Hello !
I’ve been neglecting my blog. (~.~) # Well, not really….. I’ve been busy studying for my final exams. Also, this Fall semester is almost over. Oh , in fact, I don’t have classes anymore. I go to school for the tests. I’m sure I’ll get an A in Physics, at least a B in Biology . My Chemisrty is the one I’m having problems with. But I won’t fail. If worse comes to worst, I get a C. That is , if I failed the Finals, but I won’t. A pretty dim prospect , I know, but that’s better than F.
I’m so happy I got 1 more Versatile Blogger nomination , my 7th, from Koopa. Thanks a bunch, Koopa ! I’d like to follow the rules once again. You see, I left out so many info and people on my previous post, so , now I’ll take advantage of this nomination to acknowledge a few more awesome bloggers. But I’ll do this next time….. I just don’t have the time to reread and check out their posts.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Today, Thursday, Dec. 15 , is the start of my long vacation. It’s a combined Christmas and semestral break. I go back to school last week of January.Also, I had already enrolled for Spring semester…. 2 Chemistry courses and 1 Biology. I was supposed to enroll in another Biology but it was ” closed” . That’s the one and only class for this course, and seriously, this whacked schedule is jeopardizing my future. Why , oh, why can’t the university open more classes. I mean, seriously, just one class for , I don’t know , maybe a hundred Biology majors? Several days ago, over dinner, my family had a serious discussion about future job prospects . My sister , who’s a microbiologist, and my brother, who’s a mechanical engineer, already have well-paying jobs… so that leaves me alone with a quite uncertain future. The discussion was all about me, and how I would cope in these uncertain times when rate of unemployment is 9.2 % for new graduates. We also discussed the rate of unemployment for graduates of other majors, such as Psychology, which happens to have one of the highest unemployment rate, even higher than say, Philosophy, surprisingly. However, for Nursing graduates, the unemployment rate is practically zero. I;m talking about RNs or Registered Nurses, not the ITT types who study nursing for 8 months, straight from high school, then call themselves nurses, as well. My sister suggested I should also take additional courses that are needed to enter a nursing school, such as Anatomy ( Sis took that too ). However, the tuition fees are quite intimidating, something like $20,000 a year. My parents say whatever it takes… they’re going to help. I’m now like 90% sure I’ll enter a Nursing school after I finish Microbioloy….. neeed to cover all the bases, y’know?
I know this next topic is kind of stale now, but I still want to write about this.. my Thanksgiving happenings. Well, we all know about Black Friday sale. For those who don’t know, Black Friday is the mega sale following Thanksgiving Day and usually starts at 12 midnight. I was scheduled from 10 PM Thursday to 8″30 AM Friday. I left our house , together with my former manager at BCBG and co-worker ( they were our dinner guests) at 9 PM, after dinner. When we got there to open the store, there were already about 50 people waiting outside. When we opened at 10 PM, they frantically rushed in. We later complained to the manager we couldn’t cope with just the four of us working. . She scheduled 4 people that day. Actually just 3 coz one of us ( me ) worked as the cashier. Thank goodness, shoplifting was minimal. I didn’t come home empty- handed though. I pre-purchased a few stuff and put them on hold….. a pair of boots, a runway dress, a chic sweater, and a jacket I call Diva jacket. (^__^)
Also, I promised Zoe I’d post pictures of the dishes we had for dinner. So, Zoe, here they are:
Not shown in the pics are the chocolate cake I baked , the pulled pork my sister’s boyfriend cooked, and the embutido ( pork loaf ) and leche flan that I cooked too. It was still in the fridge when I took the pics.
Lumpia or eggroll ( I cooked that) , green bean whatever ( my sister’s dish ) mashed poatato ( mine too )
Brownies, banana nut muffins ( I baked those ) , pumpkin poe and cheesecake ( bought at Costco )
Fruit salad, chicken macaroni salad, ( I made these ) and chicken adobo ( Mom’s ). Do you see the brown juice in the pitcher? That’s boiled brown sugar with banana essence and tapioca ( sago) pearls. It tastes good. Sister’s BF and non- Filipino guests loved it. You can also see our bamboo placemats.
That’s beef Caldereta ( Mom’s dish ) and the turkey. Hmmm, not a good-looking turkey ( my sister’s ) but so far, it was the best tasting roast turkey we have ever had . There was no ” turkey” taste at all, it was melt in your mouth good and very juicy. The beef caldereta is just stewed beef , but different, coz we add liver spread/pate to the dish
I don’t know what this is, it’s my sister’s dish, and it’s delicious and spicy.
