Kitchen Interest

When I was growing up, my parents never trained me to learn how to cook. I remember one time when my mom was out for one month and I was all alone at home, it was summer time. I tried cooking rice and frying hotdog (I didn't know how to determine fresh fish) for several days. Then, I decided that it's faster to eat if I only fry bacon or hotdog and eat it with sliced bread bought from the bakery just a stonethrow away. And if you ask me if I survived in sliced bread and bacon/hotdog alone. Nope! I am way better than that. I got to enjoy food straight from the stove - I normally would visit my relatives around the town and time it during lunch or dinner time (bread/bacon/hotdog was only good for breakfast or dinner when I didn't want to go to the town proper).

Even when I got older but before getting married, I was just a gourmand and wasn't interested to cook. Well I would like to cook, it's just that the drive wasn't there.... That until I got married...

My interest to cooking didn't start right after the wedding, rather when my mother in-law joined us right after our daughter was born. My mom-in-law is one of the best cook i've ever knew (I would visit my wife-to-be back in high school to taste her mom's dinuguan with home-made puto, or home-made hot chocolate or turon); I remember one time when we were descending from the mountain after a couple of days of hiking and we didn't know where to ascend - I suggested that we just check Tin's house as a reference point (their house is situated near the mountain side) and get down there and hopefully have free snack from her mom.

Mama taught me the basic of cooking that all starts with ginisa. I started with Bicol Express and Carne con Ampalaya. Eventually, I tried pasta with white sauce (I cooked it twice with my wife already but I cannot remember it's name). And last night, I cooked Ginisang Sayote - half-cooked, with less than 1/4 kg of pork... And I forgot to put some salt... My wife called it dietary menu (in the hospital, they don't put salt on the patient's food). Luckily, our maid improvised and put some salt after I cooked it - I didn't notice that there was no salt at all (aah, admitting mistakes is really hard).

Anytime this month, I am planning to cook my daughter sutanghon which she tried when we were staying in Paranaque. She liked it more than her regular mashed potato for breakfast.

Married life really made a dent on my behavior... It's hard to admit but I am becoming domesticated.

Poolside

I hope this place is worth it.

New phase in my life

In a few weeks we will be ready to move to our new home - a condo unit in Cainta, Rizal. I have my anxiety about moving in; it's only 1.5 years since I moved in to Tin's pad; and now we are moving to a place that we haven't been yet until we first visited the site.

It was an experience having to leave in a condo unit. Most of the time, I am seeing concrete walls, smaller rooms, security process that you don't decide on but the building admin, monthly dues that are supposed to be used to maintain the compound. Even the color of the curtain should comply to their policies.

While the admin guy was discussing this with me, I wanted to scream to him, 'WHAT ABOUT ME???!! DO I GET TO DECIDE FOR MYSELF REGARDING MY UNIT???!!!'

Oh I had to give a bond during renovation. So I asked the admin guy wheb I can get it back. And he said it's after a month job is finished. So I asked him, 'who takes care of the interest?' he told me that he's assuming it goes to the association. And that's the time he reminded me to pay my monthly dues. And I even haven't transferred yet!

The truth is Tin and I did an impulsive buying. When we saw the model unit, we fell in love. I realized how expensive the romance was. But I had to decide if I am going to let my family stay in this place. Andi will be.

It does give me a peculiar feeling that I have to adjust to the place, the policies, new expenses, neighbors, etc..

I still strongly feel that I should be financially capable in transferring to a bigger house and lot in the next 8 years or so...

The poolside has a good view though..

Waiting for delivery

I am currently writing this blog while waiting for the delivery of the stuff we recently purchased. I don't know what time the vendors, Anson's and SM, will deliver the goods. What they told me that it can be anytime of the day.

I was here since 9am hoping that the trucks would come. You see, I just came from night shift, my very first after several years. And quite sleepy.....

I woke up with a sore throat after an hour of nap. It must be, either the paint or the odor from the plastic mat I am lying in (i did sweep the floor before taking a nap on the mat). I can't take it... I need air...