#1596, Monday, February 8: Weekend recap

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Post 1596, Day 39 of 2016
- 1,865 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

A lot happened on the weekend. Sadly, I was under the weather for most of it.

I was still feeling sick Saturday, although markedly improved. I stayed in bed late, and didn't really go out until it was time for the gig.

The venue was the Flat Iron Grill, where I had played before with Bradshaw Blues and been the house bass player for open mic night for almost three months. A known quantity for me, and a place where I am pretty well-liked.

I was set up first and early. With some time to spare, I drank some Core chicken broth I'd picked up on the way. And bought a square on the Super Bowl board.

Helping with the band setup, I got hot. Sweaty hot, just sitting there at the bar. So, hat off. Jacket off. I'm in a tee-shirt, and my hair is sweat-wet. Uh-oh!

I played most of the night sitting on a bar stool. But, as the night wore on, I actually began to feel better! The healing power of music! Ultimately, the night was a complete success for the band. The audience danced, whistled, applauded, cheered. The owner stayed to the end, and I'd never seen him take any interest in the music before.

Sunday was a good day, too. I felt better than I had since I began feeling sick. I went to a monthly jam in the afternoon - I didn't play, I just wanted to see my friends there, and represent. Good time.

Then it was time to take my place as house bass at Rooters open mic. This is ground zero for me in Syracuse. The very first place I went to meet other musicians. Whatever else I've done in the music community, the roots are right there.

To my delight, the emphasis wasn't on the Super Bowl, but on blues saxophone ace Dugan Henhawk, a wonderful guy who happens also to be a great storyteller, vocalist and comic. It was his birthday. And there was a big food spread laid out, much better than a Super Bowl party (I'm not much into Super Bowls in the last forty years or so, but I do enjoy Super Bowl parties. I'm still glad this was a birthday party.

The night went well, although there was a paucity of jammers, and no other bass players, so I worked hard.

At the end of the night, after loading out, helping everybody else pack up, and getting paid, I turned my phone back on to discover I had one $500 from that Super Bowl board square I'd bought - and forgotten about.

Even my disinterest pays off. Still the luckiest guy I know.

Monday was a recovery day. A take-it-easy day. (Anybody else see a trend?) I rolled out of bed around Noon (I'd been awake by eight-thirty, but I do a lot of computer work in bed) and went to have lunch and pick up my winnings at the Flat Iron. Dave, the owner, had also won, but all he wanted to talk about was how much he'd liked I am Fool. Music to my ears.

I told him how much I liked the Flat Iron, the staff, and the meat loaf. Then I turned to a quite-good steak salad, and had a good conversation with the bartender, who looked like he was about fourteen years old, but was actually quite easy to talk with... Oh, sorry, bartender cliche. But still true.

From there, I did a little grocery shopping, deposited my winnings in the bank. Then I went and fired my friend Vince, the booking agent who'd gotten us that Flat Iron gig.

I was acting as the messenger for I am Fool in this case, but that wasn't easy. The band had decided that some negatives in regard to Vince's business, and an initial bad commission arrangement, meant they needed to separate from him. I didn't disagree, but thought there should be a negotiation, rather than a firing. However, I presented the situation in a straightforward way, honestly, and listened. He didn't like it, but given they the personal relationship he and I have is not affected, and I refused to let it be in play, it went well.

We're cool.

Still, that pretty much ended my day.

Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:                   199.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (2/5):            198.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                   +  0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

Less gain than I was expecting.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
At the Flat Iron Grill:

Flat Iron Steak salad (mixed greens, Roma tomatoes, cucumbers, crumbly blue, bacon, candied pecans and craisins with blue cheese dressing).

Dinner

Beef with Creole sauce and broccoli. A Quest bar for dessert.

Snack
A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;  Coffee:  16 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz. 

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