NOT SO RANDOM THOUGHTS

Food trip, literally!

2012-01-16T00:20:00.000-06:00

I met up with my college friends this weekend and had a fabulous time reminiscing, laughing, and enjoying each other's company...just like 12 years ago!

something to aspire for

2012-01-03T11:55:00.001-06:00

40+ years of love, friendship, and faith. Greatest role models ever!

(Collage created with PhotoShake)

hello 2012

2012-01-01T13:12:00.001-06:00

What a wonderful way to ring in the new year! So blessed to have wonderful friends to share our blessings with. Love these guys!Created with PhotoShake

Finally made it to the Grand Canyon

2012-01-01T02:55:00.001-06:00

Nothing beats God’s art. I am so thankful that John and I got to go even if it was just for a short time.

(collage created with PhotoShake)

Brie and green pepper jelly

2011-12-23T21:06:00.000-06:00

Another simple dish to make. I love that there is pre-made puff pastry that I just need to thaw. Haha. I just wrapped brie with some green pepper jelly, popped it in a 400F oven for about 20 minutes. Mmm delicious!

Hugs & Kisses

2011-12-19T21:30:00.000-06:00

It's really quite simple...choose your favorite hershey's hugs or kisses, lay it on top of your favorite mini pretzel, melt in a 350F oven for 2 minutes, then top with another pretzel. Let cool until chocolate is set.

So good! Thanks to my friend Anne for sharing her recipe!

Dinner at Grazie's

2011-10-30T19:47:00.003-05:00

Actually I should really say "dinner and tomorrow's lunch." The chicken piccatta is delicious. It could use a little more lemon, but the capers and artichoke hearts more than compensated for that. The side of crisp zucchini and yellow squash sauteed with red onions gave the perfect balance to the dish. Since I saved more than half for lunch tomorrow, there's room for the pumpkin spice cake that I shared with John. Afterall, it is fall and it's the perfect time for it.

It just works

2011-10-27T09:57:00.000-05:00

Although the methods and ingredients are not necessarily as authentic as I would like, this combination just worked out for a delicious (and quick) dinner. Coming from my evening class, I didn't have much time to put a more complicated meal together. Thus...

Warm corn tortilla + sauteed chicken, onion, and jalapenos + fresh salsa* + avocado + black beans + shredded lettuce + grated asadero/cheddar blend= happy tummy:)

* I am loving my Pampered Chef Hand Chopper (manual food processor). Just throw in the roma tomatoes, onions, garlic, and jalapeno...give it a few pumps...add lemon juice, salt and pepper, and apple cider vinegar and it is good to go!

A healthy start

2011-10-20T19:52:00.002-05:00

I've been eating a lot of protein lately so I decided maybe I need more fruits and veggies. I had all of these on hand, so I threw them together for a nice, crisp salad. Mmmmm:)

Quinoa Salad

2011-09-23T17:24:00.003-05:00

I've been trying to think of how I can use some quinoa that I bought on a whim. Well, we have a faculty potluck and I thought it would be as good a time as any to experiment...

What you'll need:

360 grams (about 12.5 oz) of cooked quinoa

3/8 cup kalamata olives, pitted, halved

1 cup shredded carrots

3 Tbsp crumbled feta cheese (+ 1 Tbsp for garnish)

1 cup cherry (or grape) tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, julienne cut

1 medium cucumber, seeded, cubed

1/2 cup Greek vinaigrette (adjust for desired flavor or texture)

1 Tbsp sliced honey toasted almonds (+ 1 Tbsp for garnish)

fresh ground pepper to taste (no need for salt, feta and olives took care of that!)

Gently toss together, chill for about 30 minutes. Top with crumbled feta and almonds. Serve. Enjoy.

Easy, right?!

Easy breezy Panna Cotta

2011-06-27T10:22:00.003-05:00

We had another potluck with our Life Group and our theme for the evening was Italian. My go-to item would have been a pasta dish or maybe bruschetta, but I decided to experiment with something different. Google is my best friend so I searched for a dessert and found this (posted by CHERYLA33 via Allrecipes.com). I decided it was easy enough but I did modify it just a little:

3/4 cup skim milk

1 (.25 ounce) envelope unflavored gelatin

2 cups heavy cream

1/3 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

Pour milk into a small bowl, and stir in the gelatin powder. Set aside.
In a saucepan, stir together the heavy cream and sugar, and set over medium heat. Bring to a full boil, watching carefully, as the cream will quickly rise to the top of the pan. Pour the gelatin and milk into the cream, stirring until completely dissolved. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and pour into six individual ramekin dishes.
Cool the ramekins uncovered at room temperature. When cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight before serving.

I was planning to make a wine and berry sauce, but the fruits looked delicious as is so I just served it fresh. I also ran out of time so I didn't bother turning them out onto dessert plates. They still tasted wonderful:)

Bean and avocado salad

2011-06-10T18:30:00.002-05:00

Potluck time = kitchen experiment.

My students made the bean salad for a function once and I decided to try it out. I also had some phyllo (fillo) cups in the freezer so I decided to improvize:)

Mixed Bean Salad (modified from International Cooking by Patricia A. Heyman, 2003)

Salad:

1 cup black-eyed peas, cooked
1 cup kidney beans, cooked
1 cup chickpeas, cooked
2 avocados, peeled and cubed
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 tsp dried chives

Dressing:

4 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 tsp ground allspice
6 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Whisk all dressing ingredients and pour over salad. Mix gently so avocado does not get mushy. Refrigerate overnight. You can also serve it over mixed greens or romaine lettuce hearts.

A touch of home

2011-05-23T22:24:00.001-05:00

I love being able to use gifts we received from the Philippines as the primary accents for our apartment decor. This set-up brings Adobo up a notch, right? Haha. Happy eating!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

Happy birthday, John!

2011-05-08T14:42:00.002-05:00

*click on title for related post!*

Quick Pizza

2011-04-30T20:43:00.000-05:00

Looking around the refrigerator for something to whip up and thought of this. I think I may have overloaded the flatout bread a little (!), but the fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and mushrooms just looked so good all nicely shingle stacked. hahaha. I wish I had more basil on hand, but oh well. Tasted good anyway!

Meat & Potatoes

2011-04-29T19:35:00.002-05:00

I am in the Midwest, afterall. Beef, beef, and more beef.

Steak: New York strip cooked following Alton Brown's directions. The only modification was that I used Pampered Chef's Jamaican Jerk Rub.

Potatoes: Another one from my class functions:)

1 lb Baby red potatoes, cut in halves

1 Tbsp Olive oil

1 Tbsp butter

1 1/2 garlic cloves, minced

fresh rosemary (I put about 2 sprigs)

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp lemon juice (I used kalamansi juice)

1/2 tsp sugar

Bake the potatoes until fork tender but still firm. Saute potatoes in next five ingredients until well coated and golden brown. Add lemon/kalamansi juice and sugar, toss, and serve.

Tres leches cake @ Crave (Minneapolis)

2011-04-16T13:30:00.002-05:00

It was so good. The berry sauce gave it a good twist...a welcome change.

The cake itself was superb.

Swan to go

2011-03-15T19:47:00.002-05:00

What a great way to package my left over 5-spice pork tenderloin with bleu cheese mashed potatoes.

Happy tummy!

2011-02-27T19:37:00.002-06:00

Thankful for good Asian food without having to drive very far:)

Lunch @ Doolittles

2011-02-19T14:15:00.002-06:00

Chicken flatbread is delish...super love portabella mushrooms.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-17T16:41:00.007-06:00

I haven't made this in a long time, but I thought it was simple, delicious, and quite appropriate for a nice Valentine's dinner. Besides, why spend when you can make it at home, right?

One of John's ultimate favorites, whole wheat pasta with fresh tomato sauce, artichoke hearts, capers, mushrooms, lots of garlic, and topped with shaved parmigiano reggiano and fresh mozzarella. Followed by mixed berries cooked in red wine and reduced to about 50%, poured over low fat vanilla ice cream atop a mini angel food cake.

Chipotle shrimp and bacon skewer

2011-02-07T18:57:00.003-06:00

My students made this today during their recipe testing. It looked delicious...smelled wonderful too. Since I couldn't taste it, I took a picture instead.

* I grew up eating shrimp but when I moved to the US, I developed an allergy. Boo.

Life is good!

2011-02-05T15:27:00.004-06:00

Bibingka cupcakes

2010-11-20T14:45:00.001-06:00

Made from a mix, but taken up a notch (or so I'd like to think). haha.

You can't really see it from this picture, but when you bite into it, you'll taste the cottage cheese I used to give it a little texture.

Patience is a virtue!

2010-07-21T23:30:00.001-05:00

*click on title for related post!*

one happy moment

2010-06-06T14:49:00.000-05:00

*click on title for related post!*

The Thank You Project

2010-05-26T00:40:00.001-05:00

Wow it's been a while since I blogged. It's been a crazy year.

I've recently started a new blog...a team project of sorts. I was hanging out at Barnes and Noble one afternoon and found a guided journal called Attitudes of Gratitude by M.J. Ryan. I decided to buy the book and make it my project to complete it. Like I said, it has been a busy year and I think when things are hectic, it is easier to get affected by negative energies--whether it's from the people around you, yourself, or just the world and what's happening in general. So, completing this journal is a great vehicle for attitude adjustment. I read once that there is no way for you to feel thankful and mad at the world at the same time. When I read the same basic idea on the first page of the journal, I knew this was a good thing.

At first I just thought of writing for myself. But then, I thought of a friend of mine who, besides being an awesome writer, is also a proponent of all things positive. He's hit some rough spots, but he always knows there's "a light at the end of the tunnel" so to speak. I asked Lance to complete the journal with me and THIS blog is the result. We're hoping to post at least one thing we're thankful for each day.

That said, I'll take another break from my personal blog...but please feel free to drop by our project and share your thoughts.

"Gratitude births only positive feelings--love, compassion, joy and hope. As we focus on what we are thankful for, negative feelings simply melt away." --M.J. Ryan

Brent Reunion in Vegas

2009-09-20T04:40:00.003-05:00

What begun as a simple question on a Facebook discussion board evolved into an effort to bring together US-based Brentonians for our own little Centennial reunion in Las Vegas over the Labor Day Weekend in September 2009.

Several months of frantic planning later...the weekend came and went, leaving each of us with more memories of our Magic Mountain and the wonderful friendships that made growing up a lot easier and definitely a lot more fun:) It was simply amazing to see everyone!

More pics @ http://brent100us.shutterfly.com/.

My own photo journal to follow...um...well...LATER! hahahaha.

Brent@100

2009-03-12T07:01:00.001-05:00

It was the event of the century (literally), and I missed it.

Brent International School Baguio just turned 100 this past weekend. It was the biggest alumni homecoming ever. My years at Brent played an important role in shaping the person that I have become, so the weekend brought much nostalgia. Of course my friends didn’t let me forget that I was missing quite the reunion—e.g., texts/calls/messages from Manang Marie, Peter, and John O. telling me all about the ruckus caused by alumni from the 80’s-90’s…the kind of ruckus that would have gotten us in detention (a.k.a. Friday Afternoon Club). Plus reminiscing on the phone with Ritchie (who didn’t get to go home either) was not helping the homesickness any. Haha. We really (really x 100) wished we could have spent the weekend catching up with friends, faculty, and staff.

I’m glad that my Dad attended the festivities, though. I mean, he put in 25 years of service (and got me through school in the process). He also had a chance to meet up with staff and faculty who have worked with him through the years. In addition, he was giving me a play by play through text messaging about my friends who stopped to talk to him (I’ve received pictures from friends to prove it too!). They all looked so happy. I would’ve been smiling too:). When my friends got up on stage to do a Les Mis sampler, he was so proud of them. He’s known most of these guys since we were kids so he was beaming like a proud Tito. I’m still waiting for a video upload of that performance since he said I just HAVE to see it.

Now that pictures have been posted (and are continually being posted), alumni who didn’t get to go are green with envy. And just to make ourselves feel better about missing the big party, we’re trying to get one organized in the US. Of course I got roped into helping with the committee to see it through. It will not be as grandiose as the one in Baguio, but it’s still going to be worth it just to see friends from back in the day. We have no clue how big or how small this reunion is going to be, but we are determined to make it happen.

The Brent School Song has been playing in my head the whole weekend. Reading the words now, I can’t help but agree. Indeed… “Brent school, though our paths may sever, we will carry thee. Deep within our hearts forever, whereso'er we be… Dear Brent School, though far asunder, we will carry thee. In our hearts where'er we wander, over land or sea…Though we leave thy heights forever, know life's dust and strain. Yet our hearts will lift whenever, we recall again…”

All those sleepless nights

2009-01-12T10:02:00.002-06:00

Last October, I entered a competition sponsored by the Emerald Publishing Group and the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Research for the Outstanding Dissertation Research Award in Hospitality (hehe, what a mouthful). Dr. Shanklin and Dr. Back encouraged me to apply and so I did.

