#2377: Thursday, October 31: Halloween wrap-up

Post 2377

- 8 years and 304 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

I ran around like a crazy man on Halloween. First, I had to run around getting some paperwork done due to the absence of test results showing up in my patient portal (although I was told everything was fine) - still, I needed the paperwork in order to claim an insurance award that covers my yearly prescription costs.

For the evening, I planned on making six stops. I made it to five, although I missed the people I wanted to see at one, and was disappointed by the performance at another.

I did get to play a bit, at the beginning, middle, and end of my night. Overall, I felt good about it. All of it. 

My last stop I got to jam with a guy who's been trying to get together with me for a long time, yet I keep on not being available for him. Tonight, we played, and it was great.

I got a lot of love wherever I went, and that's always nice.

And along the way, I sold one of my basses! Right now, that means I have a comfortable financial cushion for the rest of the year. Comforting.

That ends this three-day celebration of a holiday I used to love a lot more when I was younger (as in, until Alex grew out of trick-or-treating, which means when I was twenty years younger).

And I am looking forward - I'm less than seven weeks away from my trip to LA, which begins my Winter travel season. I'm about a year out from moving out of the country. I get excited, and, yes, a little nervous when I contemplate that. But mostly, excited.

But ever-grateful for what life provides for me.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    196.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/30/19):        196.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Even. What an end to the month. My average weight for the month was 196.7, which probably is lower than its been in decades! Whoo-hoo! And I go out later than I came in at the beginning of the month, too.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
10:45pm, at Dinosaur BBQ: Pulled pork sandwich (Carolina style, topped with cole slaw), simmered greens, black beans and rice.

Dinner
1:45am: Almonds, cottage cheese, and two Quest bars.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 48+ oz.; and a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#2376: Wednesday, October 30: Reasons to be grateful, part ?

Post 2376

- 8 years and 303 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

After wrestling with mega changes in my airBnB reservations for my time in LA (one two-week stay, one eight-day stay, and an overnight), due to the first reservation being canceled by the host, I had to deal with some medical insurance issues. went out in this year's Halloween drag to three open mics (I only played at two).

Then I went to see the end of a set by a band I really like.

At the Dino, I greeted a bass player I admire who is always hanging around with a very sour expression. I think he doesn't care for me much, but I am not taking it personally, I get the impression he doesn't like people a lot. His being there meant I wouldn't get to play until later in the evening, and I had stops to make, so I left to go to the called-at-the-last-minute jam at the Beer Belly Deli.

That was fun. I get to stretch in ways that don't happen at the open mics, where you're always performing songs, with very little true jamming going on (arrangements are tight, solos constrained). At this, true jamming happens. I also ran into a former band mate I like, and caught up a bit. 

At Shifty's open mic I got together with a drummer friend who had pretty much hung it up for the last four years, and the set I led with him backing me was so good, he was choked up as he thanked me for bringing him up, and the members of the house band congratulated me on my performance with the kind of detail that allowed me to believe they were sincere.

Of course, the best review came from the bartender, Molly, who poured me a sincerely huge Jame-o, and actually poured herself a shot to have with me.

I ended the night at Al's Wine and Whiskey, where I walked in and got a Cheers-like reception, besides the band, whose members I am friends with, there were a lot of friends there. A LOT. Perfect end of a great evening.

Man, sometimes being grateful doesn't seem to be enough.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    196.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/29/19):        199.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 2.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

I lost a kilo! That feels good. Why? How? No idea.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:45pm, at CoreLife Eatery:

Chicken Cobb salad (shredded kale and spinach, grilled chicken, avocado, bacon, hard-cooked egg and blue cheese dressing).

Lunch
10:45pm, at Shifty's: Pepperoni.

Dinner
1:35am: Spinach dal with chia seeds, feta cheese on riced cauliflower, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 12 oz.;  Water: 78+ oz.; and a big, big pour of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#2375: Tuesday, October 29: Costume parties

Post 2375

- 8 years and 302 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

I took second place in the Limp Lizard Liverpool open mic Halloween party costume contest.

Just the top hat I bought for my 66th birthday/retirement party, and a suit I bought for Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

The open mic at the Limp Lizard is a regular Tuesday event for me - if I don't have rehearsal, I'm there. Tonight, it was the first of two costume events I went to.

The second one, well, that is everybody's common nightmare: You show up and you're the only one in a costume.

On the other hand, the music-playing part was better at the second one, Maxwell's. And I got to play with one of the better musicians around, a guy who I think has stellar talent and deserving of national recognition - something I don't say lightly.

