I was browsing online tonight and remembered that I had a blog online.  Reading my blogs reminded me of what a life I had!  My last post was in June 2011....that was over a year ago!  I really don't have a good reason for not posting, but I will say that life got the best of me.  So here I am wondering if anyone was still "following" (not stalking) me on my blog.  Most of my followers are my friends on Facebook.  So maybe this blog is bust?  Or maybe my controversial stories about life are not of any interest?  To blog, or not to blog.  That is the question.

Flamin' Hot Festival

I went to the annual Flame Tree Arts Festival this afternoon. Surprisingly, there wasn't that much people there around 1pm, but I was able to catch some entertainment - hula dancers. I updated my status on Facebook stating that it was so dead at the Flame Tree Arts Festival. Some people commented on my status and said it was because of the scorching heat and they were planning to go tonight. I'm not sure what the temperature was, but I think the weather was alright. It was hot, but not unbearable. I think the breeze helped, too. I didn't want to take any chances so I brought a hat to wear this time for a double-dose of sunblock!

Helloooo world!

Where have I been? I've been here, not to worry. I've been there...but mostly here.

I miss blogging. I think I've had writer's block so I've been real bad about blogging since 2011 began. I don't want to break any promises for keeping up with my blog so I'll just say I'll try my best.

So long, farewell......

The last day of the year 2010 has come. I always get the jitters when the new year is about to kick in. Maybe it's because I'm excited for the new year and at the same time, I'm nervous of the unknown of what is to come in the new year.

I don't think I've ever had a perfect year. A year without anything going wrong and everything going right. Of course, if that were to happen, I know that means I'm actually in LALA land and not living in reality.

For 2010, I'm so thankful and forever grateful for so many things....

I'm grateful for my health (although I know I could strive to live a healthier life). I'm grateful that the air I breathe keeps my heart pumping to live life!

I'm grateful for my husband, Floyd Masga, who has always been by my side through thick and thin and happy that we made our vows in front of God in 2010.

I'm grateful for my family and friends who have shown me unending love and support.

I'm grateful for having a job and having the opportunity to work for a great company that truly takes care of its employees :)

I'm grateful for the new people I've met in 2010 and look forward to meeting more people in 2011.

Sushi for Christmas

One of the gifts I received this Christmas was from my goddaughter, Brissa. She gave me a Sushi kit that came with an instruction book and some tools. With my love for cooking, this gift was absolutely perfect!

When I think of sushi, I think of raw fish, rice and nori (seaweed wrapper). After reading the book that came with this kit, I learned that the word "sushi" has nothing to do with fish. It literally means "vinegared rice".

I will attempt my sushi making skills and post pictures for your viewing pleasure. Stay tuned!

2010 Cookie Exchange

For those of you who know me, I usually like to make an original cookie for our family's Cookie Exchange. Okay, so at least I try. Two years ago, I made my White Christmas Cookie. That cookie was a true crowd pleaser, and definitely one of my favorites!

This year, I made plain sugar cookies with a flair. I decided to concentrate on the presentation of my cookies and not so much the ingredients. I dressed up my cookies with colored icing and different decor. Coming up with cookie designs definitely motivated my creativity. It almost felt like I was stamping cards, trying to come up with a design for each cookie.

This weekend was our annual Cookie Exchange with all the ladies in our family. I can't believe that this was our 6th year to carry on this tradition. Yet, it seems to get better each year! This year, it was held at my Auntie Doll's house. She went all out with decor and she kept the party going with Christmas tunes, drinks and fun games. We all had a great time. What a wonderful way to begin the holiday season!

I want Candy...

We celebrated our PIC employees at the Employee Year End party on December 8th. It was a great party with vibrant colors all around!

Kanae took this shot of Vanessa & I before we got the party started.

Here I am with Paulina, Masako and Roselle. I love these ladies!

So happy together...

