San Diego Gay Pride 2008

Hot Mess. That is what this weekend was for me and for ever gay in san diego both visitors and residents.

Friday.
Friday evening I had a kick off bar be que. It was fun, low key. I didn't want to go out and get trashed because well I knew that would be my whole weekend. Not to say i didn't get messed up Friday night, i did, but through the comfort of my own home.

Saturday.
Now Saturday... saturday, saturday, saturday. I'm not sure what happened saturday, well i do, except later in the day I don't. It began with me waking up late and quickly getting dressed to head over to Steven's place. I wanted to make sure I was there early because his place is right by the park where the festival takes place. I knew parking would be a bitch. I scored a nice spot though right by his place. We decided to walk to the where the parade started. Steven, Adam, Whitney and I started on our adventure. During this hike, it was joking brought up to make it competition to set a goal to make out with a certain number of people during the parade. I jokingly said 12 thinking that it was foolish and unrealistic number and situation. Not so apparently. The drinking also began on this very same walk. Accompanying us on our stroll were Target bought mini Sangrias. They look like juice boxes, so easy to break out and drink while walking. And that we did! At 1030 in the morning!

We finally made it to the beginning of the parade. Sadly we missed the opening with the dykes on bikes. Actually I wouldn't see much of the parade. We strolled around and I separated and joined up with Bev, Lara and crew at Baja Betty's. This is where it officially all started. By this time it was noonish, the parade was going strong outside and I did throughout the course of our stay there 2 shots of petron, 1 1/2 maragaritas and a vodka & club. Now after some shots of petron, one really loosens up. It also will help remind you you had set a goal to make out with 12 people. And I proceed. I left betty's with one make out down and feeling pretty loaded. I watched the parade some more with bev, lara, dondi and fred. Dondi and I decided to go drink some more and we proceed to go to Flicks. What is fun about being loaded is that I talk to everyone. At Flicks I randomly ran into a guy that was from jersey and his friend was from philly. They were cool, don't remember their names, if i even got them. I had a drink there with dondi then we proceed to Rich's. Rich's was uneventful and we didn't stay long. I'm sure I had a drink and probably even made out with some people. This point I was well on my way of reaching my goal. Lara & Bev were at Numbers, the parade had ended and the sea of gays were on the move to the festival at Balboa park. Dondi and I meet up with Bev and lara and taxied it to the park. Getting out of the taxi and i rang Steven. He was at a party by his apartment. Dondi and I went over to join them. at this point I was up to 8 make outs. Cory and Kevin, a couple that Steven knows who were at the party, proceeded to be 9 & 10. We didn't stay long at the house party, which was really a condo party. We left and head to the park. While walking i ran into Meg. I remember her name, not sure why. She was a 60 year old lesbian who look like she just ran a marathon( I think she did). Not sure how we started talking, most likely I initiated it. She was cool, we bonded for a few blocks, until i departed her for the ATMS

Now Bolboa park, for those who have not been to San Diego, is huge and has a lot of historical buildings and museums. Tourist were there riding trolleys having an enjoyable family day. San Diego gay Pride is also the biggest event in San Diego, it brings in the largest crowd out of any other event during the year. Needless to say i'm not sure how the tourist felt seeing a swarm of gays, wasted, stumbling down the street guys dressed like girls, girls dressed like guys, feather boas and rainbow flags everywhere. One of these trolleys was fortunate enough to stop in front of me. I, drunk, decided to start welcoming the tourist to San Diego and the gay pride event. Steven said it was quite funny, to us not them. This particular trolley had quite a number of families on there, and they just looked at me with shock.

Number 12. Once we go in the park, I got up to 11 and now I was 1 away from my goal. Some how number 12 ended up being a large blonde drag queen dressed in a white gown. Steven got a picture of the milestone. I don't know how it happened, it just did. But it seems very appropriate that number 12 be "special" I decided not to stop at 12. 12 and on Steven documented with pictures. Like the previous 11 I don't remember any of them. (well I remember 4, the first guy, this hot guy name Dana, and Cory & Kevin.)

