#1946, Friday, September 29: Night off, night out

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Post 1946, Day 272 of 2017
- 2,464 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I went to hear my band Scuba Gear play tonight.

They were playing with another bass player, because until a few weeks ago I had a conflicting gig. My gig was canceled, the SG gig wasn't.

I really enjoyed it, and then one of those very nice things happened. I had ordered my drink (Jameson's neat) from the friendly bartender who remembered me from other gigs I'd played there, and behind the bar appeared my friend Greg. Greg had worked as a bartender there for the previous owners (it was closed for more than a year, then renamed and reopened a few months ago). He'd just been hired to manage the bar. We had a very happy reunion, caught up a bit. He bought my drink.

It's the people that determine the quality of one's social life. Mine's just fine.

I continued my night with a drive out to Auburn and Moondog's, where the very first band I ever heard live in Syracuse was playing, slightly stripped down and with some subs. I have jammed with every single member of the band (the bass player also plays guitar when he hosts one of the open mics I go to). What fun!

I got a warm welcome at Moondog's, and had a great time, until the drinking tired me out a little. So I bought the band a round and split, happy.

Another end to a good night out.

I went home, stopping to buy some snacks (I was hungry) along the way. I bought a bottle of water, a bag of pork rinds and a Quest bar, and consumed them in the car. Eating made me think of food, and I changed course and went to Wegman's to buy some groceries. Then I stopped for gas.

When I got home, I began thinking about tomorrow's I am Fool plus Scuba Gear gig, where besides playing, I'm doing the sound for the whole thing. I re-read the manual on my new in-ear monitors, and discovered there are three volume controls in the signal path. I decided to check the whole setup tomorrow, early. Then I snacked a bit and watched some TV before going to bed.

I intend to just keep on showing up, grateful.

NOTE: I'll be in New York City Sunday-Tuesday. Next Post Wednesday, October 4

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      199.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (9/28/17):           201.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 1.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

That's the way to end the week. At my lowest weight of the year. Gotta love it.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:00pm: Smoked salmon, bacon, eggs, kale, spinach, chia seeds, hemp seeds, onions and peppers, everything sautéed in coconut oil.

Lunch
11:05pm: A Quest bar and a bag of hot and spicy pork rinds.

Dinner
2:15am: Carrots and home-made mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 76+ oz.;  and two shots of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#1945, Thursday, September 28: Fun with music

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Post 1945, Day 271 of 2017
- 2,463 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I had one of my better nights at an open mic tonight.

Subbing as house bass at the open mic at the InsideOut Tavern with my absolute favorite-to-jam-with guitarist Ronnie Dark and local legend Kevin Dean on drums, there was a lot of good music made.

I always enjoy playing with Ronnie, but I especially enjoyed digging deep and playing most of the opening house band set's songs for the first time ever. There was nothing I hadn't heard, but I'd only ever played one out of the five song set before. This is the kind of challenge I love.

It's also one of the things I love about jam sessions.

I played short sets with I am Fool and Scuba Gear, both of which were a joy to perform and were very well-received. A lot of people in the audience had some familiarity with Fool, but almost nobody had heard Scuba Gear before, and the reviews were fantastic. I got the same comment from many people: "I am Fool was great, as always, but Scuba Gear - holy shit!" I was proud of both bands, and was also happy to tell people that they could see both bands again Saturday night.

More joy with jam sessions with drummers I hadn't played with before - who were really very good. So everybody had a good time.

And the icing on the cake, some playing with people I had played with before, but not in a while - not since Mac's closed. In fact, we all got together at one point earlier and eulogized Mac's for a while.

The playing was great, and at the end of the night, a few people came up to me to say they thought it was one of the best nights of music they'd ever seen in a bar. Wow - what a compliment. To my great delight, and my liver's consternation, they backed up their appreciation by buying Ronnie (the guitarist and friend who was also subbing) and I (we were the last to leave) drinks. I'll pay for that tomorrow when I weigh in, I'm sure.

Still nothing resolved about the logistics of the NYC gig, but it's all good, we'll get there, it'll be fun. I'm curious to see who shows up, but not anticipating and setting up expectations.

I'm just staying grateful.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      201.6 lbs.

Previous Weight (9/27/17):           202.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 1.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

That's more like it.

Food Log

Breakfast
4:20pm: Broccoli and Quorn (mushroom-based beef substitute) in tomato-basil pasta sauce with walnuts and goat cheese.

Lunch
8:05pm: A protein bar (on the run).

Dinner
1:45am: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 76+ oz.;  and three shots (!) of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#1944, Wednesday, September 27: On tour, sort of!

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Post 1944, Day 270 of 2017
- 2,462 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I'm getting excited about the near-term days ahead.

Tonight I had a Scuba Gear rehearsal (last night was and I am Fool rehearsal). It went well. Lots of good things coming there (including a couple of new gigs, one when I get back from LA). I'm enjoying my time with this group a lot.

