Kindness with everyone

I always try to remind myself to be good to everyone I come across.
One can tell a lot about a person when you see them deal with people in everyday life.
It always intrigues me how someone who professes to be a good person would then treat waiters, cab drivers or salespeople with disdain and uncouthness.
Even some people I used to go to church with would be so mean to waitresses during the after service luncheon. And you see some parishioners lose all driver civility just as they are leaving the parking lot in their airconditioned massive cars.

We were at a market today.
Normally, where I am, it is customary to haggle over prices.
I don't bother. I think having worked retail (and occasionally still do), I have a soft spot for people peddling their wares.  When you already know you are getting a good bargain, let the other person make a little cash.

One time, I even bought a bunch of keepsakes and pendants from peddlers outside the church. I don't believe in their magical properties, but I know some people who do and I just gave them away as gifts. My former girlfriend and her parents who are supposedly more devout than I am, would not even look at the vendors.
I bought something from everyone that day. You would think I gave them a million bucks they were so happy. I guess they haven't made the day's profit as of yet. I can leave my own personal argument against myself over being an enabler on another day, I suppose.

I am reminded each and everyday that the world is filled with people who mostly just want a fair shake in life... and to be able to make ends meet. To those who show effort, it will be rewarded.

Today was a good day.
Went to the market and bought a pile of vegetables just as the vendors were closing for the night.
A last minute sale is always welcome and there it was on their faces; Happiness.

P.S.,
Lunch today was absolute perfection;
Filet mignon grilled with salt and pepper, corn chowder with shrimp and steamed carrots with butter and salt. Fried chicken wings on the side.

Food pictures

This is the PHO soup I made for myself there using scratch made beef stock from the leg bones. Very tasty!

The giant shrimp I get to enjoy whenever there are some available in the market. Perhaps once a week or so. They are like small lobsters as you can see... the spoon is dwarfed! The head is one of the best and tastiest parts... I keep saying it in all my posts. Can't get enough of the meat inside!

More food!

Yep, it's all I do over here. Work, eat, sleep, love and pray. :)
So last night was a veritable banquet.
It was my folk's wedding anniversary coupled with a young cousin's graduation celebration.

We had Japanese Kani salad (with shrimp roe), panko breaded fish fillets, pancit palabok (which is rice noodles in a heavy shrimp based sauce with egg), sans rival cream pastries, rice cakes, roast whole chicken and the main star: a whole roast pig with crackling crispy skin. It's a vegetarian's nightmare for sure. :)

But on occasions like this, I don't mind. It's one of the rare instances I eat pork.
(aside from when there is bacon)


For drinks we had the ubiquitous Pepsi and a punch bowl drink fountain overflowing with pineapple/fruit medley blend. Oh, and we had chocolate ice cream (but I was too full last night to partake of that last one).

I think I ate myself into a coma last night. So this time around, instead of me traveling to another place, we got to stay home and have people over. It was a fantastic celebration. Perfect in every way.

Good night, America!

Food, what else?

Being a bit immobile at present, how can I get my adventure on except with food?
A new Costco like place opened up nearby and we checked out the pizza. Very good stuff! The cheese is plenty and running down every slice. New York style and very tasty.

Lately, I've been hankering after some beef. So a trip to the market was in order.
Markets here are different. This is where you traditionally see whole slabs up on hooks and the butchers with cleavers busily chopping away at the meat. If you're sqeamish about blood or the overpowering smell of raw meat, this won't be fun for you.
But it's all part of being a meat eater, IMHO. Just like when I eat whole fish, I can stare at the eye and even pick it out and chew on it (fried eyeball is tasty).

But back to more palatable topics.
I had the best filet mignon today.
I prepared the sauce myself. It's just canola oil (would have rocked to have olive oil just then) with shredded onion, salt and pepper. I sliced the filets thin and marinated them in that oil. Then put them on the burner top grill and presto. Instant grilled meat to perfection. Nothing like smelling the chopped onion sizzle too... adds a bit of bite and flavor to it. You can add garlic, red pepper flakes and paprika to the oil marinade. I just chose not to, but usually, when I have garlic powder, it goes in there as well.

Pair that off with a homemade tomato salsa and it is steak perfection.... mmmm!

WEll, that's been the week so far. Just eating and working.

Good night, America!