Two Different Worlds

Yesterday, I was tasked to do personal cheffing at a Manhattan high end household.  The regular chef had to attend his son’s graduation and I was a sub.   (I presumed this  house chef had appeared in Food Network’s Master Chef since I saw it written on his chef coat at the staff room while I placed my purse on the chair and changed to my own coat).

Anyway,  I prepared 2 meals which consisted of beef stroganof sans mushroom, mashed potatoes instead of the pasta and green beans for the Mister.  For the missus, it was grouper fillet with brown rice and green beans.  YOu’d think that being rich would be fancy dandy--but no! The simplest is always the best---but they just have househelp for that flair.

Needless to say….at about 6:30, the housekeeper was all dolled up in her clean crisp dark blue maid’s garb that had white bleached laced  trimmings on the collar,  and sleeves.  She looked radiantly different from her daily daytime uniform.

My meal was cooked and had been  warming up in the oven.  At exactly 7 pm, the couple was seated in the dining room,  table set with polished silver and fine china, and the candles lit.  It was showtime.

I plated the meals for the housekeeper to serve.  And while they ate, I transferred the extra food to their  individual silver dishes and covered in foil to be placed in the warmer , just in case the couple asked for seconds which they did.

While they were having dinner, I was cleaning away in the kitchen, restoring everything as I had found it when I came.  At exactly 7:30, the missus stood up, went to the kitchen and thanked me for a lovely dinner.  I smiled.  

The ambience of that  dinner was silently elegant, with only the sounds of the housekeeper’s footsteps when she serves or the ringing of the electronic bell when the missus would summon her.  Even I took pains in not creating any sound from the kitchen, lest the boss questions the noise.

An hour later, I was back in my apartment.  I live with two men (my hubby and son), and as I entered it, tools were on the floor , on  the dining table  was a bottle of wine and a half filled glass.  A half  cut of sushi burrito on its paper container was so inviting, while the music of Jason Miraz filled the lighted apartment.  Somewhere in one of the rooms I heard a call, “the queen is here!”

I plopped on my favorite spot, placed my feet on one of the dining chairs and started munching on the burrito and sipping the wine, oblivious to whoever were its owners.

Regardless of how one lives either  of elegance and sophistication, which I experienced an hour or so ago,.....or one that is having a semblance of organized chaos, home is home is home ---wherever your world is.

 a sculpture of Pablo Picasso's pregnant lady

Empowering the youth

It was a couple of years ago, that I had been invited to attend a Rafael M. Salas  lecture at the U.N. and several years later, another one came.  (Btw, Rafael Salas was the former executive secretary of  Marcos during the latter’s  first term as president of the Philippines. Salas  then moved to New  York before  Martial Law was declared.  He then established, organized  and became its first executive director for the United Nations Population Fund that assists in a better quality of life for  women and children  in a global sphere.  Every year, a lecture is done in honor of him)

The previous lecture  I attended was about the conditions of women in third world countries especially in Africa (I forgot the speaker’s name) , and this time, it was about “empowering the youth” given by H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

As I listen to him speak about it, my mind wanders about my own country and how the youth have been exploited and abused.  And am talking about the proliferation of drugs and criminality, which the elected president has vowed to minimize if not eradicate within 6 months, as these are the causes of many of the youth’s decline.

And instead of ranting about the negativity and the decline of moral adversities, it is best that we find solutions to bolster their images.  I like what the speaker said on how the  youth could be empowered and that  the major extent of its solution lies on economics.

One key element is employment.  Kikwete said that out of the 1 Billion youth in the world, 74 Million of them could not find jobs.  And in order for jobs to be created, investments are needed.   And  in order  make way for these investments  there must be ample skills needed to generate the industry it wants to propagate, thus the needed  education is another aspect.

Since education is important to gain such skills, many youth especially those in  third world countries, find it difficult  since they have to help in earning a living for their families in order to survive.  And those that can attend school , sometimes have too many absentee teachers. Morevoer there are schools that are geographically challenging for many  student to attend thus discouraging them  to even try.

