For those asking (complaining?) about the lack of new posts in this blog, I didn’t die. And I’m not sick either. I’m working real hard, believe me, although you won’t see the results until the 19th and thereafter. These days, there are only three parts of the house that I spend a lot of time in — the kitchen, the outdoor kitchen and the rather disorganized desk in my study.
I’ve been doing a lot of cooking, writing down recipes, editing photos and publishing everything in the food blog as “future posts.” In eleven days, I’ll be leaving for a much anticipated trip. For leisure. For fun. And, most of all, for new experiences. Isn’t that how writers do it best, after all? Live, experience and learn, broaden one’s perspective, for personal growth and for more nuanced writing.
And I’ll be doing a lot more cooking in the coming days, freezing cooked food in convenient portions, because I promised Alex she won’t have to bring SPAM for her school lunch everyday. Even Sam, who is home only on weekends, is worried. Won’t she have any break from all the junk food in the dorm? She’s just so sure that Speedy will feed them nothing but SPAM and bacon and hotdogs.
If you don’t know the significance of SPAM, you really have to read what happened two years ago when I went to Taiwan. Speedy is a much better cook today than he was two years ago but, just this morning, he was imagining conversations he would have with the girls about food while I’m gone. Not that he won’t allow the girls any choices, he said. He will, but like, “Potato chips or Cheetos? Don’t worry about me, I’ll have cup noodles.” Is he serious? I guess we’ll know by the end of the month.
So, I cook. And write. For the food blog. I’ll be submitting my columns well in advance too. Three, to be exact. And there will be some future posts for this blog as well. Why not blog during the trip? Like short chatty posts? Well, I was planning on bringing a laptop. Not exactly for blogging but for video chat with Speedy and the girls. Until I found out that Wifi on board the cruise ship costs USD0.55 per minute. Hourly rate is USD28.00 which doesn’t make it much cheaper. What’s the point of bringing a laptop if I’ll only be able to go online two to three times during the trip (and feeling crappy all time time about the cost)? I might as well use one of the ship’s computers — if I really have to go online — and save myself the trouble of lugging along so many additional pounds of hardware. I mean, heck, the cameras and lenses will be heavy enough.
Or, there’s always my iPhone. I can go online with it if I have to. If the itch becomes too unbearable. I can even blog with it. You’ll have to wait until after I return to see the photos though. Because I intend to take a lot. A LOT. And write a lot about the trip too. It’s what I love to do best, after all. Write. Take photos. And write some more. And travel gives me all the opportunities to do both in multi-faceted ways.
That said, I now have to go back to work. 
Enjoy your trip, Connie! You deserve the break!
Thanks, I will! I will!
count me in under “askin’” and “wonderin’,” but not complainin’. “)
Me too — going back Wednesday to the U.S. for a well deserved (I think
vacation. For anyone who has never experienced a Thanksgiving dinner, I feel sorry for you — true bliss (or is it gluttony hahahaha)
Ahhh, now this explains it… kaya pala … siya, good luck Connie and have a safe trip…and we are sure that when you return, you will have more stories to write and more pictures to show…we await the great “show and tell” pagbalik mo!
Take care!
sarap naman…
Have a safe and fun trip Connie!
Thank, you, thank you!
Beatrize, wonder no more, eh?
Miguk, I’ll be indulging in my own food feasts, thank you. Have your turkey, I’ll have my samosas and dumplings and duck and noodles and everything else in between.
We’ll be waiting for those photos and posts when you get back. Para na rin kaming kasama sa trip mo. Have a safe and fun trip!
Have a safe trip Ms Connie!I will be awaiting your tips on photography.I really enjoy reading how you explain the timpla of your photos–so simple and precise.I’m just a beginner doing the transition to SLR and I learn a lot reading your previous posts.
have a safe trip ms. connie! you deserve it!
Thank you! Super excited na ako. All the herbs and spices I can’t find here, I’ll buy and buy and buy hehehe
You are going on a cruise ship? From Manila? After I retired from the Navy, the idea of going on a ship makes me quesy hahahaha
Flying to Singapore and boarding the ship there. So long as the sea is calm, I don’t think I’ll have any problems. Hope there’s no storm or I’m doomed to see nothing but the inside of my cabin hahahaha
Ganda naman ng timing ng trip mo… before Christmas! Yes, we’ll pray for good weather sa trip mo, Connie! Enjoy!
I’m green with envy.Hoping great weather will come your way.
Looking forward for those lovely photos of your cruise.Have FUN!!!!
happy trip, ms. connie…
we look forward to the posts and photos.
we moved back to guam and didn’t have cable/internet for a few weeks. my husband and i check mail/internet via ipod touch. yep, guilty of unauthorized use of someone else’s wifi for a good 2 weeks. i’m sure you’ll survive with your iphone
take care!
inna
Happy Trip Connie! I, too, have been to a 4-day vacation in HK with 5 high school friends. And I really had a swell time, with the chilly climate in HK, all we did was dine and shopped. Despite the schedule we had, I was rejuvenated! A really stress buster! And here’s the best part? It’s the homecoming and seeing my husband and teenage daughter at the airport excitedly waiting for my arrival. Boy, what a homecoming. I wish you the best Connie in your coming trip. Be safe and take care.