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Being second best almost means being last...

I've never liked the idea of being second best.  I know we all have our competitive tendencies, others don't fancy it too much.  I have always been my worst critic...everything I do in life: school, work, relationships, and so on and so forth.  In reality, we can't always be number 1 but it would sure nice to be.  My girlfriend "lectured" me about being second best and how it was not in my nature to be second in anything.  She lifted my spirits by showing me how much she valued me. It's funny because we tend to forget as we always get caught up in the moment.   Let's take a look at it from a dating aspect.

Ladies (and gentlemen), have you ever tried getting to know someone or perhaps dated someone, but always struggled to comprehend where you stand with that person?  I am sure many of you single folks have heard it before..."oh i am just dating different people.  haven't really found the right one that does it for me."  Well, every time I hear that statement, i laugh.  come on, let's be real.  you are not the only one in that person's life.  in fact, you could be one of two, one of three, one of five...you get the point.  In my early 20's, I remember a gf of mine in college used to say, "hey, i don't worry to much about them other women.  if he's talking to 5 girls, then if I am the one he truly wants, they'll all eventually disappear and he'll only want me"  I always appreciated her thought process and I started applying her theory to my dating life.  Years passed, people came and people went.  Most of the time... or I should probably say ALL of the time, the men I dated were just absolutely wrong for me for SO MANY reasons.  But the one thing that stuck with me was what my friend told me.  I never worried about the other women my dude was 'potentially' dating.  All this time, I was thinking it ALL wrong.  Why would I be 'okay' with a man sharing his attention with 4 other women, while I am only getting 20%?  Really, is that what I am worth? Hell to the No.  I am about to be 30 in 5 months... and I have had it all wrong after all these years. 

Second best is not an option.  Have I settled with some aspects of my life?  I certainly have.  Can I change that?  I certainly can.  I recently got involved with someone that  ...I could be certain that he has other women occupying his time.  Knowing that this is a possibility, why have i managed to stay in this relationship?  Hmm.  Great question.  If I had the answer, then I wouldn't be writing this blog.  Bottom line, I have settled for being second best (or third best for all I know).  Unacceptable.  Especially to my, what I once considered, high standards.  

Ladies (and dudes), don't get caught up on some nonsense.  There are too many men and women in this world for you to be settling at second best.  One day you will meet your King or Queen that will treat you like royalty...and that means always putting you first.  I haven't lost faith.  But, I am going to be smarter as I get closer to the big 3-0. Smarter...wiser...however you want to call it. 

Support my friend as he runs in memory of his mother's life...

The worst thing you can probably ever go through in life is losing a loved one.  Unfortunately, a dear friend of mine, lost his mother last month as she battled cancer.  I never met her, but I heard she was a fighter.  I am sure all of us can't imagine losing someone that close to you... but I know that she is in peace and is watching over her dear family.

If you are reading this, I am asking you to find it deep in your heart to support my friend in his upcoming marathon run this fall, by donating to this charity.  He needs to reach his fundraising goal for the his marathon for American Cancer Society.  $5, $10, any amount you can contribute will help a great deal.  I would be so grateful to know that I have friends willing to help any friend of mine.

To donate, please visit: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/DetermiNation/DNFY11IL?pg=pfind&fr_id=42914 and type in :

First Name: Rodney
Last Name: Tumaliuan

Rodney and his sister will be running in memory of their mother, Redempta Tumaliuan.

Thank you and God Bless you all!

Great Food, Great Friends...what more can I ask for?

 There are many things in life that I appreciate, but two things that I hold close to my heart (aside from family) is FOOD & FRIENDS.  I have a strong appreciation for food and I will never deprive myself from a good meal.  Earlier today, I, along with a few colleagues of mine (professional chefs of course!), decided to hit up Sugarcane in Midtown Miami.  I have been there a few times with a few friends from out of town, but I heard they have a great happy hour!  I have to give my experience a two thumbs up!  You can tell that this is the happy hour spot because there was not a single chair available at the bar.  Plus, it helps a lot that the price is pretty reasonable.  Sushi rolls were $5, beer cocktails $7, and infused cocktails $7!  I highly recommend everything on their happy hour food menu especially after I ordered almost every item, including the Kobe Burger pictured above!  Really yummy and I loved how they topped it off with quail egg!  I would go back again, even if wasn't happy hour. Great vibe, great food and great service!

Now, to my other favorite thing...My Friends!  I am so blessed to have great friends that love and care for me!  Meet my friend T (picture on the top).  She's my awesome girlfriend here in Miami whom I met two years ago when I first moved here.  She's a total gem and opened up her home to me when I was transitioning my move here in Miami.  We have our monthly dinners and love to just catch up on life!  Now on to the bottom picture, my girlfriend Ivy just recently visited me a few weeks ago to enjoy sunny Miami.  Aren't my friends stunning???  Yes, Ivy is one of my dear friends from back when I was still in college.  Funny story of how we met...we love telling this story coz of people's reaction.  We met on the set of the video shoot of The Game & 50 Cent's "This is How We Do".  Please don't even go there...don't ask me why I was at a video shoot.  But yes, you can only imagine we were 2 Asian girls in a group of madness.  So, we love telling that story. Okay moving on... so, Ivy is not only a dear friend of mine, but a very talented and beautiful model.  For those poker fans, she is one of the Royal Flush Girls from the World Poker Tour, hence why she was in town the same week they were here. I will tell you, that group of girls from the models to the crew...were pure awesomeness! Super down-to-earth and far from stuck up! We had such a blast!  From lavish dinners to yachts to mani pedis... her visit was much needed "girl time".

These are just two of my good friends... but, you can't blame me for bragging about my awesome friends.  I am a broken record...but I am so blessed and lucky to be surrounded by positive people.  Despite the occasional drama in life, I feel great to be living in my shoes.  My life is kinda awesome. :)