Supporting Ernesto

Ern texted me after I attended his fundraiser show to say thank you for always supporting his dance through out the years.  Well of course.  When your friends have talent, you support them.  And what Ern does is pretty admirable.  The fundraiser was to help his Philippine Folk Art dance group Kayamanan get to France so that they could perform at the Festival International de Folklore de Chateau-Gombert ....  We got to sample the show and it was pretty epic.  I was able to snag some shots sitting on the ground near the front.

 

Ern bares it all.  He nailed the facial expressions

I don't know much about Filipino Folk Dance, but as you can see there's Spanish influence, tons of styles and lots of movement.

We're supporters!  

When the show was over, the DJ took over and Jlo and myself did our own Folk Dance called the Cupid Shuffle.  Life is complete.

Leaving a Mark

It's interesting how people come and go from our lives, yet never do they go without leaving a mark.

I guess, when searching for friends you keep people who manage "not to bore you." The close friends you pick from now on really do match your values & life style. And good friends are hard to find through a crowd of kids that have grazed your shoulder without catching your attention...

But it's sad to me how friends can go when their needs no longer match yours, when what they got out of the friendship initially changed after some incident, or when their life takes them somewhere else...

I guess, that's why I take pictures and turn them into gifts in hopes that I left a mark on them.
I am ridiculously sentimental.

Good Luck in New York Carl.

==

Now I can get back in shape. No more Nacho and Buffet Adventures! *sad face*

Last Carl & Chris' TOTALLY NACHO ADVENTURE! For a little bit.
Category: Sports Bar Nachos

11 bucks and delicious!

Carl remembered eating here a long time ago. He remembered it was really good and his memory served him well. Delicious. I'll let the picture do the talking.

Pete's Tavern in San Francisco. A Macho Nacho!... though there wasn't enough meat. A major negative.

Don't Let People You Know become People You Knew

I haven't talked to Smyr in what feels to be like a century. I feel like he's grown up too fast being a high school biology teacher and recently getting back together with a college love.

But when his birthday rolled around and he had dinner with his best friends (his mom and dad) I made him a nice birthday card from scratch using old pictures. Essentially, to remind him to slow down and realize that he's only 24 and even though we haven't talked, I still consider him a good old friend.

I wonder, why I value him so much even though he's been out of sight. The answer is simple: because he is my only straight guy friend... who I haven't seduced... jk...... I have seduced him, but nevertheless it's because of high school, college and graduation. But look at all these hilarious high school pictures I found!!!!





Prom, lifeguarding, road trips, Berkeley, turning 21... You don't forget shit like that. And even though you grow a part, you still reserve a little spot for them in your heart.

And I think part of the reason is my activities may be a bit too gay for his liking. I think I tricked him in going to too many gay clubs that's he doesn't trust me anymore =X.

==

Lately, I've been going on a quest to make new friends (or rather new lovers). And I know exactly why. When ONCE AGAIN, I should be concentrating on the good friends that I already have. Duh. (And make lovers out of them, jk).

I'm going to start a new label: People.

Because it's important to realize who has impacted your life... and that growing a part doesn't mean ending a friendship.

This is Huan
This is Caitlin
These are My Boys
This is Ignia
.

==
Hairchive:
The Scary Curl!

...yeah... high school.

Finally, a fantastic weekend!!

I need to work to appreciate the weekends.

==

I got a call from Mony. He wanted a phone number. But then called back for lunch!

As we ate at one of his favorite sushi places, I observed that he had grown up appropriately into his mid-20s: focused, driven, determined, happy? distracted by what he has defined as important in his life. And he refused to let the "economic recession" be an excuse, but rather saw it as another challenge to overcome to get what he wanted.

It was nice to finally have a one-on-one again.

==

Caitlin the Ex-Girlfriend

Caitlin invited me to a Warriors game in Oakland. It was awesome!
We got tickets in the Suite and had buffet and dessert courtesy of her friend who worked there.




Though we were craving trashy nachos and less gourmet hotdogs!
It was like when we dated in high school and we were watching an Nsync concert, but we were in the nose bleeders.

"I should have known you were gay when you wore that Nsync t-shit"
"hah.." She forgot about my point red hair.


What's up with gay people and their exgirlfriends? I enjoy the Will and Grace connection that I have with Caitlin. Back in high school, we made a really cute couple. But eventually her taste shifted to beefy white boys ... who were usually straight. She is no fruitfly, I am her gay friend! And she is my party girl!


We cute.
==

The game ended at 10 and Caitlin offered to drop me off at Dragon because she wasn't feeling hot enough to be clubbing, which is silly cuz she hot. What a ridiculous favor. Instead I hung out with her at night listening to music in her bedroom.

It was the better choice. Word on the playground was that Dragon was more fun than usual (probably because it was half off with student ID), but as I thought about it... Without good friends to go with, Dragon would just feel empty.

I have officially ended my membership as a Dragon Rat as I haven't been since the beginning of January. Aww. Looks like I'm not going to see my gay friends that have been consumed by the excitement of the City as often. (*cough* neil).

