Between you and me, this is what I personally consider to be the highlight of our California vacation. Our reunion with J. J as in Jollibee. Hush, don’t tell my relatives! I don’t want to hurt their feelings. Nyahahaha!

Honestly, I wouldn’t have thought about Jollibee had Meeya not reminded me. When I told her during one of our chat sessions that Hubby, Abby and I were going to California her immediate reply was, “Makakakain ka na sa Jollibee!” Right there and then, my eyes were opened. Hahaha! What an epiphany Thank you, Mee!

And so, I requested my aunt to please take us there anytime during our 7-day stay (not counting the day of arrival and departure). Being the perfect hosts, my aunt and uncle took us to Jollibee straight from the airport. My heart practically jumped out of my chest in excitement and anticipation. Promise!

My uncle, Tito Ed, was amused that I was taking pictures of Jollibee. Tempting as it was, I didn’t tell him about the wonderful world of blogging. I had to have my chicken joy already. Hee hee.

2-dollar weekday treats? Not bad. I would have paid $5. But that’s just home-sick l’il ‘ol me.

Well, well, well! Hello J! Long time no see!

Abby and her 14-month old couin, Maddie…

Abby had a one-piece chicken joy kiddie meal. I love the pail! Too bad we forgot to bring it back home to Texas. It would have made a very nice…tabo.

I’ve already decided what to order long before we left Texas: chicken joy and palabok. This is my aunt’s, one-piece chicken joy and palabok meal. Are you kidding? It wouldn’t have been enough for me…

Now this is more like it. Both Hubby and I had a 2-piece chicken joy with lots of gravy. Forget the mashed potato. Forget the biscuit. Forget the coleslaw. Hello rice! Hahaha! The rice serving, by the way, was as big as a hamburger bun. Huge!

Aga, is that you? Hubby was happy to finally have fried chicken with rice. Fried chicken without rice is just not the same. You know what I mean.

Charlene! You’re here, too! Nyahahaha!

And since I didn’t have pancit the day before, which was my birthday, Hubby and I shared an order of palabok. Yummeeee! I didn’t mind that it was already cold by the time we were done with our chicken. I would have eaten this frozen!

I managed to take a group pic with my aunt and uncle before I started eating. My cousins came too with their families. By then, I was too engrossed with my food to take pics.

Abby played with the famous bee, too! Hee hee.

Eating at Jollibee was a surreal experience. For one and for once, we were surrounded by Filipinos! It felt weird to hear everyone around me speaking Tagalog. That is next to impossible here in Texas. Here, I’m always caught by surprise whenever my “Tagalog radar” picks up a Tagalog conversation. In that brief hour or so that we were in Jollibee, my radar worked overtime. I now have an idea how it feels to be, er, Edward Cullen, the mind-reading Twilight vampire who picks up people’s thoughts even if he doesn’t want to! Nyahaha! Twilight hang-over. Sorry.

During our vacation, we ate at so many different restaurants, but I had the best meal at Jollibee.

oOo

Our trip to California was both Abby’s and my first plane ride after moving to Texas. On our trip to Austin from the Philippines, Abby insisted on sitting on my lap during take off and landing, much to the dismay of Continental’s flight attendants. I’m just glad that was no longer the case. She sat by the window and asked, “Are we there yet?” every 5 minutes. Her DVD player kept her entertained for the most part of the trip. Thank God we were on a direct flight! Hee hee.

A few minutes before boarding

Prim and proper and excited

I may have spoken too soon!

How’s your week coming along? Great, I hope! Cheers!

ps: After I fold some of today’s laundry, I’m going to bloghop like I’ve never bloghopped before. Expect me in the next 24 hours!