Desiderata For Dessert (And How To Cook A Husband)

I was amused to find this vintage cook book in my aunt's kitchen. It's been sitting there for a while, but it was only recently that I cared enough to leaf through it. It's so old, the cover's missing. My aunt says it was handed down to her by a friend a long time ago. My aunt and uncle treat this book like the Bible. (I borrowed it to scan and photocopy some pages/recipes I like)

Not only does it have recipes for Filipino and American dishes, it's also chock-full of everything else from household/kitchen tips to metric conversion tables, to "First Aid in Household Emergencies." However, there's nothing about eczema treatments.

What caught my eye was this page of random tips on kindness:

Also, "How To Cook A Husband" right below a recipe for the banana leaf-wrapped delicacy "Tupig," something I get to taste on the roadside when visiting Pangasinan province in the Philippines. The clever little piece seems to impose this archaic duty of the wife to please the husband in a manner that kitchen-bound women of yore would understand. A footnote would say it was originally published in 1910, more than a hundred years ago. I think the author might be secretly Hannibal-cannibalistic. Click image below to read entire article:

Did they ever care to write "How To Make A Sizzling Wife Plate?"

Gotta Live Like We're Dying

I chanced upon this charming scene from behind a tourist couple at Rockefeller Plaza while I was subconsciously willing the floral Easter Bunny to magically turn into chocolate. I don't imagine them talking about life insurance rates...but judging from the guide book that the girl is holding, they're probably planning what to do next in New York City.

Since my grandfather passed away, I've been drawn to these spiritual books to help ease my grief and to help me understand more this inevitable conclusion of life called death. I've read Concetta Bertoldi's "Do Dead People Walk Their Dogs?", a medium's light-hearted yet serious approach to the most frequently asked questions about the afterlife--from the mundane to the sublime. Then I've also read NY Times Best-selling author Eckhart Tolle's "Oneness With All Life", which is a gift book made up of excerpts from his other book, "A New Earth." This one is more inspirational and preaches that the soul's purpose is "to awaken" and to heighten its awareness and live in the Present.

The most recent book I've read is by another NY Times Best-selling author & psychic medium, Sylvia Browne, called "Exploring The Levels of Creation."  Here, she reveals that we come to this Earth from the Other Side with our charts pre-written by ourselves. We choose which country we'll be born in, what gender, what physical attributes and circumstances we'll be in, what challenges, whether we'll get married, be a single parent or simply live a single life. We also choose the manner and time when we die. Nothing in this world is ever an accident. Even the people who died in calamities chose to perish that way. We are all here for a purpose, and sometimes the lives we live are to teach other people a profound lesson, or something that will help them accomplish their own life goals. Look at how the Haitian earthquake and the likes of Hurricane Katrina sparked compassion and cooperation the world over. Both Tolle and Browne mention Jesus Christ as an example of someone who was very aware of his earthly purpose and accomplished it the way He wrote it.

It's interesting to note that the book regards Earth as Hell itself, because this is where all the suffering and disease exist, whereas when we die and go back to the Other Side, it's Perfection beyond what our senses and mortal intellect can comprehend. Browne likens our earthly life to going to university, where we sign up for different courses of our choosing according to what we want to learn in order to enhance our soul's knowledge. Without adversity and pain, how can the soul advance? When we look at ourselves now, we may kick ourselves and say, "What the hell was I thinking? I signed up for THIS?!" But we also enter this world with an important tool: free will. We still have the power to do or not to do, to say yes or no, to be prompt or be a procrastinator.

Another interesting thing that Browne discusses is how our pets are regarded as heaven's (the Other Side's) gifts to mankind, whose sole purpose is to provide unconditional love to their owners. She also claims that when we die, the pets we took care of who have passed on before us will be there on the Other Side to welcome us back, along with our dearly departed loved ones, of course. Remember that song "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton in which he asks, "Will you know my name...if I saw you in Heaven?" Browne's book answers this in the positive. There's instant soul recognition in heaven, according to her.

Death is like Graduation, and our lives will be "scored" according to the things we learned and the deeds we did.Whether we'd like to go back to Earth to learn more, and necessarily, suffer more, is up to us, too.


