Hungry? Cheap? Tired of the same old filet mignon and lobster lunches? Visit a 7-11 near you and try their new daing na bangus rice meal express! 
Scientists have proved that eating milkfish has health benefits like more protein for less calories compared to eating that nasty old tenderloin steak. Besides, a purchase of a daing na bangus meal from 7-11 will contribute to the Mahar Charity Foundation which benefits uh… Mahar.
Actually Mahar, my officemate, distributes milkfish from Dagupan to 7-11 for their yummy rice meals. He catches each and every one of these fishes by hand, does quality control, guts, cuts and cooks them, place them in styro packages with rice and atsara then runs around Manila to distribute them to different 7-11 stores and still make it on time for office.
Yup, he’s just that good.
Men in purple tights. What the?!? I understand tights as a sports necessity but fashion-wise, I'm not a big fan of them. They look ok on women. For men, it will only look good if you're in a gym/indoor place or if you're superman (complete with red underwear on the outside). Spandex for jogging just doesn't look right and if you have to wear one, please wear black. If you have to wear purple, might as well wear a cowboy hat and chaps.
Bubble jackets. They look like they're going on an expedition or something. Inside their jacket would be a thermos, an iPod (it just has to be an iPod), food, a towel, gloves, bonnet, a headband and an anvil.
My attire? hehe. I have the basketball/soccer player look - long sleeved shirt on the inside, short sleeved shirt on the outside, thermal tights, jogging pants and my trusty old Air Max TL's. Of course I have to bring the primary support phone, keys, my iPod (it reaaaally just has to be an iPod) and some cash - all stored in an arm bag.
As much as I could make fun of their outfits, they still outrun me... even the old dudes. It's really depressing seeing a 60 year old white haired dude in yellow tights and an orange bandana with an iPod (probably listening to Ja Rule or 50 Cent) run up behind me, then beside me, then finally leaves me in the dust.
Hayop yun... basketball na lang, ano?
A little over a year ago, Maida and Mahar, two project mates of mine, took Cherina for a walk to see all the northside churches here in downtown Chicago. Following a map and a rule that you have to walk all the way from church 1 to church 7, the journey was dubbed "Cherina Goes to Church".
Mahar gave me a copy of the map a few months ago. I initially wanted to do this journey with someone but she already left and so I intended to go alone (with a tripod). A few weeks ago, Jen saw the map while snooping around in my laptop and decided she would go do that too - with or without anyone.
March 5, Sunday, the weather was foggy and it was ridiculously snowing. We decided to walk 30 blocks together on that day from Sterling all the way to church 7 (along North Ave) and 21 more blocks going back.
From left to right, top to bottom:
(1) St James Cathedral; (2) view of Big John from Chestnut st (told ya it was foggy); (3) Quigley Seminary; (4) Holy Name Cathedral; (5) 4th Prysbeterian Church; (6) Inside the 4th Prysbeterian Church; (7) St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church; (8) Me and Jen outside St. Chrysostom's; (9) Lake Shore Drive Synagogue; (10) Moody church; (11) Chicago Historical Society building; (12) Jen, Lincoln (the snowman) and me at Lincoln Park
I was able to offer a short prayer in all 7 churches except the Quigley Seminary and Lakeshore Drive Synagogue. My legs were tired, my knee was already cursing me and all my ski-related injuries were coming back but it was really worth it. After Moody church (the last one), we decided to pass by Lincoln park where I took her on a quick tour of the place (had to make it quick coz it was already closing) and chased squirrels. We also passed by the field outside Lincoln Park Conservatory where we made a snowman after she literally dove into the snow.
It was a fun day. While walking back, I didn't even mind my shirt, jeans and socks getting all wet. I wished I could've dragged someone else with us to share the moment but I doubt anyone else here would be willing to walk 50 blocks (not including the detour to Lincoln park).
We just can't help but think that truly, the best things in life are free. :)
I was cleaning my inbox when I saw this mail I sent last week to the onshore people to help them decide which restaurant we'll be eating at last Friday night. I haven't posted any restaurant reviews yet in this blog right? :)
~~~ Sent: Thu 2/23/2006 11:23 AM
Here’s the skinny on these places:
Buca Di Beppo (Rush and Kinzie ata)
The Good: Family style Italian restaurant (a cross between Don Hen and Italianni’s). Sulit. We can order family-style which means a wider selection for everyone.
