Forget Mike Jones! Who IS John de Leon?

Tomorrow is my Lion King’s 28th birthday!

We met when we were 15-years-old so I’ll let you do the math on how many birthdays we’ve spent together. No one – and I mean no one – knows him as well as I do. We’re polar opposites, but there are so many logical and illogical reasons behind why we’ve been together for as long as we have been. So, for his birthday, I decided to put him at the mercy of my blog. Every year I try and do something a different to celebrate the love of my life. So -- you guessed it -- this blog post is dedicated to my illusive Scorpio.

“Back then they didn’t want me, now I’m hot and they all on me.”

Those lyrics remind me a lot of my hubby-to-be. Not that he has girls droppin' their panties for him celebrity-style (cause I’d kick his ass), but back when we were younger a lot of people didn’t think he was going to amount to shit. Now, he’s a dedicated family man and didn’t end up being a “jail bird loser” like everyone probably thought he would be.

John was what I lovingly call a “troubled youth.” He wasn’t violent or disrespectful, but he was every Filipino parent’s nightmare – young, reckless, and just didn’t give a damn what people thought about him. The guy was a black sheep! He had been in and out of handcuffs, and even landed himself a lovely vacation at juvenile hall for all of his shenanigans. My Dad unhappily declared “He looks like a gangster” the first time he laid eyes on John.

Oh, but my friends, that is what intrigued me about him!

John totally wasn’t my type when I got to know him more. John was a bad boy – fresh from Oakland/Alameda – and I thought he was as total asshole. He had a nasty habit of looking like he was angry all the time. He smoked, he had slicked back curly hair (I liked bald or close cut guys), and he always, always, ALWAYS used to wear khakis and his collection of red jackets from Structure. (Remember that men’s store!? Yes, I’m bringing it way back ya’ll!) And in case you’re wondering – NO, he DID NOT “claim” red -- he just liked the color.

I on the other hand, was utterly virginal and innocent. I thought smokers were disgusting, and I was Miss “I’m-Waiting-Until-I’m-Married.” Back then I actually used to give a damn how I looked -- I wore make-up and I didn’t just finger-brush my hair like I do on most days. I thought he was cute because he was dark and mysterious, but he wasn’t really someone that I would consider dating, ya know? Cause I was a goody-goody.

Then, one drunken teenage night – and it was my first time drinking too -- he kissed me. He says I kissed him, but uh-uh, he kissed me. The rest is history.

John’s influence rubbed off on me quickly. Haha, amongst other things. ;-) He quickly changed my "I'm waiting until I'm married" policy about 1 ½ months after we started dating. And, I even started smoking so he would think I was "cool." (Sad, isn't it?) A lot of people didn't "get us." He was a mean boy and broke my heart on multiple occasions, but I still ferociously tried to work it out with him because he was my "de-flowerer."

On the flip side, when he wasn't being a jerk because suddenly he decided that he was "too hard" for a girlfriend, John was very sweet. He'll probably kill me for saying this but he used to sing to me. Okay, he used to sing the "love verse" from Master P's "I Got the Hook Up", but still...it was sweet. Eventually he did a little Drop-N-Harm too. Lol! Annnnd he even wrote an essay about me in summer school.

John was emo back then, people just didn't know it. He drew my portrait once. And, I still have it in our scrapbook. ;)

These were the lovely things that helped me deal with his "hardness" even though he would rarely hold my hand in public back in the day. He looks back on our tumultuous high school relationship and laughs about it now. He feels bad for being so young, dumb, and stupid. And now here we are -- 13 birthdays later -- and a lot has changed about our relationship. He still likes to have his hard outer shell, but to me, it's candy coated. And he's melted in my mouth over the years. (Seriously guys, no sexual pun intended.)

I've worn him down and he has allowed himself to be completely vulnerable to me. I've reached the chocolate center ya'll, and it's delicious! Our relationship isn't perfect, but I know that come hell and high water he's got my back. And for his birthday I just wanted to let him know just how special he is to me.

