Everyday Footprints

The bird eggs, the raccoon, and cessology

cessology — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:51:42 +0000

Across our 3-floor apartment is a lone Evergreen tree. Standing in our 3rd-floor veranda, I could see that it has a bird’s nest atop its branches. For a week, I’ve woken up to the chirps of an adult bird. It was melody to my ears.

The rightful nest owner

One day, hubby went out to the veranda and exclaimed excitedly, “Have you ever seen a raccoon?”

I replied, “Not yet. Why?”

“There’s a raccoon, nesting in the Evergreen tree.” He answered.

I immediately joined him in the veranda and indeed I saw the dark-eyed mammal sitting comfortably in the nest, “Oh no. That’s not the raccoon’s nest. That raccoon’s eating the bird eggs!”

“No wonder the raccoon’s looking suspiciously at me, when I saw him.”, hubby said.

We reported the raccoon sighting to the building manager, but it was nowhere to be found.

More than the raccoon, I feel sorry for the bird eggs.

Somewhere, out there is an angry bird. And one happy raccoon.

Note: Please click the image for the image’s source.

Filed under: Daily Digest, Musings, Weekend

For the love of Ben & Jerry’s

cessology — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:22:18 +0000

One day, Richard, a colleague, knocked on my office door and asked me if I wanted to go with him to Ben & Jerry’s.

Me: Yo! What’s up?

Richard: Do you wanna go out of the office for lunch?

Me: Where are you off to?

Richard: Ben & Jerry’s

Me: But that’s 30 minutes away.

(we only have a 45-min lunch break)

Richard: I know. But they’re giving away free ice cream.

Me: Oh, you mean I could get as much pints as I could free? (that was my greedy self speaking)

Richard: No, you just get a cone.

Me: Oh.

Filed under: A Day At The Office, Daily Digest, Food & Beverage, Humor

Unrequited Love

cessology — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:34:00 +0000

Here are 6 songs (I can only think of 6 right now) that my cousin, who’s experiencing the unrequited love syndrome, should NOT listen to. Of course, having said this, my cousin would not heed the warning. Amazing how the mind works.

6. Is There Something (Christopher Cross)

Is there something that you want to tell me
Is there something that I ought to know
Are we something that’s still worth fighting for
Or should I simply let you go
Is there something I can do to reach you
Are we something more than history
I’ll find some way to convince you to stay
If you just tell me honestly
Is there something left of you and me

That moment when you know something’s not quite right, but the other person isn’t willing to tell you what. And it’s just eating you inside because you really want to work things out – still.

5. What If (Nina)

What if we could turn back time?
Back when you would believe me.
Would you help me instead?
To unsay what I said last night

If it were that easy, to undo certain things, then there will be no lonely hearts Tuesday, next week. Don’t you think so?

4. 1000 Oceans (Tori Amos)

These tears I’ve cried
I’ve cried 1000 oceans
And if it seems I’m floating in the darkness
Well, I can’t believe that I would keep

This one’s not a break-up song, but it made the list because the voice and the melody’s so sad. The first time I heard this, I was teary-eyed. Mind you, I was inside a mall.

3. Nothing (Script)

And my mates are all there trying to calm me down
‘Cause I’m shouting your name all over the town
I’m swearing if I go there now
I can change her mind turn it all around

A friendly advise to guys out there, it’s unwise to speak with the gal when you’re drunk. Doing so, will only prove that she was right with her choice.

2. Somebody’s Me (Enrique Iglesias)

Somebody wants you
Somebody needs you
Somebody dreams about you every single night
Somebody can’t breathe without you, it’s lonely
Somebody hopes that one day you will see
That somebody’s me

I like this one so much, that it’s the inspiration behind this post – so I can share this to those who haven’t heard it yet. This song simply melts my heart.

1. That song that used to be your love song. Nuff said.

Filed under: Music, Musings

Cessology was ungrateful

cessology — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:08:51 +0000

We were dining at Outback last night when we were approached by the Restaurant Manager. He handed us a card for a free “Bloomin’ Onion” saying, “I’m giving it to you guys so you will keep coming back. I know regulars when I see one – when they sit down without looking at the menu, yet know what they want, they’re regulars!”.

We said ‘Thank you’, but deep inside, I wanted to say, “The other RM gave us free Chocolate Thunder the previous night. We want that, not Bloomin’ Onion.” I bit my tongue.

Filed under: Daily Digest, Food & Beverage, Musings

Beef Pares

cessology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:43:28 +0000

One of my favorite stories to tell is about my college days because it was undoubtedly the best 4 years of my student life. Whenever I look back to those days, I would remember how me and my friends would usually go to the small eateries outside the university during 1-hour breaks. It was in one of those times when I was introduced to Beef Pares.

It was a nice, warm day after our last morning class when Bing asked if we want to go to Cocoy’s. Almost everybody said, “Let’s!” except me because I was unfamiliar with the place. Before Cocoy’s, I used to eat at Almer’s with another group because I was into “sizzling plates” that time. Anyway, upon arriving at Cocoy’s, Bing and the rest of the group (including Sydney, Jubilee, and Ann) ordered Beef Pares. Not knowing what beef pares was, I got curious and I tried it too.

And I was glad I did. It was a love at first bite.

Recently, while chatting with Seatmate, Beef Pares cropped up in our conversation. And now that I can sort of cook, I thought, “hey, why not cook it?” So, I looked up the recipe online and customized it according to my taste and what’s available from the commissary and I came up with this recipe.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Beef Pares

Category: Main Course
Serving: 2-3
Style: Filipino Dish

: Beef Pares

Ingredients:

1 lb – beef brisket
4 cups – water
1 cube – Knorr Beef Bouillon
6 Tbsp – onion
1 med – garlic
1 pc – green onion
2 Tbsp – ginger
salt
ground black pepper
1 Tbsp – anise seed
1/2 tsp – brown sugar
2 Tbsp – olive oil
1/4 cup – soy sauce

Procedure:

Boil 4 cups of water.
Put-in the uncut beef and beef cube buillon. Reduce heat to low and cook beef for 1 and a half hour (1 hr 30 minutes).
When the beef is cooked, take it out of the pot. Allow the meat to cool off, before slicing into 1.5 x 1-inch cubes (size may vary according to preference). Set aside
On a separate pan, heat the oil and saute the onion, ginger, and garlic.
Add the sliced beef and saute for 2-3 minutes.
Add soy sauce, black pepper (ground), and 1 cup of beef stock (get 1 cup of beef stock from the broth used in boiling the beef)
Add the brown sugar sparingly. Taste and adjust sweetness to your desired taste.
Wait for everything to boil, then add the Anise Seed and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
Garnish with the green onions on top.
Serve with garlic rice and soup
Note: For the soup, add 1 tsp of soy sauce to every 1 cup.

Filed under: College, Daily Digest, Food & Beverage, Musings, Recipe