Waking up around noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Running mid day errands – Hilltop Holiday Traffic is ridiculous.
Eggs. Tempeh Bacon. Spinach. Chips. Bagel. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Napping.
Tuna with Black Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Rice, and Garlic Bread.
Watching Florida Man (2023).
I drive over to the storage unit (Ringo’s). Installing these shelves and organizing the wall where all the bands keep their amps and guitars. Tweaking and vacuuming.
Waking up around noon.
Cereal. Tea.
At the rec playing pickup basketball – getting the ultimate cardio in.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Pasta and Broccoli for dinner.
Watching Florida Man (2023).
Organizing stuff in the storage room – really discovering amazing old finds.
Running some late night errands – taking recycle and trash out – printing shipping label and dropping package off.
Waking up around noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
At the Rec playing basketball.
Banana.
Eggs. Tempeh Bacon. Spinach. Bagel. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Running errands.
Leftover Rice and Beans with Broccoli, Carrots, and Garlic Bread.
Watching Florida Man (2023).
Organizing stuff in the storage room.
Chores.
Waking up as late as I want.
Cereal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Organizing boxes in the storage room.
Eggs. Kale. English Muffin. Avocado. Chips. Coffee.
It’s pouring rain like all day...
Running errands – groceries – Wal-Mart.
More organizing.
Pasta, Salad, and Garlic Bread for dinner.
Watching Florida Man (2023).
Chores.
Waking up at 11:50 a.m.
Oatmeal. Tea.
At Music Makers watching the front desk while Jake teaches drum lessons. I have some meaningful talks with Jacqueline’s Taiwanese mother and American father about motivation within music lessons.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Organizing boxes in the storage room.
Catching up on business.
Running errands.
Bean Chili with Kale, Rice, and Garlic Bread.
Bamm Bamm practice at Ringo’s with Josiah and Josh. We barely work on actual songs but rather have fun jamming and enjoying hang time – going late into the night.
Waking up around noon thirty.
Cereal. Tea.
At the Rec exercising and shooting the basketball around.
PB&J English Muffin. Coffee.
Over at Nigel’s house with him and Ron having a business meeting about ELO things. We’re really clamping down a solid game plan moving forward in the new year with regards to money. We go head to head debating the best strategies but eventually get on the same page. There’s definitely more hope now.
At the studio organizing the band photos and talking with Allyson.
Home. Making dinner: Pasta with Kale and Garlic Bread.
Watching Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
Green Tea.
Later on, organizing old boxes and photos in the storage room of the house.
Ice Cream. Popcorn.
Waking up around noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business. Running errands – dropping off a return package – grabbing some boxes from the storage unit – groceries.
Eggs. Salad. Tempeh Bacon. Bagel. Chips with Avocado. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Working on stuff at the studio.
Black Beans with Rice, Bok Choy, Carrots, Onions, Spinach, and Garlic Bread.
Watching Squid Game: The Challenge (2023).
Ice Cream.
Organizing stuff in the storage room.
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Waking up.
Cereal. Tea.
At the rec exercising and shooting the basketball around.
Eggs. Tempeh Bacon. English Muffin. Kale. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Running some night errands – grabbing some boxes from the storage unit – getting some groceries.
Leftovers for dinner.
We have a Ladada practice at Music Makers. Working on an original song.
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Afterwards we take a late night field trip to the beach to catch the meteor shower. Bobby drives us in his Flex all the way to 80th Street. No light pollution out here – it’s super dark. We hide out in the dunes where the wind from the ocean can’t beat us down – sipping on mugs of Chianti wine and keeping our eyes peeled up at the starry sky. Every 5 seconds someone spots a shooting star and howls.
Waking up around 11:50 a.m.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business and running errands.
Eggs. Tempeh Bacon. Spinach. Bagel. Coffee. Chips.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Afterwards, dad and Patty come over to the house – playing with Elvis and looking at some old photo albums.
Peas, Carrots, Celery, Onions, Quinoa, Tuna, and Garlic Bread for dinner.
Watching Squid Game: The Challenge (2023).