On September 25, 2010, I happily married the man that I love with all my heart: Floyd Masga. Floyd and I have been together since 2002 and just last month, we made a commitment to God and to each other. Our wedding wasn't a grand one, and that's exactly how I wanted it to be. I had a tropical theme for my wedding and my colors were (surprise, surprise) PINK and beige. For those of you who know me, you know how much I love the color pink. I was just happy that Floyd agreed to have it as part of the wedding.

After we were married, some people asked me, "After being together for so long, and finally getting married, is it different?" I simply tell them, "We're both so much more in love now. It is a different feeling to be married because now we are fully committed to each other." I guess that's why they call it, "Tying the knot".

In the Chamorro language, the word "Masga" means "enough" in English. Hmm, that should've been a sign from the day we met, because Floyd is one man that is enough for me :)

Back blogged...

I've been such a bad blogger lately. There's so many things going on since my last post and I didn't have the time to write. Well, maybe I did have time. I just didn't want to think too much. Updating my status message on Facebook alone sometimes requires my brain cells to work. LOL!

To my blog followers (if they're still following me), my apologies. I promise to try to be a better blogger.

Island Beauty

Today I had lunch with Floyd at The Revolving Restaurant 360 and lucky for us, it was a beautiful day in paradise! As we slowly revolved, I took note of how much of a different perspective you have from being way up high. I literally felt like I was on top of the world!

I took only one shot from above, but also realized how much our island is rich in color! Check out the Flame Trees in bloom. Aren't they stunning?

This photo was taken one morning after mass at the Chalan Kanoa Cemetary when I was on my way to my dad's grave.

This photo was taken at my mom's house. She plants a wide variety of flowers around the house, but these orchids really caught my eye.

And of course, just because I work indoors doesn't mean that I will only allow myself to see the bright white walls around me. So this picture that I found online was hard to resist as my desktop photo. For the record, I did not take this photo of the plumeria. I found it online.

Personally speaking, I know that I've taken all this island beauty for granted. When I was in Las Vegas, I was super home sick. I didn't enjoy the dust, dirt and dryness (literally) of that place. I missed so many things we had out here. But I'm back at home and I'm so happy to be here to enjoy all this beauty our island of Saipan.

who wants the last piece?

A couple of nights ago, my family and I went to Capricciosa's for dinner. We ordered our favorite: Salmon Linguini in Cream Sauce and Quattro Formaggi pizza. While we were enjoying each other's company, conversation and the food, before we knew it, there was only one slice of pizza left.


DA DA DA DUMMMMM!!!





I couldn't help but laugh and snap a shot of how the last slice of pizza looked. I then asked why this happens and no one could give me an answer. This is not an uncommon thing with us Chamorros. It is almost inevitable that this will happen if there is food around. When we eat and there's only one piece left of something, it's almost shameful that you take the last piece. But the reality of it all is that if you don't eat the last piece, someone will either have no shame and eat it or it'll go to waste. I ended up being the shameful person that night, but I didn't feel shameful. It could have been because the pizza was too delicious to waste.


So why does this happen every time we eat? Some say it's because the last piece is for the 'Taotaomona' (Chamorro people before us). Do they even like pizza?

Red, Red Wiiiiine....

Remember that song by UB40??? Who doesn't? It would almost be a crime if you didn't know that song or even heard it in your lifetime. Especially if you lived on the islands. That song was so powerful that when it played at a party, a dance club or even on the radio, you couldn't help but sway your body to the rhythm of that song. It was the song that made you feel mellowwww and relaaaaxed. You feel me? Ha ha ha!!!

I'm not a big drinker, but when I want to relax and unwind, I drink some red wine. When I first tried red wine, I thought it tasted awful! It had a punch to your palate and it made me make a sour face. However, that was then. Now that my palate has "matured", I am more receptive of drinking red wine...and without making the sour face. My favorite type of red wine is Cabernet Sauvignon. And depending what the brand of the wine is, sometimes I prefer the Merlot. I'm not a wine geek so don't ask me questions about red wine. The basic knowledge I have about wine is that it comes from grapes, it's smashed, fermented, stored and then sold to people like me who want to enjoy it. Oh, and I also know that red wine is good when eating red meat. White wine is goes will with a white meat dish. I'm not so into white wine. The closest thing to a white wine that I'll drink is champagne, but only if it's mixed with orange juice and turned into mimosas.

