1980s Hairclips

I was so surprised when I sold a newly listed unopened 1980s barrette. 

When I listed it in my online shops, I immediately got inquiries about it.

Today, it sold for $25 with 4 people having it on their shopping cart already.  A customer from Louisiana beat them all to it.

Some online sellers price this item as high as $80. 

Surmayosep!

6/4/2026 at 4:08 p.m.

 I was cleaning my drawers I was cleaning my drawers in my dresser and found an old sterling silver bracelet. I think I bought the bracelet on sale at the nearby Boscov's (a department store) when it newly opened in our town in 2002.

Me: 'doy, look! I'm wearing my old ankle bracelet. 

Jason: ((( WHAT?! )))

He sounded so confused! 

Jason: Like for probation?

LOL!

I almost peed from laughing so hard. I didn't think of that. 

He thought it was the ankle bracelet, like an electronic monitoring device strapped around the ankle to track an offender's location and movement in compliance with court-mandated restrictions as an alternative to jail time or house arrest. 

Should I just use the term "anklet" instead? 🤔

6/4/2026 at 12:49 p.m.

I heard my son talking on his phone with my daughter. They're talking about the basketball tournament last night. The Knicks won, I heard.

Both of them are rooting for the same New York team. 

By the way, they constantly have lunch dates via video call. 

It's an exclusive sibling-only kind of thing.

"Breakfast"

I baked a cake with lots of blueberries in it, and I offered a slice to Jay.

"Unsa man ni?" (What is this?)

"Emancipation Breakfast Cake," I answered.

"Di ba brek-fast na pagka sulti?" (Isn't it pronounced as brek-fast?)

"Giunsa man diay pagsulti ang akoa?" (How did I say it?)

"Breyk-fast!"

So I checked and...

OMG! He's so right! 

I've been pronouncing it wrong all this time.

Breakfast is /ˈbrek.fəst/!

5/19/2026 at 8:22 a.m.

Our stay at the Hilton in Chicago didn't come with a free breakfast. However, it was served for the attendees of the seminar. I didn't really know the specific topic of the seminar, but it was related to AI. It was conducted by the partner of the company that Jay works for.

I thought of going down to look for a nearby café for my daily morning dose of java, but Jay came back up to our room and handed me a cup of piping hot regular coffee and a banana.

I'm perfectly fine with that.

Honestly, I hated eating alone in a café or at a restaurant. When the mister took me with him for a work trip in Holland last year, I always bought myself a meal but had it in my room. I usually work while eating or sometimes catch up on my K-dramas.

My online shops were all closed when we traveled, but I still worked remotely—doing draft listings for all of the marketplaces I sell for.

Room on the 22nd

We checked in at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Chicago and will be staying for 2 days and 3 nights.

Our reservation was for a room with a king bed, but we got in so late that what was available was a room with a 2-queen-size bed on the 22nd floor.

And guess what? It has 2 bathrooms on opposite sides with bathtubs each.

Well, I guess we won't be sharing a bathroom for the entire duration of our stay at this hotel.

This building was built in 1927. I had to find that out the moment we entered the lobby and when we got in their elevator. It squeaked, and it smelled so old.

There's also an old USPS mailbox at the lobby. Its use is for aesthetic purposes only.

I don't know if most of these details are original, but most definitely they maintain the look of its interior details from the Roaring 20s era.

We also got a room with a view of the city. The opposite of that is the view of Lake Michigan, and getting a room facing it costs $27 more.

We're not planning to look at the lake from our window, though.

Kitty O'Sheas at 12:03 a.m.

Our kids were a bit worried that we would go to bed hungry on our very first night in Chicago.

We asked the front desk for a recommendation for any restaurants that were still open past midnight. He suggested Kitty O'Sheas. It's a bar at the hotel. It opens late until 2 a.m.

We ordered to share a bowl of potato leek soup (applewood smoked bacon, cheddar, green onions; $10) and their fish and chips (Smithwick's beer-battered cod, crispy potatoes, Old Bay tartar sauce, charred lemon; $27).

I think we were the last customers who ordered food at the bar. 

By the way, the lady waitress was very friendly. Her energy remained high despite the fact that it was already past midnight.

I loved their soup, and I didn't even mind that the popover didn't have its signature crisp. The fish and the potato were okay.

Our daughter asked what we ate the following morning, and I told her about the soup we had the previous night. I also added that I'll add it to my menu, and I am also thinking of serving it with popovers.

UA2331

Jay is attending a seminar in Chicago for 2 days with another colleague, and again, he tagged me along with him. 

Yesterday, Monday, was our flight to Chicago. He didn't get the business class ticket and sat in economy with me. According to him, the flight is just a little over an hour, and it wouldn't make a difference if he took the cheapest seat. 

