Rosey's Barn

How Copying can Save your Life

2010-03-23T02:52:00.000+08:00

I copied this recipe from my brother in law. (whom I think copied it from his brother, who copied it from their sister, who may have copied it from Martha Stewart...kidding..

I dunno know the origin really)

But now that we got that out of the way,

I will share with you how it is done so you can copy it from me.

Disclaimer: This is like "The Ring" where you need to make a copy of the tape and let someone watch it. In this case, you need to recreate the recipe, let someone eat it and have them recreate it for someone else to eat and so on...

We call it the Hungry Yan Sausage with Mushroom Sauce.

First thing you do is get some Fine Hungarian Sausage (Hungry Yan--hahaha)

and fry them to perfection.

Then chop these bad boys like crazy...

Cook some Cream of Mushroom sauce, I used the ready mix from Knorr.

(I forgot to add in real mushrooms, well do that next time)

Drown your Hungry Sausage :) with your Creamed Mushroom sauce

and prepare to be dazzled.

Now for the curse to get lifted, just recreate and serve.

Have the others do the same. Spread it and save yourselves!

Uber Late post: Our Valentine Meal

2010-03-23T02:16:00.000+08:00

I haven't had time to blog lately so I am kind of cramming to jam all of my intended posts in one sitting. Last Valentine (which seem like ages ago, I was 29 then..oh here we go..)
Anyway, I made a wonderful surprise for hubby and the meal involved a simple Fusilli Pasta. (the sauce I made is the same as my Spaghetti recipe. The only difference, I used Fusilli Pasta instead of Spaghetti.) I meant Spaghetti, the type of pasta used not the meal itself, its like saying Coke instead of Cola or Colgate instead of Toothpaste and the list goes on.

So here's my simple Fusilli Pasta with Chicken Recipe.
First I sauted my minced Garlic, threw in the chopped white Onions.
Fried the Chicken Breasts. Added the Tomato Sauce, Tomato Paste. I let it simmer.
I add a couple tablespoons of Sugar (Filipino style) a dash of Salt and Pepper and couple squirts of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.. yes, I adapted this from my mother. Mixed the sauce with the cooked Fusilli with grated Cheddar Cheese and Baam! Yummy Fusilli Pasta in a Jiffy!

I fried some excess Chicken to side with the Pasta. I also toasted some Garlic Bread in the oven. For the spread, I minced several cloves of Garlic, added softened Butter and chopped Green onions with a dash of Salt and Pepper. I spread this on sliced French Baguettes and put them in the oven for about 10 mins or less, or til the sides get toasted.

Sorry for the blurry photos.

Notice the clever embellishments I added to the table.

Sweet and Corny, yeah.

So what did you prepare for your Valentine meal?

I told you this was a VERY late post.

Ignore question, totally.

1-2-3 Carbonara

2010-03-23T01:31:00.000+08:00

I recall making Carbonara at home before and we ended up feeling so full, that we had to walk around the neighborhood afterwards to ease our stomach. Of course we waited a good 15-20 minutes before walking. I heard this makes a good exercise to lose weight.
Anyway, I didn't recreate the old Carbonara recipe I did way back which involved tons of butter and cheese (the ingredients itself are pretty heavy), all I did this time is to:

Buy a pack of Del Monte Carbonara (or you can buy any Easy to Cook Carbonara Mix) and

Fried some Chicken Fillets.

Of course I chose a Shell Macaroni pasta to complete the ensemble, and voila' Instant Carbonara goodness..as easy as 1-2-3..

add in Cheese and bit of Basil, Salt n Pepper to taste, yumyum..

Digmaan ng Langgam at Tao (Battle of Ants and Humans)

2010-03-22T23:55:00.000+08:00

My sincerest apologies to those who doesn't understand Filipino or Tagalog.

This post is my way of reminding myself that I need to practice more using proper Tagalog words. If you are somehow curious to know what the post is all about, it's a funny way of describing my misadventures with a pesky insect, the ant. Don't worry I will try my best to translate. I'll be your humble translator. Speaking of translators, here's a funny quote from a brilliant movie.
I implore you to forgive my speaking of English, Jonfen...
...as I'm not so premium with it. - Alexander Perchov (Everything is Illuminated)

Liham na lumalarawan sa labanang walang humpay sa pagitan ng langgam at tao.
(A letter that describes the never-ending battle between ants and humans.)

Ang Nagkakaila (Disclaimer):
Kung may mga pangungusap na di maunawaan ito marahil ay dulot ng kagat ng langgam.
(If there are sentences that you do not understand, it's probably caused by the ant bites.)

..at dito po nagsimula ang maaksyong mga eksena. (and here is where the action scene begins..) haha, nakakatawa mag-translate..(haha, it's so funny to translate..) Even more hahahaha...

