Memorial Day Weekend

I'm spending Memorial Day Weekend up at my cousin Roger's place in Los Angeles.

Thursday I got an unexpected invitation to come up to LA with a friend and see Queens of the Stone Age in concert. I hadn't seen them yet, so that was a great treat. The venue was located very close to where Ben lives, and that put me a little bit on edge. I hadn't seen this friend since coming out (though he has known for a while, he's Janice's brother), so I told him a bit about my relationship and its end. As with everyone I asked him his opinion about "spark" and "chemistry." I really should stop dwelling on it.

Friday I hung out with Tom and played some video games. I feel so much more comfortable and natural around him than I used to. Part of that is because of the great friend he has been since my breakup. Part of it is the maturation that he has gone through in his personality over the past couple years. And I think part of it is Brody . . . the situation with him makes me appreciate Tom so much more, haha. Like Brody, Tom is relatively emotionally needy and insecure. BUT, he is a lot more respectful of boundaries. I can't imagine him talking to me the way Brody did.

Yep, I'm still pissed about it. Brody has texted me a couple times throughout the week. I've kept it short and straightforward, just answering questions. I think he's likely getting the message, though I know he has family visiting so that has likely kept him fairly occupied. I'll have to decide when and whether to meet up with him again.

Saturday I drove up here to LA and had a lunch date with a new guy, a medical student. He was really nice and quite good looking. He lives quite far from me, and he only has one year left in LA before he starts residency somewhere, so I don't think I'll pursue anything beyond friendship with him. Still I would like to get to know him better. Like me, he was a bit of a "late bloomer" to the whole coming out and dating thing. He's been out for 2 years. He suggested we hang out again next time I'm in LA. After the date I went to a movie theater in Hollywood to see Star Trek with Roger and Lance. It was good! Then we walked up and down Hollywood Boulevard for a couple hours, which I always enjoy doing.

Sunday (today) was another lunch date, this one with a pretty good looking and fit Latino guy. He seems really nice, though I didn't feel we had quite as much in common as the med student and I did. After that I met up with some friends and explored the neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Silverlake. My one friend is a gay guy that I met through a college friend a couple months ago. He's from France and is very nice. Kind of cute but I'm not sure he's my type. Plus he doesn't have a car, haha. After we parted ways (he had errands to do), I headed back toward my cousin's house. On my way through Silverlake I spotted the bar Akbar, which I knew was a gay bar (the rainbow flag confirmed this). I passed it and continued on somewhat conflicted before finally deciding to turn around and grab a drink there. It was a fairly cool bar. Some cute guys, especially one couple I saw. It's always awkward drinking alone in a bar so after I finished my drink and felt satisfied that I had experienced the bar's atmosphere I left to head back to Roger's. I sent Nick a text message to see how his weekend is going (he's visiting Arizona). He replied to say he was having a lot of fun and asked how LA was. He comes back tomorrow. I'd like to see him again this week, though I'd kind of like him to initiate this one.

No solid plans for my day off yet. The Latino guy mentioned the possibility of going on a hike after he gets off work before I go back home, so I'll see if he contacts me.