Early in December, I got an email informing me that I was on the short list--one of seven chosen as “highly commended doctoral researchers.” The top prize was to be announced during the 14th Annual Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism in Las Vegas early this January. I was not able to go, but I had the whole K-State crew there to let me know the results. Out of curiosity, I checked out the “competition”. Below is the list of the seven:

Li Miao
"Consumers' emotional responses to service encounters: the influence of other consumers"
Hospitality and Tourism Management Dept, Purdue University, USA
Doctorate conferred by Penn State University, USA

Amelia Adora Asperin "Exploring brand personality congruence: measurement and application in the casual dining restaurant industry"
Applied Research Division, NFSMI, The University of Southern Mississippi, USA
Doctorate conferred by Kansas State University, USA

Chih-Chien Chen
"What revenue-optimizing firms can do about their deal-seeking consumers: the role of price patterns, timing, and cancellation policies in travelers’ advanced booking decisions"
Recreation, Sport and Tourism Dept, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Sameer Hosany
"The determinants and consequences of emotional responses towards tourist destinations"
School of Management, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
Doctorate conferred by University of Surrey, UK

Michael Gross
"A conceptualisation of lifestyle tourism"
School of Management, University of South Australia, Australia

Kevin Murphy
"An exploratory study of high performance work practices for unit level managers, in the casual segment of the us restaurant industry"
FLM, Rosen College, USA
Doctorate conferred by Virginia Tech, USA

Karen Kelly Wollard
"Best practices in exemplary service delivery: a multiple case study of service quality"
Adult Education & HRD, Hospitality Management, Florida International University, USA

I did not win the top prize...but in the greater scheme of things, to make it to the top seven worldwide is still worth a ton of celebration and definitely something to be proud of!

Thank you, Lord, for keeping me coherent all those sleepless nights:) I guess sleep deprivation in grad school paid off!

P.S. If you’re curious, Li Miao won the top award.

Too old for this...

2009-01-07T04:11:00.000-06:00

I think that when you hit 30 (and then some), you should be able to openly talk to your friends, especially if you’ve known them a while (like almost all your life). If things are said and you don’t happen to agree, speak up. Discuss. Clarify. Understand. Heck, you can even agree to disagree. If something was said and it hurt your feelings, don’t just shut people out and sulk. The cold shoulder and silent treatment gets old. It really does. At first it makes the other person feel bad. After a while, it just gets frustrating. One can only try so many times.

For person A, I hope the new year brings you more patience. It may take several years (again), but the friendship is worth not giving up on.

For person B, I wish you would grow up and realize that your friends won't always have the patience to deal with your moroseness.

Misery loves company

2008-11-24T12:04:00.000-06:00

Kausap ko yung isang kaibigan ko kanina. Wala lang, kelangan lang daw nya mag-vent. Sige sure, yan naman ang isang role ko sa buhay. Dakilang shock absorber (at minsan emotional punching bag pang release ng angst…hehe).

So pagkatapos ng kanyang venting session, naisip ko lang. Bakit ba talaga may mga tao na sole purpose in life nila eh ang manggulo ng buhay ng ibang tao? Parang ang satisfaction nila eh yung nakakacreate sila ng gulo. The bigger the away, the better! Ganun ba sila ka-sad sa life nila? Kaya siguro sila nanggugulo para hindi lang sila ang lonely. Misery loves company nga naman.

Sabi ko na lang, iwasan ang gulo. Kahit pilit inihaharap sa yo. Magsasawa rin yun, lalo na kung di mo pinapatulan…kasi sya lang naman nagmumukhang tanga. After a while, move on to the next target na lang kasi walang satisfaction sa yo. Di ka kumakagat eh.

At saka, bahala na lang si Lord sa kanya. Basta *ikaw*, cool ka lang. Malalaman naman ng mga totoo mong kaibigan na wala kang kasalanan. Sana lang maintindihan nila na may mga tao lang talaga na galit sa mundo at gustong mangdamay. Hay…

And history unfolds...

2008-11-04T18:29:00.000-06:00

I am glad I got to witness this in my lifetime. Even if I am not an American citizen, I cannot help but be excited. Change is good.

I am listening to some of the statistics and they mentioned that 60%+ of the youth vote went to Obama. I think that is amazing. The youth truly can shape the change they want to see. I hope that in the next Philippine elections, the youth stand up, too. We need our own change.

After a rather hard [and negative] day, this was an optimistic way to end it.

Tomorrow is indeed a brand new day.

Tagged by Harvs

2008-09-01T10:46:00.000-05:00

In the midst of hurricane Gustav, I am stuck at home with lots of time on my hands. First off, I'm just very thankful that we have not gotten a beating from this storm--even if we do have a tornado warning right now.

Harvs tagged me ages ago, and since I have time now...here goes:

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

1998 was an interesting year:) I shifted to a different course half-way through college. That meant having to take more classes than a normal (sane) person would if I wanted to graduate with my batch. Basically, 10 years ago, I was just trying to stay afloat. Never mind swimming for survival. I just needed to keep myself above the water! Oh, and I think that year I truly started to appreciate how much fun I was having and how thankful I was that I saw the light. Comp Sci just was not for me--even if it meant I spent most of my free time in the library:)

2. What are the 5 things on my to-do list today?

On a regular day, my to do list is pretty long and detailed (ask any of my friends. I'm a little obsessed with my lists, color coded and all). But since today is a "free" day, I think I can come up with 5. haha

a. Bake a triple berry crisp for dessert
b. Create a scrapbook page (or 2 or maybe several cards)
c. Watch a movie (I'm loving Netflix and being able to watch online..instantly)
d. Finish the novel I started the other night
e. Do a little cleaning around the house

3. Snacks I enjoy:

Goodness, there's a lot of things I enjoy. It depends on my mood, but here's a shortened list: roasted almonds, Japanese rice crackers, Boy Bawang (hahahaha), fruit with cottage cheese, multi-grain chips (but I give in to regular chips once in a while), Chips Ahoy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, fruit smoothies, skyflakes, dried fruit (particularly mango and pineapple), and many more. I miss these too: fishballs, squidballs, turon, isaw, fried lumpia with the spicy vinegar, and "dirty ice cream". hahaha

4. Place where I live:

A comfortable one bedroom apartment in the deep South. hehehe.

5. Things I’d do if I were a billionaire

a. Travel with my family. Everyone has worked so hard and I would love to be able to give them a grand vacation...kids and all! I think we'd love to go around the Philippines, Asia, and Europe--particularly Rome (especially for my Dad).
b. Build a home that has a kickin' kitchen, a functional but comfy home office, a rockin' music studio for John, an indoor pool, a nice patio for entertaining, a sun room, a porch attached to the master bedroom--complete with a porch swing for my morning coffee, and a decked out family room. That's just some of the requirements, of course. I'm sure I can think of more. hehehe.
c. Pay off my sibling's houses and cars...and buy my parents a house of their own.
d. Hire a chauffeur so I won't have to drive and I also don't have to rely on John to shuttle me back and forth.
e. Make sure that our kids (in the future, of course) have money saved for their college education and maybe a nest egg for when they venture out on their own--but they won't get any of it until they turn 30 so they first learn to do things for themselves. Probably start a college fund for all my siblings' kids--just to help out, too.
f. Establish a scholarship fund for qualified college students (mga Isko, of course).
g. Donate a spiffy kitchen lab to UP HRA. hahaha
h. Put up a cafe/bistro in Baguio for my cousin and his wife to manage.
i. Invest, invest, invest (So I can actually do a-h without worrying about our kids and family not having enough in the future.)

Not tagging anyone else, but feel free to post your answers too!

E-Heads, the Reunion

2008-08-29T07:10:00.000-05:00

I learned from a friend that the Eraserheads are having a reunion concert. I hope they come out with a live recording—I’d buy the CD! I have a copy of the tribute album and I played that non-stop for quite a while. It was pretty cool to hear artists like Rico J Puno sing E-heads classics.

Listening to the E-heads brings back a lot of memories. I always associate my UP days with the E-heads (and to a lesser extent, Parokya ni Edgar and others I first got to see during the FOPC Concerts and UP Fairs before they got crazy famous). I even lived in the same compound with Ely and Marcus and at that time, I didn’t really think much of it. I appreciated that they were so down to earth even if they were popular. I’m not sure if it changed in later years, but they were very humble. None of the “we’re stars-and-you’re-not” type of airs. Maybe it was also because they treated my roommate like a little sister (her older brother was a friend from their Kalayaan days). I remember them jamming out and playing their video games really loud, though. But then again, not a lot of people in the compound minded having to listen to the E-heads live, right. Haha.

I do remember coming home one day (from one of their gigs, no less) and seeing Francis M just hanging out. So they asked me and my roommate to join the small get together. I was not much of a drinker so when they offered me the shot of tequila, my roommate told them I was allergic to alcohol (which is the truth, by the way). They just laughed and asked what year I was in. Of course when they found out I was a freshman, they said, “Di bale, konting tagal pa sa UP, mawawala rin yang allergy mo.” Hahahaha. I left the party when other people started to get crazy—after all, I was a very naïve freshie. Hahahahaha.

If I had to choose only five songs as favorites, it would be very hard…but I think it would boil down to the following:

Pare Ko (Of course. Seriously, who doesn’t like this song?)
With A Smile (So I’m sappy..sue me!)
Huwag Mo Nang Itanong
Ligaya
Huwag Kang Matakot

But Toyang, Kailan, Ang Huling El Bimbo, Tindahan ni Aling Nena, and Magasin are not far behind. I do appreciate, though, that the lyrics are so REAL. Maybe that’s what made them such hits--they were so relatable.

Now that I look back, I wish I had them sign all the albums I had. After all, they’re music icons from my generation. Too bad I wasn’t a groupie. Hahaha

Bakit nga ba?

2008-08-13T11:54:00.000-05:00

Bakit nga ba may mga tao na likas talaga sa kanila ang gumawa ng eksena? Likas talaga sa kanila ang mang-ungkat ng mga bagay-bagay na dapat ay matagal nang tinantanan—lalo pa’t wala namang karapatang mag-inarte.

Bakit nga ba kahit na may ilang taon nang nakalipas eh ibinabalik-balik pa rin ang mga dating napagkasunduan na at ilang beses na ring naipaliwanag? Makulit lang ba talaga sya o nananadya lang?

Wala na nga doon ang mga taong kasangkot, di parin talaga kayang patahimikin ang isyu. Kelangan bang mangdamay pa ng iba dahil lamang hindi nasusunod ang kagustuhan? Palibhasa kasi kakaunti lamang ang nagsasabi sa kanya ng, “Eh hindi nga pwede, eh!”

Hindi ako madaling magalit. Kahit papaano, mahaba-haba rin ang pasensya ko. Pero bakit nga ba may mga taong sadyang iniisip mo pa lang, naaalibadbaran ka na?

Siguro ganun lang talaga para matuto tayong magpasalamat sa mas nakararaming mabuting tao sa paligid natin. Buti na lang!

PS. Effort pala talaga magsulat ng purong Filipino!

Four years

2008-08-07T06:18:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, John and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary. It’s amazing that time has zipped by as fast as it has. And what a coincidence that I received this in the mail yesterday:

BEGIN WITH GRATITUDE

A day that begins with gratitude is a day that you'll be able to fill with positive progress. When you're sincerely appreciative of where you are and what you have, you'll greatly expand your own possibilities.

Begin with a thankful thought. And connect yourself with the abundance that is all around you.

There is always something for which you can be sincerely thankful. And the simple act of being thankful ignites a productive momentum in your world.

By focusing your thoughts on the positive aspects of your life, you cause their influence to grow. Be grateful, and your gratitude happily creates even more things in your life for which you can be grateful.

The appreciation for what you have gives more value to all that you are. The blessings you enjoy are blessings precisely because you see them as such.

Tap into the great reservoir of real value that is already available to you. Live with gratitude, and you'll create even more reasons to be thankful.

-- Ralph Marston

---

With that in mind

Thank You, Lord for…

…four great years with John (9 counting the pre-wedding years)

…four wonderful years of friendship (17 counting the pre-relationship years)

…a love so understanding that it pulls me through everything I’ve ever had to deal with these past years

…a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, an ear to listen

…someone to laugh with, share my dreams with, build a life with

…my soul mate, my other half, my best friend, my everything.

I am so blessed.

Shameless plug

2008-08-01T05:52:00.001-05:00

I’ve been meaning to update the blog for some time now. I’ll work on it this weekend

But in the meantime, I’d like to request you all to check out John’s band, American Sugar. Their first album is now available online at http://cdbaby.com/cd/americansugar. I believe they are working on getting the songs up on iTunes as well (for those who want to buy individual songs rather than the entire album).

The music is pretty hard core rock, but amazing nonetheless...well, of course I’m biased, but John really rocks the kit in this album!

Thanks for giving it a listen!

stage wife...haha

2008-06-26T05:29:00.000-05:00

I've always loved going to John's gigs, even when we weren't [officially] a couple yet (which is eons ago. haha). You know how they say that moms who guard their showbiz kids are "stage moms"? Well, I was always the stage friend, turned stage girlfriend, now stage wife. haha.

I'm so excited to share that his rock band (American Sugar) has been signed by a local label. It's a small step, but a step nonetheless. On Friday, they will play at Just One More Blues Bar (intersection of US Hwy 49 North & Hwy 42 West, 5 miles north of the 49-59 intersection). Although their music is really hard rock, they will be performing everything in a blues style--so it'll be toned down quite a bit:) Saturday is the big gig at the Tavern--they will be releasing their CD through South City Records.

I just wish you all could go. Since most of you are not actually here in Hattiesburg, I won't have anyone to rock out with:( I'll take videos and post them after the gigs for you, though!

licensed to drive

2008-06-20T17:27:00.002-05:00

It is official! May license na ko! Woohoo!

