Barcode the Zebbit

Day 38
9.19.2026

I've been going to places by myself lately. Half hoping that I talk to someone cool and we hit it off, but at the same time hoping no one notices I am totally alone.

So far it's been nice short interactions with strangers.
Went to a bar last night and ordered a pizza. When the pizza got there I realized I wasn't that hungry and the pizza was just sitting in front of me. A guy waiting to order his drink with his friends started saying "It smells like pepperoni pizza. I wonder why it smells like pizza around here?" playfully and loudly. I offered him a slice. He declined and said "thanks, I'm good but it smells very good." I told him "if you change your mind, I'll be right over there." He didn't come, but I left within 15 mins because it was late. I liked his playful energy.

The other day I went to a rendition of Antigone at the Getty Villa. The lady I sat next to was alone, too. Her name was Michelle. We talked a little before and a little after about the use of Native American dance in the rendition and the way they used a long black cloak and stilts to depict death. Then as I was headed to my car with the herd of people, I dropped my program and a young man dressed to the nines picked it up for me. I asked him if he also came by himself and he did. He enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. We both wished they had allowed us to wander around the museum before the play.

About a month ago, I walked to my nearest movie theater. I picked "The Invitation" but there was a 1 hour gap before the trailers started. I decided to go grab a drink and a small meal at the Cheesecake Factory next door. I sat at the bar next to a man watching the baseball game. He asked me if I was a Dodgers fan... I'm not an anything sports fan. Didn't matter, we talked about our shared day off and how easy it is to be persuaded to buy things when the seller is nice. We talked about different areas around the city. We talked about areas away from the city, specifically the strawberry and the garlic capitals of the state and how they have cool events and how its worth it to do a road trip to them.

Sometimes I read about how people meet in the wild and become friends. I want that. But so far it's just short friendly interactions.