Studs and Spikes

Due to some constraints in time, I opted to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with friends.  Surely, I missed tasting the dinner prepared by my cousin in MI.  He is currently studying at Culinary Institute of America in NY.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed the adventure of cooking my first turkey. 

Armed with knowledge learned from Chef Alton Brown, I had the foundation on the basic how to's of turkey cooking.  Being a Filipino, I modified the the taste to suit our distinct palate.  It was respectable for a first timer.  The fowl was juicy, flavorful, and had crispy skin.  The sides I prepared were stuffed shell pasta with Italian meat sauce, and apple onion and pistachio stuffin muffin.  We ate at 6pm, which was late as I was informed by friends, because thanksgiving dinner usually starts at 3pm.  What?!  I didn't know that!

The most challenging part was Black Friday.  We went to an outlet  mall 30 mins away from our place attempting to buy ridiculously discounted name brand items.  At 30 degrees F, 12 midnight, standing in line and only had a simple jacket to wear, I have resolved to never repeat such hideous idea.  Sometimes we attempt to do crazy things.

Still, Black Friday shopping continued in the afternoon after waking from the much needed sleep.  This time was a success because I was able to buy John Varvatos Converse high top shoes. They may not be the sought after silver chucks, but mine had studs and spikes.  Cool!  They may be so last season but, at half the price, I'll grab them!

Tour

It's late and I have got a lot of things to do.  My daily patient notes remain untouched.  I have to prepare for the trip to the mountains this weekend.  Lastly, I have to learn how to use my new phone.

I am not a techy guy but, I try my best to go with the flow of the times.  Earlier, I felt the need to upgrade my phone.  My poor flip phone has reached its critical stage. The screen has developed a liquified form of pixel which the health department will classify as unsanitary.   I think I burned up what's inside the LCD with three years of long hours of talk time.  Complaints were also received from friends who were getting a busy signal even if I have been patiently waiting for their calls, thinking I was left out of the group.  While trying to fill in a gap in my schedule for the day, I stopped by my network with determination to replace my sickly phone. 

After a warm welcome at the door, I immediately turned my way to the new phones.  I wanted an iphone initially but, my friends and I have resolved to stay with our current network due to confidential issues.  LOL.  Since my nework does not carry the apple product, I settled for another fruit, the blackberry.  Customer service was great.  The lady have answered most of my questions satisfactorily.  The only problem I have is that I am not a "manual" person.  I have an allergic reaction to a manual, for whatever product it may be.  Nevertheless, I have patiently killed time understanding and absorbing all the information the lady gave me.  She also tried to transfers my voicemail and contacts.  Transferring the voicemail was a success but, the transfer of contacts was a dreaded calvary.  I have to manually transfer all my contacts which left me awake 'til the wee hours.  I have to stop at J.  I badly need sleep to make it to work later. 

I hope I find time to fit learning to use the features of the phone and optimize its use.  I have paid big bucks to let it be just in paperweight mode all the time.  May the gods of technology smile upon me.

Let's see...I still have 30 days to figure out if this phone works for me.  Otherwise, I'll shove myself back to the cave of the primates.

Play

I love perfumes.  It's one of the bonding moments my friends and I had in high school.  One of the teachers actually tagged our group as the "fragrant ones".  I didn't know if I'll be flattered, specially if it was an old man on his retirement who would compliment us.  We went to his wake a few years ago bringing flowers, just to remind him that we were the "fragrant ones".

Perfume as gift is classic for me.  It is quite expected if I want to play it safe.  I have been complimented for good choices anyway.  :-)   Usually, I shop for perfume with AL.  We try all bottles and samples until our noses can't keep up with us.  And both of us get our fragant presents from RD when he comes home.  And we'll be wearing them on the first night out that week.

The perfumes I have worn ranges from Armani to Zegna.  Some bad choices in between.  I used to have a scent I wear to work, to shopping, meeting friends, bar hopping, to church, to bed, and just about anything.  It's been a while since I bought my last bottle.  I still have stocks of them but I wanted to try the new fragrance of Givenchy Play.  If it will be the intense or not, I do not know yet but, I really wanted to scout for a new scent.   Maybe next time AL will be with me to shop for perfumes.

Gift

Countdown's over!!!  Another year older.  Age is just really a state of mind.

They say this is a time to reflect and renew your mantra.  I think that's overrated.  LOL.    I will just enjoy today as it comes while doing my usual routine of work.  No travel plans, no broadway shows.  That's a first!

Imelda Factor

Recently, after watching Logan Neitzel wear his silver John Varvatos high top Converse shoes, I remembered wanting to buy the same shoes online on Saks Fifth Avenue early this year.  What prevented me?!  $145 + tax + shipping.  LOL.  Probably procrastination too, which often happens.  Anyway, these were limited edition shoes and I cannot find them anymore online, at least in my size.  :-(  I guess I have to settle for the low cut ones, or a different color, or something classic.

Logan is one of the designers competing for Project Runway season 6 aired on MyLifetime network.  He is the only fit and good looking designer to grace the show  this season.  His designs are edgy, and rock and roll except for the last one where he made a 50's blue dress with black lace complete with a feathered hairpiece... reminiscent of an 80's prom dress.  His was one of the worst 3 but, he was not eliminated.

Tomorrow's challenge will be to create a design using newspapers.   Interesting.