MUST BE THE BEARS

Here's one of the entries from the FRIENDS OF THE EARTH for the 2008 One-minute film competition. I love watching their videos.

LAY SOME EGGS

No more birds cooing and chirping as early as 4 A.M. Most of them(I spotted some are still here but are leaving soon)had gone somewhere, migrating to warmer places for this winter. But, these birds' noise are now replaced with the rooster's crowing at the backyard of our hotel neighbor. Along with 3 hens, they've been put there for three weeks now.

Fronting our house is the backyard of the said hotel with the green fence that separates us. My kids are in love with and being entertained by these chickens. I could leave Dylan there while I go help Lukie get down from his school bus. No, its not that far, I could see Dylan from our gate so its not that dangerous to leave him on his own.

Before Lukie goes to school or gets in our home, he never fails to remind these birds, "Chickens, lay some eggs... okay?"...

Reminds me the last time we went home to the Philippines. Lukie doesn't want to finish his food and I told him to stay in the corner. So he went and after some minutes, I checked on him. He wasn't there. Guess what? His Lolo Danny (my Dad) took him to see the chicken outside.

I told my Dad he should have left him there till the "punishment is lifted"(lol). Then my Dad said, "Oh leave him, he is not used with our food. Don't insist if he doesn't want to eat it!"... I held my tongue and didn't want to argue.

"Is he my father?" Thinking out loud. What I do remember, when we were kids and didn't like the food that was served, our choices were:

1. Cry. Leave the table and wait for the next meal or sleep with an empty stomach(specially during dinner).

2. Tough luck! Just eat it!

I just can't imagine how much my father and I will be disagreeing on things when it comes to disciplining my kids had we been living in the Philippines. I know I got most of the ideas from him. I might be left mouth open in disbelief all the time hearing, "Oh leave him..."

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BTW, I drew the chicken with our PC's Studio 5(Zoom Browser EX). Nice ei? Its hard to control the mouse though.

WEEKLY QUESTION 18

This week's Weird Culinary Delights(?) of Teacher Julie's GreenBucks had brought out a memory I want to BLOCK. Yes BLOCK, as in "intentional amnesia" hahaha...

What were the worst or weird food (for you) that you have ever eaten? What were your reactions?

A CAT'S MEAT! I want to forget I had ever eaten it. I felt betrayed and abused hahaha! Again, its a memory I want to BLOCK.

Seriously, I was eleven years old back then and my Lola cooked 'adobo' out of it. My Mama and I just came from Baguio and everybody had already eaten lunch. So, just me and my Mama by the table to feast on the 'monggo' and 'adobo'(with only 3 slices of meat left). I spooned the 'adobo' to top my rice and goshhh, it really tastes good like chicken and the meat was so tender.

I was hoping(and praying heheh) that my Mama will leave the 'adobo' and have the 'monggo'. Ohh eem gee, my mom was an angel, she "sacrificed" and "denied" herself from eating the adobo so I could have it all for myself! She ate just the 'mongo'. My prayer was answered, God must really love me!

That night, our Dad asked me and my sisters, "How was the 'adobo' you had for lunch?". We all agreed its the best and Dad told us its a CAT. We were disgusted, betrayed and too late to puke!

My Lola Meding thought there's no harm in trying what our neighbor suggested that cat's meat is good for treating asthma. It was for our two youngest sisters, Jehan and Ica who were always having asthma attacks. It had always been a question to me why they have to let us all eat it! WHY?

'Isu gayam nga'(so that is why) the meat was strangely slimy when swallowed. I only realized that when all was said and done.

A TAG FROM A GOOD WRITER

I was tagged by GANDANG IGOROTA here: In Case (and I Thought) You Want To Know

I am: Blogging, waiting for the washing machine to finish, eating dinner and waiting for Boogs to come home from work.

I think: This is "multi-tasking" hehehe...

I know: I am not making sense.

I have: Just put the kids to bed.

I wish: Peace, love and prosperity to all mankind.

I hate: Racism, graft and corruption, self-centeredness and indifference.

I miss: My Dad, my Pa in-law and the whole family back home in the Philippines

I fear: For anything that will in-danger my kids and my family.

I hear: Its almost time to empty the washing machine.

I smell: My lotion.

I crave: For Mangosteen

I search: For the remote control all the time.

I wonder: If there is still a chance for the Philippine Government to eradicate graft and corruption.

I regret: Not taking the CGFNS exam before.

I love: Hugging and tickling my kids.

I ache: For all the maladies in life. Injustices, "misfits of blessings" and pains caused by evil deeds.

I am not: Perfect.

I believe: Love, peace and humility conquers all.

I dance: With my children when my husband sings the "Birdie Song".

I sing: All the time.

I cry: Easily.

I fight: When I know I am right.

I win: When humility sinks in.

I lose: When I keep my pride.

