Daddy is home!

H is finally back from an over-extended business trip. The frequent travels is something I truly understand and accept as a part of his job, but this trip is particularly long and I was missing him too much.

So the minute he walked in the door, my world started spinning happily again.

Naturally, after many hours of catching up and snuggling, I insisted on cooking lunch for the man I love.

Today's lunch was spaghetti with prawns, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice. This is actually my take on the dish, very light yet loaded with flavor. I was introduced to this the first time by the gorgeous Tita Merce when H and I paid her and Tito Jun a visit in their beautiful home about a month back. What I love about this other than its such a healthy alternative to the usual sauces is that it is quick and easy to make.

I am glad H is home.


Spaghetti with Olive Oil, Garlic and Lemon Juice

1/2 kilo spaghetti, cooked al dente
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
a few slivers of bacon, optional
3 cloves garlic, chopped finely
1 large onion, chopped finely
1/2 kilo extra large shrimp, peeled and deveined
juice of 1 and 1/2 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese or chili flakes, optional

Lay the bacon in a frying pan and cook until crispy. Discard bacon oil and remove cooked bacon from the pan. Set aside.
In the same pan, heat the olive oil then add the garlic and onion and saute until translucent. Add the shrimp and cook until pink. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the chopped tomatoes then immediately remove the pan from fire. You would like for the tomatoes to remain undercooked.
Toss in the cooked spaghetti and mix with the freshly cooked sauce. Drizzle in the lemon juice, toss and serve. Top with the crispy bacon, Parmesan or chili flakes if desired.

Amici ATC

Chy agreed to go to the mall with me today, I was so pleased. Since the kids started thinking that they no longer are kids, they started hanging out with me less. In many occasions, we have to lure them out of their rooms and bribe them with food or goodies to go with us anywhere.

After running some errands, Chy and I chanced upon a familiar logo. Amici of Don Bosco in Makati is now at Alabang Town Center! They are located at that spot that was vacated by Jollibee and Greenwich at the second floor of the new wing.

To those who have not sampled Amici, they serve Italian staples such as pizza, pasta and panini. They are also known for their gelato and dessert that ranges from Brazo de Mercedes to Sans Rival. I have known about this restaurant from a former co-worker Bebs, who consistently invited us to their Makati branch. "Authentic Italian at a very reasonable cost" Bebs said. She said that an Italian friar from Don Bosco started cooking and petty soon, people from all over traveled far and wide just to taste the flavorful food. I have not quite confirmed the truthfulness and veracity of the story but I have witnessed how people braved traffic just to get to Amici in Makati.

This new branch in ATC is a refreshing change. It boasts of new and fresh signs, wares and displays because that is what they are - new and fresh. The menu is the same though I overheard another patron say that the prices in ATC is higher than in Makati. I wouldn't be surprized- one is at church grounds and the other is in a mall. Go figure.

Chy ordered lasagne and I had their squash or pumpkin soup, I am not sure. Both were served with grilled ciabatta on the side. In addition, we ordered 4-cheeze pizza to be brought home for the boys as well as a pack of bread for the crostinis that I plan to make for H tomorrow. All that, for a little over Php 700, no kidding. Oh, and they gave away samples of gelato.

The taste? When one goes to a fast food restaurant, one should expect fast food -quality food and service. No more, no less. Chynna said that her lasagne is pretty good and I laughed at her when a string of mozzarella cheese hanged down her chin (what? is it was funny!) The point is, it had stringy cheese, not local cheddar. My soup was not bad, though it would be better without the cinnamon and the all-purpose cream that they drizzled on top. The pizza was gone within five minutes upon our arrival. Gabe and Moggy enjoyed the thin crust pizza with gooey assortment of cheeses on top. The ciabatta? I sliced it and brushed it with olive oil and grilled it for dinner- it made a breadaholic very happy.

Over-all,I think ATC did good by having Amici open there (Greewich vs Amici pizza, pasta? Gosh, no contest!). Soon they will be able to figure out a better more efficient service and will open for delivery too- so that will be an even better news; good for those days when one yearns for inexpensive Italian fast food.

MrsA

Project turn-over: mission accomplished

Today I officially turned over the townhouse. Lacking sleep, with muscles sore from all the hauling and cleaning last night, I smile. Proud that we were able to accomplish a lot in a short span of time and happy that the place that we used to call home will now be a venue for new memories.

