Frenz and the Eggs.

As told to me by Rhoda, added some creative work to her story. 






The other day, inside the kitchen playing around, Frenfren opened the refrigerator door.  He saw the nice eggs his mommy had bought last night. 10 of them in all, sitting inside the refrigerator.  He was excited when he saw the eggs just sitting there.  He remembered how nice the chicks were when he helped care for the chicks right after they came out of the eggs.  All newly hatched, wet, and needing help.  He remembered how his nino and the caretaker carefully cared for each chick that was hatching from it's egg. 

So he decided right there with the cold air from the refrigerator escaping into the kitchen.  The chicks in the 10 eggs needs help in getting out.  With 10 eggs, he'll get 10 baby chicks.  So he carefully took the first egg and cracked it open.  The yolk spilling unto the kitchen floor.  There was no baby chick. 

Not disappointed, he thought there must be chicks in the other eggs.  They need help.  So he took the next egg, cracked it open, yolk spilling unto the floor next to the first egg.  There was no baby chick.  He knew there has to baby chicks in the eggs.  He saw it himself when the chicks hatched the other week.  His nino and the caretaker next door, helped the baby chicks from the eggs.  He knew in his heart that there are baby chicks waiting to hatch from the eggs in the refrigerator. 

So again, he took an egg, cracked it, the yolk again fell to the ground next to the other yolks.  Yet, there were no baby chicks.  Frenfren did this seven more times, until all the eggs were cracked, the egg yolks all on the kitchen floor, mixing together.  Again, after each opened egg, there was no baby chick. 

Not to be disappointed, since there was no baby chicks.  He looked at the egg yolks on the kitchen floor.  Frenfren thought again to himself, since there are no baby chicks in the eggs,  I will make dinner.  He spied the ripe tomatoes his mommy had bought with the eggs the night before.  Took a tomato, set it on the floor.  Then he went back to the refrigerator and took the kitchen knife that his mommy stores with the other utensils on the inside of the refrigerator door. 

With the tomato in one hand and kitchen knife in the other, he started slicing tomatoes just like his mommy does when she is preparing their dinner.  He was intent on making dinner for the family, just like how his mommy makes it. 

Just then, his mommy walks into the kitchen and sees the wonderful mess on the kitchen floor.  Her baby boy was cutting tomatoes into slices amid the egg yolks.  She calmly asked Frenfren what is going on.  Frenfren explained that he saw the 10 eggs in the refrigerator and that he wanted 10 chicks of his own.  But since there were no chicks, he decided to make dinner for the family. 

Her son displayed self-esteem, self-confidence, and initiative.  She could not bring herself to spanking the boy.  After cleaning up the mess on the kitchen floor, she took the time to explain to her young son, that chicks are not found in eggs inside the refrigerator.  Those eggs are outside under a hen or inside an incubator.  Also, that we prepare the dinner on the table or counter, not on the kitchen floor. 

Later that evening, during her chat with her husband who is away.  She relayed the days of events of their son.  He laughed at the story being told.  For it was years ago, at about the same age as his son, that he and his cousins did the exact same thing in their Lolo's house, in the family compound, looking for chicks in the eggs inside the refrigerator. 



Keep Smiling


Since this story came out.  All the sharps have been taken out of the refrigerator and secured in a higher place that Frenfren will not get to. 

By the Grace of God.

Saturday after class, I learned that Rhoda and Larraine returned to Butuan City that early morning.  I had no idea that they were going.  It was a spontaneous event.  I was not comfortable with was going on.  It wasn't that Rhoda failed to inform me of this situation.  I just felt uncomfortable with it.  My spirit was not easy with this.  It was restless.  I was exhausted from class that morning.  So I decided to take a nap to refresh myself. It was 1430 when I hit my bed.

At 1745, I woke up with a very heavy feeling that something was wrong.  My son Frenz was constantly in my mind.  I immediately went to the computer and browsed for messages on messenger or facebook.  There were no messages from my inquiry to Rhoda on why she went back to Butuan City.  So I sent messages asking her to respond immediately.  No replies, so I went back to my bedroom and prayed that my family be kept safe. 

