Papa Jun

How do you mourn a person whose burial you are not able to go to?  Whose casket you did not see lowered into the ground?  Whose carefully orchestrated calm life-like face you did not see behind the glass?

How do you say goodbye to a grandfather who lived far away but for whom the distance and the time did not matter and embraced you like you grew up next door every time you came to visit?

I can't.  Because my brain is playing games with me.  In my head he's always just there, waiting till I visit him again.  Waiting till he gets the chance to debate with me over the current administration using facts that I could not argue my way around because they predate me.

Papa Jun, how do I say goodbye to you?

Somehow in my mind I expected you to live forever. 

Six years ago, I hugged you and kissed your hand before we were about to leave for Cebu.  I did not even give it a second thought.  You were the grandfather that was always there.  I expected you to be there when I came back.

But you're not anymore.

Had I known that that would have been the last time that I could put my arms around you, I would have made it count.

Now it's too late.  And I can't even say goodbye to you one last time.

I Wanted Biko, I got Biko

I am increasingly being impressed by this guy, whose biko recipe I followed today.  There are lots of recipes out there but I thought that I'd give this guy's a try again because his are almost always difficult to ruin.  Believe me, when it comes to doing wrong in cooking, I'm your expert.  If I can't ruin the recipe, it's very likely no one else can't.

The biko turned out very tasty--and since Leia and Nils both don't know that biko isn't supposed to be runny and almost soup like, the fact that I got the consistency wrong didn't really matter  Haha.

I'm sick now, not from the reasons you think.  I ate too much.

Monika: Nata de Coco

No good.  Not good.  Not good at all.  Very bad.  Very very bad.  It may be because I've tasted better.  Will definitely try another brand.  But who knows, it could be the best one available out there.  Waaah.

Faber-Castell Multimark 1514

What's disappointing about this pen is that it's not waterproof.  That means, any AMOUNT as long as it's got water in it, the ink will run, and run it will bye bye Mickey Mouse.  Otherwise, it's fine.  Just make sure you keep your sweaty hands away, close your mouth if you're a chronic drooler, if not, then the occasional head-turner, just in case you do.

It does mention that it's water soluble.  So if you're not me, you'd have spotted it and thought... hmm... water destructible (because it is what will really happen, good bye to carefully hand written notes--even ugly scratches and duck hieroglyphs are worth saving) .  I didn't see the (warning) sign, so I went through the very annoying 'lo-and-behold-what-on-earth-is-going-on-oh-it's-my-fault-it's-written-right-here-I'm-such-an-idiot' phase.

It weeps like cheap mascara.  So did I, when I found out.

Uh? Did I miss something?

One moment N. wanted to get off at L. and upon hearing that I was getting off at K.S.P., she suddenly plays this very awkward, very out of the place ,"Aw, sheeet, I forgot, I had to get off at the station we just passed by!"  And I, ever ready to give someone/anyone the out they desperately  want, said, "Then get off at the next one with me then."  But everyone knows there's nothing at S.!  What or who was, thought, was, J. who also had to get off at L.  But J. is smart, and like a well executed snappy hand salute, immediately bade me, not N., although we were getting off together, good-bye.  Oh yeah.  I missed something there big time.

Too bad, the two have been crushing on each other since the first time they laid eyes on each other.  This world sucks.

Buchi in Berlin

If you're a big fan of buchi and don't know where to get hold of them in Berlin, then today is your lucky day (yay!).  You can buy them at Vin Loi.  If you can't read chinese, then simply check out the price label and look for:  Reisbaellchen mit ____ und Sesamkerne.  I know of about 3 branches in this city.  I've only been to one, the one near U-Bahnhof Seestr.  They also have other asian products there.  If you are one of those gifted ones, then you can make the buchi yourself.  I find the recipes from this guy pretty reliable, although I haven't personally his buchi recipe yet.  Tell me when you do! :)

RUF Brownies

This one was easy to make (they're supposed to be, I guess, otherwise, what's the point?).  But I doubt I'd be buying this one again.  The end product (I would not really call it brownie, although, for all rights and purposes, it looked like one) was tasteless and had a gummy texture.  I've heard that one can put a bit of instant jelly powder in the mix to make the brownies gooey (because people like me like them that way), but there are other ways to accomplish this, like, for example, under cooking and/or adding lots (I'm sorry, I don't measure--but I usually one or two, or three if I'm feeling extra brave) of egg yolks.  It's all trial and error.  The main thing is that you eat your errors so you don't waste valuable calories people from other parts of the world would have killed to have.  This makes you a better human being.  Don't be wasteful.  And of course, you can also have people to eat it for you.  Just don't send them to the hospital.  Aren't I full of wisdom today.

REWE Cornichons

Rewe cornichon

W.E.

This movie was not such a waste of time, but I could also do without it.

Spring 2012

It may not even be the real one.  I heard some fakes were accidentally introduced here from Japan.  But, anyhow, they herald spring, don't they?

I've always found how mushrooms look fascinating.  They're always around, except, maybe, in winter.

One of the things that fascinates me is that they look like pieces of architecture.

They seem to call out:  me!  Me!  Me!  Take a picture of me!

It's too bad this berry is not eatable.  It looks absolutely delectable.

All the snails are dead.

Will they turn to caterpillars?

It's not just the bees that are busy.  It's the flies, too.

Lichens.  I loved these things as a child.  I still do.

I've always been amazed that the grass not only seem to survive the winter, but that they look exactly like the grass in the Philippines.

A definite leftover from last year.

A solitary egg left behind.

I wonder what made this?

One of the tiny flowers that come around once the cold season's away.