So, I asked Kaea to write the "our story" part of this whole wedding website thing, thinking our story would be pretty much be the same thing, since, yup we were both there when it happened. Wow, was I wrong!  Now I have to rebut, and tell my side, because what he thought was our first meeting and start, is not mine.

So this is how it happened:

      One night a few of my girls and I went out to our favorite little beach bar, a place where we knew everybody that work there, because we had been going there for years,  We had a seat at a table, and within a short time some patron bought us girls a round. We say our thank yous and the guy leaves. Then this "new guy" aka Ka'ea came up to take our empty glasses and says to me, " why is it that all the goofy guys get to talk to all the beautiful girls?" Now I must admit that my girlfriend are BEAUTIFUL, and at one time or another, every guy at this bar has either dated, or tried to date one of us. Except me! I have never dated any! So I wasn't really surprised when this new guy was "trying" to flirt. But I just continued on with my night, not thinking anything else about it. At the end of the night he approached me and we had some small talk about him being from Hawaii and me being a local San Diegan, and ended with him asking for my number.  Now, I know very well how this whole bar scene works, I've seen it play out a million times. So, I politely say, now this is word for word, " No, I'm sorry, but I am way to jealous and insecure of a girl to date a young, hot new bartender, or whatever you are." He seemed shocked, and fired back with the usual, "but I'm not like all the other guys, and I'm different."All of which I've heard before. Sorry buddy, not gonna happen.  So this little charade went on threw the summer, I'd go out, he'd ask for my number, I'd say no. But I never really gave him a second thought, because he was just another cute guy that worked at my favorite hang out.  I never dated the guys that worked there.   

          So one night I was meeting up with a friend at this "concert in the park" kinda thing down by the beach. When I walk in I saw some guys that I knew, and walked over to say hi. Ka'ea  was with them, and I said hi to him as well, and I went to meet up with my friend. I ended up leaving early and had to walk past the group of guys I knew, because they were close to the entrance. I waved goodbye, and was walking to my car when out of the blue Ka'ea walks up, and insisted on walking me to my car. I quickly said, "no thanks," but he just kept on walking. I tried soo hard to keep him from walking me all the, but there was nothing I could do to stop him. Then once we got there, I tried to say bye as quickly as possible, but nope he wouldn't let me, he asked for a ride home!! Can you believe it! No! I said, so then he asked for a ride back to the front of the concert since I parked my car so far away. Ahhhhh! I told him not to walk me! But, of course I say yes, we get in, and he says, "come on, just take me home, I live super close."  FINE! He did, I pull up to his house, and he won't get out! He reaches over and turns the car off. I sit and talk to him for a few minutes, he's sweet talking me the whole time, and I have to admit he was good at it, but I wasnt gonna fall for it. So I turn my car back on, and he still won't get out of my car! So this little game goes on for awhile, and before I know it we had been in my car in front of his house all night. He finally agrees to get out and asks for my number again. Poor guy, I say,"no." Ok, ok, I know, he's so nice, super hot, says all the right things, but no way! He probably does this to all the girls is what I'm thinking,  I mean seriously I just met the guy for the first time officially, he can't really feel this way about me, why am I so special. Nope not gonna fall for it. I tell him goodnight, and ill see him around and left. A few weeks later, it was girls night and we are off to our spot, and for the first time I was secretly hoping to see Kaea. What was it? Was is all the sweet talking he did, was it his persistence, maybe it was the wine I drank before I went out, lol, whatever it was, my heart jumped just a little bit when I saw him. I played it cool, and acted the same way I did every other time I saw him. We were getting ready to leave, and he didn't ask for my phone this time. Dang it! So with my liquid encouragement I asked him for a pen and paper. I swear I've never seen somebody more as quickly as he did to get me a pen and paper. Maybe he thought if he took too long I'd change my mind, LOL. The rest is kinda history, it was slow at first, because I was still trying to fight the whole thing, but every time I talked with Ka'ea, or hung out with him I would go home wanting more, until one day I realized this is it, I fell for it. I'm hooked, this man is the rest of my life. I tried so hard not to, but you can't stop falling in love, you can't stop destiny and what the big man upstairs has in store for you. 

       It's funny how I consider our first real meeting to be at the concert, because I never paid any attention to him before, he was just another guy until then. But Ka'ea counts the very first time he saw me. I guess the same story is always told differently depending on who's telling it, but the ending is always the same, we fell inlove and now I get to spend the rest of my life with this amazing man. 