About 2200, I got word from Rhoda via messenger that her family was in a traumatic accident, approximately after 5 pm, their time.  Guam is two hours ahead of the Philippines.  She explained that her auntie from Sweden wanted her and Larraine at the family's last reunion event before she went back to Sweden with her family.  Everything was fine at the beach, west of Butuan City.  It was going home that the group got into a near catastrophic accident.  The first vehicle in the family convoy had departed the beach.  Rhoda's family and other clan member fitted in the 2nd Jeepney.  While Rhoda and Larraine were in the last vehicle, a van.  Frenz was in the Jeepney with other relatives.  Now for those who have been to the Philippines, you know how they pack those things like sardines.  Sometimes, you see people riding on the top, surfing the road. 

As the 2nd and 3rd vehicles full of family members departed the beach area.  They had to traverse a road that ran along a cliff.  For some reason, the Jeepney ran off the road down the cliff to be stopped by a small tree.  It was that tree, by God's grace, that saved Rhoda's family.  Her whole clan was in that Jeepney, along with our son, Frenz. 

Rhoda took control of the situation.  She told Larraine to stay in the van.  Then started to help her family members providing first aid, and treating for shock.  Fortunately there were no critical injuries.  Rhoda's mom, aunt, and sister sustained most of the injuries; possible fractures, and torn ligaments.  All the children were safe and in good condition, including Frenfren.  Rhoda's cousin is also a nurse, but she was in the first vehicle that departed the beach and they didn't know what happened.  Rhoda had to take care of everybody.  They managed to get another Jeepney to transport the injured to the hospital. 

After my conversation with Rhoda this afternoon, her sister, Rizza, has been admitted into the hospital for a possible fractured pelvis last night.  The family will not know the actual diagnosis until Monday, when the doctors return to duty.  Rhoda's aunt also was injured but decided to go home, but will return to the hospital on Monday.  She has a possible fracture to her arm.  Rhoda's mom, "Mamang" injured her back trying to keep Frenz safe from injury.  Rizza was trying to keep Larraine's eldest brother, Shem, safe from injury as well. 

Rhoda explained that the area where they had the accident is very dangerous.  Vehicles that go over the cliff always have fatalities.  It was that small tree that prevented the Jeepney, that the family was riding in, from going completely over. 

Upon reflection, I believe it was Divine Intervention that Rhoda was supposed to be there, at that exact moment.  I don't believe in coincidences.  I also believed that prayer saved my family. 


PTL <><

Today's Lunch Special at Enzo's Outdoor Grill.

I baked up some pork chops today for lunch.  I gave it my special dry rub (combination of black pepper, season all, and Italian seasoning) .  I gave generous amounts of dry rub on both sides of each chop.  Placed the chops on a baking pan.  Preheated the oven to 350 degrees and set the timer for 45 minutes.  I then added fresh Cherry Tomatoes from my garden into the baking pan to give it a little color and that tarty zest flavor. 

While the pork chops were baking.  I cooked up some banana-cue without the skewers.  This is a traditional Filipino dish that my grandparents and parents used to cook for the children.  Then when I went to the Philippines in the late 70's and early '80's, I watched how the street vendors cooked bunches of cooking banana in huge woks along the streets of Santa Mesa, Manila; also outside the gates of UPLB, Laguna; and now, 2007-present, Cagayan De Oro City. 

Anyway, back to Enzo's banana cue.  I took some ripe bananas out of the refrigerator.  Ones that we had skinned earlier.  I took a small pot with oil and heated it up on high.  I placed several ripe bananas inside the pot and let cook until the underside turned a little light to dark brown.  Then I flipped it over.  When both sides of the banana are close to Golden Brown, I took it out and let it drip dry on a plate.  After I few minutes, I took each cooked banana and tossed it into my sugar/cinnamon mix bowl.  There, I would turn it over a couple of times until the whole banana was lightly covered in the sugary cinnamon mix.  Then I would place it in a medium serving bowl to let it cool.  It's so good, that I've kept going back to the kitchen to get a piece to eat as I write this blog to post. 

Please don't ask me for measurements.  I have not done any measurements, since ever since.  I primarily go by taste and smell. 

Enzo's Outdoor Grill is located on Matua Ranch, just off the BackRoad to AAFB, in Yigo, and caters currently to immediate family members and very close friends.