Time To Say Goodbye, Wriggly

There's no more Wriggly. I lost him today.

Lisa once told me that a Mom would know when the time has come to end the life of her 4 legged child.

People used to give "subtle" suggestions that I should put him down because he is very old already.

Back then, I would question myself, Why should I do that?! He could still eat, walk and do his business.

But for the past few days, he stopped eating, drinking water and doing his business.

I would feed him 3 or 4 pieces of pellets and then he would lie down and stop eating.

I know that the time has come. I already made my decision last night.

"Wriggly, if you want to rest already, it's ok."

I was with Jing and her family today and told her my plans of putting my baby to sleep.

Jing asked me if I was going to hold a wake for Wriggly. I said no, out of sight and out of mind is better.

But then she asked, "What about the abuloy!?!" She knows me so well.

I love abuloys!

My mom's wake was held in Forbes in 2006. I was wondering why I was only getting mass cards and flowers. I asked my sister, "Ate? How come in the movies people give abuloy to the bereaved family members? Why am I not getting any?????!!"

And then my Ate replied, "Then we should have held the wake at Funeraria Veronica in Pasay if you were after the abuloy!"

That's what I love about my family and friends. They know what to do or say in time of my emotional upheaval.

The worst thing you can say to me is, "Are you ok? How are you?!"

Obviously, I'm NOT! But I will be.

I saw some friends in Rockwell today and I cannot even talk to them because if I do, I would burst into tears. I was wearing shades until it was night time because my eyes were so red and swollen from crying.

To lift my spirits, I ate a bar of chocolate, had dinner at Healthy Shabu Shabu, watched Spectre and bought my favorite Raffles Sour Cream and Cheddar potato chips.

For a few hours, my tears stopped falling.

My friends and family wanted to be with me to comfort me.

But I just want to be alone.

Let me lick my wounds in private. Allow me to grieve. Allow me to cry without the fear of embarrassing myself.

But I thank you all for the love and concern. I will be jolly and happy in a few days.

Even my FB friends expressed their sympathy in my time of sorrow.

I could not understand before what it means when they say to help comfort a friend in her or his time of distress, just let the person know you are there for her/him. You don't have to do or say anything, just assure the person you are there.

Now I understand.

As I was about to lay Wriggly down on the metal table at the hospital, he raised his head and kissed me twice near my lips...

As if to say....

Thank you...

I love you...

It's time to say goodbye, Lia.

 

 

 

 

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"Kainserye... Inaabangan... Araw Araw"

Hahahahahahaha! This is a private joke between myself and the Batgirls.

We have a Viber group and everyday I would post what I ate then they would get an inspiration or a food craving.

I thought to come up with the word, Kainserye, which I got from the word, Kalyeserye.

The Batgirls would wait everyday for my photos.... Hence, Kainserye... Inaabangan... Araw Araw.

Sharing with all of you what I have been cooking and eating everyday....

Pork BBQ

I recently revived my pork bbq business. Thanks to Vicky for inspiring me.

Adobong Pusit.

I really love the inky black sauce. Yaya Hermie only gave me a cup of rice, I could have easily eaten 2 cups!

Healthy Shabu Shabu in Rockwell..

My ultimate comfort food even if I do not need comforting.

Domino's Pizza!

There was a buy 1 take 1 promo. Sophie and I had a date in my house.

Char Kway Teow at Cili Padi.

After my errand at The Makati City hall, I had a late lunch.

I was so hungry the other night. My after-midnight snack or perhaps I should call it meal was....

Mekeni Bacon ( my favorite), Ram Pork and Beans and garlic rice cooked with bacon oil. I love my ceramic plate with separators. It feeds my food OCD.

FGM Cindy treated me to an afternoon delight at Tim Ho Wan, Megamall.

Pork BBQ Buns

Rice Vermicelli with Shrimps

Hakaw

Siomai.

I suppose Lia's Food Journey has been a kainserye for a long time already.

My readers always wait what I am going to cook or eat.

This will probably go on and on and on because I will not stop cooking nor eating.

Even I cannot wait what's next!

Surprise!!!!

P.S.

I am fan of Kalyeserye! I am crazy over Aldub. Even if I do not watch TV, I watch it on Youtube everyday.

 

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Crab Night

The last time I cooked Adobong Alimango was 2 years. http://liasfoodjourney.blogspot.com/2013/09/adobong-alimango.html

It is not a popular recipe but my neighbors love it. I just enjoy cooking it.

Am I the only one who thinks that the finished product looks so lovely?

Reminds me of the song during mass... "How lovely is your dwelling place.....".

