Iron Chamorro Chef

Since Floyd and I decided to leave island, I've been using some of my free time to brush up on my Chamorro cooking skills. The most recent dish I tried to make was chicken chalakilis. I've got to admit that I didn't make it the traditional way and resorted to the "semi-homemade" way of making it. Hey man, I got the approval from my auntie Cel, who is like the head cook in our family and she makes the best dishes EVER!

So my first try with chalakilis was not so bad. The taste was there, but I didn't get the right consistency. It's supposed to be a semi-thick soup, but for some odd reason, it turned out too thick that I had to keep adding water. My second try was even worse because the consistency was so super thick, you would think I was making tamales gisu! Instead of beating myself up about it, I started laughing and figured WOW! at least I'm on the right track to making tamales gisu, LOL!

I'm really going to miss all the good food my family makes. Even something as simple as barbeque chicken, ribs and red rice seems to be the best when my family makes it. We are mostly cooks in my family so (almost) anything that they make, will make my tummy happy! I shall keep you all posted on my progress each time I make (or attempt to) make a Chamorro dish. STAY TUNED.

Til Death Do We Part

It was a Sunday. We usually have our family gatherings each Sunday, but this time it was different. It just wasn’t the same. My Uncle Lo wasn’t doing too well in the Philippines and we were just waiting for an update…hopefully a positive one. The phone rang. It was another update, but not a good one. We were all so emotional, but tried to remain strong for each other. We prayed many prayers hoping that the Lord would give Uncle Lo the strength to fight back. He was stable at one point, but not for too long.

It was 7pm on a Sunday. We just got home from our gathering, but I received a text from Carol that Uncle Lo wasn’t doing good and everyone was going to Uncle Lo’s house. Being there at Uncle Lo’s house felt different because he wasn’t there.

I could smell the coffee brewing. We all just sat there anxiously for another phone call. We were all at a standstill, yet restless at the same time. The phone rang. My heart felt like it stopped beating. All I could hear my aunt say was “Oh….uh huh….okay…” Another update was given to the family, this time it really wasn’t looking good. I didn’t know what to feel at that point. Was he going to die? Was he going to make it? I wanted him to make it so I said countless prayers to God to please give Uncle Lo strength to live. He needs his family and his family needs him.

My mom was going hysterical after the last phone call. She couldn’t believe that Uncle Lo was already at this stage. “Aye lokkue!” She kept saying over and over again as she looked up to the sky with her eyes filled with tears. I tried to comfort her and told her that we had to be strong for his girls.

The phone rang. My heart dropped and I closed my eyes and said a prayer. My aunt who answered the phone started yelling frantically! I saw my dad grab the phone to find out what was going on, but we already knew that Uncle Lo had passed. Everyone was crying! I was in tears, my mom was in tears! We were both hugging each other. The girls were all in tears. I could hear one of them yelling out, “Daddy! Daddy!” Uncle Lo had passed away around 8pm Saipan time.

With all that was going on at the time we found out Uncle Lo had passed, I had to remain strong. Although I was sad to hear about Uncle Lo’s death, it did not sink in until we said his first rosary. That’s when I broke into tears! Uncle Lo was gone. I’m going to miss his smiles, his jokes and all the funny things he did. He was such a loving man with lots of humor! He got along with everyone, young and old. He was a great man and he will be missed so much! Rest in peace Uncle Lo. WE LOVE & MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!

Bitter-sweet History

Today was a historical day for me. I sold my very first car (2005 Nissan Sentra) that bought and used that money to pay off my car loan. Although it was hard to see my car drive away without me, I still felt good about paying off a car loan all by myself! Destiny's Child said it best with their song, Independent Women: *singing* All the women who are independent, raise your hands up at me!!!

The Gratitude Journal

I recently read Dr. David Khorram’s book: World Peace, a Blind Wife, and Gecko Tails. In his first chapter, he talked about a Gratitude Journal where you take a few minutes in the day to note down what you are most grateful for, on a daily basis. The stuff you are grateful for could be something small or something big. Although it is recommend that you write stuff down daily, I agree with Dr. Khorram that when doing this exercise, it’s more meaningful when you say it out loud. Doing this daily exercise actually allows you to start off your day on a positive note. I tried it out today and it really lifted my spirits.

Today I expressed that I was grateful for having all my senses. I’m grateful for the sense of sight so I can see the wonderful colors that surround me. I’m grateful for the sense to hear so I can hear people speak, hear the sounds of nature and most especially hear the sound of music. I am grateful for the sense of taste so I can appreciate all the great flavors food has to offer. I am grateful for the sense of touch so I can touch others as well as feel others and feel nature. I am also grateful for the sense of smell so that I am able to smell the sweet smell of nature, flowers, cooking, etc.

What’s on your Gratitude Journal for today?

Moooooooving

I've never thought of a "packer" being an actual profession. Well, packing has been my latest profession since we decided to move. Floyd and I just start and we're both in our own worlds! Once upon a time, our house had a personality. My brothers hung out at our place over the weekend and couldn't believe the transformation. Our house is now so bare, it has absolutely no personality if you ask me. I now have a different ambiance, if you will, to ensure that I use up what I have instead of buying new stuff at the store. The Sunday Crew was at my house over the weekend and they were asking why I had so many candles lit. My response: "I'm trying to use 'em all before we leave."

OUR WALLS ARE SO BARE!!!

Our most major garage sale is scheduled for this Saturday. I've been working on a list of major items in our home that we're ready to sell. People have been so eager to buy our stuff, they're already asking for my bed! Uh, HELLO! I still have to sleep somewhere. Sheesh!!!

I swear this whole move has been both exhausting physically, emotionally and mentally!

Physically - elbow grease. Enough grease.

Emotionally - well, even if it's so liberating to get rid of things that we don't use anymore, I still choke up every now and then packing up our personal stuff to be sent to another location. You know how it is, you come across some pictures and then stop to look through it...memories rekindled. But it's been emotionally rewarding to find out that all the boxes we've been mailing to Las Vegas has been received on that end. Whrew!

Mentally - just thinking of what needs to go, what stays, what needs to be stored, where it should be stored, what's important, what's not important....and the mental exercises go on and on!!!

Family Photos

We had our family photos done earlier this week. There was 9 of us total and boy was it an experience for all of us. For a couple of minutes, we all felt like the paparazzi was there because our photographer was snappy-happy with his camera.

my mug shot

Okay Deece, here's my mug shot of my latest CNMI Driver's License.....not so clear, but then my camera isn't the best one either. Hee hee!!!