Sometimes, I Don't Wish Paris

I will let the waters engulf us. 
Let alone skyscrapers bow before us.
This place is dressed for the occasion.
Let them breathe, breathe nothing but us. ♥
-Ken Briz

Dear September Goddess,

17 more days and I’ll be blowing candles again for my 26th birthday. Not that it’s a screaming big a deal, but we all know that, traditionally, birthdays are always someone else’s special day, right? So I figured, why not make a birthday wishlist while waiting for the 21st? Who knows, maybe you’d be kind enough to grant one of them wishes. And besides, I think there’s no harm feeding the kid inside me her simple joys. So, here goes a list of my hundred-to-one solicitation...

• For my birthday cake, I have always wanted a freshly made Italian cheesecake sprinkled with Hershey Kisses on it. You see, I’m a sweet tooth monster myself.

• I may exude a boyish vibe from time to time but an armful of spring flowers (if not possible, roses or lilies would do) usually do the trick in bringing out the lady in me. A huge stress on ‘armful’ okay? Haha! Oh, what pretty flowers do to sum up a lovely birthday.

• Because multiply is shutting down and online blogging can sometimes be (you have to admit it) overrated, I would love to have a scrapbook where I can preserve memoirs of all the people close to my heart, a handy leatherbound notebook where I can list all the things that makes me happy, and a diary to remind the older version of me how life is worth the living despite its rough patches. 

• A pack of Marlboro Red/A badass smoking hot lighter is one of the best birthday presents one could ever give to a smoker. Not that I would treat it as a speeding ticket to the highway of death but it’s the thought I'd appreciate. Haha!

• Now these are quite expensive stuff but a pair of new sliding gloves and a set of protective pads to complete my downhill longboarding gear please? Hahaha! Oh yea, add a leather racing suit too! Okay, that, I’m exaggerating. Lol. 

• Books! Or if I may overstately suggest, a legit pocket dictionary autographed by a famous lexicographer. Say, Barbara Anne Kipfer? :P

• A compilation of Jazz music + post grunge songs in an iPod shuffle/nano. ;)

• What a girl wants! What else? A shopping spreeeeee! M-ma-material girl. :)

• And last but not the least, a Vaio laptop to conclude my grand list.

Thank you in advance! 

Your grateful dancing Virgo,

Ken Briz 

Bottled Coke Shaken Upside Down

 I used to write poems. 
 Of joys and sorrows,
       of affection and remorse.
 But nowadays and frankly more frequent than often,
 I find myself accomplishing nothing
       but a blank sheet of white
       caught in the fervor of madness. 

 -- Disheartening.

 What happened to the juice-squeezing gut
       I had once yearned for?
 What pushed the drive away?
 Shall I recover? And if I do, 
      when shall it be? 


 Finally, I have spun my own web 
       of entrapment to resolve. 
 Questions upon which a hypothesis 
       is therefore concluded. 

 Times have aged and so is my limited experience. 


~kenbriz~

Sometimes I want to go back to the days 

where launching paper boats to water 

is all that mattered to me.

Re-blogging: 


I'm not really into Japanese poetry but this Haiku that I've read from Sarcasm Society really topped it off.

MICROSOFT HAIKUS

In Japan, they have replaced the impersonal and unhelpful Microsoft error messages with Haiku poetry messages. Haiku poetry has strict construction rules - each poem has only 17 syllables; 5; syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, 5 in the third. They are used to communicate a timeless message, often achieving a wistful, yearning and powerful insight through extreme brevity. The essence of Zen:

                                        Your file was so big.
                                        It might be very useful.
                                        But now it is gone.
                                        -------------------------------------------
                                        The Web site you seek
                                        Cannot be located, but
                                        Countless more exist.
                                        --------------------------------------------
                                        Chaos reigns within.
                                        Reflect, repent, and reboot.
                                        Order shall return.
                                        ----------------------------------------------
                                        Program aborting:
                                        Close all that you have worked on.
                                        You ask far too much.
                                        ------------------------------------------------
                                        Windows NT crash'd.
                                        I am the Blue Screen of Death.
                                        No-one hears your screams.
                                        -------------------------------------------------
                                        Yesterday it work'd.
                                        Today it is not working.
                                        Windows is like that.
                                        -------------------------------------------------
                                        First snow, then silence.
                                        This thousand-dollar screen dies
                                        So beautifully.
                                        ------------------------------------------------
                                        With searching comes loss
                                        And the presence of absence:
                                        "My Novel" not found.
                                        ------------------------------------------------
                                        The Tao that is seen
                                        Is not the true Tao-until
                                        You bring fresh toner.
                                        -------------------------------------------------
                                        Stay the patient course.
                                        Of little worth is your ire.
                                        The network is down.
                                        -----------------------------------------------
                                        A crash reduces
                                        Your expensive computer
                                        To a simple stone.
                                        ----------------------------------------------
                                        Three things are certain:
                                        Death, taxes and lost data.
                                        Guess which has occurred.
                                        -------------------------------------------------
                                        You step in the stream,
                                        But the water has moved on.
                                        This page is not here.
                                        ------------------------------------------------
                                        Out of memory.
                                        We wish to hold the whole sky,
                                        But we never will.
                                        --------------------------------------------
                                        Having been erased,
                                        The document you're seeking
                                        Must now be retyped.
                                        -----------------------------------------------
                                        Serious error.
                                        All shortcuts have disappeared.
                                        Screen. Mind. Both are blank.



