spontaneity get-togethers

We took my parents to a post-valentine dinner at Mingoys at the ATC last night. It wasn't planned. I just decided to have quality time with my folks.

The other weekend I took them out for a buffet dinner at a Pinoy resto for no reason. Basta lang.

When my dad asked me why I was treating them to an expensive fine dining, I smiled, paused and finally replied, "Oh, I want to try out my new credit card. Tumatanggap naman sila ng Mastercard dun, di ba?"

My dad should know the answer to that. He and his barkada regularly have their monthly get-together lunch there. They start it out by ordering platefuls of oysters to be shot down by light beer.

The real reason for our going to Mingoys is just because.

When you work your ass off, and you get paid well...one more time...I GET PAID WELL...ahhh! Sarraap!...then you deserve to spend a lil.

My mom who has a tummy of a bird ordered a house specialty, lenguas, while my dad had the porterhouse, his fave.

I ate the pepper steak, medium rare, which was absolutely perfect for me, proportion- and tender-wise. My special gurl had what looked like tortang steak because there's an eggplant with sliced tomatoes on top of the steak that's glazed with mozzarella.

And then, from among the many paella variants on the Mingoys menu, she picked the valenciana for everyone. I guess when at a Spanish resto, at least have a paella dish on the table.

We all had soup earlier, except for my mom who was contented with the basketful of complimentary toasted garlic bread. Dad had the garlic soup, an original Transylvania recipe (kidding! baka maniwala kayo ha.), she tried the mushroom soup (why does she always ask for the mushroom soup wherever we go? baka it's her favorite), and I ordered the clam chowder (which could be a meal in itself).

Dessert was tiramisu for her and my mom. When it was served the sliced cake looked like it had bunny ears because of the broas. Dad smoked his ciggy while I finished my cappuccino.

So what do we talk about everytime we dine together (which, I sadly admit, happens very seldom), aside from family updates like who died, or is ill, or is coming home from the US?

Sorts.

Last night my dad shared his thoughts on house renovation when I mentioned that I plan to have one. He's excited about the whole idea. That's my dad - frustrated architect.

My mom, on the other hand, would, from time to time, talk about money...money...money. It's either she's worried about the lack of it or how to spend it.

She doesn't know how much I am earning, although there were attempts to directly get the answer from me, which I promptly warded off with, "Basta, mommy. Don't ask."

Now there's only one woman in the family who knows how much, and that's who my mom would inquire from, for as long as I'm not around.

And she needs to know because she wants to be sure that I can afford to buy plans from her...pension, life and what-nots.

Yes, it pays when she has the right timing. She'll sell me whatever plan she has on hand just when I've come home from work, all tired and tired.

She'd be like nagging me in a nice tone (oxymoronic ata). It's nothing hateful. I'd react with a nod sometimes, obviously a sign that I'm not really attentive to whatever she's explaining. But she'd just go ahead and talk.

Tapos, I'd hear her say all of a sudden, "O, anak, ha? Ito o. Kayang kaya mo yan!"

And then, I'd mechanically reply, "Okay."

Magigising na lang ako when I hear her say, "Yiihii!" And then she'd walk away in a hurry.

So what has she sold me recently?

I have a vague idea, although I remember she said it's semi-annual.

...

I mean...

It's not like she just sold me someone's kidney.

...

Or someone's soul.

...

"Mom?!"

* * *

kids should know that...

Paella is a rice dish, originally from Valencia (Spain) where it is eaten especially on Sundays and during the Falles. The name paella is the word for "frying pan" in Valencian (from Latin patella). The recipe became more elaborate and variable as it spread from its origin in Valencia throughout Spain and other parts of the world. Rabbit and chicken are the key ingredients of Paella Valenciana. Today one can find paellas made from a variety of other ingredients including rabbit, chorizo, langoustines, lobster, and mussels. Paella can be a simple, rustic dish cooked in open air and eaten straight from the pan, or it can be more elaborately prepared and served. When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, they passed on their cuisine to the Filipinos. Filipino Paella contains more seafood ingredients since the Philippines is an archipelago of islands with easy access to seafood. Filipino paella includes the addition of crabs, abalone, soy sauce, atsuete (for the coloring), clams and other sea products. (wikipedia)