The Perfect Tree

I wonder if there's a perfect tree.... we hit the Christmas tree lots to find one. But it seems hard to find that perfect size - something not too full yet not too sparse....

We'll see if we find the right one....

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In other words: NOTHING MAKES SENSE.

When We Love

"When we love, it is not necessary to understand what is happening outside, because everything happens inside us instead." ~ Paulo Coelho

True Love

I know this to be true...

"Ever since time began, people have recognized their true love by the light in their eyes." - Paulo Coelho

Coldstone Coupon!!!!

Found this coupon online... Print it out and go have fun :)

Ordinary Sunday

Nothing is better than Peet's Mocha. That's what I had this afternoon with Devil's Food Cupcake, sat by the window and watched people walk by. It was fun just sitting there, wondering about people's lives, watching couples walk hand in hand just taking it easy, strolling along Piedmont Ave. Then I realized that not only was I drinking the best cup of cappucino ever but I just had the best cup cake ever. So soft and creamy... you guys gotta try it sometime whenever you get a chance.

I later explored the little shops on Piedmont Ave., not that I could afford anything but you know, just to look. I was having a lazy Sunday, didn't really wanna do anything, I we went into a shoe store and tried on some UGG boots and Dansko shoes. Very, very comfortable. A little steep on the price but I think they're worth it. Too bad I'm a starving student at the moment but when I get a job again, I'm gonna get me one of those to make my feet feel good because my feet fell inlove with Dansko a looong time ago. :)

Of course I had to do chores today so I went to Ranch 99 to get me some Filipino groceries like sardinas, pancit canton, mongo, hotdog and banana ketchup. Well, for some reason, I couldn't find any pancit canton and all the banana ketchup they had was the HOT one! I need the regular banana ketchup so I could make my awesome Filipino spaghetti!!!! Oh well, I just settled for the spicy banana ketchup. Got some Filipino hotdog which none of my American friends understand why it is red. I don't understand it either but hey, I loooove it.

Before heading to dinner, I saw the Golden Gate bridge covered in thick fog and I thought it would be perfect to go take pictures so I parked near Golden Gate Fields and sat on a log to watch the sun peek through the clouds as it set. It wasn't anything spectacular but the thick fog rolling in made it really beautiful..

Then I was off to dinner in Berkeley but didn't eat anything. I just stared at the TV screen and watched football.

Now I'm ready to turn in but I will solve two more Sudoku puzzles before I go...

Have a great week my friends...

Friday Night Fun

Last night was pure fun. There's nothing better than hanging out with a good friend, eating grilled pork liempo and bulalo and buko pandan salad for dessert. Ummmmm. We ordered too much food though - but I took the left-overs home and had two meals out of that. That's how much food there was. I have to remember next time not to order so much.

Then we stopped at a bar for some drinks, couple long islands or so. Didn't really drink that much because I was driving but that was really really fun too, just sitting there, talking about dreams and just pretty much anything under the sun.

Oh, and we (yeah right, WE) made the best popcorn I've ever had. No, not the microwave kind. It's the kind that you put in a pot and cook it on the stove top. Ummmmmm. It tasted soooo good I want some right now!!!

Anyway, gotta do some errands before it gets too late in the day. Gotta clean this pigsty for the coming Thanksgiving holiday....

Ciao.

Moments

“The moment of that kiss contained every happy moment I had ever lived.” - Paul Coelho

Sonnet XVII

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

Who's Afraid of Death?

Food Talk

Back in April this year, the San Francisco Chronicle published the Top 100 Bay Area Restaurantsand guess what. I've only been to six. Looks like I have 94 more to go. Hehehe So here are the restaurants I've been to that made it to Top 100.

Bistro Jeanty (French Cuisine)- Actually I haven't been to Bistro Jeanty but I've been to Jeanty at Jack's which the paper described as equally enticing. It's owned by the same chef Philippe Jeanty. They have a great rendition of sole meuniere, steak tartare, cassoulet and quiche. I had Carpaccio (picture on the right) when I went there. And of course not to be missed is their tomato soup with puff-pastry dome. Prices: $14.50 - $34

La Taqueria (Mexican Cuisine) - I used to work a few blocks from this place although I've always tried to avoid the lunch crowd. It gets so packed and the lines are so looong. It's in the Mission District where there are tons of taquerias but La Taqueria stands out. Their burritos are top-notch. This is a no-frills restaurant. You wait in line to order your food and sit on picnic-style benches. If you ever go, don't forget to try their agua fresca. I am partial to strawberry. Prices: $1.85 - $5.25

