BABBLES...MORE GABBLES...JABBER FREAK

Just love the sound of those words. Besides, "no can think" of what title to use out of "no can think" of what to write. Whatever... Indulge anyway and let's see where we'll be heading.

GAS BILL

March 21, spring started officially and we're still as cold as our winter. The heater is still on after paying more than a thousand euro gas bill. The bill that shocked my husband ( still shocks him when we paid the same amount last year). Thanks to my son's school, where 'pidocchi' (lice) was prevalent for the previous months but is now contained (thanks to a 13 euro shampoo that pharmacies disposed before it expires), the husband paid the gas bill in less "agony".

SALTED CAKE

Work is good. my boss is so generous, so is her ex wife whom I had lunch with last Friday. My first time to taste 'torta salata'(salted cake). More of a pie topped with spinach and 4 kinds of cheese. Ricotta, mozzarella, cheddar and grana. Heaven. Italians must have all the reasons to be known for their cooking.

PICTURE CREDIT:Lo spicchio d'aglio - Ricette di cucina on-line -

The lunch was made more perfect with our laughter. We talked about my kids and her two grown up kids. Gosh, "feminist" was all over her and I liked her more when she talks about "multi-tasking". How she described her passed juggling of mothering, home making, "wifing" and now, the job that pays her new car, Clinique Skin Care and gym fee. A once a month meal with Marina, can't wait what's for April.

LA QUERCIOLA WINES



Back to my boss' generosity. He gave me two bottles of red wine last Friday. His supplies came last week. He said he has this friend in Barolo('La Querciola' Farm) who just started the business and produces excellent world class wines. Because of the on going economic crisis, long time wineries who already made names out of their wines had dropped their prices. To be able to compit or at least generate his capital or investment, my boss' friend from Barolo sells his products at a bargain too. And before he goes bankrupt, he sent his wines to all his friends, imposing them to pay of course.




I had seen the label of my share of bottles dating 2004. Hhmmnn, can't wait to to taste this five years old fermented grapes(lol), maybe tonight.

WORKING OUT DIET

Been jogging intensely, if one hour 3 times a week is considered intense. Yoga too for almost everyday and less rice and pasta. Hmmfff, those minute(read as "may-nuyt" lolz) hard shed pounds easily comes back in one gobble of carbs and a pound of steak. Regardless, minute is better than nothing or gaining, me thinks.




One thing I noticed, staying fit and eating ideal food is quite expensive. Cereals for breakfast. Yogurt and cereal biscuits for snack. A slice of meat, 'insalta'(veggie salad), cereal crackers and pear or apple for lunch. Another snack of English tea, oven-ed peanuts and 2 biscuits of cereal. Dinner which is the same as lunch but meat was substituted with tuna.

To tell you the truth, I strictly follow the diet because its not easy to run the 20 minutes by the pavement which it takes me 40 minutes on my way back through the beach. More effort when you push your foot from the embedding effect of the sand. And my golly gee, grasping breath would make you cough and muscles would later sore when you sprint on the dry soft part of the shore.

THE PRICE

After the work out, you'll feel you had won over your demons. Victory over the inner voice who encourages you that being fat is you being confident of the body you have. Wrong. Staying fit is taking care of the only body you have! That's where your confidence should invest. If you're after longevity of life, that is!

BRANDS



Eeisshh its raining! My Sunday jogging, the longest run is making me write now. I can't go out and try the new "dry and fit" work-out suit we bought yesterday.

Business tactic can fool you if you let them. You see, this sport store had all the line of jogging sports wear in one floor. Nike, Adidas and Champion are on the front line occupying almost three fourths of the place. A pair of jogging pants alone costs 45 to 95 euros. I went at the very end of the floor flipping all the price tag and I found this "PRO TOUCH Teamsport" product which looks very much the same (cloth and style) with the branded ones. It was made in Switzerland against made in China for the well known sports gear.



Huhh, felt like winning the "consolation" price in a raffle draw because I paid 19 euros for my "dry-fit" jogging pants and not 45 to 95. A white blouse came with that too which was on sale for only 14 euros.

Imagine that if I didn't riffle through all the tags and labels, I'll get out of the sports shop robbed with 100 euros.

SHUSH ME



Okay, I'll have to go. That's it for now. Kids are awake and I'll go make them breakfast. Time to join also the husband who is watching the first F1 race of this year, he actually woke the kids up. Till the next time of my babbles... more gabbles and freaky jabbers. Oh did I tell you its raining and I can't jog?

LUKIE'S BUT'S

LUKIE: Smash down! (As he pins down his little brother Dylan).

MAMA: What smash down? Its touchdown honey. You're playing American football, right?

LUKIE: Yes, but the players are smashing down the one who holds the ball!

