Meeting Dinna’s Angelo

My Saturday started early last weekend. My haircut appointment was at 8:00 am so it was perfect timing to pick up Dinna and Angelo for brunch. I’ve written about Dinna here when we had our first in person meeting in New York.

This time she brought Angelo along. He’s not only adorable as any nine years old can be but he’s so mature for his age. There is this one young man who knows what he wants and does not want. I’ve met so many tykes his age who’d answer “I don’t know” when you ask them something. Angelo can tell you what he wants and sticks with them. I find it refreshing.

I love that he’s comfortable speaking to people way beyond his age. And when he does, he’s very engaging and what a gentleman. He kept himself busy with a game and let his Mom and I did the talking. But not before he presented me with a surprise gift which his Mom made.

Handmade by Dinna

I don’t know how Dinna made the pendant but the Lady of Lourdes was a personal request because my Mom was a devotee of the Mother Virgin Mary and I was named after her.

Years ago the wife of my former boss in Manila presented me with a beautiful Infant Jesus of Prague pendant. It was so precious to me that I wore it everyday but somehow four years ago I lost the pendant while vacationing there. I’ve been missing it so much that I thought I’d order a replacement and I knew Dinna could make it for me.

That was very thoughtful of her to give it to me as a gift. I know I will be wearing it daily just like my old one. I already wore it to church today. I like how it rests on my neck, right below my clavicle or collarbone. Thank you Dinna and Angelo, I am so grateful.

They were in town for a wedding. Unfortunately their visit was way too short and on their first day, Chicago turned on its gray and chilly side. Oh I forgot to warn Dinna, it could have been worse – like it could have been very windy. But Saturday was a perfect day – warm and sunny.

We tried this new restaurant in the South side of the city – just a bit south of the Loop – Bongo Room. It is a good place for breakfast if you are going to the Museum Campus as it is close to Balboa Park. I didn’t realize that until I missed the exit from Lake Shore Drive and then we saw all those people by the lake and Dinna told me that there’s an Anime convention. There was already heavy traffic northbound so instead of turning back to show the Chicago skyline I decided to just drive them back to their hotel as I didn’t want us to be caught in that crowd and they’d miss the wedding they came to attend.

You know as they say, leave some for next time. And yes, definitely stay by Michigan Avenue where there’s a lot to see and enjoy!

My lobster roll breakfast with two perfectly poached eggs

Dinna’s red velvet flapjacks

Angelo had breakfast before they left the hotel. He doesn’t like pancakes, especially when they are red!

But his Mom made sure there’ll be something for him before they leave for the wedding – McDonald’s chicken nuggets.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: The Season of Spring

Spring is my favorite season. I must have said that so many times. The temperature is just right and even if it rains, it is very refreshing and rejuvenating. You know the rain is going to clean all the Winter grimes – salt, mud, debris. With Spring sprouts new life, it is a rebirth.

To see more, go here. Here are my images of Spring and what it promises to come.

The trees are in bloom

Open toe shoes and bright colored nails

Tulips

Daffodils

Filled malls

Filled malls

Beautiful Chicago

Summer is promised

Neighborhood festivals

Dine al fresco

Travel Theme Challenge: Four Elements – Earth, Wind, Water & Fire

Ailsa’s challenge for the week is quite a difficult one. It calls for the Four Elements in one challenge. I thought I might not be able to complete all the elements but I did. The hardest to show is wind. To see more or if you want to join, go here.

Earth

If you look closely – the leaves were dancing in the wind

Clear waters of Currimao, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Fire

Word-A-Week Photo Challenge: Mountain

My sister from the Philippines called at the wee hours of the morning and it was downhill from there, I couldn’t go to sleep. So here I am perusing my albums for mountain pictures. Nothing as grand as Sue’s challenge photos, here, but mountains nonetheless.

Mt. Haleakala crater

Ronda, Spain

Santa-Bantay, Ilocos Sur, Philippines

A family ravaged by diabetes

Mom’s younger brother suffered a heart attack while at the polling place in the Philippines on May 13th – Election Day. Already a quadriplegic, the wheelchair gave him some mobility. Like my late mother, Uncle Pedy suffered diabetes and his amputation and heart attack were but manifestations of the disease.