The lasagne is in the pic, but I wasn’t able to get pics of the pulled pork ( my sister’s BF’s contribution… it was still cooking in the slow cooker when I took pics of the spread….. it was very delicious ! ) , the leche flan, the embutido and the chocolate cake that I baked/ with icing.
Embutido
Leche flan
That’s it. Our Thanksgiving Day dinner. We didn’t have much, actually, compared to last year’s and the years before that.
Oh, I almost forgot ! My sister, her Bf and I and sis’ co-workers joined last night’s Santacon Crawl. If you don’t know what that is, Google it. It was fun ! We all dressed in Santa outfits, paraded down the streets of Downtown, bar hopping ( I was the designated driver…. I don’t drink ), and man, it was freezing cold…. about 30 F .. for Celsius users ( -1 C ) .
Here’s an image , taken in San Francisco. It’s like a flash mob type of mayhem and anarchy, with quite a few cops observing in the sidelines. I’m sure to go again next year…… and there’s also the Zombie Crawl , a Holloween event. We missed joining this year, but you bet we’ll be there next year.
This image is from a Denver event.
So, anyways,
What am I gonna do during the holidays ? I’ll do a lot of cooking and baking, work and earn some $$$$ ( better start saving for nursing school ), read Eragon, finish playing the video games Resident Evil 5 and Persona 4, Prince of Persia and Infamous. We have over 150 games in our collection.
So that’s it….. the rest of my boring, geeky life. Maybe I should start dating
, get a boyfriend,
and , as my BFF suggested , get laid. Ahahaha ! Just kidding !
This is all for now. Peace ! Oh and HAPPY HOLIDAYS ! Wooooh ! Vacation time !!!!!
Am a Molecular Microbiology student, love to read books, and I play the violin. 
dreamsending
renxkyoko
renxkyoko's space 
Posted by willofheart on December 18, 2011 at 10:45 pm
I love reading this post specially on the food photo’s….. oh my! all are yummy specially the adobo rocks!…. thank you for sharing …
Posted by renxkyoko on December 19, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I ‘ve always loved posting pictures of food. I wish I could make this a food blog, lol.
Cheers !
Posted by Koopa on December 19, 2011 at 12:07 am
If I hadn’t read through it, I would not be thinking this as food for thanksgiving with so many Filipino dishes… :p yumyum!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 19, 2011 at 4:04 pm
I know, right? It’s funny, you’d think our guests have their own Thanksgiving family dinners to go to, but they’re with us. Always, every year. I think it’s the food they’re after. My sister’s best friend just loves our food. She has asked for recipes but she says the dish she makes tastes different from the way we make it. Maybe it’s the taste buds , lol.
Posted by Dear Lora on December 19, 2011 at 2:18 am
Gorgeous picks! Congrats on the nomination! Btw: As a mom, I think studying for exams trumps just about anything, you made the right call on that one…your column is worth the wait 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 19, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Thanks, Dear Lora ! I’ve actually nominated you but I’ve been getting the wrong link ! !
Happy Holidays !
Posted by Kyoki on December 19, 2011 at 2:25 am
I am so full from eating dinner earlier, but looking at those pics makes me hungry all over again. LOL!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 19, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Kyoki -chan ! I miss you ! What have you been doing ? And you haven’t updated your blog. >.<
Posted by Princess Laila on December 19, 2011 at 10:07 am
next time you cook you must invite me to dinner… 😛
congrats on your nominations… 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on December 19, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I wish I could ! I’d invite you all to dinner !
Cheers, Princess Laila !
Posted by Joyce Kelmer on December 20, 2011 at 4:55 am
oh dear you’re not the only who’s been busy with life, I guess everyone’s really preparing for Christmas.
Majority of the foods you prepare were Filipino dishes, that’s so nice and you know how to bake…geee, I envy you 🙂
and that’s a pretty scary picture 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on December 20, 2011 at 7:08 am
Baking and cooking…. not rocket science, he he he… especially if they come in a box.
Oh, yeah, most of the dishes are Philippine…… savory and delicious, but , aaargh, labor – intensive. We make the lumpia for 4 hours, and then disappear in 30 minutes. ^_^ #
Posted by majalove on December 20, 2011 at 3:16 pm
I hate you! >;( you cook soooo good… (well looks sooo good) haha
how I envy you…
Hey, I think the “get a boyfriend” idea sounds good… just screen the good good-looking ones and the bad good-looking ones.. Hope you get one that could respect you as a woman.. 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on December 20, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Hey, majalove, didn’t I give you easy to cook recipes? I have the impression though that you can cook. Well, living alone in Japan, I guess you’re forced to learn something.
