What is the title of the 80’s song which contains the phrase  – “Apropos of nothing”?

I was half-listening to the radio over the weekend while trying to decide which of the dozen blog topics I will pursue when the song came on. I tried singing along but lyrics always escape me and I make up the words as I go along. (To Michael’s endless glee.) Distinctly though I heard the line – Apropos of nothing. Snap! I got a name for my blog! Just perfect! It connotes unrelatedness (my thoughts exactly) and trivia (a kind word to describe most of my blog entries). And, I also like the word “apropos”. I like the way the ‘s’ sound disappears.

So, there I got my new blog name. But is it unique (as a blog name, I mean)? Google showed me it’s not.  There are at least two blogs out there with the same name. One is being maintained by a cat-lover. She’s got cat pictures all over the page and a blow-by-blow account of her cat’s root canal procedure.  Some mention of tapeworms too. The other blog’s title has a description – “Musings of  a Madrasi who Lives in a Cold Place”.  A quick scan places the Indian (?) guy in London. I don’t know really. Just google it if you want to know him more. And let me know if my blog also comes up in the search.

Saturday Market: Where??

Any one of my two housemates (my husband Michael or our fashionista-in-residence boarder/friend Estela) left our newspaper on the dining table opened to the column of Barbara Gonzales. In her article last Saturday, Ms. Gonzales was talking about a weekend market in Makati. Wanting to compare her notes against mine, I immediately read through it with my morning coffee. I smiled at the same things we have noticed and I found myself nodding to her comments. I was also surprised that she was kinda hard and heavy on that article. I am not an avid reader but so far, I cannot recall her going on an R&R (ranting and raving) on her previous columns.  Oh well, even the one who gives lilypad lectures has a bad day every now and then.

I must still be feeling the after effects of SoC’s Friday night party that I did not immediately see the glaring discrepancy. Ms. Gonzales was talking about ANOTHER weekend market. And what’s this? A Sunday Market? Didn’t she say Legazpi Park? Wait, she said that some vendors are also from the Saturday Market at Salcedo Park. In my last blog, I was talking about the fun we had last Saturday at Legazpi Park. Hmmm .. was it supposed to be Leviste Park? Is there a Leviste Park?

So what market in what park in what day of the week was I talking about in my last blog?

Hehehe … The Saturday Market I went to is located in Salcedo Park while the Sunday Park is located in the Legazpi Market (haven’t been there … yet) … There – clear as a summer’s day … If that got you confused further, well, just choose a day at your convenience and try both locations till you got lucky.

(Thanks to Sheryl for the clarification – our office is on Salcedo side, Kras. Same side as the market you went to last Saturday.)

Link to Barbara Gonzales’ article –

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/LIFESTYLE200506273307.htm

Our Saturday mornings has just gotten exciting. Any working couple will tell you that breakfast is indeed a fast affair — either taken expeditiously or not at all.  Saturday breakfasts are not something to rave about either – it is usually something quick from whatever is in the ref (because grocery shopping does not happen until later that weekend). Thanks to Legazpi Park Saturday market, we get to have a leisurely and satisfying brunch to look forward to during the week. One less stress, one more perk.

We were in luck this morning. It was the market’s one-year anniversary! The place was crawling with happy organizers (matrons/patrons of the village). There was not only one band but two drum/brass bands! I was overjoyed. At the same time, I felt homesick for the town fiestas at my province. The “tabu” [market day] in my hometown is always best during feast days.

   Indeed the place is small – it is just the parking area beside Legaspi Park. It took us only 15 minutes to have a stroll around and basically, we have seen the entire place already. It was a jumble of organic vegetables, some home plants and a variety of specialty foods.  The food stalls took 70% of the entire area.  We saw the pritchon, which have read and heard about but Michael decided that the piglet looks more “kawawa” than delectable. The homebaked breads look fantastic.  We thought of having some of Ineng’s BBQ but we can always have it at Market! Market! The grilled tuna got the conjugal vote for brunch (together with cold buko juice and buko-pandan for dessert). With the kind morning sun and happy shoptalk all-around it was an enjoyable brunch. On the side, I was watching paella negra cooking in a gigantic paellera. A foodie heaven, indeed.

    What we bought:

1. Calamansi powder — perfect for marinade and seasoning (yup, even for “sawsawan” with soysauce). It is the perfect answer to having standby kalamansi – without the eventual rot of fresh fruit.
2. Lukban or Vigan Suka – some more of the Tagalog sawsawan food habit which I still find amusing.
3. Focaccia — bread so good it does need much else to satisfy your carb craving.
4. Wooden chopping board – every home needs one.
5. Lengua and Lechon Paksiw in jars — guaranteed one-year shelf life due to vacuum packaging. Upscale alternative to canned goods.
6. Sinaing na tawilis – perfect for dinner or a late lunch. Five banana-wrapped packs for P100 – very good deal for very delicious meal for 4 people. (Just had it with steamed okra — gobble, gobble, gobble.)
7. Assorted veggies – enough to be consumed within three days. Well, at least, we get to eat three vegetable dishes a week. No, the pickle in the cheeseburger does not count.