Ang daming langgam sa lababo at kalan! (There are so many ants in the sink and stove!)

Naglinis ako ng lutuan pati sa may lalagyan ng tubig. (I cleaned the cooking area as well as the water jug.)

Parang pagkaing bulok ang baho ng placemat dahil basa ito at may sebo pang kasama. (The placemat smelled like rotten food as it was all wet and oily.)

Masakit pa rin ang kanang palad ko gawa ng lason ng langgam na bumiktima sa akin nitong tanghali dahil sa walang malay na paghawak sa kalderong may misua na sinabotahe na pala ng mga pulang langgam.
(My right palm still hurts from the ant that bit me this afternoon while I unknowingly held the pot with the noodle egg soup that the ants have already sabotaged.)

Nilinis ko ang mga placemat at ngayon ay pinatutuyo.
(I cleaned the placemat and let it dry.)
Nilinis ko din ang paligid ng lababo. (I also cleaned the areas surrounding the sink.)
May hugasan parin sa gitna, at pigilan mong banggitin ko at simulang isa-isahin ang problema sa marungis at kalawanging lalabong iyan. (There are still dishes in the middle, don't get me started on the various issues of that dirty and rusty sink)
Nilagay ko ang lalagyan ng mantika sa puting lalagyan ng anik anik at nilagyan ng tubig na may likido ng joy.
(I placed the oil bottle in the bowl for just about anything and put water with joy liquid - joy dishwashing liguid)

Nilagay sa gitna ang mantikang pinalibutan ng langgam sa leeg nito.
(I put in the middle the oil bottle with lots of ants surrounding its neck.)

Tinatadtad ko ng baking powder ang paligid at naglaglagan ang mga lintik na langgam na parang nahulog sa tuktok ng bundok patungo sa ilog ng likido ng joy at tubig na tila lason sa kanila dahil wala pang ilang segundo ay kumulubot na ang mga ito at namatay. (I filled it's surroundings with baking soda and the pesky ants fell off one by one as if it fell from a mountain towards the river of joy liquid with water which seemed like poison to them as they curled up and died in just a few seconds)

Pilit kong nilinis ang lutuan sa pamamagitan ng espongha na may likido ng joy.
(I strived to really clean the cooking area with a sponge filled with joy liquid)
Sinundan ko ang mga yapak ng mga langgam at dinala ako nito sa dulo ng maruming sipilyong panglinis ng kung-ano.
(I followed the path of the ants and it brought me to a very grimy toothbrush for cleaning stuff and what-not).
Ang sebo nito malamang ang gusto ng langgam. (The grease probably attracted the ants)
Pansin kong mantika ang puntirya nilang talaga. (I noticed they are really aiming for the oil)
Ngunit bakit langis ang iniimbak ng mga ito, at hindi ang asukal. (But why do they choose to store oil and not sugar)
Nagtaas na rin ba ang presyo ng langis sa mundo ng mga langgam? (Is there an oil price increase as well in the world of ants?)

Marami rami din akong langgam na napatay kanina. (I probably killed quite a number of ants a while ago)
Ngayon ay pinatutuyo ko na ang lababo at lutuan. (Now, I left the sink and the cooking area out to dry)
Bago ako umupo sa silya ay napansin kong mas namaga ang aking kamay. (Before I sat on a chair I noticed that my hands became more sore)
Ngayon, di lamang palad ko ang namaga kundi sa ibabaw ng kamay ko malapit sa singsing. (Now, my palm isn't the only part that is sore but the top of my hand near the ring as well.)
Parang namanas. (Like it's all swelled up)
May langgam na nagbuwis ng buhay para makaganti kanina, habang masugid akong naglilinis.
(There is an ant who risked his life for vengeance while I am fervently cleaning.)
Sinamantala niya ang mga sandaling nakatuon ang atensyon ko sa pag-is-is ng sebo sa paligid.
(He took the chance while my attention is directed to scrubbing all the grime around)
Kung nasan man siya ngayon, marahil ay hinirang siyang bayani ng mga pulang langgam sa nangyaring engkwentro kanina.
(Wherever it is now, it may have been tagged as a hero of the red ants from the recent encounter earlier)

Nag-iisip ako ngayon kung paano ko su-solusyonan ang problemang ito.
(I am now thinking of how to resolve this issue)
Di pa tapos ang digmaan.
(The battle is not over yet)

May araw ka rin langgam!
(You'll have your day too Ant!)

Turning 30 and Turning to Zen

2010-03-03T06:21:00.005+08:00

Disclaimer:
This is not your usual turning-30 post, it's my endless rant about anything and everything.
It is struggling to find meaning in life while on the verge of being part of the thirty-something club.
Goodbye twenty-something...
Here we go..