Tomorrow night I am house bass at a new open mic, at the InsideOut Tavern, where I have also booked gigs for I am Fool and Scuba Gear. And, both bands are coming out to play!

Saturday, both bands have a gig together. It makes sense, because both bands have similarities - both make original alt-rock indie music, with personalized covers - and differences that are pretty complementary.

I reap the benefit of it, getting to play all night, and with a break every fifty minutes (instead of the usual hour-and-a-half to two hours).

Then on Monday, I play with Scuba Gear at a benefit at Midomo NYC, in midtown Manhattan! It will be the first time I've played bass in NYC in many decades. For the friends who show up, it is likely they haven't heard me play in more than forty years; for a few, the first time they've ever heard me play.

I've been thinking about this because the logistics are very uncertain. Originally, I had a gig Sunday night (now I don't), and I thought load out would be after we played. I figured that meant a two-car convoy down to the City the day of the gig, then after, we'd go our separate ways, me to Queens where I felt more secure with my car full of equipment (I'm also responsible for the PA).

New info is that I don't have a gig Sunday and we can probably leave our gear overnight (It's being checked out, but we believe it won't be a problem. Now I have other possibilities. Including everybody traveling down together, or me going in a day early, or staying in Manhattan after the gig. So, I've been thinking...

I have a lot to look forward to, a lot to be grateful for! Life's good!

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      202.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (9/26/17):           201.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 1.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is what happens when I eat a lot of carbs and fat (cheese) late at night. I think that's likely what did it.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:00pm: Walnuts and sriracha chicken breast.

Lunch
11:05pm: Two Quest bars.

Dinner
12:45am: Broccoli and Quorn (mushroom-based meat substitute) in tomato-basil pasta sauce.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 80+ oz.; 

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#1043, Tuesday, September 26: No comment

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Post 1943, Day 269 of 2017
- 2,461 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Nothing today.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      201.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (9/25/17):           201.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Last five weigh-ins, no change in weight. Arguably, not a bad thing.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:05pm, at CoreLife Eatery:

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

Lunch
10:35pm: Walnuts, prosciutto and goat cheese.

Dinner
1:45am: Avocado toast (guacamole and Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread) and cheese and walnut salad (chard, kale, spinach, parmesan cheese, goat cheese, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 90+ oz.; 

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#1942, Monday, September 25: Disappointment, triumph, relief

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Post 1942, Day 268 of 2017
- 2,460 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

The highlight of this past weekend was supposed to be seeing Sir Paul McCartney at the Dome.

Unfortunately for me, I attended the concert isolated in the worst seat possible for that show (all right, there were, among the 35,000 seats, at least a couple of hundred as bad, and arguably half of those worse).

I could only see a small fraction of the stage (a sliver in the front. I couldn't see the drummer or the keyboard players, the rear screen, the Jumbotron panels on the side for the people in the back half of the dome. When Paul played and sang at the grand piano, I couldn't see him. I couldn't see the lighting effects, projections, I didn't even have a good view of the fireworks.

I felt trapped in thsse seats, because I was four seats away from a 'wall' on my left, and nineteen seats away from the aisle/stairs on my right. I should have gotten out of my seat immediately, and didn't. It was my mistake, and it spoiled the concert for me. I didn't feel like I was part of the event. The sound at my seat was good enough for me to know this was probably the best concert I've been at that I didn't enjoy.

The weekend's highlight instead was my final night as house bass in the September edition of the Rooters International All-star Band. I got to play a lot of interesting stuff, and I got to play it all - I was the only bass player all night. I also recovered the water bottles I had 'lost' there the last two times I played. At the end of the night, I felt tired and triumphant, both.

So, the weekend. Today, I got the good news that I will have my old favorite jamming partner Ronnie Dark on guitar for my sub gig at an open mic Thursday - that means it will be a lot of fun, and I was stressing out because the singer plays a lot of songs I don't know - they are set pieces, very highly arranged (like 'Aqualung' or Led Zepellin or some Pink Floyd songs). So, yay, me!

So: A disappointment, a triumph, a relief. What a life!

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      201.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (9/22/17):           201.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I feel pretty good about not gaining any weight (net) over the weekend. This week? I am hoping for a loss to new lows.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:35pm: KSOPCOESB (I don't know what to call it) - Kale, spinach, onions, peppers sautéed in coconut oil, then olive oil, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and bacon folded in.

Lunch
11:05pm: Walnuts.

Dinner
1:45am: Chopped salad (chard, kale, spinach, turkey breast, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 70+ oz.; 

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#1941, Friday, September 22: No comment

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Post 1941, Day 265 of 2017
- 2,457 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Nothing today.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      201.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (9/21/17):           201.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I think it was the late-night snack of walnuts. Plus the barbecue sauce, as little as I ate, earlier. And maybe the generous shots (multiple, last night) that undid my prospects for a loss. Of course, I'm grateful to not have gained anything, too!