More organizing in the storage room.
Waking up around 11:30 a.m.
Cereal. Tea.
At the bank talking with Linda Stephens about this issue Music Makers is having with Zelle – seems like it would be a simple fix but things like these are usually more involved than you want them to be.
Doing some business at the computer.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Afterwards, I link up with my dad and Patty – they’re in town for a few days. We get Mr. Shawarma’s for dinner.
Visiting Rebecca at her place cause her kitty Eowyn has been super sick and dehydrated.
At home, I continue rummaging through old boxes of pictures and things my mom had packed away.
Popcorn.
Finishing Squid Game (2017).
A rain storm continues all day long and night.
I stay home working on stuff at the computer – chores – and working through some of the old boxes in the storage room. Finally getting around to doing that, or at least starting the process.
I definitely didn’t even step foot outside the house.
Waking up around 11:30 a.m.
Cereal. Tea.
At Music Makers watching the front desk and doing stuff at the computer. Organizing a few things.
It’s a beautiful day out!
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Catching up on business and chores.
Cleaning some of the bathrooms.
Rebecca and I grab some drinks and pizza from Wasserhund down the street. One of the employees there compliments on how sophisticated we look.
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Later on, checking on her cats – they’ve been sick from a bad batch of canned food.
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Then, finally watching Barbie (2023). Afterwards, discussing some of the messages it was trying to convey about male/female equality. One of the issues she has is Ken not actually apologizing at the end of the movie. She kind of takes it seriously but I can understand her reaction. The messages in this movie really resonate with our current progressive culture in regards to male/female/they equality. But at the same time it was also a comedy.
Waking up to a complete day off!
I do various things – chores – errands – cleaning.
Waking up.
Cereal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Eggs. English Muffin. Spinach. Coffee.
Watching Squid Game (2021).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Sticking around at the studio for a while helping Modern Day Warrior.
Later on, Brittany Mahig and I grab some dinner. I’ve been meaning to get her perspective on some things going on with Rebecca and I (since she is a good friend of hers and mine), but also we enjoy each other’s company. Sitting at the bar at Tikki’s – it’s a total Hawaiian vibe complete with an acoustic guy jamming while we sip on cocktails and eat Shrimp and Musabi.
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At her apartment we find Jimmy sleeping on the couch. He doesn’t hang around for long but we continue debates into personal things and whatever inspires the conversation in the moment.
Back home. Taking care of chores and Elvis.
Playing DOOM.
Waking up.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Chores.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Having a phone call with a potential new voice teacher, Caitlyn Joyce.
Black Beans, Salmon, Quinoa, Kale, Carrots, and Garlic Bread.
Ladada practice at Ringo’s with Wes, Josiah, and Bobby. We work hard on a new song.
Popcorn. Pineapple.
Playing DOOM.
Waking up at 11:50 a.m.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Running errands. At the post office warehouse pickup place. It’s kind of funny cause as I sit here in this weird plain holding room you can sense the man in front of me is getting frustrated waiting and waiting. One by one another person walks in and it feels like nothing is happening. Eventually, I get my envelope and jet.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Helping Modern Day Warrior with their band practice.
Making Pasta with Salad and Garlic Bread.
Watching Oppenheimer (2023).
Chores. Cleaning.
Waking up around 11:45 a.m.
Cereal. Tea.
At the Rec exercising and playing basketball.
Eggs. Spinach. Bagel. Chips. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Catching up on work at the studio computer – meanwhile, chatting with Rebecca.
Black Beans, Salmon, Kale, Carrots, Quinoa, and Garlic Bread.
Watching Oppenheimer (2023).
Doing accounting.
Ice Cream.
Waking up whenever I feel like it!
Oatmeal. Tea.
The Music Makers Holiday Carolers are doing some outreach performances – first over at the Discovery Commons living home off Old Donation. The dining hall is filled with really grateful seniors singing along and just happy to be hearing all the Christmas voices.
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Then, over at The Painted Tree they do their whole set in front of customers passing by. This place is like a flea market for fancy crafts and gifts. Rebecca did a great job with them. They all sound well rehearsed.
