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Post 1964, Day 311 of 2017
- 2,503 days since I started this blog -
- 2,503 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
I ended up this evening at an open mic, the second of two I had planned - but, with no explanation, the first open mic... Wasn't. No host band, no musicians in the place. Nobody could tell me why, just that it wasn't happening. Next week? I don't know.
The second one was an off-night, too - only the guitarist of the regular house band was there. But there was a sub keyboard player. I was immediately asked if I had an amp and could supply bass. Oh, yes! After the opening set, in which I got to play songs I had never played before (except one Dead tune which, curiously enough, I played for the first time last Sunday), I did a well-received solo guitar-vocal set.
There were two things that made the night stand out for me. Both involved women I met.
This open mic has weekly themes. This week's theme was Empowering Women (it is election day - I voted - and the 100th anniversary of women's first vote in NY). But the only woman customer in the bar (most of the night), and the only woman to sign up to perform, was a singer-songwriter named Jenn. She was talking with some of the regulars, and I was introduced. She was very encouraging during my set, and her set was excellent.
It turns out her story includes a car crash that left her brain-damaged. Not stupid-crazy brain damaged, just cognitive blinks where she might misunderstand something she hears or sees. She also has memory problems (this is very common, and all the people I've met with brain damage have it to some degree). To say she is highly functional is an understatement.
And her songs and performance were very good (on first listening).
When I went to pay my tab at the end of the night, the (female) bar tender was rubbing the neck of one of the (male) customers. She told me to rub it while she took care of getting my bill together. I told her, as diplomatically as I could, that the customer might not find that nearly as satisfactory, and might object.She insisted, and I gave a few perfunctory over-the-jacket rubs.
She instantly became my friend. She rubbed my neck, told me I was too tense. I told her I was too old. She told me I couldn't use that as an excuse. I asked her name, and she told me it was Linda. I said that was an appropriately beautiful name. She smiled and hugged me, saying people always asked if that was her real name. I told her it had never occurred to me that she was not giving me her real name, and Linda means beautiful in Spanish and she certainly was that.
I think the reason other people had questioned her name was that she is Asian. People can be stupid, and many are prejudiced and bigoted. Linda is not a typical Asian name, I guess, but this is 2017 and there are Asians who have been Americans for many generations.Linda is one of the prettiest women I have ever seen, and with her warm and friendly personality (really the first thing I noticed about her), I was attracted to her. Were there not a forty-five year age difference, I would pursue her (she's far out of my league, at any age, though).
After I paid my tab, I got hugs from Jenn and Linda, and left Maxwell's happy and full of gratitude for my life.
The second one was an off-night, too - only the guitarist of the regular house band was there. But there was a sub keyboard player. I was immediately asked if I had an amp and could supply bass. Oh, yes! After the opening set, in which I got to play songs I had never played before (except one Dead tune which, curiously enough, I played for the first time last Sunday), I did a well-received solo guitar-vocal set.
There were two things that made the night stand out for me. Both involved women I met.
This open mic has weekly themes. This week's theme was Empowering Women (it is election day - I voted - and the 100th anniversary of women's first vote in NY). But the only woman customer in the bar (most of the night), and the only woman to sign up to perform, was a singer-songwriter named Jenn. She was talking with some of the regulars, and I was introduced. She was very encouraging during my set, and her set was excellent.
It turns out her story includes a car crash that left her brain-damaged. Not stupid-crazy brain damaged, just cognitive blinks where she might misunderstand something she hears or sees. She also has memory problems (this is very common, and all the people I've met with brain damage have it to some degree). To say she is highly functional is an understatement.
And her songs and performance were very good (on first listening).
When I went to pay my tab at the end of the night, the (female) bar tender was rubbing the neck of one of the (male) customers. She told me to rub it while she took care of getting my bill together. I told her, as diplomatically as I could, that the customer might not find that nearly as satisfactory, and might object.She insisted, and I gave a few perfunctory over-the-jacket rubs.
She instantly became my friend. She rubbed my neck, told me I was too tense. I told her I was too old. She told me I couldn't use that as an excuse. I asked her name, and she told me it was Linda. I said that was an appropriately beautiful name. She smiled and hugged me, saying people always asked if that was her real name. I told her it had never occurred to me that she was not giving me her real name, and Linda means beautiful in Spanish and she certainly was that.
I think the reason other people had questioned her name was that she is Asian. People can be stupid, and many are prejudiced and bigoted. Linda is not a typical Asian name, I guess, but this is 2017 and there are Asians who have been Americans for many generations.Linda is one of the prettiest women I have ever seen, and with her warm and friendly personality (really the first thing I noticed about her), I was attracted to her. Were there not a forty-five year age difference, I would pursue her (she's far out of my league, at any age, though).
After I paid my tab, I got hugs from Jenn and Linda, and left Maxwell's happy and full of gratitude for my life.
Food and Diet
Today's Weight: 202.6 lbs.
Previous Weight (11/6/17): 203.7 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain: - 1.1 lbs.
Diet Comment
Back on the trend line! That's good news. The bad news: I got hungry hanging at an open mic.
Food Log
Breakfast
3:30pm: Green-purple protein smoothie with coconut-almond milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, 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
11:00pm, at Maxwell's: A Breakfast Burger: 1/2-pound ground beef on a bun topped with bacon, a fried egg, hash browns, lettuce and tomato slice, with a side of fresh-made hand-cut potato chips.
Dinner
12:50am: Four squares (4 oz.) Lindt 90% Dark chocolate.
Liquid Intake
3:30pm: Green-purple protein smoothie with coconut-almond milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, 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
11:00pm, at Maxwell's: A Breakfast Burger: 1/2-pound ground beef on a bun topped with bacon, a fried egg, hash browns, lettuce and tomato slice, with a side of fresh-made hand-cut potato chips.
Dinner
12:50am: Four squares (4 oz.) Lindt 90% Dark chocolate.
Liquid Intake
Espressos: 0; Coffee: 22 oz.; Tea: 0 oz.; Water: 54+ oz.;
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