trey's salacious seasonal salad

cucumber, seeded and sliced (or cubed)
carrots, cubed
potatoes, cubed
fresh apple, cubed
fresh pineapple, cubed
bacon bits, crisped
chicken, cubed
cheese, cubed
yoghurt, chilled
1 clove garlic, minced
1 large onion, minced
salt and pepper to taste

1. boil chicken meat for 15 minutes, then add potatoes and carrots. boil for another 10 minutes. this will also give you chicken stock, which you can later use by itself or in other dishes.

2. while boiling the chicken and vegetables, crisp the bacon bits until golden brown.

3. mince the garlic and onion, then stir into chilled yoghurt with salt and pepper to taste, which is to be separated from the salad until serving time. place seasoned yoghurt in the refrigerator to chill.

4. cut and core the apples and pineapples into cubes. combine both immediately, so that the acid in the pineapple juices prevent the apple from browning.

5. combine the cheese cubes, bacon bits, chicken meat, carrots, potatoes, and cucumber into the fresh apples and pineapple, mix, and then chill if you're serving it later.

6. when serving, pour chilled yoghurt over the salad.

7. enjoy.

notes:

cucumbers - i like them seeded, but not peeled. or go for seedless if you can. just wash them carefully if you want to retain their skins.

potatoes - i also like to leave the skin on. just make sure they are thoroughly washed. you can also substitute yams for a different take on the salad.

apples - i like them seeded with the skins still on. they make fantastic visuals against the green of the cucumber, the orange of the carrots, the yellow of the pineapples, and the brown of the potatoes.

of course, this is a basic recipe, and you may choose to alter it to suit your taste. but basically it's figure-friendly with mostly fresh and homemade ingredients, with little or no msg. you control what goes in. you can even make it totally vegetarian.

other ingredients you may choose to add or substitute:
fresh seafood, steamed (or buttered)
turkey, cubed
cauliflower
broccoli (my favorite)
roasted eggplant, cubed or sliced
cooked beans, drained
olives, pitted
fresh corn bits, steamed (or sauteed lightly in butter)
bulgur pilaf, cooked
tabasco sauce or rubbed chili flakes, for that spicy kick
citrus fruits, sliced
ginger, minced
vinaigrette (olive oil and balsamic vinegar, seasoned)
fruit dressings (olive oil and citrus juice, seasoned)
cebuano dressing (olive oil and pure tuba vinegar)
asian dressing (soy sauce, vinegar or citrus juice, sesame oil, with or without honey)

what i love about this salad is that you can make it as summery or as hearty as the seasons (and moods) change. i made my first one in the summer, so it was pretty light. i soon tried different dressings, and i discovered that each one created a different mood. the cheese choice also influence the overall taste. blue cheese, goat cheese, even your common cheddar cheese at the grocery. add spice for that middle eastern flavor, or olives for that mediterranean feel. the choices are endless.

bon appetit!

on a typical saturday morning

i just discovered i like watercolors.

i made several sketches today (since i was bored and a little creative at the same time), and it seems i'm more suited to watercolors than colored pencils.

this means if ever i plan to add colors, i'm going to use watercolors. i've tried pastels, and it's a no. oil is a bit expensive for me.

and i'm terribly frightened of using cracked photoshop/coreldraw installers to create artwork. luck doesn't seem to be on my side for these things, as they tend to end up destroying my pc. now, sharewares are a different story. i love them, and they love me back.

so i'ts manual for me, for now.

i posted the first part of the story, which i hope is intriguing at the start.

there are two versions of the drawing, both in mixed media of ink and colored pencil. the difference is that the second one has watercolor over the ink and colored pencil.

but probably, i'm most kilig by this one, which i also made today.

supergirl gone bad

this brings out the pervert (and the lols) in me.

i love fan fiction art specially when it's erotic.

click here to view the webcomic.

like a virgin

i downloaded the first ever onscreen gay fuck by zeb atlas and adam killian.

and it's so fucking hot.