Meanwhile my sister will be traveling to Manila from her home province to meet with my brother who’s eyesight is fast fading away. I was told his eyes suddenly got swollen and then he couldn’t see. He too has diabetes so I strongly suspect diabetic retinopathy. He was told he needs immediate eye surgery or he might totally lose his chance to see again at 38.

Like many of the men in the Philippines, they hate seeing a doctor. Like visiting one would diminish their macho character, they think they are invisible to any ailments so much so that when they are stricken, it is almost always too late to cure or to remedy.

We gave him means to measure his blood glucose but claims he couldn’t stand the sight of blood. And that is just a pin prick. For a year now, he’s reduced his carbohydrate intake but his job involves a lot of occasions where he’s invited for a drink. I told him alcohol is worst than eating rice. Also, failing to continue taking his maintenance medicine dooms him. With no comprehensive health insurance in the country and expensive, their health is not their priority.

My sister and I carry the disease too and am just grateful that I have a longer walk to/from the office that serves as my exercise. I have been borderline for more than ten years now but with what happened to my uncle and brother, they are grim reminders of the diseases that diabetes can punish you if left unchecked.

My Mom was born to a family of 13 children but I heard one set of twins died very young. But the ones I have known from my childhood – most of them died from the side effects of diabetes.

Mom’s mother passed away when she was 84 and my eldest aunt, who is relatively healthy is about of the same age. But out of 13, only five of them have survived.

Mom would have been a good candidate to fight her diabetes. She lives in the US, educated and had access to medical care, she watched what she ate, exercised – she did everything right. But in the end it was not her diabetes that killed her, it was liver cancer which I can only surmise was brought on by her diabetes.

I have gained so much weight from the time I took care of mother, I blamed it on stress or eating all the extra food I prepared and not wanting to waste them, while she tried to find an appetite but I know it is time for me to take control of my health. I love food too but through the years, I have learned to cut down on sweets. A major challenge is rice which I enjoy dinner time but if I moderate it, it should work.

Otherwise, I might just add myself to the statistics and I certainly won’t be able to blame anyone but me.

Celebrating Mother’s Day with mothers

Now that am just about to leave the small town I live in, am now just discovering the great places for dining around. Good thing it would still be drivable but I love the place we went to for brunch today to celebrate Mother’s Day.

My cousin Jun called yesterday to find out if I would be available for brunch today. I think the word “brunch” didn’t quite register or I could have skipped my more than regular breakfast. For two consecutive days this weekend I have been having rice as I suddenly fancied eating some fried dried fish which we call “tuyo” in our Philippine language and some sautéed eggs in onions and tomatoes.

What I heard and stuck in my mind was the word “tapas”. Like I couldn’t believe there is a tapas place in my neighborhood and I was curious. My google search led me to a tapas place indeed but they are not open until 4 in the afternoon.

It turned out the restaurant is called Scapa Italian Kitchen, a fine dining experience in Clarendon Hills, the town where I take my train to downtown Chicago. On special occasions like Mother’s Day, they offer a buffet. So with Jun’s Mom, Aunt Claire, his wife Frida, my two nieces – Mia and Alyssa, we had a private room all by ourselves.

Service was very good, the waitstaff very attentive and prompt. They had a decent list of breakfast offerings to glazed salmon, chicken breast, homemade gnocchi and orecchiette, veggies. It was a very satisfying brunch – good value I should say for the price.

Am truly grateful to Jun and Frida to have included me in their Mother’s Day celebration. I miss my Mom but Auntie Claire is like a second mom to me, a great friend and my constant travel companion.

Our private room

Her appetizer

Aunt Claire

Entree

My entree

Frida’s

My dessert

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Patterns – In Central Park

I love New York City and I would like to visit again and again, to explore its neighborhoods, both the touristy sites and those I hear and read in the morning news.

This time am so grateful that Myla, my long time friend, is there. We covered so many places in such a short term and in inclement weather that in the end I was the one who gave up, yielding to the call of home comforts. Next time, I would try to go at another season.

For now, let me leave you with my response to Daily WordPress Challenge: Patterns.

Strawberry Fields