So the next time you hear that song, "Red, Red Wine" by UB40, grab a glass of red wine, sip some down and celebrate life!

Orange eggs and mangoes.

So on my last post, I mentioned the start of mango season on Saipan. Now, the mangoes are overflowing that I don't know what to do with them. Even the people we were giving the ripe mangoes to were saying they didn't want them anymore because they didn't know what to do with them.

_________________________________

Going to the Thursday night street market is a treat for me. I usually get fresh coconut juice and some yummy apigigi (coconut dessert). I also enjoy walking around to see what each vendor has to offer. At the street market, vendors display the food and drinks that they have for sell.

One particular food item caught my eye. Can you guess what it is???

It's a deep fried boiled egg! Now I like fried food and I like boiled eggs, but that is one thing I was not dying to get a taste of. Talk about making something healthy so unhealthy.

I love you like a mango

Mango season has begun around the island, but all the mangoes are still young and not fully ripe. At this stage is when the mango is perfect to become what is known to our local islanders as "koko". For those of you who don't know what koko is, it's basically something pickled. On Saipan, we call almost anything that is pickled, "koko".

Today was the first time I made some mango koko. I was quite nervous as one wrong move in the mixture could mean starting the entire process all over again. But I was confident after verifying the ingredients with my mom. THANKS MOM!

The process begins with a bunch of mangoes that I had to wash and skin. I tried to use a potato peeler to skin the mangoes, but using a smaller, sharp knife worked best for me.

Then the mangoes were cut in half and then sliced. One mango usually makes 4-6 peices, depending on the size of the mango. After the mangoes are all sliced, they're quickly washed and the water is drained so that there is no excess water.

A few light sprinkles of salt is added together with some diced fresh garlic (about 4 big cloves). This is mixed in well and then about 4 table spoons of vinegar is added. I also added a dash of TLC while mixing everything together. That always makes a difference when I make anything :)

Most people add local hot pepper and a little bit of food coloring at this point, but Floyd asked to make this without hot pepper or food coloring so we kept it natural. Everything is then placed into a container, preferably one with a cover that seals well. Thankfully we saved this container and we were able to make just the right amount of koko to fit into it.

And how would you like that drink?

Some people tell me I drink more milk than coffee. What do I mean? Well, I like my coffee with almost 25% of my cup of coffee filled with milk (not creamer). That's the perfect cup of coffee for me. On occasion, I'll want a hint of hazelnut or chocolate flavor in my coffee, but nothing I'd go crazy over. I'm not one of your crazy Starbucks addicts, although I have to admit they do carry some yummy stuff in those coffee shops!

I'm not a real (alcoholic) drinker. I'm not even an average drinker. But when I do feel like drinking, I love drinking strawberry daiquiris and margaritas! Blended. I had a margarita one night and was just appalled when it came in a plastic cup! What the heck?! I'm sorry, but I wanted mine in a margarita glass...the way it should be served. Some people may think that's just being straight-up super anal, but some beverages just taste better in a certain type of cup or glass.

BOTTOMS UP!

Let the races begin...

Today I started my day at 5:30am. I was assisting at PIC's aid station, located not too far from PIC. There was less than 20 volunteers, but we were all there on time, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!

We passed out fruit, water and Gatorade. After I left, all I could hear replaying in my head was people yelling out: "water...Gatorade..."

The Winter Festival of Runs started out this weekend. The first runs of all runs was the Saipan Marathon. This year, they had a total of about 600 runners for this morning's marathon! WOW!!! Next weekend is the Xterra Saipan Championship and the weekend after that is the Tagaman Triathlon. Just thinking about all of that makes me tired.

Nardo helps out a runner by handing out some Gatorade...

This morning I saw a wide range of runners. Some serious runners, some happy runners, some tired runners....but when I saw Minnie Mouse running towards our aid station, I couldn't help but snap a shot!