9:10 a.m. United Air App Update: "We'll see you soon! Flight UA2331 departs at 1:10 p.m. at Gate C19 in Concourse C.

9:45 a.m. Our Uber ride arrived. 

10:50 a.m. We arrived at the Dulles International Airport in Virginia. Thankfully, we weren't stuck in traffic. It was smooth, and we got to enjoy African music all through it. 

11:40 a.m. We arrived at our gate at C19 and decided to have BRB burgers for lunch. I had their crispy chicken sandwich. Jay ordered their cheeseburger, and both shared an order of french fries. 

12:03 p.m. UA App Update: Our flight has a new departure time because air traffic control is limiting the number of planes allowed to land each hour at our destination. Our flight departs at a new time, 2:40 p.m.

12:07 pm. UA App Update: Our flight is now less delayed. From 2:40 p.m., the new departure time is at 2:15 p.m.

12:55 p.m. UA App Update: It's boarding time. 

1:10 p.m. Our plane should depart at this time, but it was moved.

1:09 p.m. We checked in our bags at the gate for free. It's a full flight.

1:35 p.m. After the flight attendant distributed earphones, I decided to watch a movie. 

It wasn't easy to decide what movie since my heart and mind were set on watching the downloaded Korean drama on my phone on Netflix. I have a few of them to catch up on. But I decided to enjoy instead what United Air has to offer. 

I chose a 2025 British short movie, A Friend of Dorothy. I have no idea about this film, but Miriam Margolyes (as Dorothy) is in it. She's funny, as I always see her as a guest at The Graham Norton Show. The movie is also with Alistair Nwachukwu, a new actor, as her friend, JJ.

2:08 p.m. The movie was over. It was beautiful. I wanted more. It's that kind of movie. 

3:23 p.m. I decided to watch The Intern starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. 

3:31 p.m. 9 minutes to go till we'll be up in the air. 

3:37 p.m. The captain said we're ready for departure but took that back right away. We'll be waiting for another hour. The estimated new departure time is at 4:45 p.m.

3:48 pm. UA App Update: Flight UA2331 has a new departure time because of an air traffic control ground stop. Our flight now departs at 6:00 p.m.

4:36 p.m. We're going back to a gate.

4:39 p.m. We're back at the gate.

4:44 p.m. We've deplaned. The plane needs to cool down. 

5:00 p.m. Our new departure time is now at 7:00 p.m. 

5:43 p.m. While waiting at gate D1, we were told that we have to wait for another hour. 

5:48 p.m. Our new departure time is now at 8:00 pm. 

6:00 p.m. The United Air app updated the time to 7:00 p.m. departure.

6:50 p.m. UA App Update: 8:00 p.m. new departure time.

7:17 p.m. It's boarding once again.

7:19 p.m. Depart in 41 minutes.

7:28 p.m. I'm going to continue watching the movie where I left off. 

It was the part where Ben Whittaker (played by Robert De Niro) and 3 of his male colleagues broke into their boss Jules Ostin's (played by Anne Hathaway) mother's house. The intention of the break in was to hack her computer and delete a message she accidentally sent to her mother's email account. 

7:41 p.m. The captain welcomed us all aboard.

8:16 p.m. The captain updated us that it'll be in 9 more minutes till our departure.

8:20 p.m. "Flight attendants, please be seated for departure!" said the captain.

8:24 p.m. We're in the air, finally.

8:26 p.m. The movie ended. I also realized that I think I've watched this movie, but I wasn't really paying attention to it. You see, I tune in to shows and "watch" (but not really) movies while at work.

8:28 p.m. I wanted to watch the movie Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, but I wouldn't be able to finish the whole film while on this flight. 

9:16 p.m. The captain updated us on the weather in Chicago. 

9:17 pm. The flight attendant apologized that they weren't able to serve drinks and snacks due to the turbulence during this flight.

9:50 pm. Touchdown!

It's 8:50 Chicago time.

9:05 p.m. The plane is still taxiing. A little girl a few seats away is singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

9:10 p.m. Our assigned gate is still occupied, according to the pilot.

9:43 p.m. More apologies from the pilot. We have to wait a few minutes more. 

9:53 p.m. The plane is taxiing again.

9:56 p.m. Another apology from the pilot, and we're back to where we were waiting. 

10:04 p.m. He said, "We're now ready to go." 

10:09 p.m. We're still here. 

10:10 p.m. Taxiing again. 

10:20 p.m. Same

10:28 p.m. UA App Update: Welcome to Chicago! Our checked bags are in Terminal 1 Carousel 3."

10:35 p.m. We got off the plane.

10:39 p.m. To the baggage claim

11:13 p.m. We're on an Uber ride with Jay's colleague, Ronald. 