maybe because the scene is (almost) one of my fantasies come to life.
almost, because in my fantasy, it'd be zeb and me in the shower. (lol)

oh, zeb. should i reconsider writing you in?

a change will do you good

various thoughts running through my head for the moment.

reading and watching sexy sarah palin in action just makes my head ache. i'm sure she's probably nice and all, but way too unqualified to be veep to mccain. let's face it, mccain obviously drafted her to hook in the clinton votes, and the women voters. watching her fumble during her onscreen interviews was just excruciating, and i guess voters really do get what they elect to office. the way she answered questions. boy. did she get picked only for her gender and age. and i think she knows that, deep inside.

when asked by katie couric if she had any favorite newspapers, sexy sarah answers, oh i read them all. and when pressed for a certain newspaper, she couldn't answer, and then she rambles on and on about alaska. sweetie, we get it. you're from alaska and proud of it. so proud that you wanted to build a bridge to nowhere. we know you're proud you're a soccer mom. we love soccer moms. unfortunately, that's not the only qualification you need to run for office. i think tina fey would do a better job than sexy sarah any time.

dear sexy sarah, you need a good grasp of world affairs. and if you're not sure of certain things, it's better to shut up than to trip up. because tripping up really highlights your ignorance. which is not a bad thing. ignorance can always be cured by knowledge. stupidity is another thing.

and let's not dwell on local politics. we can go on and on about how stupidity elected popular but unfit people into positions of power.

that's why i'm going to dwell on good things. like how i finally made the a sketch of my "demonic" race. who doesn't look demonic at all. angelic in fact. if demons were to tempt humans, why would they tempt us with scary looking faces? let's face it. desire motivates us more than fear.

or how i finally edited the pages i've made so far. with so many huge edits. scenes erased and changed. scenes added. thinking of names. it's just crazy. but fun.

another sunday evening. i wonder how b is doing. i haven't chatted with him for the longest time.

i need to shake up my life.

i think i shall go to eloy this week for some card reading.

i wonder how it will go.

and then ngohiong right after!

more, more, more

i just came from a wedding reception. well, it was a more intimate reception than the usual.

the wedding was at 7:30 in the morning. formal reception at lunch. then a more informal reception at dinner.

then the inevitable question came. when are you getting married and having kids?

precisely why i avoid weddings.

for one thing, i don't like children. and yes, i'm still single. and no, i want a husband, not a wife.

the past few days have been serendipitous. while enriching the back story of my humanoid demon character, i came upon a greek god's tale that echoed his story. so i am going to use the greek god angle. and lord knows i love greek myths. i'm surprised i didn't think of it sooner.

i'm up to page 33. i'm not so happy with the way the story has been unfolding, and i think i shall be editing the next few days.

nail biting - well, not really

i finished a draft of the story. yes! draft, because i constantly add, delete, and change the words.

i have decided to send the draft to several people in the hopes that they can provide valuable insights and critiques. i've already made up my mind that my writing is a little too flowery and too melodramatic. i guess i'll have to wait if others think so too. (lol)

i've already one big critique. tony from guam, who said that the names are too western. and asked if there would be any pinoys. yes. i'm going to make it a benetton world. doncha worry your pretty lil head about it.

b mentioned that it might be too graphic. it's meant to be. it's for adults. it's got words like cock, fuck, shit, and all the cusses we're probably used to. and of course, the sex is going to be there most of the time. it's going to cause discomfort to many, and maybe pleasure to some.

b's going to make his work a bit more family-friendly. i envy him. and i think his work's going to be funny too.

i've already mentioned how i am concerned that my work might be accused as plagiarized work, or become a plagiarized work. so for now, i don't think i'll be posting anything other than the occasional mention of ideas or names. besides, i don't think it would get that big an audience. and there must be dozens of other writers who are more talented than me. i'd just like to err on the side of caution.

i've already been inspired by several experiences, which i've yet to put down. i've discussed them with some people and so far they've found it amusing. which is what i need, since humor is not really injected too much (if at all) in what i've finished so far.

one problem i'm struggling with is how to get the lead out of the country and into the city. the transition story. that'll have to wait for inspiration to strike. then to the city he cometh!