      You know those stories.. love at first sight.. boy meets girl.. they instantly fall in love.. get together, and live happily ever after??  Well, this is definitely NOT our story LOL..

      To be honest, and I don't mean to sound cocky, meeting women hasn't ever been a problem for me.  I mean, as long as I can rememeber I have always gotten a positive reaction from the opposite sex.  I guess you could say I haven't had to gamble much in that department.  That is until I met Elaina. 

      It was my last semester in college, and I wasn't playing football anymore so I needed a job to sort of make ends meet.  I began working as a bouncer at a bar, in the beach area, which apprently was one of her favorite places to hang out with her girls.  I do have to admit, the first time I saw her I was taken back.  Long dark hair, beautiful smile, I mean the sort of girl that kind of stands out in a crowd.  Definitely out of my league, but at the time I was too confident to admit it to myself.  Throughout the night I spent my shift exchanging glances with her, with the occasionaly smile.  I had to sit and watch as she was approached over and over again by different guys.  She seemed to be courteous and polite, but none of them ever stood a chance.  So what made me think I did?? I have no idea.  Over-confidence maybe.  As the night came to an end I found the perfect opportunity to "run into" her.  We shared a quick conversation which ended with me mentioning that I'd like to see her again, and asked her for phone number.  Her response for quick and direct.  "Sorry, I don't date BAR GUYS.." Or, something like that.

WHAT!?!?!

Do you know what that does to a man's ego when he thinks there's no way he can fail at this, and then get that kind of response?? OUCH!! let me tell you it hurts.. 

      So, a couple weeks go by.  Well, two to be exact.  I can't stop thinking about her.  Was it her beautiful face?? Her smile?? or was it the fact that she shut me down cold?? Probably all of the above.  Finally, she comes back in one night.  Same thing happens.  I try to pretend like I'm not checking her out, but I'm getting caught every single time.  I ask the bartender to buy her a drink the next time she orders one.  She gets it  and says "thank you.." in appreciation.  As the night goes on I'm feeling more and more confident that tonight is gonna yeild a better result.  The night ends again with the "random run in" and I can't resist, I have to try again, file and appeal.  Wouldn't you know it, I get the same response.  A very polite "no, I'm sorry.." She finished again with something about "bar guys" LOL.. Bar guys?? I had only been working in a "bar" for 6 maybe 8 months at the time.  Talk about guilty by association!!

       So, another couple weeks go by and I have a totally different attitude now.  Forget that girl!! I mean, who does she think she is?? shutting me down?? I'm Kaea.. This sort of thing doesn's happen to me.  So I continue working as usual.  Here she is again.. I guess she wasn't lying when she said this was a favorite spot of hers.  This time I have a different approach.  I ignore her all night.  I try not to even look at her, with no sucess, i couldnt help myself. She and her friends seem to be having a good time, but  something was different tonight, maybe she was having a good day, or was feeling extra friendly, or maybe just one extra drink at the bar, lol, whatever it was i didnt care, because this time she approaches me, kinda. She motions from across the bar if I had a pen and something to write on. I grab the closest peice of crap paper i can find and walk over to her.  After a quick second she hands me a folded up piece of paper with this warning, "Don't make me regret this.." LOL.  I cant belive it!! SUCCESS!! after weeks and weeks, ok it had been all summer, of waiting, and a couple failed attempts, I finally got it.  To be honest, it felt a little too good to be true, and I thought it was a fake number.  LOL.. I have heard of girls giving away fake "reject" numbers to guys when they are asked.  But this was not one of those.  Thank God. 

       So, all I wanted to share in this section was how we met.  This is the result of hard work and perseverence.  If at first you don't succeed, pretend like you don't care anymore and she'll come around.  LOL. 

      Our story has continued, from that day on, and we keep adding more and more wonderful memories to it.  Our life is far from perfect, but we work hard at it everyday, and our crazy love for each other makes it a perfect life to live.  Being with Elaina has been a rollercoaster ride through life, with ups and downs, highs and lows, but it's been the best ride of my life, and if there's one thing I know for sure its this, there  isn't anyone else in this world who I'd rather be sitting next to, holding hands with, kissing every night, and living the rest of my life with than her.