The past couple of weeks I have been so dazed and confused. I don't know where my life is headed. My career is in turmoil, I get these wonderful ideas about a lot and I mean a LOT of things and somehow I feel like it would take a miracle for it to ever materialize. I feel less and less confident about myself, pushing me to look things up on achieving a healthy lifestyle, only to find that (as of this writing) I have eaten a bit of chocolate, an ice cream stick and gulped 2 glasses of Coke in one sitting. I know I was quite an obedient child and I am kind of a model student in grade school when it comes to discipline but now I am stubborn as a mule. I can't restrain myself from eating junk.
I know there are clearly a lot of things in my life right now that I should be thankful for and God I am ever so grateful for all of those blessings. It's just that I am going through a phase in my life like I am in the middle of a crossroad, stuck into thinking then doing and then abruptly stopping.

Like my sister always tells me, I am like Jimmy Neutron's arch-enemy, the one who never finishes anything. I know I need to finish it but something is keeping me from doing so cause I am caught up with starting something else thinking that I am gonna finish it this time but then a new idea comes up and it goes on this vicious cycle without end. This is definitely a phase right? Is it identity crisis, or am I trying to find my way into this world like figuring out what I am really destined to do?
Am I just being so overly dramatic? No.

I'm just turning 30.

Only 7 days to go and I don't want to think that I am dreading it. I had been feeling foolish and misguided this past year. Honestly I haven't even thought of this turning 30 thing until recently. Years before it had been a struggle to tell people what my real age is, I felt embarrassed in grade school during flag ceremony, cause up until the 6th grade my classmates would tell me to line up amongst the 1st graders as I was short for my age.
During my sophomore year in high school I still get the same treatment, only this time they tell me to get back to the 6th grade. So my appearance is slowly catching on. In college, going to R rated movies were a real pain (I wanted to watch the Devil's Advocate), nobody would believe I am no longer a minor. Not even when I showed my school ID and knew the popcorn lady who went to my school, they just didn't believe I go to college, cause then I looked like a high school student.

So you get the drift, I am a late bloomer. It took me 5 years after college to start letting go of my t-shirt and sneakers look.
I even had my first boyfriend when I was 26 years old - before that I was part of the NBSB (no boyfriend since birth club), a year later I got married. My parents where practically throwing me out of the house. It's so funny cause my husband and I live alone with our dog and being Filipinos we're so used to having our parents with us all the time and both if us were like two careless youths, throwing caution to the wind whenever we make certain decisions at home like not going to work sometimes (my mother would never allow that). I see that as a bit immature, and I admit that we are still in the process of learning from all of these experiences.

Like lately I had been doing some serious thinking and that instead of focusing on my trying to go on a diet of some sort to feel rejuvenated (part of my quest for a healthy lifestyle gimmick that didn't pan out....yet) I should start with an inner self improvement, the wisdom gained from an ancient practice Zen will eventually radiate through me thus achieving a great balance of positive mental and physical health.

Learning is a continuous process, one can never learn everything in his lifetime. So we must always absorb whenever we can. And what better way to learn than to see through our mistakes. I am a firm believer that people who are self righteous and claim to have much wisdom fails to learn anything else, other that the belief that they know almost everything there is to know. In a Zen book I once read...okay it's more like a comic book, with pictures.. (I warned you about the immaturity)

"A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."

So even though I am turning 30, it's no reason to act like some all-knowing-Yoda (although I fear too much that I am going to look like Yoda someday, or more like Master Jeremiah from Ghostfighter--please have some mercy)
What the Zen master meant was you may be full of knowledge but there is still more to learn and that sometimes you need to unlearn before you can learn...so did you learn anything? :)

Honestly, I'd like to practice the virtues of zen now that I am turning 30. My life felt so chaotic lately, if not for my husband and our furry dog I would've torn my hair apart from struggling to find meaning in my life. I think this is a decade long struggle for me, and I have yet to find the road to my treasure, my destiny. Another Zen story that may be related to finding one's destiny or path.

One evening after the sun had almost gone down, a young Buddhist came to the river bank. And seeing the deep waters, the weeds and stones in the waters, he couldn’t overcome his fears to cross the river.

He kept waiting for a long time till he spotted a Zen master on the other side.

“Master, can you tell me how to get to the other side,” yelled the young Buddhist.

The Zen teacher looked at the hurdles in the river and the young Buddhist, and after a moment of silence said, “Son, you are on the other side”.

So could this mean that what I may be searching for are all right here where I am?

Here are some Bitter-Sweet posts from bloggers everywhere
and their views on the Big 3-0.

