#2396: Wednesday, November 26: Happy Thanksgiving

Post 2396

- 8 years and 331 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

The gig tonight was fun, and the band was re-hired (although I'm just a sub and will be in Ecuador when that gig goes down). The only downside was that I got myself all balled up with my eating schedule, and just grabbed a couple of Quest bars, in other words, not enough good food.

After, I went to Shifty's (hungry) and brought my amp in, (as requested last week), and became the unofficial house bass player. for that, I got some good playing time. Of course, the kitchen was closed, but they still had the special left, so I finally got some food, although not 'choice'.

Tomorrow is a travel day (Thanksgiving), and I won't be coming back until Saturday, so this is my last post until Monday.

I will give thanks (officially) at my sister's, and almost the whole family will be there (except Alex, who I'll FaceTime with at some point.
I have a lot to be thankful for, and I hope you do, too.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/26/19):        197.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

Oh, well. My hopes for a bigger loss before the long holiday weekend, during which I will eat lots of off-plan things without concern or regret came to little. Still, I can't complain about my weight (can I?) (No).

Food Log

Breakfast
7:05pm: A Quest bar.

Lunch
8:45pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
11:05pm, at Shifty's: Beef burrito and potato chips.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 32+ oz.; Jameson's Irish whiskey and Jim Beam

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#2395: Tuesday, November 26: Reasons to be thankful

Post 2395

- 8 years and 330 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

This was almost a 'No Comment' day - I don't have anything much to say.

I went to two open mics. The first one, crowded with great musicians, and just crowded in general. I got up to back up an old friend, and felt really good about delivering a session-perfect bass performance.

The next one was the opposite, sparsely attended, but with a few good musicians, and a few I had never met before. In some ways, that was more gratifying, as I got to play with a few musicians I appreciate but rarely get to play with, and one from out of town, a keyboard player, who was phenomenal. And I got to lead a set, and that came out great, as well.

And the car is behaving very well, too! (I'm maybe more aware of that than I need to be).
Reasons to be thankful. I am. Living a life of gratitude!

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/25/19):        197.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I must say, that is a most unexpected jump. Too many carbs among a lot of food last night, for sure.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:20pm: Scrambled eggs and prosciutto. A chopped salad - arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, shaved parmesan cheese, walnuts and creamy balsamic vinaigrette.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
12:45am: Prosciutto and homemade cole slaw, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 84+ oz.; Jameson's Irish whiskey and a shot of something I couldn't identify in the brief time it was in my mouth.

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#2394: Monday, November 25: The car, maybe, at last!

Post 2394

- 8 years and 329 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

Got a call that the (hopefully) right part to fix my car had come in, and went to my mechanic this afternoon.

After previously noting that a previous repair had installed the incorrect half-axle, last week I had gone in only to learn that the wrong part had been sent.

This time, the right part had been sent, the installation proceeded, and the mechanic talked to me about the problem.

It seems that the part is frequently mis-identified by aftermarket suppliers. Apparently, it is different for manual and automatic transmissions. Aftermarket suppliers apparently only stock, or list, the manual one. This is what was installed on my Kia, which has an automatic transmission.

My mechanic took a picture of the two different ones. The differences aren't obvious, but they are visible. I'm lucky to have found someone who is persistent and does research in dealing with my car.

I never had anybody like that since I moved to North Carolina in 1986, let alone in my last eleven-plus years in Syracuse.

Now I do. I hope that this fixes the last of the problems I've been dealing with on my car for the last three years. I'll be able to drive to my sister's in Massachusetts for Thanksgiving on Thursday.
I am grateful. And thankful.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/22/19):        198.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

Any time I come out of a weekend weighing less than when I went in, it's a good thing. This weekend saw me submit to a craving for chocolate ice cream and peanut butter on Saturday, which would have resulted, all by itself, in a weight gain for the weekend, except I was very rigid in my food choices Sunday, to compensate.

Food Log

Breakfast
9:30pm:

Eggs, prosciutto, brussel sprouts, cheddar cheese. Not shown: Avocado toast, with Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grains bread.

