have you started your holiday gift shopping yet? If you, then you've probably considered all the usual suspects. Perhaps a new computer for Papa from Dell, jewelry for Mama, clothes for the sibs. I've actually already purchased gifts for the in-laws online, thinking we would be delivering them over Thanksgiving.

But lately, I've been thinking a lot about how we can live our lives more simply, more authentically. And to me, that includes trying to get away from having so much "stuff." On the flipside, it also means giving less "stuff."

Making charitable donations in someone's name as a gift is nothing new. But this year, I'm pretty sure I will do it for at least some of my Christmas presents. There's one charitable institution that has really piqued my interest.

You know that saying "Teach a man how to fish and you've fed him for a lifetime?" Well, giving through Heifer International is one way of doing that. Instead of giving money to people who need it, the charity gives things that people need to be able to provide for themselves. Their online gift catalog includes goats, bees, flocks of ducks and geese, and trees. They go to communities all over the world where they are most needed. Like the Philippines, where you can help someone buy a water buffalo.

This man, Fred Sarilla of Bugcaon (which I think is in Bukidnon) in the Philippines, got a cow. He says, "Before we ploughed by hand and feet, and what we produced was with our hands and carried on our heads. Now we have a cart. I ride with my wife and children and are talking with joy because we are riding." Photo: Heifer International

Do it. Now.

2008-11-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

It's time to turn off the TV, log off the net, dial down the volume and tune out the noise. Look inside you and make your choice. Please do not forget to vote today.

The problem with 90210

2008-11-03T16:49:00.000-08:00

Annie, Dixon and their impossibly young looking mom

I wanted to like the CW's remake of Beverly Hills 90210. I really did. But after watching a few episodes back to back on CW.com (stupid Direct TV does not carry the channel in our area. Do I really have to hook my TV up to rabbit ears just to watch Supernatural, Smallville and Gossip Girl?! Did I just admit to watching Gossip Girl?!?), I have to say that I truly am disappointed with this one.

The show's biggest problem is that it is following in some pretty big footsteps. Who does not remember, fondly or otherwise, the adventures of Brenda and Brandon as they navigate the complicated life of a Beverly Hills teen? Admit it or not, most of us who are old enough to have watched the original series found a favorite in the Walsh kids, Kelly, Dylan, Donna, Steve and even little David. They were young and beautiful, yes, but more importantly, they were all really likable. Sure, we don't all drive red BMWs like Kelly, or have a TV star as a parent like Steve, but those characters' personalities were believable enough that we somehow were able to relate to their issues. Raise your hand if you ever said the words, "Donna Martin graduates!"

The way they were

In sharp contrast are 90210's current cast of angsty teens who come off almost like caricatures of the characters they are supposed to play. Where do I begin? How about with Naomi? As the school's apparent queen bee, she would be the modern day equivalent of Kelly Taylor. But unlike Kelly, whose bitchy facade was tempered by a kind of vulnerability, there is nothing sympathetic about Naomi. She, so far, has been all about herself. Even her supposed affection for troubled friend Adrianna rings untrue. Not to mention the fact that Annalynne McCord plays the character more like a thirty-something Hollywood trophy wife rather than a high school teenager. I mean, how are we supposed to root for Naomi and on-again-off-again boyfriend Ethan when every time they're on-screen together, she looks like she could be his mom.

Ethan and Naomi

Kansas-transplants Annie and Dixon Wilson are equally disappointing. Part of why the first 90210 was successful is because you felt for Brandon and Brenda. Most of us will never know what it's like to be a Beverly Hills insider, and as the Minnesota twins made the painful adjustment to their new life, we felt their pain. Not so with Annie and Dixon, who after only a few perfunctory scenes of awkwardness between the newcomers and the locals, seem to immediately fall right into step with the kids at Beverly Hills High. Dixon had a little tussle with the a player in the hockey team, but after a orchestrating a prank involving pigs, he's suddenly best buds with everyone, scoring a skinny girlfriend (Kelly's now teenage sister Erin) along the way. And Annie, who suffered the initial rebuff of Naomi and the cruel spotlight of Erin's blog, managed to star in the school play, become BFFs with Erin, and date two of the hottest guys in school. All in eight episodes or less. I mean, where are the growing pains? How are we to grow to like these characters when we don't see them struggle at all?