And speaking about education, one cannot learn unless the stomach is full, thus nutrition should be then addressed as well.

All these activities are interrelated and  synchronicity should be orchestrated rightly so, to be able to come up with the ideal  system of empowering the youth.

But there is one thing that  adults  fail to consider  when finding  solutions for the  problems of youth.  And that is, to include them in decision making.  It is high time we stop talking and start listening to them.  After all, they are our future, and it is change they want---it should be change they shall get.

 the Tanzanian ex-president is on the far left and on the far right is my aunt, Carmelita Salas, wife of Rafael Salas, whose lectures are made in honor of him.

 my new found Filipina friend

 Tita Carment chatting with a friend

the cocktail reception after the lecture....the appetizers were so yummy.

Duck Soup No.1

So last night, when the polar vortex started to hit the city of New York, instead of staying in, hubby and I braved our way to my son’s place for some bonding and tv time.  Of course, we had friends who were  already there and they feasted on lechon belly cooked by Lui and Ai,  after which a few shots of Avion tequila to be had for more fun.

But the evening wouldn’t be complete without  the famous DUCK SOUP that my hubby, so expertly makes when  there’s a request.  It’s usually great after a bout of those fun drinks to dispell hangovers the next day.   So here’s the recipe as narrated:

Ingredients:

Roasted Duck Carcass  (china town in flushing or in manhattan offers roasted  duck Carcasses  for a dollar or two.  These roasted carcsses are those  whose meat have been sliced off and sold as bao sandwiches)

Roasted Duck (half a duck which sells for about 10 dollars is good enough, debone it first and cut the meat into small pieces and the bones put together with the other pot for broth)

dried shitake mushrooms (soaked in water to soften)

enoki mushroom

5 spice powder (3 tsps)

anise seed (½ tsp)

sesame oil (spicy one is good and can be found in Japanese stores) (3 Tbsp)

salt and pepper to taste

duck paste (hard to find but can add to taste) (2 tbsp)

bokchoy leaves

peel off skin from carcass and pinch out the meat.  Include the duck butt/tails.  Separate all the bones from their meat.  So in one pan, you have all the bones.  Fill that pot of bones and cover it with water.  Boil for 30 minutes or until ready to pour everything out.

Place the meat and the skin  another pot and let it sweat and sear in its own fat.  Make sure you have slow fire so as not to burn it, about 15 minutes.  Slowly deglace it for the first time with the water from the soaked mushrooms.  Boil until half of the liquid has evaporated.  

From the boiling bones, take broth and pour about an inch or so into the other pot of meat. That will be your second deglazing.  When it has evaporated into half, then pour in slowly (and hubby says very slowly) the rest of the broth.  Pour in the rest of the ingredients, mushrooms (2 kinds),  5 spice powder, anise, duck paste, sesame oil, salt and pepper to taste.  

Cook in very slow fire so as to incorporate all the flavors of the duck and the spices.  Simmer  for about 20 minutes.  Add in bokchoy when ready to serve.

(the soup was in very slow fire and everytime anyone wanted hot soup after a whiff of a drink, would simply laddle themselves a bowl and enjoy theselves)

Nevertheless, after dinner, I went to my son’s room to watch tv with my granddaughter, who’d rather watch a chick flick,  than the horror one in the living room.  Both of us were multitasking - playing games on our phone while watching the show.  Such is technology.  Meanwhile, we could hear alternates of screams and silence in the other room as well.