Slanted Door (Vietnamese Cuisine) - This one's in the San Francisco ferry building overlooking the bay and the Bay Bridge. Love their shaking beef and creme brulee. The Chronicle suggested cellophane crab noodles, chicken clay pot, pho and other stuff. After lunch or before, whatever suits you, you can browse around the specialty stores in the building for wine and cheese and organic vegetables. There is also a farmers market outside and an artisan market across the street every weekend. Prices: $16 - $32

Ton Kiang (Chinese Cuisine) - If you decide to go here, go early. There's always a line at peak times although it seats 235 people. I love their dim sums. Definitely one of the best in the City. Specialties include steamed dumplings and dim sun, clay pot dishes etc. Prices: $8.50 - $25

Vik's Chaat Corner (Indian Cuisine) - This place doesn't look too inviting from the outside. It looks like a warehouse. Well, it is a warehouse. But as the Chronicle described it, it has developed a cult-like following, from people like Alice Waters who is one of the best-known and most influential American chefs (she is the founder of Chez Panisse which is also on the Top 100 List and where Prince Charles and his wife dined last year) to construction crews and people like me. If you like cooking, they have a store next door where you could buy Indian spices. Don't forget to try their Bhatura cholle, pakori chaat and chicken biryani. Prices: $4 - $6.50

Yank Sing (Chinese Cuisine) - I used to work down the street from this restaurant and had my lunch there quite a few times. I love their dumplings and custard tarts. Their specialties are Peking Duck, honey-glazed sea bass, honey walnut salad, shanghai dumplings and custard tarts. Prices: $3.65-$15

Next on my list are Bay Wolf - a California-Mediterranean restaurant on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland, Chez Panisse - a Mediterrenean restaurant at the Gourmet Ghetto in Berkeley and Zarzuela - a Spanish restaurant in San Francisco that serves paella. Chez Panisse is on the bottom of my list because it's too pricey - about $50 - $85 fixed price.

So there it is. If there's one place I would recommend among these six restaurants I've been to, it's Ton Kiang. Unless you're not in the mood for Chinese cuisine. :)

Have a great week my friends. Now I'm officially hungry.

Back To Reality

3-day weekend is over. And nope, I'm not ready to go back to the daily grind yet but I have to. The good thing is... it's only gonna be a 4-day worl/school week! ANd next week is Thanksgiving Break so I get the whole week off. But it looks like it will be spent writing papers and finishing up projects to get ready for the end of this semester...

So tomorrow.. I'm back to the Center. I can't really talk about what I do there because of confidentiality requirement but I really, really love it there :) Honestly, I am looking forward to it. It will be another long Tuesday but I'm sure it will be a productive one...

I'll keep you guys updated about my past weekend when I have more time...

Ciao.

Key Elements to Happiness

Got this from my previous job...

Key elements to happiness:

• Control over your own life
• Optimism
• Religion
• Involved in challenging jobs/hobbies
• Close relationships
  

When one is stuck in a situation, one has four options:

• Change
• Make the best of it
• Leave the situation
• Be miserable

Today's Self-care

A beautiful drive up north to the Mendocino Headlands....

Beer Float

Hazelnut Nectar Ale Ice cream float to celebrate the weekend. :)

The Best Chicken Adobo

I made chicken adobo earlier, and trust me, it’s the best chicken adobo ever. ;) Here’s how I cooked it….

Ingredients:
1 medium garlic, peeled and chopped
3 lbs. whole chicken
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup Silver Swan soy sauce
2 tsp. Pepper corn1 tsp.
Ground black pepper
2 cups water
1/3 cup Canola oil
bay leaves

Sautee garlic in oil until medium brown. Add the chicken and cook until it’s light brown then simmer. On a separate sauce pan, combine vinegar, soy sauce, ground black pepper and water. Cook in medium until it boils. Let it boil for about 2 minutes then pour it on the simmering chicken. Add Pepper corn and bay leaves and let it simmer, stirring occasionally until only half of the sauce is left. Serve over hot plain Jasmine rice. Yummy.

On To A New Road

For those who followed my old blog for sometime and were quite disappointed when I stopped writing, not that you really were disappointed, hehehe, here's a new one! I am blogging and writing again!!! Curious why I stopped blogging more than a year ago? Well, there are multiple reasons and one of them is simply me, wanting to take some detours.

But hey, here I am, still on the road to whatever this awesome life is leading me to. Ready to write again. Ready to share with you all this wonderful journey called LIFE. It's about time I stayed in touch with family, friends and even strangers again...

I will also be posting entries from my old blog... so you can kind of get a glimpse of me in the past...
so if you feel like it, browse around. See if you could find little nuggets of wisdom here and there, They're yours for the taking.

Life is good :)