==

Saturday
At night, I hung out with Carl and his high school friends. A complete opposite of Aaron's party. Carl's friends had wine and cheese and Jenga. Aaron's friends had cheap sake, Budlight and beer pong. I like both experiences.

Though I don't know about the double popped collars. Carl had to excuse himself to the bathroom; he exploded with stress when he saw such a fashion faux pas.


There's Carl running to the bathroom bypassing disaster.
==

Sunday
Reason why Bally's is superior over 24 Hour Fitness
1. Hot guys
2. Better classes
3. Hot guys
4. Better equipment
5. Hot guys

Curse my 3 year contract with 24 Hour fitness!!!! I enjoy watching straight guys "size each other up" hahaha, the gym is homoerotic.

After working out with Aaron and Caitlin, we went hottubbing. Caitlin who is a physical therapist aid and gymnast made me feel physically unworthy.





After a photoshoot, we had some free yogurt with my frequent buyer card!


Max productivity!

==

Joe called me to have dinner at Jerry's Grill with Mony!! I was already thrilled that I had lunch with Mony the other day! I haven't seen just Mony since I left for Vietnam! At Jerry's Grill, we caught up with each other, checked out a hot guy and joked around. Szeto HELLA MISSED OUT! (And needs to return promptly).


Though I feel like Filipino food is best served at someone's house.

Mony told me my shirt looked cheap, I give him a look and Joe laughs until he teared up... "I miss you guys..." he utters under his breath.

I realize that Mony can tell me that I'm worthless, ugly and will never accomplish anything in life, but I would rarely take umbrage. Like on Friends the TV show when they are really mean to each other, but no one ever is offended (as long as there is audience laughter).

It's family.
==

It was good to be in a familiar place. I felt grounded and reminded of who I was and where I belonged or felt comfortable. I really do have issues letting go and transitioning, but I think a little sample of what I adored so much in life- my boys, my high school friends- was enough to make me look forward to creating something new for the future.



Epic Win!

People Who Always Think About You

I went to the gym yesterday and oh man, my tummy is getting all sorts of trim!

I have to thank Jane for motivating me to go. We seriously talked like two hens on the eliptical at the 24 Hour Fitness down on Santa Teresa. I bet we have a lot of enemies who can't stand our squabble. And GOSH, what's up with those bikes? It hurts my knees and ass. BLAH! I'd rather glide on air!

This Saturday at 11am, I'm going to attend a free dance workshop at Ariel Dance Productions. Anyone want to join me? Yeah!

Anyhow. When I left the gym, I got a phone call from Huan. He invited me to Dave & Busters and I drove to Mony's to get ready and drag him along. There, I was greeted by some familiar faces; mostly from the dancing scene at Berkeley. They were all friendly. The birthday girl gave me a hug. It's funny cuz our parents always kick it like some middle aged Vietnamese clique. WEIRD.

AND I ran into my Cousin! HOLLA! Looking all cute with her new bangs. I imagined her at the salon: "yes, I would like something HIGH FASHION... Something SHEER GENIUS! Something.. that works. Fierce baby fierce!" And the hairdresser going, "OH honey, I know exactly what to do!" CHOP! Walah! Bangs that would make the Olsen Twins green with envy. My cousin is never restricted! Love it!

(Yes, I have been watching Project Runway. And yes, I am GLAD they got rid of that Asian Girl Victoria, because she has no personality. Or rather a personality of a log... not a log on fire because that would be more interesting.)

Huan offered me a drink despite the fact that I owe him dinner for writing me a letter of Rec. despite the fact that I haven't visited him, despite the fact that I was the one with a job...

ThatHuan man, always thinking about me.

And I realized yesterday that he really is a good friend. I mean, I rarely hang out with him, but when I do, it's as if we are best friends. If he's ever in the area, he never hesitates me to invite me out. When there's something poppin' he always lets me know. Huan has invited me to a bunch of things. Ski trip, banquets, parties, eatings .... and even though I usually tell him I'm busy, he continues to think of me. He also told me about that Funkanometry class when I was dying to dance. WOW.... but it's not just inviting me to things. He's there to give advice and look out for my well being every time he pops back into my life. Sort of like.. a brother.

And it's important to keep people like that in your lives. Seriously.

After college, your friendship number drops substantially and you can judge who is really your friend by looking through your phone book. There are only a few people that I would call randomly while driving in traffic. And those people know, that they are the ones that I want to keep in my life... or at least try to.

But with me and Huan, it may be a little different because we go way back. No.. I mean WAY BACK. In Elementary school we did The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe together. In middle school, he invited me to his birthday in his tiny little house.... and in college he would greet me with RAWRS and persuaded me to do something for the Berkeley Vietnamese Community.

And when you have people like that... when you are surrounded by good friends who always welcome you... you just feel lucky. Even though it's raining and there are potholes... and hot gay cowboys are dying. You feel... privileged to be in the presence of people who care about you and think about you.

And it's all amazing. There's me and Huan. I was Father Christmas.. he was... Peter? Haha. Yes, he stole the show. But.. that's just Huan.