Life, Day by Day

When I was single, it was the struggle that I always dealt with – should I buy premade food at the grocery store, or should I buy the supplies and make it myself. Since I was young, was just eating for myself, I typically opted to buy the premade items (or just skip the grocery store in general and stay with fast food), but now I’ve changed some of my ways. Here are some thoughts on whether you should buy premade food or just make it yourself.  

Just recently I was doing some research on costumes and I saw a picture of a man wearing Lederhosen . This triggered fond memories of my childhood.   Three, in fact.  The first one is that of my grandmother and  her favorite childhood story. She had this illustrated book titled "Heidi", a novel written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri about a young orphan girl left in the care of her grandfather. My Lola Rizing loved this book and told it to me over and over again. When I learned how to read, I memorized this story by heart and even today, I still feel so close to Heidi, Peter, Clara, and of course, Grandfather.  One of my most fervent childhood wish was to live in a loft near the Alps, and I also badgered my grand-aunt who was a dressmaker, to make me a garment just like Heidi's which I later learned was called a dirndl. I will always remember Grandfather and Peter wearing breeches, which I now know as Lederhosen.  

Ever since the news of the crash of the airplane carrying DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo just off the shores of Masbate flashed on TV, a lot of mixed feelings arose in me. I do not know the man, nor am I familiar with what he has accomplished, but somehow his death became a personal loss. More so when all the stories about his exemplary life as a public servant started to be told. This country and people need men like Secretary Robredo to bring us out of the rut that we are in.  And what made this so sad was the fact that just as the light at the end of the tunnel seems to grow brighter for the Philippines, one candle was abruptly snuffed out, thus dimming the way once more.  I think I am really grieving for this country's loss.

Last July 27, Mark Magallanes of RepublicaNegrense came home to Bacolod for business and pleasure. On his itinerary was doing food reviews of famous and not-so famous food establishments in Bacolod and so, he invited some local bloggers to join him. I chose to go to Felicia's Cafe and Steak Room in 6th Street. Remember my post , about how happy I was to see that Felicia's opened a branch at Robinson's Central Citywalk and why I have never been to their main store yet? Well, now was my chance to go with a group and at the same time get to meet other bloggers.

I rarely watch TV but the other day while waiting for dinner, I sat down with my son and daughter who was watching Kung Fu Panda 2 on HBO. Although I saw the original movie, this sequel for me is a much better one. The adoption part of the story appealed to me being an adoptive mother of 2 kids, my now 21 year old son and my 4 year old daughter.  Needless to say, I sat through till the end of the movie. 

The City Tour Our harassed travel agent cum tour guide arrived early the next morning to pick us up for the " part of the package, shouldn't be missed " half day city tour.  There were just 6 of us (my aunt-nun has joined us by this time) and so our ride was the same van that we rode from the airport.  Our tour guide was named Eric and he was very informative and his Chinese English with a British accent was very entertaining.  He says pooh instead of poor and people turned to peepoh...heheh.  On our way to the cross harbor tunnel which we will be entering to go to Hongkong Island, he pointed out heritage places, shopping centers, hotels, schools as well as tenement houses which had clothes lines hanging out from window to window up to the top floors. But remember this was in 1993, so I don't know if this practice is still common in the Kowloon part of Hongkong.