Monthly Archive for January, 2008

Pressies of love

Published
by
mai
on January 27, 2008
in crumbs from your table, desire and the wanderer
. 4 Comments

I’m making a list of items I like as pasalubong from the Philippines, just so I have a quick reference when someone asks. Please feel free to add, links welcome.

Pasalubong from the Philippines

Tablea

Mangosteen Jam by Kablon Farms

Carabao milk pastillas - we received a couple boxes of the DVF ones from my aunt and uncle and they were delicious, soft and creamy. The bad thing about it is that it only lasts for about a week, so you either be a pig and eat it all or freeze what’s left over so you can have them again.

Boy Bawang

Moby chocolate curls

Dulcegatas

Butterscotch

Taba ng Talangka

Spicy tuyo

Ensaimada

Burong hipon

the ubiquitous dried mango

preserved Santol

Sampaloc

What the heck, this is my pasalubong when I go to the Philippines.

Hanes t-shirts - my dad’s bilin and I get some for the male family members because they love how the US hanes shirts get very thin they go a bit see through.  This is terrific when its hot and humid its like walking around without a shirt but you get (1) some degree of decency and (2) something to wick sweat off your skin

I’ll organize this better later, and maybe add some links if I have them.

Dreampuff

Published
by
mai
on January 27, 2008
in lady with the spinning head
. 2 Comments

I don’t like stuffed toys usually, but this one. Oh wow. Love at first sight.

Plush monster by NuitBlanche

And its eyes and teeth glow in the dark!

Plush monster by NuitBlanche

by NuitBlanche. Her dolls are strange monsterly beautiful.

Girl’s Satur day out 2

Published
by
mai
on January 26, 2008
in lady with the spinning head and the wanderer
. 0 Comments

I don’t go shopping downtown much, most of my things come from (1) online, (2) discount stores like Ross and Marshalls, or (3) little shops on sale :) — so when E and I headed to Union Sq thereabouts today we decided to take a peek at some shops we had not visited previously.

We were supposed to go to Forever21 just to have a look at the architecture, because the store was built inside an old bank building and a lot of the interior details have been preserved and some were used as inspiration for the new millwork  (like the cashier counter which had a transluscent stone, my take is it is onyx, that reflected the ceiling detail) Against my plans I bought a nice dress at Forever21 for $20. It’s most likely a knockoff of something, and not sewn pulido, but hey I am not complaining.

It’s a navy blue cottonylinen sleeveless dress with black swirls on it, and I think with either a black cardigan or a black shirt underneath, some tights and boots/heels/flats it will look nice and be warm enough for this weather.

This store surprised me, it isn’t as trendy as I thought, and I found some pretty good basics that I think I may come back for in future.

Now the shoes…were scary. They didn’t look comfy at all, and the wooden heels were “wooden” heels. Wrapped in woodprint sticker or some other linoleumy material.

I also finally got to visit Urban Outfitters. The clothes were sort of meh-ish to me, but the shop had a lot of nicely priced home decor - quilts, plates, lamps, and even mini Black Forest cuckoo clocks (not made in China ha!) on sale for $5. Cool. I bought a smokers candle, supposed to help get rid of odors, and now I’m debating whether to leave it in the kitchen or the toilet. Hah.

Then E said we should really drop by Neiman Marcus because we had never been there. Sure, what the heck, and off we went down Powell. We entered into the cosmetics department and walked past the Clarins counter, got asked to try the instant smooth cream by Paolo, the makeup artist (who had beautiful eyelashes, jealousy). Now this is what I like about these upscale shops — even if he knew we had no intention of buying anything he gave E and I some lipliner and skincare samples. It could also have been a ploy to get us to buy…it sort of worked, because E and I split a pack of the skin smoother. And get this, he threw in a free full sized bottle of the one-step cleanser. Not bad.