I'm grateful for how much fun it is being me.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/28/19):        198.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Well, that sucks I've moved up to the trend line, which I am usually moving down towards. My weight is still under two hundred pounds, but the trend for the last two weeks is up. I want to turn that around.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:30pm: Chopped kale and spinach with onions, peppers, two eggs, chia seeds and feta cheese.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
1:55am: A Quest bar with cottage cheese and walnuts.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 80+ oz.; a shot of Jameson's and a Red Stripe.

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Thank you!

#2374: Monday, October 28: Annual wellness checkup

Post 2374

- 8 years and 301 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

I had a doctor's appointment today. I got (most of) the results of last week's lab tests back, and they're all fine except for my cholesterol levels. They were typical for me (not good, but typical).

The doctor praised my core strength, my blood sugar control, but then he tried to get me on a $12,000/year cholesterol medication (after insurance copay, $1400 per year out of pocket). It's only been shitty for thirty years now. When I found out the amount I had to come up with for a ninety day supply, I declined to purchase. I can't afford it, and my doctor is the only one who is worried about my cholesterol, anyway.

I'm more worried about my knees, calves and ankles, but they're not giving me any problems since I started taking full-spectrum CBD caps and a chondroitin, glucosamine, MSM pill.

I'll get an appointment to have my liver and my tiny, pain-free hernia checked out, but my expectations are that nothing much has changed in the last year, and I am unconcerned. 

I have outlived every expectation of my longevity - every one! At least so far, I'm still going strong. I'm happy and alive, with enough income to pay for my life in Central New York, and get out of there for the three crappiest Winter months every year.

In short, I think I'm good to go.

I'm crazy lucky to be enjoying the good health I have and my amenable lifestyle, and I am nothing if not grateful.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    198.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/25/19):        195.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 2.5 lbs.

Diet Comment

What we see here is the result of a weekend where I indulged in food I knew was going to have a negative (as in, increasing) effect on my weight: pepperoni and cheese. I ended my Saturday and Sunday nights with a large portion of Dubliner cheese (that I bought Saturday morning) and a larger amount of pepperoni. Although neither are off-plan foods, I know better than to indulge in them immoderately, but that's so hard for me, recently I have just not bought pepperoni (which is not healthy, anyway). Those two meals brought this result: A two-and-a-half pound weight gain in 3 days... Today's dose, which I 'took' via a salad, was much smaller.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
8:10pm:

Spinach dal (lentil curry) with chopped kale and egg, on riced cauliflower, with bacon. Not shown: A Quest bar.

Dinner
1:35am: Chopped salad (arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, feta cheese, pepperoni, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette) and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.;

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Thank you!

#2373: Friday, October 25: My one goal

Post 2373

- 8 years and 298 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

I have been executing my plan to learn Spanish and write three pages every day.

Not so much on my housecleaning, where I missed three days out of five this week.

With a crowded weekend ahead of me - I have a gig tonight, and a funeral and open mics taking up pretty much all of Sunday, with Saturday (with a late start virtually guaranteed by my gig tonight) left for necessary shopping trips. I will try and make up for what I didn't do in housecleaning on Saturday, but that will be the first thing I chuck if I need to.

There's precious little to keep me motivated to do things I don't enjoy, but looking at long-term pleasures and wants - like my move out of the US at the end of 2020 offers what little motivation I have to get my act together for those things.

It is difficult for me to stay on track doing the unpleasant tasks of life. That's led to them accumulating over years to their current embarrassing state, which is now a huge job, creating a formidable and difficult obstacle to achieving my one and only current goal: Living somewhere better than Here (that is, Syracuse, NY, and the US of A).

I truly have only that one goal. I want to expatriate. When I get back from my 2019 Winter travels, in March, 2020, that will be my focus and top priority, replacing music (which will be demoted to secondary priority), and anything that interferes will be set aside.

Except I am very prone to distraction.

Oh, well. I forgive myself. Now, and in advance.

I'm still grateful for whatever life brings my way, which is to say, I'm grateful for being alive.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    195.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/23/19):        196.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

This represents a nice loss, although it does also represent a little dip below my usual water intake. Nonetheless, a good way to go into the weekend.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
7:35pm: A burger with guacamole and a chopped salad (arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, feta cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner
1:45am: Lentil and spinach curry on riced cauliflower, manchego cheese with almonds, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 80+ oz.; a Jim Beam bourbon on the rocks.

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Thank you!

#2372: Thursday, October 24: My Steinberger XL-2T

Post 2372

- 8 years and 297 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

To get ready for the upcoming winter travels, I have been playing my 1979 Steinberger XL-2T bass exclusively for the last couple of weeks. That's it in the pic above. It is a monster-sounding bass and a real conversation piece.

