#1903, Monday, July 31: Show-runner mode

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Post 1903, Day 212 of 2017
- 2,405 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

It isn't unusual, when putting together anything of complexity on a fixed schedule, for the little details to accumulate as delivery date approaches.

That is the mode I'm in now.

I have a seemingly endless series of rehearsals ahead of me. I've been meeting with the venue-owner, the sound guys and spending a lot of time on Facebook promoting it. Yesterday I made an appearance on my friend's radio show The Wax Museum with Ronnie Dark to promote it.

And then there's me refusing to stop playing for fun - so I still make the rounds at open mics - because all the good things that have happened to me in Syracuse seem to have come from the local open mics and jams.

It's exhilarating and exhausting and I'm having a blast and sometimes I forget to let go of the annoyances - but only temporarily.

I'm trying to be good to everybody, and make the whole thing a joyful experience.

We'll see how successful that can be, but no matter what, I can't help but be grateful for the opportunity and all the ensuing (and preceding) fun.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      203.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (7/28/17):           203.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Maintaining... When I don't gain weight over a weekend, I feel victorious!

Food Log

Breakfast
5:05pm, at CoreLife Eatery:

Tuna poke salad with: Kale, cabbage, quinoa, cucumber, carrots, scallions, ginger,edamame, avocado, tuna poke, sesame seeds, almonds and miso-sesame dressing.

Lunch
7:30pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
11:55pm: Pepperoni, hummus, 'quinoa' chips (which, after eating, I read the ingredients of, and sure enough, they had potato flour as the second ingredient - this will definitely cost me tomorrow, turning a high-protein dinner into a high-carb meal).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 68+ oz.; 

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#1902, Friday, July 28: Plan B and dreams

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Post 1902, Day 209 of 2017
- 2,401 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I think I'm getting further and further away from my Plan 'B' living plan, which is to move to another country when things get too hard, or less rewarding, here in Syracuse.

I got my latest edition of Overseas Living and Investing's Best Places to Retire Index.

On my personal list of top places to retire, only one place makes the top places list (Chiang Mai, Thailand).

My checkboxes/deal-breakers are few and simple: Low-cost of living; relatively good climate (by which I mean, no extremes of cold or heat); walkable/no car ownership required; low barrier to residency; good available healthcare.

That should be enough, I think. Those out of the way, my plan is to start at the top of my list (currently Chiang Mai), stay for two to three months, then, if I"m enraptured, make my plans to stay longer. If less than enraptured, go to the 2nd place on my list. Process my list the same way (rinse, repeat). If I stay, I stay until I find that I don't want to stay in that place any more. Then, I go back to the list.

That's my plan B. Thing is, It was once my plan A, until I decided life was too good for me in Syracuse. Nothing going on in my life now is any different, or less, that when I decided that I would not cut and run when I retired, and what was my plan became my fall-back plan. Three years in, I find it hard to see what will move me to plan B.
I know that things change, and I know that things will. Right now, all the changes are making me feel more attached to my current life and lifestyle. I'll just have to let what comes determine my actions. I have been talking about moving out of the States since the early nineties - keeping my 'top five' destinations list for twenty-five years.

I believe that you keep your dreams, pursue them, even, but be prepared for different dreams. I tell people who ask how I'm doing that I'm living the dream. This current dream is a newer dream - and it is about being grateful for what I have, and doesn't look so far into the future as the last dream did, which is why that old dream was so easily displaced. I'm grateful to be able to live my current dream and keep my other dreams alive.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      203.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (7/27/17):           203.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Maintaining...

Food Log

Breakfast
5:30pm: Green and blue protein smoothie with coconut-almond milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, blueberries, whey powder (36g protein), coconut oil, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, turmeric and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
8:30pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
11:55pm: Sliced London broil with Philippe's Famous Hot Mustad, cole slaw, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 75+ oz.; 

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#1901, Thursday, July 27: Play day

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Post 1901, Day 208 of 2017
- 2,400 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

More physical therapy today - saw my third therapist - I'm being passed around from one to another. This is treating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BBPV) - the momentary dizziness I've mentioned here. One of the problems is that I have very compromised mobility in my neck, making the treatment more difficult.

Later, I went to Kellish Hill Farm, to take a photo of the venue on a rare, not-rainy afternoon (we've been almost three weeks without a rainless day). 

Before the open mic started, I met with Kathy Kellish gave me the answers to some questions I've been asked about Reverend Ken's Summer of Love Fest that I was unable to offer a reply to before.

After getting the business out of the way, I played a few songs there, then it was off to some good jamming at Rooters Lounge Thursday Blues and BBQ. There, I ran into a too-rarely seen sax playing friend, who offered me a couple of gigs in September as house bass at the very same Rooters Lounge Thursday Blues and BBQ! Ha-ha! I'm also in that bass chair next Thursday.

