skydiving? uhmm... yes? no? yes! NOOOO!

i joined a travel outdoor meetup in philadelphia so they send me email whenever there are new activities coming......this is just soooo tempting but i'm not sure if i can do this....heck, i almost freaked out when i jumped off a 30-foot bridge at cagayan de oro what more with jumping off the plane..... geez!

Date: November 4, 2007
Time: 9:30 A.M.
Price: $199
Skill Level: 9 - Just because it will scare you senseless
Description: Most people would never jump out of a perfectly good airplane. But you are not most people! Carpe Diem baby. If you don?t do it now, will you ever? Besides, isn?t it is worth it just so you can throw out phrases like ?when your body reaches a terminal velocity of 125 MPH? around the water cooler.
Package includes pre-jump instruction, tandem jump and all necessary safety equipment. Video and still photos are available for an additional fee ($95).
Note - You must be over 18 years old and under 250 pounds to do this activity. I need at least a $60 deposit in by May 30 in order to reserve your spot.
Clothing and Equipment: You must wear shoes that are laced up. (no sandles ect.)
Directions: Directions will be sent to all registrants.

Skydiving!!!!!

siargao..i miss you! pramis!

hayyyyy.

nasa travel blog kasi ako ni marie (http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/annmariemarie)... kasi she was very nice to share her blogs about CDO and Siargao to us....tapos tiningnan ko yung date! gadz! september 28-30 last year nasa siargao kami nun....kami'y naga-island hopping at nagse-surf sa tabi ng cloud 9 habang hinahagupit ni milenyo ang manila :P

Surfing for Newbies...slots now open for October

click image for details...

http://images.leiababe.multiply.com/image/2/photos/upload/500x500/RvuxhQoKCpMAACRjanQ1/surf-flyer2.jpg?et=XxSxxk0uNkqjWNsdidSHPw

funny...funny...

got this from a blogger at xanga that i frequent (www.xanga.com/virgilmx)

' love ignoranus and the dopeler effect.....LOL

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing of one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this year's(2005)winners:

• Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
• Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.
• Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
• Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
• Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
• Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
• Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
• Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
• Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
• Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
• Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
• Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
• Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
• Glibido: All talk and no action.
• Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
• Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
• Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
• Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating

restaurant week! yebah!

my mouth is craving for something salty.... and i have my eye (err, tongue) for some lays potato chips (regular)..... but i gained 2 lbs na kasi.... need to cut off my food intake na naman..... puro kasi M&M's peanuts inatupag ko last week at puro chicken ng church's at popeye's nilalantakan ko..... in fairness sa mga chicken na yan, masarap sila ha.... pero yung white lang ha.... never kong nagustuhan ung dark meat ng chicken...

to lays or not to lays....that is the question....

p.s.
restaurant week sa center philly (http://www.centercityphila.org/restaurantweek/)
and my friend and i will try them tomorrow.... saya! kaso kelangan kong mag-jogging
na naman after neto....e balak ng friend ko 3 days in a row e, letch!

why i'm loving philadelphia

http://www.gophila.com/C/Philly_Favorites/380.html

one wiz without, please...

pwera usog..

i'm healing nicely. i mean my heart is.

i don't think about that person as often as i used to. i still get mad at that person pag naiisip ko yung ginawa nya pero isip ko wala akong mapapala kung paulit-ulitin ko yun sa utak ko. it won't undo anything. maiinis lang ako lalo. tama na yung 1 week akong nagnga-ngangawa. enough na yun. i have wasted so much of my time for that person at hindi ko na dapat dagdagan.

i'm putting my life back in order. ngayon pede na akong tumanggap ng offers sa kahit anong state.

i think i'm going to get colds...

