Life’s Ideas

As I said before, Friday night is our movie night. Last Friday, we watched the Night at the Museum 2 – Battle of the Smithsonian. We did not exactly plan for this one. We had three films in mind before then, Angels and Demons, Drag me to Hell and the one we finally decided to watch.

I did not feel like cooking for dinner that night. We went to Wasabi, our favourite Japanese restaurant for dinner. It’s situated just a few steps away from the movie theatre. Unfortunately, we were told that we had to wait for forty minutes for our order. We were so looking forward for a Japanese meal so we agreed to wait.

After placing our order, we went to the theatre to buy our tickets. We checked the schedule and we opted for Night of the Museum 2. It was the only one our schedule could allow. We would run in late if we chose any other film. From there, we walked around to check out the place. We found a supermarket inside and we bought some glazed donut bites. We ate some then returned to Wasabi. We were just in time for our orders to be served. What a sumptuous dinner!

When we got to theatre, it was almost full mostly of children, about 75%. The movie is for the whole family. We were wondering if they were a spill over from the UP movie which was also showing. It could be possible that the UP movie was already full so some children had to watch Night of the Museum 2 instead.

The Night of the Museum 2 stars Ben Stiller as Larry Daley . If you liked the first Night of the Museum then you would surely enjoy this one. Larry Daley has moved on with his life after the museum. He was no longer the night guard at the museum. His business took a significant turn and so he now can fully provide for his son. One day, he came back to museum and found out that most of his friends will be transported to the Smithsonian Museum for permanent storage. One time, Jedediah Smith, played by Owen Wilson phone him and Larry thought his old friends needed his help so he went to the Smithsonian Museum. His son was giving him directions on how to locate his friends at the museum using a computer at home. Then the fun begins. The old residents at the museum did not welcome the newcomers.

At the end, Larry realized Larry had to go back to his old job as a night guard. He is at his happiest there, doing what he enjoys most.

Tags: Battle of the Smithsonian, Ben Stiller, Jedediah Smith, Larry Daley, movie, Night of the Museu, Owen Wilson, Wasabi
Posted in Entertainment, Music and Movies, Food, Cooking and Dining, Living and Loving | No Comments »

I am a fish person. I love to eat fish and would prefer fish over other kinds of meat but this does not mean that any fish will do. I like shallow water fish the best, the ones that live in coral reefs. I like my fish meat to be really white, fresh and the smell, not so fishy.

I remember in the Philippines, I used to eat leather jacket fish. It has a very thick skin that you can remove just like a jacket and inside is a very thin plastic-like layer of second skin that holds together the meat of the fish. In our town, we call the leather jacket fish with the thick skin still intact as saguksok. When the skin is removed, it becomes baknit and this is what you can find in the local fish markets. My mother buys leather jacket fish whenever available because it is very cheap. I like this fish because it meets my criteria. I don’t really mind the appearance of the fish as long as it passes my standards. My mother usually fry baknit and cook it again
with a little oil, garlic, onions and black beans. This is my favourite way of cooking baknit. It is like fish paksiw (stew) with a twist.

Last Friday, I bought a pack of dressed leather jacket fish. I missed eating this fish so much. I cooked it for dinner today exactly how my mother used to do it. It was almost like being home in my parents place once again.

Tags: fish, fish stew, leather jacket fish, paksiw
Posted in Food, Cooking and Dining, Living and Loving, Thinking Out Loud | 1 Comment »

As a stay-at-home wife, I am expected to do all the household chores like cleaning and cooking. This is not because my husband demands it from me but because I have all the time in the world to do just that. This gives me absolutely no excuse to have a dirty house. Even if I have been doing household chores for almost all my life, I admit, I’m still not an expert when it comes to cleaning the house.

As I was searching the internet for cleaning tips, specifically how to remove stains, I came across a website for Commercial Cleaning for homes and businesses. I was amazed at how informative their website is. Even if their business is commercial cleaning, they still give valuable tips on cleaning. It’s like the chef giving off his secret recipes. Well, not really. They also have an online form you can fill up for a free quote, schedule an appointment, avail of their cleaning services and unbelievably, expert advice on all your needs.