Bloody true.

Packet Loss

Sometimes, a thunderclap is all it takes to set me off in a foul mood.




I fucking hate the rain.

Of Asphalt Roads, Retro Wheels, and Carved Woods

Because there’s always this big, inevitable question ‘Why?’ when it comes to one of my hobbies – longboarding, I am fully dedicating this entry both to my non-skating and skating friends. As for my unknown reader/s and stalker/s (if ever there is/are), you’re all most welcome to give ear of course.

To start off, I got my feet on board 2 years ago (2010). At that time, I was more concerned with high heels, dresses and other ‘kikay’ paraphernalia. Obviously, it was unlikely of me to find pleasure in extreme activities as such. What changed my mind and made me grow into loving this sport are as follows:

The challenge.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always believed that I was born with balancing issues. The child klutz that I was, I never really learned how to skate nor glide the streets with roller blades on. Either I end up going home with bruises all over my legs or worse, with a sprained ankle. Years passed and the fear of falling and crashing has deeply infested my senses to the point that I couldn’t even ride a bike anymore. (Well, at least not after I turned 18. Pay your minds, I’m still having a hard time making a full turn with a bike so how sore a loser is that, huh? Haha!) Anyway, now you understand where I was coming from.

So when I decided to give longboarding a shot, it was to prove myself that I can do it. Frankly, my baby steps during those days were a bit arduous. I was stiff as a bone and hardheaded as a bull. Picturing it would be as good as making Dr. Sheldon Cooper drive Howard Wolowitz’s motorcycle in Euclid Avenue. But then, guts and determination paid off. Eventually after days and weeks and months of practice and play, I finally learned how to mount, ride, carve, and foot-brake. I was even more surprised to see myself progress being able to execute (without any bragging rights) a high-speed Coleman slide. Do take note my dear reader/s: I’m no pro in any way. Nevertheless, the feeling of overcoming fears and owning them is without a doubt self-fulfilling. And yes, all my humble beginnings, I owe to the guy who has significantly influenced and patiently taught me in this course – Sugar Rei Cuyos. (Bazinga!)

That liberating feeling you get during an afternoon cruise…

especially with your earcandy on is another ground why I enjoy longboarding this much. Simply put, it’s my great escape. My way of de-stressing and detoxifying all the negativity that’s worn me out in a day of toil and pressure.

The wild card: the need for speed!

For rapidness (velocity) is next to godliness. True enough, adrenaline rush can keep a longboard skater – competitive or not – going, no matter what. This for me is much evident to downhill riders. You know why? Because it is in that death-defying moment that they feel infinite, or so I believe. (Just an opinion tho, I could be wrong.)

The bad cookie.

Let us be realistic now, shall we? The experience. Like any other person who’s involved in any extreme activity, I do have my own epic bail stories. It’d be rather disappointing if I have none, right? Do not misunderstand, I am never a sadist. Who in their freaking right minds would enjoy taking abrasive pains in the first place? All I’m saying is getting scratched and burnt is part of this game. Avoidable as it may seem, yet again, apparent.

I tasted my own dose of the asphalt’s fury when I first encountered the ever mighty causing bail – speed wobble – in my attempt to do a mini-downhill cruise in a village near our place. A 3-week flatland skate was the only back-experience I had during that time so technically, I haven’t had a dance with Mr. Speedy yet. Stupidly confident relying on pure guts, I didn’t take heed of wearing protective gears. Hence, a scraped knee, wounded elbows, and a minor scratch on the chin were the trophies I took home. (See photo below for my stunning disaster aftermath.) In short, NO GLORY. At all. On a serious note though, I was lucky enough not to hit my head with that ditch. Else, it could have been fucking dead serious.