A bit on the bitter side..
10 THINGS TO EXPECT AFTER YOU TURN 30

The optimistic dude..I think he knows "The Secret"..wink* wink*
30 reasons why turning 30 rocks

As I am writing the text above, I find it weird that I have been into the series 30 Rock recently and now I am turning 30 and determined to keep it my mantra that 30 Rocks!
I also find myself quite weird to try and find meaning from mundane things like watching a comedy show like that.

By far the article that I can mostly relate to, Mr. Rooney's observations are spot-on.
Turning 30 by Andy Rooney (CBS 60 minutes)

(Images: For Dummies, Looking at life, Knowledge Galaxy, 30 Slow down, Oh-No,)

All-Nighter Café au Lait

2010-02-07T04:52:00.001+08:00

My body clock is so used to staying awake at night. Insomniac and nocturnal as I am, there are instances where I still crave for a little caffeine boost. Not that I need though.
Here's a Very Easy and satisfying recipe for an All-Nighter Coffee.

For a Glass of the All-Nighter Café au Lait, you're going to need:
- a couple of ice cubes
- a cup of coffee (just make coffee as you would with sugar)
- a cup of milk
- half a teaspoon of vanilla syrup

Simply combine the coffee, the milk, and vanilla syrup. Stir and put ice cubes in.
Prepare to indulge in a "Starbucks tasting" coffee, right at your own home.

Cafe Au Lait! (French for Coffee with Milk!)

(Sources: Coffee Smoothie, Icedcoffee)

Adieu Jughead

2010-01-15T01:49:00.001+08:00

Just want to share with you an old post from my private blog.
I'm getting all sentimental again..

There are certain relationships that last longer than anybody else's and there are some which are fleeting.

There are those which end in tragedy while some, melodramatically.
I have come to know someone who have had a very user friendly relationship with a jug. A few years back, a dentist picked Juggy from a stack full of gifts and gave it to a girl who nonchalantly accepted. Back then the jug had only one responsibility, to fill itself with ice cold cola. This went on for a few years until they moved in elsewhere. Juggy went MIA and spent its time collecting dust and occasionally cuddling insects in the darkness of a carton. When the girl moved in to her own flat she brought Juggy with her and introduced it to her partner. Juggy couldn't be more thrilled. He proved to be as useful as an electric cooler and went on to serve ice cold water for the poor couple. The man would spend everyday filling Juggy with ice and Juggy obliged without hesitation.
Now as the couple decided to finally get themselves an electric cooler, poor old Juggy was left with no choice.
As I looked back, staring at the poor thing, I remembered briefly how simple it was for us when we were just using it and nothing else. Now, we had to adjust for additional electric bills cause we wanted an upgrade, a major upgrade at that.
Now, its sitting on top of the plastic containers waiting to be packed yet again and spend the rest of its remaining life collecting dust and retire with some random insects.
It has served its purpose and its with great honour and respect that we pay homage to you dear old Jughead.
Perhaps we'll meet again when we'll have a tiny one who would carry you with him to school on a big yellow bus.

(Image: Roseybarn)

Yummy Tiramisu

2009-12-30T18:39:00.006+08:00

This recipe is so quick to prepare and so quick to consume.
For a party of 8, you'll need a 2:1 ratio of Cream and Milk.

Ingredients:
2 packs of All Purpose Cream (I use Nestle)
1 can of Condensed Milk (I use Carnation)
2 big packs of Graham Crackers or Ladyfingers
3 tsp of Coffee (I use Colombian Brewed--it's perfect!)
This makes a yummy mocha twist to the usual cream and milk combo.

Instructions:
Layer the graham to your bowl. Solid - Liquid - Solid rule.
Then refrigerate before serving and top with ground coffee.

Voila! You got yourself a "Yummy Tiramisu"!

(Imagesource: LifesaParty)

Disturbing commercials from way back when

2009-12-28T17:39:00.004+08:00

Why didn't anyone realize these kids looked a bit creepy in these commercials back then?

Is it just me or does that look like a plate with peas, ham and 2 bloody human hearts?

Yes, more blood please...

What now, bloody worms or human intestine? Yummy.

Just when you think they can never go wrong with commercials that doesn't concern food. It looks to me as if the Boy had threatened to eat his Dad alive if he won't buy him this Schwinn Bike!

(Image source: Plan59)

The Quiet World

2009-12-26T04:29:00.000+08:00

In an effort to get people to look

into each other's eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly one hundred
and sixty-seven words, per day.

When the phone rings, I put it in to my ear
Without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to the new way.

Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.

When she doesn't respond,
I know she's used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.