There are some cultures that hold funerals in a manner of a "happy send-off," in which there is lively music and merrymaking to celebrate the life of the deceased, because it is essentially seen as a Homecoming. I've stumbled upon this blog which tells of their "crashing a Daoist funeral" held in a festive way.

When my family and I fly to our province in the Philippines next month, we'll be celebrating my late grandfather's birthday with a special mass. I'm bringing some birthday decorations to liven up the mood. I know that my grandfather will be happy that we're all going to be there in his memory.

Buying Books For A Better World

I rarely buy books I fancy at regular price. When I visit my favorite local bookstore, I'm usually at the bargain aisle. Sometimes I get lucky with the marked-down books I find. For other books I really want but are not on sale, I used to go to Ebay for used copies. My latest online book purveyor of choice, though, is Better World Books. Not only do they sell new books at a much cheaper price, they ship for FREE throughout the United States! It's just $3.97 shipping elsewhere in the world.

Why do I choose to buy from them? Because not only do they offer "carbon-free" shipping (four cents per book) to boost your eco-karma points, your purchase actually funds global literacy AND helps breathe new life into used books and prevents them from becoming landfill inhabitants. You literally are making it a better world with your book purchase!

And I thought it was charming to get a "Thank You" E-mail from my recently purchased books. Yes, the books "e-mailed" me! It's so amusing that I had to share it with you!

(Your book(s) asked to write you a personal note - it seemed unusual, but who are we to say no?)

Holy canasta! It's me... it's me! I can't believe it is actually me! You could have picked any of over 2 million books but you picked me! I've got to get packed! How is the weather where you live? Will I need a dust jacket? I can't believe I'm leaving Mishawaka, Indiana already - the friendly people, the Hummer plant, the Linebacker Lounge - so many memories. I don't have much time to say goodbye to everyone, but it's time to see the world!

I can't wait to meet you! You sound like such a well read person. Although, I have to say, it sure has taken you a while! I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but how would you like to spend five months sandwiched between Jane Eyre (drama queen) and Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (pyromaniac)? At least Jane was an upgrade from that stupid book on brewing beer. How many times did the ol' brewmaster have one too many and topple off our shelf at 2am?

I know the trip to meet you will be long and fraught with peril, but after the close calls I've had, I'm ready for anything (besides, some of my best friends are suspense novels). Just five months ago, I thought I was a goner. My owner was moving and couldn't take me with her. I was sure I was landfill bait until I ended up in a Better World Books book drive bin. Thanks to your socially conscious book shopping, I've found a new home. Even better, your book buying dollars are helping kids read from Brazil to Botswana.

Eagerly awaiting our meeting,

Pithy Seedy Pulpy Juicy: Eleven Rhymes with Orange Books in One

Reigning Cats And Dogs: A Rhymes With Orange Tribute to Those Who Shed

Those are the titles of books that I bought from cartoonist Hilary B. Price of "Rhymes With Orange." I have to applaud the creative marketing minds behind Better World Books. I don't expect these books to be traveling by motorhome to reach me, but this missive of gratitude just made a loyal customer out of me!

P.S. If you buy any two books from them this Valentine weekend, you can get 14% off by entering this coupon code: BWBFF14. Now doesn't that make your bookworm heart go a-flutter?

Play It Away, Ian!

I had a wonderful discovery at our local library recently: Playaways!

Audiobooks no longer come in just bulky cassettes or CDs that you have to load in a CD player or burn into your ipod or MP3 device. Playaway is "the world's first pre-loaded digital audio player!" It's a self-playing audio gadget with the book already loaded inside, and all you need is your fave pair of headphones and one AAA-sized battery! How convenient!

Curious, I borrowed Ian McEwan's "The Atonement." I've seen the movie which starred Keira Knightley and the dreamy James McAvoy. What attracts me to audiobooks is that I like to listen to people talk, hear their accents and pronounce words. In this Playaway version of the book, I was amused at how the word "migraine" was pronounced as "MEE-grain." And these are no ordinary people who read the book out loud for the Playaway, they're professional actors who can easily adjust their accents according to the characters talking in the story.

What I love about Playaway is how you can adjust the speed of how the narrator talks, the volume, and fast forward and rewind the chapters. It's like Tivo for audiobooks!