Eggs. Tempeh. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Catching up on business and stuff at the computer.
Running errands.
Chores.
Pasta, Salad, and Garlic Bread.
At the studio – organizing things – building this new black garage shelf for the 104 space. I’m hammering this mallet strategically until it’s done.
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Today is the big day. Music Makers Holiday Recital. This time we’re debuting at First Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Ryan, the musical director, has been really hospitable to us and accommodating. And this church has a beautiful sanctuary complete with colorful stained glass and fully functioning pipe organ.
I arrive early on site – setting up everything in the sanctuary – we’re using their in-house PA system with my own mini mixer. Even though it’s much easier this way it still requires my full attention. Meanwhile, students and families trickle in.
We do two separate performances cause there’s always so many students that want to perform. I’m proud of everyone as I sit at the board going back and forth from the stage/piano adjusting things.
Afterwards, Shaunna, Rebecca, and I grab some dinner at Torch’s Bistro up the street. We recap over the most amazing burgers.
At the studio putting everything away.
Back home. Relaxing and watching Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021).
Waking up around 12:30 p.m.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Driving out to Norfolk to meet with Ryan at the Lutheran church off Colley. We’re doing a recital here tomorrow so him and I tweak with the sound system and make sure things are in order.
I absolutely hate driving on Fridays – so much traffic everywhere you go.
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Stopping by Home Depot to buy a shelf.
At Music Makers printing programs with Allyson. Meanwhile, Rebecca is directing the final caroling rehearsal in 104.
Back home. Making dinner: Chicken Sausages with Rice, Veggies, and Garlic Bread.
At the studio packing up things for tomorrow – printing stuff – running late night errands.
Waking up around noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
At the Rec center working out and throwing the basketball around.
Eggs. Tempeh Bacon. English Muffin. Spinach. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Modern Day Warrior rehearses afterwards. Meanwhile, I organize some retail things that came in the mail.
Pasta, Salad, and Garlic Bread for dinner.
Finishing Mindhunter (2017).
Ice Cream.
Chores and things.
Waking up super late around 12:30 p.m.
Blueberries. Tea.
Catching up on business and emails.
Eggs. Baby Broccoli. Bagel. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Healthy Ramen. Garlic Bread.
Watching Mindhunter (2017).
Being lazy – then doing stuff around the house.
Waking up around noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Finally at the Rec center after a long hiatus – exercising and shooting the basketball around.
Errands.
Eggs. Avocado. Bagel. Kale. Chips. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Apple.
Driving over to Nigel’s house to meet with him and Ron – financial meeting essentially to figure out some plans moving forward into the new year with ELO.
Tuna with Black Beans, Rice, Baby Broccoli, Carrots, and Garlic Bread.
Watching Mindhunter (2017).
Catching up on business and chores.
Waking up around noon.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Running errands.
Eggs. Bagel. Kale. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Hanging out at the studio working on stuff – also chatting with Rebecca about her Thanksgiving time with her mom.
Back home.
Making Pasta, Salad, and Garlic Bread for dinner.
Watching Mindhunter (2017).
Catching up on chores and business.
Pineapple and Yogurt.
Waking up super late – these past few days I’ve been sleeping in much later than usual.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Working on stuff at the computer. Catching up on business things.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Watching Mindhunter (2017).
More work at the computer and chores.
Tuna with Lentils, Quinoa, and leftover Veggies with Garlic Bread.
Watching stuff.
More work at the computer – focused mostly on video stuff.
Chocolate. Green Tea.
Emails and chores.
Pineapple and Yogurt.
Waking up after noon.
Cereal. Tea.
Working on stuff at the computer – organizing files and catching up on things.
Continuing to enjoy this whole weekend to myself.
PB&J English Muffin. Coffee.
Running errands – getting groceries at Whole Foods.
Making homemade Ramen with Garlic Bread.
Watching Mindhunter (2017).
At the studio working on lots of things – fixing and tweaking this camera contraption – putting up Christmas decorations – etc.
Ice Cream. Popcorn.