- Jeffrey McDaniel

(Source: Poemhunter, Teamsugar)

Life Lessons from The Little Prince

2009-12-26T03:21:00.000+08:00

I have read The Little Prince in high school and back then I just thought the story was kind of cute, because of the alien prince and the author whose last name I can't even pronounce. Having read the book again as I got older, made me realize the story gave a whole new meaning for me. It's like seeing the Monalisa or The Last Supper before reading The Da Vinci Code. It may seem like a book for kids but it really is point-blank meant to be read by adults, owing to the fact that it's got meaningful life lessons for all of us.
Whenever my hubby and I would argue, as a peace offering, before we sleep, he would read to me my favorite chapters in the book. For those of you who haven't read the book, have it in your list of 100 books to read before you die (if you have one).

I'll share with you my favorite Chapters (20-21) from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry (AN-twahn Duh-Saw(ng) (nasalized if you're French) or De-Seynt Ex-yooh-pe-ree) Thank God for Google.

Chapter 20

But it happened that after walking for a long time through sand, and rocks, and snow, the little prince at last came upon a road. And all roads lead to the abodes of men.

"Good morning," he said.

He was standing before a garden, all a-bloom with roses.

"Good morning," said the roses.

The little prince gazed at them. They all looked like his flower.

"Who are you?" he demanded, thunderstruck.

"We are roses," the roses said.

And he was overcome with sadness. His flower had told him that she was the only one of her kind in all the universe. And here were five thousand of them, all alike, in one single garden!

"She would be very much annoyed," he said to himself, "if she should see that . . . She would cough most dreadfully, and she would pretend that she was dying, to avoid being laughed at. And I should be obliged to pretend that I was nursing her back to life--for if I did not do that, to humble myself also, she would really allow herself to die. . ."

Then he went on with his reflections: "I thought that I was rich, with a flower that was unique in all the world; and all I had was a common rose. A common rose, and three volcanoes that come up to my knees--and one of them perhaps extinct forever . . . That doesn't make me a very great prince . . ."

And he lay down in the grass and cried.

Chapter 21

It was then that the fox appeared.

"Good morning," said the fox.

"Good morning," the little prince responded politely, although when he turned around he saw nothing.

"I am right here," the voice said, "under the apple tree."

"Who are you?" asked the little prince, and added, "You are very pretty to look at."

"I am a fox," the fox said.

"Come and play with me," proposed the little prince. "I am so unhappy."

"I cannot play with you," the fox said. "I am not tamed."

"Ah! Please excuse me," said the little prince.

But, after some thought, he added:

"What does that mean--'tame'?"

"You do not live here," said the fox. "What is it that you are looking for?"

"I am looking for men," said the little prince. "What does that mean--'tame'?"

"Men," said the fox. "They have guns, and they hunt. It is very disturbing. They also raise chickens. These are their only interests. Are you looking for chickens?"

"No," said the little prince. "I am looking for friends. What does that mean--'tame'?"

"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. It means to establish ties."

"'To establish ties'?"

"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world . . ."

"I am beginning to understand," said the little prince. "There is a flower . . . I think that she has tamed me . . ."

"It is possible," said the fox. "On the Earth one sees all sorts of things."

"Oh, but this is not on the Earth!" said the little prince.

The fox seemed perplexed, and very curious.

"On another planet?"

"Yes."

"Are there hunters on that planet?"

"No."

"Ah, that is interesting! Are there chickens?"

"No."

"Nothing is perfect," sighed the fox.

But he came back to his idea.

"My life is very monotonous," the fox said. "I hunt chickens; men hunt me. All the chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike. And, in consequence, I am a little bored. But if you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow. And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat . . ."

The fox gazed at the little prince, for a long time.

"Please--tame me!" he said.

"I want to, very much," the little prince replied. "But I have not much time. I have friends to discover, and a great many things to understand."

"One only understands the things that one tames," said the fox. "Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me . . ."

"What must I do, to tame you?" asked the little prince.

"You must be very patient," replied the fox. "First you will sit down at a little distance from me--like that--in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a little closer to me, every day . . ."

The next day the little prince came back.

"It would have been better to come back at the same hour," said the fox. "If, for example, you come at four o'clock in the afternoon, then at three o'clock I shall begin to be happy. I shall feel happier and happier as the hour advances. At four o'clock, I shall already be worrying and jumping about. I shall show you how happy I am! But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you . . . One must observe the proper rites . . ."

"What is a rite?" asked the little prince.

"Those also are actions too often neglected," said the fox. "They are what make one day different from other days, one hour from other hours. There is a rite, for example, among my hunters. Every Thursday they dance with the village girls. So Thursday is a wonderful day for me! I can take a walk as far as the vineyards. But if the hunters danced at just any time, every day would be like every other day, and I should never have any vacation at all."

