Posts tagged as:
This photography tip is so obvious and I’m surprised that many people forget it. It doesn’t even require any special skills, just a camera and a steady hand.
It has often been said that a good photo is not necessarily one that follows strict technical standards. It’s not always about composition or lines or depth-of-field. A [...]
Continue reading 'A photography tip for bloggers' →
{ 20 comments }
Wherever a Filipino goes, like most travelers, he buys souvenirs and he brings them home. For the Filipino traveler, however, he doesn’t only buy souvenirs for himself — he buys one for just about everyone who knew he had been on a trip. That is what transforms a souvenir to a pasalubong. Not bringing home pasalubong is perceived to be a sign of ill will, favoritism, tight-fistedness or all of that. It is expected. It is the norm.
Continue reading 'The concept of “pasalubong” in Filipino culture' →
{ 12 comments }
Speedy set the bread on the kitchen island then sat down two chairs away from me. I asked him if he wanted a mid-afternoon snack. “A sandwich?” I asked. “What kind?” he said.
“Meat loaf. Here,” and I pushed towards him the plate that you see in the photo.
“Oh,” he exclaimed, “I thought that was a cake for tonight’s dessert.”
Continue reading 'I said it’s not a cake!' →
{ 18 comments }
(Today’s column)
The last time I watched the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics was in 1992. I was pregnant with my first child and bedridden. Those were pre-cable TV days and there was nothing much to choose from. It was the Olympics or those darn afternoon soap operas. I’m not a huge sports fan, [...]
Continue reading 'Pride of the Philippines' →
{ 26 comments }
If you’ve read the UPCAT story, this is the sequel.
Last night, Sam finally frosted enough cupcakes to make her arm ache. I bought two boxes of disposable pastry bags last week. I baked the cupcakes late yesterday afternoon. I prepared the cream cheese frosting a few hours later. Sam was excitedly waiting for the [...]
Continue reading 'Once upon a time, she wanted to be a chef' →
{ 18 comments }
Sam is taking the UPCAT tomorrow morning and because she is just about the moodiest person I know (well, probably next to me), and because she has the most volatile temper than any person I know (ummm, probably more than mine), Speedy and I agreed that we would make sure she stays happy as a [...]
Continue reading 'Beyond my baking skills' →
{ 23 comments }
Sam is turning 16 on August 20 but we gave her the birthday gift of her choice last Sunday.
His name is Twix (after the breakfast cereal chocolate bar, according to Sam) and he’s a pomspitz — a crossbreed of a pomeranian and a Japanese spitz. And, yes, we keep him as far away as [...]
Continue reading 'A birthday gift for a 16-year-old girl' →
{ 22 comments }
Sam was a shy child. A very shy child. She was chatty enough with people she felt comfortable with but around strangers, she was the Ice Queen until she was ready to thaw. It was something I discussed with the administrator of the pre-school she attended a long time ago. Teacher Gladys, her name was, [...]
Continue reading 'The shy child and the cactus' →
{ 27 comments }
A couple of days ago, I mentioned the plumbing problems we were having including the bath tub that wouldn’t fill with water. While repairs are on-going, Speedy and I had been taking showers in either of the girls’ bathrooms. Yesterday, while dinner was on the stove (magnificent dinner — you really ought to see it), [...]
Continue reading 'The bath tub in the garden and some related stories' →
{ 5 comments }
Of course, it’s pure coincidence. We’re moving to a new house and…
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie recently purchased a house in France where they plan to raise their family. The house has its own vineyard and forest.
Just coincidence although I bet Speedy would love to make a connection there being convinced that he looks [...]
Continue reading 'Okay, so Speedy and I are not Brangelina' →
{ 8 comments }
