by the cherry blossom tree

I've been messing around the kitchen a lot. So far I've tried many Italian dishes from JuventiKnows and got mixed results--some of my attempts were stellar (Bolognese spaghetti, brovade, sandwich-like things from Cesena), some just fell flat (the tomato soup trainwreck from Siena, the biscotti from Siena...wtf Siena dishes kill me). I've also contributed a starter dish from the Sardinia Cookbook and I was so happy because I've always wanted to cook and write something for the site. Grazie ragazzi!

This year, I started making bento seriously. So far I've managed to make one every day (except for two or three days back in January), a real achievement considering how I'm a loser when it comes to maintaining projects. I've posted most of them on my Instagram account and Tumblr as well. But well, I realized kind of need a permanent blog for my kitchen things, so here it is.

( I'm starting with today's pasta bento. )

Voilà, there goes the long-ass explanation for today's bento. Have a good week, everyone.

Joyeux St Valentin!

Love After Love
Derek Walcott

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

So I finally went to school last Saturday--and by school, I mean starting from the alphabet except this time I had to extract "erre" from my throat.

We're 20 (or less--I'll do the headcount next time) in Module 1 with our teacher, Alexis, who reminds me of Daniel Radcliffe circa Prisoner of Azkaban. The youngest in our class is a Chinese girl of around 13 or 14 who can speak about four languages. Oh sigh, the luxury.

I have a classmate who kept on asking the teacher when we're studying this and that because he did a bit of studying on his own. It reminded me of how bibo I was back in Japanese class eons ago. For French, I resolved to take things easy and enjoy while the class goes along. So there I was, trying to learn the alphabet and struggling with the differences between E and U. I swear R was better, if for the fact that it's distinguishable for being too throaty.

Anyway, I have homework! I've missed school so much.

***

My boss and I met Ely Buendia at Cinemanila's opening night, and the funny thing was, we weren't even sure if it was him. When she first spotted him, my boss thought, "Wow, cute guy, he even looks like Ely!"


:O moment

I was holding two wine glasses when I saw him, and it's a miracle I didn't drop them, because I'm clumsy like that. The only thing I regret about the whole thing was losing my glass after talking to him because I couldn't remember where I put it. Rose wine, very dry. Tsk. I didn't have a chance to go back to the bar.

I've watched Sparrow from Hong Kong and Love of Siam from Thailand. Not bad, so far. Sparrow was visually amazing, especially the last encounter between the veteran pickpocket and the four brothers. I couldn't help but be more paranoid about my stuff when I'm out in the streets after watching it, which meant the film was effective.


Controversial in Thailand for being pimped as a straight teen romance. Lol

Love of Siam was very kilig, but too much of something isn't good, so I guess the not-so-happy ending was just right (no offense, tristantrakand). It was too bloody long, though. But omg, I've never screamed so much inside a movie theater, and it wasn't even a horror film. Two cute boys in love is too much for my heart (that was the longest guykiss ever btw--loved it). Gah. And it hurts to see a version of yourself on screen, that's for sure.

Anyway, tristantrakand's picspam of Mario Maurer, who plays Tong in Love of Siam, is just awesome.

ETA: Omg Mario Maurer is Best Actor for the SEA Film Competition! Yay, Tong!

***

I've moved out of the house, but not to my own place. Unfortunately I still live with relatives, but with the present company I feel more responsible. Urk. Should prepare me for real independence, though.

And yay for finally watching a series with someone who loves it as much as I do. Pushing Daisies is a great way to bond!

I can't think of anything better to do with this photo I took of Orange (RIP, we miss you, baby) and Momo (temporary name for Palo's kitty. Hoho), except to make a lolcat entry out of it. The thing is, I think it's funny and cute enough without the text. Teehee.


Kitten hug!

Have a great week, f-list! :)

And happy birthday, dramashit and stuckinverse! *kitten hugs*


[mood| Spreading the love]

Dammit, I'm down to my last two episodes of Arrested Development. Withdrawal headache coming up! So anyway, here are my top ten favorite quotes from this show. I wanted to include G.O.B.'s background music--"The Final Countdown"--but a whole load of "ten-nen-nen...ten ten ten" doesn't sound funny in print.

My top ten favorite AD quotes

10. Lindsay Funke: Did you enjoy your meal, Mom? You drank it fast enough.
Lucille: Not as much as you enjoyed yours. You want the belt to buckle, not your chair.
[server sets a dessert of Bananas Foster on fire]
Lucille: You might want to let that fire go out before you stick your face in it.
Lindsay Funke: That's funny, 'cause I was gonna say "You might wanna lean away from that fire since you're soaked in alcohol."
Lucille: Mine was better.

9. Lucille: You tricked me.
Michael: I *deceived* you. "Tricked" makes it sound like we have a playful relationship.

8. Lucille: THERE WERE 250 CCs OF YOUR FATHER IN THAT BANANA STAND!
Michael: No touching.

7. George Michael: They're adults. They're allowed to have fun whenever they want. We're kids, we're supposed to work.

( If only I could write a show like this, ha ha )