quick fix-its

It's one of those days when I can't sleep because of things weighing me down -- thoughts, feelings, apprehensions... paranoia, even. At the same time, I'm so physically exhausted from long days amd anxieties, my immune system's complaining and my body really yearns for sleep.

I'm in a state that's somewhere between what old Filipino folk call, 'nauupos na kandila', which would be a melting candle in English, and a dam that's about to burst. I really should just go to sleep and get it over with but I find that my chaotic thoughts are battling with my tired body. Hmm.  What to do, what to do?

Here are 5 quick and safe solutions that just might work:

1. Have a cup of sleepytime tea instead of the the usual coffee before bed. I love Celestial Seasonings' and Yogi's Bedtime Tea.
2. Take an anti-histamine already, for goodness' sake! A couple of shots of saline solution up each of my nostrils and probably some badger winter wonder balm or a whiff of Echostore's Spa in a bottle would help, too.
3. Take my vitamins. See, all that worrying and stressing makes me forget sometimes. For all I know, with a vitamin every day, I'd feel less defeated.
4. Sign out of all those social networking sites, and just get up from my chair and into bed. Oftentimes, getting stuck in front of my computer's what keeps me from precious sleep.

I know whatever deeper thoughts or prevailing challenges that have been keeping me awake these past few days could still be there tomorrow, but let me handle them on a better day, one I hope to get with enough sleep, clearer sinuses, a refreshed body.

In case I still have some tension, a headache and these blasted allergic rhinitis symptoms when I wake up after, say, the third try, I'll try a no-fail cry a bucket of tears movie. And, of course, there's 

      5.  Prayer, the #1 no-fail fix-it healing balm.

I really should try to put it in the top of my list, instead of at the bottom, for an 'in-case-nothing-works' situation. Maybe then, I won't need to find myself in a state that will motivate me to come up with a list like this.

Craving for Comfort

It's been raining a lot the past weeks. Rain, rain, rain... rain, rain, rain. I've had that phrase as my gmail status for sometime, in fact.  This year, we've had 12 tropical disturbances, already 2 more than the total last year. Just this quarter - our rainy season -, storms had been so bad, students and sometimes the office work force, had been sent home.

Today is another one of those days. It's rained throughout the night, then when parts of the metro were flooded and filled with commuters sent home after lunch, the sun decided to check us out. Just for an hour or two. Now, it's back to gloomy skies, more rain, and the craving for comfort food!!!

What is it about the rainy weather that makes one crave for comfort food? It's no longer a surprise to read status updates on FB, tweets, blog posts, and google+ posts sharing what one is having for a meal or snack, or craving to have. Here are the top all time comfort dishes posted by my contacts:

• Hot soup - there's Sinigang, Good old Chicken soup or Tinola, Ramen, Wanton Noodle Soup
• Noodles/Pasta - Chinese, Italian, Filipino, the closer to childhood versions, the better. 
• Champorado - porrige made with sticky or short grain rice cooked in rich chocolate. People have posted their favorite variations including grated cheese, dried salted fish. 
• Eggs & Bacon, Pancakes & Waffles, Sausages, French Toast - Breakfast!
• Adobo, Fried Rice, Eggs - all in one plate
• Chips & Dip, Pizza, Ice Cream - Junk Food!  

What is it about comfort food? The warm memories, images of safety, security, love? Do we need all that to feel safe and warm during rainy days like this?  And why does it have to hit us when we're in the mood for nothing else to balance it off, like working out instead of staying in bed or planting ourselves in the sofa for a movie fest.

Since we're now on the 4th or 5th storm in two months, I've been on a long-running pursuit of my very own comfort food.  Arghhh! Just making the list is driving me nuts. And, because I won't drive in crazy rainy weather, I couldn't satisfy every single craving, but I aim to have each of these at least once, while it's raining:

1. Ramen. Every single time my husband asks where I want to eat when we're out, I say anywhere with Ramen. This craving hasn't been fully satisfied, so I'm still on the lookout for the best. I've tried Teriyaki Boy's, Kimono Ken's, Shinjuku's, Ramen Bar's, and Sumo Sam's ... next on my list is Atsu Ramen.

