#2764, Thursday, November 4, '21: Sick day

Post 2764

- 11 years and 308 days since I started this blog -

November 18, 2018

Daily Comment

Actually, a very sick day.

Even though my first two COVID-19 vaccination shots were the Moderna, given my awful but brief reaction to the second shot, and some information that the booster could be from Pfizer with equal-or-better results, I opted for the Pfizer vaccine for my booster.

My reaction was almost completely identical to my second shot: Twelve hours after getting the shot, I had fever, chills, body aches. The only difference was that I also had a sore throat to the degree that swallowing was painful.

I'm hoping, like the second dose, it will persist another twelve hours and then be gone.

But today, I'm miserable.

We'll see what tomorrow brings, but I'm declaring today a sick day. I'm resting, staying home, drinking lots of fluids.

I'm grateful to be able to do this.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/3/21):         199.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm still sick, and have no idea why I had any kind of gain.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:05pm: Chicken and greens ramen (ViteRamen high-protein miso ramen noodles kit, roasted chicken, kale, spinach, nutritional yeast).

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
11:10pm: Vegetarian Sloppy Joe (Quorn Grounds, Rao's Tomato Basil sauce, kale and spinach, apple cider vinegar) with Flax sprouted grain toast. Also, Keto probiotic snack mix (nuts, seeds, cheese) and a few ounces of 86%  chocolate.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 54+ oz.; 

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#2763, Wednesday, November 3, '21: Sick, lawyer, booster

Post 2763

- 11 years and 307 days since I started this blog -

November 18, 2018

Daily Comment

Still sick, but feeling better. 

I had a Zoom meeting with the lawyer I hired to straighten out my late brother's estate, and it went pretty well.

I also got a copy of the lease, so soon I will be able to move forward and help Denie get her TV back.

Afterwards, I got my COVID-19 booster. I don't like my prospects for feeling better until whatever reaction I have to the booster is over. I'm hoping it won't be as bad as the second dose was, but it it is, I'm hoping the after-effects will have the same duration.

I got the Pfizer booster, even though my first two shots were Moderna, as I've heard mix-n-match is a good strategy, and might be better than a booster of the same vaccine.

I also bought a round-trip ticket to Daytona Beach from Syracuse. I won't be driving at any point on my winter travels.

Feeling like crap, that's all I'm going to say today. I'll have more to say tomorrow.

I'm grateful for access to good medical care.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.6 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/2/21):         199.7 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm still sick, and have no idea why I didn't lose more.

Food Log

Breakfast
12:55pm: Oatmeal+ (rolled oats, chia and hemp seeds, walnuts, oat milk, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, kefir, nutritional yeast), and scrambled eggs with mixed Italian grated cheeses.

Lunch
8:20pm: Keto probiotic snack mix (nuts, seeds, cheese). 

Dinner
11:30pm: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 64+ oz.; 

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#2762, Tuesday, November 2, '21: No comment

Post 2762

- 11 years and 306 days since I started this blog -

November 18, 2018

Daily Comment

I've got nothing to say, but it's okay. And I'm still feeling sick.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.7 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/1/21):         199.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm still sick, and have no idea why I had any kind of gain.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:25pm: Rotisserie chicken breast on Flax sprouted grains bread with guacamole, and a mixed greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
10:10pm: Salmon with pesto sauce and roasted brussels sprouts with olive oil and Everything But the Bagel seasoning. A Quest bar, and an ounce of 86% dark chocolate.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 64+ oz.; 

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#2761, Monday, November 1, '21: Sick weekend update

Post 2761

- 11 years and 305 days since I started this blog -

November 18, 2018

Daily Comment

I've been sick since early Sunday morning, as in, I went to bed feeling sick Saturday night.

I woke up sick Sunday, and still did the open mic, but I'm paying a penalty in that not only am I sick, but I'm sore. The final load out, since my month as host is complete, is done, but it was arduous.

Except for the actual open mic itself, it turned out to be a pretty crappy weekend. And the open mic had a bit of drama that I didn't need - although it didn't directly involve me at all.

I caught a last-minute gig on Saturday, and it wasn't really good. I couldn't lock with the drummer, and what was supposed to be an oldies gig turned out to be a country gig. I might have known one in ten songs I played. Luckily, I had the guitarist who called me for the gig (subbing himself). A nice-guy-but-crap-singer meant there wasn't much to enjoy about the gig.

