Connecting with friends of old

Cross-posted on Pinay New Yorker on Friendster

I usually check Friendster after checking my e-mail.  I try to see if any of my 20-something friends have any updates, if the dozen or so people I’m requesting to add as my friend have responded, and I try to remember who else I can search for.

Over the weekend I found Denmark, a rapper I did some voice tracks for as “Louningning”.  (I heard he had re-issued this but I suppose he would’ve used someone new because it was produced by a different recording label.)  I just wanted a copy of my old “mini hit” because my husband has no idea I did that in a previous life.  (I am almost certain he will roll on the floor laughing once he hears it.)  Denmark, though, has several accounts and I can’t seem to get through to the one which he appears to be checking regularly of late.

Last night, I decided to go further back and searched for friends from my original block in UP Manila in 1983.  (Ask me my student number and I will rattle it off without batting an eyelash.)  I was part of a group of around 6-8, the only girl, and everyone’s little sister.  I still remember the guys: Robert, Ronnie, Ronald, Abner.. the others are somewhere at the back of my head.  This afternoon I got a response from Robert and yes, it’s GARP!  (Our pet name for him back then..)  Because I bumped into him, I searched for Ronnie, and I shot him a note although I’m almost certain that’s him in the picture I see.  SMALL WORLD INDEED!

I must say it’s very heartening to be able to connect to people who became part of a very interesting stage in my life.. way back when.  I don’t know if it’s the innocence of the age or just that it was from something very real and familiar that makes it all the more meaningful. 

Now let’s see who else I bump into here..

Thinking Pasalubong

Mom arrives on the 19th. 

I was on the phone with my sister, Offie, earlier and I was rattling off my bilins.  So I thought I’d list it down here so I won’t forget between now and her departure.

1. Pastillas  – I was able to find some from the Goldilocks in California but it just doesn’t taste the same, so this is something that I really crave for when I hear someone can bring me some from Manila.

2. Goldilocks Cheese Boat Tarts – Yes, we have Goldilocks, and yes, they have boat tarts, but believe it or not — NO CHEESE TARTS.

3. Copy of the latest YES Magazine and maybe MEGA – Just to keep myself in the loop about showbiz and the social scene.

4. My debut souvenir – Never brought one here and forgot to get one when I went home in 2002.  Offie is sending me hers.

5. Royco Chicken and Beef Noodle Soup, as well as Beef and Chicken Sopas – The Filipino stores don’t carry them and I need them for Angel’s broth base.

6. Serg Milk Chocolate – Serg has always had a taste all its own.

7. Palo chino sandok – for the rice cooker.  I bought 3 for P100 back then, it might be P100 each now

8. My rotadisk for my Ventolin – all out since my last asthma attack.

9. Powdered calamansi – I came across a small bottle selling for $1.19 here but I’m sure it’s much cheaper back in Manila.

10. Megamelt ensaymada – Ube, Macapuno and plain please — something Alan and I look forward to.

11. Purefoods Sisig – perfect for those nights I feel like having it with a sunny side up and some rice.

12. Argentina Corned Beef – Alan loves this cooked Arroz a la cubana style with plantains on the side.

13. My favorite gourmet tuyo –  How fortunate we are that the actual “factory” is over at New Manila which is just a stone’s throw away from where we live in San Juan.

More to come.

Wishing it was just Saturday this Sunday evening

My boys are napping in the living room.  I’ve just finished taking care of the dishes, and washing one delicate sweater.  I thought I’d post before I tried to give myself a manicure.  (Which, by the way, is a luxury these days.)  I’ve actually stopped caring about how they look.  I haven’t had any nail polish on since May of this year.  Since I’m doing interviews, I thought I’d do myself the favor of dressing up my nails.

Sometimes I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief as I look at how I’ve gone to nail-crazy to plain nails.  I used to have a manicure and pedicure every week and a change of polish midweek.  Even when I got here, I managed to do my nails on my own.  Since I had Angel, though, there simply has been no time to paint them pretty except to clean them.

I still have to get things ready for tomorrow — prepare the coffee maker, get Angel’s lunch and dinner together (Alan is staying home, then it’s daycare from Tuesday onwards.)  I also need to do a little writing — snail mail.

That’s the reason I want to have another day this weekend.  It’s Columbus Day tomorrow but it’s not a holiday for us.  So back to work I go.