When we were walking out of what I thought was NM, E says hey this is Saks 5th Avenue pala, we entered the wrong shop. Hay what idiots we were. So we walk down to “the real” Neiman Marcus, and I guess J was right when he said we really shouldn’t bother because there was nothing there aside from cosmetics that I could afford, or would consider buying. It’s got all the luxury brands though, and they had a lovely tweedy Burberry coat on sale for $800, 50 off na yon hehe.

Last stop, a coffee shop in Maiden Lane for some water and a latte. I like the mocha at Mocca, but man, 8bucks for a double, nevermind, I’ll take the $3 one at the Bistro 69.

While we were sitting and sipping we heard a woman singing opera and it was really so refreshing and unexpected. Imagine that! These are the things I love about SF. Sometimes I get so disgusted with homeless people who get in your face and rude bikers, then something as great as this pops up.

Litz, the Opera Lady

Thank you opera lady.

Girl’s Satur day out 1

Published
by
mai
on January 26, 2008
in crumbs from your table, lady with the spinning head and the wanderer
. 2 Comments

It was supposed to be really rainy this weekend but when I got the Fatted Calf weekly letter I couldn’t not order…So I asked E if she wanted to go Ferry Plaza and then head downtown to do some (window) shopping and visit places we usually couldn’t go to with the spouses, who at their most patient just can’t handle all the butingting and browsing we do.

E was at our apartment by 10, and we got on the 31 bus, and then I picked up my order from Fatted Calf — listen to this droolicious list of what I got… Rabbit crepinettes with braised shallots, Boudin blanc with chestnuts, 2 packs of wild mushroom sausage, and a container of Sugo di carne. Eeeyumm — and a little container of dried hachiya persimmons from one of the stalls, which were not as good as the fresh IMO, maybe I should get the WeLoveJam version even if it is 3x the price…

Then we took the 31 bus again and got down 2nd St. / Montgomery. Walked down 2nd a bit, just past the Starbucks so we could get to Ming’s Coffee Shop. I told E that a Pinoy lady from the eyeglass shop J went to recommended this place and told us that she and 2 coworkers would go there for lunch almost every other day and ordered the Deep Fried Whole Fish. A whole deep fried flour coated flat fish, about 6 inches by 15 inches in size, fried so crisp the bones turn into chicharon — with a bowl of rice, for about 6 bucks. Notbad huh? Well, if ever youre in SF and go broke shopping downtown, or just want cheap fried fish but cant cook it at home bec. you lack the requisite excellent exhaust system, you know where to go…

The patatas in the corned beef

Published
by
mai
on January 20, 2008
in lady with the spinning head
. 3 Comments

Oh Abby’s filler post was so timely because now I get to use it hahaha. J’s in Manila for a week and I am home with Sophie, just done eating 1/2 an order of Sesame Chicken and some steamed veggies from the Chinese restaurant a block away. Gosh, I can’t believe that before J and I were so far apart and we would only see each other every 2 years or so and now he’s away for 2 days and I feel lonely na eerrg.

1. Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?
I think we try to find reason in what happens, so we can take things better. Sometimes though everything is just so random. Why did he/she get run over by a train and not me? etc etc…

2. What color are the walls of your room?
Off-white. I’ve been planning to repaint for over a year but haven’t gotten to it… designer inertia :oops:

3. When was the last time you saw the last person you had feelings for?
Friday 2 days ago

4. If you could push one person off a mountain, who would it be?
Surprisingly, I can’t think of anyone.

5. Where did you get the shirt you’re wearing?
Target (white boys-sized Hanes shirt pambahay again)

6. Is anything bothering you right now?
Ya, the bedroom light died right after J left for Manila, and I’m debating whether I should carry the ladder out of the garage and into the apartment, unscrew the light diffuser, etc etc or just suffer in (relative) darkness with only the halogen lamp.

7. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever heated up in a microwave?
Marshmallows to see them expand… although I am thinking of microwaving our sponge.

Where are you 8, 9? 