I drove to dinner na nga eh...hehehe. Kasi it's near lang at hindi super busy yung highway na dinaanan namin. Hindi naman gaano nanerbyos si John. Di pa naman nya nagamit ang grab handle (yung parang coat hanger sa passenger side) also known as the, "oh s*** handle." hehehehe. Yun ang tawag ng friend ko kasi when his gf drives daw, napapa hawak sya dun at napapa "oh s***". hehehehe. In fairness, scary talaga magdrive ang gf nya!!!!

I feel accomplished. Ang babaw ba? hahaha. At least I conquered a fear. Wag nyo lang ako ipagmerge sa interstate na ang kasabayan ko ay 18 wheelers! When I did that during class, muntikan na nga yata mapa "oh s***" ang teacher ko--pero only on the first try lang naman. haha. Buti na lang there's a brake pedal on his side rin.

Anyway, to celebrate, we went to the Suwana's, a Thai restaurant in town. I took a picture of the sticky rice and mango dessert (a.k.a. suman at manga!). I think the suman had pandan in it. It was also topped with thickened coconut milk. sarap!

uplifting

2008-06-19T10:52:00.000-05:00

While I'm on it, I'll share something else I received today. One of my very good friends from college just experienced a big loss and we were discussing it with our barkada through our e-group. Sam's response really made me think and appreciate that I am surrounded by people of faith (kahit na in spirit lang ako surrounded since the barkada is scattered across the globe).

"Sometimes, something or someone realy comes and goes away without a warning at most of the time it hurts us so much! But God has His plans..Always bear in mind that He finds ways of returning what you lost in His Time...and when the right time comes, ay mas prepared na kayo pareho para i-receive yung blessing/s na ibibigay nya sa inyo...Trials come, but they dont stay forever...not unless, of course, if you hang on to them all your life!"

Thanks for the words of wisdom and faith, Sammy!

this made me giggle

2008-06-19T10:35:00.000-05:00

We were having a discussion with some friends today. The mood was a bit serious and I couldn't help busting out laughing when my friend said something I've never heard before. They have a lot of quirky sayings and "Southernisms" that I still have to get used to, but this one takes the cake--or at least a cupcake.

She was talking (only figuratively) about Person A asking Person B about something that Person B probably would not be able to make a logical opinion about (not because Person B was dumb, but just that Person B is no longer capable of making that judgment). Anyway, she said, "That was just ridiculous because Person B has only one brain cell left and it's fighting for a thought!"

I'm gonna need to remember that and use it one of these days...Actually, when I'm stressed at work and I'm trying to write three different projects up all at once, I do feel like I only have one brain cell left and it is all but depleted of any creative juice. hahaha

biting the bullet

2008-06-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

I have been avoiding this since I came to the US, but I guess it's time I just faced my fear. The following is an email I sent to a friend, but I might as well post it here. haha...

I AM [FINALLY] TAKING DRIVER’S ED. Oh yes, you read that right! And my nerdy self really came in handy when I took the written for my permit. I crammed that manual in one night and very much breezed through the test. The DMV woman said, “Boy, you zipped right through that! I guess the semi-photographic memory (although a bit rusty) does have its advantages. Hahaha. When John is driving, I can spew that stuff out word per word in my head. I don’t say it out loud all the time though, I think that would drive John crazy. Hahahaha.

Walking into that class though….Boy, do I feel OLD! More than 3/4 of the class is either 14 or 15. hahaha. When the instructors told the parents they can leave their kids after the first 15 minutes, I felt like the kids all expected me to stand up and leave too. The two young guys (14 and 16) that I share the car with asked me how old I was “for real”. When I said, I’m 31, the younger one said, “Dang! Really? Man!” I was like, “You didn’t have to say it so loud, you know.” Hahaha. But it was ok. Both of them have driven in the open country before so I said they just need to be patient with me when I’m behind the wheel. Haha.

For today, we did serpentines around rows of cones several times on the “driving course.” I didn’t knock any of the cones down, so that was good! The car didn’t die on me either. AND the instructor said for someone who’s not driven before, I have pretty smooth starts and stops…no whiplash action for the two guys in the back seat. Haha. Oh, and when I went through my last round rather smoothly, the boys were like, “Score!!!” hahaha. My own little cheering squad. So sweet. I don’t know how well I’d have done if I was in the car with the caffeinated cheerleaders though. Hahahaha.

breakfast at dinner

2008-05-29T17:25:00.003-05:00

John was craving for an omelet so I decided to make it for dinner. I sautéed some garlic, onions, tomatoes, button mushrooms, Canadian bacon, and maple ham for the filling then topped it with grated extra sharp cheddar cheese. Didn't have a chance to take a picture before we devoured them:) Even if it was super simple, it hit the spot, especially with a glass of chilled white merlot:) It was, as a friend here says, "Mighty fine!"

But I did get a picture of dessert:) I made a low fat vanilla yogurt and triple berry parfait. Really easy, really inexpensive. I just layered thawed berries, yogurt, and apple cinnamon granola. Yum!

you want?

2008-04-02T18:32:00.002-05:00

I bought the basic dessert shell that is sold pre-made at Walmart then topped it with a wine-berry reduction. Basically I cooked the berries in orange juice and Australian Shiraz. I crushed the berries, let the sauce thicken a bit, then I filled the cake cup with the pulpy portion. Topped it with low-fat, slow-churned vanilla bean ice cream. Then poured the rest of the sauce. hehehehe.

It was delish! Even better with a cup of coffee...hmmm.

I should do this again. Maybe write the measurements for the ingredients next time.

Pineapple Mango Salsa and Wonton Chips

2008-03-01T19:44:00.002-06:00

Pineapple Mango Salsa

Mix the following ingredients:
1. 6 pc roma tomatoes, diced
2. 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
3. 1/2 yellow onion, diced [or 1/4 red onion, diced]
4. about a handful of fresh cilantro (maybe about 20 sprigs), chopped [or 1 tsp dried cilantro]
5. 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, diced [or about 10 slices of the pickled jalapeno sold in a jar]
6. 1 fresh, ripe mango, diced
7. 1 can pineapple chunks, juice included [john loves pineapples so i usually use the 20 oz can]
8. 1 clove garlic, chopped (or 1 tsp of the bottled chopped garlic)
9. 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional for more heat)
10. 1/4 tsp basil
11. 1 tsp sugar
12. 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
13. 2 Tbsp lemon juice
14. 1 Tbsp olive oil
15. salt and pepper to taste

Wonton Chips

1. On a baking tray, spread about 9 pcs of square wonton wrappers per batch
2. Lightly spray with baking oil (pam or the olive oil spray. you can also dab olive oil with your fingers but very LIGHTLYor else it will be soggy)
3. Season lightly with salt, freshly cracked black pepper, garlic powder (if you don't like garlic, don't add this)...basically you can experiment with this. I added chili powder and a bit of lemon pepper. for another batch, i added italian seasoning
4. Bake in 300F oven--if you've preheated, it only needs about 3-4 minutes. Watch closely depending on the wrapper that you bought because some burn faster than others. Once it turns a nice golden brown, take it out and transfer on a plate.

If you don't want to make the chips, the salsa goes with pretty much anything! I also use it as a topping for fried fish or porkchop.

rockin' out in MS

2008-02-04T13:51:00.000-06:00

After four months, John has finally found people to jam with--two bands, in fact:) First he auditioned for Busted Stuff, an acoustic rock band with a Dave Matthews feel. We watched their gig on a Friday night and John met up with them the next day for a practice run. On Sunday, John's name was officially on the website. Awesome:) Fast forward a couple of weeks and almost the same thing happens. John got a call on Friday from American Sugar, another rock band in town. Apparently their drummer didn't quite work out and they needed a replacement ASAP since they have a number of gigs lined up. John auditioned on Saturday, and again, Sunday, we found his name on their website:) Read their version of the story HERE.

God is good! At least John did not have to wait a full year this time. He is definitely back on the kit. Wooohooo!

time enough...

2008-02-02T15:30:00.000-06:00

One thing I love about this new phase is that I have more time for my other hobbies like scrapbooking and cooking (more like recipe testing, really). My materials are multiplying, especially for scrapbooking. John asked me, "When will you ever use all of that?" I just smile. I mean, can you really walk out of Hobby Lobby or Michael's without buying at least one item? hahaha. As for the cooking, he has no complaints. He's got a happy tummy:)

I'm adding pages to our KSU farewell scrapbook and I just finished the cover. I'm hoping to get more pages done before long. The one beside it is also another page I have on my other scrapbook. Journaling reads: "Keeping my spirits up during my dissertation writing was such a challenge. Sometimes it was just hard to "keep on keeping on." Thank God for JOHN...always my reason to SMILE."

More scrapbook pages HERE.

blue moon ba?

2008-01-20T19:37:00.000-06:00

When I interviewed for my current job, I asked if it ever snowed in this part of Mississippi. They said it does--once in a blue moon. Well, what do you know? Our first winter here and we got some...Now they're saying we brought it down here. hahahaha. Well, it's still nothing compared to Kansas, that's for sure:)

K-State for the Fourpeat

2008-01-04T16:39:00.000-06:00

I just got a call from Dr. Shanklin and found out that K-State won two of the three best paper awards at the annual Graduate Conference. Woohoo! That's four years in a row!!! My good friend Eunju actually won her second one:) You go girl!!!! I am so proud of you!

Recipe series #2

2007-11-09T17:14:00.001-06:00

These are some recipes/experiments I've recently passed on to my best friends. A couple of them have tried too and it's confirmed--the recipes are do-able and fool proof:) hhahahaha. I'm basically doing a copy-and-paste from emails, so hope you understand the recipe narratives for some instead of the usual standard recipes. hahaha

Sorry no pics this time!

BANANA BREAD (this has been in my notebook and I don't know where I got it)

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar (the original recipe called for 1 cup white sugar)
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla (I use McCormick pure vanilla extract)
1 tsp baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 1/2 cup flour

1. mix melted butter into mashed bananas.
2. add sugar, egg, and vanilla. mix until well blended.
3. sprinkle baking soda, salt
4. add flour and mix (I just used a fork for all of this!!! no need for mixer!)

Pour into loaf pan (fill pan about 3/4 because it will rise) or muffin pans. Bake for 1 hour (or until golden brown) at 350F. If you bake in smaller portions (like if you cook in multiple smaller loaf tins), then definitely it will take less time to bake. Use the toothpick test to see if it is cooked. Insert toothpick at thickest part of bread and it should come out clean. John's fave way to eat this is with coffee and vanilla ice cream--especially when it is right out of the oven.

OVEN BAKED CHICKEN (tossed this together for dinner one day. It ended up tasting a bit like lechon manok! Sana I had some Mang Tomas!)

I thawed some chicken thighs and drumsticks. While in the ziploc, I added some soy sauce and orange juice (siguro 1:1. Nadine didn't have orange juice so she used pineapple juice. She said it tasted good rin). I let that marinate while I was thawing. When it was ok na, I emptied the chicken and marinade into the bowl and rubbed some steak seasoning and black pepper on it. I wrapped each one individually in foil (parang yung pagbalot kung sandwich)--give a bit of room for the juices. Then I threw it on a baking pan, 400F, 45 minutes. The foil kept it moist. Plus since may konting fat, parang na fry/bake sya in its own juice kaya sarap! If you like the skin a bit crunchy, open the foil the last 15 minutes and then broil for last 2 minutes (Gladys tried this and it was good).

HONEY MUSTARD COLESLAW (got tired of making the mayo-based coleslaw, so I tossed this together instead)

Mix the following ingredients:
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp mustard
3-4 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (eyeball this depending on how sharp you want it)
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
2 dashes celery salt
salt and pepper to taste (freshly cracked black pepper is best)

Toss dressing with 1/2 fresh cabbage, thinly sliced into strips and about 2 Tbsp of raisins.

THAI-ish CHICKEN WRAP/SALAD [wala akong maisip na name eh]

Ingredients:
1 cup pre-cooked grilled chicken breasts strips
1/4 onion, sliced
1 Tbsp olive oil/low cal butter, etc
sesame seeds (optional--kakikayan ko lang to)
salt & pepper to taste

flatbread wraps (or any type of wrap pwede) and/or
salad greens (today we used the Mediterranean blend. I think any lettuce/spinach blend will do)
mandarin oranges (depends how much you like it)

Dressing: (some left over so you may want to cut recipe in half)
1/2 cup A-1 steak sauce
2 tsp peanut butter (any kind will do--you may want to adjust this depending on how crunchy, creamy, etc your peanut butter is)
1 Tbsp honey (can probably use brown sugar--may also want to lessen this depending on taste. I suggest add 1 tsp at a time)
1 tsp tabasco (adjust according to taste)
chili flakes (optional--for extra umph)
3 dashes powdered ginger
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1 tsp sesame oil

Procedure
Sauce: basically mix all ingredients and adjust taste.

Filling: Saute chicken and onion in oil/butter (or heat in 2 tbsp of water if you don't want oil). Season with salt and pepper. Toss in about 2 tsp of sauce. Set aside.

