rainwalker | sunstroller

lemon cake

2009-07-05T00:48:00.003+08:00

After my third try, I was finally able to produce an okay lemon cake. The past two weekends were a disaster -- the mixture would curdle when I add the third or fourth egg. But, with more tips from gelliebean, I was able to do it right this time!

Fresh eggs from the Salcedo Market

Creamed butter and sugar. =)

After adding the second egg, I was able to mix it well and keep it nice and fluffy.

After the fourth egg, I folded in the flour, lemon juice and zest and the poppy seeds. I didn't put almonds anymore. I don't like almonds much.

The cake mixture before I popped it into the oven.

And after 20+ minutes... The cake! It wasn't as tall as I expected it (from the picture in the book), but it tastes good and the texture's just right, so I guess it basically worked. My friend says it might be because my pan is too big. And I think so too, because the quantities of the ingredients are very small. The next time I do this recipe, I will use a smaller pan. And perhaps I'll use a loaf pan =)That way, it'll be easy to store and pack as baon, too!

The drizzle icing -- tangy! Yum.

We had a slice (or two) for merienda today. Yey!

getting ready for battle!

2009-06-20T22:58:00.003+08:00

I got my kitchen implements and my ingredients today for my lemon cake project. I'm using Jamie Oliver's recipe which I found in his book Cook with Jamie. =)

I wasn't able to get ground almonds, but a little Googling taught me how using a knife and a blender. It was fairly simple, though a little tedious. Before you can even grind the nuts, you have to blanch them to loosen the skin (the brown stuff, according to what I've read online, is bitter).

So I blanched the almonds -- dunked them in boiling water for a couple of minutes, then plunged them in cold water -- and skinned them. It took me a good 15 minutes to get it done. Now to bash them up into tiny pieces, I tried to do it with a knife, patiently chopping them until they're tiny. After 10 minutes of doing that, I noticed that I still had a LOT of almonds left to chop. I brought out the blender and pulsed the rest. It work. The article I found online said it would, but I didn't trust my blender. Oops, sorry blender. Haha. But, there, it worked.

After that, I researched on how to measure butter. I have it in a 227g block. And according to this guide, a 227g block is equivalent to 1 cup. The wrapper of the butter had guide lines to show where to cut, so that helped. I cut the block in half (my recipe needs 1/2 cup) and set it aside in the ref. Tomorrow, I'll let it out to soften it while I'm greasing the baking pan.

I sure hope all goes well tomorrow! I'm quite excited. It'll be a completely home-cooked meal for us tomorrow: F is making the pasta, I'm making dessert!

pocket + Zen

2009-06-19T23:45:00.003+08:00

The pouch of Nera (my first Creative Zen Vision M) was a super cool Totoro pouch given to me by a friend. Alas, it got stolen from my bag while I was watching Pan's Labyrinth. Totally my fault. Damn my carelessness!

After my player got stolen, I bought another one; exactly the same kind. I got a nice orange corduroy pouch for it from Golla. It was mighty pricey for a sleeve. But, I loved it. I wanted to get another one so I could have it washed, but it was impractical to spend so much (700?) on a second Golla pouch.

Fast forward two years (my orange pouch has turned a dull, greyish color; no longer as vibrant as in the photo), I found similar pouches made locally! They were selling for Php224 each; some variants were selling for less because the material was thinner. I got one in a nice grey material. Yahoo!

Among the many many designs available, I happened to choose a design that's similar to my orange one haha! I'm so consistent. I love it. Now I can have the other one washed :-P

breaks

2009-06-19T00:01:00.001+08:00

Finally had my short mid-year vacation.

Breaks are great � even the ones you don�t think you need end up being good for you in some way. That is, if you let the break work.

But, yes, in general, we all want breaks from our everyday lives. My 3-day stay in Baguio was refreshing, even if we didn�t do anything extraordinary. We stayed in bed when it was raining, we took walks when we wanted to, we browsed the market, we food-tripped. I loved it.

Brought just one camera for a change (not counting the one on my celphone), and 5 rolls of film. I will say it again. I love my LC-A.

in manila

2009-06-12T00:18:00.000+08:00

bedroom

2009-06-02T23:36:00.001+08:00

I finally replaced the falling-apart office lamp i�ve been using as my bedside light with this nice Knappa Tulpan lamp I got from the store that sells Ikea stuff in Makati. It was on sale; I got it for Php 999. It was originally at Php1200, I think.