So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near--

"Ah," said the fox, "I shall cry."

"It is your own fault," said the little prince. "I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you . . ."

"Yes, that is so," said the fox.

"But now you are going to cry!" said the little prince.

"Yes, that is so," said the fox.

"Then it has done you no good at all!"

"It has done me good," said the fox, "because of the color of the wheat fields." And then he added:

"Go and look again at the roses. You will understand now that yours is unique in all the world. Then come back to say goodbye to me, and I will make you a present of a secret."

The little prince went away, to look again at the roses.

"You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed no one. You are like my fox when I first knew him. He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world."

And the roses were very much embarassed.

"You are beautiful, but you are empty," he went on. "One could not die for you. To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you--the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe; because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; because it is for her that I have killed the caterpillars (except the two or three that we saved to become butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled, or boasted, or ever sometimes when she said nothing. Because she is my rose.

And he went back to meet the fox.

"Goodbye," he said.

"Goodbye," said the fox. "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

"What is essential is invisible to the eye," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important."

"It is the time I have wasted for my rose--" said the little prince, so that he would be sure to remember.

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose . . ."

"I am responsible for my rose," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

(Source: The Little Prince )

Firsts in the World of Photography

2009-12-19T10:58:00.000+08:00

Guys, would you believe it, the grainy photo above is "The World's First Photograph"!
It's quite faint though, it's called "View from the Window at Le Gras" (circa 1826) taken by a French photographer pioneer Joseph Nicéphore Niépce.
It's a photo of some farm buildings and the sky, which took an exposure time of 8 hours. Phew takes a lot of patience.
If I may recall, my very first camera is a KeroKeroppi Camera which I bought from Gift Gate. It's so funny when I think about it cause you only get to have about 5 acceptable prints out of 24 shots using that camera.

(Source: Neatorama, Anomalies-Unlimited)

Call Center Boo Boos!

2009-12-13T02:41:00.000+08:00

Agent: Sir, that is a good question, but before I answer your question, can you please repeat the question?

Agent: I am sorry to apologize...

Agent: Thank you for calling customer care, how may I help you with?

Agent: (During OS reinstall, agent slept for 14mins during the call) zzzzz...
Caller: Hello?! Hello, are you still there?
Agent: (Suddenly woke up) Yes, sir I was just checking something here...

(Image Source: Bvikkivintage)

I Love Liz Lemon!

2009-12-08T23:32:00.001+08:00

30 Rock, one of my fave shows nowadays. It's surely the next Arrested Development (my hubby and I loved that series). You can see Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) and Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) above. I love the part where Pete got stuck in the vending machine and had to throw things (including his wedding ring, to press the buttons on a wall phone) only to dial his own extension. There are tons of funny moments here, you won't be disappointed. Tina Fey is the best, i love love love Liz Lemon!!!

Stay happy guys! Have a great week!

(Source: Unbreaded)

Argyle Prints

2009-11-30T12:27:00.000+08:00

The Argyle (often spelled Argyll) is a pattern of diagonal diamonds in a kind of checkerboard arrangement. It is used to refer to an individual diamond in the design but more commonly refers to the whole pattern. Some designs can be seen having layers that overlap making it more three dimensional. They say the Argyle Pattern was derived from the tartan of Clan Campbell, of Argyll in Western Scotland.

More Argyll Prints...

(Source: Wiki, Mandicresswell, Staymybaby, Stationery, Flats, Spoilurpets, Pawsitively)

Bear waiting for dinner

2009-11-27T03:43:00.001+08:00

Waiting...

hmm...
It's cute and scary altogether...

(Source: Bear, Tailsruspetcare)

Fatima Reinvented

2009-11-27T03:30:00.005+08:00

I am actually doing a re-post,
but I just love the name Fatima and I absolutely adore..Fatima!

God bless Sam Flores for his outstanding work-of-art!

An artist by the name of Phuek or Phu reinvented Fatima with the use of Silver Acrylics, Brass rivets, Screws and the like. Customizing these vinyls are only limited to one's imagination.

(Source: Vinylpulse, Phuek)

Wall-E and Johnny-5, related?

2009-11-27T03:11:00.003+08:00

Exhibit A: Johnny-5 from Short Circuit Movie

Exhibit B: Wall-E from Wall-E Movie

Rumors spread long ago that Johnny-5 was caught interfacing with another robot,

Wall-E could well be their offspring!

(Source: Johnny5, Wall-E)

Buy n Large

2009-11-27T02:51:00.000+08:00

In the advent of Extra Large, Extra Whip, (Extra Rice!) and Super Size meals,

this is what we'll surely become in the future.

So, another Quarter Pounder with Extra Cheese,

Upsize the Coke and Twister Fries?!