The story of the Steinberger bass is pretty interesting. The XL-2T was not the original of the design, but it was the flagship model of the original.

Ned Steinberger was part of a collective of woodworkers and luthiers in Brooklyn in the 1970s. Another member of the group, Stuart Spector worked together with Steinberger for the first bass design, which was submitted to the collective for critique.

They hated it.

The basic critique was that it was a copy of a Fender bass that used better wood and finishing, but the design elements were completely derivative.

The two teamed up and Spector came out with the NS-1 bass under his own logo. The reshaped- and resized body were gorgeous, and the bass was a huge hit. The NS designation was for the body's designer, Ned Steinberger.

Ned Steinberger went in an entirely different direction. The first design was derivative? Steinberger decided to make a bass with not one single thing that had ever appeared in a bass instrument before. 

This complete blank slate, nothing that exists will be used approach carried into everything: Body material (proprietary graphite-resin compound), fretboard (phenolic), pickups (low impedance - requiring a preamp. The group that made them became EMG, but Steinberger had the first active pickups in a production instrument), active electronics (by Hazeltine Labs, some hippy techies in New Jersey - again, the first active electronics in a production instrument), the frets (specially made, and including the first 'zero fret' in a production instrument), the strings (double ball-end strings, required for the 'headless' design, were initially custom-made by LaBella), the integrated neck-strap (which suspends the bass from one point on the back, perfectly balanced), a fold-out 'lap plate' so it could be played seated...

I bought mine (a very early sample from the Newburgh factory) in 2000. It was made in 1981, I believe. The first Steinberger bass was made in Brooklyn in 1970. The basses were a 1980s phenom. When they were first introduced, they were the most expensive production basses you could buy.

For what it's worth, Stuart Spector became, by far, the most successful bass company, and the NS series basses are at the core of that success. Their custom-made basses sold for much more than Steinberger's basses, but weren't production basses. That came later.

When Steinberger's company was bought by Gibson, everything Steinberger quickly died. Gibson did that to quite a few excellent small instrument companies (looking at you, Tobias).

You don't really care, I know. But I've told this story a lot since I started bringing the bass out in public. Like I said, a real conversation-starter.

It's an ideal travel bass, totally rugged. I like the sound, although it is not 'my' sound, which I developed with the bass I replaced it with: The Reverend Rumblefish PJ, which got me my nickname. Still, it sounds good.

Last night, the screw that holds the strap to the mounting plate (it's at the small brass circle in the middle of the pic above) came flying off at the jam session I was playing at (the brass piece you see is actually the nut the screw came out of) and after a long search, I played seated the rest of the night.

Today I had a very pleasant experience getting a replacement screw. I found a great non-chain hardware store! The clerk was so helpful and knowledgeable, and spent quite a lot of time with me for a forty-cent sale! (That was the price of one screw. I bought three, because I felt bad and just in case!)

I am grateful that there are good people in the world. The last time I went to a hardware store with a similar small-purchase need, the salesman was surly and off-putting).

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    196.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/23/19):        197.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

This seems to be my new setpoint weight. I can live with that.

Food Log

Breakfast
7:05pm: Blue-green protein smoothie with almonds, 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, fo ti (mushroom powder), cinnamon, turmeric and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
1:55am: Manchego cheese, sweetened, whipped cottage cheese with walnuts, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 15 oz.;  Water: 40+ oz.; and a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey, neat.

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Thank you!

#2371: Wednesday, October 23: Progress and a music digression

Post 2371

- 8 years and 296 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

I have completed 78 straight days of Duolingo Spanish lessons, and 57 straight days of 750 words, my three pages of 'morning' writing (which I have never done in the morning).

My record on executing my clean-up plan is not as good, I blew it today and Monday, too. But I'll take my accomplishments where I find them, muchas gracias.

Anyway, I'm happy with my progress. I've updated my weight spreadsheet (from which I get my annual weight-chart that appears every post I'm not traveling) to include my days until the start of my Winter travels - which is today at 56 days - and my days until I leave the US (more or less permanently), which is at 404. This is approximate, because I still don't know the exact day, I'm using the first Monday in December as my date.

I spreadsheet everything. It's a quirk of mine, I like spreadsheets. Go figure.

I had a great time playing at the 'Friendly Neighborhood Jam' run by jazz trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Nick Fields, and met and spoke with his father. It was interesting how he reacted to finding out I was older than he was. He'd been a choirmaster, and was training Nick's voice when, at the age of ten, Nick decided to take up trumpet.