The jamming was good and hot, and I got to play a lot. I went to bed totally happy and exhausted.

What a life! So much to be grateful for.

Food and Diet

 

Today's Weight:                      203.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (7/26/17):           204.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 1.3 lbs.

Diet Comment

Finally, a loss! Overdue, in my opinion.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:30pm:

Sautéed spinach and kale with onions, peppers, chia and hemp seeds, 3 large eggs and cheese. And bacon.

Lunch
8:30pm, Big Awesome BBQ at Rooters Tavern: Pulled pork and barbecue sauce.

Dinner
11:45pm: Pork rinds and guacamole, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 88+ oz.; and a healthy pour of Jameson's Irish whiskey.

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#1900, Wednesday, July 26: Happy day

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Post 1900, Day 207 of 2017
- 2,399 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I took a night off. Because I had a night of no commitments. It seems like the first one in a while.

I decided not to join Gold's Gym - too expensive if I want personal training, which I do. I was also extremely turned off by the sales pitch I was subjected to when I inquired about pricing. I saw quite a few sales tricks trotted out. Now, I don't even want to go back.

I'm going to have a conversation with a personal trainer I know, see if there's something I can work out with him. Or maybe join Planet Fitness again, even though I don't like it that much.

Yes, I'm feeling pretty random writing this now. Then again, writing this is really kind of an achievement - I've managed to avoid a 'no comment' day, nothing I've said is irrelevant.

I'm happy.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      204.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (7/25/17):           204.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I ate a lot of cheese. Good cheese from grass-fed cows. However, it is high-calorie, and high-sodium, and not good for weight loss. At least, no gain.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:05pm, at CoreLife Eatery:

Chicken Cobb salad (shredded kale and spinach, grilled chicken, avocado, bacon, hard-cooked egg and blue cheese dressing with a little sriracha). Not shown: A Quest bar.

Lunch
8:10pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
11:45pm: London broil, Dubliner cheese and cole slaw. And a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 80+ oz.; 

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#1899, Tuesday, July 25: A good music day

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Post 1899, Day 206 of 2017
- 2,398 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I had a great rehearsal with Scuba Gear, as we set out to learn four previously unplayed songs for the Summer of Love show

This followed a good rehearsal with another act I'm backing up (friends, but I'm not part of their 'group' - a husband-wife duo).

Back to the good stuff, it was so gratifying working with people who had prepared for the rehearsal. The rewards are musical and, for me, at least, emotional. I have been stressing a little bit about the show, now just a week-and-a-half away. That falls away when I get engaged in making music with other people.

I get so happy when I make good music. It makes me happy to feel the human bond that forms when good music is being made.

The happiness is, of course, a by-product. I don't pursue happiness any more. I just try to stay out of my own way of enjoying the innate sense of happiness I've discovered.

We're talking boundless gratitude.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      204.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (7/24/17):           203.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 1.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

I was hoping for a win, but I got a beat instead. I was on-plan 100% yesterday, but I think this might be some hangover from the weekend. Nonetheless, I expect tomorrow to be a vast improvement.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:25pm: A Quest bar.
 

Lunch
10:00pm: A cheeseburger.

Dinner
11:45pm: Chopped salad with salmon, Spring Mix, spinach, red cabbage and creamy balsamic dressing. A large hunk of Dubliner cheese.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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#1898, Monday, July 24: The kind thing

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Post 1898, Day 205 of 2017
- 2,397 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

The Dalai Lama says, "If you have to choose between doing the right thing and the kind thing, do the kind thing. It will be the right thing."

I hope so. During a rehearsal for one of the performers at Reverend Ken's Summer of Love Fest, I tried to be kind. The performer was a singer and guitarist who had chosen the songs in her set almost three months ago.and she was unprepared. She needed music and chord charts to get through her songs. She was also inexperienced with playing with backup.

She was not professional - certainly not a problem, overall, but not consistent with the goal of entertaining a paying audience. From my point of view, her problem was a lack of guitar skills, that distracted her, taking away from her vocals.

I made suggestions. I coached rather than criticized. I did everything I could think of to be supportive.

The drummer, my friend Dan, told me I was "too nice" with her.

Good. I don't want her to feel bad. I want her to improve, and give a good performance at my show, to have a good time.

The next person rehearsing was, in fact, a singer-guitarist who is a gigging professional. He heard the last twenty minutes of her rehearsal, and, after, he offered to back her up, play her tunes on her set. I believe that would turn the whole thing around, making her performance better.

I think the more important point is that he made the offer in the same spirit as I had when I coached her.

If she accepts his help, her performance will be elevated, and excellent.

And a great example of 'doing the kind thing' working out.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      203.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (7/21/17):           202.7 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 0.7 lbs.

