Wingdome Night!!!

It has been a while since my peeps and I have gone to the Wingdome. I have an hour and a half left to go before I get off work. Gotta love 'dem wings! :)

Goodbye 2009!!!

This year started out right. My family and I had our Noche Buena and then we left for the Philippines the next day. I think the theme for this year is FAMILY.

I saw Kuya August and Ate Blessy whom I haven't seen since they got married back in 2004. Upon meeting my nephew Austin for the first time, I was immediately moved. It's touching to see my older brother act as a dad. Yes, the same brother who still plays with Voltes 5 (I'm sorry I threw your die cast toy against the wall 25 years ago LOL). If my brother can be an awesome dad, then maybe...just maybe...I can be one myself someday. I also like the way Ate Blessy takes care of her family. It really is a pleasure to take their picture.

My relatives are very dear to me. I remember all those times I've gone to their house and had lunch or dinner when I was still a kid. They were always there for me. My cousins are still the coolest cousins on this earth. They have their own families to take care of now and it's easy to see that the values that were instilled in them by their parents also made it to their kids. My family is getting bigger, I like it.

It's a bit hard to imagine that my high school and college buddies have their own family as well (there goes that "f" word again). Mike, Paul, Ed, Kit, Frank, Rondell, Erick, etc etc are now proud parents. When I was there in 2004, I don't even think my friends were seeing somebody serious. Things have definitely changed. They're still the same group of guys I know. Well maybe .....with a hint of responsibility and a dash of maturity.

Then I met Iyah, the girl who inadvertently changed all of my plans. I was happy being single for over a year. I didn't want to be in a relationship, I didn't want a girlfriend, I didn't want to feel tied down. I had an easy life, I could do everything and anything I wanted with no worries. I was known to be that guy who was always in a great mood. No cloud could rain on my parade. The plan was to take a picture of Iyah and I hanging out...and then send it to our mutual friend Yvette. That was it. Little did I know that my fate was sealed as soon as I heard the shutter on that camera phone go off. I looked at the picture and something inside me said "Hmnn...that's strange....we look really good together!" I shrugged it off, after all, I'm used to dating women that are...well...aren't Filipina. I wouldn't even know how to date her! Nonetheless, I enjoyed her company and I didn't think anything of it. We continued to hangout, we frequented malls, had dinner, watched movies etc etc. Iyah met my friends, my relatives....my parents! (Wait what?!?! I think they were shocked that I brought a Filipina girl home for once). On the 27th of January, I made one of the biggest decisions in my life. I was leaving in 3 days. I was gonna go to Europe with my friends that summer to Ireland and Scotland to be exact (I already have the Guide to Scotland. My friends and I already made room assignments!) I was gonna visit Amy in NY, Kristin in CO, Ian in CA in the fall. I had everything planned, I was gonna go back to being the happy go lucky Jules. I was at a definite crossroad. I was really confused. We decided to continue "seeing" (a definite oxymoron LOL) each other. The next thing I know, I'm picking her up at the airport. We went to the Zoo, the Mariners game, the Space Needle (The Space Needle? I thought you said you were never gonna take someone up there ever?!?!). Then she met my wingman Ian. My best friend and my girlfriend were in town at the same time. It was like fate was giving our relationship an extra hand. A few weeks later, she left. I knew I was gonna be sad. We were taking things one step at a time. While I was sipping on my chai tea latte at the Starbucks on 212th...sitting on "our" table...a rush of impulsiveness smacked me in the face. "I have to see her again!" I turned on my laptop and I downloaded the pdf file for my citizenship. I figured it would be easier to fly in and out of the country if I was an American citizen. It took me a while to fill that thing out. Then came Sept. 3rd, the day after her birthday. I was fast asleep when all of a sudden I woke up scared. I grabbed my phone, still disoriented, I sent Iyah a text message for her to call me. A few minutes later she did, I didn't know what to say. I remember talking about something insignificant. If she only knew. I just realized that I'm in love with her. I tried to hide it. I filled out my citizenship application the next day. I didn't wanna tell her how I felt. I didn't want her to know that she breached my defenses. Until it slipped out one day when we were arguing. I don't even remember what the argument was about. I felt relieved when I told her. A few more arguments and we are still going strong. What I feel for her hasn't diminished, we both know that there are sacrifices that we need to do in order to make this relationship work. Case in point, I was supposed to go to a beer pong party yesterday but I opted to stay home. It's our day, and I just didn't want to spend it with a bunch of drunk girls. She never told me not to do it....I just didn't want to because I didn't want my girl to worry or feel uncomfortable. We both sacrifice things in this relationship. I know she has sacrificed a lot of things as well. Somebody asked me if she is worth all of this...the answer is "yes".

I got my citizenship, I'm supposed to get my new passport in the mail tomorrow and I'm gonna buy my ticket this Tuesday. The pic I posted was the last picture of us taken together before she left. I can't wait to see her again, she's my everything. Love makes you do crazy things. Go team Julyah!!!

Goodbye 2009, it has been a great year.