10. Are you a cuddler?
Ya, but not in public.

11. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
Not really

12. Have you ever liked someone who treated you like crap?
I think so…but not for long.

13. Have you ever seen a zebra?
Not in person, no.

14. Would you ever date anyone the same sex?
Not likely.

15. If a couple finds out they’re going to have a baby but one of them doesn’t want to, who has the right to decide?
Tough one, they should both agree, besides…where was the birth control when it was needed?

16. Are you offended by dumb blonde jokes?
No.

17. What are you doing tomorrow?
Worky worky, go home, prepare for San Diego trip.

18. Have you ever called your boyfriend/girlfriend hunny?
Nope.

19. If you could go back and change something, would you?
Ya, I would have nagged mom and all of us to stop smoking.

20. What does your hair look like right now?
It looks like I need a haircut soon.

21. Has anyone disappointed you recently?
Not that I can recall.

22. Will next weekend be a good one?
Ya! J’s going to be back na

23? 

24. How did you get the idea for your profile name?
A catchy name of a plant I heard about from someone who was taking a landscaping class, the “swiss cheese plant”

25. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
Aside from “the rings”, a pair of south sea pearl studs mom and I bought at Jewelmer (my only other piece of jewelry heh)

26. Look to your right. What’s there?
Cordless phone, jar of ginger candy, camera charger, eyeglass wipes.

27. Look to your left. What’s there?
Eeh so much …water bottle, can of diet coke, half eaten veggies, glass of water, dvd of Deadwood, sheafs of paper etc etc…thats not half the junk so you can imagine what a mess my desk is.

28. Have you ever done something to instigate trouble?
A lot, especially in my younger days…once I worked in an office where we werent allowed to send personal emails and then I got a fwd-ed one from the HR manager and it was some joke or personal story and then I fwd-ed to “all” including everyone from the different US offices with the note “I thought personal emails were not allowed?” No, I wasn’t fired.

29?

30. What classes do you consider to be nap time?
GE 100 mygosh I cant even remember what GE is… I think Geodetic Engineering, History of Architecture, Structural, Mechanical engineering. Physics, Calculus. Thats why I kept flunking.

31. Do you get attached to people easily?
No, I tend to keep to the same people I’ve been close to for a long time. Although sometimes you meet people (online even) and you just hit it off really well.

32. Why are you online?
I’m always online in the evenings. To check mail, read the news, window shop.

33. What happened a year ago today?
I can’t remember exactly. I was working for Kendall the Kupal and was not happy.

34. Have you ever been to Florida?
Nope.

35. Has a person you dated ever made you cry?
Ya!!! J did a lot, tsk tsk tsk.

36. Ever driven without your license?
Yes, but not in the US.

37. What time did you wake up today?
8ish.

38. Are you looking forward to tomorrow?
Yes. What a change!!! Last year I hated Mondays because the thought of going to work and dealing with all the shit drove me to frustrated tears. Now I think about my job and could almost do a jig I am so happy.

39.Where have you worked recently?
Corporate Interiors office, prior to that — hell.

40. Who is someone you wish you could fix things with?
No one in particular, I’m sort of good with everyone I need to be.

41. Have you ever thought that you were going to marry the person you were going out with?
Yes.

42. Have you ever liked someone so much that it hurt?
Ya! Surprising how the heart tightens up no? Baka din its just cholesterol.

43. Have you ever made a boyfriend or girlfriend cry?
Yup.

44. How has your week been?
Tiring but fine.

45. Have you ever been cheated on?
No I don’t think so.

46. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
J.

47. What is your favorite color?
Hmm I can’t think of a “favorite”… well I like browns.

48. Last song you listened to?
Some song from the Deadwood soundtrack.

49. Did you win the last bet you made?
Can’t recall.

50. Have you ever had your heart broken?
Ya by J!

52. Last thing you ate?
Sesame chicken and steamed chinese green vegetables.

53. Do you get late night calls?
Not often but I hate them they freak me out, the last bunch of calls was when mom was very sick.

