It's Thursday Again

And I suppose I need to write something here again, right?

My offline life is getting busy - work is getting hectic - and other extra-curricular activities start piling up, and with two other blogs aside from this, something is bound to be neglected.

Unfortunately, this blog is the one victimized by my busy schedule.

I'd like to rectify that today.  And fingers crossed my next post won't wait another week to be published. 

Anyway, I can't remember what exactly we did over the weekend.  The weekend was a blur, especially now that another weekend is upon us. 

I'm going to be riding a plane this weekend, which will take me to a place where I'd catch another ride to my week-long vacation destination.  Oh, the much-needed get-away is here.  Thank heavens!

I didn't intend to tell you that, it just slipped into the post.

Last night I went to dinner with "friends".  Why the quotation?  I don't know if I'd categorize them as friends or they belong to the gray area where they are more than acquiantances but less than friends.  But for the sake of this post they are friends.  They are my husband's colleagues, they have been to the house and eaten my food more than once, so I guess friends is not an exaggeration.

January is California's Restaurant Month, wherein the Visitor Bureau encourages you to patronize local businesses by going out to dinner.  In return, the business gives special deals, like lower prices for prix fixe meals/3-course meals for $30.  Oakland has it's Restaurant Week this week.  After work last evening, I met with friends for dinner - to Mezze - which is about 5 minutes from my work. Isn't that mighty convenient? 

Anyway, there were 3 girls and 4 boys that went to dinner - and no one brought a camera; I don't know how the photos of food taken by cell phone turned out.  6 of us ordered the 3-course meals.  The menu is quite limited, and on a Wednesday at 7 pm we were told that the tuna is sold out and they only have 2 orders of scallops - that went to our table, I ordered one with butternut squash soup and bread pudding for dessert.  M ordered the salmon entree, which we all agreed was overcooked. Two ordered the steak entree which was according to both who ordered it was too spicy and that the pepper crusting is too overwhelming.  My husband ordered ala carte of Morroccan lamb shank.  The portion is huge and delicious.   I ordered the scallops.  The order consists of three huge scallops over parsnip puree and some veggies with pancetta. 

I like my entree.  It is flavorful.  I always like anything pureed - even parsnip.  The scallops weren't as flavorful as I'd like, but if you bite into the pancetta, you get the maximum flavor.  The accompanying corn succotash looks like it came from a frozen veggies bag.  All in all I enjoyed the dinner.

However, we were all united in saying the highlight of the dinner was the chocolate croissant bread pudding - so delicious and rich.  It will make anyone happy.

On Wednesdays they waive the corkage fee so we brought two bottles - which were both Bordeaux, a pleasant surprise.

We chatted all through the three courses sipping wine and agreed to dine about town every month.  M assigned me to pick the next restaurant.  I'd like to choose one where the entree prices are under $20, because this dining out can get very heavy on the pocket too :)

And because I went out last night, I missed American Idol and I failed to record it.  I also missed Top Chef, but I believed that there was no new show last night, so no harm there. 

Happy Weekend everyone.

What's The Verdict?

Or is too soon?

You don't know what I'm talking about?

It's about the new season of American Idol, silly. 

Oh you no longer care for AI!

I came to this new season with the attitude of "well I have nothing better to do" so why not watch.  I don't think the show has much staying power beyond this season, unless something earth-shattering thing happens.  Let's say they find that one superstar in the making.  Still I thought the show is really showing her age.

Now what do I really think?  What grade do I give?

Too soon.  After all, only one show has aired and it's the auditon part of the search. 

But, I did find J.Lo's cringing at her reluctance to crush the aspirant's hopes pretty refreshing and elicited giggles on my part and my husband's.

That's a good sign.

And I liked the fact that all three judges are singers/musicians and that they can put themselves in the auditioner's shoes.

I'm still weighing my feelings for Steven Tyler.

And Randy?  I though he should be playing more of a "lead" role, but well, he continues to be....Randy - the third judge.

So I am taking a wait-and-see-what-happens approach to AI this year.  That is until a more interesting show comes up somewhere in the same time slot. 

ON TO ANOTHER SHOW

Wednesday is also the day my other favorite show, TOP CHEF, airs.  And the All-Star version is midway to the season. 

I have jumped into the bandwagon pretty late in the game. I believe I have been watching the show 3 years now.  They have been on air longer than that.

Which only means that many of the chefs participating in this All-Star version are all new to me, including Dale, who I googled because I had serious questions about his heritage.  Yes he is of Filipino heritage and I am happy that he's doing fine so far.  But the fortunes on Top Chef are fickle and they change pretty quickly from one show to the next.  So no one is really safe.

I have come to this season with Angelo as my "bet" to take it all the way.  You see I have seen the season where Angelo was one of the top three in the end.  And while his morals and ethics are in constant question on the show, I still thought that he makes good food - I would love to eat what he's cooking on the show.

I just previewed this post and read what I've written so far and I thought I'd come out as pretty much a couch potato with nothing better to do on a Wednesday night.  You are right in that assumption. 

So with this I end this post. But be certain I'll be sitting on the same couch come Wednesday night and tuning in to these 2 shows :)

Ten Things I Have Not Done

I'm playing with Rob of Sensory Replays because I thought this was a fun game.  It would also make me realize what else I wanted to do that's left undone so far.