The driver wondered about the influx of late-night arrivals. "Was it because of the storm earlier?" He also answered his question. 

11:33 p.m. We've arrived at our hotel. 

We would have arrived in Chicago at 8:00 p.m. if we had driven, but the delay and the long wait were nobody's fault.

Now, where do we find a restaurant that is still open at close to midnight?

Lilian Asked...

One of our lady friends just got married. We haven't met her husband yet.

Yesterday, the mister went early-morning biking and coffee outside with her and a few biking enthusiasts in town.

I only know and have met a few of them through the mister. From yesterday's crowd, I think I know three of them.

Anyhoooo, Jay and the friend got a chance to chat. Knowing Jay, he name-dropped me.

"I know Lilian would ask me this: How did you meet your husband?"

Hahahaha.

Such a wise thing to do—to name-drop me. 

He really knows me. I ask many questions, and after a question comes another follow-up question.

I'm Nice

Jay and I are having our coffee this morning and paired it with store-bought blueberry muffins from Giant Eagle.

While eating my last bite-size of the pastry, he said, 

"Ay! Gihurot na nako akong kape nga naa pa man diay koy muffins." (Oh! I just finished all of my coffee when I still have muffins.)

"Ganahan ka mohigop sa akoa?" (Would you like to sip from my cup?)

I still have about 4 big sips of my café latte. 

"Nice man ko, Jay." (I'm nice, Jay.)

He looked up and fixed his gaze on me. You know, that playful look that suggests I didn't mean what I said.

It's not popular knowledge, but I am nice.

He merely grinned in response.

Art Exhibit

We got invited to an art exhibit in West Virginia today, and I don't know exactly what to wear appropriately to this event. 

What I am very sure about, though, is not wearing my all-time warm-weather favorite, a pair of faded jorts. 

Happy Hour

I was supposed to finish planting seeds, but it can wait.

It was a beautiful Thursday. Jay said he'd take me for happy hour after his work instead of our usual Fridays. Our friends who are now based in Vermont are in town, and he got invited to an overnight biking-camping trip this Friday. 

So after work yesterday, we went to Attaboy. 

Honestly, ordering pizza wasn't in the plan. Jay suggested that we should get pizza too. 

We ordered our favorite from the menu of The Blues BBQ Company—Prosciutto Pear pizza ($17, Gorgonzola, Mozzarella, Prosciutto, Pears, Arugula, Balsamic Glaze).

The orange soda hard seltzer was my favorite from Attaboy, perfectly paired with another all-time favorite pizza in our town; it was such a beautiful marriage to cap the work week. 

Attaboy Beer

400 Sagner Ave.

Ste 400

Frederick, MD

The Blues BBQ and Co

4/17/2026 at 8:40 p.m.

I was asked why I haven't been posting videos on Facebook.

"For now, that does not give me pleasure and thrill anymore, and I have returned to writing on my blog," I responded.

She seemed surprised. "No one reads blogs."

Exactly.

I adore the silence here.

Hana

March 28th, while my sister Charmaine and our son, Jason, were at a baseball game at Camden Yards, Jay took this opportunity to visit a record store called Celebrated Summer Records in Baltimore. It wasn't very far from the stadium. 

I tried checking their international pile just in case I'd find any old Apo Hiking Society, VST and Co., Hotdogs, Rey Valera, or really any old Filipino vinyl records. But, nah! There were none from that part of Asia.

My daughter, Yna, and her husband, Larry, called me via Facebook Messenger to greet Jay and me for our wedding anniversary and to chat. They'd be leaving in a few days for a two-week vacation with a few of their close friends to Japan.

She asked me what I want from Japan but I always tell her to just surprise me. Yna said maybe she'd find me fabrics. Before we hung up, I reminded Larry to send me a postcard, although he always does, even without me reminding him.

After the record store, we stopped by a vintage shop. We looked around but didn't really find anything that interested us. I wanted to drink something hot after that, and it so happened that we passed by Hana, a modern Japanese restaurant in that part of town. For sure, they serve Genmaicha or just plain green tea. 

 

To start, I had hot green tea, and Jay had Japanese beer. 

We also ordered their pork belly yakitori ($8 for a stick, grilled and crispy pork belly topped with yuzu kosho sauce). It was pricey for me, but it was so good.

Jay suggested ordering their miso soup, but I declined. I can have it in the many Asian restaurants in downtown Frederick and opted to get something that is not served near us. By the way, this restaurant is a little over an hour drive from our home.

We also had their Baltimore Roll ($19, shrimp tempura, asparagus roll topped with seared salmon belly, and Hana's secret sauce). This was to die for. I would really like to have this over again. *Chef's kiss.

We also tried their Hamachi Tacos ($15, yellowtail ceviche, calamansi, ponzu, and cilantro on crispy tacos). The dish was so good that I want to try making this at home, but using the Filipino ceviche recipe. Good idea?