.... and i can't get sick!

please...please...i can't...

siguro dahil 'to naulanan ako ng konti sa a/c....darn.

atlantic city...

last saturday...

yeah, finally.....i've been putting off this trip for weeks now and i finally found the energy to brave the almost 2 hours bus trip from center city philadelphia to atlantic city alone...... this is actually not my first time in A/C (i was with a friend before and we never took the bus) but i still love coming here....... i'm thinking of going to cape may next time...... i need to do it fast before autumn comes........

forgive the photos, i know it looks gloomy..... it was foggy when i got there and it rained a little..... but i was still able to sit on the sand for hours and just allowed myself to get mersmerized by the sound and the sight of the rolling waves....... i love the ocean......... it always has a calming effect on me.......

i arrived in A/C past 9am....... walked along the board walk, ordered a funnel cake and finally sat infront of the ocean while throwing shells at the birds (poor birds, but i'm not really hitting them...i was just playing with them) and water every now and then......... when atlast the sun peeked out and i feel the burning in my skin, i decided it's time for me to leave........ i left around past 1pm and headed for the outlet stores......no i don't like casinos..... i just bought myself some of my "fave item" from CK and just continued store-hopping until i figured it's time for me to take the bus back to philly (i have to meet with a russian friend at 5pm in center city for a cup of tea).....

for more pictures you can click me

p.s.
if you're near nj or philly and you want to come with me at cape may let me know :)

what a jerk!

chicken jerk
Originally uploaded by photoholic-ayeen

fine, fine, i know this doesn't look appetizing...that's because this was my left over and i just remember taking a picture of this newly discovered dish when i was already burping :P... but you should give me credit for that brilliant idea of placing that parsley to make it look, hmm... cute? hahaha...

anyway, so that's the chicken jerk... a jamaican dish... it's served with rice and jamaican cabbage..... it looks like an innocent bbque at first glance but don't be deceived! so before you sink your hungry teeth into that meat make sure you have a pitcher of water on your table... trust me, you'll need it... the jerks are spice-tingly delicious and if you don't like spicy food then maybe you should stay away from jerks (yeah, and "that" kind of jerk that you're thinking too)

jamaican cream soda
Originally uploaded by photoholic-ayeen

as for me, i wash my hot ngala-ngala with this soda....it's called jamaican cream soda... i tried another drink called sorrel (that's that red drink behind the cream soda).... it tastes like redbull with ginger and strawberry.... actually it also kinda tastes good, really, but i still prefer the jamaican cream soda over sorrel....

addicted to craigslist

at the end of the day, why do we make gods and goddesses out of mere mortals? that's what i can't figure out.

on "why can't i stop thinking about you" post
stop thinking and read up on abusive behaviors.

haha. i love craigslist. hehe

just a repost from my xanga...

it's funny i still haven't blogged about my current temporary home--philly....

there are lots of bitter-sweet memories i have here and there are things that i've learned the hard way but i don't dare stop because i don't want to get run over so i just keep moving .... i just keep walking....

here are 2 sets of philly photos i have so far..... i'm loving this city because of:
one. i love their philly cheese steak (minus the onions please)
two. shopping for clothes here is tax-free (yes! i'm in heaven, haha..i thought only new jersey has that tax-free thing)
and
three. i'm fascinated with architecture and philly has a lot of old interesting buildings.......

philadelphia museum of art	walking at center philly

what's in a name...

i'm thinking of :

- shania (or shanaia, haha pahirapan ba ang spelling..e kasi baka i-pronounce ng shaneeya e)
- ayeen (hehe. vain)
- kyra
- tyra
- kiara
- charlene
- maia
- hershey (hehe)
- aaliah or aliyah
- shanice (nickname: shane)
- sharina
- colleen
- aisha
- stacey
- heather..(hmm..)
- alyssa
- keisha or keesha
- sharelle
- eunice
- kathryn phoebe (from http://blazonry.com/name_generator/babyname.php hehe)
- marlon + christina = lorina? loreen?

hmm...

i'm going to have a baby...

and i need cute baby girl's names..... can you help me out?

p.s.
i'm going to have a baby... baby niece, that is.... and she's coming out this december! i am sooooo excited! makes me want to go back to the philippines this december....

what the fff-andesal!

i just feel tired all the time. whenever i got home all i do is change, do my rituals, i lately don't have appetite for dinner so i just end up sleeping right away. yeah. no surfing the net (i do that while at work, haha) i just sleep right away.

yeah, so it's always that way. sleep, eat, work. sleep, eat, work. sleep, eat, work. repeat.

i'm bored out of my skull. darn.

i am so going to atlantic city this saturday. and i don't care if it's 50 degrees.

ye, it means don't be stupid..

some are common sense but it's good to be reminded with these once in a while....

best pieces of advice....

Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.

Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Dont pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.

Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough and know better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.

Don't stagnate. Don't regress.

Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr/Mrs Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.

Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won.

Only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.

To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy (or a cat)
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.

To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.

Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.

Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.

Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.

Take care of yourself.
Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.

thanks to ivan for remembering me and sharing this with me...i really, really appreciate it..mwah!

something random from craigslist...aliw!

i'm not sure why i opened that link but i'm glad i did...

you're brave and tough (women have a higher pain threshold then men) and should be with a man that is closer to your equal.

thanks stranger.... you're not even aware that you have touched someone's life..

sometimes you just "gotta be"

Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted
Don't be ashamed to cry

You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Herald what your mother said
Readin' the books your father read
Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time
Some may have more cash than you
Others take a different view
My oh my heh, hey

You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together

All I know, all I know, love will save the day
Don't ask no questions, it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning
You can't stop it, if you try to
This time it's danger staring you in the face

Oh oh oh Remember
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
My oh my heh, hey, hey

You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together

All I know, all I know, love will save the day
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

- you gotta be by des'ree

it's called karma, baby..

Weren't you the one that said, that you don't want me anymore.
And how you need your space, and give the keys back to your door.
And how I cried and tried and tried to make you stay with me.
But still you said that love was gone, and that I had to leave.

Now you, talkin bout a family
Now you, sayin I complete your dream
Now you, sayin I'm your everything

You confusin me
What you say to me
Don't play with me
Don't play with me.

Cause what goes around, comes around.
What goes up, must come down.
Now who's cryin, desirin to come back to me
What goes around, comes around.
What goes up, must come down.
Now who's cryin, desirin to come back

I remember when
I was sittin home alone
Waitin for you
Til 3 o'clock in the morn
And when you came home, you'd always have some sorry excuse.
And explainin to me, like I'm just some kinda fool

I sacrifice the things I want to and do things for you
But when it's time to do for me, you never come through
Now you, wanna be a bond of me (eyyy)
Now you, have so much to say to me (heyy)
Now you, wanna make time for me

What you do to me.
You confusin me
Don't play with me
Don't play with me.
Cause what goes around, comes around.
What goes up, must come down.

Now who's cryin, desirin to come back to me
What goes around, comes around.
What goes up, must come down.
Now who's cryin, desirin to come back

I remember when
I was sittin home alone
Waitin for you
Til 3 o'clock in the morn

Night after night
Knowin sumthing goin on
Wasn't home befo me
You was,you was gone

Lord knows it wasn't easy, but believe me.
Never thought you'd be the one that would deceived me.
And never do wha u was supposed to do
No need to hose me fool, cause I'm ova you

Cause what goes around, comes around.
What goes up, must come down.
Now who's cryin, desirin to come back to me
What goes around, comes around.
What goes up, must come down.

Gotta stop tryin, to come back to me
What goes around, comes around.
What goes up, must come down.
It's called Karma baby.

And it goes around.
What goes around, comes around,
What goes up, must comes down,
Now who's cryin, desirin to come back to me

- karma by alicia keys

i'm not a hypocrite.. size, for me, does matters...

cute!
Originally uploaded by photoholic-ayeen

and i like it small...really small.. ...



my new toy!

ipod shuffle 2nd generation......something to play with and keep me company to keep my mind off things...hehe...

now, does anyone here happens to have a copy of salawikain from the kami nAPO ulit album by mccoy of orange and lemons? penge naman :P

i like it coz it's so small
Originally uploaded by photoholic-ayeen

another photo of my new toy

my pinas business is doing good!

my friends and i's business in the philippines is doing very good.... the surfvivor series is getting more and more popular....i am so happy for us! and i am so proud of my friends! they are all so hardworking.

that's why i feel guilty sometimes because i'm not there to get my hands dirty and help them.... although i try my best to contribute in any way i can...

note to self: really really need to have that creative juice pumping for our website and get myself useful......

i was wrong..

i'm not 115. i'm 110. which is really alarming.

