crossrhodes

I was at a McD’s drive thru when I overheard a Filipino lady placing her order. “Ay’ll hab one prench pries and a diet cook soo-dah pleess.” (A diet coke soda is like saying the New York Times paper.) Some of my relatives still have Filipino accents but they don’t sound so primitive like other Filipino accents. What’s the difference? How can you know which region or province a Filipino is from by their accent?

What a weekend! We came home last night from my cousin’s wedding in West Va. Who doesn’t love family reunions? Everyone came from all over the country! The family rented adjacent 4-story condos where us cousins stayed in one and the “grown ups” in the other. The reception was in the ski lodge. We practically had the whole resort to ourselves. From the rehearsal dinner Friday night to the post-wedding brunch on Sunday, I think we each gained 10 lbs in one weekend. I am convinced that food is the bond which keeps Filipino families together.

It’s weird being a student again for the first time in 10 years. While I was typing away on the IBM ThinkPad in the solitude of my bedroom, index cards scattered on the bed, coffee on the nightstand, my sense of reality shifted. I found myself back in the 20-something bubble when grades (and social life) were my only responsibility. You know the bubble: cram on homework all day, party hearty at night. For a moment there I had forgotten my leading role of wife and mother. I’d have to find a breaking point soon to carryout my 30-something responsibilities. Downstairs is a 13 y/o boy who needs to be hauled away from Saturday morning cartoons. Later a husband will be asking what’s for dinner.

[food bytes] What IS for dinner? I have a half pound wedge of Asiago in the fridge. I think I’ll improvise on the traditional macaroni and cheese. Substitute Asiago for Cheddar, penne for elbow macaroni, a béchamel rather than cornstarch thickener…….. I still taste the wasabi from yesterday’s lunch. We had a farewell luncheon for a co-worker at a Japanese restaurant. The fleet of sushi boats came one after another as if the sushi bar was a marina. I love Japanese food, especially when it’s free. I love any food that’s free! (Geez, I sound more like my husband everyday.)

Oh well, back to my character analysis of Mrs. Dietrich and the Joy Luck mom.

The art of writing is the art of taking the seat of one’s pants to the seat of one’s chair. My first paper on character development is due Monday and I haven’t got a word on paper! My first sem back in school and I’m craaaamming!

The metal cast sky tells me Hurricane Isabel is on the move… but you can’t rain on my parade!!! The event coordinator of the acclaimed Founders restaurant in Philly invited me and a guest to dine for free! (Complements of our marketing program to wine and dine Ford dealers principals.) This French restaurant atop the Park Hyatt Bellevue has a gorgeous ambiance w/ a surrounding view of the city. It has been given a capital ‘R’ for Romantic. So… whom shall I take as my guest? Hmmm… I have to think about that *grin*