The Bad: We’ll all smell like garlic (no, really). It’s just a restaurant, nothing to do after. Kinda far (Nordstrom near Michigan ave)
Red Lobster
The Good: Steaks and seafood. Walking distance.
The Bad: Kinda pricy. Hirap i-pronounce. Might be out of budget but I’m not sure… Lianne?
Fogo De Chao
The Good: All you can eat steaks and meat. Near Hooters. Walking distance. Not sure about the prices.
The Bad: May hihirit ng “…e diet ako e.”
Chicago Chophouse (near Rock N Roll McDo)
The Good: I heard it’s good.
The Bad: I heard it’s expensive.
House of Blues (Marina City)
The Good: It’s like Hard Rock. There are bar foods and it’s within our price range. There’s a bar so if you guys want to drink, we could (we’ll have to pay for it ourselves though). Place is cool. Walkable from Sterling.
The Bad: They’re bar food (burgers, etc…). Di tayo busog. Might end up at McDonald’s after.
Weber Grill
The Good: Should still be within our price range. Walkable (it’s in front of Jewel).
The Bad: Place is too formal for me. Di tayo puede mag-ingay. The view outside isn’t good (unless you enjoy looking at Jewel)
Cheesecake Factory
The Good: Place is nice. Prices should be within our budget. We get to go to John Hancock. They serve dinner meals too (not just cheesecakes).
The Bad: Hancock nanaman? Most of us have been there the past 2 weeks. Kinda far. Cheesecake makes me fat(ter)
Maggiano’s
The Good: Very near. Italian menu. Prices are acceptable.
The Bad: It’s a date place (dark and cozy). Too many memories
Heaven on Seven (@Loews theater between Jewel and Michigan ave)
See comments for Buca… but change it to Louisiana style menu.
Due to popular demand, here are more from the pages of Arnold's cookbook:
Sandwiches and Hash Browns
1. Wash 2 potatoes and take out your potato peeler. Start peeling.
2. 20 minutes have passed and you’re still halfway on your first potato. Dump that stupid thing and take out a paring knife. Continue peeling.
3. Good! Just seconds later, the potato is now completely peeled. You realize that the good thing about the potato peeler is that it only takes out the skin while the paring knife takes out the skin AND probably a good ¼ inch of potato with it. Now the potato is only big enough for 5 to 6 small french fries. Wash another potato and peel again.
4. An hour later, you have 2 and 1/3 peeled potatoes. It’s not completely peeled though, there are still some spots that have skins that for some reason, the potato peeler can’t remove. Let’s leave those there for… hmmm… flavor (yeah right)
5. Take out the cheese grater and a plate. Grate the potato into the plate.
6. Sheesh, INTO the plate, not AROUND. Now there’s potato everywhere. Potato on the floor, potato on the table, potato in the frying pan (excited), potato in the sink, potato inside the toaster, potato in my beer.
7. Wipe the potato pieces into the floor. We’ll clean it up later. This is cooking with Arnold, not cleaning with Arnold. Notice that there’s enough on the floor for 2-3 hash browns?
8. Set aside that big yellow pile and take out an onion.
9. Great. No onions. Look for an onion substitute.
10. Congratulations. You found garlic. We wonder where we last used this? It’s the closest thing we have to an onion anyway. That’ll do.
11. Do that cool thing again with the side of the knife. Remove the skin this time. We must learn from our past mistakes. Chop up garlic and mix with the…
12. The big yellow pile is now a big peach pile. How did that happen? Do potatoes really turn peach? Oh well, mix in the garlic.
13. Melt butter into a skillet. Mmmmm! Doesn’t that smell good? Melt some more. You can never have too much butter.
14. Scoop some of that peach mess into the skillet. Potatoes should now be swimming in butter. Hey, they’re not peach anymore! Press in the potatoes with a spatula.
15. Lower the heat to “ridiculously low” (probably 1 or 2) then run down to 7-11 and buy a burger. This should go well with the “hash browns”.
16. 15 minutes later, we’re back with a burger, a donut, a bottle of coke, a six pack of Miller Lite, a pint of cookies and cream ice cream, a bag of Lays and a bag of Ruffles.
17. Oh good, the hash blacks are ready. Flip them and burn the other side naman.
18. One side black, one side brown. Put in a plate and taste it first before frying up another batch.
19. Yuck! Garlic doesn't taste like onions (duh!). Abort! Abort! Dump it in the trash… no wait, use the food disposal thingie… that one looks cool too.
To be continued…
I had a burger, a donut, Lays, ice cream and a Miller Lite for lunch instead.
