June 18

Post 863, Day 168 of 2013
- and 899 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

On his birthday, I'm thinking about Paul McCartney.

When I first saw the Beatles perform (on Ed Sullivan), I had no idea which one of the four he was. For that matter, at that time, I didn't know what a bass guitar was. At age 14, I had never thought critically about music, or informed myself about how popular music was made.

I didn't know one thing about electric instruments - until that point I didn't care. I didn't spend much time listening to rock or pop music at all. In my house, it was all classical or Broadway show tunes.

I initially mixed up Paul with John. From their live appearances, with the camera on screaming girls half the time, I couldn't tell who was who, who was playing what (except, everybody knew Ringo). I proudly imitated the rhythm guitar part on 'All My Loving' and announced I had mastered "Paul's strum".

Slowly, I began to become more knowledgable, about who did what with the Beatles, about bands, about electric instruments - and about music.

Thing was, I didn't think much of Paul as a musician. He was a good songwriter, a good singer (especially when he was imitating Little Richard). And he was the 'prettiest' Beatle. In fact, he was my least favorite, mostly because I wasn't impressed with the bass on Beatles songs, and because he seemed to be getting attention bigger than his contributions. What did I know? I was 14. I didn't know anything about anything. 

Soul music is where I got my information about bass. Motown had the best and most outstanding bass. 

Then came Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The bass on those records (particularly Sgt. Pepper) was different. It sounded a lot more like Motown, but also had a melodicism even beyond that. And also, by the time Pepper hit, I was playing bass myself. Badly. 

I had to admit I was wrong about Paul. Notwithstanding whatever actually happened with the Beatles, and the fact that almost none of his music since their breakup has captured my attention (except negatively), I still hear amazing things in his older work. Spectacular bass playing, spectacular bass lines.

Now, Sir Paul has my respect in every way. His bass playing of 45 years ago remains (to me, at least) the gold standard in rock bass-playing. Among a lot of excellent bass-players I've come to appreciate since I first took up a bass in 1966, in the rock idiom, he's at the pinnacle.

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 Food and Diet Section

2013 daily weight

Today's Weight:         210.8 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     211.8 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 1.0 lbs

Diet Comment

A step in the right direction. I can't help but think it would have been a bigger step if I had finished eating before 8pm instead of before midnight. Not that today is any better, with a dinner-size feeding at midnight...

Food Log 

Breakfast

Cocoa-kale-hemp-chia protein shake: Almond milk, kale, cocoa, hemp seeds, chia seeds, a large egg, vanilla whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, vanilla, psyllium and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch

Salmon and black bean salad on Spring mix with cole slaw mix and tomatoes.

Dinner

Turkey burgers with feta cheese and pepper, cole slaw and brocolli with lentils and feta cheese.

Snack
Lentil and feta cheese salad with balsamic vinaigrette. A protein bar for dessert.

Liquid Intake   

   Coffee:  22 oz.   Water:  128+ oz.

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