Happy Birthday, Honey! I love you. And your butu too. ;-)

"Be Prepared to Sweat"

When the boys finally got old enough,  Kev and Boo's Ninangs (M & E) would take them out for a day of shopping and junk food indulgence. (BTW - If you guys have any pics, please send 'em my way so I can add them to their scrapbooks.) Anyway, M & E would pick up their excited godchildren so they could celebrate their birthdays. They would take them to Target, place each godchild in their own shopping cart, and spoil them rotten. Then M & E would stuff the boys with Icees, burgers, and of course, good times! Every year, before they would pick up the boys, I always warned reminded  M & E to, "Be prepared to sweat." Even when my best friend K and her soon-to-be hubby Jay offered to take the boys to the carnival this past June, I warned them to "be prepared to sweat" too!

Why do I do this?  Well, it's simple really. There is seriously something about taking care of children that makes you more aware of your sweat glands. I've never been a sweaty person, but during times of stress of parental embarrassment, I suddenly feel hot. Very hot. Parenting is tough stuff. Quick would-be-10-minute-trips to the grocery store turn into a huge ordeal. It takes tons of planning and preparation when you have three kids to lug around. Or even one kid for that matter! What takes a "normal person" 15 minutes to accomplish, takes 45 minutes for a parent to complete.

Kids. Make. You. Sweat!

Last weekend  (10/1/10) John went to Pismo Beach for his "bachelor party."  (It wasn't cancelled despite our wedding being postponed.) This is the 3rd time he has left me to lion tame on my own for a weekend, and ...HOT DAMN....I did a hell of a lot of sweating this weekend!!! My SILs and MIL were a huge help, but I must say this "pseudo-single-parent thing" is tough for me. It definitely doesn't help that I'm pregnant, exhausted all the time, and have terrible sciatica. (I can barely carry Niki anymore.) I wasn't exactly the thrilled about the idea of John's celebration --who has a bachelor party when they're not getting married?--but it was a wonderful opportunity for the kids and I to have some alone time. I had a blast hanging out with my cubbies for the the weekend. :)
 
(BTW - My hat's off to all you single parents out there. I have three very good friends who do the "single parent thing" on a daily basis. And like to take a moment to share that I really admire them for being able to keep it together. I could barely hang for a weekend!)

John left at around 7pm on Friday 10/1/10. After dinner was served, the kids were bathed, medication was administered, and cleaning was done, I let the kids paint up a storm. They drew all sorts of goodies, and I plastered them all over the place. They were very proud of their art gallery, and I experienced the "Art of Lion Taming" on a literal level. ;-)

Boo's Artwork...

This yellow picture is supposed to be Boo riding on Epin Lion Lion. "And he has wheels!"

 Another lion by Boo..

LOL... I have no idea why Boo wrote out "BAD"

 Boo's "October Calendar"

Kev's Artwork...

His rendition of an "October Calendar"

 Kev's 1st Lion...

 I think we have a budding obsession with lions!

 Kev's Racecar...

Niki's Artwork...

 Niki saw the boys painting and said, "Eye-n daw." Which translates to "I want draw." :)

Her Ninong P and Auntie T got her this art pad when she was in the hospital for the Serratia infection.

Niki still LOVES using it!!! And yes, she's a lefty.

Saturday, 10/2/10 was a little more hectic. Kevin had CCD in the morning, I had baking to do, and it was my nephew/godson's 2nd birthday party in Hercules. Boo injured his foot that morning (it got sliced open after it got caught under a door) so he was NOT a happy little boy. If you know Boo, then you probably know all about how "all is not right with the universe" when Boo needs his attention. He cried for close to 30 minutes! I tried my best to shower him with kisses and  juggle Niki's needs at the same time. I felt hot --very hot-- during that 30 minute time period! I bandaged his foot and wrapped an icepack around it, and it still wasn't enough to satisfy him.

After I got back from picking up Kevin at CCD, Boo helped me bake cookies for my nephews party. Thank goodness a little bit of sugar was all he needed to turn his frown upside down. Oh, and my frown too, of course! Beating the shit out of eggs that morning helped me get rid of some residual annoyance I had with John for leaving me for the weekend. ;)

Sifting...

Beating...

 Incorporating...

 Boo beating out some of his anger...

 More Boo-Boo...

 Done...

  Chocolate Chip Cookies.....

 I know you're not supposed to, but I can never resist opening up the stove to take a peek. And a whiff!

 We also made what John likes to call "Churro Cookies." 

Rolling in cinnamon sugar...

 They smell like Christmas when they bake. :)

 The finished product...

 Cooooookies!!!