Outside, the weather was slowly dipping and I didn’t want to be caught with a colder temp so we had to leave.  It’s a good thing that our apartment is only about 7 minutes brisk walking…..or else … I’d be a dead duck and be made duck soup….oh well!...keep warm, Noo Yoykers...and to my fellow Cebuanos--keep dry  (heard its raining there)

BRAND AMBASSADOR and PERSONAL CHEFFING in ONE DAY

So yestereday I made my first personal chefing this year for an elderly couple   in one of those richie rich aparments  in  mid- Manhattan.  I am just a side kick for them since the couple have their own French chefs for the weekdays and another couple chef for their summer home..   But first I had to do my grocery shopping and specifically  buy my meat at Ottomaneli’s   and at Citarella for the fish. Price is no question for quality says boss.  Then I go to their  plush apartment and the kitchen is all mine.

What’s my menu for the night:  Irish lamb stew for the Mr and Fillet Flounder for the Mrs. with a set of veggies:  whipped potatoes and carrots for him and brocolli rabe for her.  All paired with wheat grain quinoa.  And dessert is a simple fruit compote. They are simple people with deep pockets….anyway...

So of course, I also serve but the Mr. has his own buttler/personal caregiver who also caters to him.  The table is complete todos recados so to say...Goblets with delicate chinawares, Silver utensils on either side.  I heat the plate up (yes, peeps, I heat up the China dinner plate so it is also warm when served and the food should be piping HOT when served)...So I do that.. And while they are eating, I put all the food that I cooked on a SILVER bowl platter  and place them on a hot tray, then cover it with aluminum foil..That way, when they want seconds, I just put the silver bowl on a tray and serve them….(Cook na, waiter pa)...-- mura lagi sa sinehan..

Anyway, so much for that.  This is one racket I love to do and I get a kick out of doing it.  

And when the dinner was  done, the Mrs. is always so kind to compliment me.  And this is what she said last night.

“VAnette, the fish was delicious and what a brilliant idea of putting slivers of lemon in between the fillet.”  (Mrs. always wants her fish thick and flounder fillets are thin so I combine two slices but placed a thin lemon slice in between.  And lots of olive oil, butter and thyme herbs which she loves)   and then my boss continues, “But next time, can you take out the toothpicks?  I almost ate them.”

Epic fail….(the reason why I placed the toothpicks was because I didn’t want the fillets to open up when I quick fry them to get that crunchy coat on the outside but still moist on the inside.  And because I got so excited, I forgot to pluck them out)..epic fail lagi!

Nevertheless,  I still enjoy what I do….OH and before I went to my personal cheffing, I was Brand Ambasador that morning…That was another fun  thing...And now my body needs a massage from all that fun…

Oh BTW, To all those who are in New York today, Sunday….it’s a “No Pants in the Subway” day.  It’s crazy fun in New York.

love that contrast 

at a grocery doing samplings

All Around Monkey Do!

Sitting on the train to work, the first day of January, the surroundings inside the train smelled of stale beer and sweat,  this, after many revelers travelled back home from a night in Time Square after the famous New Year’s  falling of the ball.  I knew this would be the scenario since several days ago, the LIRR railroad announcement regarding added train schedule was in effect for christmas and new years day.

When I reached my destination, ( a few towns before the Hamptons) a chauffer picked me up and brought me to the main house, where I was greeted by my boss with a happy new year hug.  I am just one of her staff assigned at the summer house, and I am only there when needed.  It’s a regular job but with flexible schedules- and only when they are there.

Such is what I do, one that I am comfortable with.  It won’t make me rich, but at least it pays off some of my bills.  Since I am on a per hour basis, I make the most of my time  until the next visit.  Meanwhile, in between jobs,  other things keep me busy such as writing and other stuff which would fill up my agenda.

I thought I would have a quiet 2 weeks off until the next visit which would be the holiday of Martin Luther King weekend, when  several messages in the email and phone came one after another.  These are the so called ‘rackets’ that I get into of which I am just  so happy to  oblige.

I have friends in the city who do Air BnB ,  which is an alternative for tourists when hotels are fully booked or they are on a budget.  It’s a no brainer job since you only do a little housekeeping for my friends.  This kind of work  is my normal routine at home, so,  why not get paid doing it for someone else.  Besides, the flexibility and not being attached to a job is what I really want....I own my time and I have no boss looking over my shoulder.

