Simply Me

friends who have known me for the last 10 years can certainly attest i can not cook.i love eating but cooking is an entirely different ballgame. it is something that requires time and attention…both, i am not good at.

it is only later in life that i developed an interest in cooking….when ysabelle hits 2 1/2 years old.i knew then that i had to do something to feed her young body and mind with a warm home-made meals whenever i can. not an easy task, cooking. it was trial and error (and still is), mostly error, for every single dish i do. having a salty and sour inclination in everything i taste doesn’t help either. a friend, once commented, “ang asim naman ng sinigang mo”;i said, that’s why its called sinigang. i eat most of my meals at home with patis on the side (started cutting down on salt as the hubby finds it too salty for his liking). i am still learning. on good days, i got  raving reviews from the the hubby and the little one which gives me an adrenaline rush to concoct something to top that up. some days were not just my days, hence i got two thumbs down. very frustrating!

when my little one gives me two thumbs up, i am thrilled!! this week i got few thumbs up and that gets me going.

we had this for dinner today. i got two thumbs up, two big toes up and a protruding tummy from ysabelle. the hubby, he prefers last night’s dinner, fish in black beans sauce(tausi). yes, its all fish this week. if there’s something we all agreed on when it comes to “ulam”….fish tops the list!!!

i was at friend’s house a couple of weeks ago and in the course of exchanging views on different matters, an issue of abortion came up.

i am pro-life.i consider it sacred and honor its sanctity.i do not pass judgement on those who favors it for whatever reason.it is a matter of choice.i respect it as i hope they do mine.

i am also a person of science.it is my professional and ethical obligation to see to it that i treated patients under my care equally.i see past beyond the color of skin, religious or political affiliation and sexual orientation and yes, a choice one’s made for themselves which may differ from mine.i do not excused myself of that duty unless it go against my moral/personal conviction, abortion is one of those.i made it known at work that i wont take any part in the process of terminating a pregnancy,in any shape and form.i am obliged as a professional member of staff to make sure that the place is safe for such procedure, that’s how far or close i can go.the moment a patient get inside the theatre/operating room i go out of it.

i was 36 when i got pregnant with ysabelle, an elderly primigravida (first pregnancy) by any standard.due to my age,i was offered an amniocentesis (extraction by centesis of amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman  to aid in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities), a risky diagnostic procedure as it might cause a miscarriage.i was told to think it over.i didn’t have to think it over, i refused it point blank.what good will it do if the test proved that my unborn child has chromosomal defect, a down syndrome. will i opt for abortion? NO. i told the midwife i do not see any point at all.

at the end of the day,it is a decision one has to make.we are only given one life to live and a chance to lived it and the choice is in your hand.

it was 4:30 in the afternoon….i was in the middle of watching nicholas cage’s “knowing” when i suddenly realized i haven’t prepared anything yet for dinner.i took a fillet of salmon out this morning to thaw but haven’t decided yet what to make of it.there’s a programme at 5:00 pm that i don’t want to miss either.i only got few minutes to spare.then, i remembered seeing a salmon and soba noodles on tes’ blog this morning ( thanks girlfriend for that inspirational blog and the dish of course) and hurrah!hurrah! problem solved.it doesn’t looked and maybe taste as good but it will do for dinner;after all salmon and singaporean noodles are izza’s favorite.

my own version of honey mustard baked salmon on singaporean noodles..

2 tbs mustard
1 tbs honey
1 lemon zest and juice
salt
pepper
1 tbs of butter
fillets of salmon

***mix all ingredients in a bowl and marinate the salmon.set aside for 10-15 minutes(preferrably longer) for flavor to infuse. baked for 20-30 minutes or until to your liking

227 mg. pancit bihon(soaked in hot water for 10 minutes)
1 med sized onion
1 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
2-3 tbs of roasted sesame oil
salt
pepper
spring onion(garnish)

***cook it as you normally cooked pancit but add the turmeric powder after you sautee the onion.since the noodles is almost cooked, it only takes 5 minutes for the entire cooking process.

i was comfortably seated on the sofa facing the bay window; watching the birds and feasting my sight upon new blooms on my neighbor’s garden when a thought hits me yet again.yes, it is the title of scorpio’s hit “wind of change”. so, instead of passing my time coughing and sneezing all day and night i needed that much refreshing break from it all….

literally, it is as simple as changes of wind…figuratively, well, it is  open to everyone’s interpretation of  your “wind of change”…………………….

a gentle breeze and soft caress
western wind has touch my face
it encircles me with warm embrace
nurtures me with joys ahead

i feel the grass strokes my feet
wild flowers sways just to be kissed
i lift my arms and swirl around
me and those leaves in rhythm this time

i was jarred by a sudden gust
the graceful wind becomes wild
the leaves shiver upon its touch
flowers cringe shaken by its sight

dark clouds looms and obscure the light
upon the horizon the tempest sweeping fast
on its path were debris of once a lovely sight
i shudder at the scene unfolding before my eyes

i run and run and try to hide
from the ghastly fingers of stormy night
i need a shroud from its lightning whip
shelter from wrath of its thunderous screech

how can it be the wind so velvety
all of a sudden becomes monstrosity
just this morning you sang me a lullaby
by nightfall you turn to an ugly malady

i knew that wind are known to shift
should have known the fury it will unleash
i  summon the courage to boldly face
after the storm a brand new  day will break