i know i want to lose weight but not that drastic, not that fast.... i can't believe my eyes when i saw the pin of my weighing scale between 100 and 120 and i was like "now i don't know how to read a weighing scale?" i can't believe i have mistaken 110 for 115...... i know i need to start eating properly again, but it's still an ordeal to swallow food..... but i'm taking vitamins as a precaution.......... i can't get sick, no one's going to take care of me.....

on another note.....

i am not going to let anyone to ever, ever take advantage of my loneliness and being alone in this country again and i mean never!

i'm a believer of everything happens for a reason and i can't, for the life of me, figure out what the reason is why that person came into my life..... now i think i know.... it's His way of telling me that He already gave me the best but i was unappreciative........ sometimes we have to taste what bad food is like to appreciate good food.... do i make sense? no? howel...basta yun na yun....

i lost...

4 pounds!!!!! 114 lbs ako sa umaga, 115 lbs sa gabi.

akalain mo yun. eto lang pala solusyon.

hehe.

p.s.
pero target 110lbs.

i don't like apologies..

my apologies...my apologies...

i don't like that word..... it's so business-like. unpersonal. it doesn't sound sincere....

if you hurt someone.....don't say "my apologies"...... say "i'm sorry".... "i am so so sorry".... "i truly am sorry"....... yes, use S-O-R-R-Y....

got that?

good.

p.s.
but that doesn't mean you're forgiven if you use "sorry" but atleast the one you're apologizing to wouldn't feel like smacking you on the head when you use the word sorry instead of apologize....but then again, this is just me....

i'm high..

i'm in pretty much in good spirit today.

hell, no! it's not what you're thinking. that impaktong tikbalang is having a grand time laughing at me right now so no, that's not what you're thinking. my friend erns is right. i should be cautious when wearing my emotions on my sleeve because it makes me an easy target.... although i'm not worried about wearing my emotions on my sleeve, really, because that makes me, me, if you know what i'm saying. anyway, more about that wearing my emotions on my sleeve chorba on my next post, here's what's making me happy today.

i have a plan B.

i'm not telling what that plan is yet, i don't want to jinx it but it is something to look forward to even if i got benched again!

life is good.... all it takes is a positive perspective....

naku..guilty ako sa ibang andito ah...

erns sent this to me.... di ko na sasabihin alin ang checks ko dito ..hahahaha

Seven Wrong Reasons to be in a Relationship:
> 1. Pressure (age, family, friends, etc.)
> 2. Loneliness and desperation
> 3. Sexual hunger
> 4. Distraction from your own life
> 5. To avoid growing up
> 6. Guilt
> 7. To fill up your emotional or spiritual emptiness.

The six BIGGEST mistakes we make in the beginning of a relationship:
> 1. We don't ask enough questions.
> 2. We ignore warning signs of potential problems.
> 3. We make premature compromises.
> 4. We give in to Lust Blindness.
> 5. We give in to material seduction.
> 6. We put Commitment Before Compatibility.

The Lust into Love Formula
> 1. First, you feel powerful sexual chemistry with someone or, in raw terms, lust.
> 2. Next, you act on those urges and have sex with that person.
> 3. Then you experience some guilt or discomfort having been so sexually intimate with someone you aren't that emotionally connected with.
> 4. Finally you create a relationship with that person to legitimize your lust.

Five Realities about Love
> 1. Love is not enough to make a relationship work - it needs compatibility and it needs commitment.
> 2. It just takes a moment to experience infatuation, but true love takes time.
> 3. It is possible to experience true love with more than one person there are many potential partners you could be happy with.
> 4. The right partner will fulfill many of your needs but not all of them.
> 5. Good sex has nothing to do with true love, but making love does.

Here are seven compatibility time bombs that can destroy a relationship:
> 1. Significant age difference.
> 2. Different religious background.
> 3. Different social, ethnic, or educational background.
> 4. Toxic in-laws.
> 5. Toxic ex-spouse.
> 6. Toxic Stepchildren.
> 7. Long-distance relationships.

it takes time..

i believe that..

hope always triumphs over experience
that laughter is the only cure for grief...

- rober fulghum

i know everything takes time. i'm allowing myself to cry and scream in grief but only for a certain period. it's not my style to stay down for long. i'm too proud for that...

Why There Couldn't Be a Filipino-American US President

an officemate just forwarded this to me...ang kulit neto...hehe..