The festival is like Philly's Block party, lot of tables with people handing out things or trying to sell things. They put stickers on you, ask to to sign up for this or that or ask for money. At some point I got suckered into paying 10 dollars a month for the Human Rights Campaign and an additional $35 gift for a blue bag with an equal sign on it. Damn them. After that I ended up separate from Steven and at the Kilt tent. I remember seeing guys earlier in kilts and telling Steven that i was going to buy a kilt. So i did. 358 dollars later I walked out of the kilt tent with my new kilt, free balling. Drunk, in a kilt with no underwear, and surrounded by thousands of gays. Not a good thing! I think it is safe to say half of San Diego has touched my balls. I roamed the festival a little more and ended up at the Latin Beer Garden. There luckily I meet up with Steven and Adam. I danced a little. What is better than a drunk guy wearing a kilt and flip flops dancing to latin music. I was a hit. My kilt was a hit. My balls apparently were a hit too.

We stayed at the Latin Tent for the remainder of the festival and stumbled back to Steven's apartment. I believe I mooned a few people on the way. We got to Steven's and then I hit the couch and took a nice power nap. When we all awoke we showered, got dressed then proceed back to drinking and a night on the town. I was still drunk. Now when i say I was drunk, I was drunk but not gone. I was in a happy medium of goofy fun drunk, still can walk right and make sense when talking. Once we got to Rich's though, I don't remember much. As many of my friends know, and now my San Diego friends have seen, me shitloaded is nuts. Uncontrollable. I am like a kid with ADHD x200. I even turned into one of the gays that takes his shit off while dancing. Of course the floor was filled with shirtless guys. We stayed there until Midnight. I later found out the fire marshal showed up at Rich's later that night and shut them down for being over the occupancy. It was good that we left when we did. We went to the Brass Rail. We randomly ran into Oliver, Ken and Eunice in line who showed up the same time. Eunice is cool because I meet her last year at pride. I haven't seen or talked to her since. It was kind of cool to meet her again at this year's pride. Inside the shirt came off again and Adam and I got up and pole danced. Apparently I threw my shirt at some chick when I go up there too.

At the end of the night Adam disappeared (ended up in Chula Vista) and Steven and I went back to his place. Steven was sober and I was tanked. As he drove home, I decide to "lecture" Steven. It was a good talking though, nothing offensive. Just about how he needs to open up more! Steven has actually become my best guy friend out here. He has some attitude but he is sincere and genuine. I trust him and enjoying hanging out with him. He calls me his little brother, even though I am two years older than him. He says something about how I am like a little kid with how I view the world and act sometimes and that makes him feel like i'm his younger brother. He is right.


Sunday.
I woke up drunk. In fact for the whole morning I was drunk still. Steven and I meet up with Brian and Eric for lunch. They didn't realize how drunk I was the previous night. That was the first time I let myself get like that here. I was fine during the day but at night I was shitfaced. I mean my intention was never to get like that at all. I have been really good though at controlling my drinking in San Diego. The main reason is I just don't want to drink a lot but also being in a new town with new friends i just don't feel it wise to get so wasted that I wouldn't be able to get home. After lunch we took a much needed nap. Adam returned home. The nap didn't help me, it actually converted my drunkness to feeling hungover. We decided to still make our way to The Hole. I decided to wear my kilt again because well when the hell will I ever wear a kilt??? I didn't think I was going to make it. I was hungover, barely could stand and my body was shaking, not sure why probably from dehydration? But after pounding a bottle of water and a mini pitcher of miller lite, I miraculously felt fine! Adam, who also was in the same boat as me, agreed that after a beer he felt better. I didn't get drunk, I couldn't. Although I felt better from the beer, I still had no desire to get even close to being intoxicated. After The Hole a huge gang of bears all went to Brian's, a restaurant that is sorta like a diner, as close to a diner San Diego can get. I was still in my kilt. After dinner we went home and debated about going out. We forced ourselves too. We went to Mo's but lasted there only about 30 minutes. The three of us were exhausted and Adam & I still felt gross from being hung over. We went back to Steven's and watched Golden Girls on DVD. And That is how my San Diego Gay Pride Weekend ended.