I�m still in my all-white-except-for-my-turquoise-accent-wall-and-red-sofa phase. It works really well for my small and sun-less unit. It brightens up the place and it looks really modern, too. I realize that I�m not a country or shabby chic-y kind of person. I like it modern or vintage modern (is that what you call modern design from the 60s? Well, that�s what I like.).

Anyway, I�m typing this by the light of the new lamp. When I took it home from the store, it came in a box very similar to a pizza box. Once you�ve attached the pole to the base, all that�s left to do is to form the shade. The shade consists of 12 pre-cut vinyl(? or whatever kind of plastic) flat pieces. You bend these and attach them to a ring with tiny knobs that go through the holes in the plastic sheets. Brilliant!

***

The next thing I�d like to do for my home is to either make or buy a headboard for my bed. I�m partial to those panels padded with foam and covered with a fabric. I�ve seen a few DIY articles on it on the web. But, it�s a very unwieldy project.

Another option I�m toying with is to put wall decals at the head of my bed, like these:

Better Homes and Gardens has a simple alternative to upholstering plywood. Using an artist�s canvas and covering it with fabric! It�s much simpler.

Another option is to simply hang a group of similar photos, framed, above my bed. But for some reason, I don�t want to do that. Even though I�d have the photos for the project.

I�m leaning towards the wall decal and the fabric-covered artist�s canvas� The wall decal may be in off-white or in bright colors. I don�t know yet! =)

yey for

2009-05-07T00:46:00.002+08:00

yey for
1. mixed vegetables soup at Ludos
2. being able to go home at a decent hour
3. getting a ride home
4. rico's 'antukin' and the rest of the album
5. merciful sleep

happy buttons

2009-04-23T21:10:00.002+08:00

Had a bunch of new buttons made. �I drew these with a marker, scanned them, colored and laid them out in photoshop; emailed the designs to my buttonmaker and voila! �Happy happy buttons. �I wore the bee today.

hooray

2009-04-07T22:47:00.003+08:00

5 stars for:

1. Chowking's Nai Cha
2. Sunny summer weekends
3. Sketchcrawling
4. New pencils (and sharpening them)
5. Wai Ying

tiny tolkien treasure

2009-03-30T23:48:00.001+08:00

saturday sketch crawl

2009-03-29T01:20:00.003+08:00

Manila Chinatown

Lunch at Wai Ying -- yummy and inexpensive: white chicken + roasted duck + rice + century egg + hakao + milk tea jelly.

Walked around. Took pictures. Bought a bouquet of pencils! Sketched. At 5:30, headed back to Makati on the Pasig River Ferry. I loved today.

Tolkien meme

2009-03-28T01:53:00.004+08:00

March 25 was Tolkien Reading Day. And since my TPTS friends and I couldn't organize a read-aloud or even a simple get-together, we decided to just have something online to celebrate the day. And we came up with this questionnaire/meme for kicks.

What books by JRRT have you read?
The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, The Book of Lost Tales 1, Farmer Giles of Ham, Smith of Wootton Major, Roverandom, The Children of Hurin

What is your favorite book?
The Lord of the Rings

What is your fave line from any Tolkien book?
"In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit."

and

"Horns, horns, horns. On dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns from the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last."

WHo/What introduced you to LOTR?
When I was around 8 or 9, my tita rented videos of The Hobbit and LOTR. Gollum freaked me, but I kept watching it. It always stuck at the back of my head (maybe because I couldn't understand how LOTR ended since I never got to see the ROTK cartoon). Then I saw the books in the store many years after. I just finished high school. I bought them and got hooked. When I finished LOTR (I was in college), I went right back to the beginning to read it all over again. Been rereading almost once a year since 1993.

How many times have you read LOTR?
10? I don't know. I didn't get to read it religiously every year, I missed some years.

For those of us who reread the trilogy: what new things did you notice in your last re-reading?
Little details that pop out at you like old friends.

Have you seen the LOTR movies?
What LOTR movies?

How many times and which edition?
In the cinema, I saw FOTR nine times (one for each mortal man doomed to die); TTT seven times (one for every dwarf lord in his hall of stone); ROTK 4 - (one for each Elven king under the sky, plus Bilbo hahaha). I couldn't just watch it 3 times naman kasi.

Saw the extended also on DVD.

Who is your LOTR crush?
Legolas since I read the book. I didn't go for the brooding filthy kind. Parang masaya syang kasama sa backpacking. Fresh na fresh.