I wouldn't mind driving an hour to dine here again. 

Hana 

1103 W 36th St 

Baltimore, MD 21211 

Hours: 11 AM - 10PM Monday - Sunday 

(443) 869-2503

4/13/2026 at 11:45 p.m.

It's quarter to midnight, and I want to eat bread. 

I baked ube ensaymada last night. There are 10 left. 

I am not hungry, by the way. Just craving, maybe.

Triple X+1

The mister and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary last Saturday.

Reaching this milestone, I am very sure that my father would be really proud of me and Jay. Like I wrote in some of my previous posts, my Papang was worried about Jay as my boyfriend when we were 18 years old. My family, relatives, some friends, and most neighbors knew that I had an attitude and temper. I admit that I was difficult to deal with. I didn't communicate my thoughts and feelings gently but expressed them in anger. I had childhood trauma that I had to manage with, unload, and heal. No one knew about it but Jay.

But here we are! We're on our 36th year of friendship and 31st year of tried-and-tested marriage.

We didn't really have plans of going out of town until my little sister decided to take her favorite nephew (our son) to a baseball game in Baltimore.

We left earlier than agreed because of the NO KING protest in the city.

Traffic wasn't really that bad, but finding a spot to drop them off near the stadium wasn't easy. 

Eventually we succeeded and dropped them at the nearest gate we passed by.

They got in the stadium with enough time for them to get settled, buy souvenirs, and get their food before the game started. The Baltimore Orioles were playing against the Minnesota Twins.

We headed to Artifact Coffee after. We are frequenters of this coffee shop when we're in the city. 

We were very lucky to find a table for two the moment we entered the shop. The place was packed, and the people arriving after us took so much time to find a vacant table. 

I had a cappuccino, and Jay had their cortado.

We also shared a serving of their crustless squash quiche. 

The quiche was to die for. It was so much better than the spinach quiche I've tried.

While still dining, I was already on the internet looking for a recipe. I really want to try making this at home.

It'll be very soon!

No Need To Cook

"Let's go!" 

He blurted that out when he got home after work today. 

"To where?"

"To happy hour at, maybe, Thai Meric Eatery and Bar."

No way! That's a restaurant and not a beer house.

It's the eve of our wedding day anniversary, so I am off of my kitchen duties today. 

Before happy hour was over at 6:30 p.m., we ordered a Moscow Mule and a hot sake.

We were too excited for their goat Massaman. We had this last December with my little sister, Charmaine. This is, by far, one of the best goat dishes in town. 

We also had their beef hot pot. 

For our dessert, I wanted to get their Mango Sticky Rice, but I told the mister that it would be a rain check for our next happy hour at this restaurant. Instead, we had their crispy fried banana with their jackfruit coconut ice cream. 

By they way, we finished everything just in time for Jay to go back to work at 7 p.m.

I can't wait for the next happy hour. 

3/24/2026 at 12:35 p.m.

 "Some goals may take a long time to achieve. Don't give up hope!"

3/24/2026 at 11:18 a.m.

I need to finish at least 10 new listings on my online stores before noon o'clock, but I got distracted. 

I baked another batch of Hamsaymada the other night, and today, they're all gone. Jay and I had the last 2 pieces with café lattes this morning.

I surprised our friends yesterday and sent them freshly baked goodies. Jay brought them to work, and I asked my little sister (who works with the mister) to hand-deliver them. It was teamwork. 

Back to the hamsaymada, I topped them with buttercream plus freshly grated cheese.

While at work, I thought of improving the topping. I searched online for a better version of it, and we'll see. 

I'll be baking a new batch later today, and I'll be using the better buttercream topping recipe I came across.

And that, my friend, is how I got distracted at work.

To The Grocery

Jay and I agreed to go grocery shopping about 2 p.m. on Sunday. After a few minutes on the road, he suggested that we should travel elsewhere, possibly to a beerhouse outside the city limits.

While he was behind the wheel, I looked for a beerhouse that we haven't gone to. The unanimous choice was the Prospect Point Brewery. 

Here!

Sabor de Cuba food truck was there. That's just great! We've been to their restaurant in the downtown a few times already, and their food tastes closer to Filipino cuisine, in my opinion. 

We ordered the empanadas (one of each) and the Cuban sandwich. 

For our drinks, I had the hard seltzer mango slushies. Jay would always order what's on tap, whose name I forgot.

It was all perfect, from the weather to my drink down to our food. 

I can't wait to come back one of these days, maybe in the evening with some friends. It would also be perfect if we could reserve seating with a fire pit. 

Oh, about the grocery?

We checked that one after a quick stop at Sierra and then at the thrift store.