(Source: Extra, Fatty)

McDonalds gone bankrupt

2009-11-27T02:32:00.001+08:00

McHobo?

(Source: Ronald)

Kaleidoscopic Calendar

2009-11-27T02:00:00.004+08:00

Looking at this brightly hued, color spectrum inspired Calendar is almost hypnotic.
What an ingenious design!
It has important Holidays highlighted in bold circles as well. Very clever indeed!

(Source: Etsy)

Office Space

2009-11-24T17:37:00.001+08:00

Office Space is a tribute to the Milton in all of us. Moving from one smaller cube to another then finally getting booted off to the basement where he was asked to handle the cockroach issue. Milton doesn't get his piece of the cake (because the ratio of people to cake is too big) didn't receive his paycheck, Lumbergh deliberately takes Milton's Swingline Stapler and turns off the lights in the basement. There sure is hell to pay.

The coveted Swingline Stapler

Bill Lumbergh and his Initech Mug

Don't forget to turn in your TPS reports!

Using the new cover sheets of course! Did you get the Memo?

Umm...yeaaahhh we’re gonna need you to come in on Sunday..mmk?

Best bare fisted beat down part scene I ever saw. One of them actually run back while everyone is walking away and start punching at the printer. They had to hold back Michael Bolton from smashing it more.

Memorable Lines from Office Space:

Bob Slydell: You see, what we're actually trying to do here is, we're trying to get a feel for how people spend their day at work... so, if you would, would you walk us through a typical day, for you?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Bob Slydell: Great.
Peter Gibbons: Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late, ah, I use the side door - that way Lumbergh can't see me, heh heh - and, uh, after that I just sorta space out for about an hour.
Bob Porter: Da-uh? Space out?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah, I just stare at my desk; but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.

Peter Gibbons: The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.
Bob Porter: Don't... don't care?
Peter Gibbons: It's a problem of motivation, all right? Now if I work my ass off and Initech ships a few extra units, I don't see another dime, so where's the motivation? And here's something else, Bob: I have eight different bosses right now.
Bob Slydell: I beg your pardon?
Peter Gibbons: Eight bosses.
Bob Slydell: Eight?
Peter Gibbons: Eight, Bob. So that means that when I make a mistake, I have eight different people coming by to tell me about it. That's my only real motivation is not to be hassled, that and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work just hard enough not to get fired.

Bob Slydell: Milton Waddams.
Dom Portwood: Who's he?
Bob Porter: You know, squirrely looking guy, mumbles a lot.
Dom Portwood: Oh, yeah.
Bob Slydell: Yeah, we can't actually find a record of him being a current employee here.
Bob Porter: I looked into it more deeply and I found that apparently what happened is that he was laid off five years ago and no one ever told him about it; but through some kind of glitch in the payroll department, he still gets a paycheck.
Bob Slydell: So we just went ahead and fixed the glitch.
Bill Lumbergh: Great.
Dom Portwood: So, uh, Milton has been let go?
Bob Slydell: Well, just a second there, professor. We, uh, we fixed the *glitch*. So he won't be receiving a paycheck anymore, so it'll just work itself out naturally.
Bob Porter: We always like to avoid confrontation, whenever possible. Problem is solved from your end.

Peter Gibbons: You're gonna lay off Samir and Michael?
Bob Slydell: Oh yeah, we're gonna bring in some entry-level graduates, farm some work out to Singapore, that's the usual deal.
Bob Porter: Standard operating procedure.
Peter Gibbons: Do they know this yet?
Bob Slydell: No. No, of course not. We find it's always better to fire people on a Friday. Studies have statistically shown that there's less chance of an incident if you do it at the end of the week.

Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays!

(Source: MiltonID, Stapler, Printer, OfficeSpaceQuotes)

All About Cold Porcelain

2009-11-24T12:47:00.000+08:00

There are loads of benefits in having DIY projects. First you get to "Do It Yourself" and experience it first hand, you save a lot of money and the thrill of seeing your work of art, that's priceless. In a couple of tries you get better at it and if you're lucky you might even see a career of it at the end of the horizon.
One of the projects I have worked on this month is making my own Cold Porcelain Clay.
Cold Porcelain dries naturally and there's no need to bake it. Plus, the ingredients can be found right in your own home.

What you need:
3/4 cup white glue (Elmers, or even Stikwell wood glue will do)
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon cold cream (such as Pond's - you can also use 1 sachet of any Ponds cream)
1 teaspoon glycerin - If you have trouble finding glycerin, try a drugstore's skin care aisle, or a cake-decorating store.
(Since I don't have this handy, I skipped it because I checked the Ponds sachet and it already has glycerin)
1 cup cornstarch, plus additional for dusting your hands

Assemble everything before you begin.
These are non-toxic though but I would highly suggest you use your old pan and wooden spoon for this. Don't use your best kitchen utensils as cold porcelain can be sticky.