Food challange: Flour Titiyas

I was in the mood to cook last weekend so I made some of my Auntie Jean's famous flour titiyas. The last time I made these things was when I was attending college in Las Vegas. To my surprise, it turned out pretty good, considering it has been over a decade since I made it!

Coming from a family of cooks, I realized that my titiyas wasn't perfect, but it also wasn't a disaster. The taste was there, a bit too sweet for my taste so I figured I'll cut the sugar content down the next time I make tityas. It also lacked the "fluff" in it and I felt it was too flat. Floyd said it was perfect and my BFF Kiki said it was super good.

Sometimes I don't know how to take a compliment.

Missing you hurts

I miss the intellectual conversations we had.
I miss the casual talks we had.

I miss your spunky attitude.
I miss your words of wisdom.

I miss your random calls to me.
Just to let me know you're there.

I miss the impromptu invites for lunch at home.
I miss your cooking.

I miss you calling me, "your favorite daughter".
I miss you telling me you loved me.

I miss that extra push you always gave me, when I was about to give up.
I miss you telling me how proud you were of me.

I miss seeing you at home.
I miss seeing you at family gatherings.

I miss you asking me to help you out.
I miss scolding you and giving you advice.

I miss the trust you had in me.
I miss the love you gave to me.

I miss you so very much, it hurts!!!
I sometimes think the pain of missing you will never go away.

A Cool Weekend

I learned how to play a new game on Friday night. It's called Bananagrams. It's almost like scrabble, but with a twist to it. My nephew, Sly, taught me and after a couple of games, I was hooked! I can't wait to play our next game...

On Saturday, PIC held it's 2nd annual Duck Race. It was my first duck race to attend and it was actually pretty fun. It was nice to see many people from the community, including our guests watch the colorful ducks floating in PIC's lazy river. I could feel everyones excitement as they cheered on, hoping their duck would pass the finish line first.

Unfortunately, none of my ducks won. But I was happy to know that PIC received a lot of support for a good cause. All the proceeds raised will go towards the Marianas March Against Cancer (MMAC), which is held in May each year.

The race started at 6:15pm so Floyd & I enjoyed happy hour at PIC's Seaside Grill. I ordered their yummy poke. It was so good!

Sunday I spent most of my day just lounging in the house. I caught up on some sleep (thanks to the rainy, cool weather) and watched some TV. Sometimes I like staying home and just hibernate.

Monday was Martin Luther King day and it was a holiday for me. It was also my Uncle Lo's 1st death anniversary. As I was getting ready for mass, I couldn't help but remember how I felt this time last year. It was sad and it was still sad today, but I thank the Lord that my uncle is resting in peace and is now watching over us.

I also watched the movie, the Book of Eli. My review.....it was alright. It wasn't the greatest, but it did teach a valuable lesson: we sometimes forget that we have more than what we really need.

Food for Thought

I had lunch with Floyd today and was surprised when I was served my salad. "Wow! That salad dressing is bright green!" I told the server. "Oh ma'am, it's kiwi dressing," she said. Hmm, I thought to myself. This should be interesting.

The dressing had a hint of kiwi flavor with a vinaigrette finish to it. It was good, but my salad was kinda swimming in the dressing, so it was a little too much for me. I hate it when my salad has the dressing completely covering it and I end up looking through the salad for the rest of the veggies. To me, it's not a salad anymore.

Do you like pizza? I do! Well, not just any kind of pizza. I'm picky when it comes to pizza and where I order it. My ultimate favorite is Bobby Cadillacs. Their pizzas are phenomenal and the crust is absolutely perfect! I like lots of toppings on my pizza -- with the exception of onions and bell peppers. Well, I like the flavor the bell peppers give to the pizza, but I just won't eat the bell peppers. I'm weird like that.

A couple weeks ago I made stuffed mushrooms for the first time. It turned out really good! The mushrooms were stuffed with cream cheese, parmesan cheese, mushrooms and garlic. Floyd, my taster and ultimate food critic, said that these things tasted SO good, he knew it was bad for you. LOL!