I just finished listening to John Grisham's "Playing for Pizza." It could very well have been entitled "Playing for Prosciutto" or "Playing for Parmesan Cheese," because those two food items also appear prominently in this sports-themed story of a failed NFL quarterback who found himself playing for an obscure Italian football team in Parma. Grisham manages to treat his readers to sidetrips around Italy through the main character, Rick Dockery, aside from the main goal of scoring an Italian Superbowl. I like how the narrator shifted from an American accent, to thick Italian accent (Rick became "Reeek"), to female Southern (Georgia) accent. Voice acting is also a remarkable talent!

And since Grisham is a lawyer, he also managed to squeeze in an Italian judge character who plays with Rick in the team and a side serving of immigration law where visas are concerned.

Listening to Playaway also encourages you to multitask. You can clean your room, do the dishes and the laundry while listening to it.

I hope my library acquires more Playaway books. Looking forward to my next one!

All That Glitters

The last book I read was Paolo Coehlo’s “The Devil and Miss Prym.” It was a story about temptation, how one man, driven by the demons of his tragic loss, travels incognito to a rural town to offer a dangerous bargain in exchange for gold bars. In order to earn the gold, innocent blood had to be sacrificed. Will greed prevail over virtue?

I was so engrossed with the rather titillating encounter between the stranger and Miss Prym that I finished the book within a few hours, in just one sitting.

I am not particularly fond of jewelry, but the precious few I own I do regard as special because of the sentimental value attached to it, such as the gold camel necklace that my mom gave me. I'm not too conversant about financial matters or investing either, so when I heard about gold IRA, I was curious about how to put gold in an IRA as an alternative way to invest on one's retirement.

The Aurum Advisors from the Gold Coins Gain website seek to enlighten the skeptic investor about gold 401k, the shining alternative to an employee's 401k plan that has fallen victim to our current dwindling economy. Their goal is to promote 401k gold as the new 401k choice. This may just be the start of an era of IRA gold, where your future is literally etched in gold.

Moooon Reeeapeerrr...

one of my favorite illustrators, jimmy liao, has a new book coming out on april fool's day!

it's called "when the moon forgot."


amazon.com described the book this way:

"One night the moon never rises...

A lonely boy finds the fallen moon in a field. He takes it home and cares for it, slowly helping it heal. They become inseparable companions, exploring the world together both day and night. But when the world needs the moon to remember its place in the sky, the boy must help it find its way back home.

This is an unforgettable tale of an unusual friendship by world-renowned illustrator Jimmy Liao. Gorgeous, evocative illustrations tell an imaginative story of love and courage; the world will never forget the time when the moon forgot. "

i love jimmy liao's art. how the seemingly childish drawings inspire feelings of nostalgia and longing. his illustrated book, "a chance of love," is one of my favorite picture books. i also have his other wonderful book, "sound of colors." his works are originally in chinese and are only translated in english as well as in other languages.

if you're using igoogle as your browser's homepage (like i do), you might be interested to know that you can get his theme to brighten up your igoogle page.

[cover art image from amazon.com]

a prayer for a blueberry girl

neil gaiman has a new book (categorized as a children's book) coming out on march 10th called "blueberry girl" with beautiful art by charles vess. watch this videoclip (by brady hall) showcasing the art from the book while the author reads the heartwarming lines from his poem. i came across this via anj's blog (who is apparently a huge neil gaiman fan).



beautiful, beautiful words that almost sound like a magic spell coming from neil gaiman's mouth. (for me, everything sounds extra-special with a british accent, haha.)

this poem was specially written for tori amos' baby girl--the original blueberry girl. i think every girl deserves this poignant little prayer...not just the infants. i think i want to own this book, too.

to all the blueberry girls out there, happy international women's day!

litratong pinoy#37:lila (violet)

hindi angkop sa mga bata ang aklat na ito, halata naman sa pamagat, diba? ang librong ito na may lilang letra sa pamagat (na pinalamutian ko ng lilang iris bago litratuhan) ay regalo sa akin ng kaibigan kong malikhain na si gingmaganda, isa sa mga manunulat nito. maaari niyong basahin ang aking munting book review dito, at kung nasa labas kayo ng pinas ay puedeng orderin online dito. (shameless plug na ba? tangkilikin ang panitikang atin!)