Dixon and Erin

But I think the show's biggest problem is that it's not sure what it wants to be at all. The old 90210 was clearly a teen drama, at a time when teen dramas were few and far between. Times have changed. Now the new show is just one of many that feature perfectly coiffed and fabulously dressed teens. 90210 doesn't seem certain whether it wants to be the other Gossip Girl or the next 7th Heaven. For now, it lacks the appeal of either shows and as far as this viewer is concerned, falls way short of making the DVR list (Even if I could. Do you hear me Direct TV?!).

Photos: CW.com, tv.popcrunch.com

In defense of champorado

2008-11-03T16:19:00.000-08:00

Do you like champorado?

I do. In fact, I've had more of it for breakfast or merienda in the last two months than I have in the last two years. In September, I had the opportunity to shop at a real Filipino supermarket in San Diego. You know the kind, selling everything from Eskinol to walis tambo. Where I live, we have two Filipino stores, but their selection is always lacking. Anyway, I got a couple of boxes of White King Champ-O-Rado mix, and I'm steadily eating my way through them.

My husband, who is generally open to all sorts of unfamiliar dishes, has seen me consume this chocolate porridge with gusto. And for the life of him, he cannot figure out the appeal. Especially when I break out the spicy tuyo, dab it dry with some paper towels and flake it over a steaming bowl of what must look like dark brown paste to him.

Why do I like champarado? Like many other Filipinos, I grew up eating the stuff. My Tita Chit used to make them for us at Inay's house, served with a splash of evaporated milk, or better yet, coconut milk. It was good for serving to guests too, as I have memories of old ladies slurping it up during padasal at my lola's house.

In college, I would sometimes go to the Tapa King that used to be (I heard it's not there anymore) located at the end of Esteban Abada, a quick walk from where I lived. They had champorado on their menu, complete with a side serving of tuyo, if I remember correctly. On a rainy day like today is when I enjoyed it most. I still have a mental image in my head of walking into that Tapa King in soaking wet shoes (Abada flooded easily), all for a dose of warm, chocolate-y comfort.

So perhaps my attachment to champorado is an emotional one. Like all Filipino food, it connects me to my past and brings me back to some good ol' times. But don't knock the flavor till you've tried it (maybe without the salty fried fish, at first). After all, who doesn't like chocolate?

And yes, I had champorado again today. With Nido.

Photo: Asiamex.com

Anthony Bourdain likes pig.

2008-10-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

I am what you would consider a culinary observer. I dabble with recipes here and there but I'm hardly a player, more a bystander.

Food shows interest me. Even more so when mixed with a good dose of travel. So imagine my delight when I found out that Anthony Bourdain has just shot an episode of "No Reservations" in Cebu.

"Best pig... EVER"

Way to reprezent, Market Manila!

But look it, it seems Tony was nervous about his visit to the P.I.

Photo: TravelChannel.com

Oh, Brett.

2008-10-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

Bill Plaschke of the LA Times does not mince words. Why Brett? Why?!

Time to shop for an Aaron Rodgers jersey.

Vote

2008-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

I got my ballot in the mail last week. Which got me thinking more seriously about who I'm going to vote for. Having watched all the presidential debates to date, I feel I have a fairly good grasp of what the candidates say they are about. But it's what's unsaid that we need to pay extra attention to.

How does one decide who to vote for? With a war on and the economy in turmoil, this question has never been so important.

What ever you decide, do so with as much information as possible. Decide what matters to you and vote accordingly. What are your key issues? Along with war and the economy, mine include the environment, education, immigration and health care.

I'll make my pick at the end of the week and send my ballot in.

Who are you voting for?

Packers, yeah!

2008-10-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

The Green Bay Packers won. Yey!