Its a strange kinda feeling to close the door behind you, knowing that you can come by and visit that special place anytime- but shouldn't. Today is the beginning of something new for the occupants. It also marks a new beginning for me.

Now I can focus on finding a new abode for our family. H and I have been house-hunting for the past many months and have found one that we truly like. It has the right number of rooms, the right size, the right make, the right build, located at the right place where we can settle down and call home.

Crossing my fingers and toes that things will turn-out the way we hope it would.

More on this soon.
N

Beth and Chy: for future reference

This one is for our daughters, Chy and Beth.

You see, Dad and I do not want to come off as uptight, overly-strict parents from the Neanderthal age. Please do not think that we are narrow-minded, demanding, critical parents. And we are not mean people either. Its just that no boy will ever be good enough for you. Ever.

Okay, maybe that is somewhat an exaggeration of the truth, but you understand what I am trying to say.

You see, whenever the subject of 'potential boyfriends' are brought up, both of you seem to expect that Dad and I will be calm and cool about it. Ladies,do not get your hopes too high. We wont ever be. Now that is NOT an exaggeration.

To help you understand our viewpoint about this, I have listed some items that your Dad and I will look for in your future potential mate (emphasis on the word future). This may be considered a part of a longer checklist, detailing minimum requirement and subject to change without prior notice.

1. Must dress appropriately, with a hairstyle that is socially acceptable and a complete set of teeth- Needless to say, he needs to look good and smell good; no body odor, no halitosis. You cannot expect us to feel comfortable seeing you with someone who does not even bother to look presentable. Don't get me wrong- we are not looking for Hollywood glamor and a Tom Cruise smile here...just do not bother to introduce someone who does not take a bath or trim his nails or have the hair on his nose sticking out. It just wouldn't be comfortable for any of us.
Seriously, we are all measured by how we present ourselves. It reflects how we want to be perceived and how we view ourselves. Now I am not talking about style or brand or cost of the outfit. Its the cleanliness and the effort extended to looking good for you.

2. Must be well mannered and be able to demonstrate common courtesy. We expect him to open doors for you, help you carry stuff and be a complete and true gentleman around you. How will we know? Well for one, we observe, even when you think we do not. Remember when you were little and we said we have more than two eyes? It's true.
We observe the way they sit, the way they stand, the way they look at you. We notice whether they chew with their mouth open and how they hold their forks, whether or not they cross their legs (shoes off? yuck!!) and how close they sit next to you.(Tip: when Dad clenches his fists, that means it's too close). We are not looking for perfection, just a semblance of culture and education.

3. Must speak clearly, respectfully and in a comprehensible manner. This is not to make fun of people with speech defects. What I mean is, he has to make sense. Some sense is good, no sense is un-good.
What makes sense? Its a combination and proportion of things. While we are not requiring an Albert Einstein-esque brain, we need to see substance there. I know we like talking about funny, nonsensical things and that is okay..but dump him if he talks dumb all the time. Your mind needs mental stimulation. Trust me, you will get bored out of your mind.

4. Drop-by or call at the appropriate time, please. We are old school. No calls, texts, IMs, visits past 10PM.

5. Must blend well with your siblings, our Woggy, Dad's Kois. My Lolo Gaudencio once told me that a person who demonstrates sincere tenderness to plants, animals and children are innately good. He who is kind to the weak and the defenseless is cool and worthy. We frown at bullies and rude kids. We are unimpressed with loud, obnoxious and self-centered individuals, no matter who they are. We unleash our killer Kois and have them attack bad people.

In essence, we just want to be reassured that you will be treated well and with respect, as you so richly deserve. We need to know that your usual opinion and sharp criticism of life and all that surrounds you are heard- for you do have good things to say. We need to know that you see as much as you can and hear what you ought to. Most importantly, we want for the both of you to grow up to your full potentials, reaching as far high as you are willing to reach yet remain humble and grounded enough in order for you to experience the real and true meaning of life and love.

More importantly, take your time. Do not be in such a hurry. Life is a glorious experience that needs to be savored slowly and not in haste. Enjoy your youth while you can; it won't stay with you for so long... it never does. You have to trust your old folks on this.

Those pretty boys better watch out. Dad and his killer Kois are watching.