What changes from book to film did you not like?
Not a lot. Maybe Arwen's extended role - especially at Bruinen. I don't really mind changes all that much.

What is it with the LOTR movies you didn't like?
Sam came off as too whiny or cheesy. I liked him in the book more. There was something noble about his simple nature.

Favorite parts of the trilogy (book and/or film)?
The ride of the Rohirrim and their arrival at the siege of Gondor. Theoden is my king. You can have Aragorn and his Mexican-accented thin rallying speech.

What is your most unforgettable LOTR scene in the movie?
Ride of the Rohirrim pa rin and their arrival at the siege of Gondor.

If you are a member of the fellowship, who would you be?
Hmm. I want to say Pippin, but I think I'd be Gandalf.

Who among the characters in LOTR you could most relate to?
Bilbo maybe. Gandalf sometimes, maybe.

Who among the character in LOTR you hate or maybe dislike most?
No one, really. I feel sorry for Denethor.

What's your favorite short story from Tolkien?
I liked Farmer Giles of Ham but I read it once or twice only. I like it cos it has a dragon!

Who / What is Garm?
Tatcee says he's a dog.

Who is your favorite hobbit?
Pippin

Who is your favorite dwarf from the hobbit?
Bombur who refused to lag behind when they were going to Beorn's place in small groups.
And Thorin who is royally stuck up! Hehe.

Have you tried watching all Extended Edition Movies of LOTR in one day?
No.

What is your nerdest / geekiest LOTR moment?
When I talk about it, I guess. Some say with the way I talk, they think I believe it's real. Fools! Of course it's real.

First thing you will ask/tell JRRT when you meet him in the afterlife?
Hello!

Which of the symptoms of "Signs of Someone Frighteningly Obsessed with LOTR" (see TORN) do you display?
Maybe #9: If someone ticks them off, they call the person a name like 'Fool of a Took' or 'Nassty hobbitses'.

What made you obsessed wit LOTR?
Ang ganda eh!

How many friends do you have who are also fans of Tolkien?
Marami.

Who among your family members are Tolkien fans?
None.

Do you have an LOTR poster or any Tolkien related poster hanging in your house?
I only have one artwork displayed in my home, it's a framed LOTR illustration.
This one: http://www.popartuk.com/film/lord-of-the-rings/lotr-illustration-2931-poster.asp

Do you collect books of Tolkien (different editions)?
Yes. I like old paperbacks that I find in 2nd hand stores. I also like fancy hardcover ones. I like buying different editions of The Hobbit -- though I'm not interested in buying ALL. Just the ones that have covers that I find nice.

Are you a member of other Tolkien related group / book club or mailing list?
TPTS.

Have you cos-played a Tolkien Character? Who was the character you portrayed?
No.

Do you use tolkien character's names in your yahoo / gmail / multiply / blogger / facebook/ plurk / twitter etc. accounts?
As a net handle? No.

Do you collect Tolkien books or memorabilia? What do you have in your collection?
I don't really collect, but I have a few books and a sword (Sting).

Are you a toy collector? do you have tolkien inspired Toys?
A few toys (Sauron, a couple of wraiths, Leggy)

Have you ever named your pet from a Tolkien character?
No.

If you have children, are their names Tolkien related? If yes, what is their names/nickname?
Nope.

If you have names for gadgets (computer, camera, etc) have you named them after Tolkien characters?
I think I named one of my discs (ultimate/Frisbee) Earendil. Because it glowed.

Did you write a Tolkien related paper for any of your classes?
No. I wrote one on The Beatles though.

Have you attended any Tolkien Related Festival or convention?
Just one which TPTS was involved in. A Long Expected Party.

Who is the biggest Tolkien nut / geek you know?
The people here.

Are you in favor of del Torro directing The Hobbit movies?
Sure, why not. I did like El Laberinto del Fauno.

and the obligatory question... Is Legolas(in the movies) cute?y/y?Hahahaha..
Yeah.

weekend doodles

2009-03-26T23:36:00.002+08:00

Finally found time to doodle. Will maybe go for a doodle crawl this weekend.

summer's here!