Photo by Lenard Pleyto

But let us admit, however sadly and true, oftentimes that is how we learn. So a screaming piece of advice to all aspiring longboard skaters, amateurs, and fellow daredevils, never ever forget/neglect the importance of wearing a helmet when skating. And if you would please and love to live another skate-day, know your skate limits.

The skating community.

Ahh and lastly, my favorite of all causes – the people. I will boast in all manners that it is through this hobby  that I met a whole lot of surprisingly wonderful people. I reiterate, a whole lot.

Special shoutout to my growing Pirata Family: J-bels, Lenard, Gianne, Sherwin, Sugar Rei, Doy, Jd, Obay, Mommie Yow, Dran, Biboy, Mark G, Mimhy, Matt, Dayday, Jared, RJ, RR, Tina, Aaron, Wayne, Kuya Omeng, Dino, and the rest. Where I stand now in my skate venture – how I kick off, ride, slide, and tuck, I’m proud to say I have every bit of you guys in it. For the experience and expertise you have imparted, thank you from my nth core! Keep spreading the fun and stoke guys!  

Photos by Brendan Goco

Photo by Sir At Maculangan

Rice Indulgence (Usapang Kanin)

“Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice). As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in Asia and the West Indies.” - Wikipedia

And since I’m a proud Asian, half-Filipino and half-Chinese in particular, rice has always been and will always be my principal food. It is true that most Filipinos are accustomed to welcoming the day with a bun or two of a hot pandesal over a cup of joe, which they say make a good breakfast. I, on the other hand, take delight in filling my belly with a cup of rice for a day’s start. Be it pancit canton, hotdog, spam, or whatever canned preservative breakfast foodstuff you have in mind, I will definitely require cooked grains served in my plate along with it. So yea, you just shook hands with a rice person. J

It was at the age of 13 when I began learning how to cook rice under my mom’s supervision. And if my memory serves me right, we didn’t have a rice cooker back then. (Or maybe we did but mom would rather store it in her save-this-kitchenware-for-a-special-occasion cabinet, if you know what I mean.) Like any other chef neophyte, I had my own fair share of unsuccessful, mostly disastrous attempts in perfecting a well-done rice. Quite an experience to tell my future kids actually. Instances wherein the aftermath is a burnt couldron because I was too engrossed watching cartoons that I forgot about what I was cooking were the common scenarios. (I blame Sailormoon for that.) The excessive dispense of water or sometimes the opposite, another story. 

However, after added years of practice and basically doing, imho, a girl’s chief household chore, I am now bragging to smithereens that my rice-cooking skill went up a few more big notches high. So whether it’s plain rice you want or mixed fried rice you need to spice up your meal, I will gladly share with you my own recipe and expertise for that matter. J

Here goes:

Plain Rice

The basic in all cooking course. You just have to match the number of cups of rice to the number of cups of water you are to use. Nevertheless, it is imperative to always consider the variety of rice you are to prepare for that will tell you how much water you will need in achieving a well-done cookery. And since all of us have been using the rice cooker, or so I believe, I shall spare you the boiling to simmering details then. A quick tip though, you can always put some pandan leaves as you cook it to give a pleasant aroma upon serving. 

Garlice Fried Rice or Sinangag

Appealing more to the Filipino taste, this traditional fried rice or sinangag is the easiest way to prepare for breakfast. All you need to have is your leftover rice or bahaw as we call in the native tongue and your minced garlic. Again, the number of garlic cloves you are to use depends on the amount of rice you are to cook. First, heat the pan. Tip a spoonful or two of cooking oil or best, butter; then upon searing, fry the minced garlic in it until golden brown. Afterwards, pour the leftover rice and mixed it well with your fried garlic until evenly cooked. A pinch of pepper and salt and it will guarantee your dish the flavor it exactly needs! You may also opt to use other alternatives such as ajinomoto and magic sarap for added flavoring. Add some basil leaves too and you’ll be close to having an Italian feast! J

Mixed Fried Rice or Yang Chow Rice

Growing up in a family inclined with Chinese customs, this by far, is my choice of fried rice. From homemade preparations done by my late Ama and my dad, which I consider one of the best cooks by the way, to authentic Chinese restaurants that served our tables, I must admit, I have become a yang chow critic myself. Well, the procedures in cooking mixed fried rice don’t really have that much of a difference compared to the sinangag. They’re of the same frying sort, only that a yang chow contains more ingredients than the latter, which of course you have to fry or cook first before mixing it with your rice. Shrimps, pork bits, chorizo, shredded cabbage, diced carrots, and minced onion shoots are the frequents. The trick to a delicious serving is the apt assortment of the ingredients, ensuring their tastes blend in together with each other. You can also add a bit of sesame oil to give it more of a Chinese style effect. On a serious note though, never ever forget to mix an egg when cooking this dish. 

