They say no pregnancy is the same as no woman and no child is the same as another. My previous pregnancy happened almost 8 years ago, and I don’t remember much of the experience anymore, but I don’t remember being the way I am now back then. So how am I?
Sometimes reality gets so bad that you wish you have the power of anamorphosis. That you can simply move into another position, change angles a bit, look at what you’re seeing and see a totally differently image.
I’ve been shocked today by the discovery that someone in our employ, a blood relative, has AGAIN attempted to steal from us. Note the word again. Repeated. Despite warnings and chances at a fresh start.
I’ve tried to look at it from a different position, a different angle but the image gets uglier and more contorted. The more I analyze, the less reason I find for compassion or understanding. In their stead, intolerance for lack of integrity, disdain for the abuse of trust.
I’ve often believed people are innately good. Today, I met an exception– someone who would, given a chance, lie and steal, and lie some more to steal some more.
Surely he must have a reason, a pressing need?
He gets sick or falls asleep on duty due to the long hours he keeps in beerhouses. He has a long list of unpaid debts, he barely supports his family, yet he’s an expert about every GRO and every nook and cranny of the nightlife in San Pedro.
Do the math, then tell me if any amount of anamorphosis can make me see this in a different light.
Lunchbreaks are for eating, but when you’re stuck in the office and can’t get out yet, the next best thing to do is….answer no-brainer surveys!
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1. The phone rings, who do you want it to be?
My mom, or my lola.
2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
I’m a real big OC, what do you think?
3. If you had to kiss the last person you kissed again, would you?
And why not?
4. Do you take compliments well?
Sometimes. Depends on the context.
5. Do you play Sudoku?
No. I am much too impatient and much a Math-phobe for that.
6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness would you survive?
No. Mike!!!!
7. If your house were on fire, what would be the first thing you would save?
My kids of course. Then my photo albums.
8. Who was the last person you slept in the bed with?
Guess who? 
9. Who do you text the most?
The last person I slept in bed with.
10. Favorite childrens book?
Hope for the Flowers
11. Eye color?
Very, very dark brown. Hahaha.
12. How tall are you?
I’m a member of SBFF - Samahan ng mga Below Five Feet.
13. If you could do it over again, start from scratch, would you?
Yes. OC nga e.
14. Any secret admirers?
Gosh, how do you define secret anyway?
15. When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?
Olive Garden?! Sunken Garden, Jade Garden, Yu Yuan Garden I know.
16. Favorite ex..?
If I tell you I would have to kill you.
17. Where was the furthest place you traveled?
Shanghai, China
18. Do you like mustard?
Yes
19. Do you prefer to sleep or eat?
Eat.
21. Do you miss anyone?
Yes. (Sorry you didn’t ask who. Hahaha.)
22. Can you do splits?
No.
23. What movie do you want to see right now?
The up and coming: The Golden Compass, Blaze of Glory; Currently showing-but-I-don’t-know-when-I’d-ever-get-to-see-them: Bourne Ultimatum, Simpsons Movie
24. What did you do for New Years Eve?
Lit some fireworks, made some noise, counted money by the millions (wink!) and ate
25. Do you think The Grudge was crappy?
I didn’t watch it.
26. Was your mom a cheerleader?
No. But she was a beauty queen at UE!
27. Whats the last letter of your middle name?
O
28. Are you hispanic?
An eighth or sixteenth probably, like most Filipinos are.
29. Do you like care bears?
Hmmm…
30. What do you buy at the Movies?
Nachos, Cheese Popcorn and Lil Orbits Donuts
31. Do you know how to play poker?
Nope. But I can learn!
32. Do you wear your seatbelt?
Yes.
33. What do you wear to sleep?
DKNY Summer… and girly nighties. 
34. Anything big ever happen in your CITY?
Nothing more than the usual. So it isn’t big.
35. Is your hair straight or curly?
straight.
36. Is your tongue pierced?
No. I have low pain tolerance.