at syempre dahil mahilig ako sa bulaklak, eto ang isa pa na "made (este, grown?) in the philippines" sa hardin ng tita ko. medyo nasa "polaroid phase" ako ngayon dahil sa poladroid software na yan. subukan niyo rin minsan, ang saya-saya!

sa larangan naman ng pagkain, ube cake! eto ang birthday cake ng kapatid ko na sinadya pa namin sa jersey city sa pinoy bakeshop doon. walang goldilocks dito sa new jersey, eh...so ito na lang.

nakakita na ba kayo ng lilang manika na igorota? ako, hindi pa, hangga't ipinagkatiwala ito sa akin ni gingmaganda. dinala ko ito pabalik sa new jersey at ipinadala sa isang kwelang ka-blog sa singapore--si the becky--na bagong kasapi ng "sisterhood of the traveling igorota." dalaw kayo doon, ha! samahan niyo kaming mamasyal...salamat po!

pugad baboy's 20th anniversary special!

my favorite section in any newspaper is the comics/humor section, and one of my favorite filipino comic strips is "pugad baboy" by the witty pol medina, jr.

i always read his comic strips in the philippine daily inquirer about this obese family, their wisecracking dog "polgas" and their motley crew of neighbors in a little town called "pugad baboy" (which translates to "pig's nest," accurately describing its inhabitants).

i brought with me some of his comicbook compilations as "comfort books." when i found out that his 20th pugad baboy book was just released, i excitedly requested a friend to get it for me at national bookstore.

she had flown in to california from the philippines recently. the book came in the mail today and i was delighted to have it in my hands! it's a bigger book, sized 8 1/2 x 11", 114 pages. the book had cost P400 or around $8.

in between the comics pages are some interesting tidbits of how mr. medina, jr. started his cartooning career and the actual people that inspired some of his characters. even her young daughter, a budding artist, shares in the spotlight with her own comic strips. the book celebrates twenty years of poking fun at philippine life as lived by the "pugad baboy" residents.

his celebratory foreword reads,

"Tingnan mo nga naman ano?! ‘Yung inumpisahan ko bilang pantawid-gutom e dalawampung taon ko nang kina-career.

Nakaka-bente na ako. Yeheeeeey!"

i haven't read the whole book yet, but i'm sure i'll be laughing like an idiot.

"dagta: antolohiya ng erotika"

i had the pleasure of finding this book in the mailbox on monday from gingmaganda (purple iris not included) along with a pretty painting postcard!

"dagta" (literally translates to the sticky sap that tends to ooze from trees, stems or otherwise) is an anthology of erotic prose and poetry compiled by j. luis camacho, illustrated by adam david and published by fox books. the title is suggestive and its definition is best left to the imagination of the open-minded reader. warning: this book is for mature readers! in other words, keep out of reach (and sight) of children!

gingmaganda is among the contributors in this book (read her work, "mga tala kay mary clarisse maligaya, year IV-chastity"). the stories and poems beckon readers as a seductress would a lover, stripping off the multitude of emotions until all that's left is pure lust--the consummation of fleshly desires. it's almost like reading the racy writings of xerex in the abante tabloid, but these works are beautifully written, honest, straightforward, brutally vivid and funny at times. they would undoubtedly leave a lingering, sap-like stain in the minds (and who knows where else?) of the readers-turned-voyeurs.

thank you for sending me a copy, ging! you rock!

for more info about the book and where to purchase, read gingmaganda's blog. the book was launched in april 2008.

letters from imo jowa

sorry, the pun just popped out of my nocturnal mind. the title is a play of words from the movie "letters from iwo jima". hehe.