I take that back - the drive to and from the gig was with John, the guitarist, and in the ten years or so that I've known him was the first real, extended conversation we've had, and that was very enjoyable.

Although, as I've said, by the time I got home after the gig I was feeling sick.

Sunday is a blur. It was a good night, a bad day, and sick 100% of the time.

And (in Lily Tomlin voice) that's all I'm gonna say about that.

I'm grateful for the reserve of health I have.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/29/21):        201.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 2.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Thanks to being sick yesterday (and today), I have a nice loss for the weekend. So it goes.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:00pm: Chicken and greens ramen (ViteRamen high-protein miso ramen noodles kit, roasted chicken, kale, spinach, nutritional yeast), with a Nellie's bacon and pepper jack egg bite.

Lunch
9:10pm: Peanut butter and a Quest bar, and an ounce of 86% dark chocolate. 

Dinner
11:45pm: Oatmeal (rolled oats, chia and hemp seeds, oat milk, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, kefir).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 

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#2760, Friday, October 29, '21: Heir stuff

Post 2760

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

September 25, 2021

Daily Comment

I met with my lawyers today to finalize my end-of-life papers.

It was surprisingly unemotional.

But the decision to go forward and (finally, pun intended) get it done was emotional. Two emotions, mainly: Anger and love.

My father's lack of a will created a months-long complicated aftermath. It was fortunate that, at least, he had told me that he wanted me to be executor and that that lined up easily with the legal requirements for the same (when there is no documentation).

And my brother's death, with sparse documentation after living a life where he was solely handling the family's finances, left one of the worst situations this family has encountered.

Which is still ongoing.

And, as much as anything, I am angry about these two situations.

Because I love my son Alex, and I expect him to survive me, I am making certain he does not inherit any estate problems from me when I die. I am taking steps to ensure that he has full information - account #s, IDs and passwords, where they make sense.

So, anger and love.

I'm grateful for the abundance to make an inheritance, and for life's lessons that can benefit my heir.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    201.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/28/21):        201.7 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

A little loss today, but that's okay.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:55pm: Chicken and greens ramen (ViteRamen high-protein miso ramen noodles kit, roasted chicken, an egg, kale, spinach, nutritional yeast).

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
8:30pm: Keto probiotic snack mix (nuts, seeds, cheese) and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 64+ oz.; 

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#2759, Thursday, October 28, '21:

Post 2759

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

September 25, 2021

Daily Comment

I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    201.7 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/27/21):        202.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

Good loss today. Worth waiting for.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:05pm: Frittata (eggs, kale, spinach, mixed Italian grated cheeses, mushrooms, peppers, onions, chia and hemp seeds) on riced cauliflower with nutritional yeast.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
8:10pm: Keto probiotic snack mix (nuts, seeds, cheese).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 64+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2758, Wednesday, October 27, '21: Open mics

Post 2758

- 11 years and 300 days since I started this blog -

September 25, 2021

Daily Comment

Sometimes you wait.

Most people don't understand open mics. I feel like I do, but I still don't necessarily see every aspect of them.

First of all, I had to learn what an open mic was in these post-MTV, post-internet live music world. Because, before those times, open mics weren't about music at all. Open mics were for comedy and/or poetry. Only.

The musical versions were called jams. They were popular in clubs and coffee shops and there were some famous ones in NYC when I was coming up: Michael's (Woody Allen was a regular there for decades), Cafe Wha? (Jimi 'James' (Hendrix) hosted one there before forming the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and I played there more than once, and for one song, with him), Cafe Au Go-Go (so many there: The Blues Project was formed there), Gerdes Folk City (Bob Dylan attended that one in the early days).

The one thing they had in common: An audience of non-players, there for the good quality music. So, to a degree, the performers were vetted. You might not get called up the first few times you signed up - unless you made it known that you would fit in with the other musicians (or the music stylings) and could convey confidence in your ability. And, if you did get called, and gave a bad performance, you might not get called up again unless you could show improvement.

In this way, the jams were important links between generations of players.

Now, open mics are ubiquitous, jams are rare, and tend to be invitation-only, with performance-level playing. Musicians who sign up at an open mic play, in general. No vetting. And performers tend to outnumber by an order of magnitude those just non-players hanging out.

