Pre-shift Dates With AJ

Let’s call my current state, the XPS trial phase.

And let me just say that if I continue to be in this state, AJ and I will probably gain five pounds each weekly. Last Wednesday, my “reward” for going to work was a slice of Dementia. On Thursday it was a slice of Blueberry Cheesecake. I chanced upon AJ and kinda dragged him into my “cakeout.”

At home yesterday afternoon, I was already crafting pre-shift “cakeout” plans. I thought I’d invite AJ to The Cofee Bean and Tea Leaf for more cake. But my plans changed as I had skipped dinner and was running late so we ended up at McCafe again. This time I devoured a Cheeseburger Deluxe meal and a Blueberry Cheesecake. Miss piggy, I know, I know.

I wonder if I will still be this way next week. Its throwing me off my budget. But then it gives me something to look forward to every night that I have to be in Eastwood. Now I don’t know if I should feel guilty or smug.

Finding That Old Feeling

On my first week in XPS, my nose bled for five days. Literally and not figuratively. I’ve been “home sick.” I miss CBG, the 29th floor, my co-TLs, my bosses, and most of all, my own team.

AJ and I have been given a team. But were really just substitutes for the team’s TL and L2. JV transferred to Chat support, and so AJ and I are on loan to XPS (supposedly).

I’ve been feeling lonely on the floor ever since. The new team seems alright. They invited me and AJ to their Bulacan outing last Sunday. I thought it would be a nice idea to join so I could get to know them sooner, but I backed out at the last minute.

On Monday and Tuesday I didn’t go to work. My throat hurt, my head ached, my ass wanted to stay put. I was thinking all these silly thoughts like, would I survive if I turn in my resignation? Would I be dismissed if I didn’t show up at work for a week? I was plotting an escape yesterday. I had to leave the house because my mom would scold me if I missed another day at work, but I didn’t want to go to the office. Where should I go? Who could be my accomplice? I felt like an adolescent with this strong urge to cut class. I finally decided to get up. I gave myself a reason to go to work – Dementia.

I was already in Eastwood by seven (and should have been on the floor by then) but couldn’t bear the thought of being lonely at the 28th floor. I promised myself I would get a slice of Dementia if I go to work. And that’s exactly what I did.

I enjoyed this piece of heaven all by myself.

By the time I was done romancing my Dementia, I said to myself, no one from the office has seen me yet, I can still ditch work! How totally immature. But then I remembered my unpaid sofa, my bathroom door project, a new dining set that I want, my 30th birthday coming up, and 0.5 SIL credit. Off to work then. Logged in for 8:00 PM shift.

After my shift, I passed by the 29th floor pantry and saw half of my old team huddled over lunch and some chismis. Sana bukas ulit sabay sabay sila mag lunch, and AJ and I could hang out with them. The best feeling I had all day. It nearly tops the Dementia experience (wink).

lovely desserts at Kooky & Luscious

Sinful

In less than a week, I’ve been to Kooky & Luscious four times. I’ve just consumed a plateful of Seafood Pasta. Now I am working my way through a slice of Chocolate Dementia. I feel like I’m gaining five pounds as I write this. Kooky & Luscious is my newest sin. I am so addicted to it that I refused to wait and have lunch with my husband today, and just opted to dine alone.

So far, I have only tried their pasta as a main course. I am looking forward to getting a taste of their rice meals and other specials. But knowing me, I’m probably going to order the same thing everyday.

Here’s a glimpse of my Kooky and Luscious experience.

Friday Lunch

I’d been stuffing myself with Chiken Ginger’s Hainanese chicken for two days. Felt like trying something new. The rest of my choices had no appeal to me: Mongolian Quickstop, Goto King, Dimsum ‘n Dumplings, Barrio Fiesta, Jollibee, Ka Indoy’s, Country Style, World Topps/Bento Box & Zuppa. I was too lazy to hunt for food outside of Cybermall.

I had been looking at the cakes from outside of Kooky & Luscious for the last couple of days. I thought it was time to try it out.

I ended up ordering a Mushroom and Bacon Pasta and a Chocolate Dementia. I was delighted with both. My bill: two hundred pesos.

The pasta was heavy and though the cake was exquisite, I couldn’t finish the last few bites. I couldn’t wait for Denver to try the Dementia. He didn’t say, but I’m pretty sure he was disappointed with the teeny, tiny leftover cake I brought home. I was excited to take Denver there on my next visit.

Saturday Breakfast

I promised to take Denver to K & L but my team insisted I have breakfast with them. They feasted on Dimsum ‘n Dumplings’ all-you-can-eat siomai. I went to get some take-out from K & L and decided on Pumpkin Soup and Ceasar Salad at sixty pesos each.

Shangri-La’s pumpkin soup is still the best. My own pumpkin soup can compete with K & L’s recipe. But it was alright. I found it a little too thick, but it had the right amount of pepper for my taste, and to my joy, more croutons than I was expecting (yey)! The Ceasar Salad was a little salty. But bacon is supposed to be salty right? So I guess it had a normal taste. Hee. All in all, it wasn’t bad at all for a one hundred and twenty peso meal. What sucked though, was that they didn’t have a plastic fork for my take-out. I had to snitch one from D ‘n D.

Saturday Lunch

A couple of hours after my light K & L breakfast, I was back in there for lunch with Denver. He was looking forward to the visit. I built it up a little too much and I guess that psyched him. Poor guy was disappointed because every meal he wanted was not in stock. I felt a bit like a loser bragging about the food. He is very easy to please when it comes to chow. At that time, he just wanted rice and beef or pork. I can’t believe they had none.

He settled for the same Mushroom and Bacon Cream Puttanesca I had the day before. I felt bad because I know he really wanted to eat rice, and probably just stayed because of me.

I ordered Seafood Pasta. I liked it better than the Bacon and Mushroom deal. It’s a challenge to visually identify all the ingredients because they were all brown, but I could taste anchovies, capers, fish & mussels. The mushrooms weren’t hard to see. If I were to describe the taste, it was like “tuyo” in olive oil and pasta. Denver wouldn’t like it. It was swimming in olive oil. I loved every forkful.

This time he had a fair share of my Dementia. I was envious of his Coke so I decided to have one too.

Denver said that his pasta was okay, but I know his taste. I’m sure he would prefer Jollibee spaghetti over that on any given day. I appreciate the act to please me. I was so enthusiastic about bringing him there kasi.

We spent three hundred and seventy five. I think that’s a fair price. We were both so full, and I enjoyed my food.

So there. I’ve been spending my noons at Kooky & Luscious. I’m a glutton (again). For the month of August, I’ve been to the gym ONCE. My goal is to hit the gym 12 to 16 times a month. Friends, this should explain my weight gain. Haha. Don’t mind me if I’m wearing sweats. My jeans just won’t fit anymore.

Written on August 22, 2007