Here goes:

1. Join a photo contest - been planing and planning for years, but never had the courage to do so.
2. Travel alone - not that I have any intention of doing it, I just merely say I haven't done it.
3. Write a story - okay book or something. I have some story lines up in my coconut, but I just need to put in a word doc.
4. Bungee Jump - not particularly high on my to-do list, but if I were in some exotic place, maybe.
5. Meet a Fellow Blogger in Person - no offense but I have no real urge to do so - mainly because I have always maintained my sort of anonymity in the blogging world. "Sort of" because some of my blogger pals are also my FB friends.
6. Wear a 2-piece bathing suit - and will never happen :) - not now.
7. Master another language - went to school to study Spanish, but I was too advanced for the basic and they didn't have anything after the basic class.  Would also love to learn French and a Chinese language.
8. Explore the wonders of the Philippine Islands - high up on my list.
9. Attend an organized class reunion - hopefully next year with my college class.
10. Stay in a hostel - would I or wouldn't I given the opportunity, I wouldn't know.

Thanks to Rob, you saved me one post to think about.

Another Week Has Gone By

It was 60 F here yesterday. And it's January. I don't complain about our lack of winter, as people know it, but somehow I find the chill in my bones a welcome greeting whenever I step out of a building.

It reminds me of seasons, and seasons remind me of constant change.

I remember at about the same time last year of the uncertainties that beset me. I don't see those same fears today a year later - change.

I hope to see more positive changes in me and around me this 2011.

I'm Feeling Romantic

In my humble opinion, this is one of the most romantic movies ever made and the music is pretty spectacular too.  Have you seen the movie yet?  What do you think?:

Just an Observation

They are friends.

Like any other friends, they eat together, they laugh together, and they share and do things together.

Friend 1 found Mr. Right.

Friend 2 was happy for her.

Wedding was planned, caterers were sought, and location was picked.

No wedding happened.

Turns out Mr. Right turned left and made beautiful eyes with Friend 2.

Friend 1 found out.

She dumped Mr. Right.

Mr. Right pursued Friend 2.

Friend 2 entertained Mr. Right's attentions and flatteries.

And then nothing.

Today I saw Friend 1 and Friend 2 whispering in the hallway, gossiping, laughing, just like old times.

I don't get it.

Whatever happened to the knives on the back?

Would you pick up where you left off with a girlfriend who hurt you that way?

This is just me - but the sight of the two of them left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Oh what a post to begin the year.

2010 Survey

Here's my 2009 version.

In 2010:

Did you do something you would never do?

I adopted 2 cats – didn’t think I was ever a cat person until I adopted the first one.

Did you keep any New Year's Resolutions?

I never make any so nothing to keep.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

My niece Wynne had a cute son, Chris.

Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank heavens.

Did you visit any countries?

Yes – Mexico.

What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

A child of my own.

Will any date from 2010 stay etched in your memory forever?

March 12, 2010 – my surgery; March 30, 2010 – Emma’s adoption date and the date she came home with us; October 16, 2010 – Buster’s adoption date, October 20, 2010 – Buster came home with us. November 1, 2010 – the SF Giants won the World Series championship.

What was your biggest achievement of 2010?

I cannot think of anything.

What was your biggest failure?

Unable to lose weight and conceive.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

Low iron level and Vitamin D deficiency – I need to get more sun .

What was the best thing you bought in 2010?

The trip to Cancun was a great deal and I enjoyed it.

Did your behaviour changed over the year?

I became more whiny 

Where did you spend most of your money?

Fixing the house, we got new front door.

Are you happier than this time last year?

I can’t say.

What song will remind you of 2009?

Nothing comes to mind.

What do you wish you would have done more of?

Diet and exercise.

What do you wish you would have done less of?

Being surly and grumpy.

What did/will you do for Christmas 2010?

Same thing every year, a day with family.

Did you fall in love in 2010?

Yes, I fell in love with watching baseball and the Giants again.

Did you get your heart broken in 2010?

Nope.

Favorite TV program of 2010?

Castle, No Ordinary Family, The Good Wife.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No.

What was the best book you read and/or movie you saw?

I haven’t read a book this year – or haven’t finished reading them. Movies? The Boy In A Striped Pajama was memorable. So was Harry Potter.

What was your greatest discovery?

Northern California is teeming with small towns that are worth visiting. And I will this year.

What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

A lady never divulge her age. Against any big to-do, I suggested we take a day off to drive around Sonoma Coast, stopping at sights every so often, then visiting Fort Ross and 2 more regional parks. It was a gloomy August day, but fruitful when it comes to blog-worthy images.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Having a baby.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2010?

I don't have a fashion concept.



FRIENDS:

Who was the best new person you met?

I never met anyone new face to face. But I met fascinating new bloggers on cyberspace.

Who did you wish you did not meet?

No one.

Who was your bestfriend?

My husband

Who was your enemy?

No one.

Who do you miss?

My girl friends from high school, college, dorm and CHS.

Who will you never forget?

The 2010 San Francisco Giants team.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

Count your blessings always. Because there’s always something to be thankful for.

What will you always remember about 2010?

My surgery, adopting cats, and the Giants winning the WS.

ASPIRATIONS FOR 2011:

What do you want to do in 2011 that you couldn't in 2010?

Get pregnant, be fit.

Any resolutions?

Want to do yoga and gym.

What is different about 2011 than 2010?

Many many things I hope – first off to change my attitude and behavior about how I take and tackle adversity and failure.

Anything you want to change about yourself for 2011?

Revamp my whole attitude towards life.

Do you want to make more friends in 2011?

Absolutely!