Nick, by the way, is a great vocalist. I had met him and played with him for two years before I heard him sing for the first time, and it was a real "Wow!!!" moment.

I was, sadly, reminded that my father never heard me play bass. Not one time.

I'm grateful for what Dad gave me, anyway: A rich cultural upbringing and the ability to think for myself.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/22/19):        196.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

I can't say I'm happy about this rise in weight - I wasn't expecting it, even though I did eat a lot of food. I blame the plentiful amount of quinoa in my meal from CoreLife, and the two Quest bars, which were the first and last things I ate yesterday.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped. 

Lunch
8:00pm:

Scrambled eggs and bacon on chopped salad (arugula, chard, kale, cabbages, spinach, walnuts, crumbled feta cheese, creamy balsamic dressing).

Dinner
1:05am: Steamed brussel sprouts and balsamic vinaigrette, a big chunk of manchego cheese and cole slaw, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 16 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; a shot of Jameson's, neat.

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Thank you!

#2370: Tuesday, October 22: Feeling loved

Post 2370

- 8 years and 295 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

The way people show love, and the way they feel love, varies. I think that is obvious. A quarter of a century ago, a marriage counsellor grouped these into five different ways and wrote a bestselling book about it - The Five Languages of Love.

The basic idea behind it is to understand what makes your partner feel loved - one of the five ways will dominate. Knowing this, you can show your love in the way that means the most to them. (And knowing what makes you feel loved and communicating this to your partner can help them reciprocate in the 'language' you understand).

I have, generally, been horrible about this. For one thing, while I have a primary mode for displaying love (Acts of Service), the language that makes me feel love is actually more diffuse, without a dominant or constant (or consistent) way.

Physical touch, acts of service and quality time seem to be the ways, but different ones dominate depending on how I feel. Words of affirmation and receiving gifts, though (completing the set of five) are never the best ways.

I don't put much stock in words, and that's a trust issue. Having heard words of love that were, if not insincere, only momentarily heart-felt, I'm an 'actions speak louder than words person. I don't get much from receiving gifts, either. (I'm a terrible gift-giver, as well).

I have only been in five long-term relationships in my life (relationships that lasted more than a year). Two of these involved marriage.

All these relationships ended by one or the other of us walking away. There was little or no mutuality to their demise. Two of the five transformed into friendships. The other three had no second act. The critical breaking point for all was one or the other of us not feeling loved.

Looked at with the benefit of hindsight, there was never a difficulty in feeling love in the beginning, but as time went on, even when affection continued, the feeling of being loved was not there, for both of us. But sometimes I was eight ignorant

I take full responsibility - I was not good at making my needs known, and I felt inadequate about displaying my love in other than the way I wanted to receive it, and, for that matter, inadequate in coming up with any loving deliverable....

I was wrong a lot.

I'm grateful for the love I was able to give and receive, and always looking for better ways.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    196.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/21/19):        196.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

No change! Yeah, I'll celebrate life under 200.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:30pm, at CoreLife Eatery: 

Korean BBQ Pork: Quinoa, kimchi, cucumbers, spicy broccoli, Sriracha sprouts, fried egg, slow-roasted pork, ginger, and korean bbq sauce. Not shown: A Quest bar.

Lunch
11:35pm: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, arugula, red cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette).

Dinner
1:55am: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.;

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Thank you!

#2369: Monday, October 21: Things to do

Post 2369

- 8 years and 294 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

I disappointed myself today.

I didn't take care of a couple of tasks I put on my to-do list, and no excuses for it. Nothing goes on my to-do list that doesn't need to be there, so these are things I need to do, and now they'll be added to other things that need doing.

And tomorrow I have schedule pressure, a dinner and an I am Fool rehearsal. That means it's going to be hard to recover, but maybe that bit of pressure will help.

I am an Olympic-level procrastinator, and deadlines do motivate me.

Mitigating circumstance: I discovered Modern Love, a new series on Amazon, and its beauty and sentimentality floored me. I'm such a sentimental slob.

But grateful for the experience, no  matter how it affects my plans.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    196.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/18/19):        196.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

OK - virtually no change over a weekend that included an atypically large amount of whiskey, thanks to the generous patrons of the Valley Blues House on Saturday. Whoo-ee!

Food Log

Breakfast
6:10pm: Kale, spinach, onions, peppers, eggs (2) and bacon (2) sautée.

Lunch
8:45pm: Walnuts in whipped cottage cheese and a Quest bar.

Dinner
11:55pm: Dal Tadka (lentil curry) on riced cauliflower, with manchego cheese and cole slaw.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 96+ oz.;

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