"imo"-ilonggo for "your", "yours".
"jowa"-filipino gay slang for "spouse", "lover", "girlfriend/boyfriend."

a curious book about collected, actual love letters is about to be released this oct. 30th. it's called "other people's love letters: 150 letters you were never meant to see", edited by one bill shapiro.



in an interview by redbook magazine, the author shared that his inspiration for publishing such a book was when he came across a love letter by accident at a house of a woman she was dating, addressed to another man. he confessed that he "felt guilty reading it, but it gave [him] such an emotional charge."

this goes to show that we all have snoopy tendencies, especially when it comes to private matters of the heart. there's always that urge to spy on someone's love affair. but sometimes, the love letter, when carelessly kept, can become the undoing of a marriage. this situation i'm referring to is when the love letter is from a paramour...and that's one of the reasons why such a missive is "never meant to be read" by someone other than the addressee.

i must confess, i still have a hard copy of an e-mailed love letter from many years ago. i had printed it out and tucked it inside one of my old diaries. haha.

i'm intrigued, though, as to the methods used in acquiring such a collection for the book. were the letters retrieved legally? one doesn't just walk on a street and expect to see an abandoned love note.

see the gallery of love letters and send one to someone special at otherpeoplesloveletters.com

"the more the manyer!"

my friend in the philippines, rizza, sent a little something (literally) in the mail for my birthday which i got this morning. it's an itty-bitty gift book entitled "the more the manyer! pinoy cliches and other words of wisdumb", published by tahanan books.

it's a handy compilation of funny, philippinized idiomatic expressions that end up sounding idiotic, english phrases of the carabao species that make you go, "ex-squeeze me?!"

the selection of humorous slang is complemented by elbert or's comical artwork with a cartoon network-y feel to it.

here's a sampling of what the book offers, some of which you may already be "family" with:

"the sky's the langit!
"keep that bear in mind"
"it's a blessing in the sky!"
"the idea crossed at the back of my mind"

it's hilarious. "THANKS GOD", rizza! you know my taste buds! :)

the (travel) notebook

my favorite magazine subscription which allows me to travel with my fingers as i leaf through glossy pages is conde nast traveler.

they are releasing a new travel book in october about different places as experienced by "great writers." it's entitled "The Conde Nast Traveler Book of Unforgettable Journeys: Great Writers on Great Places".



one writer named simon winchester writes about mount pinatubo in said book.

more about this paperback from amazon.com:

Travel writing maintains its seemingly endless popularity, and this volume offers a particularly transporting body of work, pairing exotic locales with writers of the highest caliber: Russell Banks writes on the Everglades, Francine Prose explores the secrets of Prague, Robert Hughes takes us on a tour of Italy, and more. From the most beautiful gardens to visit in Japan to the best free things to do in Provence, this book is as enlightening as it is entertaining. Whether off to the other side of the globe or to their favorite reading chair, wanderers of every sort will find this book truly indispensable.

Other featured writers and places include:
Nik Cohn on Savannah
Philip Gourevitch on Tanzania
Shirley Hazzard on Capri
Pico Iyer on Iceland and Ethiopia
Nicole Krauss on Japan
Suketu Mehta on the Himalayas
Edna O’Brien on Bath
Patricia Storace on Provence and Athens
James Truman on Iran
Gregor Von Rezzori on Romania
Edmund White on Jordan
Simon Winchester on Mount Pinatubo
William Dalrymple on his pilgrimage to Santiago
John Julius Norwich on the Vatican
Jan Morris on Hawaii


About the Author
Klara Glowczewska is editor in chief of Condé Nast Traveler.

i've been to bath! it's writer jane austen's hometown in england's beautiful countryside. they're also known for their magnificent flowers, according to our very informative tour guide.

i can't wait to own this book.



and this shirt would complement such a travel book. i probably would have bought this as a souvenir shirt if i saw this in london last april. but i didn't. instead, i spotted this at the j. crew store at our local mall. the word "england" is spelled out with shiny, black sequins. much as i adore this design, i will not pay $42 for a tissue tee.

only three more days until my birthday. eep!

goddess gobbledygook

i just got the audiobook CDs i won on ebay entitled "the undomestic goddess", a british chick lit written by the fabulously funny sophie kinsella. i've actually read the book, but wanted it in audio format so i can listen to it being read by someone with a crisp, british accent--and that someone is katherine kellgren. here's a little snippet from the first chapter:



they pronounce "migraine" as "mee-grain" in this audio version. tomayto, tomahto.

ABOUT THIS BOOK:

Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership.

Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake.

But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does…will she want it back?