V and I joined other fans at the Knuckles Sports Bar in Monterey to watch the Packers trample the Colts yesterday. And as soon as that game was over, Packers fans switched to cheering for the Jets and Brett Favre as they went into overtime against the Raiders.

The Jets lost, but today the question is whether Favre committed "football treason." Say it isn't so.

Unplugged

2008-10-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

Do your pocketbooks and the environment a favor and unplug those appliances now.

Unplugged at my house:

Coffeemaker

Toaster

All chargers

Printers

Hairdryer

Sonicaire charger

Plugged in:

Cable boxes and TVs (I know, but my DVR...)

Living Green

2008-10-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

I'm far from a strict environmentalist, but I try. Recently, things around my house have forced me to find greener alternatives to getting things done. Not only do they work, they're also much cheaper.

ANTS: I opened my pantry door last night and was shocked at the sight of ants crawling all over boxes and cans. The lure was a bottle of honey, but they made sure to stop at everything else along the way as well.

We had some leftover ant baits so I busted those out. They contains something that's poisonous to ants when consumed. But the tricky part is that the ants have to crawl inside the bait, take a bite, and go home to die or something. I watched as they circled the bait and walked away. What was attracted to the bait was my dog, Briscoe. After seeing her sniff around it, I thought, there's got to be a better way.

A quick Google searched revealed a solution that worked so well, I was totally surprised: talcum powder. Apparently, ants hate it. I scrounged around for a stray bottle of baby powder. Nothing. Found a nearly empty bottle of foot powder under the bathroom sink instead. I sprinkled it liberally in my pantry, shut the door, and about 20 minutes later, the ants were all gone. And I didn't have to worry about poison spreading on our food, or having the dog accidentally snack on the bait.

DISHWASHER: The combination of a crappy dishwasher and hard water has resulted in plates and glasses coming out of the dishwasher with all sorts of junk still on them. I use biodegradable soaps, which used to work well at my last house, but not here. The problem seems to be with the rinse cycle, since that's when I presume grimy things are being redeposited back onto my dishes. After two visits from the dishwasher repair guy, I was advised to buy the strongest detergent I can, and use a rinse aid like Jet-Dry. Only then, I was told, would my dirty plates actually come out clean.

Begrudgingly, I did just that. See, even though I want to be as green as possible, the products I chose have to work first and foremost. Otherwise, why bother?

I picked up some triple-action dishwasher soap with the rinse aid already added in. After a few loads, I found that not only did it not work any better, the strong smells it created were enough to knock me out.

Google again to the rescue. The solution? Good old white vinegar. White vinegar is pretty amazing. I've long since used it as a laundry detergent booster (great for keeping whites white), a deodorizer (mix with some water and spray on upholstery, carpet and the dog's bed), and as a natural disinfectant (instead of Pine-Sol, mop with this instead).

I loaded my dishwasher's rinse aid dispenser with the stuff last night, ran a load, and viola! Clean plates with no filmy white residue or food scum! I will now go back to my green dishwasher soap. Combined with the vinegar, I think it will get the job done minus the noxious fumes.

Let's start by planning a wedding.

2008-10-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

Not mine, of course, but that of a really dear friend.

S is perhaps one of my oldest friends. We were giggly high school girls together, when our days would turn on a smile from a crush, when we would spend lunch hour on a churchyard swing, when we dreamed of the life ahead while walking that tree-lined campus.

She was the one who took me to the doctor when our Biology teacher correctly assessed that I had in fact gone to school with the measles. Together, we scared ourselves silly with ghosts stories while reviewing for the UPCAT at C's house. We walked and talked all those years ago, getting to know each other while we got to know ourselves.

We parted ways of sorts in college, and in the years after that. But all the while, I knew she would always be there for me, and I for her.

Eighteen years later, here we are, planning her wedding. And I am honored beyond words to be her maid of honor.

More wedding planning details will follow, with her permission.

PHOTO: S and I at another friend's wedding in January.

Let's try this again.

2008-10-14T22:39:00.001-07:00

Changing names in an attempt to reinvigorate this blog. Who would have thought that writing for it's own sake could be so difficult to sustain? Certainly not me.

