MY TOP RAINY DAY SOUPS

Finally, a dry day (but still a gloomy one) for Manila.

All those rainy days and nights made me crave for sabaw (But even on a sunny day, I'm such a soup person, so like my Papa).

My favorites, in random order (excluding my Mama's masasarap na sabaw na malapit ko nang matikman uli!):

• Leslie's bulalo. Sinful. But always enough reason to drive to Tagaytay.
• Via Mare's sinigang na baka. Perfect ang timpla ng asim! And the beef's so tender.
• Recipe's bird's nest. Generous serving (I think it's good for five people so when hubby and I order this, ang dami talaga!). Has always been among my comfort food.
• Sizzling Seafood's sinigang na ulo ng salmon. Salmon's among my top seafood favorites. This one's so affordable, only Php135, good for two (but because hubby's not into salmon, I have it all to myself)!
• Max's hototay soup. Best way to start your fried chicken fest, hehe.
• Pho Hoa's seafood noodle. Tastes so healthy. Love it more with loads of their hot sauce.

Above: Pho Hoa's seafood noodle

Above: Pho Hoa's hot sauce

What's your rainy day soup for the soul?

PROUD WIFE MOMENT

You're all invited to my hubby J's first (group) photo exhibit, "Tilak Hettige's Dawn to Dusk 2," opening on Monday, June 27, at the Camera Club of the Philippines, Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

National Artist Benedicto "Bencab" Cabrera will open the exhibit. Taray! *proud wife moment*

LOVE LETTER FROM THE DEAD

I hope you don't find this entry morbid but death's hanging on my head...

A dear uncle died this week. And I just finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife (was so moved that I even watched the film for the second time).

A letter to be opened in the event of my death

December 10, 2006

Dearest Clare,

If you are reading this, I am probably dead...

Clare, I want to tell you, again, I love you. Our love has been the thread through the labyrinth, the net under the high-wire walker, the only real thing in this strange life of mine that I could ever trust. Tonight I feel that my love for you has more density in this world that I do, myself: as though it could linger on after me and surrounded you, keep you, hold you.

Please, Clare. When I am dead. Stop waiting and be free. Of me -- put me deep inside you and then go out in the world and live. Love the world and yourself in it, move through it as though it offers no resistance, as though the world is your natural element.

After my mom died she ate my father up completely. She would have hated it. Every minute of his life since then has been marked by her absence, every action has lacked dimension because she is not there to measure against. And when I was young I didn't understand, but now, I know, how absence can be present, like a damaged nerve, like a dark bird. If I had to live on without you I know I could not do it. But I hope, I have this vision of you walking unencumbered, with your shining hair in the sun. I have not seen this with my eyes, but only with my imagination, that makes pictures, that always wanted to paint you, shining; but I hope that this vision will be true, anyway.

We will see each other again, Clare. Until then, live, fully, present in the world, which is so beautiful.

It's dark, now, and I am very tired. I love you, always. Time is nothing.

Henry

-- excerpts of Henry's letter to Clare, "The Time Traveler's Wife"

Made me cry.

TRULY A TEAM

Hubby and I, we're my favorite team. Our collaborations at work, at home, and at play are always most fun and most fulfilling.

Here's one of our more recent team projects.

-----

"Taylor Fit"

Written as a FB note by my Hubby

Posted last June 12, 2011

It was a fine Sunday afternoon, with the sunlight dappling through the trees, falling gently on the green grass, seemingly playing with the shadows. We were beneath a cool canopy, breaking the twigs beneath our feet, throwing fallen flowers into the air. It was one of those memorable days when you must have a camera in hand to capture those fleeting moments. And there I was, happily shooting with my camera, taking pictures of Taylor Swift.

Well, not exactly. I was shooting my niece, E. In a Taylor Swift-inspired photoshoot. In a photostory conjured by my wife, A. I wanted to practice my photography. She wanted to practice her styling. And our niece wanted to model. E was channeling Taylor Swift. A was channeling Rachel Zoe. I was channeling Parc Cruz. E posed, A styled, I clicked.

Yes, it was one of those days, when we do something we love with people we love, on a fine Sunday afternoon.

Model: E

Stylist, HMUA, Voice Activated Light Stand, My Wonder Woman Wife: A (Me: *kilig*)

Photographer: J

Special thanks to our dear cousin, P, for making the shoot possible.

For more photos, visit my other blog, mylittleblackbookofstyle.blogspot.com

TODAY'S GIFTS 061911

Today's Gifts:

1) 3-day weekend

2) Bed weather

3) Everything we're waiting for, dumarating isa-isa, on time. Project status: on track.

4) Proud of how my sis P is growing up. Her FB wall is filled with NASA articles and video clips (yes, she wants to be an astronomer) and Justin Bieber updates (yes, she caught the B-fever like every girl in the universe). She's a fun-loving nerd -- I love it! And today, Fathers' Day, she wrote the sweetest FB note for our Papa (It starts with "You're my hero, Papa..."). We must have done something right in raising such a wonderful child. *teary eyed*

5) My brother and I drove to the province this week, to attend the wake and burial of a beloved uncle who's suffered from cancer far too long. It was a blessing to see a family, in the midst of a tragedy, continue to live in love, unity, composure and complete surrender to God's Will. Bilib ako.

Above:

Uncle's hearse - a Hummer!

Sosyal!

6) After death comes life. Another pamangkin is coming our way! My niece S will be an "Ate" soon. We're all too excited! Yey!

God is so good.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS...

Don't you just love dates with long-time friends?

Had dinner with my U.P. barkada to welcome our balikbayan friend T. Food theme: Pinoy so we headed to Abe ("Where good friends meet" as their tagline goes), and then to Mary Grace for dessert.

Beyond Abe's lamb adobo, pork ribs adobo, crispy hito, kare-kare, fried tilapia, dilis rice and Mary Grace's cheese rolls, mas nabusog kami sa kuwentuhan.

The evening's highlights: at least five birthday songs, major 2011 career moves, the RH Bill, building a new home, Australia and Canada, dreaded phone calls, dorm life, feng shui, buhay government employee, and since we're all very showbiz -- Heart and Daniel (who were seated right beside us in Abe), Shirley Fuentes, Coco Martin, Kuya Germs and Birch Tree, and more.

Our sunod-sunod na dates have been very precious lalo na sa mga panahong ito. *wink*

Friends, this song's for all of you...

What would you think if I sang out of tune

Would you stand up and walk out on me

Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song

and I'll try not to sing out of key

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends

Mm, Gonna try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away

Does it worry you to be alone

How do you feel by the end of the day

Are you sad because you're on your own

No, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends

Mm,Gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody

I need somebody to love

Could it be anybody

I want somebody to love

Would you believe in a love at first sight

Yes, I'm certain that it happens all the time

What do you see when you turn out the light

I can't tell you, but I know it's mine

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends

Oh, Gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody

I just need someone to love

Could it be anybody

I want somebody to love

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mm, Gonna try with a little help from my friends

Oh, I get high with a little help from my friends

Yes, I get by with a little help from my friends,

with a little help from my friends