Lunch
11:45pm: A Quest bar and almonds and walnuts.

Dinner
2:35am: Prosciutto and cole slaw.

Liquid Intake

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

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Thank you!

#2393: Friday, November 22: Kid Leone

Post 2393

- 8 years and 326 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

He was in high school when I first met Phil, and his father had brought him to the open mic to sit in on drums.

I got to play with him, and I called a reggae beat and it didn't go well, but I tried to be encouraging.

That was about ten years ago. He kept on coming back to the open mics in Syracuse, but less frequently when he graduated and started studying drums and music seriously at SUNY Purchase's Music Department.

When he graduated, he came back to Syracuse, became the house drummer in the band that hosted that original open mic where we met. He started teaching. I played with several of his students - he was apparently a good teacher.

He moved to Nashville to pursue his career. He got a big sendoff at Shifty's. Well-attended with people who wanted to wish him well and show appreciation. As far as I can tell from his Facebook posts, he's doing well there. I know he's picked up some high profile gigs and spent some time touring, and, at least for a while, he was house drummer at another open mic down there.

He came home to spend Thanksgiving with his father Tony. I went to see him tonight with one of the best blues guitarists around, someone he had only done a few gigs with before he left for Nashville, and he was great. All grown up (his nickname had been 'Kid').

I'm grateful to have been some small part in his formative years - it's been rewarding for me to see him develop.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    198.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/21/19):        196.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 2.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

I must say, that is a most unexpected jump. Too many carbs among a lot of food last night, for sure.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
8:45pm: Blue-green protein smoothie Plus! 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. Also, avocado toast (with Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame sprouted grains bread and organic avocado spread).

Dinner
1:15am: Walnuts and shaved parmesan cheese, brussel sprouts with home-made mayonnaise and hemp seeds, walnuts and Greek yogurt.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 56+ oz.; Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#2392: Thursday, November 21: The benefit of response control

Post 2392

- 8 years and 325 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

After yesterday, I needed an experience where I capitalized on controlling my reaction(s) to the 'bad' behavior of others.

I got it.

I had a great and productive rehearsal with Chad Bradshaw, someone who had yelled "Fuck you!" and thrown money in my face when I told him I was quitting his band about four or five years ago.

I quit the band because I felt Chad was treating me badly. I felt he was regularly disrespecting me, and I felt it was due to my resistance to his wanting to do bigger shows, when I wanted the opposite and it was on that basis I'd started playing with him in the first place.

At the time I left, I did some work on realizing that I had to not have bad feelings about Chad and the band. I spent some time remembering the good times, and appreciating the good music we made, and especially the friendship with Jim, who joined on drums, and who I really, really appreciated. And missed, once I wasn't in the band.

A few years after the blow-out end, I was asked to sub for my friend Rolland, who had filled my spot in the band, and I said yes, and it was a good gig and a good time.

So, over the last couple of years, I've done some gigs with the band, and they've all been good. But the rehearsal tonight was the first time we'd gotten together for free in more than four years.
It was great. The playing was good, and, as always, I felt really solid and well appreciated in the rhythm section with Jim. Everything we tried came out well.

The work I did to overcome my feelings about someone else paid off handsomely.

I'm grateful for having learned the lesson that you can't control anybody else, but you can control your response. Not that I don't have more work to do, but the work I've done has paid off.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    196.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/20/19):        196.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

Unchanged for all intents and purposes. I like it.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:05pm: Turkey and greens: Sauteed onions, peppers, kale, spinach and peppered turkey breast and eggs.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
12:05am: Peppered turkey breast sandwich with avocado on Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame sprouted grains bread, a salad (arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, cheddar cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette); almonds and shaved parmesan, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 54+ oz.;

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Thank you!

#2391: Wednesday, November 20: Working on entitlements

Post 2391

- 8 years and 324 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

I try to be tolerant. I am, but I have limits. I try to use them for personal growth.

One thing I have to work on is my unsympathetic view of people who behave in a way that is entitled - they assume their selfish behavior is acceptable because it's them.