What we will go back for in the coming Saturdays:

1. The paella (negra or otherwise) – the sight of it is hard coded in my brain. I must have some of it.
2. Sausage sandwiches — plump, juicy sausages being cooked right in front your eyes.  You get a free muffin too!
3. Milkfish pate – supposedly unbeatable with pasta or crackers
4. Indonesian food stall
5. Thai Food Stall
6. Roxas Lechon (or any of the fast-disappearing lechon)
7. Fresh Chinese Lumpia – assembled as ordered
8. Poppyseed Muffins – will try it for Zsa’s sake
9. Dressed native chicken — for some down home tinola
10. Sinaing na Tulingan — haven’t had that in a long time.
11. Some more Focaccia bread
12. Some more Sinaing na Tawilis (for Nanay)

It was unavoidable.  It rained. Traffic piled up. We treaded dangerous roads. We fought for parking space. But it just was not meant to be.  The reservation expired at exactly 720PM — without fanfare, without even a sympathetic look from the clerk. It had finally come. We have reached the three forfeiture limits of sureseats.  Sigh …

   Why was Katie Holmes chosen here? Because her lopsided mouth matches Christian Bales’ equally asymmetrical face. Michael Keaton is still the best looking Batman for me. Still, Bale’s face is very effective in its transition between Bruce Wayne and Batman. He looks like an entirely different person with the mask on (he’s got cheeks and more balanced facial structure).

In the next destabilization plot or corruption charges, I will hire Liam Neeson to "restore the balance" in this country.

In the discussions between Batman and Liam Neeson (geez, for the life of me I cannot remember his character name), I was reminded several times of a basic Christian story — the story of salvation. On one hand, Liam (Roy Mogul something?) believes that Gotham is "ripe" for annihilation because it’s corruption is too deep. On the other hand, Batman believes that Gotham can still be saved. (There is something troubling me about this repeated allusions to "salvation" but I cannot yet explain it.)

Star of the Show — Oh, Alfred. It’s always been dutiful Alfred for me.

Recommendation — Go see.

Quotables — Something about a man is not what is inside but what he does. Something about anger and guilt, about vigilante. Dang! My mind is really shot.  I cannot remember the lines correctly.

URL: http://www.batmanbegins.com/

Gud blogs r NOT hard 2 fynd

(written more than a couple of months back)

bkit ba kc comm res pa ang napili ko noong sandaling di ko malaman ang kukuning kurso sa kolehiyo? ayan 2loy, wala akong magawa kundi ang mag content analysis bago pa man ako magsimula ng sarili kong blog. (o di kaya naghahanap lang ako ng lakas magpublish online? scouting the terrain baga para di masyadong mapahiya sa pagiging blogger wannabe.)

sa aking pagkamangha, di rin nagtagal ang aking paghahanap ng huwarang blogs. unang blog pa lang ay napanganga na ako sa galing nong may akda. intelektwal ang dating at parang academic journal ang pagkasunod sunod ng suppositions and countersuppositions. aba - at may bibliography pa cya. ganito rin kaya cya kagaling nong college kmi? masyado cyang tahimik noon at ako naman ay masyadong deadma para makapansin ng talento at henyo. under-achiever by choice (actually, no choice) ang drama ko  noon.  sa totoo lang, na-intimidate ako sa husay ng kaniyang blog. nadismaya rin kc akala ko pa nman ez lang ang mag-blog. di ko yata kyang magmaintain ng blog kung cya ang aking sukatan. reserba ko na lang sa dissertation ko ang ganyang klaseng brain efort.

ang sumunod na blog ay medyo type ko na. free flowing  at talagang journalling ang style. ang main topic siyempre ay tungkol sa sentro ng universe — na walang iba kung di ang may-akda. nakakaaliw na nakakaasar. nakakaaliw subaybayan ang halos araw arw na pagrecord niya ng kniyang moods. may araw na di maganda ang gcng, may araw na bugnutin, minsan nman ay galit talaga!!!! teka teka parang isa lang ang direksiyon ng kaniyang mood swing — puro yata negtive. oh well, at least merong siyang channel to release those emotions. diffuser din pala etong blog.

di ko sinasadyang i-klik ang link niya sa YM. batiin ko lng sana cya  pero nadistract ako sa nabuksan kong blog. free flowing din ang style at halong tagalog englis ang salita. the same “d world revolves arnd me syndrm” pero ang naiba sa blog na eto ay ang maingat na pagtala sa mga nangyayari sa kniya. hindi lang tungkol sa feelings kund kung ano talaga ang nakita, nalsap, naamoy, nbsa nlman … multisensory baga. hookd agad ako sa pagbabasa tungkol sa kaniyan xperiences. feeling ko, andon na rin ako kasama niyang naglakbay sa buhay niya. Cguro ganito ang feeling ng isang guardian angel [or devil, as d case maybe]. At tulad nga nila, di puwede makialam sa buhay ng may-akda – hanggang comment ka lang.

