The Pill

I hope everybody liked our Save the Dates. I had a real conundrum in trying to figure them out. Steven is all the way on the other side of the country for work, and we don't really have a lot of good couple pictures to choose from. I don't know how or why I thought of having a picture drawn of us, but I know I was in my parents pool when the idea came to me.

My friend, Mike Pilapil, designed them for us. (If you look really closely at the shorebreak, towards the right, you can see his signature.) The most important thing you should know about Mike Pilapil is that nobody calls him Mike Pilapil. He has more nicknames then Muhammad Ali. As a matter of fact, I sorta feel uncomfortable every time I have to type Mike Pilapil. It just feels weird; sorta like calling your parents by their real names and not Mom and Dad. Some nicknames for Mike Pilapil (uh...shudders) include, but are not limited to -- Pill, Pilly, Mikey P, China (yes, that is racist), Chino (the en espanol version of China), Pilsner, Pills-na-na-na, and Pilly BaDilly. I am particularly partial to plain and simple Pilly, so let's just go with that.

Pilly has the misfortune of being incredibly well-liked by everybody, and possessing a vast cornucopia of skills. Pilly is good at drawing, painting, writing comics, creating Halloween costumes, playing most musical instruments, composing songs, mixing music, picking good movies, and playing football. When my mom first saw Pilly, she said, "Now, there's a good lookin' Mexican!" The only problem is that Pilly is not Mexican, but Filipino. But you get the point. Pilly is likable, talented, and cute as a little koala bear (which is what I've always thought he looks like).

The unfortunate thing about being so well-liked is that sometimes you get picked on. Sorta like when you pull the pigtails of the girl you like in elementary school. Well, in Pilly's case it's more like getting thrown into the dumpster by a kitchen-full of Mexicans, while the other waiters helplessly watch. Alright, so we probably could have helped. Hell, we could have stopped it easily, but then we would have risked the chance of getting thrown into the dumpster too. Or even worse, not getting our food made.

The other unfortunate thing about having such a large skill set is that you often get asked to do favors. Sorta like how if you own a pick-up truck, then you always have to help your friends move. Well, Pilly really helped me out with this one because I didn't have any usable pics of me and Steven. Remember that original picture I posted of me and Steven here? Well, that is the actual picture I sent Pilly to use as the model for our Save the Dates. So give him major, MAJOR kudos for creating what he did off what I gave him.

I told Pilly that it didn't really matter what me and Steven looked like as long as Brooklyn looked like Brooklyn. Beyond anything, it was crucial that Brooklyn's likeness was correct, from the white diamond on her forehead to her copper nose. I think drawing Brooklyn stressed Pilly out the most. It's hard to please a set of proud parents.

I particularly like my character because I resemble Renee Zellwegger in the face, sorta squinty-eyed Asian stereotype meets blond bombshell stereotype. I love it! When I first sent the drawing to Steven, he said, "Well, I don't look that. I don't have that chest, and I can't play the guitar. But Brooklyn looks spot on!"

Good work, Pilly!