An  email came from a company if I was free this weekend to do a demo.  You know, these are the ones you see in supermarkets and big stores like Costco and Trader Joes….something like that…..be a sales lady to try some samples of  their product.  Lots of smiling and lots of freebies. I do this for a company that sells coconut water from the PHilippines.   I get a chance to chat with tons of American customers, such that when I ran out of English words, I  start speaking my Visayan linggo  and do sign languages……..just kidding.…..oh well!

Plus this week, I am doing a ‘gratis’ personal cheffing at a friend’s house, since I have offered to help her make some Italian food.  Her boyfriend has been complaining of smelly dried fish (daing) or the salty adobo she freguently makes in his house.  She’s a good ‘only filipino dishes’  cook but when it comes to international cuisine, I guess she needs assistance.  And so what are friends for.

So from just expecting to be quiet this week, I am now bombarded with tons on my hands and I just love it.  To top it all, I am awaiting my yearly calendar from my ex-boss where I will plot all my schedules for the year-----all the food trade shows, from the International Food trade exhibits, Fancy Food Show, NY Food and Wine, etc..etc..etc..--  plus a few travels up my sleeve...I’m happy and excited.

So, in conclusion…...This little fiery lady is one wild monkey to reckon for 2016…

Bring on those bananas!!!!!! I’m coming to get them.

A vigilant housewife's recipe

I wrote this several years ago, and I am uploading it again for laughs....I submitted it to another website but I guess it was edited in a way that didn't show more craziness... So here is my unedited version.

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Television  programs like “Legal wife” or “two wives” that is trending in the pinoy boob tube, makes us wonder if our husbands are having sideline chikabooms, sidekicks or side dishes we don’t know. Even a glance at another woman, or just a mention of a girl’s name often makes us suspicious…..Here is a recipe/article  I wrote years ago in finding out how to take out your suspicious aggressions that might bother every wife and girlfriend.  Enjoy.

A HOUSEWIFE’S  RECIPE

4 chicken breasts (name them according to your suspects)

1 bottle pizza sauce

basil leaves

i pack grated mozarella cheese

4 tablespoon olive oil

Wash the chicken breasts under cold running water.  

Wipe dry and place each breast on a cutting board.

Now take a meat pounder and hit each breast with resounding force.  

While doing so, shout out obscenities and curses of the girl you think is

flirting with your significant other.

Sprinkle salt and pepper on the breast.  Place a pan on the stove and turn on medium

heat.  Go to your room and check your man’s cellphone if there is any messages from

any woman you don’t know.  NONE.  Go back to the kitchen.

Place oil on the pan and fry the breasts.  Go check your facebook and see if there is any messages on his wall from any woman or if there are women friends he had befriended and

are not familiar to you.  NONE.  Go back to the kitchen and flip the chicken to cook

the other side.  Go check on your house phone for numbers he may have dialed

which are not found on your list of phone numbers.  NONE.

Open the bottle of pizza sauce and spread over chicken.  While waiting for sauce to bubble,

go to the laundry room and check if there are any lipstick marks or any scent of lady’s perfume

on your man’s clothes.  NONE.  Now go back to the kitchen and check if the sauce has bubbled.

Sprinkle chopped basil leaves and cover with grated mozarella cheese.  Remove from fire.

Turn on the oven broiler, and set if for 5 minutes.  Place your pan of  chicken dish under the broiler to create that golden finish.  That will give you enough time to go to the garage and check

his car for  any lady’s items which are not yours.  Meticulously check also for undoubtful strands of hair (pubic or otherwise).  NONE.

You find yourself elated for having no evidence whatsoever and think you are one lucky girl.

Prepare the dinner table with the best china , silver utensils and a bottle of expensive wine.

Then  imagine that every bite that goes into your mouth, will be a celebration….However,

the smile quickly turns into a frown as you imagine…….could my significant other like MEN instead?......TOINK!

