The Bay is Getting an Extra Serving of Swagger

Hooray and congratulations to Paul for getting an Adaptive P.E. teaching gig in Pacifica! To say that I'm ecstatic is somewhat downplaying how I really feel (I feel like I have a bazillion jumping beans inside my tummy). It will be a busy few weeks helping him move and settled, but so worth it. I'm totally going through a nesting phase for him. Haha.

It is a huge sacrfice on his part, but I am greatly appreciative and humbled by the fact that he loves me so much he's leaving his sunny SoCal for me. He also made my birthday this year the best ever. He brought me back my favorite shortbread cookies from Hawaii, and he gave me a letter. Not just any letter, but probably the most wonderful letter I've ever received from a significant other. Actually, the only personal letter I've ever received from a significant other.

It was a love letter of sorts. What made this letter outstanding was the thought he invested in it. It was sincere and honest. Most importantly, it made me feel so loved. I don't think he knows just how much that letter means to me. I've kept it hidden safely away now, but I think I must've looked at it at least five times a day since he gave it to me.

I am eager to see what's in store for Paul and I. We are entering a new phase in our relationship and lives.

Oh, and congratulations San Francisco. You officially became the coolest place on earth thanks to Paul Poompan.

All Day I Dream About Soccer...

...at least that's what Adidas used to mean to me. I headed out to Davis today to get my number printed on my soccer jersey. Props to the guy at Davis Soccer and Lifestyle for getting the job done in about 15 minutes. Hopefully having the Deuce back on my jersey will bring back my mojo on the field. I'm just superstitious like that. Sorry, but my other jersey number just wasn't working out.

I was also eyeing a new pair of the Copa Mundial, the one and only soccer shoe that I have ever worn. I'm long overdue for a new pair, considering the ones that I'm currently using have been with me since I was 15. Yes, that's right. Adidas used to make extremely durable shoes. Don't trip. They're still comfy and look good, and are far from holey. However, I was informed by the guy at the shop that Adidas will soon be phasing out my beloved Copas, with some butt-ugly hot mess of a shoe. He was trying to sell the newer shoe to me by dissing the Copas, but I told him that the new shoe is really fugly.

The retail gods strike again. WHY??? Why must you mess with something so classic that have been around for 28 years? So much of my identity as a soccer player is tied to the Copa Mundial. I always say that you can tell a lot about a soccer player by the shoes and equipment that they wear. As a soccer player, I can pretty much determine your skill level, based on the boots that you wear on the field. You're pretty much whack if you don't wear Copas. You have to earn your stripes to wear this shoe. As much as I love Nike, I do blame them for introducing some loud and ugly soccer shoes, and forever changing the soccer shoe market. Geez Nike. Way to set the standard for ugly shoes. I'm still mad at you for discontinuing my favorite running shoes.

There's a certain comraderie between those of us who wear the Copas. It used to be that only the soccer players that have played or trained at a higher competitive level wore these shoes. Copas give us distinction. It embodies the concept of "game recognize game" when you see someone else wearing the Copas out on the field. You must have skill and swagger to wear the Copas.

Copas are timeless and classic, unique in that sense. Copas represent my love for the game. I think by now it's apparent and obvious that I am very particular about the equipment that I use. My next purchase will be a new pair of the Copa Mundial. I need to stock up before other people my size catch wind of the armageddon of soccer fails.

The Heart of the Matter

I suppose that when one is in love, we develop our own concept of time. It has been about two and a half weeks since I've last seen Paul, but it seems like it's been twice as long. What can I say? I miss him. I miss him A LOT.

We both agreed that we would only do the long distance aspect of our relationship for about a year, because we want our relationship to progress. The only way to do that is if one of us moves to be closer to the other.

It's exciting to think of the prospect of moving to a different place, but I also feel torn about it because of everyone and everything that I'll be leaving behind. I am, no doubt, willing to move for Paul because I love him. It's one of the risks I'm willing to take. Change is good, but it's scary at the same time.

I'm not going to lie, I was traumatized by what Voltaire did to me. I recovered from it, and I certainly got over him and what he did. What stemmed from that experience is that I was able to find myself again, with the love and support of so many people and positive experiences. For example, my community in SoMa welcomed me back with so much love and respect. There was no tsismis about me or what happened, just a lot of love. Another example, I don't think that my soccer team knows just how important they were in my recovery process. I made new friends, and I rediscovered just how much I loved playing soccer. It got me out of my funk. Ya dig?

I guess you can say that I'm scared to move, because I don't want to lose my support system, more importantly, lose myself. But when I think of my life without Paul, my heart breaks a little, and I get this gut wrenching feeling. Life is so much better with Paul Poompan in it. Heehee.

I'm anxiously awaiting where Paul will get a job. That will determine the next step in our relationship. I'm still trying to get up the nerve to move, but I'm sure I won't even think twice about it, when the time comes.

I LOVE YOU PAUL POOMPAN.