DURING TEA TIME, LUKIE JUST GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL:

LUKIE: Mama, all of us were laughing when Lorenzo said, "Inter e gay"(Inter Milan - a football team here).

MAMA: Gay is not funny. Do you know what does it mean by gay?

LUKIE: (annoyed) No, but I know there's nothing wrong with saying it.

MAMA: Its not wrong for you but it is for gay people. Let me tell you about them. They are boys like you but they feel and act like girls or like Mama. And you do not laugh at people for who and what they are.

LUKIE: (really annoyed) Yes, but isn't it that funny?

MAMA: Not at all, you see, what if I laugh at you because you are a boy? Or, laugh at you because you are drinking tea, you wouldn't like that, do you?

LUKIE: (rolling his eyes) Okay.

MAMA: You know honey, I have so many gay friends and cousins. They're very fun people to be with. They're just like you and me. They get hurt too specially when people laugh at them for being gay. Next time ask your friends if they know what gay means. Then teach them so that they'll know.

LUKIE: (half listening) Yes, but I can't make them listen when they're laughing.

When I thought it gets easier to take care of these boys as they grow up, I mean less catering to their needs as they become less and less dependent. I was wrong. The more it is getting complicated. You have to be very careful in feeding their thoughts with ideas, facts and everything under the sun.

My son is only seven years old and to be honest, its exhausting to answer his questions sometimes. "Am I saying or doing the right thing" counts and weighs your words. Taking responsibility too on your influence to his manners, his principles and on how will he be accepted as a person is becoming more and more of a great deal.

IMAGE CREDIT: www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/detail/R/4724658/

ROLLING FILIPINO FASTFOOD

Click image below to enlarge their Menu and schedules.

I'm not sure if its the first Filipino Fastfood on wheels in Italy but I'm sure it is the first of it's kind in Milan. I wish we have it too here in Venice. Kidding aside, we'd call ours - "The Floating Filipino Fastfood". Will it look good on a Gondola? Probably not.





I had my chance to feel what Musashiboogie wrote here: A Dose of Home when I went to renew my passport in Milan last Monday. My sister Danica gave me company in the boat, bus, train and the Subway (Milan Metro - M lines), a 4 hour trip just to get to the Philippine Consulate.






My husband asked me what am I going to write about my trip to Milan. I told him, "FOOD". We tried their 'palabok' and its really good specially their barbecue. Its not salty nor bland. It was just perfect. They are located at the right side of the Philippine Consulate building fronting an open park. It was a picnic atmosphere with a delightful ambiance of a walk-in restaurant when I was there savoring my food. .





Written on their menu(first image above), you'll notice this single FFF will be all over Milan and yeah, they work everyday. If by any chance you get to the said city, go find this rolling Filipino Fastfood. 'Naimas piman', GUARANTEED!

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WEEKLY QUESTIONS 40 and 41

Teacher Julie asked:

What are fun summer activities you do with your family?

A day at the beach or the pool.

Just playing or lying down on the grass outside.

Pizza day.

Meals on the terrace.

Barbecue with family and friends.

Night outings.

Ice cream time.

Long or short walks at the beach or to the grocery store.

Visiting places, friends or relatives.

Come to think of it, any activity is fun for my family during summer. With our cold, humid and gloomy winter, all you ever wish is for the days to speed up for that warm weather.

So let’s try to be a little showbiz this time and write down our thoughts when BB said that Rustom is dead when he came out.

I just remembered my cousin Monique who keeps on telling us that she used to be friends with one of Rustom's sister. She's a regular to their house and said their Mommy Eva was really a good Mom. They once lived in Baguio and Rustom was really a looker 'daw' and 'crush ng bayan' around SLU Campus. "Ngem awan, bakla man iman'(but no, I think he is gay)", Monique said long before the world knew Rustom was a "she".

Well, I have nothing against his decision. Gimmick or not, that's his life. Whatever he does with it, he has all the right. Besides, every one deserves to be happy. I'd rather encourage someone's capability of doing what makes him smile and laugh rather than his bitterness and negativity.... sabi nga ni BB(kahit na sirang plaka na), "Life is short....".... hehehe... Oh di ba showbizzz?....

BABBLE, JABBER GABBLE

Wednesday last week, we went to the Questora for Boogie's Permit of stay. We were finish early so we went window shopping. No more SALDI(sale) for winter stuff. Wool, cashmere, thick jackets and boots were replaced with cotton, colorful and lighter get ups. Same as last year, skinny pants or jeans, printed 'hoodies', doll shoes and the "classic" low cut Converse are on display. Purple dominates the showrooms, just like the recent winter, but I'm pretty sure, summer displays will soon scratch it out.