THREE COOKING GADGETS EVERY FILIPINO HOME IN THE US SHOULD HAVE

By Vanette Colmenares

New York City — Having lived in the land of milk and honey, I often feel a longing for my childhood comfort food.

And if a Filipino restaurant, especially in the midwest, is far from where one resides, you can always make your own food. I make my fresh lumpia with jicama, ham, and coleslaw veggies instead of the usual ubod (heart of palm). Or I flavor my rice puto a.k.a. biko with orange zest. Sometimes, when I feel like eating ‘ginamos’ or bagoong, I simply saute garlic and onion with a can of anchovies which I mash and spread over my jasmine rice.

Tools, equipment, and appliances as well as the ingredients play a major role in making many Pinoy meals. And I always rely on the magic three:

RICE COOKER. Asians are starch eaters and therefore will always have rice as their staple even amid erroneous reports that it makes you bulge. (Are Japanese people fat considering they eat rice all the time?) Try to get a good brand that can offer you 24 hour fresh hot rice without conking out. My son has one, and in his house, hot rice is always available any time of the day.

SLOW COOKER: Let’s face it. Filipinos love their nilaga (stewed meat), adobo and kare-kare yet do not have the time to prepare due to work constraints. Owning a slow cooker where you dump the meats and hard veggies in the crock pot before you work, and by the time you get back, the meat would have been softened to perfection thus only adding the greens into it.

TURBO BROILER: If there’s one thing Filipinos have truly embraced from our Asian neighbors, that is the love for fat – fried or grilled food. Lechon kawali and crispy pata are dishes that need to be drowned in heated fat to attain that crispy, crunchy finish. But having a turbo broiler can eliminate such hassle. The food also becomes healthier. Moreover, the ‘bibingka’ (rice cake) can be made using the turbo broiler as well.

We are famous for adobo and can be prepared many ways. It can be stewed in the slow cooker with its sauce. And if you want it done with a crispy finish, you can continue by using the turbo broiler as well.

Having these three gadgets will surely make one less homesick especially when craving for those Pinoy comfort food. So, what are you waiting for? Go get them and start cooking.

Show and Tell

“Is Silvana in?”  asked the person on the other line of my phone.

“Who's calling please?”  I asked, incredibly  hoping it’s not a telemarketer.

“This is Jerry from the Dr. Oz show.  Can I speak to Silvana please.”  he says.

And so this started my whole conversation that I was selected as a VIP audience for the Dr. Oz show taping the next day and he asked if I was available.  Of course I am available.  I may not have a job at the moment, but hey, I keep myself busy.

There is never a dull moment for me, but because it’s winter time, I’d rather do things indoors like…..hmmmm…. HOUSEWORK????....that’s why my hubby confided to the kids that finally, he has a WIFE….but there are times I need to go out or else I wil go crazy from  having cabin fever.

But I am not one to always look for housework---I am also addicted to anything computer.  Facebook, Words with Friends, Googling, Kindle--etc..and in one of those moments, I looked for shows that offered free tickets--and the perks of New York are aplenty.  So then, last Tuesday I went to the Rachel Ray show.

There was already a long que of people, when I arrived, but I didn’t mind even if it was freezing cold.  There was a food truck that gave away free coffee, tea, bagels and cake for the audiences who were participating.  And once inside the studio, we were prompted by a comedian on how to act.  If he made a circular motion with his hands we were to applaud, and if he made his motions faster, we were to shout and clap some more.  NO whislting though.  And then there were segments that Rachel would say something yummy , the prompter would be circling his hands on his tummy and we were to say, “HMMMMMM.”....And if he would do a duck  quack with his fingers on both his hands, we were to laugh--” ha ha ha”...  We were such idiots, I could say, but it was fun.