I never: Liked McCain hehehe...

I always: Remind Lukie to eat his food, brush his teeth and stop bugging his little brother.

I confuse: Record from pause... with our video cam.

I listen: To almost everything.

I am scared: For the next generation.

I need: To remind myself to believe that there is always hope for kindness, justice and love to reign.

I imagine: Things will all be fine....

Now I'm passing the tag to Jane, Hannah, Izma and Noeds

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

I wrote here: FLORICOLTURA DA NATASCIA, that I would be posting pictures of the flowers I planted at home. Better late than never. Here are some of it with my favorite "models"(lol).

Newly planted:

THE ITALIAN FAMILY I KNEW (Part 1)

He married her beautiful wife, a successful accountant who already built a house from the earnings of her career. They had two kids and the wife decided to quit her work when the second one was born. The family left their hometown and settled here in Venice - where the father was permanently assigned for his "import-export" job.

The marriage wore off after 20 years. They divorced. Their eldest son found a job in Spain and their 17 year old daughter is doing her internship away from both parent's place.

The wife went back to their old hometown and started to work again. She now lives in the house she built when she was still single. While he, the ex-husband stayed in Venice with his new house, new pots, new home theater and definitely new life. Their family home here was retained by the wife for her and their daughter to stay when they're in Venice.

In his late fifties, he now has a life of a bachelor riding motorbikes, cooking his food and ironing his own clothes. Then he got sick, suddenly can't walk, blood pressure is dangerously high and was admitted to the hospital. Dr's can't find the cause why his BP is always up though medical tests and exams showed all is fine. Good thing he was able to walk again.

I went to see him last Friday. It was a depressing sight. Just as I step out of the elevator, an old man with swollen lower extremities was having an argument on the phone. Another weak man walking so slow going to the TV room. I was about to ask directions but he seems in a different world. I doubt if he could even see me. An unconscious patient was being wheeled from the operating room. The ward is cramped , nurses are unfriendly and the smell of disinfectant is so strong. Reminds you, you're really in a hospital

I was asked by the nurse to wait for 10 minutes because the patient I am visiting is being attended to by the doctors. So, I waited. I'm watching TV with the two men I saw earlier avoiding to make eye contacts that might encourage conversations. 30 minutes passed and I was called by the nurse to get in.

He was lying there so frail, different from the smart shipping tycoon in his expensive suit. A small vial of meds directly dripped into his veins to lower down his yet again high blood pressure. He was not allowed to to leave his bed till the dextrose is consumed. The last time I saw him, before he was admitted, he was riding his fast motorbike feeling like a daredevil away from his age.

"I want to get out of here", was the first thing he said upon seeing me. "If I'll die, I want it at home, not in this freakin' hospital! The doctors can't figure out what's wrong with me." he added.

I asked if he has some friends to do things or errands for him and he said just the people from his office. Her ex-wife came to Venice on the third day he was admitted but stayed outside the hospital while their daughter gave him a visit. She just came to pack her daughter's things for her trip and she'll go back to her old home after.


I already knew the ex-wife is coming before the ex-husband knew. She called me to air open her house that has been closed for the whole summer. She also told me what triggered his ex-husband's attack - he stopped taking in the pills to contain his BP. He also went back to smoking and his usual 2 glasses of wine per meal was increased to more than his capacity. I pretended I didn't know these and gave him no hint that I spoke with her former wife...

to be continued...

WEEKLY QUESTION 17

Teacher Julie of GreenBucks wrote Ugh as the title of her 17th Weekly Question. Here's why:

One day, a friend told me about her trip to a nearby province that is known for its culinary arts and expertise. She, together with her family visited a cousin who got married to a wife from that said province.

Filipinos are being known for their hospitality so we could just imagine how scrumptious the food served to them.

As this friend was well into her second serving of the very yummy and creamy lasagna, she happened to comment to her cousin’s wife (who cooked all their food) how the beef in the lasagna is so tender.

She got really surprised when her cousin’s wife relied that she did not use beef in the lasagna. She used pig brains. I would not say how my friend reacted so I am going to ask you this question:

If it were you in that situation, what would you do?

I will compliment the chef/cook! She's resourceful and creative. Who would ever think of putting pig's brain for lasagna? That's really something. Besides the story said Teacher Julie's friend asked for the ingredients when she went for her second take. Means the guest enjoyed the food regardless...

I do eat pig's brain. 'Ilocanos' use it for 'Dinak-dakan' and its better than mayonnaise. For us Igorots, I remember during our Canaos, they cook it the next day when the remaining part of the pig that will be feasted on would be the head. They just boil the brain, add a little bit of salt and I really like the different taste when added to rice. I tried feeding it to my son with soup and rice, he ate it considering he is really that picky or the only yummy food he knows are pasta(any sauce except the green ones), 'sinigang' and 'adobo'.