Tinangka ko rin magbasa ng blogs ng ibang tao (meaning – just some anonymous writer). Ay, di ko feel. Wa ako paki sa mga iniisip at nararamdaman nila. Kebs ko kung sa kung anong rant nila sa buhay? Wait, wait – may exception pala – gusto ko yong sa beerkada.i.ph. medyo pumapalya ang social/political/economic commentary niya pero magaling ang visuals (komiks!).

Kung meron man akong natutunan sa aking content analysis – eto yon.

1. yes, your opinion/thoughts/feelings matter – but only to people who know you despite the unfunny handle (user ID)

2. yes, it is ok to rant and rave – on things great and mundane

3. yes, parang news ito – the shorter, the better .. so kelangan ko na tapusin to para ma-ipost na.

One of the most memorable things in Pope John Paul II’s funeral is the calling of saint’s names.  Even now, two months after seeing it on CNN, I hear distinctly in my mind the sing-song recital of saints and the Faithful’s plea for the saints to pray for us — ora pro nobis. I would also like to be brought to my final resting place with the same lullaby and with a strong faith that the saints will intercede for my soul.

Thus, even as I toil on daily drudgery, I meditate on the saint’s lives by subscribing to Smart’s “Saints Daily MMS”. (Ha! You did not see that coming at all! There is no escape in commercialism.) When the saint’s description is especially interesting, I google it for some more information. (Hey Leo – there again is a new verb for you — google. Sounds like a turkey.)

[Best hit is  Catholic Saints and Angels ]

Here are some of the interesting saints so far –

St. Augustine of Canterbury (aka Austin) —-  this guy was such a scaredy-cat! He was sent to England to rekindle the faith and hope among those conquered by the Saxons. But he got so frightened by the horror stories of Celts torturing Christians that he ran right back to Rome. Good thing, his obedience was stronger than his fears.  The second time he was sent, he had such a success that he converted the King and reclaimed England as a Christian country.

  St. Joan of Arc – Well, even non-Catholics know her. Thanks to the film. She hits a bestseller everytime — a farm girl who heard voices and saw visions, conquered enemies of France in the name of Jesus and Mary, and of course, the piece de resistance —she was burned at stake as a heretic.

But did you know about St. Petronilla? She was supposedly the daughter of St. Peter (yes, The Rock –not to be confused with WWF persona). If indeed she is – though the Church says it’s not true — then parentage does have its privileges. J

   I have heard of St. Elmo’s Fire (yes, I heard of the song before I knew of the dancing fire.) St. Elmo is the popular name of St. Erasmus. While hiding from persecution, he lived in the mountain and survived by the food brought periodically to him by a raven. Discovered and imprisoned, he was rescued by an angel. As all saints had it, he was eventually recaptured and martyred.  This MMS came with a picture of St. Elmo on his back and torturers slicing open his stomach. I guess that’s how he came to be a patron for abdominal pains, appendicitis and child birth (?!).

It is humbling to know that these saints were people of the ordinary kind. Only by their Faith did they surmount extraordinary challenges. Their lives sure do makes some great storytelling. Am telling you, the stories of the saints beat any Dan Brown bestseller any time.

  Magnificent! How else can I describe the successful comic-to-movie transition? Sheer genius — all credits to the technical crew of the film.

PG: Okay, okay … but the movie was violent as sin.

PG-18: Worse than Kill Bill?

PG: Definitely.  They did not have a mute Elijah Wood eating fingers off a woman while she watches. 

PG-18: Well, Hannibal Lecter did that with an obnoxious cop’s brains. He even made the cop eat his own brain.

PG: The cop was given drugs first so that does not count.

Star of the Show –

PG-18: Marv — big guy in-love with Goldie. He reminds me of Hellboy and likewise, he is a gentle giant.

PG: You mean the one who fed Elijah Woods to the dog?

PG-18: Gentle with the ladies, I mean.

PG: What ladies?

(Close nominee is the Yellow Bastard. I can smell him from my seat.)

Rating:

PG-18: Must see!

PG: Agree. But don’t bring your kids and young siblings/nephews/nieces. It was not called Sin City for nothing.

You leave the cinema and live the next 10 (and counting) days of your life on this soundtrack — “I like to move it, move it … He likes to move it, move it … We like to .. move it! … Physically fit, physically fit.” Aargh … get that song out of my head!!! “I like to move it, move it … He likes to move it, move it …..

Definitely not for children – otherwise, be prepared to answer these questions.  “What made the psychedelic colors, Ma? Can we get some too?”

Star of the show — the self-proclaimed King of lemurs. Looove that lemur-robot dance!

Rating: Can’t see (the point of paying for this crap)

(Disclaimer: This review does not reflect conjugal opinion. My husband Michael, absolutely loves this movie … I like to move it, move it .. He likes to move it, move it … We like to … move it … physically fit, physically fit .. I like to …  ad nauseum infinitum)