Am not much of a RAchel Ray fan, but I just get a kick out of going to these events. Besides, she is really a nice celebrity.  I realized how tough her job was. And the studio?...you’d think it was warm with all those lights?---it was like winter in wonderland. And the two most known guest for the day were Kristie Alley (she is gorgeous and lost 50 pounds) and the biggest looser host: Bob Harper....and some other guests who have tv shows, but i don't watch tv nowadays.  And in my lifetime I've only watched the Rachel Ray show twice....(hehe)

Unlike the RAchel Ray, where I scheduled the day I wanted to be an audience, with the Dr. OZ show, I didn’t care what day I would watch it,  so I placed myself on their ‘ON CALL’ list. And true enough, two days later I got the call.

The ABC studio,  where Dr. OZ tapes, allows you to wait inside the building, as the corridor was long enough to accommodate the number of people allowed in.  However, the only thing they offered was a 4 oz water bottle in the waiting room. (Rachel Ray had snacks and magazines for give aways).   But the ABC weren’t as strict because they allowed cameras inside but had to be turned off once taping started since it will disrupt some of the equiptments frequencies. And the place was relatively warm.  And the guest that day was Sarah Fergusson, Duchess of York, who also lost a lot of weight.  And some other doctor and another so called DJ who also lost weight... anyway....

I did enjoy myself in both shows and the messages they had were clear.  EAT RIGHT and BE HEALTHY.

And if given the choice of what kind of celebrity I would want to be:  A FOOD COOKING, FUN LOVING Person like Rachel,  or someone who is SMART, KNOWLEDGABLE with SEX APPEAL like Dr. OZ, my answer would be:  I'd rather be my CRAZY SELF.

this is an old picture that I had with Rachel Ray...

Wines and Proposal Makes a Glorious Event

Went to the wine riot festival--and yes it was a riot. I volunteered on opening night and was assigned to the crash course seminars, where I was able to  learn about Bordeaux and the famous Japanese sake.  My job was pouring wine to each attendee,  after the speaker would have explained about the beverage being offered.  And there were about 8 different kinds. That volunteer work was my free pass to the event which I graced the next day. I opted to get the afternoon session since I had evening plans.

Having a glimpse of what the event was already like,  the first stop of my wine riot experience was  to go to the Instagram and Photo booths.  After that, it was just sampling wine varieties from different parts of the world. From the 250 wines being  advertised in the event, I tasted about 50 of them.  Which to my mind I think was the most expensive gargles I have ever had. That was because  only the wines I liked I swallowed which when added together would not even constitute half a glass.  Every attendee was given a glass where we could request for the wines we wanted to taste. So as not to be overwhelmed with the quantity of varieties, the organizer  developed an app for the phones , where the attendee could track the wine tasted and make notes.  I thought that was a cool thing using modern technology.

As I made my rounds to the zinfandels, reislings, cabernet sauvignons, chardonnays, merlots and so many more including bubbly champagnes from Italy, France and the U.S., I could not help but be amazed.  If there was wine that I wanted to try, I would extend my glass to the exhibitor where he would pour a few drops on my glass.  I then swirled my glass to aerate the wine (for smell), checked it’s color before I tasted it.  When the wine reached my mouth, I would let  it circulate inside for taste sometimes with puckered lips .  I would then spit the wine back to my glass, throw its contents to a black receptacle used for its purpose, then rinsing my glass with water from a pitcher found at every exhibitors table. This would then make my glass ready for the next kind of wine.

Two hours in the wine show was enough for me as I headed out to meet hubby. I was light headed (but not the least tipsy after all those wines) that a good breather walk was better for my system.  And mind you, I did walk 30 blocks.

Our friends, Rich and Dee Vachal were already in  Rockwood Music Hall where their daughter Amy was performing.  Dee’s son, Jake and his girllfriend Kristie were there too. We had known that a proposal was going to be made and when the moment came, many were just teary eyed.  It was simple, classy and beautiful.  Kristie, the bride to be couldn’t contain her emotions while fanning herself with her hand as the debonaire Jake knelt down and popped the question.