Let's see how far we go.

Moving is a pain.

2008-07-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, moving is one of the most stressful things you can do in your life. And it doesn't matter how many times you do it, each iteration presents its own unique challenges.

This time around, we had the luxury of professional movers. How professional, though, is really just luck of the draw. We caught the short end of it when one of our two "packers," the guys who come to box everything up, was on his first day at work. What should have taken 6-8 hours of packing lasted almost 12 hours. Watching him count our CDs and DVDs one by one was like watching paint dry, when he could have counted in multiples of 8 as they were all organized in a CD/DVD book. A third guy had to come and help them finish at about 6 pm, otherwise, they would have been there till midnight.

We hit more snags: an unwanted lawnmover ended up in the moving truck, but not a much needed handheld vac; a $150 memory foam mattress topper was unproperly packed and arrived in a dirty heap on the floor; another vacuum never made it to the new house, lost somewhere along the way; and I'm still looking for little odds and ends that ended up in who knows what box.

While packing was a relative breeze, since I didn't really have to do anything but supervise, unpacking is another story altogether. Two weeks in, there are still boxes in the garage, waiting for my attention. The house is still a mess, though progress is being made everyday.

And though this house still doesn't feel quite like home, we're getting there. The chemical-y smell left by the cleaning crew who prepped this house for us is slowly being replaced by our own unique scents: coffee brewing in the morning, V's shaving balm, and Briscoe's BO. On another positive note, she now knows how to "go to bed."

It's that time again.

2008-06-04T16:19:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a year now since my last post. Nothing like life to get in the way of writing about life. But it's that time again. V & I are relocating to the central coast of the Golden State. So as we wrap up our five odd years in the greater Tacoma area, I find myself feeling retrospective.

Thus the attempted return to this blog.

This place has been home to me for longer than any other in this country. Yet I feel too much like a stranger here still. There are lots of things about the Evergreen State I won't miss--the infamous Tacoma aroma, the seemingly constant drizzle of rain, the ice cold beaches, my mossy backyard. And there are things I don't get--hiking boots to work in an office and pale, largely unkempt Northwest men. (Sorry, I don't get it!)

But here too is where I nurtured my green side, where nature and the environment is daily business to many and not just a trendy catchphrase.

This place also bore witness to many firsts--our first home, our first dog, my first museum job (which I hate to leave). This is where V & I grew as a couple, then grew older as a married one. I turned 30 here. He became a major here. In all, it's a place we will never forget, and probably come back to again.

So thanks for the memories Tacoma/Dupont/Washington! I leave with good thoughts and a new mountain bike from REI.

PS. Post about Briscoe's birthday to follow. She just turned 1!

And that makes three.

2007-07-23T07:33:00.000-07:00

Meet the newest member of the Klosinski family: Briscoe.

A Labrador/German Shepherd mix (a mutt, really), she came to us by way of a dog shelter. She's nine weeks old now, still very much a baby. Her first night home, she cried and cried and kept V and I up all night. But she's settling in quickly, or at least we think so. She didn't cry at all last night.
She's named after Law & Order's Det. Lenny Briscoe, played by the late Jerry Orbach. Obviously, we thought we would get a boy.

Favorite past time: scratching her collar and sniffing the lawn.

The summer of Potter is on!

2007-07-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

The fifth Harry Potter movie opened today. Can't wait to see it. Fighting not to blow off all work and head to the theatre right now.

FYI, early reports are predicting record-breaking box office numbers. He's got Spidey in his sight!

Get out there! (Part 1)

2007-07-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

I'm ashamed to admit that after 2+ years of living in Washington, I still know very little of this state. I have not ventured far from my stretch of the I-5 corridor and with no real good reason why.

With this possibly being our last 12 months here, I've decided to make a concerted effort to get out there.

Our first foray took us on a route around the Olympic Peninsula, courtesy of Budget Travel Magazine. I like the mag because it more closely reflects the way we actually travel. I'd love to roll Conde Nast Traveller-style, but who's got the budget for a Greek villa rental? Not me.