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Waking up around noon thirty.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Driving to meet a guy to buy a digital piano. At first we meet in a neighborhood – it becomes obvious that Danny (the guy from OfferUp) wasn’t actually selling it but rather his friend that just drove up. Because I couldn’t test it out on an outlet I follow him to a Spanish church off Holland Road. Strange at first but makes sense.
Errands.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Working at the computer.
At the studio fixing a few things.
Pasta, Kale, and Garlic Bread.
Later on I drive out to Ringo’s for Bamm Bamm practice. It’s been a while – hanging out with Josiah and Josh – jamming on some tunes. At some point Josiah goes out for a smoke. Josh somehow has a vocal mic on the drums. With me on the bass we jam out to something really interesting – kind of Frank Black meets LCD Sound System.
We hung out pretty late. Now I’m home at 3 a.m.
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Waking up way late like 1 p.m. for no reason, other than I can.
Oatmeal. Tea.
It’s Thanksgiving – I normally would be visiting my dad or doing something. But while everyone else is out linking with friends and family I decide to give myself a “Solosgiving”.
Working on things at the computer. Chores.
Eggs. Kale. Bagel. Chips. Coffee.
Watching Mindhunter (2017).
More work around the house.
Now the sun has gone down, earlier these days cause of fall. I drive over to the studio and work on some maintenance things – mainly cutting up this rug to fit the drum set in the corner.
Back home. Making a quick dinner: Pink Beans, Salmon, Quinoa, Bok Choy, Carrots, and Onions.
Working on things – chores – playing with Elvis.
Waking up like normal.
Catching up on scheduling and business related things.
Errands.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
I had Allyson stay home today cause it’s only me teaching lessons. All the other teachers went elsewhere for the holiday.
After lessons I work on some maintenance things.
Pasta and Salad for dinner.
Watching Mindhunter (2017).
Working on things at the computer – still customizing and making sure my files are all good.
Chores.
Waking up around noon.
Cereal. Tea.
Working at the computer dealing with my files – scheduling and communications with parents.
Eggs. Spinach. Bagel. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Getting groceries – grabbing Mr. Shawarma for dinner.
Wes and I ride out to Ladada practice at the Ringo’s storage unit. We jam out to new streams of consciousness, notes we never played together before. It’s a good time.
Waking up like usual.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Working at the computer. I finally got my unlock code for the backup hard drive and I can now start transferring files to my new hard drive.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Pasta. Salad.
Watching Mindhunter (2017).
More computer stuff.
Chores.
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Today is the big day – MMLIVE show at The Bunker. I stay fueled up with a Breakfast Bar and PB&J while setting up. Jake is here helping get the drum set put together and other various things that need to be done.
As always I’m very proud of all the bands. We put together a teacher band set for a change at the end – also went over well.
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Packing up and clearing out. Rebecca stays behind to help out and transport all the gear back to the studio.
Relaxing back at home with the cat over green tea and ice cream.
Organizing more things at the studio.
Waking up a little before noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business. Running errands.
Eggs. Spinach. Rye Toast. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Mr. Shawarma’s for dinner.
Late night adult band rehearsal.
Afterwards, Rebecca and I talk a lot – mostly about light hearted stuff – reminds me of those late night parking lot conversations.
Chores. Catching up on things. Playing with Elvis.
Waking up a little before noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Staying at the computer working on a stage plot and other prep for the weekend.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Catching up on business.
Lupini Beans with Rice and Veggies. Garlic Bread.
Watching Long Shot (2023).
Working on stuff at the studio.
Chores.
Ice Cream and Green Tea.
Waking up a little before noon.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
At the warehouse helping Mike with a few cases and organizing some stuff.
Then, at Music Makers putting together the drum kit in the 104 space.
Eggs. Spinach. Toast. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Then, we have the teacher band rehearsal. I got pizza for everyone for dinner. It’s coming together and it’s pretty tight.
Salad. Popcorn.
Chores and playing with Elvis.
Ice Cream.
Waking up around 11:30 a.m.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Going to the Rec – finally able to get to the gym after a bit of a hiatus.