I don't know if you have watched David Letterman's Show when he used Filipino-American for his top ten reasons, but this certainly show we are an emerging group in this diversed society to be featured in Dave's famous TV show..


Top 10 Reasons Why There Couldn't Be a Filipino-American US President,

By David Letterman

10. The White House is not big enough for in-laws and extended
relatives.


9. There are not enough parking spaces at the White House for 2 Honda
Civics, 2 Toyota Land Cruisers, 3 Toyota Corollas, a Mercedes Benz, a
BMW and an MPV (My Pinoy Van).

8. Dignitaries generally are intimidated by eating with their fingers
at State dinners.

7. There are too many dining rooms in the White House - where will
they put the picture of the Last Supper?

6. The White House walls are not big enough to hold a pair of giant
wooden spoon and fork

5. Secret Service staff won't respond to "psst... psst" or
'hoy?.hoy?hoy?'

4. Secret Service staff will not be comfortable driving the
presidential car with a Holy Rosary hanging on the rear view mirror,
or the statue
of the Santo Nino on the dashboard.

3. No budget allocation to purchase a Karaoke music-machine for every
room in the White House.

2. State dinners do not allow "Take Home".

AND THE NUMBER 1 REASON WHY THERE COULDN'T BE A FILIPINO-AMERICAN U.S.
PRESIDENT IS...

1. Air Force One does not allow overweight Balikbayan boxes!

ode sa katangahan..

nakokonsyensya kaya sya.
o ang ngiti nya'y hanggang tenga
kasi isang tulad ko nagoyo nya
di bale sana kung gwapo sya

is he sorry kaya
dahil puso ko'y inumbag-umbag nya
nagsinungaling at ako'y pinaasa
leche syang talaga

pero bakit ganun kahit gigil ako sa kanya
magalit ng todo sa kanya'y di ko magawa
o talagang ang tanga-tanga ko lang talaga
nagpauto sa isang taong walang kwenta

so ngayon lalake masaya ka na ba
may isa na namang babae kang pinaluha
di bale sigurado namang ikaw'y makakarma
at balang araw ako'y iyong maaalala

so pano ba yan goodbye na
isa ka ring tanga ako'y iyong pinalaya
ang swerte mo na nga pinatulan kita
dahil nde tayo bagay sa paningin ng iba

oo na! sige fine! mahal pa rin kita
pero letch, di ako ganung katanga
na magpaka-martyr at magmukhang gaga
kaya bahala ka sa buhay mo, makarma ka sana!

any foolish child can pull it to pieces..

nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it...your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealousy and envy...guard your fragile life carefully....only God can shape a flower but any foolish child can pull it to pieces...

the search is over...

cuticleRemover_sm
Originally uploaded by photoholic-ayeen

oh yes! the search is ovah!

maraming thank you ke prendship na erns sa pagpapa-package sa kin ng 6, take note, di lang isa pero anim na cuticle remover--na pink! (syempre wag kalimutan ang fink!). imported from palau, hehe. palau ha, nde palawan. magkaiba un.

it made my day. kahit magang-maga ang mata ko ngayon, dahil sa isang walang kwentang nilalang na walang ginawa kundi paiyakin ako. anyway, yun nga. pagkauwi ko galing office at nung makita ko yung package sa doorway ko ang ngiti ko syempre hanggang batok. ang babaw ko talaga! hahaha. nakalimutan kong bigla na may gusto akong kulamin, hehe.

salamat erns. you really made my day. grabe sobrang inii-spoiled mo ako since 1998 hanggang ngayon. hahaha.

ok. back sa pagngangawa. kelangang maubos ko na 'to e. para bukas i can face a new day. karma na bahala sa impaktong tikbalang na un. hmpf. buti na lang maganda pa rin ako kahit maga ang mata. charing! pinapasaya ko lang sarili ko :-P

 

if you can peek into your future would you dare look?