[excerpt from randomhouse.com]

i had given my paperback copy to a lawyer friend in the philippines in hopes that she'll be amused by it as well. enjoyed this book immensely. i wish they turn it into a movie. starring maybe....renee zellweger? she's starred in "bridget jones" and "miss potter," adopting a british tongue in both films.

and in conjunction with all this goddess gobbledygook...a quiz about my "inner greek goddess":

Your Score: Hestia

56% contentment, 22% vanity, 55% loneliness

You are Hestia, goddess of the hearth and domestic life. Unlike the other major gods, who sit on thrones at Mount Olympus, you sit by the fire and tend it forever. You are very kind and forgiving, the gentlest of all Olympians.

Link: The Which Greek Goddess Are You? Test written by Wild_Heart on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

wow, it looks like i'm a DOMESTIC type of greek goddess. eep. i'm hardly the type to "sit by the fire forever" and bake ambrosia-flavored cake for the gods.

blues traveler

i used my 30%off coupon at borders to buy the lonely planet bluelist '06-'07 book.



it is the bible for travelers, would-be travelers, travel channel fans, and people who are planning to pack their bags and discover a destination. whether you already have an itinerary in mind or are longing for a travel fix, this book gives you an educational and streetwise preview of what to expect in a place, and some unknown secrets of it, too. a colorful, concise travel tip handbook about everything from best places to go for beer, to "best beaches to swing a hammock."

the layout of some pages even merge postcard-perfect pictures with informative text, so that the place becomes even more inviting to visit. this is the tourist's travel brochure of the world in one handy guide book.

the philippines is bluelisted for the hobbit house bar in manila. i have never been to this place!

there's also a funny list called "most stupid thing you heard a tourist say!":

#01. (in zurich, switzerland) 'sorry, i don't speak swiss.'
#02. (in edinburgh, scotland) 'why did they build the castle next to the railway?'
#03. (in paris, france) 'honey, why are all the streets called RUE?'
#04. (a guy in a nightclub in prague, czech republic) 'are you ready to rock, berlin?'
#05. (an american in canada) 'it's almost like another country here.'

like what the travel channel perpetually advises, this book inspires you to "be a traveler." and this book aims to make you a wise and informed one.

"my baby's got a secret..."

if i would pick a theme song for this book of compiled postcards from anonymous senders displaying their deepest, but not necessarily darkest, secrets...it would be madonna's "secret." well, i admit, i'm a fan of hers. i always look for her songs when i flip through the videoke songbook. her songs are videoke singer-friendly. hehe.

the book i'm referring to is "postsecret : extraordinary confessions from ordinary lives" by frank warren. the contents are originally from the website (www.postsecret.blogspot.com) created by the author as a community art project where people can send in their secrets, no matter how taboo, perverted, or just downright silly in the form of a postcard. every week, the website is updated with about a dozen hand-made postcards. i've been visiting it more often since i stumbled upon a link to that website.

i got my copy of the book in the mail today. it's hardbound with a dustcover with a mail packaging shade of brown. it's cheaper when you order it through overstock.com than getting it at full price ($24.95) from your local bookstore.

amazing how creative and brutally honest a person can be on a small postcard. some revelations are funny, some are heart-breaking, some are wishes and desires, some are mundane...but all are genuinely interesting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i went to an orthopedic doctor last thursday for my injured shoulder. the good news is, my arm is healing fine, he said. he required me to wear the sling for three weeks, shorter than i had expected. he also carefully extended my arm and moved it a bit. it felt weird and sore, naturally. i winced at the slightest motion.

i am determined to move my right hand more so that my holding and writing muscles won't go idle.

it's still hard to sleep, because every now and then i'd feel sudden sparks of sharp pain on various parts of my upper right arm. the doctor has explained that it's the bruised ligaments and tissues healing themselves.

on a positive note, i've managed to utilize my left hand more, since i don't really have a choice. typing with it is manageable, but eating with a spoon is a little challenging, especially whenever rice is involved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

we are having a blizzard overnight. the forecast says we'll have around 12 inches of snow. maybe i'll make a one-armed snowman.

my sister cooked del monte kitchenomics-quality pochero for lunch today. yuuuummmmmyyy.

i've decided to name my new cat, shakira. heheh.

finally finished reading bridget jones' diary. can't wait to borrow ton's the alchemist tomorrow.