RBS#1 from Ramen Bar... so good, so comforting

Sumo Sam's was not so hot (literally and figuratively)

1. Champorado. I read that Chef Laudico has a Belgian Chocolate Champorado in his all-day breakfast menu at Chef Laudico's BFast. My sister swears by her version of white chocolate. They're both on my checklist. 
2. Chicken Inasal. Chicken roasted on an open pit or grill, Bacolod or Ilonggo style. I've tried about four "best" places, and I have to give it to Oscaritos near ABS-CBN, with JT's a close second. Mang Inasal makes me sleepy and since I'm not much of a rice person, I see no thrill about the unlimited rice offer.
3. Eggs, Bacon, French Toast. For someone who gets up late in the mornings, breakfast is my all-time favorite meal of the day. Weird, I know. This I can prepare myself. With organic eggs, bacon slow-cooked to a crisp, French Toast made with Brioche and soy milk, and spread with either strawberry jam or Nutella.



Laksa at ToastBox. Come to me, mama.



4. Laksa. This is one comfort dish that isn't easy to find. There are excellent versions during Singapore month in hotels and restaurants, but on a whim? It's not exactly excellent good enough in Orchard Road in Mega Mall, and I have yet to try the one at ToastBox in Trinoma Mall. Better yet, why not try one from Singapore's Street Market? That is in the works *fingers crossed*. 

While most of these remain cravings, I will do my best to substitute, as I have often done -- preparing a version or turning to cold baby carrots instead of these warm, comforting dishes. In the meantime, I will find comfort in knowing I won't be putting on an extra 10-15 pounds eating every single craving every single time it hits me.

Note: When I finally get to satisfy the child in me with a sampling of these dishes from my target establishments, I shall update this post with better photos. 

Event Giveaway Keepers

I just got my nth USB flash drive at a press conference today. How did I get x number of flash drives (when I was just planning to get one 3 months ago)? It was the giveaway. It is the giveaway du jour at events, media launches, and conferences. Here are some:

flippers. Simple metal, or
encased in leather for some elegance

shaped  like a their product

ball point pen and laser pointer, too

I've received really funny, inane, useless, and creative stuff, but I'm liking the current trend. We've at least moved on from mugs, and for that alone, I do not complain. Here are my top 5 fave giveaway items, so far.

1. USB flash drive 
2. iPod (who wouldn't appreciate that)
3. Notebook (the paper kind, double points for unlined ones)
4. Pen or umbrella (at the rate I lose them)
5. Coffee

There's always a reusable tote or even gift certificate, which is a hit whenever it's part of the swag bag, but where's the fun in those? For a PR person like me, who also gets the chance to be at the receiving end when covering a story for a publication, I'd say go for an item that will work double-duty. The item should:

1. make an impact. "So cute!!!" is ok. It's an impact.
2. be useful. Otherwise, it'd get thrown into the same hole as those glass swans or even mugs. The iPod... no-brainer, but what made it work? The organization's video and playlist were already in it. Smart! Same with flash drive; these were loaded with the press kits.
3. be related to the product, service, organization being promoted or introduced. I mean, why give a paper fan if the product is an ISP?
4. be the product itself, if a product or bunch of products are the focal point of the event or launch. Let the receivers get a whiff, taste, experience... you know? Hit two birds with one stone.
5. be branded. Put a stamp on it as a reminder. Make it a mini something like that USB flash drive shaped like a tire from this tire company; branded, of course. 

I'm looking at this latest addition to my growing collection of USB flash drives. It's different, and it's a USB flash drive, and these days, one can't get enough of these handy-dandy items. The uniqueness factor is icing on the cake or a piece of string the organization that gave it away just tied around my finger to remember them. For those two reasons alone, they're keepers. But I still want the Hello Kitty one I saw recently.

Holy Week with a Twist

I spent nearly the entire Holy Week in a hospital this year.

Being independent and autonomous, not foolish.

When asked to describe myself I would always point out something that has become very obvious to me, I've acknowledged and accepted it. I am a jill-of-all-trades. That's fab, I mean, what can you not do as long as you're willing?  Unfortunately, this multi-tasking bit habit comes with quite a trade-off.

Coffee Lover, ergo Coffee Paraphernalia ADDICT?

Does it follow that if one loves coffee, she'd love whatever comes with having that cup of brew as well? And if that same person needs coffee as much as she wants it, she'd be addicted to paraphernalia, too? I don't always buy coffee paraphernalia, but I can't resist lingering over coffee makers, stuff with coffee print, design, flavor, and scent, as much as I can't help stopping when I see cups and saucers and mugs. And, I have to confess that I was once actually obssessing over using the right measuring spoon for my coffeemaker.

The Trouble with Writing

Actually, the trouble I encounter happens when I write, not with writing in general. I once posted this bit years ago in another blog:

Tech love

Like I said in my last post, I welcome technology and enjoy it. What has it done to my life for me to feel this way?