Sunday, June 29

Post 1219, Day 180 of 2014
- 1,276 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Nothing much to say today. I could complain about the weather, but, you know...

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 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         210.0 lbs

Previous Weight:        208.6 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 1.4 lbs

Diet Comment

Wholesome medley - why are you so irresistible? After this weekend, I'm going to get serious (maybe).

Food Log 

Breakfast

Skipped.

Lunch

Skipped.

Snack
Pepperoni and Wholesome Medley (dark chocolate, peanuts, almonds, cashews, dried cherries).

Dinner

Skipped.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  0 oz.   Water: 84+ oz. 

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Saturday, June 28

Post 1218, Day 179 of 2014
- 1,275 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Last night's concert with i am Fool was outdoors, and I have a video to share, just the first song, Molly.

At the end of the night, a member of the audience introduced himself to me, flattered me for a while, and told me he was working on a project and would like me to play bass. I've heard this a lot lately, usually it is i am Fool, occasionally me.

The thing is, I create no expectations. So far, very little has ever come from promises like these. People get ideas, express them, think about them later.

I had fun at the concert, the new pic is candid.

Here's a link to a video from the concert, a new song, Sometimes (Getting Nowhere).

Tonight I played with Bradshaw Blues, and, kind of the same thing. Someone I know only from Facebook came to the show, and introduced me to the friends he was with as 'the busiest bass player in Syracuse', and then he called me, "My hero."

I have no clue, no idea at all, what he was talking about. I'm not the busiest bass player in Syracuse.

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 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         208.6 lbs

Previous Weight:        210.0 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 1.2 lbs

Diet Comment

That's a little better.

Food Log 

Breakfast

Skipped.

Lunch

Skipped.

Snack
A Quest bar.

Dinner

Wholesome Medley (dark chocolate, peanuts, almonds, cashews, dried cherries).

Snack
Pepperoni, cheese and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  0 oz.   Water: 104+ oz. 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Friday, June 27

Post 1217, Day 178 of 2014
- 1,274 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I am feeling a little sad that I have friends who are struggling with depression and low-self esteem. I've been there. 

What can you do? I've been there. I know what helped me cope, but how to apply that to someone else? I have only words, and people with severe depression (and low self-esteem/anxiety) aren't in a position to really 'hear' what people (any people) say - they filter and edit their input to validate their illness.

So, what do you do?

In the final analysis, there's little to do. The idea that I know what's best for someone else is completely foreign to me. I can offer my personal insight, compassion, sympathy, but there's no action I can take on another's behalf whose outcome I can know.

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 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         210.0 lbs

Previous Weight:        211.2 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 1.2 lbs

Diet Comment

That's a little better. I thought I was going to pay a penalty for the Indian food carbs, but not bad, overall.

Food Log 

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch

A kale-hemp protein shake (almond-coconut milk, baby kale, large egg, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), celery, chia gel, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon and stevia-inulin blend.

Snack
A Quest bar.

Dinner

At Denny's (after the gig):  An (awful) avocado-bacon omelet with hash browns and rye toast.

Snack
Pepperoni, cheese and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  36 oz.   Water: 104+ oz. 

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Thursday, June 26

Post 1216, Day 177 of 2014
- 1,273 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Great concert by Lake Street Dive. Unfortunately, the venue allowed an overcapacity crowd on a warm night with no air conditioning.

Still, music ruled the day. While it is impossible for the band to sound like any other band, the concert was a little light on the material that first brought them to my attention, the soul songs of the sixties and seventies, updated in a kind of jazz-pop fusion that allows their conservatory-honed musicianship to shine.

The new material, still hewing to that fusion sound, moves sits closer to the rock side of the pop spectrum than the soul side.

It looked like this:

... and the finale sounded like this:

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 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         211.2 lbs

Previous Weight:        209.0 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 2.2 lbs

Diet Comment

That's ugly and disappointing.

Food Log 

Breakfast

A Quest bar.

Lunch
Grass-fed beefburger with guacamole on Ezekiel 4:9 Flax bread, with a salad (baby kale, baby spinach, chard, cole slaw mix and balsamic vinaigrette).

Dinner

At Taste of India:

Rice pilaf and lamb and spinach curry. Not shown: Lentil soup, many breads, relishes.

Snack
A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 116+ oz. 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Wednesday, June 25

Post 1215, Day 176 of 2014
- 1,272 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Today I made a small contribution to the Kickstarter for a documentary called The Viking of 6th Avenue - about Moondog.

I encountered Moondog a lot when I was 16 and 17, working at my first real job at my friend Johnny Wolf's father's store on 48th and 6th. Moondog's regular spot was a few blocks away, and I would walk over at lunch sometimes to hang for a few minutes.

He was always ready to greet me - he asked my name a bunch of times, but always called me 'Young Man,' which I was, of course.