He he …. I always swear I’m gonna get a boyfriend , it’s almost a mantra… get a bf, get a bf, get a bf……. at the end of the year, it’s still zero, LOL.
Posted by mooselicker on December 20, 2011 at 5:54 pm
I love bananas but at Thanksgiving? I don’t know why that’s what I noticed first haha
I need to learn about microbiology to understand how smart you really are.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 20, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Hey, Mooselicker, it’s banana essence, not real bananas. lol. And it’s a juice, with tapioca pearls floating in it. Sometimes, we use almond essence.
Eh. I’m not naturally smart. I struggle, get nosebleeds, hyperacidity, just to get a good grade.If I don’t study, I fail… unlike those naturally smart people like my brother who never studied, but still got straight As, always was on Dean’s list …. it’s almost unfair.
Posted by eva626 on December 20, 2011 at 9:09 pm
all the dishes look amazing!!!
id hide every plate of food for myself
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2011 at 7:09 am
They are delicious too. We’re going to have another set of dishes for Christmas dinner, but the lumpia is a mainstay.
Posted by The Hook on December 21, 2011 at 2:08 am
Way to shake things up, young lady! Great post!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2011 at 7:10 am
Thanks, Mr. Hook ! And And Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Posted by REBECCA DAWN on December 21, 2011 at 2:20 am
aw man, all that food looked so yummy! Im drooling..its not a pretty sight! lol
wow that guy’s zombie costume was awesome! it freaked me out!
Many years ago, (carbon dating here) I went to my friend’s quinceanera, she was from the philippines, we pigged out. me on alot of filipino food. however, she mostly wanted canadian food. so it was quite a mixture.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2011 at 7:15 am
Yeah, it was a mixture too… There was mashed potato, turkey, lasagna, and 3 other dishes… in fact, more than 50% are American. The lumpia is a mainstay, it’s always there, like finger food. There wasn’t much this year though. We didn’t cook turrones.
Posted by viv on December 21, 2011 at 7:02 am
I’m still perplexed that you’d get an A in physics..the best I could ever get was a D heheheheh!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2011 at 7:20 am
Hi, Viv !
About Physics… well, I just discovered it myself…. seemed I was good at it. My first Physics the other semester was A too. In Chemistry, there were two topics that perplexed me, ha ha ha… Equilbrium and Buffer…… but the rest were okay. But these two pulled down my average. I guess I overstudied Physics, and left out Chem and Biology. Not good.
Posted by annerifficweak on December 21, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Wow. The foods look tasty. And embutido. My favorite. I remember my uncle used to teased me whenever we had embutido.
Anyway Ren, I sent you an email. I hope you got it. 🙂
Posted by purplebrightsummer on December 23, 2011 at 2:58 am
please pass the leche flan. 😀
Happy Holidays Ms. Ren. ^^
Posted by renxkyoko on January 6, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Hello, purplebrightsummer ! Love your sig, by the way. ( passes the leche flan )
Happy New year to you !
Posted by jim on December 24, 2011 at 1:16 pm
So much food!!!! (^___^)
Happy Holidays from the Philippines, Ren! 😀
Posted by renxkyoko on January 6, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Hi there ! happy new year to you ! Ah, I know you’re pigging out over there too. Ha ! Nasa Philippines kayo, ha ! Ang saya !
Posted by J. White Sensei on December 25, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays!
Posted by renxkyoko on January 6, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Awww ! hello, Sensei ! Wishing you the best new year too ! !
Posted by Henry on December 26, 2011 at 6:54 am
Hello Kyoko! Checking all my blogroll friends. Merry Merry Christmas!!! All the foods looks so “masarap”.
Posted by renxkyoko on January 6, 2012 at 11:59 pm
Hello, Henry ! ! I wish you a most prosperous new year ! !
Cheers !
Posted by PM on December 27, 2011 at 5:12 am
i also want to wear a santa costume! maybe next time i will find an excuse. i love the look of your table, very festive and thumbs up on the baking and cooking that you did. i wish you well on your chem exams. you know, unemployment rate is also high here, especially for nurses. you see they are trapped in the country who would not pay new nurses to work. hospitals want them to volunteer. it is a big issue actually. all nurses here want to go abroad but it is not that easy too. but fingers crossed you will get a good job. i say if you continue to work hard it will come. advance happy new year to you one of my favorite bloggers 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on January 7, 2012 at 12:08 am
Awwww ! Thank you , PM ! And a happy and Prosperous New Year to you too !