Food Log

Breakfast
4:55pm: Green-blue protein smoothie with coconut-almond milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, blueberries, whey powder (24g protein), coconut oil, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, celery, cinnamon, turmeric, vanilla extract, Dr. Gundry's Vital Reds and PrebioticThrive and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
9:00pm: Yogurt and walnuts, grilled cheese with prosciutto on avocado toast (Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread).

Dinner
11:45pm: Salmon salad (cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, salmon, walnuts, mayonnaise).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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#1940, Thursday, September 21: Feeling groovy

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Post 1940, Day 264 of 2017
- 2,456 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Do you know what song always makes me smile? 'Feeling Groovy' by Simon and Garfunkel.

That idea - the feeling that things are just all right and it simply feels good - resonates with me a lot these days.

I don't actually feel a need to strive, or stress.

I felt that way today. I had a surprisingly pleasant visit to the post office to get my passport picture taken and mail in the forms, and the postmaster (who is also the clerk) guided me through every step of the way, with ease and good cheer.

I felt like I had accomplished something when I did that. Yesterday, it felt good to get the process going, today it felt even better completing it. The bit of positive human interaction that made putting the final parts together pleasant was icing on the cake. I walked out of the post office feeling groovy.

Passport picture

Later, I got to jam and socialize (and eat some bbq) at Rooters, and after that I went to my new Mac's surrogate (nothing can or will replace it), the Inside Out Tavern. I got a lot of love there, and got to play with some great musicians, and not one but two really good, new-to-me drummers. A whole lot of fun, and some surprising free-blowing - smiles all around.

Icing on the cake, I booked gigs there for i am Fool and Scuba Gear.

Da-da-da, da-da, da-da, feeling groovy.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      201.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (9/20/17):           201.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 0.7 lbs.

Diet Comment

Hmmph. Didn't see that coming!

Food Log

Breakfast
4:45pm: Spinach and kale with onions, peppers, eggs, smoked salmon and prosciutto.

Lunch
9:00pm at Rooters/Big Awesome BBQ: Pulled pork with a little barbecue sauce.

Dinner
1:15am: Walnuts.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; and a couple of shots of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#1939, Wednesday, September 20: Passport to adventure

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Post 1939, Day 263 of 2017
- 2,455 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I dug out my passport. It expired in 2012.

I thought it had expired last year.

I then spent a considerable amount of time on government web-sites, filling out the renewal form. This should have taken less than a half hour, but the sites kept failing to save or progress.

Finally done, but too late to get to the passport office (in the post office with a subset of the post office hours).

Still, a major step on the way to the future for me.

Near-term, I'm going to Thailand - and I can't even buy the ticket without a valid passport.

Later, I rehearsed with Modern Mudd and new drummer and old friend Dan. Then on to the open mic at Shifty's.

Still showing up.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      201.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (9/19/17):           201.9 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

Well, there's some loss. More coming, I think.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:15pm: Green-blue protein smoothie with coconut-almond milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, blueberries, whey powder (24g protein), olive oil, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, celery, cinnamon, turmeric, vanilla extract, Dr. Gundry's Vital Reds and PrebioticThrive and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
9:00pm: Chef salad (turkey breast, prosciutto, shaved parmesan cheese, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach and balsamic vinaigrette).

Dinner
1:20am: Prosciutto and goat cheese.

Liquid Intake

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

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#1938, Tuesday, September 19: Not much doing, and grateful

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Post 1938, Day 262 of 2017
- 2,454 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I'm recovering slowly from the tiredness, and minor muscle pain of the weekend.

So, I didn't do much today. Originally intending to have a practice session with i am Fool in the evening, I dealt with my portfolio, reinvesting the money from my defunct trading account, which hit my non-IRA account today.

Then I sorted out, for storage and movement, all the cables for my PA (between power cords, extension cords, cables to speakers, cables to monitors, there are two-dozen-plus pieces), all bagged and stored, along with the PA head, in one box.

When that was done, just when I was thinking about making dinner, rehearsal was canceled. I figured I'd go out to a couple of Tuesday open mics, but then I got comfortable, and didn't. I wrote some email, did a little reading online and with an actual paper book, back and forth.

Which is when I fell asleep - just a short nap, but I guess I was really tired, even with no exertion.

I woke up a couple of hours later. I did a little tidying (not too much, I am maintaining my neat-free existence), and finally got around to making my first meal of the day (which was delicious).

I lay around for a bit, and there you have my day. I completed some tasks, took care of some business, and felt good about life.

I continue to live in my messy little state of gratitude.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      201.9 lbs.

Previous Weight (9/18/17):           201.9 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Nothing is something. If history is any indication, I'll see a loss tomorrow. Would have been today except for my very late-night cheese and walnuts overload. It turns out, I just love cheese and walnuts!

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
9:50pm: 

 Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, goat cheese, onions and peppers. Not shown: Big salad: Cabbage, chard, kale, spinach and balsamic vinaigrette. 

Dinner
2:20am: Sriracha chicken breast.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 118+ oz.; 

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