Assembly (may be served as a salad or a filling for a wrap):
On a bed of lettuce/salad greens, add mandarin oranges, and top with chicken. Serve with dressing on the side. Labas nya parang asian style chicken fajita. hehehe

In fairness masarap sya...the spicier the better! hehehe. Siempre experiment lang to, I modified a recipe I saw. hehehehe. I wrote naman the changes I made, but yung iba, depende na sa taste. so make sure you taste along the way!

If you modify, tell me what you do, hokey?

MOCK PEKING (thanks to my buddy Dawn for the original recipe. I've modified a bit since then, but she's the one who introduced this to me.)

2 tsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2 chicken breast fillets, minced/ground
1/2 lb ground lean pork (if ground pork is not lean, decrease olive oil or render/drain fat)
2 tsp brown sugar
1 cup carrots, minced
1/2 cup shiitake, minced
1/2 turnip, minced (if you don't have any, you can use about 1 cup water chestnuts, minced)
2 Tbsp soy sauce (adjust as needed)
3Tbsp Hoisin sauce
Iceberg or romaine lettuce cups

1. Saute turnips in 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp sesame oil until semi-dry and crunchy. set aside.
2. Saute onions, garlic, pork, and chicken in remaining olive oil.
3. When meat is brown, add back turnips, and other ingredients (except hoisin sauce)
4. Season with soy sauce, ground pepper, and 1 Tbsp hoisin sauce. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until meat is fully cooked. If meat is too dry, try to add a bit of water--like a Tbsp at a time. Adjust seasoning to desired flavor. Set aside.
5. For sauce, mix remaining hoisin sauce, 2Tbsp water, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and sesame oil.

To serve: scoop filling (about 1 Tbsp or more if you want) onto lettuce leaf. Top with sauce.

PESTO (John's bandmates' ultimate favorite request...hahaha)

Throw the following into a blender (or if you have a magic bullet, that's even better):
-2 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves--if you go to the produce section in WalMart, this is roughly equivalent to one pack of the fresh basil)
-1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted (or substitute walnuts, cashew, or peanuts)
-2 cloves garlic crushed (or more. depends on how strong you want the kick)
-1/2 cup olive oil
-1/3 cup grated parmesan

This serves 4 so adjust accordingly:) Also, sometimes I like to finish it off with a bit of heavy cream after I've tossed the pesto with the pasta (personal choice is angel hair, wheat if you can find it).

If you have extra pesto sauce, you can save it and use on toasted bread as a side to your traditional red or white sauce pasta. You can also toss some grilled chicken breast cubes in a bit of the sauce and serve over green salad.

You can keep the sauce in the ref in a tightly sealed container for up to 1 week. If you don't think you'll use it that fast, freeze it. It will last up to 1 month.

Ok, that should keep you busy for a while:) Next time I cook something yummy, I have to remember to take a photo. hahaha

happy cooking!

Recipe please!!!

2007-10-13T23:05:00.001-05:00

I am so excited that my best friends are now discovering the wonders of their kitchens :) More and more, they ask me for easy to do recipes that they can attempt to do on their own (instead of waiting for me to cook it for them...hahahaha). So, they've suggested that I keep track of the stuff I make so that they could experiment as well. This one's for you, girls!

Fair warning, though, I often don't write recipes the way you would find them in cookbooks or magazines. If I'm just preparing it for two, I usually eyeball the measurements. You'll need to experiment on your own to get the flavor balance as you would like it. The "recipe" and narrative for what I whipped up tonight is below...

Asian Pear and Broccoli Slaw

Simply toss the following ingredients together:

2 cups broccoli slaw mix (if you're in the States, you can find this at WalMart. If not, you can use regular slaw mix--cabbage cut into thin strips and julienne carrots)

1 Asian Pear, cubed (if you're not in a rush, you can julienne them too. If you don't have Asian pears, regular anjou pears or fuji apples will do)

2Tbsp blackberry walnut dressing (I've tried it with raspberry dressing too and it's pretty good. I think any fruit-based vinaigrette will work)

grape tomatoes (Or you can cut up regular tomatoes...cubes will be okay to match the pears)--this is optional, and you can vary the amount

Chopped nuts (I used pecan for this since it's the one I had on hand. Walnuts, almonds, or even sunflower seeds will work)

Shaved or shredded parmesan (optional, but it really just tastes better with it)

Salt and pepper to taste if preferred.

Flat Bread Pizza

I used the whole grain Light Flat Out Wraps available at the deli section at WalMart. I was intrigued by this product so I decided to try it. If you can't find it anywhere, I'm pretty sure that other whole wheat (or honey wheat) wrap-type products will work. Maybe even a pita-type bread will do (split it in half if it's too thick).

Toppings (per pizza):
1 Tbsp marinara sauce (I didn't have any pizza sauce on hand. hahaha)

feta crumbles (how much you put really is up to you. Some don't even like feta so you may feel like omitting it). If I was back home, I think I would love to try this with kesong puti! hehehe

spinach leaves (again, you can put as much or as little as you please)

pepperoni slices (I just thought I'd throw it on there. Gotta have some protein!)

shredded cheese (I used a store-bought blend of parmesan, asiago, romano, and provolone--again, it's what I had in the ref. You can use whatever you have--mozzarella, swiss, gouda, mild cheddar... the options are endless!)

other optional toppings (wish I had some on hand)--mushroom slices, black olives, green peppers, artichoke hearts, or whatever vegetable you feel like putting! hahaha

Bake for about 10 minutes at 350F (or until you see the edges browning. I cooked it until it was crisp because I like the crunch to it. You might want to retain the bread-like feel, so you can take it out of the oven as soon as the cheese melts and the pepperoni looks done)

Lastly...ENJOY!

If you try it out, let me know how it turns out!

2007-09-07T23:55:00.000-05:00

Hello, world! I am back! The past three weeks has been one big blur of activity which explains my absence from the web. Plus of course John and I did not have internet hookup yet (which we just got today...so yay!).

Labor pains
As I was defending my dissertation, my sister was in labor. A few hours after I officially got the signature that said I am a certified Ph.D., Giovan Miguel Estepa was born into the world! I guess I will never forget the anniversary of my defense :)

Farewell week
I don't think I ever had the chance to say thank you to everyone who hosted us for lunch/dinner that last week in Manhattan. We appreciated not having to worry about cooking when we were in a rush to get everything done. Trying to pack five years of your life at the same time as wrapping up your dissertation is NOT advisable! I defended on Monday, got my revisions in on Friday, and drove to Mississippi on Sunday. John, on the other hand, was helping Nick set up the studio, doing most of the packing (hehehehe), and trying to get all the tracks down for the Ruckus album. Phew...Tired is definitely an understatement! We apologize to everyone whom we did not have a chance to say bye to (paging Disha)...we'll see you all in December. hehehe

Rollin'
Living in a relatively bigger city meant that we needed to get around without killing ourselves over gas (Technie, our old car was a gas guzzler...Jay, kumusta naman ang budget mo for gas? nyaahahhah). In our first week at Hattiesburg, we decided to buy a Yaris. Cute, small, and economical! We love it!!! (Plus the roads here are a lot more crowded and narrow than KS!)

Hello, Golden Eagles!
No more purple, now it's all gold and black--well, except for my [mandatory] K-State coffee mug in the office! The campus has a completely different vibe from K-State so it'll take a while to get my bearings, but my first few days at work have been wonderful. I am excited with the [applied] research projects that I have been assigned to at NFSMI. The people I work with are awesome! They even brought some groceries when they met us after we got into Hattiesburg. They have been very helpful in easing us into this new life:)

Even the priest at St. Thomas (which is their version of St. Isidore's) is unconventional. I don't know if the word "hip" necessarily applies to priests, but Father Tommy definitely is that! Imagine someone with a strong Irish accent AND a Southern drawl! Hahaha...I really had to focus when he was giving the [very upbeat and funny] sermon. Oh, and John will be playing with the church band too:)

No pictures yet, but will upload some once the dust settles. hahaha. More updates soon. Stay tuned.

WOOOHOOOO!

2007-08-20T14:19:00.000-05:00

So apparently, the past three years have been worth it! (click here for related post)

Words are not sufficient to describe what I feel right now, so suffice it to say...The DOCTOR is in the house!!!!

WOOOHOOOO!!!!!

StumbleUpon

2007-08-13T21:27:00.000-05:00

I was reading a friend's post and I got curious, so I clicked on the link to StumbleUpon. Jenni's right! This site is a trip--not that I don't already have enough distractions! Give it a click:) You might find something that tickles your fancy:)

Oh, and the Winterbells game she talks about IS addictive! Don't say I didn't warn you!

While browsing, I found this site too and Peter Callesen, the artist, is awesome! He cuts A4 paper (among others) and sculpts with it...amazing!!!

Angel, 2006 (Acid free A4 115 gsm paper and glue)

My favorite, however, would have to be TasteSpotting. For those who know me, it's really not hard to understand why:) Check it out!

this just in!

2007-08-07T08:02:00.000-05:00

Last night, I finally had the chance to get some sleep. Seriously, the past week has been awful! But after all that stress, here it is...my draft! DONE! Delivered to my committee! Now I have two weeks to prepare for the BIG DAY!!!

On August 20, send up a prayer for me, will you? Three years of my life (and my brain--or what's left of it) will go in front of a committee who will decide if it was worth it. hahaha.

But just for today, I told my prof I was going to do nothing...hahaha. I think I might go back to bed for a nap this afternoon. I need to catch up on all the nights I didn't sleep...literally...I only slept an average of about three hours each night, if that. Even when I lay down, I could not sleep...I just kept seeing all my data/statistics/analysis running around in my head so I figured I might as well stay up and write. I hope that my committee accepts it with minimal revisions (none would be even better, but every candidate knows that's just not gonna happen).

So this is how it feels to hold the document in your hand. What a relief!!!!

Fast food junkies

2007-08-04T23:51:00.000-05:00

I have come to realize that another side effect of writing [cramming] your disertation is that you become a fast food junkie. My poor hubby has not eaten a gourmet meal prepared by yours truly in ummm...over two weeks! I swear! I've lost track of time (and space, and whatever else!) over the past few days that we've resorted to take out. hahaha. Thank God for Papa John's, Chinese Chef, Chipotle, and other heart-attack-in-a-paper-bag restos. I promised John I will cook him a proper meal once this dissertation is done! hehehe

Oh, and I also need to hit the gym (or something!) after I finish. Gotta get rid of the side effects of being a fast food junkie, too!

***

I see the light at the end of the tunnel...2 more weeeeeeeks!!!!

Sharpening the saw

2007-07-20T04:33:00.000-05:00

For those who are NOT familiar with Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, you may want to check out this site for a quick overview. Sharpening the Saw is the 7th habit...

My question is, how do you sharpen the saw if you've misplaced it? That is exactly how I feel right now. Not only is my focus dull, I think I've lost it all together! When I was taking three 900-level courses, working 20+ hours a week, actively involved in leadership positions for four campus organizations...I was in bed by 2 am, up at 7, and ready to tackle my busy day. I had time for everything including spending quality time with John and yes, I had a social life. I was energized and at the end of the day, everything on my to-do list was crossed off. I even had the strength to write the to-do list for the next day. Where is that person? It certainly does not feel like I'm her! hahaha.

Earlier during my program, I met PhD students who were at the tail end of the journey. They've finished the classes, passed the horrendous qualifying exams, and collected their data. All they had left to do was write up the results and bam! They would be done. I'd see them go sluggishly through the motions, taking every drop of their strength to sit down and write the darn thing. And I thought to myself, "You're nearly done. Just get to it already. It can't be THAT hard. I mean, you've done 75% of the book already!" Now that I've hit the 75% mark...I realized just how difficult it is. I can't explain why it...it just is. I have never stressed out SO much and accomplished SO little in a day--everyday--for the past several months! So this is what the ABD slump is all about. God only knows how much I want to get myself out of this writing rut.

One month. That's all. By this date next month, I SHOULD be completely done. I should be walking away with a stupid grin and a piece of paper that verifies my new identity: Dr. Amelia Asperin. But before all that, I have one week. One week to get my final draft in to my committee. Somebody please find me the strength to get through this one week!!!

The Ruckus Live!

2007-06-26T01:37:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a big night for John. He was able to play with The Ruckus, a popular local punk ska band (composed of K-State students). Fortunately, the weather was great for an outdoor concert and I was able to get some videos. I was way back on the bleachers so some are hazy, but you can still enjoy the Ruckus rockin' it out

Thanks to our friends (you know who you are) who came out to support John and the band. We hope you guys had as much fun as we did!

Below are the videos I took. Most of the songs they performed are original compositions. I think it's amazing how productive they are as a band. (Thank you, Rylan, for getting John hooked up with the band!)

She's Got a Girlfriend Now
The song is a cover from The Reel Big Fish. Funny, funny song!

Sometimes
This one's an original composition included in the group's Get Serious album.

Hell
not sure if this is a cover...will update when I get the info:)

No Future
...another original...

In between sets, Matt introduced the band but I didn't quite catch all of it. In any case, the band is composed of Matt Hubbel (lead vocals and trombone), Jeff Brown (trumpet and vocals--he also writes most of the music), Robby Avila (backing vocals, trombone, and sax), Rylan Ortiz (guitar), Chris Maxwell (bass), Chris Martinez (backing vocals and trumpet), Daniel Aguilar (auxiliary percussion), and of course, John who rocked out on the drums:)

Brad Idea
Here's the story behind this one:
They had a "friend" named Brad who thought that all of his ideas were great--but really weren't...So everytime someone in the group shares a not-so-brilliant idea, they say, "Yeah, right...that's a really Brad idea" hence, the birth of the song:)

Dry Cereal
Because it was a public concert, there were a lot of kids there and the guys had to be on their best behaviour--meaning no funky linggo that they would normally use in their spiels at the bar. So if they were introducing this any other time, the segue would have been much (!) different!