Boo enjoying the fruits of his labor...

I did too. :)

  

Once all the baking was done, I got the kids ready so we could make it to my nephew/godson Enzo's 2nd birthday party/house warming in Hercules. My SIL KC came along to help since I had to take the smaller (less comfortable car) on the long drive there. The cubs love their Daddy's "monster truck" because they can watch movies during long car rides. The cubs were cranky (they were"bored") so the car ride to Hercules SUCKED despite my SIL being there to help. Nevertheless, we made it to Hercules no more than 2 hours after the party started. And this was with traffic and getting a little lost! (John took the GPS with him to Pismo.) Enzo's party was super fun, adorable, and his cake was perfect for the occasion. It's a replica of my sister's house. :)

I had an awesome time catching up with my sisters (I've missed them terribly), my neice D, and hanging out the bathroom with my Stepmama & Dad. We even helped my little brother K work on some Philosophy homework in the process! I was "sweating up a storm" keeping up with the cubs, but my SIL KC was a tremendous help! The best part of the night was seeing my Grandma. I hadn't seen her for a few months, and it feels always makes me feel so good to be in her presence. My Nanay's strength always fills me with so much hope even when I'm feeling at my lowest. I can only hope to evolve into half the person she is as I travel my life's journey.

Here are a few pictures of the party...

The boys waiting for their phallic balloon animals...

Niki's doing the hokey-pokey! (See the phallic balloon sculpture?)

My sister S got this keepsake for Ethan in Greece. (She even brought back t-shirts for the boys and N&N's first matching dress set!) But...it was this souvenir that blew me away. It didn't make me sad, but I felt my eyes water because I was so touched and overjoyed that she thought of him. Thanks, S. I know Ethan appreciates it too. :)

We got back from Hercules pretty late. My SIL and I were exhausted --totally "sweated out"-- and the kids were knocked out by the time we for back to DC. The only upside to our crazy day was the fact that the kids slept the entire night. They had a LOT of fun! And I got some much needed sleep.

I woke up the next day and felt like baking again. Boo and I made some cheesecake and more "churro cookies" so they would be ready by the time John got home. Can you tell that I'm having fun with my rekindled love affair with baking? I know I've said it before, but I feel like a kid again.  :)

Finely crushed by hand. (Boo is helping me fill the measuring cup.)

 Mixed in the pie plate to save on dishes. ;-)

 Packing the crust...

 Whipped by hand...

 More whipping...

 Pouring...

Now it's set...

The finished product....

The recipe was a little sweet for my taste so I'm going to cut out some of the sugar next time -- I like my cheesecake a little more "cheesier." (John loved it, but one slice was too much sweetness for me so I guess different strokes for different folks.) Also, the recipe called for a 2 hour set time, but I think overnight is a little better. The cheesecake pie tasted even better the next day.

All in all, this weekend was a blast. (Even though John wasn't around to help.) John claims that he won't be having a bachelor party anymore when we actually DO get married because of this weekend getaway. We'll see about that! The kids missed their Daddy desperately and I was still mildly annoyed when he got home, but deep down inside I missed him too. And...even though I wasn't totally "prepared to sweat" for the weekend, having some one-on-one time with my cubs was totally worth it.

(Random Note: Niki's MRSA came back. She developed a new bite-like lesion on her left hip/groin area on Wednesday 9/29. Dr. Sweetheart had Niki get back on Septra on Thursday, 9/30. The good news is Niki's lesion is smaller than the first one, and Dr. Sweetheart thinks this second round of Septra will fully eradicate the problem. She's officially off the Septra this Sunday. It just sucks to have to follow the MRSA de-colonization protocol...again. And to be back on a crazy medication schedule...again! Niki doesn't like swallowing meds so we have to mix it (the Septra & Iron) with some Pediasure.)



Good Times with Good Friends...

I first heard about the Folsom Street Fair in 2001. At the time, I was working as a Technical Recruiter for a gay/minority/woman-owned staffing agency in the Financial District. (Working there was BEST time of my life, by the way.) I've wanted to go to Folsom ever since my co-workers told me about it, but I never had the opportunity to go. Well, that was until last weekend anyway...

Sunday, September 26, 2010 was the Folsom Street Fair!!!!!!