Fashion just keeps on coming back or I've been around for a while (meaning: I'm old) to see the transition? I noticed that the difference of today's fad from my time is that skinny pants now are low waisted and are no longer called 'baston'. For 'hoodies', its with a lot of prints now and its "in" for boys to wear shocking yellow colors.

WET FLOOR

We entered Non Solo Sport Jesolo to see their rubber shoes. The lady who happens to be the sales girl and the cashier too was mopping the floor. It was still wet but she said we go ahead even though we're leaving 3 sets of shoe marks with Dylan's baby carriage worsening the mess.

Boogie told me to look for a jogging suit. I can't find what I wanted so I asked for the sales girl's help. She said its finish and same stocks might be in after a month. Boogs took the kids out and I was about to follow but he told me to buy a t-shirt or something. So I stayed and spotted a Puma shoes that will look good with "today's pants". Their t-shirt and blouses' price were the same as the shoes so I went for the later.

The all around lady went to get my size and after trying it on, I told her I'm buying it. I even said, "Almeno compreremo qualcosa perché abbiamo sporcato il pavimento hehehe..."(at least we should buy something, we made the floor dirty). She answered we don't have to but I could see it made her day. With her big smile she told me I'll pay 30 percent less. She showed me a discount coupon they usually give to regular costumers and she used it on my new shoes. I went out of the store happy with the bargain.

It pays off to show and give consideration. So is my talkativeness... sometimes.

FEMALE VAMPIRE

True or not, I wish it was a male hahaha.... My husband scored with our standing joke. "Babae nga talaga!", he told me when we heard of this. Will someone feed me up with male "shockingness" so I'll have my revenge!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Female "Vampire" Found in Venice Dig

By: ARIEL DAVID

ROME — An archaeological dig near Venice has unearthed the 16th-century remains of a woman with a brick stuck between her jaws — evidence, experts say, that she was believed to be a vampire.

The unusual burial is thought to be the result of an ancient vampire-slaying ritual. It suggests the legend of the mythical bloodsucking creatures was tied to medieval ignorance of how diseases spread and what happens to bodies after death, experts said.

The well-preserved skeleton was found in 2006 on the Lazzaretto Nuovo island, north of the lagoon city, amid other corpses buried in a mass grave during an epidemic of plague that hit Venice in 1576.

"Vampires don't exist, but studies show people at the time believed they did," said Matteo Borrini, a forensic archaeologist and anthropologist at Florence University who studied the case over the last two years. "For the first time we have found evidence of an exorcism against a vampire."....... continue reading HERE ....

OVER THE COUNTER SCENE

Last Monday I went home with out opening my book, my iPod was off and I didn't take a nap before the boat docked. These are the usual things I relish after my part time work at Lido. The simple pleasures to rejuvenate lucidity before these tree boys start to jump on the "mother ape" they missed that day.

There's this new girl who took the shift of the gay I was talking about here: SMILE . This is my second encounter with her and she should be thankful that reasoning helped me brush off the first one. I politely asked her for two bags after I greeted her 'Buon giorno' (good day). With her sardonic smile, she handed me the bags and I started filling it up with the groceries I bought.

My bill was 38 euros and 73 cents. I gave her 50 and she asked me if I have some coins. I showed her my wallet, opened my coin purse and said in Italian that I'm sorry I don't have them. She got angry, rolled her eyes and said, "Oh Signore!"(Ohh God).

My low blood count suddenly went up and literally flooded my head . My face felt hot and my ears were 'smokin' . I asked her, "Cosa?"(what). Then I told her, "Just for monetti(coins), you are angry? I don't have them and there's nothing I can do with it!" Then she gave me my change and was still murmuring words only she could hear. Then I raised my voice and said, "Look, if I were to pay only 5 euros and I gave you fifty, you have the right to get angry but its 38 euros!". And she answered, "So what now, I gave your change didn't I?". That's exactly why I got out of control. She CAN give me the 'resto'(change) so why does she have to give me that lousy treatment?

I can see all eyes staring at us, I felt they were thinking, "This short girl sure have some guts! Maybe blind too, the cashier is twice her size". Then she told me her job is difficult with out coins and still giving me that hard face.

When I was in the boat, I tried to collect the rightful reasoning to what had just transpired. Part of me felt bad for raising my voice and should have explained to her calmly that first, what she did was simply not acceptable. Second, its her job and third, she will not give me that treatment if I were an Italian. But a part of me which my father often calls it "my i-Bontoc side", said "let's get it on" and I should have gone as far as reporting it to her boss.

Next time I'll shop, I'll take the line of her counter and see how she treats me again. I hope we both teach each other a lesson. Her to be more polite and me to stand up more often for what is right. Who knows, the next NON-Italian on line might get a better treatment out of this.