I think the greater part of COMMERCIAL CLEANING is not the how-to-clean part but the energy-to-do-it part. I’m sure everybody will agree that carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and air duct cleaning are the most difficult to do. You don’t do this very often but they have to be done and you can’t just settle for clean, it has to be very clean. Cleanliness is not just for beautification purposes, it is also crucial to good health. Having said that, I am going to avail of a Commercial Cleaning service soon. This is because the carpet upholstery and air duct needs thorough cleaning once in awhile. I don’t think my own cleaning would suffice. Also, I’m allergic to dust and I can’t stand prolonged exposure to dust and dirt when cleaning. Sounds like an excellent excuse to call commercial cleaners.

Tags: Commercial Cleaning
Posted in Health and Home, Living and Loving, Wellness and Me | No Comments »

My husband was a software developer in the Philippines before we migrated in Canada. He did LPS and Accounting for parishes, HR, Accounting – Payroll, Manufacturing and customized software for companies and government agencies. In bigger projects, he had a partner but for small and medium ones, he usually does the programming from conception to completion. I was usually well-oriented with his software and in many cases; he made me do the training and orientation for the would-be users. Sometimes, he would also send me to do maintenance and troubleshooting jobs for his clients.

Last night, I had a chat with the cashier from the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Cebu Philippines. She told me that people from Sacred Heart Parish have been looking for me to ask for assistance regarding their Liguori Parochial System (LPS). This software is to handle their registry records electronically. They bought a new computer and they need to transfer the program to their new computer.

Originally, I installed the software to two computers at Sacred Heart Parish which are being networked. They reformatted one of the computer’s hard disk and they want the new computer to be mainly for LPS. The last time I visited their office, I trained one of the staff on how to do maintenance and setup the program in case something happens to the current computer they were using.

This is always the problem in small offices. They usually have nobody to take care of their software and hardware maintenance problems. I always train at least one of the staff whenever I do installing and training for new programs but they always don’t know what to do every time a problem comes up. Many times I wonder, perhaps I made everything looked so easy to them that they thought it was really that easy. They don’t even bother to take notes during the orientation. They tend to forget that I was not part of the staff so I would not always be around every time they need me.

Now that I’m a world apart from them, it is hard for the client to ask for assistance from me. I am not working about the same stuff here in Canada and my memory about the different software is fading. Clients should be gaining independence from the software programmer unless they require updates. This is a lesson hardly anyone can learn. Well, if worse comes to worst, there are other programmers willing to do new customized software for them. Question is, are they willing to go through the process of requirements gathering, software development, encoding data and spending a lot?

Tags: Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, cebu churches, Ligouri Parochial System, Lourdes parish, parish registry, parish software, Sacred Heart Parish, softwares
Posted in Computers, Internet and Software, Points to Ponder | No Comments »

It’s been a while since I got my student driver’s license and still I don’t know how to drive. Actually, I know how to drive but not properly I think. I barely had an hour of practice before yesterday.

I kept bugging my husband to go with me and practice driving but it seems I really need to force him first. I just cannot compete with his Online Warcraft – Lich King. Every weekend, all his efforts are geared towards achieving his Warcraft goals. He would usually tell me to just call the driving instructor instead and have my lessons scheduled. The way I see it, a 75 dollars an hour for basic practice is a waste of money. I wanted to practice driving with hubby first so I will be more or less confident when I spend time with the licensed instructor later. I am required 6 hours of driving lessons with a licensed instructor and I want to spend those 6 hours for more difficult driving issues like the city traffic, the provincial laws and different ways of parking.

Thank God, yesterday, hubby gave in to my constant bugging. He finally agreed to spend an hour with me driving every weekend. We started yesterday. We went to the public parking lot nearest to our place and I practiced just turning and turning the car. I gained a little bit of confidence with the wheel. I can now drive in a straight line, turn the car smoothly and most of the time, stay in the right lane.

I admit, I’m a slow learner when it comes to physical activities like driving. My motor skills are not perfect but I did very good. If it would be possible to practice driving alone, I would have done so a long time ago but as a student driver, I can only practice with someone authorized to supervise me.