The engagement party next door was as equally chic, as it was held at a rooftop showing the skylines of downtown Manhattan.  I drank alternates of champagne and a merlot as the open bar did justice to its name.  Now this was where I really had a celebration.  The food was delicious with a whole array of sushi at the bar and waiters roamed around to serve horsdevoures such as teriyaki meatballs, mini hamburgers, shrimps on skewers and much more.  It was a fantastic evening and I'd like to thank the Vachal family for inviting us to this memorable occasion.

And to cap that eventful day,   The Glorious Veins, (my favorite band in New York, not just because I’m the mama of the drummer..heheh), played at Pianos.....And people, I did not go to Pianos, Brazil as some thought I did because my timeline said so.....some friends pm’d me that I was such a jetsetter......I wish...

My Cousins are the Best!

A few days ago, I posted that I have the best cousins in the world, and I really do.  Because when we gather, there is never a dull moment.  Let me tell you some stories!!!

One afternoon I went to a cousin’s place to have dinner with her and we chatted for quite awhile.  As the night was winding down, and she was doing  last minute chores of  putting dishes in the dish washer, taking out food from the freezer to thaw for next day’s use and wiping out counter tops.  I bid my goodbyes and hoped to see her again in the weekend.

That night, as I was about to sleep, the phone rang.  

“Vanette, did you know where I put the chicken to thaw out?”  my cousin asked me.

“NO, sorry”  I said.  

“Oh, sh*t, I can’t find it.  OH well,,it will appear unless it got ressurected and went to chicken heaven.”

The next day, cousin called again, “I found my chicken this morning….…..in one of my kitchen drawers.”  And we both burst out laughing.

Many months later,  same cousin AGAIN called me up to share her experience of loosing a checkbook only to find it three months later-------in the freezer.  This is the epitome of what we called FROZEN  ASSETS.

Another cousin is so obsessed with expelling her POOP in the mornings that  If she were to make her own book, there would be a chapter of “ the gospel according to ………’  and the verse would be, “it is not what comes into the mouth  that is important, but what comes out the next day that will make my day a joyous one.”

One day, both of my cousins above, and I  were going to San Francisco from LA to attend the Fancy Food Show.  It was an 8 hour drive and it was surprising that we had NON STOP conversations…..If the car still had gas, our mouths would endlessly chatter as well.  We stayed at another cousin’s house who was away on a diving trip, so we had the whole house to ourselves.

Anyway, the show exhibit  was for three days and in one of those days we went around Napa Valley and toured some wineries including the famous Coppola vineyards.  In another, we had wine tasting wherein each of us were given two glasses--a red and a white.  The problem was (and I didn’t know at that time) both my cousins don’t drink and so they pushed their glasses of wine towards me and saying, “sigue beh, tell us what you think?”....well, for the first two drinks, I probably told them the taste and all…..but am sure at the end of the 6th glass, I was revealing my innermost secrets----oh those two!!!!! hahahah! 6 glasses is more than a bottle!!!!!!

Oh and the most hilarious experience of that trip was the last day of the fancy food show.  The exhibitors were giving away many of their samples, most were chocolates, gourmet mixes and food knick knacks.  There was even a guy  that told us to get all we could carry from his booth.  And mind you, the organizers don’t normally let attendees out with exhibitors stuff ,  but we did! So just imagine three middle aged ladies each carrying a garbage bag filled with all those goodies all the way to the parking lot!!!! YES PEOPLE, we amassed ourselves with tons of goodies, and got away with it!

Back at the house, we combined our loot which was a huge mound.  We then selected what we wanted and the rest we repacked for the balikbayan box.  That was one of the funniest experiences we had---and these was almost a decade ago.