Diet Comment

The best I can say for myself is that I didn't pay a heavy price for the weekend, although I sure didn't lose weight, either.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:25pm:  

Omelet with peppers, onion, greens, chia seeds, hemp seeds and bacon.

Lunch
10:00pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
12:15am: Chopped salad with London broil, Spring Mix, spinach, red cabbage and creamy balsamic dressing; and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 100+ oz.; 

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#1897, Friday, July 21: Musical chairs

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Post 1897, Day 202 of 2017
- 2,394 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Sometimes, music is hard. Not for me, so much, as for people who book gigs.

When I first joined i am Fool, my good friend Al was very supportive, and drove hundreds of miles giving out fifty or sixty copies of our press kit to bars and clubs that had live music. Nothing ever came of it. He was very discouraged.

Scuba Gear has a number of part-time members, including i am Fool band mate Tamaralee, the leader of that band, and me, sharing the bass chair. There have been several mixups about who's on bass for a given show. Tami has been going crazy over gig cancellations, scheduling and personnel. Another band that can barely put together a rehearsal.

About two hours before tonight's gig with Modern Mudd, she texted me asking if I was available to play with Scuba Gear next Friday at a particular venue. It was very odd because I was already scheduled to that same venue next Friday with Modern Mudd.

The ensuing confusion, upset, back and forth communications between the venue, and the two bandleaders put a bit of a damper on everybody's night. I felt bad for all the parties (except maybe the venue, which clearly had booking coordination problems of its own), even though, however it worked out, I had a gig next Friday. Still, I recoil from any drama having to do with the music part of my life.

Before all that nonsense, I had a little intro session at the Gold's Gym I am thinking about joining, and probably will. I met a very pleasant trainer, and might even go in for some personal training when I get going. The only bad part is how early in the morning the yoga classes are. I've been eschewing all morning appointments, given my second-shift lifestyle. I'm planning on paying for this out of the savings from my last auto loan payment in a few month's time.

The gig was easy and fun (and even convenient). Next week's gig (discussed boringly above) will be the last before my show. I've scheduled a whole bunch of rehearsals early next week, and that is another aspect of my music life that is falling in place nicely.

And I end the week with my portfolio at its highest-level ever (at least since I moved to Syracuse, broke and portfolio-less). I am grateful for another day, another week in Paradise.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      202.7 lbs.

Previous Weight (7/20/17):           202.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

As expected, my two-day weight-loss streak ended with a couple of hot dog buns and some barbecue sauce. All things considered, not bad, though.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:55pm: Chopped salad with London broil, shaved parmesan cheese, chard, kale, spinach, arugula, red cabbage, chia and hemp seeds, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
1:45am: Grilled cheese, London broil and guacamole on Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 100+ oz.; 

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#1896, Thursday, July 20: No comment

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Post 1896, Day 201 of 2017
- 2,393 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Nothing today.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      202.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (7/19/17):           203.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

Loss continues, but I expect my trip to Rooters Lounge, where I will dine on delicious BBQ, will put an end to my two-day streak.

Food Log

Breakfast
2:30pm: Green protein smoothie with coconut-almond milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, whey powder (24g protein), hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, coconut oil and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
7:45pm, at Rooters Lounge, Big Awesome BBQ: Pulled chicken and two smoked brats on buns.

Dinner
11:45pm: Cottage cheese and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 54+ oz.; and a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#1895, Wednesday, July 19: Things get easier

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Post 1895, Day 200 of 2017
- 2,392 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

A lot of my thinking has been consumed by my upcoming show/festival, Reverend Ken's Summer of Love Fest. It is two-and-a-half weeks away.

Today, it got a little easier.

I have begun pushing for rehearsals for those acts that will be using the house rhythm section. I was rewarded by two acts deciding to go solo, and one act dropping out. My workload was halved, just like that. Further, the acts I no longer have to learn to back up had the most difficult material.

What a relief! The whole thing just became more enjoyable to me.

In celebration, I had a good night out jamming.

Tomorrow I start PT for my positional vertigo. It has gotten so much better, but a recent doctor's visit indicated that it would probably not fade away completely on it's own. So. When I lie down, I have a few seconds of vertigo. Same when I get up, tilt my head to look up, etc. It is annoying, but no longer in any sense interfering with my day-to-day activities. Still, if it can be fixed, I'm in.

I am grateful for another day living the dream.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      203.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (7/18/17):           204.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 1.5 lbs.

Diet Comment

Finally, some downward progress! After my dinner last night, I wasn't expecting any, LOL.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:30pm: Cottage cheese and a Quest bar.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
12:15am: Roasted turkey breast chopped salad (roasted turkey breast, shaved parmesan cheese, chard, kale, spinach, red cabbage, balsamic vinaigrette) and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; and a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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