At tonight's open mic at Shifty's, where I am a regular and a known quantity, I saw the good and the bad of that evolution. I was outside catching a toke when my friend Frank, a real professional, leave the open mic furious, because his attempt to help violated one of the host's major rules: Nobody touches the equipment without first getting permission.

Frank, apparently, heard feedback and jumped up and changed the EQ on the PA. Steve T. went ballistic and cursed him out. Frank, a professional musician and sound guy (really - he is in the stagehand's union and is often called on to supplement the sound crews) split in a huff.

If I had been there, I would have tried to stop him. Because I've run afoul of Steve's wrath for a less egregious incursion: Adjusting a mic stand. I knew what would happen.

Also, last night, a thirteen-year-old drummer I've worked with did a turn, and an eleven-year old guitarist fronted a set that was pretty spectacular. This is the kind of thing that makes open mics so exciting, and fulfills their generational mandate.

The things I look for at open mics is are mainly the chance to play with different musicians, and the chance to try new material. I got to do both tonight, when a drummer friend and I did a bass-drum duet on a song I've been performing at open mics/jams since the seventies (when it was new). But I'd never done it as a bass and drums duet, and it was awesome!

Also, open mics are just about the only time I get to sing. That goes for the ones I host these days, too.

Tonight, I got to Shifty's open mic about five minutes after it started. By then, the list was already pretty long. I ended up closing the night, waiting three-and-a-half hours to do my four songs.

That's all right. I had a good time, heard some good music, saw some friends.

Sometimes you wait.

I'm grateful for the music scene.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/26/21):        202.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I was hoping for a loss today. Oh, well, tomorrow, then.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:05pm: Frittata (eggs, kale, spinach, mixed Italian grated cheeses, mushrooms, peppers, onions, chia and hemp seeds) on riced cauliflower with nutritional yeast.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
8:10pm: Keto probiotic snack mix (nuts, seeds, cheese).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 54+ oz.; and two pours of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#2757, Tuesday, October 26, '21: No comment

Post 2757

- 11 years and 299 days since I started this blog -

September 25, 2021

Daily Comment

I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/25/21):        201.9 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

My calorie-heavy evening seems to have done some damage. I will try not to repeat that error.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:10pm: Frittata with sweet potato, kale, spinach, mushrooms, onions, chia and hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, eggs and cheese.

Lunch
8:15pm: Keto prebiotic nut and seed mix and 72% dark chocolate. 

Dinner
10:50pm: Oatmeal with walnuts.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 88+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2756, Monday, October 25, '21: Weekend recap

Post 2756

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

September 25, 2021

Daily Comment

On Saturday, almost everything good that happened Friday came undone.

The service call to install FIOS at my sister-in-law's was canceled due to the existence of another account being active in the same apartment, and us not having acceptable evidence of residence (the lease).

I was on the phone and at the computer for another three hours trying to solve that. I failed. I know how to fix it (get a copy of the lease) but that is out of my hands.

My sister-in-law's phone went straight to voice mail when I called. We found out the next day that she had somehow blocked me.

Sunday was the open mic, and that went very well. It was a seven-hour work day for me (yes, it is work, including about three hours of physical labor), but the good news is, I found the speaker stand that had been missing for two weeks. I was able to cancel the order for the replacement.

Sundays are wonderful but exhausting. I needed a day (today) to recover. 

I'm grateful for my good health that gives me the stamina for the good times.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    201.9 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/22/21):        202.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm relieved at not gaining weight over the weekend, which wasn't bad except for a larger-than-ordinary amount of alcohol.

Food Log

Breakfast
2:20pm: Oatmeal and a LEO salad (lox, eggs, onions and arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, and Everything but the bagel dressing).

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
9:50pm: Roasted turkey breast on Flax sprouted grains bread, roasted brussels sprouts with nutritional yeast and Everything seasoning, parmesan crisps and salsa, and 2 Quest bars.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 68+ oz.; 

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#2755, Friday, October 22, '21: Friday's story

Post 2755

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

September 25, 2021

Daily Comment

For once, something interesting, other than a gig, to start the weekend.

First, I think I managed to get cable for my sister-in-law. The service had been in my brother's name, and was paid for out of his checking account. The checking account was frozen a week after his death, and a week ago, the service was cut.

I tried for hours and days to get the service switched to her name and billed to her checking account. I visited multiple Verizon stores, spent hours on the phone and online.