One other cousin, who is a ‘kaskasera’, normally would take her mother to work everyday.  And you can just imagine the traffic in Manila is horrible.  My aunt, who is a religious person, would pray her rosary within hearing distance, while travelling.  One will know how my cousin would drive because it would show on how my aunt would pray.  If my cousin drove too fast, the ‘our father’s ‘ would be as fast too….and when there would be a quick shift of speed, the ‘hail mary’s’ would be just as loud. So if my aunt would be gibberish in her prayer, it is an indication of a speed race.

Which reminded me of a joke:  At the gates of heaven, a priest complained to St. Peter why it took him awhile to check on the priests deeds before entering heaven, while the jeepney driver had ease in enter it,  to which St Peter said, “when you preached, people fell asleep, but when the jeepney  driver drove, the passengers started  to pray.”

So there!  my cousin will definitely go to heaven…...I can go on and on and on…. and am sure everyone has her own cousin story to tell as well…...

Guess who's pregnant?!

Yesterday was a day of reminiscing in facebook, but not me.  Who wants to know about the past unless of course they are crazy funny.  And that’s what my bff in high school Maria F. and I were chatting awhile ago…..the dare has been done...this is for you MARIA F...

So she remembers our conversations in High School when we would both burn the lines for hours just to chitchat nonsense..  And in between those calls, an irrate party line would butt in, wanting to use the phone.  Yes people, it was that age where we had to share land lines with somebody else, unless you had a private line which was double the monthly expense.

Anyway, there were times when Maria F’s line would be busy and I knew it would be that party liner  taking revenge.  But it never brought my spirits down, because in between those busy signals  there were people as crazy as me to chat on the phone….Yes, people, creativity comes when one gets bored.  And three phrases in between the buzzing busy signal would be heard  and it was…….”Hello…...What’s your number…..call me up!”  ..And this was how we got our social media in yesteryears in the PHilippines.

The only thing was, there were no instagram or selfie etc.. physical meet ups were ‘it’.  And more often than not,  I would invite a girl  friend to come with me, describing  her to my supposedly ‘phone pal’ and passing on as me.   That way, I would be safe if he/she did not come at par to my standards.  Oh well, them were the days!

Going back to Maria F....Well, she reminded me that my opening lines to her on the phone was always, “Guess who’s pregnant?”  and she would ask “who?!”  And I would rattle away with the latest rumors  I would get from other gossip girls…..

These days,  we are concerned with our children just as I am sure  Maria F. is with hers who are just as adorable  and wanting their liberty.   Giiving children space to grow on their own is  I think the best thing a mother could  do.  You don’t have to cut the umbilical cord, just make it longer (heheheh!) I probably scared her with my previous statements in high school with the ‘guess who’s pregnant phrase’.  

So I told her the story with my one and only daughter , who wanted to have a ‘serious talk’  which almost scared the shits out of me.  She was still in Junior College taking up Interior Design at a local University.   Anyway, she showed me her stunning diamond ring and told me that her boyfriend had asked her to marry him.  I looked straight at her in the eyes and said, “why???  are you pregnant?’  (she was still in college, you know)  anyway, with a stunned look she said, “NO MOM, I’m not like you mom!”....and then I sighed a sense of relief.  Later on, I heard from her friends that my daughter was so strict and a prude that she could pass as their mother superior! Something she didn’t get from me.!!! heheheh!

And so I told my bff Maria F.  that it was different in our days.  That our conditioning was part of how we behaved, rebellious yet conforming.  Even if  we were santa santitas on the outside, deep inside we were burning with dragon flames.  But nowadays, there is facebook, instagram, iphones and all those social media that surely, nothing surprises anyone anymore.  As that famous beatle song would be so appropriate in these days, “LET IT BE”’....and those are speaking words of wisdom.

And if today I called up my bff in high school Maria F.  she’ll probably ask, “okay, who’s pregnant this time?”......and if I’d answer “ME!”.... she’ll probably put on her asthma inhaler to stop from laughing and say, “yeah, right!”

this is andreas drawing of me while i was reading beside the table....my grandkids make fun of me and i love them dearly

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