| | My friend Emma is late picking me up so I've got some time to kill.
After the funeral I had dinner with Jenn at Soho (a Japanese restaurant in Ohio, not the shopping area in Manhattan). It was great catching up with her even though I was back home under sad circumstances.
The next day I ran errands with my mom. It was really cute the way my parents took care of me on the trip. Their lives seem really happy, and with what happened with Richard they really seemed grateful to have me there. That morning I designed a tattoo to remember this weekend and Richard. I wanted to do it while everything was still fresh, so it had more meaning.
Later I went shopping with my mom for a key drive, and it was real nice just doing normal things again. I got home and we packed up, and my mom packed me a meat slicer in a small suitcase so I can make my own shabu meat this winter.
We went to waffle house again for a quick dinner, and then I was back to NY. Being back was kind of hectic. I knew I didn't have time to plan for my trip, and I had all this work to do before I left. That night I searched for a place to do my tattoo. Rising Dragon didnt' have walk ins that night, so I just went to a random shop in my 'hood. He had me do it bigger, and he wasn't the best tattoo artist but it's OK. It sort of gives it character.
I did laundry at midnight, which I never do. Then I blasted through work on Wednesday and went home and cleaned up, and woke up early to pack before my flight.
The flight was easy. Being older, you just worry less about traveling. Though there was a slight moment of panic when I couldn't figure out the LA Metro Bus system, things have been good so far in Los Angeles.
Esther saved me and picked me up from the airport, dropping me off at Mann's Chinese Theater which was across from Jessie's offices. It was so nice to see people I haven't seen in several years. Jessie drove me back to her and Kylee's apartment, and it was exactly how I pictured it.
We went to a Mexican place in their neighborhood, Glendale, and Emma popped by later. The four of us together, it very much felt like the same as when we were at RISD, the comfort level just hasn't changed. After we all went to Jessie and Kylee's and Emma showed me all the gay boys on her myspace, asking which ones I thought were cute.
I slept on an air mattress tightly wedged between their couch and coffee table. Their turtles didn't wake me up, but Meatball, their huge, fat brown cat woke me up twice as she scurried across it and then ate a meal. I sleep well no matter where I am, and I'm totally grateful for that.
The next morning Jessie drove me to her work, and I hung out around Hollywood wandering around, looking at flyers, planning my days in LA. The weather here is crazy, I'd walk in the sun and be burning hot, and walk in the shade and be too cold.
I met up with Jessie and then Kylee drove in and we ate lunch at In n Out burger. It was really crowded, and we grabbed a spot outside near a cute boy in a blue shirt. After, I said goodbye to Jessie after retrieving my bags from her spot in the garage and Kylee took me to the Paramount Lot, where he works.
The pace here in LA is so much slower, and it was real cool to see someone's average day at work. He worked in the Mae West building editing Dr. Phil's show. All the lights were off in the sprawling office, and it was quiet that day. When tapes were queuing up Kylee would show me around the lot.
We figured out the Metro system with a coworker of his, and I was on my way to Weho to meet up with Esther. The bus was easy, and I sat on a bench at the corner of Fairfax and Santa Monica. Esther picked me up, then we went to her place, changed, and then went to a really, really good Spanish restaurant in Weho.
After she took me gay barhopping. The first bar, The Abbey, was huge and visually so different from the NY bars. I ran into my friend from NY, Marlowe, and two other people I met in NY through friends. Esther and I had sour apple martinis and then ridiculously strong vodka drinks.
Next we tried to go to Rage, which was full of Asians, but then decided against the 12 dollar cover. We then went to this corner bar where the vibe was really fun. When we went up to the loft level, it was a packed dancefloor. I was standing with Esther when I noticed arms wrapping around my stomach from behind. I wondered if it was Esther, but it turned out to be a latin dude.
He would do this five times, asking me to hug him, forcing me to make out with him, kissing my neck, telling me he wanted to take me home and fuck me. I declined each time, and after inviting me to his house for an afterparty he left. He wasn't cute enough for me to do this in a strange city!
After that bar, we went to this tropical themed one. It was very different, more hipsterish. Then we went up to the roof and chilled their near a heat lamp before deciding to head out. We wandered past Rage again, and noticed Britney's new video playing. We stopped to watch it and were impressed with how bad it was. Then noticing no more bars, we decided to head home. It's so different when everything closes at 2am, I ended upgetting a decent amount of sleep while still waking up early.
Overall, I'd say it's been really good seeing how my LA friends live. And it's been great getting away. I find myself not worrying about smaller things, and traveling on my own has been cathartic. It reminds me of the rush I felt moving to Providence for the first time, or flying to Italy by myself for the summer program. I've had an intense year, and this is helping.
And for the gay scene, what I've been told has been proven true. I'm much more accepted out here, got much more looks at the bars, and was amongst many, many more Asians in general. I'll probably spend a lot of time wondering if the west coast is a better place for me, as much as I love NY and my many great friends out there.
Now I'm up with allergies (I can't escape these no matter where I go!) waiting for Emma for a short trip to San Diego! I'm looking forward to it.
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| | Posted 10/6/2007 1:11 PM - 58 Views - 2 eProps - 1 Comment
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