We had a fun yesterday, I was able to practice driving. After the practice, we walked around the park, took pictures of the lake and the wild geese there. Then we had lunch at KFC because I was dying to try their barbeque ribs. Time well spent indeed.

Tags: driving, driving lessons, licensed driving instructor, student driver
Posted in Living and Loving | No Comments »

Friday night is movie night for us. We usually go to Normanview Galaxy. I think it’s the best place for movies here in Regina. If you are really into movies then that’s the place to check out. If you need to do some shopping and watch the movie at the same time, perhaps you need to go somewhere else. I don’t see supermarkets and shops in the area except for a few restaurants nearby.

We watched Terminator – Salvation last Friday. It was a super action-packed movie. You can’t keep your eyes from being glued to the screen. I like the Australian born Sam Worthington’s character as Marcus Wright, a mysterious character there. Many people think the movie is made for the fans and it really is. There’s nothing special in the movie. It has become just an ordinary futuristic movie since the scene is in 2018. If you are into this kind of stuff, then this is for you. I like science fiction, I think most people do. When I watch a movie sequel, I don’t really try to piece together every puzzle in it, I simply sit back, relax and enjoy myself with the new twists and plots. Surely, there will be another sequel because it ended with “The war between the humans and the machines rages on.”

Tags: futuristic, Marcus Wright, movies, Normanview Galaxy, Sam Worthington, science fiction, terminator salvation
Posted in Entertainment, Music and Movies | 2 Comments »

I can’t believe the Dr. Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili (of the Philippines) sex video issue is still going strong. I think most people really believe the saying, Where there is smoke, there is fire. I think Dr. Kho is morally deficient, not only for taking videos of his sexual encounters but for even bragging about it to his friends. I’m beginning to believe that men who takes videos and photos of their sexual trysts are not that uncommon anymore. It seems that the more we hear about celebrity video scandals, the more people are drawn towards it. It has become so widespread that some teenagers are doing this.

I wonder how women can protect themselves from this nonsense. Women who are video-taped usually did not agree to it. How can you say no when your partner never asked for your permission? It’s usually secretly done without the consent of either one of the parties involved. I believe there is always some malicious intent on the part of the one video-taping.

I guess being involved in sex video scandals is just a matter of luck or coincidence. The only way you can be safe from this is when you never have sex with somebody else outside marriage but then, the world is not black and white. There’s a wide area of gray where most people are. This makes living life all the more exciting, don’t you think?

Tags: Hayden Kho, Katrina Halili, Philippines, sex scandal, sex video
Posted in Points to Ponder | No Comments »

I am very happy that finally our Frigidaire dishwasher is functional again. The Boardwalk technician came to our place and repaired it. The only problem was that it would not drain. After the wash cycle, there’s still water in the dishwasher. I tried running the dry cycle but still it would not work. It had been like that since December of last year. Hubby tried to reason out that perhaps it has something to do with winter and the buildup of snow that could have affected the water pipes. We waited until spring and found out we were wrong.

I was really hesitant to use the dishwasher before. Besides the fact that we only have a few dishes soiled after every meal, it also comes up much more expensive than hand washing. It uses a lot of water and electricity. Before loading dishes into the dishwasher, you also need to make sure to wipe off the big stuff that is stuck in your dishes. You literally have to do some partial cleaning on the dishes.

I’m still hesitant to use the dishwasher but not that hesitant anymore. You see, it goes with the place we’re renting. We need to use it every now and then or else it may not be at its best after awhile of being left alone. Also, as a housewife, there are really times when you don’t feel like washing the dishes right after eating especially when hubby is watching a nice TV show on the couch. This is when the dishwasher comes in handy. Also he wants me to watch TV with him rather than making noises (banging the dishes and pots) at the kitchen.

The best thing about the dishwasher is that it cleans glasses better than if you hand wash them. The plates too comes out shinier from the dishwasher. On top of everything else, it is sure nice to have a choice. When I have time to spare which I usually do, I hand wash everything. When I’m short of time, like today after dinner, we’re going to watch a movie, then I would need to use the dishwasher so when we get back from the movies, dishes will already be clean.