I was also interested in seeing how our experience will compare to the author's, how magazine prose will translate to real life.

First stop: Ocean Shores, WA (Photo courtesy of the City of Ocean Shores)

A slow start had us driving to Ocean Shores as fast as we can, speeding past the City of Aberdeen, hometown of the late Kurt Cobain. Try as I might, I completely missed the "Come As You Are" sign that welcomes visitors to the city.

It was a sunny April day but that did little to counter the cold brought on by strong winds in Ocean Shores. It was "blustery," all right. We check in and immediately head to the beach.

To tropical island dwellers like me, going to the beach means chilling with a Mai-Tai (or a cold San Mig Light) while splayed out on warm (to scorching hot) powdery sand. This was far from it.

Imagine a vast, flat, gray expanse bordered on one side by an angry Pacific, a band of sea grass and a row of hotels on the other. In between is a scene that I can only describe as a beachfront parking lot, minus the painted strips.

People don't walk on this beach. They drive on it. Compact and hard, the beach was littered with all sorts of cars and SUVs, as well as about half a dozen horses taking tourists on quick jaunts up and down the shore.

I found it weird and interesting at the same time. I asked V to park as close to the water as he could, curious to see how the sand will hold up under the weight of our Jeep. (And if we sank into the sand and got stuck, what then? I didn't stop to think about that.)

The surf looked as flat as the shore, as the ocean loudly churned white frothy waves at my feet. The water was cold, as expected. And as the wind cut through my supposedly windproof jacket, I kicked myself for not taking the author's fleece-and-base-layer advise.

We intended to follow BT's itinerary to a tee. We went to the Ocean Shores Interpretive Center, which was closed; strolled around Damon Point State Park, but couldn't find the Catala (some boat buried in the sand); and attempted to have dinner at Emily's, only to be turned away for lack of a reservation.

We tooled around the small town for a bit, ogling at rustic beach houses lining this narrow peninsula. With nothing else to do, we headed back to the hotel where we suffered through a 15-minute dip in the chlorine-dense hot tub.

All in all, Ocean Shores was a bit of a bust. But I'll give it another shot if the opportunity arises. For now, it's one check off my list.

Score!

2007-06-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

Speaking of reusable shopping/grocery bags...

A trip to Ikea last Sunday netted me these:

At 99 cents a piece, they go a long way to assuage my guilt over millions of wasted plastic bags generated by shoppers like you and me.

And they're cute!

The bags will now find a permanent home in the trunk of my car, ready for action every time I make a quick trip to the market. For those far from an Ikea, most supermarkets and groceries now sell their own reusable shopping/grocery bags, starting at about a buck each. Trader Joe's has them, so does Whole Foods and Albertson's, I think.

Do your part!

Price of ownership

2007-06-25T23:27:00.000-07:00

Today, I had to wrangle with the people who make home ownership possible--the mortgage company. Ours is Chase, who, in their infinite wisdom, has charged us a late fee for a bill that we supposedly did not pay on time.

Here's the skinny: Our original loan was through a company called Loan City. The first bill was due April 1. The sticklers that we are, we wanted to pay way in advance, so we sent our first payment in on March 15, thinking that we were doing the right thing by paying early. But here is where it got complicated. See, three days later, that loan was bought by and transferred to Chase. A few days after that, we got a notice from Chase saying that we did in fact have a bill due April 1, but that it was payable to them. By then, the check we sent was long gone, to Loan City, who also sent us a letter saying that we should continue payments to them until May 1.

Thinking that they would sort each other out, we continued to pay our bills as usual. Only, when the most recent bill came, it showed a late charge. Confused, we called Chase and that's when we found out that the April 1 payment was never forwarded to them, and that we effectively have been paying a month behind since.

The kicker: Loan City is no longer in business.

Here's why I'm pissed. First, both companies sent us notification letters of the transfer but gave conflicting information. Second, we had called Chase at least twice before this last conversation, to check on our account, and nary a mention of the late payments. Third, the man on the phone for Chase made the point of saying that the account will go to credit reporting by the end of the month.