I wasn't able to catch the whole song, but below is John and Daniel's percussion/drum off:)

When the Ska Bands Played
A great ending to a great concert!
This is my favorite track on their album...and yes, it's an original composition too:)

Hope you enjoyed watching the videos!

of berry bomb smoothies and rejuvenated brain cells

2007-05-14T20:00:00.000-05:00

Sitting in a quaint cafe, enjoying the funky jazz music, chilling out thanks to the air conditioner (it's more than 90F outside!), sipping my berry bomb smoothie, and working on my dissertation...doesn't that sound like the perfect evening? NOT! hahaha. I suppose it could be worse. I could be sitting in my warm, empty office...staring at the walls and thinking, "What am I still doing here?! It's supposed to be the first official day of summer vacation!" hahaha. For grad students, the luxury of taking a vacation is a myth! A myth, I tell you.

I'm taking a small break. I've actually got quite a bit done since I got here. I've finished the revisions on the drafts that I have right now. At least I have something for our Wednesday research meeting! hahaha. To think, it's only Monday! I still have quite a ways to go, though. But at the very least, I have the corrections done :)

In any case, I'm glad I decided to come to the cafe instead of getting claustrophobic in my office. At least here, with the constant flux of people, I don't feel too anti-social-- a tad nerdy perhaps, but then again, that I'm used to:) There are several grad-student-looking people here with their lap tops and mountains of articles so it's not too bad:) I blend in.

I am rejuvenated knowing that I AM NOT ALONE! hahahahaha...

passing on the torch

2007-05-14T17:16:00.000-05:00

After two [long] years, I am finally passing on the presidency of PhilSA to Kuya Rommel. At least I am confident that the org is in able hands. I guess after you put in so much effort, the last thing you want to see is for the org to stagnate. I am hopeful that Kuya Rommel will bring new vitality to the org and the general atmosphere. How exciting -- and rather interesting -- to be on the outside looking in...soon. There's a lot of room for change and I know that Kuya Rommel will make the most of it.

Congratulations, too, to the new set of officers: Kuya Attan, AJ, and Sheila. It has been a good run...but it's now time to move on. The torch is your hand...let it burn bright!

change

2007-05-14T04:03:00.000-05:00

People who complain about anything and everything (but refuse to be part of the solution) get on my nerves. In my mind, if you feel that something is not right, then offer the [better] alternative. Don't run your mouth but have no idea how to fix what is seemingly wrong. Or worse yet, clamor [loudly] for change, but refuse to be the change agent. Words without action just becomes noise...noise that pollutes something that truly *could* be good.

Step up.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." --Mahatma Gandhi

it takes all kinds

2007-05-06T14:59:00.001-05:00

kumusta naman daw yun? magpaka victim ba? ewan ko lang kung anong satisfaction ang nakukuha sa mga ganyang drama.

I remember reading a forwarded email that talks about the different colors needed to complete a box of crayons. "It takes all kinds" was the gist. And I have to say I see that more now.

There are times that you can't really tell the color until you try it on paper. How sad that sometimes, you have a concept in your mind, you think you like a crayon...then you write with it and you see the true color...you realize it doesn't quite suit your taste after all.

Just like a box of crayons, you like some colors more than others--and some not at all. People bring colors to your life--some nicer, brighter, more vibrant than others. I'm just thankful that the lovely colors in my life far outnumber the dull ones.

Sigh...it takes all kinds.

----

I have decided to celebrate John's birthday for the whole week. Each day, I will prepare at least 1 of his favorite dishes. My initial attempt at celebrating his birthday kasi ended up leaving a bad taste in our mouth. Instead na maging memorable ang last birthday celebration nya dito sa KS, medyo nasira due to some unfortunate circumstances.

SO, we'll try to make up for that by splurging on some very palatable treats:) Here's the appetizer I prepared today: tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette served atop toasted french baguette slices.

PhilSA during International Week

2007-04-16T22:34:00.000-05:00

Every year, K-State's International Coordinating Council puts on International Week. This is an opportunity to participate in lots of activities promoting diversity and multicultural education.

PhilSA has always been active and the Cultural Exhibition is one of our favorites. This year, a new member, Sheila, was in charge of our display. Great job, Sheila! Thanks to Kuya Eric for taking the photos. If you have a Multiply account, click here to view pictures from the Cultural Display. I think you have to log in to actually see the photos. When I get my stuff organized, I'll have an open link to a slideshow...

Thank you, Ate Haidee for coordinating the Fashion Show. Check it out!

As usual, I'll borrow Kuya Eric's photos...click here to view pics during the World Traditions and Ceremonies at a Glance. We danced a modified Pandango (we were saving the real thing for the Festival of Talents). The guys then did a modern serenade to the tune of Parokya ni Edgar's Harana. Kilig! Thanks to the Claflin Boys and Kuya Rommel for working this one out!

Thanks to Judy for the videos of our performances during the Festival of Talents. I did not include the Pandanggo Oasiwas yet coz it's quite dark and all you really see are the candles and the sequins on our costumes. hehehe. I guess for that one, you just had to be there to see it (as Hazel said...hahaha). Kudos to our very strict dance masters Kuya Eric and Ate Haydee. Pictures here!

Tinikling

Maglalatik

Habang May Buhay

On behalf of PhilSA, a big THANK YOU to everyone who made this week a great one!

Realizations

2007-04-16T16:55:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, we look at our lives and think about everything that has not gone the way we wanted and we complain about whatever is going "wrong". Sometimes we dwell on things that drag us down...And then we hear of real tragedies that make our "troubles" pale in comparison.

Today, 32 random people died...shot to death by an anonymous individual...for reasons not yet known. It happened at a well known and well respected university located in a seemingly friendly town. Read about the Virginia Tech shootings here.

Just this past week, I faced a lot of personal challenges and managed organizational crises. I am exhausted. But what happened today at Virginia Tech is enough to remind me that last week is now the past. I can no longer change what has happened, what has been said, what has been done. BUT I am still able to do what needs to be done. I am still alive. That is enough.

another friend found

2007-04-03T23:51:00.000-05:00

With the surge of online communities like Friendster, MySpace, Facebook, Multiply, etc., it has gotten so much easier to find [long] lost friends. I love reconnecting with people I knew from way back when. If you asked my friends, they would probably say that I am one of THE most sentimental people they know. And I would agree. I love reminiscing about the past--especially all the funny, crazy, fun, extraordinary experiences we shared (we don't talk about the big boo-boos as much...hahaha). Total laugh trip!

Another thing I love about it, is that I get to see what/who they have become after all these years. Some of them were my little brothers and little sisters in Brent and I see their pics and I can't help but think...dengit! I'm old! hahahaha. But I love seeing or reading about how their lives turned out, where they've been, how they've changed [or not]. I get so excited seeing them pursue dreams we only used to talk about, or wish about...or when they end up doing things they said they would never do. We are no longer the same bright-eyed, naive, idealistic kids we once were...but somehow, when we catch up on things now, we find that some things--those that are important, the reasons why we are friends in the first place--have not changed.

This leads me to my most recent find. If you are looking for some interesting and well written materials, visit Lance's blog. He was one of "my kids" and even then, he was always articulate, prolific, and profound--at age 14 or so. Though I love how his writing has matured, I still see the Lance that I remember. Drop by when you've got time.

Amazing how the more things change, the more they stay the same.

smoke signals

2007-03-30T13:58:00.000-05:00

One of my mentors sent me the following and I thought...hmmm...maybe she saw my smoke signals, too! hahaha...

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small,uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island!It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?," asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

The Moral of This Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives.... even in themidst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

P. S. You may want to consider passing this on, because you never know who feels as if their hut is on fire today.

I can see the light!

2007-03-30T01:32:00.000-05:00

Hello, world! I am so happy...it is exactly 1:32 am and I have just saved the final copy of my dissertation proposal. WOOHOOOO!!!! Now I get to go back home and catch some zzzzz's. I might even treat myself to some ice cream tonight:) hahaha.

Tomorrow, all I need to do is print it off, have it bound, and deliver it to my supervisory committee members. Then I get to relax [sort of] for 2 weeks before my proposal defense...April the 13th. Yikes. That reminds me, when I was setting up my meeting, one of my advisers wrote back, "Hmmm...Friday the 13th...you sure you wanna do it then?" I answered, "I didn't even think about that! How about you play nice and change the stigma? It will be my lucky day!"

Positive thinking never killed anyone, I guess:)

Mini Spring Break

2007-03-22T01:49:00.001-05:00

I am so glad that John and I decided to get away for the weekend. I know that I probably could have gotten a lot of things accomplished over the 3 days that I was gone...but now I feel so much better. I guess I needed the change of environment so I could recharge. What made the weekend so much better is the fact that John and I spent it with friends--good friends! Being able to bridge the past and the present and knowing that these friends will be part of the future as well just gives me a great feeling, and more reasons to be thankful.

RITCHIE

Ritch and I have known each other since we were 10. Wow...20 years of shared memories! Amazing. Our friendship has actually gone full circle. While we were in Brent, we were good friends and we hung out with the same people (well, we didn't really have much choice, there were so few of us!). I guess you could say I was the Ate then too--I knew all his crushes, his pet peeves, and all other problems, ups, down, and whatever. We even moved to Manila together for college, both at UP Diliman. After our freshman year, we started going our own ways and I guess it was at that time that we drifted apart. (Well, there was more to it than that, but I won't go there right now). I guess college and beyond, we began to have our own groups of friends who were very different from each other and really, it seemed that all we had in common was Brent--just Brent. Since we left the Philippines, we've tried to keep in touch and I must say we've done a decent job at that. Emails, phone calls, notes on Friendster--I mean we were still friends, but it just was not the same.

After his visit late last year and more so after this weekend, I am SO glad that we have had the chance to reconnect in the way that we were in Brent. I guess reminiscing about the good old days helped, but also because we are both more mature now...we've both made something of ourselves, and we both understand why we did the things we did then. Full circle. I just want to take the time to say-- Ritch, I'm sorry I wasted all that time in between then and now. I may have done or said things that hurt you, but know that I'm sorry. I didn't realize what I took for granted until we kept talking (and laughing) about all the crazy stuff we did in Brent and UP. Can't take back the past, so here's to just cherishing the great friendship and making the most of this blessing. I am so proud of you and who you have become. I hope you know that.

I believe that if you can keep in touch with the childhood friends you made, then those are the friends who truly stay with you, love you no matter what, regardless of time, distance, and circumstance. I suppose you could say that they knew you before the world got to you...and they can see what you've made of yourself after you've let the rest of the world step into your life. I am ever so thankful for those friendships. I may not tell them often now...and maybe I should...but I would not be who I am if not for the "family" I had in Brent. I love you guys! I AM BLESSED.

JUDY, JOHN G, AND MAU

Although we didn't spend much of the weekend with them, I'm still glad that we drove down and back with them. Being confined in a small car for 7 hours (each way) really gives you the opportunity to bond. And bonding we did! Like I've mentioned in one of my previous posts, these three have kept me sane this past year. Laughter is indeed the best medicine. And no doubt, the five of us (including John) will always, always find something to laugh about. I love that we get along so well even if we're all very different--I guess you could say that we complement each other well.

Some time ago, probably through one of those emails that get forwarded, I remember reading that people are like crayons: It takes all shades and colors to make a complete set. That's how it is with the five of us. We're different enough to make life interesting, but alike enough to be able to understand each other.

P.S. So when are we going to roll out the "D is the answer" game so you guys can have your sweet revenge? hahahaha

***
I may have had people in my life that I did not particularly like--or did not particularly like me. I may even have had some enemies. But all of that pale in comparison the the wonderful friends that I have made along the way. For that I am eternally grateful!

The prayer list

2007-03-14T14:32:00.000-05:00

Everyday, I exchange a series of emails with my best(est) friends: Kitty, Gladys, Ann, and Nadine. We're all going through our own set of challenges at the moment and we talked about adding each one to a prayer list. However, in all the emails, we've lost track of how many we have on that list and what we have on that list. hahaha. So now, they've all decided that since I'm the most academic, list-oriented person among the group (their way of saying I'm such a nerd...hmpf!), I should come up with THE list. So here goes...

We pray that Nadine's recent relocation to Australia will prove to be a smooth transition. We hope that she finds a job that, more than anything, will be fulfilling. Of course it doesn't hurt if it pays well:) [Nades, gift ko hah! hahahaha]
We pray that Gladys and Sam's house will be very marketable so that they can sell it quickly and move to a better home--preferably bigger (for the growing family) and closer to the rest of civilization (also known as her sister, church, and shopping...hahahaha).
We pray that I hit my target dates for the completion of my dissertation (kasi, no dissertation, no job!!! Hindi pwedehhhhhhhhhhh!)
We pray that Ann's papers finally come through so that she can likewise start a new chapter (but in the mean time we hope that the upcoming meeting with **:)** will be great. Sana naman, this time may fireworks na...or at least a spark. Wag naman sana tulad ng dati na, "Kahit watusi nga, wala!")
We pray that Kitty's superb evaluation at her current job will open new doors and present wonderful opportunities for her. (And in the process, Nadine prays that Kitty decides to pursue her job search in Australia...at nang di naman lonely si Nades dun!)