54. Are you on drugs?
No.

55. When was the last time you went to the doctor?
If doctor includes dentist, 2 weeks ago — for a root canal retreat $$$

56. Are you still with your first love?
Ya.

57. Do you have any medical problems?
I hope not.

58. Are you going to Prom?
Eh?

59. What are you excited for?
J coming home, his birthday too

60. What did you do today?
Veg

61. What are you going to do now?
Continue vegging :D

Chocolite

Published
by
mai
on January 19, 2008
in conversation on a barstool, crumbs from your table and things to make and do
. 0 Comments

It’s pretty chilly here nowadays and although anytime is a good time to have some chocolate, this is an especially great time for some warm creamy hot chocolate! I’ve been trying not to eat too much sweets but nowadays I cant resist. I use splenda though, so hopefully that makes it a bit better (and not as hypocritical as eating chicharon bulaklak with…diet coke heehe)

I usually do 2 tablespoons of unsweetened chocolate powder (now I’m using Ghiradelli but Hershey’s unsweetened isn’t too bad either), 1 cup of milk (or 1/2 cup lowfat milk and 1/2 cup water), some lavender sea salt - salt is very important! it gives you that counterpoint to the sweetness, and some drops of vanilla. I mix all the dry stuff in a pan with a bit of the milk until I get a paste, then add the rest of the liquid, bring everything close to (but not to) a boil. Pop in a mug, add the splenda and drinky drinky.

Tonight I tried doing something sortof Mexican chocolatey using regular salt, and adding some cinnamon powder and a pinch of chili powder. Yummy! You should try it this way too.  I’m sure it would be delicious topped with whipped cream but then thats abit too decadent for me right now.

Babaw joys

Published
by
mai
on January 19, 2008
in conversation on a barstool and lady with the spinning head
. 2 Comments

Well I did 2 things for the first time today…and I’m mighty pleased.

First, I actually printed a mailing label and paid online, and left the package outside our door for the mailman to take. How cool is that? For someone like me, the USPS is a wonderful thing. I can just imagine trying to do that in the Phils…where if a stranger doesn’t steal your package, then someone from the post office will. I had never even understood the phrase “the check is in the mail” until I got here.

Next, after being in SF for 2 years I finally got to ride the BART alone. I had always been stressed out by the idea of getting tickets from a machine (When I was in Shanghai and needed to ride the subway I would just pop coins in and pick a stop that looked like where I thought I was going…and then prayed, and believe me, prayer didnt work all of the time heh) but after popping in my AMEX which the machine turned out not to accept (heh again) I finally placed some bills in and got my $7.00 ticket, and then after that it was just like riding the MRT in Manila pala hahaha. I love that they have this booklet with the map and all the fares and times the trains arrive, if only the freaking Muni were as predictable.

Extended wait

Published
by
mai
on January 15, 2008
in happiness is a warm gun and lady with the spinning head
. 2 Comments

The sweater I ordered is really pretty…but a size too big. Shit it takes a week or so to ship back from NY, add some days processing and then another week to get the right size to me. Arrrg.

On the other hand, I did end up buying something else online, a pair of those selvedge jeans…

Jean Shop front

now these fit fine, but are about 6 inches too long. Oks na din, I can fold them inward and tape them until I decide how long I want them to be.

2007 thanks

Published
by
mai
on January 6, 2008
in heartland and lady with the spinning head
. 1 Comment

You know sometimes I stop and think about my life and tell myself that “I’m happy” Husband’s great, cat is sweet, job’s wonderful, everyone’s in fairly good health, family (although they’re in Manila) is reachable.

Life’s good.

Post-holiday shopping trickle

Published
by
mai
on January 6, 2008
in desire
. 1 Comment

Considering that it’s prime sale season now I think I’ve been quite good shopping because all I got was a pair of $30 walkable shoes and this

Poorboy sweater

I guess needing to pay my credit card bill this month is a factor influencing my “prudence”And darnit, with the dollar being so low compared to the euro I think I just can’t justify buying the perfume I wanted.

Oh well.