I originally planned on volunteering for SFSI's beer booth (one of the nifty things I can do with my Sex Educator certification), but I couldn't make the ABC training date. Nevertheless, I still had my heart set on going. I didn't have any prior obligations, so I started an early morning mission to find someone to accompany me. (John opted to tame the cubs by his lonesome rather than join me to partake in the festivities.) The good news is my very good friend TZ agreed to join me. We planned on meeting our friends C & JNG there so that was an added plus!  TZ and I both had to attend Mass, and I picked her up at around 2:30. Afterward, it was on to debauchery!

Here are a few R-rated pics from that day. Enjoy...or not depending on what you're into. ;-)

 One of the coolest ladies ever! She also does G-rated kid's parties. ;-)

 Creative, no?

 SFSI's Beer Booth! :)

Vendor booths...

 I wanted one of these and a whip ('cause you know I'm a Lion Tamer), but I didn't want draw attention to myself. I regret not getting one though....

Festival Attendees. And yes, there was a silent Christian protester in the crowd too.

 

 I really like this picture...

And of course, what's the Folsom Street Fair without some flogging!?

 That paddle did some serious damage on one person, but he seemed to enjoy it!

Eventually, all of the public whipping and leather was "too much". My mind had "fetish overload." You see it once, you've seen it all, right? Besides, I'm pregnant and it was H-O-T so a small minority of people smelled funkier than usual. My friends and I were also very careful about NOT bumping into some of the people there because they were full on nude. Some were cute/beautiful, but others well...not so much. After a pretty kick-ass time wandering the Fair and meeting new people, we all decided to call it quits. TZ & I said our goodbyes to C & JNG, and off to the Greek Food Festival we went! We plan on having a more low-key get together the next time we hang out. And if you're reading this...thanks for the memories ladies! I couldn't have asked for a better group of gals to experience Folsom with. Too bad I can't post that x-rated picture of us and that lady. ;-)

San Francisco is amazingly diverse. The Greek Food Festival was taking place at a Greek Orthodox Church in The Mission on 16th. The Folsom Street Fair was taking place in SoMa on 12th! There was such a stark contrast between the events taking in both neighborhoods. We went from leathers/whips/fetishes to Latin culture immersion to Greece in less than a 5 minute drive. Only in SF my friends!

Here are a few pictures from our "trip to Greece."

TZ does her own nails. :)

 

 

This bird was completely tame.

What's a Greek Food Festival without some Baklava!? This one was super delish. 

TZ and I started and ended our day with church. We talked about how this coincidence was probably a sign that God starts and ends everything. God is ever present...even in the midst of "sinfulness." (See "Christian Protestor Pic" from Folsom.) Sunday, Sept. 26th was an awesomely PERFECT day. TZ made some new friends at the Folsom Street Fair while I met some good friends of hers at the Greek Food Festival. And, I even had the opportunity to finally catch up with my very good friend "E" (TZ's brother.) I really love and admire that sibling duo so it's always nice to hang out with them. I'm always in awe of how passionate and spiritual they are, and I wish I could share their friendship with the world. I went home that day feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready to tame my lions. :)

The following day (Monday 9/27/10) I had a fabulous dinner date with my best friend, "K." We've known each other since we were about Kevin's age. Our lifelong friendship/bond makes me wonder which friends my cubs will carry through their lifetime. K is more like a sister than "just a friend." I can cast my burdens on her and feel little to zero guilt about her acting as my pseudo-therapist. I often joke that I should start paying her for our sessions. There is always something special about swapping funny stories and "real life woes" with K. We probably overstayed our welcome at Elephant Bar, but it was worth it. I got to indulge in sweet potato fries for the first time (thanks for introducing me to this delectable treat, K.) More importantly, I left our dinner date with a full belly and a less-burdened heart. I have the BEST FRIEND a girl could ever ask for. Like, really. I hope and pray everyone has a friend like K in their lives.

I went home with the best mood ever. The kids were bathed, fed, and homework was done! Wow. John was really trying to butter me up for his Pismo trip. A few weeks ago E (godfather to all of our cubs) gave the boys some nifty art supplies/toys. So, my dinner date with K was followed by an impromptu "bone digging" session with my cubs. I love doing tactile fun-stuffs with my boys. Kicking back with my cubs was the perfect way to end a perfect night.

*Sigh* I wish every work week started this way. More blog posts to come. :)