The list will grow as time goes by...but at least naumpisahan na....and if you feel like offering up a prayer, write a comment and add it to the list! Or send up a prayer for us--every ounce of faith helps!

Ayan na...pahabol...

We pray that the processing of Andrew's papers will be quick so that he could follow Nadine to Australia as soon as possible (at nang hindi naman sila abutin ng 5 years apart tulad namin ni John!)
We pray that John gets more gigs para naman masaya (saka I have an excuse to get out once in a while. Maybe a change of scenery will do me (most especially my brain) some good. hahahaha)
We pray that Sam does well so that he and Gladys can breathe easier and have more family time:)

John's set at Radina's

2007-03-10T04:22:00.000-06:00

The following are clips of songs that John, Sarah A., Rylan, and Ricardo performed at Radina's Cafe just last night. I used our digicam to record so the sound quality is not all that balanced. I was also sitting at the table closest to John so in a couple of the vids, you can barely hear Rylan and Sarah.

Loved the atmosphere. Loved the songs. Hope you like them too!

Blue Bossa

I Will

Heard It Through the Grapevine

An Alison Krauss song..if anyone can tell me the title of the song, that will be great! hahaha

Thinking beyond the textbook:)

2007-03-08T23:10:00.000-06:00

I am so very grateful for industry people who willingly answer my requests for them to come in as guest speakers in my class. Lecturing from the book is nothing compared to hearing people who are actually making it in the industry--and making it big by doing things right. It's the perfect proof that what they learn from the book is actually useful, or in some cases, too idealistic. How many times have I said to myself, "That's not how it goes in the industry!" Books teach the ideal, show the perfect scenario if you had the greatest boss of all time who is not only a manager, but a leader as well. But guest speakers...well, they tell it like it is in the real world. And I love that. Some managers have also agreed to let me bring my class to tour their facilities. Nothing like hands on contact with the subject matter, right?

I know these great individuals will probably never point their browsers to my blog. Besides, I've already given them my personalized thank you's. But I still want to recognize them here--for contributing to the richness of my class, to the knowledge that my class can impart to the students, for the time they take to share their experiences, and just because...

Mr. Bill Elliot, Manhattan Country Club
Mr. Bob Philbrick, Quail Creek Country Club
Mr. Matt David, Indian Hills Country Club [I think it was really effective when I introduced him as a guy who sat in the same room as my students (albeit several years ago), listening to some speaker, thinking "Someday I'll be there too."]
Mr. Michael Nicolotti, Alvamar Country Club
Mr. Steve Graves, Creative Golf Marketing
Mr. Bradley Minnick, Lawrence Country Club
Mr. Steve DeRose, The Carriage Club
Mr. Ross Day, Kansas City Country Club

Thank you!

Oh happy day!

2007-03-08T23:04:00.000-06:00

Three reasons I am happy today (and quite honestly, it's more than enough!)

I finally re-submitted Chapter 1 of my dissertation proposal--and it looked a lot better than the first draft, let me tell you that!
I got my draft of Chapter 3 back--with minimal corrections. Woohooo! Now if I can only get Chapter 2 in, I'll be almost set!
Oh, and yes, I GOT A JOB OFFER TODAY!!!!

Life is gooooooooood!

Pasasalamat

2007-02-16T15:49:00.000-06:00

One of my long time friends and "little brother" signs his blogs "Jibee thought life was worth blogging about on (insert time)". That got me thinking. I mean, there are a lot of moments everyday that I have something to be thankful for...that I have something to blog about. But in the midst of my hectic life, I never get down to doing it. The thought gets buried, the time runs out, the opportunity is lost. So now, I'm going to make a list of things I am thankful for and things I should have taken the time to write about. I will take 10 or so minutes out of my day to sit down and write--write anything and everything that comes to mind in the space of 10 minutes of silence.

1. I am thankful for John, Judy, John Gayle, and Mau. I've been going through some "stuff" the past couple of days and I thank them for being open minded, supportive, and funny--nothing like laughing with friends when all you want to do is yell and chop other people's heads off! hahaha. (And it's not like I want to do that everyday. It takes a lot to get me that mad.) Of course I am most thankful for John. Iba talaga when you marry your best friend. It's everything you need rolled into one amazing person. I am SO blessed.

2. I am thankful that my interview for the NFSMI in Mississippi was rescheduled. The first time around, I got stuck in the airport in Houston and never even made it to MS. Hopefully this time around I make it to the interview! I'm rather nervous, but I know that if it was meant to be, God will be with me. I am excited. Wow, a new phase in our life. John and I are so ready to for my "struggling grad student" phase to be over...which leads to my next point...

3. Thank God my mentor is a very patient person. I am behind--way behind--on the timeline for my dissertation, yet she continues to be encouraging and patient. I know I have got to get a move on, and I will. I remember how I was when I was finishing up my Masters--driven and gung ho about my thesis. Where did that girl go? I am down with the ABD flu. hahaha. (For the non academics, ABD stands for All But Dissertation...It means I'm a step short of being a PhD). It's the last lap, and I'm running out of fuel. I need to power up...saan ko ba mahahanap ang nearest gasolinahan for inspiration / motivation / and all other things that will get me out of this momentary lapse? hay...

4. I know that maybe others will not be thankful for people who talk crap about them behind their back...but I'm actually glad that the "noise" got back to me. I say that because it has made me realize that it is best to let go of things that are not good for you even if you think it was worth it at one point in your life. Such decisions are hard to make. Others might think you're being selfish. Pero, in reality, you're only doing what's best for you kasi holding on to it to please other people while you suffer does you no good. Oo, martyr ka...pero di na uso yun. Di naman nila ako itatayo ng monumento! "Thank you" nga di ko marinig, monumento pa kaya?! It's not that I'm expecting something in return, kayalang nakakapagod din kasi. (Side note about those who have said things: Well, sa bagay, if they tell my closest friends, siempre aabot sa kin, right? And that's what I don't get--kung ayaw nyong malaman ko dahil di nyo kayang sabihin sa kin ng harap harapan, then don't tell my best friends! Hellllooooo?! Or that's their easy way out--dahil alam nilang aabot sa kin. Hay, how spineless.)

5. I am thankful for a way to reconnect with relatives that I may not have seen for the longest time--or never met, for that matter. A few years ago, my Auntie Rachel did the same thing for the Cabildo clan. This time around, the Estepa side of the family naman. It's so nice to be able to interact with my Dad's generation, my own cousins (many of whom I did not have the chance to grow up with), and the generation after us:) Ang saya diba, kahit kalat kalat kami sa buong mundo, we have one tiny spot in cyberspace we could call ours...all ours! Woohoo! And having said that, thank God talaga for technology!

6. I thank the Lord that I had awesome roommates in college. The other night, I was chatting with Kate and it never fails to amaze me how we just pick up wherever we left off. We haven't seen each other for about 8 years now, but we chat like we were just hanging out yesterday. What I love about us is that we share so many life lessons together (we think we live parallel lives). We look back at all our "petty" problems then and we are able to laugh about them now. Tease each other, even. The other night, we were talking specifically about two people in our past that we both decided were better off as friends rather than anything more. And we said, "Buti na lang, natauhan tayo nun. Otherwise, we won't be with the guys we have in our lives now...the Lord truly had better plans for us. We were just less trusting then."

Ok, as much as I am enjoying this, my ten minutes are up. Next time ulit.

Quite a number of years ago, I went to a leadership course and we were asked to maintain a "Pasasalamat" notebook--a daily journal of things we are thankful about. I found it just recently and I forgot that I even brought it with me to the States. I read through it and I was amazed at how blessed I was [am]. As I read the things I wrote, I realized I need to be more grateful these days. I have not taken time to say thanks--or at least not as much as before. Kasi, really if you just look around, there's infinite goodness and blessings abound.

Today is going to be a happy day...

Slip into happy

2007-01-24T02:17:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, I came across this funny video on you tube. I've forgotten about it until a friend of mine sent me a link to the girl's own web site. What a laugh trip! If you're not Filipino and/or you have not been around Filipinos (particularly the more conservative, traditional...read: older Filipinos), then it might be hard to get why her videos are so hilarious. Check it out though, she's got some stuff on there that doesn't require the Filipino gene. hahaha. Check Christine out at Happy Slip.

Enjoy!

The melting pot

2007-01-21T01:49:00.000-06:00

I was organizing the photos from the NC trip (I know, ten years later...), and I came across the video I took at The Melting Pot. That meal was awesome...thanks again, Stan!!!

None of us took pictures of the appetizer nor the salad. We were so excited to dive right in, we forgot all about our cams (I guess you can kind of see it in the pic above). The Quattro Formaggio Cheese Fondue was a combination of provolone, asiago, fontina, and gruyere, slowly melted in a cup of dry white wine. Basil pesto, roasted red pepper marinara, and several other ingredients added to the complexity of flavor. It was served with slices of pumpernickel and french bread and get this, sliced green apples. That was surprisingly good! The Caesar salad that followed was delicious as well. I think the parmesan encrusted pine nuts was a great touch!

Below are some pics and here's a video of our server explaining what all came with the main course...YUMMMMMY! We decided to try the Fondue Feast cooked Mojo style ("Bourguignonne Caribbean seasoned bouillon with distinctive flavors of fresh garlic with a citrus flair!") [sorry the vid's a little dark, but you can still hear what he's saying].

Dessert was absolute heaven. hahaha. Cheesecake dipped in rich, creamy dark chocolate...need I say more? haha. The oreo covered marshmallow was great too. I think my favorite was the pineapple, though. Simple, but the contrast in flavor was just superb:)

At first we didn't think we'd get full on fondue since the servings looked small...but jeez, we were stuffed! We got back to the hotel and topped the dinner off with a bottle of blush wine that we brought home from Childress Vineyards. Great stuff! I guess you can say we started the new year right:) Woohoo!

Bluegrass, anyone?

2007-01-21T01:30:00.000-06:00

John's got a new project with Rylan and Joe. They play some Wednesday nights at Radina's, a local coffee shop and college hang out. Here's a small clip of the gig--I don't know what song it is (and I'm not sure John knows either...hahaha). Well, he's definitely expanding his repertoire. Pinoy rock, alternative, acid jazz, latin funk, r & b, bossa nova, pati country! And now, bluegrass...ayus!

Rewind >> replay

2007-01-09T01:08:00.000-06:00

The holidays just came and went and now I'm back to work:) However, I've decided to take some time out to write about what kept me busy the past three weeks...

After months of planning, Judy and John finally tied the knot. The wedding turned out great--the glowing bride, the dashing groom...and of course, the fantastic entourage. hahahaha. Kuya Roderick, Maureen, John, Kuya Attan, Kat, and I had so much fun...it was stressful, but definitely well worth it all! It was simple, yet beautiful. Next project is to help Judy with the scrapbook...if she ever gets to print the pictures. Everyone pretty much had a digicam so she has MORE than enough pictures to choose from! I'll work on the slideshow and post a link..sometime in the [near] future.

The day after the wedding, John and I flew to North Carolina to meet up with my college buddies, Stanford and Leah. Although it's been several years since we last hung out, it didn't feel like it! We just pretty much picked up where we left off 7 years ago. Of course, John added to the equation was great too! They're all avid programmers so when the geekspeak set in, I tuned out. hahahaha. kidding. But really, I'm glad that they finally met him..they've been hearing about him for so long! hahaha. Now they know that he truly isn't just a figment of my [overactive] imagination! I have not been able to organize my pictures, so I'll use Stanford's until I get around to making my own! [thanks, stan!]. Here's a short clip of the "Acorn Drop", Raleigh's version of NYC's ball drop during new year's eve.

The last leg of my trip was Houston for the annual national graduate student conference for hospitality and tourism. It is always a great place to network and learn about what other grad students are doing for their research. K-State just did a 3-peat. We won the award for Best Paper again this year. First it was Chihyung (now Dr. Ok), then Eunju, and now....ME! Woohooo! I was on cloud nine:) Totally unexpected, but I am not complaining! hahaha. What an honor. I think it was also perfect timing since I'll be in the market for a job soon. [thanks for the pics, Dave! slideshow soon to follow] Edit: slideshow is done!

So there you go...what a way to end 2006 and start 2007 with a bang!

Happy new year, everyone!

Merry Christmas to me, indeed!

2006-12-21T14:24:00.000-06:00

John and I received our gift from my brother today...a big box full of goodies! I know it may sound funny to some of you reading this, but we were so happy to see the spicy spanish sardines, clover chips, chippy, corned beef, pancit canton, fish crackers, and other Pinoy stuff. YUM! And of course, not to mention all the other non-edible gifts. John was VERY happy with his Vater 8A drumsticks, among other things. Thanks to my sister-in-law and niece for picking out my matching winter jacket and boots:) woooohooooo!

I am now so wired--my brother just sent me a Palm:) woohoo! All throughout high school and college, I've always been known to carry my [color-coded] filofax/organizer. If anyone wanted to see me panic, they knew the best way was to hide my filo (and they've done that many times...and I fell for it almost all the time! hahaha). Goodbye to bulky organizers and tons of post-its! Hello my new organizer that can fit in my purse! yehey!!!!

