Congee for rainy day

Back in the Philippines, I always like to have soup during
rainy days especially when it’s served hot.



Last Tuesday when the rain poured heavily the whole day, I
decided to cook something that will at least give a balance
to the cold atmosphere. Congee is the recipe. Rice, chicken,
ginger, black pepper and green onions are the main ingredients
that I used. I had kalamansi (a small citrus fruit)and patis
(fish sauce)for flavor enhancement while my husband had soy
sauce.

We both enjoyed the food as we watch the rain fall by the window
pane.

It's your Birthday Today!

14 years ago today when my eldest sister gave birth to
a healthy baby boy, we named him Pet Angelo. He grew
up as a nice kid, a good student and a friend. I remember
on his kindergarten graduation day his teacher chose him
to be the emcee of the program. That was cute seeing him
on his graduation gown as he managed the sequence of the
program. That was a remarkable moment and we are very
proud of him.

Today as he celebrates his birthday, we wish him all the
best in life.

Roar by the Shore

October 9-12,2008 was set for Bike Week at South Padre
Island,Texas.


All different brands of motorcycle are welcome to bike week.
From where we live we can hear the roar of the motorcycles
riding on the highway. Not to miss the fun, my husband and
I went for a ride to the beautiful South Padre Island of
Texas.As we enjoyed the ride, we were also amazed of the
other bikers that we met along the way.


It was my first time to see a motorcycle rally and the feeling
was a real WOW! Different sizes, types, design, color and
brand of motorcycles roaring on the road to the shore was a
fun experience and it felt different knowing that we were one
of the bikers that is on the road having fun and making other
people smile as they watch the street full of motorcycles.
One can tell that all the bars, restaurants, hotels and inns
were full by just looking at the parking lot where it is full
of motorcycles coming from different cities of different
states here in U.S.A.



Riding on our Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle with my
husband is one of the things that we both enjoy together.

Rainbow

It was gloomy one Sunday morning when we left for Mass.
When we arrive home thirty minutes after the rain starts
to fall heavily as the wind blows. When the rain stops
pouring, a beautiful rainbow appeared up in the sky,
and not only one but two and was beautiful.Truly it
says that after a rain a rainbow will shine.

In life no matter how difficult the situation is, let
us all believe and hold on to the promise of God in
Jeremiah 11:29 'For I know the plans I have for you,
" declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

It was my first time to see two rainbows side by side,
amazingly attractive. When we have God in our life
nothing is impossible.


The image of two rainbows captured from a distance.

Chocolates my favorite!

Some of my favorite chocolates.




If one will ask me to choose between free movie ticket and
chocolate, I will choose the latter. I just can’t say no
when it comes to chocolate.

I remember when my husband asked me what I want him to bring
for me to the Philippines, I said C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E.S. and
yes he brought me a lot of chocolates of different brand.

Yummy is always the first word I utter after having a bite
and with chocolates I will always be like a kid, hmmm.

Car Show 2008

My husband and I had a great time one Sunday afternoon
when we went to a Car Show in Brownsville, Texas.


Seeing different colors, models, and makes of vehicles
was very interesting especially when one can see the
owners' pride put into maintaining the condition of the
engine and body of the vehicle. Learning that if the
owner keeps the vehicle in original condition adds to
the value of the vehicle is one good point each vehicle
owner must realize.


The way that some of the owners modified their vehicles
was interesting. Some of the vehicles came with sound
systems that were truly awesome. Some of them were
equipped with televisions and game systems. Some of the
cars were modified with hydraulic systems that could
raise or lower the car. There were some that came with
modified pick-up trucks. It is amazing the amount of
time and money that were put into the vehicles on display.

An Adventure with Hurricane Dolly

It was Tuesday July 22 when my husband and kids arrived from
New York at 1:20 pm; thank God they made it just before the
Hurricane Dolly hit South Texas.

The place that I work is usually open 24 hours but that day
the management decided to close by 9 pm and all the employees had
to leave 11 pm. and declared that Wednesday will be “no work”.
My husband together with my step children picked me up from work
with the rain pouring and the wind blowing but we made it home.
With lots of surprises they brought me from New York and the
initial getting-to-know, we all went to sleep because we were tired.
The next morning when we woke up heavy rains were pouring and the
wind is blowing hard with no electric at all as early as 4 in the
morning, we can’t even cook breakfast, no television,no computer,
no games for the children and for a while no water. We decided to
go out to get something to eat and only Whataburger is open but
drive thru and the line was so long that we end up going back
home and making breakfast on our gas grill inside the house
because we just can’t make it outside with the wind and the rain.
The water came back but not the electric and good thing my
father in law called my husband and invited us over their house
since they have electric. Just before five in the afternoon we
ventured our way to my father in law with Dolly. We saw trees
on the streets and Highway 100 was flooded. My husband and I was
so scared, good thing that my husband purchased 3 months ago a
brand new SUV where it is high up compared to our old car. Some
traffic lights were destroyed, construction signs were floating
on water, and the wind continues to blow heavily and that roof
shingles were flying. Luckily we made it to my father in law’s
house. As the night went on the water continued to get higher.
The lake on the golf course behind my father in laws house was
overflowing and reached his fence. Three days after the storm
the electric came back so we decided to go back home. We threw
lots of food into the garbage. Most of the items were meat,
vegetables, dairy products such as milk and cheese, mayo and
fruits.It is not safe to keep those food, we just can’t
sacrifice our health. Now everything is back to normal while
some other parts of the valley are still coping up for the
damages that Dolly has done.

Together with my husband, I thank the Lord for being so good
to us. It is hard to imagine life without Him, we just cannot
do it. Praise be to God!