I have known people who have earned the right to favorable treatment. A lot of them don't take it for granted, and, in fact, don't take advantage of it, preferring to be treated like everybody else.

Some do use the social perks they've earned, and acknowledge the effort they've made to get preferential treatment.

I'm particularly sensitive to this phenomenon when it comes to music.

By being a regular contributor, I have probably earned the right to play at a jam or open mic based on recognition. But I always sign up. I never insert myself into a set without being asked, or asking permission. And when I play on somebody else's set, I let them lead, unless I'm specifically asked to step out of a supportive position.

I know a very good bass player who does not sign up when he goes to a jam. He feels he would rather not play than sign up. He wants to be recognized as an elite player who will be invited to play wherever he goes.
imeWhile he is a nice guy, when it comes to his playing, he fractures himself in two parts, one the person, one the player, and insists that the player is entitled.

Another guy a guitarist and sometime bass player is similarly a nice guy. He's a good guitarist, but not as good as he thinks he is. I don't care for his bass playing, it sounds like a guitar player playing bass - not, in my opinion, a good thing.

I have never had a good time playing with him. He feels entitled to play on any set, any time. I watched him insert himself into a set, uninvited, without asking permission from the people playing. It seemed to me that the only person who wanted him to play was him.

Then, when he had to put down the guitar to make room for a bass player (who was using my bass) he made a big fuss. But when the bass player was finished, he grabbed my bass from him and sat in, again, uninvited, without asking if it was okay to play my bass.

When I took it from him, (after the song - I wouldn't make a scene in the middle of a set), I mentioned that it wasn't the house bass, he didn't even acknowledge it or thank me.

He did it again, when I was having a conversation and didn't see him pick it up. I tried to tell him I was leaving, but he was playing a song and I kid you not, the song went on for twenty minutes.

I was furious. I told him, don't ever play one of my basses without asking me first. Again, he just shrugged, handed me the bass and walked away. 

I have to work on that. If nothing else, I have to ensure that I don't allow behavior like that to set me off. It's work I have to do. I know this guy, he is always like this, I dread when he shows up at any place where I am - but that's the way he is, I can't change him, I can only change myself.

So I'm grateful for the lesson and the chance to improve.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    196.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/19/19):        197.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

Nice loss - moving in the right direction now.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:15pm: 

Avocado toast (organic avocado, Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame sprouted grains bread) with bacon; scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, sauteed greens, peppers and onions on riced cauliflower.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
1:35am: 

Arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, roasted turkey breast, shaved parmesan cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette. Not shown: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 78+ oz.; Jameson's Irish whiskey

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Thank you!

#2390: Tuesday, November 19: The up and down of the Syracuse music scene

Post 2390

- 8 years and 323 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

Talking with Frank about the local music scene. How sad it is that the economics of the town and the times create headwinds for local musicians. The town simply doesn't support live music.

At least not at the level that the number and quality of musicians need to create a vibrant music scene.

It is difficult for me to imagine the problem is with the music. I've heard so many good musicians and good bands.

The problem seems to be the local indifference to new music. It is hard to get an audience unless you are established, and it is hard to get established playing original music - music unfamiliar to the audience.

The most successful local bands play covers. DJs outdraw live music bands.

When I was coming up, in the sixties and seventies, clubs were full for almost any band. Successful clubs had loyal, dependable audiences, and didn't rely on the bands to draw a crowd. Live bands were expected by the club's patrons. Of course, bands that could bring in extra people did better, got better bookings, but clubs weren't as reluctant to try something new then, and the bands weren't under pressure to play covers (although there were many that did - cover bands have been around forever, and have always had some measure of popularity).

In black clubs, more than white clubs - and this isn't racist, some bands played both, but the audiences did tend to be self-segregating, although never, in my experience, exclusive or discriminating: Nobody's money was turned away because of race - covers were more acceptable.

That being said, established soul acts with hits were more likely to play gigs in regular (smaller) clubs, too. I was in a soul review that exclusively did covers, and we opened for a lot of acts that had hits on the charts, while never playing a 'big' concert, like the rock stars played.