Mom aka MrsA

Nicky Dawgee

I find writing therapeutic, so I rush to my laptop as soon as I sweet-talked our youngest child Moggy to go to bed. As I began to type, I noticed that once again- something that resemble a mophead has positioned itself right next to the leg of of my chair.
It is what H and I call a Woggy, and it looks so much like a Cocker Spaniel but it has the attitude of a princess, a demeanor of a 'spoiled brat' and is perhaps with the most attitude in the animal kingdom. If you look up the phrase 'royalty' in the dictionary, chances are you will find her picture.

Our woggy's name is Nicki and she considers me as the Alpha-female. This is quite ironic because I have always had a fear and dislike for anything with more than two legs.
It is by association, I guess. My H is the alpha-male and that automatically makes me the alpha-female. Or maybe its my countless futile and desperate attempts for the alpha-male to view me as the dominant specie? Hrrmmm… Oh well, at least the woggy thinks I'm dominant somehow..

Nicki is two human years old. I think that translate to fourteen dog years so she's technically a teenager. She is about a foot and a half tall, with unruly Albert Einstein hair that covers her huge eyes that resemble two very large glass balls. She's got lashes that can make any drag queen envious.

Now this lil' woggy is my constant and loyal companion. When the kids are at school and H is in one of his business trips, I have her or rather, she is stuck with me. It works well for Nicki and I. I never feel alone at the house and she enjoys the human food that I share with her.


I thought I would never understand how people, my H included-could fall in love with their pets. Prior to having Her Royal Barkness in my life, I believed that love should be shared only with members of our own species. Who in his right mind would take in a creature to feed, bathe and clean-up after? Isn't that what kids are for?

One day a few months ago I woke up and realized that I have fallen in love with H and with that came the societal expectation of understanding and acceptance of everything about him including his woggy. H and his kids are so easy to love (thank God!) but the woggy?

When I first met Nicki, she immediately wanted to be friends with me. I thought it was sweet of her. I mean, I come across people who try not to be friends with anyone and there she was, wanting to be friends. Sweet thing. I didn't kick her away because H was watching my every move.

In the beginning, it was irritating that our schedule somehow revolved around her. We had to make sure that she is fed and bathed and walked by her nanny (yes, the doggy had a nanny!) before we can go out for dinner. In not so few occasions, we had to rush to his place and make sure she eats the gourmet (!) dog food that H gently and lovingly places on her plate.

I did not enjoy the divided attention but did not want to come off as immature and self-centered so somehow tolerated this scenario- after all I was already in love with H and she didn't get in my way much. She just followed me around all the time. I mean ALL THE TIME. She would go where I go and sit where I sit and occasionally would try to sit on my lap. When I would close the door behind me when I use the bathroom, she would bark, wanting to be let in. She would jump for joy when I arrive and would try to go with me to the car when I leave.

One day she placed something between my feet. It was a tennis ball. H said that she wants to play with me and that I was to throw it so she can fetch it. So I did and true enough, she fetched it with utmost speed and precision of an Olympic athlete. She placed it on my feet again, wanting to play some more. Now,that was my first time to play where I am not the one expected to fetch the ball!

When the kids finally met her, Nicky was ecstatic. She played with them and even swam with them in the pool. She liked my kids and my kids liked her immediately.

H and I had a whirlwind romance and got married after merely several weeks of dating. Nicki seemed to be okay with this and continued to shower me with love and affection.

When we moved to our first home she adjusted pretty well. As the kids settled in their new rooms, Nicki selected and identified her place or should I say, placeS. She would sleep in any of the rooms, with any of the kids or beside H and I. Each night she would do her rounds and to make sure everyone is home. She would stay up with me and wait for H to come home almost every night. She would stay and not leave my side when i'm sick.

To anyone who has fallen in love with a pet, you know what I am describing. I am describing the type of loyalty and affection that is purer than what people show one another, simply because humans have egos and varying degrees of pride. I have never been a recipient of such pure and unconditional love and likewise have never truly loved a pet before Nicki.

So now I feed her and make sure she's bathed and groomed and gets her exercise. Now I carefully put food on her plate and add ice on her waterbowl. She continues to follow me around and teach me certain values- forgiveness (She would let me hold her when I accidentally trip or step on her), selflessness (she would protect me and Moggy at any cost), patience (she'd always wait in front of the bathroom door when I get my hour-long baths with zero complaints) and style (blonds have more fun, she insists). Nicki is still prissy and bratty and acts like the world revolves around her but that's okay. She has taught me patience.

One day she will realize that it revolves around me.

MrsA