7:03p

a glimpse of my future
had a great time at the baby shower.
I spent most of my time playing with my "nephews" alex and max (the sons of my college friends).
there were actually 2 other children there in addition to alex and max...
boy, was today's party a small sample of what life will be like for me and my
friends in the near future: kids running around all over the place, the uncles and aunties
(us) talking really loud and cracking jokes, little kiddie b-day parties, etc.
it's still a little strange for me, but I just LOVE them kids!
I literally spent more time playing with them than talking to the rest of the "adults".

oh, and of course we played the usual baby shower games.
my boyfriend and i joined in this baby bottle drinking contest!
essentially, the boyfriends (or husbands), would sit on their girlfriend's (or wive's) lap
while they were fed with a baby bottle filled with 7-up.
the first person to finish the entire baby bottle would win the game.

all i can say is: MY POOR BOYFRIEND!
instead of winning a prize, he got so gas-sy and nauscious from trying to suck on that bottle...
mind you, the hole on the nipple was pretty small, so it wasn't an easy task...
and apparently there is an art to sucking on these bottles, too..
he kept burping throughout the contest and afterwards.
GOOD LORD!
Let's just say you really don't wanna be within in a 10-mile radius from my boyfriend when that happens! ;)

my boyfriend and I also got some more hints about where our friends want us to get married: Las Vegas.
he and I are one of the last couples left in our immediate circle of friends to tie the knot, so we
get that once in a while.
we've actually thought about it, though...and the idea doesn't sound half bad! :)

my last meal in the philippines
this morning while I waited for my boyfriend to get out of his dental appt., I ate breakfast at the
Goldilock's across the street.
I originally ordered some tocilog, but they ran out of fried eggs, so I settled on some
fried vegetable lumpia and rice. it was sooo good. but, i felt a little woozy after eating all of it.
I always get that way when I consume too much grease! ;)

nevertheless, eating or seeing fried vegetable lumpia always reminds me of my trip to the
PI's in 1997.
My last meal before I left to go back here to the states was the BEST fried vegetable lumpia and bistek (w/ rice of course)
that I have ever had! everything was PERFECT!
I remember it clearly...I was enjoying this lovely meal in the food court of the Shoe Mart in glorietta mall.
I swear, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven!

more food for thought
anyhow, this whole "food" thought process got me thinking about some of the best cooks
who have blessed my tummy with their talents. just thought I'd list a few of them:

1. my auntie teofy - she makes the bEST homemade pork tocino ever!
everytime she comes up to visit from Barstow (that's 300+ miles south of me and about 3 hrs drive from las vegas),
she would always bring some of it for us in little ziplock sandwich bags
which we would freeze until we were ready to cook them.
I tell you, there's nothing quite like them AND you actually get the MEATY parts, not the fatty
stuff that they always feed you in Pilipino restaurants.

2. my uncle larry - he's just a great cook...period!
this man can make soooo many great dishes, but my favorites are his: chicken adobo,
bistek, pork afritada, pork spare-rib adobo...(notice this is ALL meat)... pot roast

3. my boyfriend's dad - he's a great cook too!
really...most every food he touches turns to gold, but my favorites are his:
bistek and chicken adobo.

4. my boyfriend's mom - oh my god, if you haven't tasted her fried rice, you're life is not complete!
it's the best artery clogger AND comfort food ever!...especially when we were in college!
Her fried rice is filled with garlic, bits of spam, chopped bacon (the fatty, crunchy kind), eggs, shrimp and
topped off with some green onions. It is a meal in one!

5. my friend emerson - his lasagna is to die for!
all I can say is, it's all in the italian sausage and ricotta cheese that he lovingly
prepares it with! buon gusto!

6. my dad - he can cook most anything, but my favorite is when he prepares CRAB!
he usually only prepares it during Christmas or Thanksgiving, but boy oh boy is it such a treat!
First my dad steams the crabs and, when it's cooked, takes out the fat and cracks the legs.
Then, he marinates it in some lemon juice, soy sauce and garlic and FRIES the crab parts.
Finally....and this is the kicker...he sautees the fat in garlic, oil, lemon juice and soy sauce...
LORDY LORDY LORDY! If you run out of the crab parts, this little concoction can easily be
a meal in itself with LOTS of rice and of course eaten "kamayan" style.

7. my friend T.J. - his rib roast is the bomb!
the best part is the smell of it while it is cooking in his Showtime Rotisserie thingy.
The garlic and butter just ooze all over and the smell permeates the entire
house. It takes 2 hours to cook, but it is well worth the wait!

8. my cousin Rox - her chocolate chip cookies...and really anything she bakes!
man, there is probably like 5 sticks of butter in her recipe, but DAMN them cookies are good!
They're right up there with Mrs. Field's cookies, except my cousin's have that
warm homemade feel to them...the kind that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside
on a cold, rainy day.

and last (for now) but most definitely not least...

9. my mom - her cheese-bread will melt in your mouth and leave you dying for more!
BUT...she will never ever ever ever ever give you the recipe.
and neither will i, so don't ask. just eat. and enjoy.

I can definitely name more, but I've got writer's block. But, I will definitely continue later!
Shoot, I could go on forever about the topic of food! but, I think I will go curl up in bed
with the Harry Potter book i bought today. It is the 3rd book. 'can't wait to read it!
Actually, I can't wait to read the 4th book...it's HELLLAAA thick! Looks like 3 books in one paperback.
My friends say it is really good, though, so I can't wait to finish book 3 so that I can start on it.

Til tomorrow...