It's different now. Syracuse could have - should have - a thriving music scene. But it doesn't. Big shows sell out here. There are a small handful of bands that play and enjoy consistently good crowds, but more venues are closing or cutting out live music than are opening to give live music a shot.

The two most recent attempts are meeting with completely different reactions. One is a good room, beautifully decorated, with a small but 'hip' menu and seating for about sixty. Well appointed, well-funded, with an actual stage. This club, even though it is in an industrial neighborhood, caters to a fairly affluent clientele, books more acoustic-oriented music, has excellent sound, and is doing well (443 Social Club and Lounge).

The other club is the Valley Blues House, heir of Rooters Bar, and it started off well, but audiences are declining. It is a smaller club in a bad part of town, and it seems to be squandering its legacy. Recent shows, no matter how good the acts and performances, have been marred. The kitchen is a problem - the last time I was there, the kitchen was putting out food that smelled as if it were fried in rancid oil. The anchor of the bar has always been the Sunday night jam, and it has fallen apart: Last Sunday, there was no house band, and the proceedings were pretty chaotic. The last time I played there for pay, the pay was less than I expected. At least two good bands I know of won't book shows there (in fact, that gig I did for low pay was because one of my favorite bands canceled their show there. I fear for the future of Valley Blues House.

I am still grateful for my opportunities to make music, but it is getting easier and easier to contemplate leaving.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/18/19):        197.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

Not the big loss I was expecting, but I do feel like I ate a lot of food yesterday, and there were regularity issues - this weight is pre-bowel movement.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
8:15pm: Blue-green protein smoothie Plus! 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. Guacamole toast with Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame sprouted grain bread. Also, guacamole toast (with Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame sprouted grain bread and organic avocado spread.

Dinner
1:25am: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 48+ oz.; Jameson's Irish whiskey

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Thank you!

#2389: Monday, November 18: The new regular

Post 2389

- 8 years and 322 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

Too Much Information Dept: For most of the weigh-ins I've documented in this blog, I weigh myself after the day's first bowel movement.

Sorry. I know nobody wants to read about this, but if you read the Food part of this blog (aka, the main part), it has relevance to my daily weight.

For the last three or four months, my rhythm has changed. I am not always having a first bowel movement of the day - they have become less frequent than one-a-day. So far, I haven't gone more than one day without a bowel movement, but two in a row has become the exception, where once it was the rule.

When I weigh myself without having a BM first, I am more than usually full of shit. My weight reflects this.

For instance, so it was today.

So it goes. I have a new normal when it comes to these things. That's all right.

I think this change comes mostly as a result of having adopted intermittent fast eating habits, where I eat in an eight-hour window every day.
Outside of causing me to retain water a little more, it has no other effects that I know of.

For which I am grateful.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/15/19):        196.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

Not a great weekend from a weight-loss point of view, although I didn't eat a lot of off-plan food, I did have a particularly high-carb (lots of beans) and high-calorie Sunday.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:25pm, at CoreLife Eatery:

Korean BBQ Pork: Kale, quinoa, kimchi, cucumbers, spicy broccoli, Sriracha sprouts, fried egg, slow-roasted pork, and korean bbq sauce. Not shown: 2nd overcooked fried egg (which I chopped up like hard-boiled).

Lunch
9:20pm: Almonds, walnuts (1/4-cup each) and cole slaw; cottage cheese and a Quest bar.

Dinner
12:35am: Brussel sprouts with balsamic vinaigrette and shaved parmesan cheese, avocado toast (1 slice of Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame sprouted grains bread).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 80+ oz.;

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#2388: Friday, November 15: No comment

Post 2388

- 8 years and 319 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

"I've got nothing to say, but it's okay!" - Lennon/McCartney

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    196.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/14/19):        196.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Going into the weekend at the week's high point, second day in a row.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:25pm: Blue-green protein smoothie Plus! 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. Guacamole toast with Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame sprouted grain bread.

Lunch
9:05pm, at Valley Blues House: Popcorn.

Dinner
1:15am: Riced cauliflower and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 40 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; Jameson's Irish whiskey

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