Thanks, Kuya for all the goodies!!!! I love my siblings! hehehehehe

I think I'll go make some coffee now...

Enjoy your coffee!

2006-12-21T12:16:00.000-06:00

The semester is officially over, but I'm still trying to tie loose ends with last minute project submissions, incomplete grades, and students "clarifying" their grades. I have barely closed the gradebook for Fall distance class and I'm already working on my syllabus for Spring (already a late start!). Gotta love the academe, right :) But that's okay, it's part of the training...and it's emails like the ones below that make it all worthwhile:

Just want to let you know that I truly enjoyed your class this semester. Truth be known, I wasn't looking forward to taking this course, because I tend not to like managing people, budgets, and number-crunching. But you made the class very interesting. I especially appreciated your exceptionally positive interaction during the chat sessions and your timely responses to my emails during the course of the semester.
I've definitely learned a lot of useful and practical information. Thanks for being so helpful and understanding, and for being such a devoted teacher!
It was great to have you for the course instructor and I hope to get to take a class again from you in the future. This semester has been great and I appreciate how interactive you were with the class…it really gave us a class atmosphere. I hope you have a Merry Christmas.
Thanks so much! I'm excited I did so well -- I've felt like I was learning so much all semester but of course got a bit nervous just before the exam...[sent after getting results for her final--she got an A, by the way]

Then of course I also get the notes inserted in projects, written on the final, posted during chat, etc:

We believe that we have achieved all the goals outlined in this project. We have maintained a food cost percentage below 35%, labor cost...[more financial analyses here]...The last goal we have to fulfill is to get a 95% or better on this project. [maybe I should use that tactic...guilt trip the teacher! hahahaha]
That WAS extra credit, right?
Are you going to give extra credit projects? [This after missing several quizzes..uh...NO]
Whew! I think I just got carpal tunnel after all that writing [my exam appeared to be a killer...it really wasn't--well, that is if they studied :) ]
You promised partial points, right? Right? Please?
I was waiting to receive all my project feedback and grades before sending you this so as to not look like I was brown nosing :)

All that said, one of my mentors sent me an interesting anecdote. Thought I'd share since I feel that with Christmas fast approaching, I know I have to take some time to calm myself and "enjoy the coffee"...

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some
expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.

While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee in most cases, just more expensive; and in some cases, even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... and then began eying each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups..........enjoy your coffee.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care!

who would've thought...

2006-11-15T23:00:00.000-06:00

So I was never really into reality TV shows (well, except American Idol), but when a friend of mine told me that there are two contestants from Baguio in Pinoy Dream Academy , I searched YouTube for a glimpse. That glimpse has since turned into my daily dose. I am addicted. hahahaha. Who would've thought I'd go for something like that? Corny as it may sound, I like watching the "scholars" learn and grow. Of course I've got my favorites, but generally, the students are getting so much out of the experience. Music/performance/dance lessons taught by the best in the industry would cost so much money--and since most of these students don't come from rich families, the lessons in themselves are gifts. I just hope that when they get out and face the real world, they'd know to be thankful for the experience rather than let the fame (and new found fortune) get to their heads. If you're stressed, bored, and needing to kill time, I highly recommend watching a few episodes. hahaha. You might learn a bit along the way... maybe.

Oh, and by the way, go Yeng and Yvan! hahaha.

my latest find

2006-10-08T15:33:00.000-05:00

By following links from one blogger's post to another, I found Pinoy Kasi! by Michael L. Tan. Maybe it's that UP connection that made me keep reading the other posts after I read the link I followed: The Oblation. In any case, his insights about the Philippines and being Filipino--and everything else in between-- made for an interesting read (there goes the time I was supposed to spend writing my proposal draft...sigh...).

Side note...I looked at his article archive and it only goes until 2004. I wonder why...

15 minutes later...
- I realized he still has the column published through Philippine Inquirer
- I found an "unofficial" archive of his current articles here

Bayanihan at KU

2006-10-07T03:52:00.000-05:00

Last night, Audrey, Mau, and I went to watch the Bayanihan Dance Troupe perform in Lawrence. I have never seen that many Filipinos in one place (in Kansas) before☺ It was great. I didn’t particularly like all their dances, but I cannot say I was not impressed. I wish I could dance like them! The Sayaw sa Bangko, Singkil, and Tinikling were just unbelievably amazing. A far cry from the typical traditional dances, definitely. The synchronization was exceptional for all their dances. Very percussive, especially since most of the music was live. I enjoyed it a lot. Mas lalo tuloy ako na homesick.

What I enjoyed more was spending time with Audrey and Mau. We had fun and we clicked. I love that Audrey is so Pinay even if she grew up here. She tries her best to speak in Tagalog and just her actions/quirks/ and expressions scream Pinoy! Hahaha. Gotta love it! She’s even barat “kasi I’m part Ilokano!” hahahaha. She’s a genuinely sweet girl and it’s obvious that the Filipino community in Wichita love her. I’m glad that she found the time to hang out. (By the way, her Mom is a Bayanihan alumna!)

On our way back to Manhattan, we went through Steak N Shake in Topeka for some food. We didn't get to have dinner before the show so we thought we'd fill up:) And fill up we did! To the brim! We cracked up all through out dinner so all that air plus all that food...yikes! We could hardly breathe when we walked out. Luckily none of us (especially our driver, Audrey!) fell asleep and we made it back safe and sound. Thanks for bringing us out, Audrey! Dapat maulit to!

making it in the world

2006-10-03T14:42:00.000-05:00

I love getting in touch with old friends and seeing what they have made of dreams we've passionately talked about during our college days. One I've recently re-discovered is Iris who is now involved with Irlandesa, a company that specializes in sugar free desserts and pastries. I checked out her site and I hope that my other friends in Manila will try their products--and give me feedback:) The white chocolate tiramisu sounds heavenly! So do the mango and green tea cheesecakes (green tea is all the rage now...and I'm lovin' it!).

Maybe when I come for a visit, that's what Jenni and I will binge on while we enjoy reminiscing about our youth:) That tiramisu with a steaming cup of coffee...yum!

thank you!

2006-10-03T03:42:00.000-05:00

My sister was in a good mood today:) Lucky me! She bought me another gift. After getting me a new cellphone for passing my prelims, she got me an iBookG4 to help me become more productive (supposedly) and to get my proposal written. hahaha. I wonder what she would give me when I successfully finish my degree and graduate? A car would be great (but I have to learn how to drive first). hahaha. But I wouldn't want to push it. hahaha

Here's sending out a hug to my ATE. Thanks again and I love you--uh, not only because you buy me gifts, hah! hehehehehe. MWAH!

rewind

2006-10-01T16:08:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I found the blog of an old friend of mine. I have always admired Jenni for her creative gusto--in any form--literature, music, design, visual art, etc (the list goes on...really!). But I've always been very impressed by her writing style: edgy, real, sarcastic, witty, intelligent. So I write her a note and her response has me laughing out loud.

Just sharing:

I said...
jennnnnnnnnnnnni!!!! hey girl. just found your blog today. how i miss our long (then very creative, angstful, and just a tad bit too hopelessly romantic) letters--with all the doodles along the borders and the fancy origami-like folds:) i love the way you write--always have! i think i've lost my touch, unless you consider statistics as creative writing:) hahaha. miss you girl!

She said...
Girl!!! I miss you too! You know, when I think about it, I really don't know where we found the time to keep up that constant, daily exchange of information (like we weren't talking all the time in between notes). I still had all our letters from high school up until a few years ago, but they were somehow misplaced when I moved house. Too bad! I think we would've gotten a kick out of all our post-pubescent sentimentality. As for losing your touch, eto lang yon—if I (despite all the brain cells I've killed in the last decade) am still miraculously capable of stringing a coherent sentence together, then I am absolutely certain that you've still got it in you. By the way, I still remember one of our exchanges in which I told you that I was stressing because I had brain constipation, and you wrote back that it was ok because you had verbal diarrhea. Hey, I STILL think that's funny.

:) The next time I come home, I am definitely going to look up all those letters--which I also have filed (yes, filed chronologically!). We'll have fun reading them over coffee. Ah, nothing like teen-age angst! hahahaha.

Goodbye tagboard!

2006-09-21T10:38:00.000-05:00

I have decided to remove the tagboard from my layout. It's annoying that spammers find their way there too. So to avoid any possibly virus infected links / embarrassing / obscene posts on the board, I just removed it. If you'd like to send me a note, just leave a comment on one of my posts.

One step closer!

2006-09-17T11:38:00.000-05:00

Hello, all!

I know I've been gone for quite a while. It has been a very hectic and stressful month and a half...but quite worth it in the greater scheme of things...hahaha...

I am one step closer to getting my degree. I passed my preliminary exams (both written and oral). I think preparing for the exams was a lot more stressful than actually taking them. Once they were over, waiting to hear whether you passed or not was nerve wracking. But after all is said and done, I am officially a PhD Candidate--or in nerdspeak, A.B.D.--all but dissertation. I'm probably going to disappear again since I'll be writing my proposal, but I'll try to be a bit more visible. My prof wanted my draft last week--but after passing prelims, all I wanted to do was take a break. Now I know I'll have to get down to it. Sigh...

Last Friday was the deadline for an abstract submission for the Houston conference to be held in January. It took me all night Thursday to run my data. I'm not a big fan of statistics, so you can imagine how tired I was--especially when my data was not cooperative. hahaha. Thank God for friends who do live and breathe statistics--they really got me through. I slept at 9 a.m. on Friday with some semblance of an abstract sent off to my prof:) Before I could even get to dreamland, my phone was ringing with my prof on the other end ready to give me input. So much for sleep. With all the revisions, I was able to beat the deadline with several hours to spare. After sleeping in till noon on Saturday, I think my body has recovered.

And now, back to the grind...Gotta get that proposal draft done...

Have a great week!

u.p. naming mahal...

2006-08-02T00:39:00.000-05:00

Pinadala ng kaibigan ko tong link na to. Pictures were taken by Daniel Cercado. Na-miss ko tuloy ang U.P. Incidentally, been keeping in touch lately with a lot of my UP friends. Nakakatuwa naman tignan kung saan saan na kami napunta, ano nang nangyari sa mga buhay-buhay, at paano na kami nag-bago...o di nag-bago. Ang tagal na rin pala.

Sa susunod na pag-uwi ko, babalik talaga ako sa UP. If only to get me one [or a couple] of those super cool, super artistic, super funky UP shirts. Gusto ko yung isa, siempre, may Oble. Tapos siguro yung isa, may Ikot. hahahaha. Saka kakain ako sa Beach House, Tea Room, at Chocolate Kiss...and not to miss the isaw in Kalayaan, fishball sa Eng'g, at dirty ice cream sa CHE. hahahaha. Isama narin natin ang nilalako na vegetable lumpia with the spicy vinegar, banana-q, at turon. Hay, kelangan ko yata ng isang linggo! hahahahaha. I wish....kelan ko kaya magagawa, ano?

Note: Pic taken from Tribute to the UP Oblation

another year...wiser?

2006-07-16T02:10:00.000-05:00

This summer marks some pretty big milestones in my life...

1. I just celebrated my 30th birthday. Everyone kept telling me, "Wow, you're turning the big three-o". And I thought...well...what really is so big about it? I guess I don't notice it (or think about it a lot) because I'm still in school . I feel like I'm back in college--except it's quite a bit harder (by leaps and bounds!). hahaha. And of course, almost always, the next question was, "When will you have a baby?" Sigh...

2. It's my last year to handle the SUROP group. I've been working with the undergraduate research program for the past 3 summers and it has been fun. Challenging and demanding...but fun. I've learned a lot along the way and I love working with, and getting to know the students. I think I could add "shrink, crisis manager, event planner, referee, problem solver, peace maker" to my job description for the resume:) I'm also the summer Mom, on call, 24/7. Just yesterday, one of my students sent me the sweetest email. Short, but it totally made my day: "Hi Amelia--Just wanted to say thanks for all you do. Your hard work is appreciated. You're amazing:)" What a great birthday gift—even if she didn’t know it.

3. Come August, I end my contract as the GRA for the Graduate School. Just thinking of how much I have to turn over to the next person is overwhelming! I'm in the process of creating a position manual so the next GRAs won't feel as lost as I was. hahahaha. Over the last two years, I have learned so much about the behind-the-scenes of higher education. I have seen, heared, and experienced first hand the policy making, discussions, politics, power plays, and other fundamental activities needed to run the MS and PhD programs--particularly at a land-grant institution. I think that one of the lessons I appreciate learning the most is the art of diplomacy. Because I was working with different people from a wide array of disciplines (with varying levels of social skills!), diplomacy was key to keeping my sanity. I'm also going to miss the people I see everyday at the office. Their support and camaraderie is truly a blessing.

4. I finally start teaching this fall. Not only does this mean that I finally get to do what I love doing...it also means I get my tuition paid for! wooohooo! That's only secondary, though, since I really wanted to get this position so I can have teaching experience here. I am excited, and also a bit anxious. After all, this is my first teaching experience with American students and it's in a format I am not familiar with. Although the class will be online, I think I will enjoy it. There are some pieces of equipment and tech tools that I am excited to learn about. Personally though, I think that in the end, I would still choose in-class instruction over online classes.