Steps:

Mix the white glue, water, cold cream, and glycerin in a saucepan over medium heat until it's smooth.

When it is nice and smooth add the cup of cornstarch and begin stirring continuously, you will see the mixture rapidly become stiff.

When you mix in the cornstarch it will look like cottage cheese

Then it will quickly stiffen into something that resembles mashed potatoes.

When it forms one clump and pulled away from the sides of the pan, it's done.

Since the clay is still very hot at this point.

Get a clean, wet dish towel over a plate and put the clay on it.

While this cools off a bit, gather the utensils used and run it with hot, soapy water.

Wash them later on. You can now knead through the clay over the wet towel.

Pause every once in a while, pulling the towel from the clay.

Dust a bit of cornstarch as you knead to avoid sticking.

When the clay is cool enough to handle, continue kneading with your hands.

Dusting with cornstarch every now and then so it doesn't stick in your hands.

You may also dust your work surface with cornstarch as needed.

After a few minutes of kneading, your clay will no longer be sticky but instead will become elastic, just like a Play-Doh clay.

If you want to add color to your clay, knead in a little acrylic or oil paint at this point. If you add the acrylic into your clay before sculpting it, it will give a more vibrant color. You can also opt for painting it all later, depending on how creative you want to be.

Place your cold porcelain clay in an airtight container (I use Reynolds ziplock plastic bags) while you proceed to wash your utensils.

One of the many projects you can do with Cold Porcelain Clay.

These wonderfully crafted pieces are hand sculpted by Ibenia C.

These may take up to several days to dry depending on the thickness of your sculpture.

Others also encountered problems with getting cracks in their clay, some have tried excluding water in their ingredient. While some people just filled the cracks with clay (if you just want to get it done and your not after an über perfect porcelain).

(Source: Coldporcelaindesigns, Craftstylish)

Obscurity Knocks

2009-11-24T12:46:00.000+08:00

It's a wonderful song, although I am tempted to, this is not the right time for me to mock my bro-in-law about liking the Trashcan Sinatras.

My sister and I actually learned to like the band and the album Weightlifting.

The Brits are undeniably the greatest composers in the world.

(Insert The Housemartins aka The Beautiful South -- woohoo!!!)

The real topic being "There are Angels Among Us"

Although they don’t arrive with a blast of trumpets, or appear with feathered wings and glowing halos, I've known them just the same as Angels. They perform their acts in human guise, sometimes borrowing the faces of family and friends, and sometimes just posing as well-meaning strangers.

Lately I have been disillusioned, crestfallen and disconcerted, saying that is an understatement. Not a single unfathomable word can fully describe how distraught I felt. So I took it upon myself to find the cruelest irony of it all. One of which I do not have the courage yet to admit as I am abashed by it and no it's not about my toilet memoirs (I'll have a separate sheet for that). Obscurity knocks and I answered only to find cryptic messages with clues that are yet to unravel before me. I breath heavily and found myself deep in devotion. An act greatly dismissed when one is ravished into a state of comfort.
I paused, necessitating a choice between a couple of things. The hands of fate wind its way through eventually stopping a mental breakdown among other things.

Have you been touched by an Angel lately?

(Source: Illusionsgallery)

Yummy Bistek

2009-11-23T02:46:00.000+08:00

I am absolutely craving for a beef steak right now (Bistek, as we call it here).
It is one of my comfort foods like Sinigang, Adobong Manok, Tinola and Lugaw. All yummy.
Well I am not going to tease you any further, let me show you how it's done.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo Beef (round, sirloin or tenderloin), sliced 1/4-inch thick
4 tbsp of kalamansi (native lemon) juice
1/4 cup Soy Sauce
Ground Pepper
1 tsp Minced Garlic
2 large Onions, cut into rings
2 tbsp Cooking oil

Directions:
Marinate Beef:
In a bowl, mix kalamansi (or lemon juice) and soy sauce.
Add beef, garlic and ground pepper.
Mix well. Let sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Cooking:
Heat oil in a skillet. Lightly fry the onion rings.
Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels. Keep warm.
Reheat oil until pan is very hot.
Pan-fry the beef slices in batches, removing them as they brown.
When all the beef has been cooked, pour the marinade into the skillet and boil for 1 minute.
Arrange beef slices on a plate and place the slightly fried onion rings on top.
Pour the sauce over the onions and beef. Serve at once.

You will instantly become a fan of this easy to cook and undoubtedly delicious recipe!

(Source: FilipinoRecipe)