Posted by simpleek on December 27, 2011 at 3:36 pm
After seeing all your photos of your Thanksgiving dinner, it made me hungry. It’s foodie paradise for sure!
It was interesting to watch people in NYC do the Santa Con too. I didn’t participate in it myself, but it was quite an interesting sight to see lots of Santas and some elves all over the city. 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on January 7, 2012 at 12:11 am
I know, right > Ahahaha ! The Santacon was really awesome ! ( Though at nearly freezing temperature, I don’t know how we managed to walk around. I jumped up and down to warm me up.
Happy new Year !
Posted by Nel on December 28, 2011 at 10:10 am
These are making me miss Christmases back home! So much food and a lot of stories that go along with it.
I hope you’re truly enjoying your holidays,
Nel
Posted by renxkyoko on January 7, 2012 at 12:13 am
Thank you, Nel !
I hope you had a merry new year too. ( I gained 4 pounds …. good thing I have the dance video. )
Posted by Lafemmeroar on December 28, 2011 at 9:11 pm
What a feast! Everything looks delicious … how much did you eat?
Posted by renxkyoko on January 7, 2012 at 12:14 am
Hello, lafemmeroar ! How much did I eat ? Yikes ! Enough to gain 4 pounds !
Posted by trjensen on December 30, 2011 at 9:29 pm
I nominated your blog for two awards because Iove it and I wanted to share it with others. You can find more information here: http://narcissistsblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/drum-roll-please/.
Love – Teri
Posted by renxkyoko on January 7, 2012 at 12:16 am
Thank you ! Thank you ! I’ll do the acknowledgement on my next post. You’re awesome !
here’s to ya…. CHEERS ! !
Posted by Gone flying a kite. on January 1, 2012 at 6:16 am
Oh wow, that’s too many food! I just came from pigging out last night and this is what I see on your blog 😉
By the way, I like how you use “Philippine” to describe something. Like, “Philippine guys”, and “…the dishes are Philippine…” Cute 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on January 7, 2012 at 12:18 am
LOL ! !
Is that a little weird ? Ahahahah ! ! Oh, hey, you’re on WordPress now ! Yay ! Love your blog, by the way . I sure am going to nominate you. I was supposed to, but you weren’t on WordPress, then, right ?
Happy new year !
Posted by Project44 on January 4, 2012 at 1:07 pm
I am hungry! Great shots …of food 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on January 7, 2012 at 12:20 am
The pictures I posted here made me hungry too ! Thanks for passing by, Project44 ! Happy New Year !
Posted by Zoe @ Pantry and Fridge on January 7, 2012 at 9:35 am
Awesome photos!!! By the way 🙂
Posted by Zoe @ Pantry and Fridge on January 7, 2012 at 9:34 am
Hello Ren!!!! 😀
I am so sorry I just got to read and catch up a bit on your blog! The end of the year kind of pulled me away from WordPress more than I liked but getting back into it, I hope.
Anyhow, WOW. I read your January ’12 post before I read this one and just like that post, your food looks amazing. That’s something I’m just starting to get a handle on is cooking a lot of stuff and getting it done all together or planning ahead. I don’t cook for groups – almost 99% never so its hard for me. You seem really good at it 🙂
Like I mentioned in the Jan. post…. Recipes!!!!! 😀
Thank you do much for sharing this beautiful spread!!! Sorry I am behind!!
(ps. How did you do on finals?)
Posted by Akshay Khokhar on January 25, 2012 at 5:39 am
Commenting after long 🙂
The dishes look tempting, though I’m a veggie, but still won’t mind a bite or two… there is no thanks giving/halloween in India, but still I love the feel of halloween, may be because I love the psycho move by the same name 🙂
And yeah the Black Friday Sale, grabbed a new leather jacket and a new ipod.!!
And yes you should get a BF, get some life geek 😀
Posted by sa saliw ng awit on February 6, 2014 at 5:47 am
hello, Ren… just saying hi. hope you are well, dear. btw, your friend’s suggestion seems to make a lot of sense, hihi. 😉 you should have progressed towards achieving the first two on the list, bwahaha. hey, nami-miss ko lang posts mo, kapatid. mag-blog ka na uli. tapos na ang winter dyaan? 🙂