the good thing about writing this story is that i'm more conscious of words. and how to arrange them as best as i can. i've even begun to put apostrophes (which i spell-checked and came out correct) in my sentences. now if only i'm not lazy enough to do upper cases in proper nouns and at the beginning of sentences.

yes. i was a spelling bee wannabe.

this story (and its consquent success, or most likely, the lack of it) is probably a dream, maybe a pipe dream. but at least i've done something about it. at least i won't sing the coulda-woulda-shoulda song.

let the madness begin!

i've started on something i've always wanted to do: write a story.

since the sixth grade, i've harbored a secret wish to write a book. in my mind, the story would blur the lines between reality and fantasy, thrown in with a good dose of my wishful desires, a dash of humor, and a wee bit of angst. some characters would be based on real life, and some would be fictional.

and of course, the main character would be based on me. it's so obviously a self-promoting story. (lol)

that wish laid dormant for years. until an exchange of ym's with b, who i discovered, also shared the same passion for fantasy works and graphic novels. the conversation triggered the longing, and we both agreed to share our ongoing works with each other via blogs.

that was about two weeks ago. from a simple story, it has evolved, in my mind, to be a complex one. i've already made up my mind who the character will look like, what he will experience, and all that. except it's come out longer than i expected.

the character is the result of a union between mortal and demon centuries ago, who has abilities he has yet to waken and understand. he is seemingly immortal, and has to find out and deal with his current situation.

i've already begun a draft of the first few chapters. i've also included a creation angle as an afterthought. hm. the wordings are a little dry. i guess i should try to use a few big words, like undulate (used) and enunciate (not yet, but will it ever be?).

i don't even have a good character name! i know it should be a simple name, yet strong and classic. i've decided on the name chase. pryce is a good contender.

i've also made some research on various studies on demonology and myths, which would be loosely used as basis for characters, settings, and beliefs.

i did post the creation story on multiply, though.

b's plan would be to form a group who would critique each other's works and provide assistance and guidance. i'm a little skeptic. but whatever. as long as it isn't accused as a plagiarized story, and won't be plagiarized, i'll be happy.

something new

watching several pinoy gay-themed movie trailers, indie and studio-produced, made me wonder for a bit.

they seemed to be categorized into:
a. tragic love story
b. melodramedy
c. gayrishly "funny"

i admit, i don't see a lot of pinoy films. gay-themed or not.

because i end up thinking:

will the sad, tragic, and violent brokeback-inspired movies never end?
will the seemingly hilarious but over-the-top stereotyped gaymedies ever stop?
when will the endless overacting and underacting stop?

when will i see a sweet, heart-warming, and light story?
will i never hear a simple but moving and poignant dialogue?
will i ever get to watch a slice of non-overly-hyped real current life happening in a movie?

duda/doubt and bathhouse were very qaf. i love qaf.
bilog/circle was very crash. i love crash.
ang pagdadalaga ni oliveros was very charming. i loved it. loved it.
sibak was tragic. considered a breakthrough at the time. but still tragic. about a macho dancer.
i watched burlesk king mainly for tonio ortigas. as a macho dancer.
twilight dancers sort of flew past my memory. yet another macho dancer story?
parola... um, what was the story again? i just remember lots of gratuitous nudity. yum.
roxxxane... too late on the cell phone scandal theme.
selda seemed interesting. i'll probably watch it one of these days.
ang lihim ni antonio beckoned, but i didn't go.
daybreak seemed promising. i still didn't go.
hugot seems to be about men... in underwear. mostly tighty-whities.
manay po? er. i'll pass commenting on this one.

i do admit i haven't watched a lot of pinoy digiqueer movies. within the first 15 minutes, i get to see how the film is made. and within that 15 minutes, my attention has either been gripped or has been lost. like what happened to moreno - quickly ejected within 2 minutes from the dvd player.

the sudden rush of gay-themed movies have yet to inspire me to watch them at the movies. but i know i will eventually watch them. just not right away.

unless someone hot asks me out to watch it.

*grin*