2009-03-11T23:56:00.002+08:00

Maybe I'll get to play on Saturday. =)

my green studded heart

2009-03-09T00:32:00.000+08:00

sunday

2009-03-01T20:50:00.002+08:00

got to sleep in, eat a salmon and cream cheese panini, sip iced chai tea latte, read, journal, shop for clothes, buy groceries, eat frozen yogurt with peaches, run, cook, and eat penne pasta with my F.

great day.

grey

2009-02-28T13:21:00.003+08:00

I considered opening another blog, unknown and with no noticeable connections to me. I was going to do this because I feel like previous decisions were holding me down. The decisions in question have with making an extra effort to show the positive side of me more. Like any human being, I have in me a bright and a grey side. But, for the past few years, I have been happily bright most of the time. But, it had also to do with holding myself in check. And this included toning down my expressions of pain, longing, confusion, exhaustion, want, and joy.

In short, I resolved to cruise.

But, cruising, I've found out, takes much more effort in the long run. There's effort in reining either a shout, a cheer or a sob.

Once in a while during the past years, I allowed myself full expression; a bold statement of joy. Of course, I knew that in doing so, I was not only opening myself up to joy, but also exposing myself where I could be hurt most. It's a two-way avenue, always.

And I was hurt. And the pain, though dulled by time, continues to vex me. Phantoms.

Today, I choose not to cruise. And I will say:

I am exhausted. And I am angry. And I am exhausted with anger.
I feel helpless, like a person caught in a crossfire.
I am stuck in bed, wallowing in misery.
My blood runs slow, my steps are slower. And I hate how I am right now!
I keep saying tomorrow, I will shake myself free of this malaise.
Well, that's today now and still I'm here, unmoving.
I have two books on my bedside: Bram Stoker's Dracula (a reread); it spawned interest in The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. I bought it yesterday.

I go through my days fairly well -- I do the work, I enjoy the little things. But, I notice the difference in me when I trudge home. I know I shouldn't be that tired. To justify the feeling, I tell myself I'm not used to the schedule. But, I don't think it's that.

It's because I don't like myself now.
I don't like the phantoms that I won't set free. They're not even here of their own accord, I think. I think I've been keeping them close for some masochistic reason.

I know how to dispell this greyness. But, this is my color for now.

Tomorrow, I will throw it off.

blank

2009-02-27T23:35:00.002+08:00

my stack of unused notebooks is a bit high (around 9 notebooks, plus plus).
so many pages waiting to be written on.
they'll have to wait a bit longer
because i seem to be not myself these days
i feel heavier literally and figuratively
i am lethargic and always wont to sleep
i feel uninspired and uninterested

i miss myself, the freedom, the sun
the spring in my step
the swing of my arms

the unknowing days, when my gut wasn't yet proven right.

i love frozen yogurt

2009-02-22T20:04:00.002+08:00

In Power Plant, there's Lulu Belle.
In High Street, there's Yogurt Froz.
In Il Terraza (Tomas Morato), there's FYI.
In Rustan's Supermarket Makati, there's White Hat.
I love everything!
Next in line: California Berry at Paseo Center =)

look up, look down

2009-02-21T21:51:00.000+08:00

branches

2009-02-14T23:26:00.001+08:00

chef mom

2009-01-25T01:37:00.002+08:00

Brought The Moondog (300D) to work to take some shots. Twas fun!

Chef mom made this panini for one of our episodes. I stole it right after the last take. The Stylist helped. It was yummy.

what's in your life list?

2009-01-21T00:20:00.000+08:00

Hallo.

I need your help.

1) I'd like to know what your "life list" (or bucket list) consists of.

If you have time, I'd like you to list 10 things you'd like to _do_ (at least once) in your life. These may be things as simple as "having the guts to drive the entire length of EDSA...finally," or conquering a fear like public speaking or heights.

Please don't include travel goals. =)

2) Then, please list down things from your life list that you have already done, and how accomplishing them has affected you.

You may post them here as a comment or email me at ianroxas@gmail.com.

Thank you!

(if you're familiar with the site www.43things.com, parang ganito lang yun. thanks =) )

Yes

2009-01-20T00:08:00.002+08:00

I finished reading Yes Man by Danny Wallace, and I loved it! �It was funny as hell, and very inspiring to boot. �I can even say I learned a thing or two from it. �Maybe more. �Heck, I even did something I normally would've said no to (dance class! haha) just because I was in the middle of reading the book (and in the middle of planning my new show, which has sort of the same point as the book). �Guess with these two giving me a bit of push, I couldn't not say yes. =) �Glad I did, too.

I'm gonna try it. �Say yes more, I mean. � �

yummy

2009-01-18T21:57:00.002+08:00

One of two potatoes I demolished in 15 minutes while watching CSI. �I wish it were Sunday all over again. �Now.