Eggs. English Muffin. Spinach. Coffee. Chips.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
After lessons, Rebecca and I chat for a long time about work stuff but then we get knee deep into what we call “the reckoning” – just trying to understand each other more and clarify concerns she’s had the past year regarding our relationship and what’s really going on.
Tuna with Black Beans, Bok Choy, Carrots, Quinoa, and Garlic Bread.
Watching Downsizing (2017).
Catching up on business and chores.
Green Tea.
Hitting the sack early.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
All afternoon MMLIVE rehearsals – three bands plus the debut of a teacher band! It goes over pretty well even though we’re trying to cram a bunch of different songs all in one show.
I don’t think I arrived home till after 10 p.m.
Making Pasta and Spinach Salad for dinner.
Watching The Killer (2023).
Chores – dishes – playing with Elvis.
The bus continues on south on the rough and bumpy interstates and parkways while I actually get some pretty good sleep.
Arriving back home in Virginia Beach. There’s always much to do – unhitch the trailer and unload everything – clean out the bus.
I have to open up the Music Makers store for an afternoon of lessons for Jake. Catching up on things here.
Back home. Doing chores – laundry – dishes – Elvis time.
Later on, I link up with Rebecca after she finishes up caroling rehearsal. We had some divulging text conversations earlier trying to understand and clarify some things.
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We grab some dinner at Baker’s Crust. Outside of the serious discussions we’re having comical things take place around us – the only two bathrooms have been forever preoccupied by kids, like the entire time. Enjoying some Crab and Shrimp Pasta with Chips. It gets kind of cold cause we get caught up in talks.
Practicing some music.
Settling down at home.
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Bus call 9:45 a.m. The snow has mostly melted away in New Hampshire.
Breakfast Bar. Blueberries. Tea.
Our driver, Aaron, takes the wheel for the 3 hour drive down south towards Connecticut. I catch up on stuff at the computer then take a nap in the back.
Landing in New London, Connecticut at the Garde Arts Theater. Pretty easy load-in despite some issues with figuring out where the strings and drum risers go. The head honcho here at the venue comically resembles Nigel’s personality almost too much.
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PB&J. Banana. Coffee.
We all dress up in costume for sound check so Nigel can capture some footage we don’t always get the opportunity for during a show.
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We have an insanely long time till show. Enjoying the catering downstairs in the cozy basement green room.
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The show goes over pretty well – not as full crowd tonight but the energy and appreciation for the music is obviously there.
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Packing up and loading out. The stage hands here are probably the most efficient crew I’ve ever worked with. We had that trailer packed in record time.
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Piling into the bus. As we ride south regaling stories and cracking up over how insane these bumps are through New York City.
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One truck stop after the other awakening like a cat from a nap – the tour bus continues north through the New Jersey Turnpike and New York.
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I actually manage to get some much needed REM sleep.
Arriving at the venue in Concord, New Hampshire – Capitol Center for the Arts (Chubb Theatre). We’re super early. Even though it’s rainy and snowy some of us take a walk down the block and find a local Panera-like café of sorts called The Works. Amazing bagels and eggs (and coffee).
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Inside the theater we get right to work setting up the stage – tweaking the strings and drum risers – plugging in cables – gaff taping everything. There’s always much to do but we seem to be ahead of schedule honestly.
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Sound check then showering up. The shower stall is so tiny I can barely move but this red light keeps it heated from the chill.
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Rebecca and I grab dinner across the street at Constantly Pizza.
Show time! Both sets run pretty smooth.
Packing up and loading out. Max, our new crew guy is really helpful and does a good job considering it’s his first time.
I drive us all in the big bus to the hotel. Very grateful to get to sleep in a non-mobile bed. Snacking it up and catching up on junk.
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Rebecca and I get into a talk – we’ve been pretty distant from one another before this trip. All day I was feeling a little excited to reconnect with her – just to nurture something again. But it’s made clear that’s not her intention tonight. Feeling a little defeated about everything and taken aback. At some point we gotta get to sleep.