Today I just opened an account in my name at her address, with the payments coming out of her checking account. Installation is Wednesday.

Then, tonight, I was comped a ticket to see my son's roommate's comedy band, Lewberger, at a local boutique mall, Wildflowers Armory.

I'm not the demographic (college kids are) but I enjoyed it, and there were a few outstanding moments - real comedy genius - that I will remember. And the audience interaction was wonderful.

Afterwards, I waited until the whole night - manning the merch table, taking selfies with fans - was over, made sure they knew I'd be out in LA the last two weeks of the year, hugged it out.

When I walked back to my car, someone had hit the passenger front bumper of my car. Crappy end to an otherwise wonderful day.

I'm grateful for the good parts.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/21/21):        202.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.5 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm glad I lost more than the weight I gained yesterday. I'm hoping for a repeat today.

Food Log

Breakfast
12:30pm: Ultimate oatmeal (rolled oats, oat milk, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, chia and hemp seeds, kefir, Greek yogurt, walnuts, whey protein (21g protein), nutritional yeast, maple syrup).

Lunch
7:10pm, at Wildflower Armory: A carrot muffin. 

Dinner
11:10pm: Peanut butter and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 12 oz.;  Water: 48+ oz.; 

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#2754, Thursday, October 21, '21: A momentary return to pre-pandemic

Post 2754

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

September 25, 2021

Daily Comment

I am a fan of a few local musicians.

A few days ago I got a text message from one, telling me he was playing with his personnel-as-available jazz band, Taj, Thursday (tonight).

It didn't have the location, so I assumed (ahem!) that it was at his regular Thursday night gig, a jazz jam.

I admit to being wrong more often than right with my assumptions, and I was wrong.

I showed up at Penny Pub's Thursday jazz jam to find only the drummer setting up, with no clue about my friend's Taj gig. A quick Facebook check gave me the right location, a favorite place, the Green Gate Inn, slightly out of town. In fact, they call the Thursday night jazz dates. "Jazz in the Burbs."

The last time I'd been there was shortly before I left for Florida at the end of 2019. I'd gone to see Taj then, and the memory of it, with so many of my musician friends digging the music along with me, is a happy memory.

I first sat alone in the corner, at a table to one side of the stage, as indicated by the owner, who I greeted as soon as I arrived. Before I could finish my Jamerson's (neat), I spotted another friend, and relocated to the dining room, exactly opposite where I was sitting originally, amidst a dozen musician friends and their friends, from my Tuesday open mic (and lots of other places).

Taj did not disappoint. They were excellent, and it was wonderful seeing friends (half the band that I know) perform so well. Exciting music. 

The Green Gate has good food, too. It was more fun than I expected, and it was so nice seeing my friends and enjoying music together.

After the show, as I was leaving I spotted Frank and Debbie at the bar. They hadn't seen me (couldn't see that off-stage-right dining room from the bar) and I had the pleasure of getting them together with the friends I'd been hanging with.

Then it was back to the Penny Pub, where I got in a couple of jazz jams, ending a late night.

I'm grateful for my friends. And their music. All my friends, all their music.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.6 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/20/21):        203.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm glad I lost more than the weight I gained yesterday. I'm hoping for a repeat today.

Food Log

Breakfast
12:30pm: Ultimate oatmeal (rolled oats, oat milk, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, chia and hemp seeds, kefir, Greek yogurt, walnuts, whey protein (21g protein), nutritional yeast, maple syrup).

Lunch
5:30pm: Chile-spiced pineapple and Quest high-protein tortilla chips. 

Dinner
8:40pm, at Green Gate Inn: Cobb salad.

Snack
12:30am: A Nellie's Bacon and Pepper Jack Egg Bite, chile-spiced pineapple (the rest of the bag) and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

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

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#2753, Wednesday, October 20, '21: No comment

Post 2753

- 11 years and 293 days since I started this blog -

September 25, 2021

Daily Comment

I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    203.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/19/21):        203.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

Not what I wanted, but it is what it is. Probably a result of my high-sodium, high-calorie dinner last night.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:30pm: Greens and cheese omelet (3 eggs, spinach, kale, mushrooms, onions, peppers, Mixed Italian grated cheese) with salsa, toasted Flax sprouted grains bread and butter, salad (arugula, beets, cabbage, chard, chick peas, kale, spinach, creamy balsamic dressing).

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
Skipped.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 36+ oz.; 

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