5. I take my preliminary exams this August. That in itself is enough to make me queasy! That's 6 written exams of 4 hours each. Then they give me at least a 10-day sanity break before I face a firing squad (a.k.a. the oral exam where I face a panel of faculty members shooting rapid fire questions at me). Hopefully, by the end of August and as fall rolls around, I will no longer be "just" a PhD student...but rather, a PhD candidate..A.B.D (all but dissertation). My prof says it's just a right of passage that every PhD person has gone through. Yeah, okay, but it's still nerve-wracking as heck! Sigh...such is life.

Before I forget though, I would like to say thank you to JOHN for a wonderful birthday. My turn to say "Thank you for all you do (to keep me happy...to keep me sane...and to keep me in line. hahahahaha) i love you!

ahhhh, life!

2006-07-14T15:04:00.000-05:00

My professor sent this to me and i felt like sharing...

On the first day, God created the dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."

The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years
and I'll give you back the other ten?"

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span."

The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?"

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said: "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."

But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

Wildflower Walk at the Konza

2006-06-17T22:48:00.000-05:00

I've been out to the Konza Prairie several times and this time around, I decided to bring along the camera. I'm glad I did! I was experimenting with all the different bells and whistles and given another opportunity, I'm not sure I'll come up with the same pictures as I have here. So I'm gonna share now while I'm still feeling pretty good about myself. hahahaha. Ahhhh, the wonders of digital photography. And no, I didn't use photoshop or any of the photo editing tools. I was so focused on experimenting I didn't catch any of the names, but they are pretty:) The sunset was a favorite too!

View Photo Slideshow

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100 done!

2006-05-28T18:25:00.000-05:00

I finally finished the 100 things about me list that I've been working on. For my friends from UP, the last installment is for you!

10 Zs

2006-05-21T18:02:00.000-05:00

I'm a frequent visitor at Disha's blog and found this post. I followed the instructions and she gave me the letter Z.

Z?!!!!!! Cruel, cruel. But I'm gonna do it anyway...just because. I know it's long overdue. My brain went to hibernation mode. I think it's back now. hahahaha. Slightly groggy. But back...

"The Instructions: Comment, and I shall give you a letter. Go back to your journal, and write ten words beginning with that letter, including an explanation of what those words means to you and why."

Zero. The level of stress that would have been ideal. hahaha. I used to envy people who were so easy going--who seemed to live stress-free lives. But then, I realized that I can't be like that. Without stress of some sort, I am not motivated to do anything. I work best under pressure. Some of my most creative ideas come to me when I'm racing against time (i.e. I procrastinated and I better come up with something before the night is over! hahahaha). Thus, zero stress might be utopia for some people, but I think that would kill me.

Zany. The Italian origin--Zanni--is a nickname for Giovanni (or John in English). Literally, the word means "one who acts the buffoon to amuse others" [Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary]. How fitting. Laughter is the best medicine, and my hubby, John, provides me my daily dose:) I think I'll start calling him Zanni. hehehehe.

Zoom. The sound of my days as they go rushing by. One of my closest friends, Kitty, once told me that I should slow down. I guess you could say I haven't taken heed of her advice.

Zonked. How I feel at the end of the day (or in the wee hours of the morning when I finally get home). This is attributable to # 4 and #10 (ok, so you have to read ahead for reference...). That's also how I felt after I walked out of my Finance final exam. Zonked and disoriented! hahahahah

Zone. This one is for Disha. hahaha. Her research is on FLOW--or the state of being "in the zone". These are the moments of sheer inspiration...when you are productive at anything you do--and actually like doing it not just because you're on a deadline. I would so love to be in the zone with my research. But I know that I am at my best, in the zone, when I am teaching. BUT, research is a necessary (though not sufficient) task that I need to accomplish so I can get the credentials to teach. I have several mentors who envision me as a researcher in the future. Although I think that research is good and that it has to be done, I'm not necessarily convinced that I'm the one who needs to do it! I am a teacher, first and foremost:)

Zeal. [n.] Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance [answers.com]. I'd like to think that I infuse passion in everything that I do. If it's not worth being zealous about, why bother? Some of the things that I hold near and dear to me are: my family, my friends, and my teaching (refer to #5). I also found an article that spoke of relating zeal to spirituality. "True Zeal has God for its object." After all, passions are made much more meaningful and substantive when it is God-centered. I don't mean that I preach about God to my friends, family, or students, but that I endeavor to use my God-given talents in the most appropriate ways so that I make a difference...so that I can make someone's life a little better...so I can inspire others to go out and pay it forward. I like this last quote, "Zeal should drive us to take the obviously right paths with great vigor: patience, gentleness, the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, prayer, self discipline, sacrifice and above all, selfless love. Strangely, doubt and uncertainty can help purify and direct Zeal, by focusing on the one thing we know for sure: 'God is love'."

Zest. Just as passion is important in everything, I think that a zest for life is just as vital. Some people have very strong beliefs and will sacrifice their life for it. And although I think that it is admirable, I don't think it's a direction I would like to go. I mean, our life is a gift from God too. Even if he meant for us to use our life as an instrument for his Word, I think he also meant for us to enjoy and appreciate it. I believe that it makes a stronger impression (and a more believable testimonial of his generosity and love) when we are able to enjoy life even while we live spiritually.

Zoo. What the room feels like when I am with my closest friends. Laugh trip, a flurry of activity, non-stop chatter, good food, and good company. It's also probably how our houses look like after a sleep-over (our poor parents!)--a zoo where all the animals were let loose! hahahahahha

Zinfandel. I had to put something culinary, of course. I know that some people think that White Zinfandel isn't exactly good quality wine (as my friend calls it, "that's just wine for pansies"), but it's one of my favorites. I think it's just refreshing, especially with a nice salad of baby spinach topped with some fruit and almond slivers tossed in peppered bacon vinaigrette, or mild cheese with rye crisps, or delicately herbed baked fish, or maybe even chicken teriyaki! yummmmm. By the way, the red Zinfandels are pretty good too (I still prefer Shiraz or Pinot Noir, though).

ZZZZ's. Okay, so that's not technically a word. But it's the universal lingo for sleep. And although I know how important it is to get at least 8 hours a day, I don't think I've ever had that on a regular basis. Even in high school, I've always had a plethora of activities that either kept me up late...or got me awake awfully early:) Those early morning archery practices were killers. hahaha. I also used to wake up at 3am to study because I was too wiped out at night from volleyball practice or the other school activities. That cycle never really changed as I went through college. Now that I'm in grad school, sleep deprivation is normal. My Mom always said that this lack-of-sleep syndrome will catch up with me when I get older. It hasn't caught up yet, so I guess I'm not old yet. hahahaha.

Ok, so it's your turn! Leave me a comment and I'll give you a letter. I promise not to be as evil as Disha. I will not give you X or some insane letter. hahahaha.

Get back on track

2006-05-03T22:48:00.000-05:00

Can't rewind
so remix
reinvent
rejuvinate
improve.

Can't stop
so get up
live life
jazz it up
take pride
be all you can be.

Make do of what's here
right now
just like this
just as you are.

Move forward
take a step
ride the wave
jump in.

Get back on track
it's all good.

Love life.

Give back.

Thank God.

power play

2006-04-17T23:07:00.000-05:00

Today's conference call meeting was such an eye-opener! It's rather interesting in a sense to watch the power play that occurs when the big fish go at it. (Note: I was the only graduate student meekly observing the organized chaos stirred by 9 of the most experienced researchers/grant writers this side of the wheat fields.)

I think I actually learned a lot during the meeting, especially about how to diplomatically get your point across eventhough some of the people you are talking to appear a)pathetically clueless, b)condescendingly bullish, c)annoyingly arrogant, or d)all of the above (the most unfortunate case of all!). Then again, I do admire the grace under pressure of some of the participants. Even though the others were being impossible, they responded with such a calm demeanor that they actually shut the others up . There were times when the silence and tension was so thick. ~~Maybe in the silence they realized what jerks they were being.~~ Of course there were times when they were also in perfect agreement (not a large portion of the 2 hour phone call, though).

It takes all kinds of people to make this world. But hey, it makes for interesting life lessons (i.e.: This is NOT the way to be a "collaborative" researcher). But then I guess you could call this a meeting of the minds--having too many intellectuals (some with bigger egos than others) in one place could be exhausting. When all is said and done, though, I am rather confident the resulting grant proposal will be strong and competitive. But geez, what a stressful process to go through!

...and then I thought to myself...in about 20 years, I'll be one of these people who would sometimes like to reach into the other side of the line to strangle the uncomprehending bully. Hahahaha. Or maybe I'll choose to be the cool, composed, diplomatically correct peacemaker with a point. hahahaha. we'll see...I've got a few years more to go...

Good News Pilipinas

2006-04-11T09:29:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine sent me the link to Good News Pilipinas, a website showcasing everything positive about being Filipino...for a change. I've come across a lot of websites that talk about all the bad and the ugly...and I admit, there's undeniably truth in some of that. BUT I think it is wonderful that there's a group of people out there who love the Philippines enough to really work on getting the positive word out. I hope you check it out. I think one of my favorite articles among the ones I've read is: 100 Things About Being Pinoy

This was a great way to start my day:)

Afterthought: I received a comment today that led me to this site: Get Real Phiippines! Sigh...I can't deny that it made me sad reading through it. I guess these two sites go hand in hand. One for a reality check, the other to fuel hope.

Even then, I'm still proud to be Pinoy. Idealistic? Perhaps. But I'd like to believe that there is hope.

certified foodies!

2006-03-31T11:34:00.000-06:00

Featured blogs of the day...two of my closest friends in college have recently started their own. My stomach starts growling just reading their posts:) They truly have a passion for food...certified foodies! And lucky me used to partake of the wonderful meals they prepared. I miss you guys....and my tastebuds miss your cooking!

Well, here's one by Chef Erwin: Dakilang Kusinero. I seriously need to take a trip to your famed resto, Er! Dinner's on you! hahahaha. But I don't think a week down there would give you enough time to take me and John to all your favorite places. That's okay, you can just cook for us and we'll call it good. hahahahaha. Miss your masterpieces and experiments na, Er!

Another great read is Dawn's Food Frenzy. I can't wait to take you up on your offer, Dawn. I would definitely love going around HK with you, discovering the quaint food shops, the unforgettable meals, and hopefully avoiding the unpalatable ones:) We'll also promise to throw in some form of work out to make up for all the food we'll wolf down. Walking up and down the streets of HK and the aisles of the gourmet (and not-so-gourmet) shops/markets/groceries definitely qualify as exercise:) So excited!

Her, Er, care to join us? That would be so much fun. My cooking skills are so limited compared to you guys...but my appetite isn't. I would love to have 2 personal chefs:) And surely, John would not mind ONE BIT. hahahaha.

where did the time go?

2006-03-29T23:42:00.000-06:00

Spring Break came and went and I didn't even leave Manhattan. John and I were talking to Daniel and he said that there were two reasons why this Spring Break was non-existent: First, it was not SPRING--It was snowing the first few days and the rest of it was COLD; and two, break? WHAT BREAK???? I second that. I worked the whole week--and not even on things that I needed to get done--like my research or anything academic. I actually went to the office and WORKED every day. Ah, yes...the life of a grad student....sigh....

***
Six weeks to go before the summer hits. WOW. I'll go through the entire six weeks on panic mode. But I've long realized that I work best IN panic mode. When the pressure is on, I bring my A-game. I think (and work) best under stress. hahahaha. How screwed up is that? When there's time to spare, my brain is more likely to go on idle longer. It's weird and I know it will all catch up with me someday...but for right now, this is what works. And if what works brings me a semester closer to walking across the stage, then hey...hello, sleepless nights!

***
I just got off the phone with Myong Jae, my friend who now works in HK Polytechnic University. I am even more convinced that I should pursue a faculty position there when I graduate. I am excited. I'll be an hour away from home! And besides, HK's the shopping capital of Asia....why wouldn't I be excited? hahahaha

***
I also found out that my co-major professor is moving to another school come fall semster. That's just great [insert your favorite sarcastic-looking smiley thingy here]. Another complication that I really don't need right now. Hmmm...this will make for a very interesting year ahead. Dissertation by distance. Wonderful...

***
But first thing's first. Gotta get at least 1 more chapter done tonight...sigh

Gotta stay afloat!

c^3

2006-03-22T22:36:00.000-06:00

Dahil na inspire ako kay Dawn....

With a very willing test panel, I endeavored to make chocolate chip cookies today. My friend kept telling me that it's really easy to make, and so I did:) I used a recipe from Derby Dining Center. Easy access to freshly baked cookies was definitely one of the perks of working for Derby! hahahahaha...I love that they actually have the recipe on line! If you like chewy chocolate chip cookies, get your baking gear and try this one out:)

Yield: 4 to 5 Dozen 2" Cookies

2/3 Cup Shortening (Part Butter or Margarine)
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Mix thoroughly in bowl of electric mixer.

1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Combine in a large mixing bowl. Blend well. Add to dry ingredients and mix until well blended.

1/2 Cup Chopped Nuts
1 (6 Oz) Package Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (1 Cup)

Fold into dough. Drop rounded teaspoonsful of dough about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake in 350^oF, 8-10 minutes, or until delicately browned. Cool slightly before removing from baking sheet. Cool on wire racks. Store in tightly sealed containers at room temperature.

Note: Nuts may be omitted if desired.

This recipe compliments of Kansas State University Dining Services