While the cat is away ...

Patty has been on an out of town trip for four days now and so Gabi, Bela and I have been spending a lot of time together. Mostly in my room, after I get home from work, where we play and dance and sing.

And watch TV.

And eat.

Okay, I admit it. I have been lax with the rules. We've watched more TV than their allotted time. And we've snacked on more chips and junk that Patty normally allows us.

And we've eaten out three times in the last four days. To places that don't exactly serve healthy options. And we've even been to the big toy store in the mall where each got a small toy. Including  me.

We've been bad. I've been bad. Wish I could with a straight face say that we did it to make up for Patty's absence. But that would make the bad worse.

Plain and simple, we've been enjoying ourselves. I've been enjoying myself. A bit too much, I guess.

Tomorrow, Patty comes home. And tomorrow, sanity returns to the house.

That's one of the reasons why I love my wife. She lovingly brings sanity and order into our lives.

My life especially.

Mommy's Little Helper

Throughout Patty's food relief operations, Bela was her trusty sous chef.

Bela helped prepare the ingredients ...

... taste Mommy's concoctions ...

... measure the portions ...

... and pack the boxes.

 

Good job, Belly!

Mission Accomplished

Patty and her staff finished cooking and packing at 8:00 pm, a good twelve hours after they started. We then brought the food packs to the Mega Tent Relief Center in Ortigas.

Thanks to Teri, Jacq, Christine and Elias for a whole day of cooking and packing; to Miguel for lending his kitchen, to Maman for lending her pots and pans; to Therese, Rocio, Luis, Beeto and Gabi for lending a hand; to Maman, Mommy, Monica and Carla for their kind donations; and to Bela for being patient with babysitter Papa.

Cooking Up a Storm

Patty is on a mission. She wants to help Ondoy victims by doing what she does -- and loves -- best: cooking!

She went to the market early this morning and with the generous help of family and friends, bought supplies good enough for an army: 25 kilos of meat, potato, 200 bananas, 12 trays of egg, sack of rice, etc.

She borrowed extra pots and pans from her lola and then commandeered not only her kitchen but also that of my brother Miguel to achieve her goal of preparing and packing no less than two hundred ready to eat meals by this afternoon.

Her menu: adobo, torta, hard-boiled egg, saba and rice.

"Isn't that a bit too much for relief goods?" someone made the mistake of asking her. "Wouldn't sardines and instant noodles be enough?"

"I don't like," was Patty's curt reply. "If you're going to do something, might as well do it well."

Atta girl, Patty. That's why I love you so. And I love your cooking too!