He read poetry. He sang and played his homemade percussion instruments. He frequently wore a protest sign (he was blind - but it never occurred to me, not even once, to ask where he got the signs, or who painted them for him). For me, it was a giant goof to hang with the nut job, great free entertainment, yet, I was always polite, if nothing else.

When I thought about him, I was reminded of a song about him: Pentangle's 1968 song Moondog. I loved this song. With just voice and percussion, it was unique to me back then. Here's a link to it on youtube: http://youtu.be/Of42hc2styU

Enjoy.

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 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         209.0 lbs

Previous Weight:        207.2 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 1.8 lbs

Diet Comment

A lot of gain I wasn't looking for.

Food Log 

Breakfast

Skipped.

Lunch
At Ling-Ling's Chinese Buffet and Grill:

Brussels sprouts, kimchee, and, from the "Mongolian Grill", my go-to dish: pork and chicken with cabbage, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and broccoli. And a Quest bar.

Dinner

Sauteed chicken on mixed salad.

Snack
Pepperoni and cheese, and Quest bars.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  24 oz.   Water: 112+ oz. 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Tuesday, June 24

Post 1214, Day 175 of 2014
- 1,271 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Is being intolerant of rudeness too judgmental? I have been really sensitive (oversensitive?) to rude behavior lately.

That probably means I have been rude myself, although if so, it was unintentional. It makes me uncomfortable when I see it, but do I act on that discomfort? 

Do I take offense? Is that overly self-righteous? 

I try to set a good example, and I guess I have to leave it at that - which is to say, if I get uncomfortable with the behavior of people I am with, I leave.

Removing myself avoids confrontation, which I haven't found to be productive. Confrontation seems to lead to defensive behavior, and that seems to escalate to the point where mutual understanding is not possible, and that does nobody any good. 

It also like to think that I am not that judgmental. I may or may not be perceiving the behavior correctly. My discomfort is telling me something, but it may not be about what I'm observing.

I'll look for clarity from a distance. Best to leave.

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 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         207.2 lbs

Previous Weight:        207.8 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.6 lbs

Diet Comment

I'm hoping this is loss marks, at least, a temporary top.

Food Log 

Breakfast

A kale-hemp protein shake (almond-coconut milk, baby kale, large egg, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), chia gel, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch

Roasted turkey breast salad (with celery and home-made mayonnaise) on Spring Mix greens, baby kale, and cole slaw mix and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner

A tub of edamame hummos.

Snack
Pepperoni and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 116+ oz. 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Monday, June 23

Post 1213, Day 174 of 2014
- 1,270 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Talking about the i am Fool gig last night, it has to be seen in two different contexts: One as a successful performance, the other as an attempt to move the band forward, was unsuccessful.

Unsuccessful because almost nobody came. There were four big shows, two of which were free, competing for our audience. Even the opening band, usually good for at least fifty customers, brought in less than a dozen people.

I had two friends come (one, it turns out, didn't even know I was playing in one of the bands). The other guys couldn't even rally family members.

At the end of the night, we were saved from closing out in front of a very, very small audience by the arrival of a party of friends of J's daughter (who was on vacation in Florida).

That was the downside of the evening. 

The upside was a spirited, energetic performance, where we frequently played the best versions of our songs. I was reminded of all the reasons I like the band, and forgot all the frustrations. I had as good a time playing as I imagined I could have. I felt good, physically and emotionally all night. 

Maybe, for a moment, I felt like a Beatle.

With those good feelings still intact, and having slept away most of the beautiful day, I went to see a jazz singer perform on a deck near a park. Getting some good music, seeing her and the drummer (both friends) do a great job with a nice, tight little quartet, I just felt... expanded? Can you feel that? More than myself, is what I'm trying to say.

Which led to some very satisfying playing at my regular Sunday open mics, including one drunk telling me I was the best bass player he'd ever heard. I laughed and told him, "I hope that's not true," but I have to admit, it felt a little good being someone's best anything,  depressed alcoholic or not.

 Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         207.8 lbs

Previous Weight:        207.6 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 0.2 lbs

Diet Comment

Not much of a change.

Food Log 

Breakfast

Skipped.

Lunch

Skipped.

Dinner

A kale-hemp protein shake (almond-coconut milk, baby kale, large egg, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), chia gel, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon and stevia-inulin blend.

Snack
A Quest bar.

Late-night Snack
Pepperoni and Quest bars.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 80+ oz. 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Sunday, June 22

Post 1212, Day 173 of 2014
- 1,269 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Talking about the i am Fool gig last night, it has to be seen in two different contexts: One as a successful performance, the other as an attempt to move the band forward, was unsuccessful.

Unsuccessful because almost nobody came. There were four big shows, two of which were free, competing for our audience. Even the opening band, usually good for at least fifty customers, brought in less than a dozen people.