37. Do you like Liver and Onions?
I suppose you mean cooked ala Bistek, otherwise hell, no!
38. Do you like funny or serious people better?
Depends. If it’s work we’re having, I want people to be serious. When work’s done and over with, then go and be funny!
39. Ever been to L.A.?
Someday. Visit Patrick and Cheche.
40. Who is on your mind right now?
My kids.
41. Any plans 4 tonight?
Reviews and refreshers for the boys.
42. What’s your fav. song at the moment?
Wala e.
43. Do you hate chocolate?
No. But I’ve been avoiding it lately because I’ve been increasingly becoming lactose intolerant.
44. What do you and your parents fight about the most?
We don’t fight anymore.
45. Are you a gullible person?
I don’t know.
46. Do you need a boyfriend/girlfriend to be happy?
No.
47. If you could have any job what would it be?
Astronaut. Or Figure Skater. Or a reporter for National Geographic.
48. Are you easy to get along with?
Not on the onset. But when you get pass the hard shell you will realize that I am actually really, really…. hard to get along with. Hahahaha! Ask my friends.
49. What is your favorite time of day?
Depends on the season. When it’s summer, I like early mornings. When it’s the ber months, I like the early evenings.
50. Are you generally a happy person?
Yes. Mukha lang hindi.
Presenting my entry to the 20th edition of Lasang Pinoy, the ubiquitous Laing. Laing, like its equally famous sibling Bicol Express, has received several Tagalog versions. The Bicol Express as it is known hereabouts is just like Ginataang Baboy — pork with a little sili. In Bicol, sili (siling pansigang or finger chili) is the main feature of Bicol Express and the pork bits are added just for flavoring.
The Tagalog version of Laing uses just the leaves of the gabi
(taro), and is sometimes not even a bit spicy (example: the Laing available at Goldilocks). The ingredients are minimal — sometimes just the shredded taro
leaves and coconut milk.
Read more here.
Recently in Kitchen Conjugations: Sweet Basil Squid, Lemon Grass Meatballs and Ginataang Santol. Santol? Yes, santol.
I used to be an HR Officer for a leading semiconductor manufacturing company. Pay was good, career was great, I had friends in all levels, and the company was really a good training ground for if you want to be a corporate somebody. (Continue)
My blogs over at Blogger — Kitchen Conjugations and Annethology – are sporting a new look. I’ve also indexed my posts into categories so it’s easier to look for posts of interests or posts you may have missed.
And guess what else — I’ve put polls, so you can actually have a "say" — sort of making a comment — without losing your anonymity. Pretty cool, huh? :)
I don’t know if I told you yet or if you’ve noticed, but from time to time I participate in Lasang Pinoy, a monthly event featuring Filipino foodbloggers. Food revolves around a particular theme each month, and through the event contributors talk/write/promote Filipino food and experiences.
Due to school/work/home responsibilities though I have been able to contribute to only some of the Lasang Pinoy editions since the time I discovered it – Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw (for LP 12: Definitive Pinoy), Adobong Kangkong (LP 15: Recycled, Reloaded), Tokneneng (LP 17: Eggs a Deal!, which was late for the roundup, sigh) and Bulanglang (LP 18: Oh My Gulay!)
This month, the LP centers on fiestas, and I write about Callos. Read about it here.
Two Saturdays ago, faced with a disciplining issue, my friend Jeng came up with a punishment that’s right on the money — having the kids eat okra. "Oh My Gulay!" They must have sighed collectively. The boys squirmed in their seats, waiting for the axe, er, slime to fall, and the power of the okra was enough to make them promise to never misbehave again.
I was raised in a carnivorous household and I can count by my fingers the number of times we were admonished to eat vegetables. And mind you, vegetables basically meant upo (bottle gourd), kangkong (swamp cabbage), repolyo (cabbage), kalabasa (squash) and sitao (string beans) … more
See and try my entry to the 17th edition of Lasang Pinoy – Tokneneng, Pinoydom’s favorite battered quail eggs.
