Random Humor - Pong Ball Set

Saw this on a package of Pong Balls... really?!?  Just thought it was funny

New Year's Resolutions

It is a little over a week the new year has come, and I think it was a pretty darn good one with my resolutions!

I made a few resolutions, among them:

Clean through my home and start fresh. That is about 75% accomplished! I made a number of trips to Goodwill to donate a lot of stuff, weeded through a lot (A LOT) of old papers, and am giving away a lot of the books I’ve collected through the years. I don’t want to be a horder! I also smudged and blessed the house thoroughly to invite positive energy!

A recent discovery in my fortune cookie.
Could this be the year?

Be more conscious of my food and what I eat. It’s not a weight-loss diet (I’d still like to lose a few more pounds, but I’m generally happy where I’m at, I just need to build muscle now.) but more along the lines of understanding what I eat and appreciate it more. I’ll elaborate on this more in another post.

Another food resolution is to broaden my creativity when it comes to eating.  This might be surprising to some because my friends assume I’m a big foodie and love all things about food. I love to try new things and discover new eats, but when it comes to cooking, I have my usual dishes, albeit probably more than the average home cook.  For example, I want to learn how to prepare some vegetables I’ve never utilized in home cooking like beets or artichokes (the fresh kind - NOT out of a can.)  I might even learn to make a rhubarb pie!

Do a better job of keeping in touch with my friends and family... and actually try to visit some of them. Facebook and Twitter are wonderful things, but it still doesn’t replace face-to-face time with your loved ones. This one might prove tough, though as gas prices continue to rise.

Of course, there’s the usual stuff about growing closer to God, becoming a more spiritual person, yadda, yadda, yadda.  I’m on a good track right now with that, and after the past year, there’s no where else to go but up.  

Hope your New Year is blessed and the journey to achieve your resolutions a great one!

The Past Year in Food - A Collection of Pics

As I was going through some of the pictures I took in the last year, I thought I'd post some of them on my blog.  I certainly made a lot of great memories with food, family, and friends!

Barbecued Shrimp with Red Beans and Rice

Orange Cream Cake

Hot Pot in Glasgow, Scotland

Enjoying a Gingerbread Latte at Costa Coffee
Helensburgh, Scotland

A Fil-Brit Picnic
Helensburgh, Scotland

Food Vendor selling LOTS of fudge and sweets
 Liverpool, England

Cheeses
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Lechon Kawali and Seafood with Veggies
Iloilo, Philippines

Mang Inasal Chicken with UNLI (unlimited) rice
Gaisano Mall, San Jose, Antique, Philippines

Sizzling Sisig
 San Jose, Antique, Philippines

Penong's
Davao City, Philippines

Paradise Island menu (US$1 = 43 Philippine Pesos at time)
Samal, Philippines 

Baked Seafood and Pineapple Rice
Paradise Island, Samal, Philippines

Buko Juice
Paradise Island, Samal, Philippines

Dencia's Restaurant
Davao City, Philippines

Dencia's Restaurant
Davao City, Philippines

Assorted Drinks
Lake Agco, Kidapawan, Cotabato, Philippines

Langka (Jackfruit) on the Acupan Farm
Tuael, Pres. Roxas, Cotabato, Philippines

Papaya on the Acupan Farm
Tuael, Pres. Roxas, Cotabato, Philippines

Preparing the lunch after my grandmother's burial
Sibalom, Antique, Philippines

Discovered mullet (Filipino: Banak) at a fish stall
Iloilo, Philippines

Roast Pig
Pensacola, Florida

Two of my favorite things: dogs and doughnuts
Dog Beach at Bayview Park, Pensacola, Florida

Chocolate chocolate chip cookies

Cheesecake Factory
Orlando, Florida

Kung Pao Oyster
Dewey Destin, Destin, Florida

Oyster Po Boy with Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits
Great Southern Cafe, Seaside, Florida

Mediterranean Delight (Mixed Kabob Plate)
Ferdos Grill, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Grilled Flatbread (Lebanese Pizza) - Zaatar & Labneh and Meat Pie
Noor Bakery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Laksa Curry Soup
Lunch with the Aunties, Pensacola, Florida

Frozen treats with Tito
McD's, Gulf Breeze, Florida  

"Slices As Big As Your Head!"
Momo's, Tallahassee, Florida

The sign every Southerner loves to see!
Krispy Kreme, Dothan, Alabama

Thanksgiving Roast Turkey
Enterprise, Alabama

Thanksgiving Dinner
Enterprise, Alabama

Wings, et al - FSU vs. Florida game
Enterprise, Alabama

Really?
Hardee's, Enterprise, Alabama

Chinese Beef Noodle Soup
China Delight, Tallahassee, Florida

My drinking problem
My Car, Tallahassee, Florida

Farewell 2011 - Requiestat En Pace, Annus Horribilis

I will not mourn the passing of this year. My 2011 will go down into my personal history as a series of many unfortunate events. It was my annus horribilis - “year of horrors.”

While I have encountered a few setbacks and disappointments that I thought would harden me, I hope I am now a stronger person as I welcome the new year.

I learned just how truly resilient I can be when needed. I have become more resourceful, and I have learned that my greatest treasures are a close circle of friends and family who have provided immense love and support.

Cheesy as that sounds, it is the simple truth.

It seemed that I had a lot more time than money this past year, but time proved much more valuable than money:

Time to enjoy with family in Britain, and making new friends with a wonderful Christian community in London.

Time to care for my nephew while my sister studied and my brother-in-law was deployed to Iraq, watching in amazement as he grows smarter, more articulate, and handsome!

Time to be Ninong (godfather) to my friends’ children, and feeling very special to see their faces light up when they see me.

Time to love the dogs I have fostered for the Gadsden County Humane Society, and time to help a friend rescue wonderful dogs have a second chance in life.

Time to reflect and catch up with old friends over a good meal or a cuppa.

Time to re-connect through “bonding moments” (as they say in the Philippines) with my family across many islands.

Time to honor the matriarch of my family, tending to my lola (grandmother) in her last week of life and later sharing in the celebration of her life.

Could it be possible that I take with me some good memories of this past year? Perhaps the cynicism that consumed me in 2011 did not quite overtake me.

Maybe I was too quick to judge what this year has been. Far into the future, I just might change my mind.

2011. Annus mirabilis?