Adobong Alimango is an easy dish to make but the killing of the live crab is quite traumatic especially for an animal lover like me.

Even if it is just a crab, you will be looking at its eyes directly when you kill it. They said, you have to poke it between the eyes.

You also have to open the crab while it is still alive to get the "aligue".

But once you get past that stage, it is not difficult anymore.

Babita asked her helper to bring home crabs from Quezon province.

Y

They were huge and meaty "gay" crabs!!!

The fat was yellowish in color compared to the female crab which is color orange.

Total cooking time was probably 20 minutes.

We also had Daing na Bangus

Grilled eggplant

Boiled Okra

Bagoong from Tricia.

Babita let us try the Ukoy Puso ng Saging.

Mabel gave us Chocolate Mochi, pasalubong from Japan.

Everybody ( Mona, Babita, Tricia, Cat, Shey, Mabel and I) just shared in the cost of all the food.

Maybe I can cook it again but not that much. A piece or two perhaps?

Yes! That is doable!

 

 

 

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Milkshake Date

I had a milkshake date with my Junkie friends, Cat and Shey, at Dean and Deluca, Rockwell.

Both of them are busy mothers so whenever we get a chance, a quickie as you might say, we go to Rockwell for our eat/drink and run dates. When their phones ring and their kids need them already, off they go!

I read in Spot.ph that the Dark Chocolate Chip Milkshake is one of the Top 5 in Metro Manila.

It was not too sweet though because it was blended with ice.

We tried the Cuban Cheese Roll!

Loved it! But it was such a tiny pastry! I could easily eat 4 of these in one sitting! 6 even!

When we entered the cafe, I saw a guy eating a panini with potato chips! I told the waiter I wanted a side order of the chips!

Another favorite!

We spent the afternoon talking about our household woes and how to be able to adjust and handle our domestic problems.

Times are different now from the time of our parents and grandparents.

What used to be effective then may not apply anymore today.

Hopefully, with our new insights, we will be able to accept what we can change and what we cannot.

 

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Gilly's 16th Birthday

Gilly turned 16 several days ago.

Her special request was.....

Pancit Bihon!

I could cook almost anything but that was her special request.

MY special request was Fried Chicken!

I experimented with a marinade. It still wasn't what I was looking for in terms of taste.

It means..... More R&D!

Beef Kalitiran Lengua Style.

I enjoy cooking it but I don't eat it.

Mashed Potatoes.

My family loves mashed potatoes.

Dessert was Mango Cheesecake!

Ate ordered it from Holiday Inn.

I asked Kuya to buy everybody's favorite ice cream, Pistachio.

Gilly is so grown up already!

I remember when she was about 2 years, whenever she would enter our house, I would tell her, "Gilly! Kiss Wriggly!"

Hahahahahahah She would bend down and kiss Wriggly on the lips!

Gone were those days.

Happy birthday, Gilly!

 

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Calderon

There was a food tasting event last night at Calderon, owned by Monchet and several other partners.

Chef Bambi and Tricia asked him if I could tag along since it was a blogger's night.

The specialty of the restaurant is Spanish food cooked the way our grandmothers used to do it.

Calderon has new dishes and I was able to try all of it.

Sopa de Tomate, it was one of my favorites! I am a soup person.

Bocadillos (Sandwiches)

El Cubano, roasted pork with mustard and dill pickles in between buttery crusty bread.

Bocadillo de Chorizo y Huevos

Loved this sandwich! I am thinking this is what I would love to have for breakfast all the time.

Ok!!! Not all the time but when I am off my diet.

Bocadillo de Jamon, Manchego y Pimiento

Crusty buttery baguette with manchego cheese, ham, pimiento and olives.

Arroz Chorizo

I had several servings of this dish. I especially enjoyed each forkful with the red pepper.

Tortilla de Patatas Y Cebollas

Huevos Rotos

Jamon Serrano

Gulas (mock eel)

Chorizo

Monchet said to break the yolks so it is runny. Rotos means broken.

Postres (dessert)

Torta de Limon

Canonigo.

Calderon has several branches:

1. F. Calderon St. Little Baguio, San Juan

2. Classica Condominium, H.V. Dela Costa St. Salcedo Village, Makati

3. East Capitol Drive, Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig

My friends asked me what other food they serve at Calderon. I took a picture of the menu so they could see.

We will probably go to their Makati branch since it is nearer.

The food platters were delivered to our table non-stop! I was afraid to eat a lot of one dish because I might lack space in my stomach and won't be able to try the rest.

I even told Tricia that I was going to wear an eating dress.

Thank you so much for inviting me to the food tasting event!

My tummy thanks you all as well!

 

 

 

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