I had two friends come (one, it turns out, didn't even know I was playing in one of the bands). The other guys couldn't even rally family members.

At the end of the night, we were saved from closing out in front of a very, very small audience by the arrival of a party of friends of J's daughter (who was on vacation in Florida).

That was the downside of the evening. 

The upside was a spirited, energetic performance, where we frequently played the best versions of our songs. I was reminded of all the reasons I like the band, and forgot all the frustrations. I had as good a time playing as I imagined I could have. I felt good, physically and emotionally all night. 

Maybe, for a moment, I felt like a Beatle.

With those good feelings still intact, and having slept away most of the beautiful day, I went to see a jazz singer perform on a deck near a park. Getting some good music, seeing her and the drummer (both friends) do a great job with a nice, tight little quartet, I just felt... expanded? Can you feel that? More than myself, is what I'm trying to say.

Which led to some very satisfying playing at my regular Sunday open mics, including one drunk telling me I was the best bass player he'd ever heard. I laughed and told him, "I hope that's not true," but I have to admit, it felt a little good being someone's best anything,  depressed alcoholic or not.

 Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         207.6 lbs

Previous Weight:        206.6 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 1.0 lbs

Diet Comment

Since I weighed myself after breakfast (although not right after), the only surprise here is that I only gained a pound from this major cheat.

Food Log 

Breakfast

Eaten at Denny's, between 3:30 and 4:15 AM:  A Meat Lover's Omelette with hash browns and dry rye toast, and a plate of blueberry pancake balls (deep-fried pancake batter) with some kind of sweet vanilla sauce like the jizz from Cinnabon.

Lunch

Skipped.

Dinner

At Whitewater Pub:  A Caesar salad (hold the croutons) with chicken and bacon.

Snack
Pepperoni, cheese and cole slaw.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  0 oz.   Water: 84+ oz. 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Saturday, June 21

Post 1211, Day 172 of 2014
- 1,268 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Abstract, lazy day, got real when prep for i am Fool's gig at Mac's Bad Art Bar started. Full report tomorrow.

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 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         206.6 lbs

Previous Weight:        206.8 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.2 lbs

Diet Comment

Back down just below the trend-line.

Food Log 

Breakfast

Skipped.

Lunch

Bacon cheeseburger (Organic beef, provolone cheese, uncured bacon, onions and peppers sauteed in garlic-tomato olive oil, Ezekiel 4:9 Flax bread) and cole slaw.

Dinner

A Quest bar.

Snack
A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  16 oz.   Water: 88+ oz. Two shots of Jameson's.

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Friday, June 20

Post 1210, Day 171 of 2014
- 1,267 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Today, I'm thinking about the Who.

Why? A musician friend from Syracuse, who has lived in California for twenty-five years, is coming to visit his old friends and family, and putting on a show during one of my regular open mics. He's been posting a few songs he'd like to cover, and today he put up I Can See For Miles, my all-time favorite Who song.

So, we'll end up playing it. And I end up remembering seeing the band at their first ever American show - Murray the K's Easter show in 1967. They blew me away - I thought they were the best band in the show (and Cream was also making their first US appearance... not nearly as good).

I thought their songs and their records were terrific. Their show, and they had a great show, began with Daltry swagger and Townshend windmills, and ended with the startling finish of smashing drums, guitar and mic. In between, the performance was exhilerating. 

I've never had the slightest urge to be that kind of performer, to prance around or dance around while playing bass (which Entwhistle didn't do much of when I saw him at various times in the US - but I have seen videos of him doing it in England). And, as much as I admired Entwhistle's amazing chops, he played lead bass, with a trebly tone, and that isn't how I hear bass - or play it.

I loved and admired their bass player, John Entwhistle, the Ox. One of the best rock bass players ever, and totally perfect in the Who. 

But I never wanted to play like him. I've come to realize how selectively I've drawn on influences in my music.

And here's the bottom line: Thinking about this made me realize that I've probably achieved, after all these years, something that I've been (maybe unconsciously) seeking for the 48 years I've been playing bass: A style of my own. Maybe not unique enough to be identified by anyone but me (or maybe other bass players), but nonetheless, a style that identifies me.

Maybe I'm amazed.

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 Food and Diet Section

2014 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         206.8 lbs

Previous Weight:        209.2 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 2.4 lbs

Diet Comment

Yesterday's beer dinner probably accounts for a bit of water-weight loss. But, you know what? I'll take it. Right back down on the trend-line.

Food Log 

Breakfast

Omelet with parmesan cheese, baby kale, baby spinach and chard with onions. peppers and tomato-garlic oil; bacon.

Lunch
A couple of Quest bars.

Dinner

Pepperoni, cheese and cole slaw

Snack
A couple of Quest bars.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 96+ oz.

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!