And all this because we thought we'd get ahead by making that first payment early.

Thankfully, we have a loan officer/agent who is working to clear this up. Just the same, we paid our mortgage bill twice this month, just to make sure that our credit does not get affected.

This is the price of ownership that nobody tells you about.

Just the same, I'm grateful for our home. It's a work in progress, in various fronts, but it's ours.

More recent pics to follow.

And by the way, please come visit.

Fun reads

2007-06-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

Little time to write a full post. So I'm passing you along to some blogs that I visit when I'd rather read than write.

When I can't have Filipino food, I visit Market Manila and live vicariously. There's also tons of info on various restos and food spots in and around Manila--a real nice resource for those outside of the country.

Pinoy Cook serves up much of the same, as well as tons of recipes and tips. Written from the point of view of a busy mom.

Philippine fashion and chismis are FUN. No one catches you up like Chuvaness.

What or who are you reading online?

Do Something

2007-06-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

Forget the bag that the fashionistas are going gaga over.

While the idea behind Anya Hindmarch's "I'm Not A Plastic Bag" is sound, I don't think anyone needs to shell out upwards of $50 on eBay (even up to $400, by some reports) for a bag that originally sold for $15 at Fred Segal Flair just to be "green chic."

Everyone can do their part, right here and now, no trendy canvas bag required. Simply say "No thanks" to plastic bags whenever you can. My personal rule: If I can carry it in my two hands, or stuff it in my purse, then I don't need the plastic bag. Do it at the grocery, at the bookstore, at 7-11.

And if you're really interested in using a reusable shopping bag, why not support our own with one of these Bazura bags?

Using recycled foil juice packs, the bags are made by a women's coop in the Philippines.

It's no "It Bag" but it gets the job done, and in my opinion, is cute in it's own way.

Sunshiny smoothie

2007-06-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

Jamba Juice trumps Starbucks every time.

My drink of choice: Mango-a-go-go. For me, it's not so much a health thing but a taste thing. Cold coffee just does not do it for me. Mangoes, on the other hand, I'll take any way I can.

"Vibrant mangos make your taste buds skip, prance and dance! Sun-ripened mangos contain antioxidants like Vitamin C and Beta Carotene. It also has Vitamin A to help keep your immune system skipping along."

Off to get one now...

My last year as a twenty-something

2007-06-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

I'm nine months away from turning 30, which, I imagine, is when the real grown-up stuff starts. But before I get there, I plan to make the most of my last year as a twenty-something.

I plan to get healthy (my running shoes are dusty), pick up a new hobby (will that herb garden ever be?), get involved, recycle religiously, travel a bit, and do something I've never done before. I'm still working out the details.

What would you do?

Fashion

2007-06-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

One downside of living far from trendy cities like New York and Los Angeles is that you slowly lose your sense of fashion. Mind you, I was never one who always wore the latest trends, but I liked being around it and appreciated the diverse aesthetics that it provided.

While packing recently for a 4-day trip, I realized that my closet had gotten just so depressingly boring. Over the last years, my regular attire has come down to different combinations of about a half dozen solid-colored t-shirts and 3 pairs of jeans.

Hoping to inject some life into my wardrobe, I hit the local mall. Two hours later, I was empty-handed and very annoyed. I walked out of there with a knitted hoodie zip-up and a black babydoll dress which I bought only because they were ridiculously discounted and I felt the pressure to get something for my efforts.

Two weekends ago, I bought a pair of white Betula sandals and felt sufficiently proud of my fashion forwardness.

Someone help me.

Disclaimer

2007-06-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

It just wasn't part of the plan. I always fancied myself as an urban-dweller, living among the hubbub of city life, the sounds, the people, the energy. Now, the only thing that regularly punctures the quiet of my street is the sound of kids playing, or the passing ice cream truck.

And being married to the military--that I certainly did not see coming.

Thus the reluctance, and the growing pains.

But while I missed on the details, the larger themes are in place. I hoped for laughter, some fun, a little adventure, contentment and a quiet happiness when imaging my life. And that I most certainly have.