The fun part in making mixed fried rice is that you don’t necessarily need to have the ingredients mentioned above. You can either have hot dogs, meatloaves, corned beefs, and potatoes if you want. The use of these substitutes and/or alternatives is what we Filipinos are good at. With proper seasoning and mixing, you are on your way to cooking your own version of a scrumptious mixed rice.J

Curry Fried Rice

Ah, the Middle-Eastern way. This one, I would daresay, is my most recent discovered recipe. Since my boyfriend grew up in Bahrain and has an adroit fondness of the Arabian-Indian-Persian-and-whatever-other-country-is-there-in-UAE-that-I-can-incorporate-an-IAN-at-the-end cuisine, it was quite a task for me to have him try some authentic Asian ones. And that dilemma my friend, led me to try out something new in my customary garlic fried rice. For the love of cooking and him. Haha! Thank heavens my Monica Geller character has never failed me in my kitchen stage yet. So far, he loves this lot. Well, it’s basically the same with the sinangag and all. You just have to use a bit more cooking oil in frying the garlic and rice. Reason behind is once you put in the heavy dose of curry powder, it will help mix up the rice faster and more evenly. This recipe is best topped with fried chicken strips and ground beef. I haven't fully perfected this recipe yet and is currently researching on how to improve the taste but I hope my little venture could help.J

So there, you already have a clear picture on how to feed and satisfy your loved ones’ rice hunger and cravings. Just don’t forget this: Constant mixing until thorough is a must in cooking these rice dishes. It's best served when hot. On a side note, don’t be afraid to try new ideas. In discovering new recipes, one has to experiment. Indulge! J

All photos are taken from the following websites:

http://www.rkmp.co.in/category/general-domain-tags/plain-white-rice

http://panlasangpinoy.com/2009/09/13/how-to-cook-garlic-fried-steamed-rice-dish-recipe/

http://www.daimorestaurant.com/menu.php

http://www.justhungry.com/japanese-dry-curry

Shoe Rack

Other girls may have the fetish of collecting chic clothes and accessories as much as I do, yet again, I enjoy flaunting my footwear more.

The carefree bug I am, flats and sneakers (specifically Chucks and Vans) have always been my signature kicks. Aside from being the perfect skate shoes they already are, nothing beats the comfort a pair offers during long walks. The only downside is, they're much expensive than regular high-tops since branded sneaks roughly cost around 2,000 Pesos and above. Nonetheless, if you're running on a tight budget, you can always hit the "ukay" stores scattered around the corners of Cubao for a good find at the cheapest price.


As for pumps and heels, it is already obvious I got quite a number of these. Well, a few pairs for my daily grind and the others, for special occasions. Truth is, they really aren't my cup of tea. It's just that I CANNOT EVER simply resist the charm of every funky, strappy heel that's being displayed on all the women shoe boutiques I visit to -- Janilyn, People are People, Suzto, Trunkshow, and etc. So even if it's a 4 to 5-inch penny loafer, I'm always up for grabs. 


I sure miss shopping don't I? :))

Crumpy Bites

Re-blogging

_______________ 

21 years ago, I was told stories of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and the sorts. All of them carried a happy ending as their finale.

And I believed them.

So much that I became a hopeful wreck wishing and expecting things to be better than what they are not.

Like them princesses, I held into my hopes and courage trusting that one fine day, my turning moment would come and last like err, forever. Haha! I'm so naive. Well, obviously that didn’t happen. I may have reached the edge of being in a perfect state yet it didn’t actually last.

Yes, pop goes the weasel and now you’re back to reality. Sometimes in a snap, and worse, after a long momentum of winning and achieving. Often times, the next thing you know is either you are climbing the same steps to reach the same goal until you’re deadly beaten or you’re finding another route to escape and start anew. 

Oh life… I guess each wonderland’s story doesn’t want us to be hopeful. Instead, it wanted us to understand that life can only offer a little bit of fantasy and it’s up to us how we're gonna make that little magic, happiness or not, worth the living.

Reality bears imperfection. No matter what, it is no mathematics. Postulating problems is far different from living the life and surviving relationships. There goes the drama, the laugh, and the sourgraping. Always the real deal of course.

I've known people are complicated enough with their exquisite rationalities. I myself included.

_______________

Of all the blog entries I wrote for the past years, this has always been my favorite. 

Shifting Gears

Because things are different now...

This is to remind me that the beauty of words lies on a writer's passion to express.
It will never age. Even after my last cigarette puff.
My quill's back.