 

so tell me, if you were given the chance to really know your future, would you choose to know? do you think that would help you make the right decision?

i have to make a lot of decisions, don't we all. it's there from the moment we wake up (what shall i wear today) until we retire to bed (shorts or nothing :P). and as much as we want to stay away from that dreadful word--decision we don't have a choice but to deal with it and it takes a lot of courage and i mean a LOOOOT.

i'm a person who has a hard time making decisions. i don't know, maybe it stems from a fear of making a commitment to something that might fail. i know, i know. failing is part of life but nobody wants to fail, whether they admit it or not.

i must agree that all plans should be accompanied by extensive research (lalo na kung OC ka like me :P) but when the rubber hits  the road, here comes the point which requires action. we can't just sleep and pretend that it would make itself go away. so we really have to make that decision--and fast.

i know i am currently traversing unknown paths. where it leads is still another puzzle to solve. i do not have an inkling as to what my future might be. i'd like to think that i do not care a whit that i don't know anything about what's going to happen because it's liberating but---

life is a constant adventure. life is full of tough choices even if nothing is really black or white. life is a never ending struggle of defining one's self and the decisions i make defines me. every decision i make is a new road, a new experience, a new discovery, a new me, but sometimes...

sometimes...

sometimes i want to peek into that tiny tiny hole of the future and find out whether or not the decisions i am thinking of making is the right thing. if my intuitions are right. if i'll be happy .. if .. if..

if..

 

sinigang

sinigang
Originally uploaded by photoholic-ayeen

sinigang is another one of my many favorite dishes....

after an agonizing search for asian/oriental store in philly i finally found a store which carries all the ingredients i need for my sinigang. gabi, kangkong, sitaw and ofcourse the knorr pansigang.

it's pretty easy to cook really just boil everything put the knorr pansigang and that's it. how many packets? depending on how sour you want it to be (i usually put 2 small packets). and i add just some salt. but if you don't trust me, which you have all the right not to :P here's the recipe:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1626,145165-246202,00.html

chicken cordon bleu

chicken_cordon_blue
Originally uploaded by photoholic-ayeen

i love, i love, i love, i love...did i say i love?... i love cordon bleus...
name it, chicken cordon bleu, beef cordon bleu, fish cordon bleu, i love 'em!

i've been craving for one since last week so i said, why not, that shouldn't be hard...so i asked for google's help and voila! i got the recipe for my first chicken cordon blue attempt... to make this short story even shorter, yeah, i cooked one today and yeah, that's that picture...




here's the recipe:

2 whole boneless chicken breasts, skinned, split into halves, and trimmed
2 ounces thinly sliced uncooked country ham or prosciutto
4 ounces Gruyère cheese
Dijon mustard
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups dry bread crumbs
Peanut oil, for frying


One: Wash the chicken and pat dry. Place the chicken breasts skinned side up on a sheet of waxed paper or plastic wrap. Cover them with a second sheet of paper or wrap and, with a flat (not textured) wooden mallet, lightly beat them until flattened to a uniform thinness of less than 1/4 inch. Set aside.

Two: Cut the ham and cheese into thin slices 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long. Break the egg into a shallow bowl and beat until smooth. Spread the crumbs on a second shallow bowl. Spread the flour on a dinner plate.

Three: Lay the chicken pieces on a flat work surface skinned side down. Lightly spread the inside of each breast with a little mustard (don't use too much or the mustard will overpower the other flavors). Stack 2 slices of cheese and a slice of ham (2 if they are very thin) in the center of each breast. Fold over the small side of the breast, then fold each end up, like an envelope, and finally fold over the large side. Make sure that the filling is completely encased. Roll the chicken first in the flour, shake off the excess, and dip each breast in the egg, allowing the excess to flow back into the bowl. Lay it in the crumbs. Roll it carefully so that it doesn't open up (crumbs should not get inside the folds or they won't stay closed when it cooks), patting the crumbs into all sides. When the piece is coated, lay it on a clean, dry plate and repeat until all the pieces are breaded. Set aside for at least half an hour to allow the breading to set. (You may make them several hours or even a day ahead up to this point. Cover and refrigerate, but take them out at least half an hour before cooking.)

Four: Fill a deep Dutch oven, or a deep-fat fryer with enough peanut oil to come halfway up the sides, at least 2 inches deep. Over medium-high heat, bring the oil to 375°F (hot but not smoking). Add the chicken and fry until golden brown, maintaining a temperature of 365°F, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Five: Drain well and serve at once.