Tags: Boardwalk, dishes, Frigidaire dishwasher, plates, pots
Posted in Food, Cooking and Dining, Fun, Handy and Hi-tech Things | No Comments »

At last American Idol Season 8 has come to an end with Kris Allen as the winner. I am not really a big fan but congratulations to him anyway.

I like Adam Lambert more, since the beginning of the competition, I already had an eye for him. He’s not really that likeable as compared to Kris but I am quite sure that Adam had shown vocal dominance over Kris. Adam has more natural talent, add to that his performances at the musical shows must have polished that natural talent.

Kris Allen on the other hand is talented, too. He is the worship leader of a religious group. That’s where he exercised his singing prowess, preparing songs for the church, training the choir and prepare special numbers with the youth. I also think that group must have played a big role in Kris’s victory. I heard he had been travelling around the country, even around the world with his religious commitments. Well, he deserves all the support. He is such a nice and humble guy. It was incredible how he said, “ It’s crazy, I’m shocked. I think Adam deserves this.” No, Kris, the American people have spoken. You should be proud.

As for the rest of the Top 13, I’m sure they enjoyed their journey to the American Idol. Winning is not everything. What is more important is that they had their chance to show how much they were really worth as artists. The American Idol was their stage and they had training there so they could stretch their vocal capacities even farther. The journey does not end there. In a short while, we will be hearing about their new albums and songs on the radio. In the end, the number of votes, an idol gathered in the show does not spell the number of albums, that idol is going to sell in the future. Each of them is going to continue working hard on any opportunity that may arise from being part of the show.

Tags: Adam Lambert, American Idol, Kris Allen, Season 8
Posted in Entertainment, Music and Movies | No Comments »

In the Philippines, we are not familiar with cast iron pans. I did not even remember seeing cast iron cook wares in our department stores there. What most Filipinos use are aluminum cook wares. This is because aluminum is very cheap and this is only what most people there can afford. There are many stainless steel, glass and Teflon cook wares but they are too expensive for most Filipinos.

Our beef in the Philippines are mostly organic and grass-fed. There are only very few ranches there and the sources of beef are usually families who raise cattle for side income. They just bring their cattle to the meadows to graze every day. They supplement the cattle feeds with hay, rice and corn chaff during long periods of drought. It usually takes several years for the cattle to reach adulthood when raised this way. This could be the reason why our local beef takes too long to cook and explains why we are not fond of pan-fried steaks.

In Canada, our beef is very tender, usually grade AAA. I have always loved beef and having it cooked in a short time makes it even better for me. I have learned to cook roast beef here and discovered an even easier way to cook beef, by using a cast iron pan.

My cast iron pan is a 12-inch pre-seasoned Lodge Logic. Using cast iron is not as intimidating as before because there are already pre-seasoned ones in the market and they are ready to use. Cast iron pans is a good investment because they are inexpensive and can last forever if you know how to care for them. Mine does not have a cover that goes with it but I have a glass cover from my other stainless steel pan that I could use when I need to. It just fits perfectly well.

Everybody loves a good steak. I use my cast iron pan mainly for cooking steaks and pork chops. Just less than ten minutes and you have your steak done. I usually just season my steak with salt and pepper and give it a garlic rub and that’s it. I give each side a good sear and cover it for about three minutes and it’s done. I give it some time to cool down a bit to redistribute the juices back to the meat. The pork chops takes a little longer since you really have to make sure that your pork is well cooked.

My cast iron pan has become one of my best friends in the kitchen. Heat is well distributed so it cooks evenly, plus you only need to cook on medium heat. I always get the meat cooked to my liking. Using the fingers when testing for the meat’s doneness is always reliable when cooking with a cast iron pan. Sometimes when you use other types of skillet or pans for steaks, the meat will appear to be well-browned but when you slice it, it’s not as well-cooked as you want it to be.

Tags: beef, cast iron pan, cattle, cow, pork chop, skillet, steak
Posted in Food, Cooking and Dining | 3 Comments »