By Yours Truly 2

Pesto-filled tortellini Alfredo with sautéed mushrooms and prawns

Aunt Authentic

My nephew AC calls me Goo Goo. As in the Goo Goo Dolls. As in Cantonese child speak for "aunt", but not just any aunt - specifically "father's older sis".

As i stepped in my brother W's house this evening, AC cheered, "Hi, Goo Goo!" Melts my heart and makes me grin every time.

"Goo Goo, where have you been diving?" Asked W in baby talk. Meaning "Where have you been hiding out?"

Tonight i played peek-a-boo with AC, with him finding refuge around his mother's legs. His face lit up with delight. The other weekend we did the same thing at lunch, with him under a table behind tablecloth. I kept saying, "I see you!" AC cracked up so bad.

I see that twinkle in his eyes. I notice that mischievous look. Tonight, for the first time, i caught him glancing sideways at me with a knowing half-smile. Totally reminded me of Damien in The Omen. Kinda crept me out. There you have it. He's only two and a half, and i have begun to witness innocence eroding away. Inevitable.

I'll enjoy it while it lasts. For now, when AC laughs, he really means it. I believe kids like me because i have never forgotten what it's like to be a child. What it's like to be genuine. Perhaps i'm akin to the female version of Peter Pan, Petra. So for now, we shall laugh our hearts out. Loud, no restraint, no tomorrow.

Spirituality Killed the Monk (Or Nun)

It is springtime indeed. There are bugs and worms everywhere.

A couple of weeks ago, i removed a bottle from my cabinet, and there rested a cockroach behind where the bottle had been. Heaving, it seemed. Hesitant. Fearful. With a full belly. Ah, it's pregnant. It's a she. All hail! I felt a strange sense of affection awash. Its life deserved to be preserved. (OMG! Alliteration!) I felt like petting it on the head, cooing, "Grasshopper!"

Last week, back from lunch on foot, i noticed a couple of caterpillars hanging from this tree on what must've been invisible silk threads. I squinted. For all i knew, they were levitating. They squirmed and stretched, and all of sudden i got goose bumps all over. I sprinted away, running my fingers through my hair lest one land in it.

Today, with my senile forgetfulness, i walked past that infested tree again. I grimaced and again sprinted away. I briefly turned my head to catch a glimpse of one prominent caterpillar.

Finally parked at home after an eventful, emotional day, i turned to grab my coat from the passenger's seat, only to find a furry little critter on the sleeve. It was green and black and white, with a red patch, resembling a fluffy feather. Uncertainly feeling its way on the woolen surface, it looked serene and beautiful.

I had an urge to gently nudge it with my index finger. Perhaps it would climb on my finger. I wondered what that would feel like.

Eew! It'd be on my finger!!! Eew! What would that feel like?!!

And so i carefully removed the coat, and scooped a dry fallen leaf under the bewildering creature. It predictably mounted the fragmented vegetation.

I placed the leaf by the nearest wall. There was no tree around. By abandoning the caterpillar, i probably killed it. Poor innocent life who unwittingly traveled with me for 6.7 miles just to die.

If you see Buddha on the side of the road, kill it. For the true buddha lives within you. So the one you see must be false.

Profoundly Shaken

The cocktail shaker JD gave me for Christmas in 2004 was the best present ever. It's the gift that keeps on giving. He also gave me two martini glasses, one in raspberry and the other in apple green, photographed above. Very festive. We talked about making margaritas but never did.

27 months later, i'm finally making martinis for the first time in my life, and actually using those glasses. I make 'em dirty, since it's the only way i know how, since it's the version Matt served me. It seems wrong somehow that i'm using JD's glasses for Matt's drink.

When you make 'em dirty, the brine makes the concoction slick. Sometimes, when i eye the reflective dewy beads that cling onto the walls of my glass, i think i'm staring into an oil lamp. And for a momentito, i'm transported.

Quote 24

For those who have to ask, no answer will suffice.

- Grissom, "Strip Strangler", CSI

Hail Tori

I go through cycles when it comes to music genres i groove to on my commute (all 8 minutes of it. I know, i am so spoiled.)

I always come back to Tori Amos. She's only like a goddess to me. When i feel injured there's only a handful of singers i can bear to listen to. In Tori's ethereal sound i find strength and spirituality.

I relatively recently found out that it's not that unique for a woman to adore Tori. And it's not that unique for a guy to despise her, either. I don't understand. She's so talented. And, boy, is she hot when she rocks out.

So today i continued my Tori fest even after arriving home. By the time the last song on Scarlet's Walk came on, i suddenly had an epiphany:

If i were a guy, my balls would've fallen off by now.

Black Birds Have Spoken

Aaahh... There's nothing like the smell of toast in the morning.

Even though, by the time my toast was done, it was 39 minutes past noon.

Aaahh... There's nothing like having breakfast past noon on a Sunday. : )

The jar of my strawberry preserves says "Best by Feb 2006". A year and two months later, it still tastes pretty good to me.

I haven't eaten at home in a long time. As a matter of fact, i have never used my toaster oven for toast until today. Many breakthroughs, i know.

And then i had shrimp cocktail with cocktail sauce that was "Best by Oct 2006". Life is good.