Sunday January 31 2016

[i]

Waking up at noon.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Banana.

Teaching Rock School sessions at Music Makers. Three band rehearsals today. In between grabbing lunch: Grilled PB&J, Potato Chips, and Oolong Tea.

Salmon, Beans, Kale, Carrots, and Brown Rice.

Organizing a poker game at Drew and DeeGee's house. I get Art, Darren, and Mike in on it. It's been a while since the three of us played together. We used to do poker nights all the time at 1435. This time we play two big games, tournament style. I place third in the first game. During the whole night I'm playfully criticized on my style of playing – being unpredictable is dangerous. At one point midway in the second game I start to lose my mental energy. All the analyzing and reading of people starts to get to me. I can't even keep track of the blinds and who's dealing. But I manage to survive in the second game and win at first place.

Back home. Ana arrives back from tour with You're Jovian. Kevin routinely stresses us all out by disregarding his responsibilities to clean the kitchen. Every Sunday we take turns. Even though he had the WHOLE day off he claims he didn't have time.

"I promise I'll do it tomorrow night," he claims as he gobbles down a leftover slice of pizza doused in bleu cheese dressing.

"You already promised to do it today! Kevin, your words are meaningless," I retort back.

He's relentless.

Meanwhile, Ana and I reconvene in her room. She tells me about how much fun she had over the weekend touring the mountain towns of Virginia.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Saturday January 30 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Researching. Scheduling.

Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato.

Teaching a lesson out off Lynnhaven Parkway to Jolin, my Chinese 5-year-old student. She's a very quick learner and a giddy girl.

...

Stopping by the Salvation Army thrift store. I find a bamboo bread slicing guide and Doug Nicholson!

...

Buying some used low-top Chuck Taylor's at Plato's Closet.

...

Picking up some toilet paper and paper towels from Target.

Back home. Having an early dinner: leftover Brown Rice Vermicelli Noodles with Vegetables and Tofu.

Got a DEJA gig at Ched's Place off Princess Anne. It's our debut here at this bar. Alec Blumenthal just so happens to be here. Enjoying a Stella and a Fuji Apple in between sets. One guy continuously throws dollar bills at the stage during our set – and we're not even strippers.

Back home after a long night of gigging. Popcorn and Tea.

Watching The Company You Keep (2011).

Sleep 4 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Friday January 29 2016

[i]

☼ ○ ▬

On the planet Mars. I'm trapped inside facilities embedded in a mountain. Every time I try to escape through the sliding glass doors I'm confronted by these hovering machines that make a distressing BEEEEEP sound whenever they detect a human presence. Then they shoot a laser that zaps the wall behind me and vibrates my back in the most uncomfortable way. I keep dying and then running back inside hiding in the restrooms and trying to get on the elevators. It's an endless cycle.

▬ ○ ☼

Waking up at 10:30 a.m. Ana keeps cracking herself up lying next to me for no reason.

"You're laughing at me while I'm trying to sleep!" I exclaim.

She just giggles even louder.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Teaching a couple lessons at Music Makers.

Grilled PB&J. Fuji Apple. Potato Chips. Oolong Tea.

Watching Burnt (2015).

I've got three new students that need in-home lessons out in Croatan. One is 7, one is 10, and one is 12. All three of them were taking lessons for a few years and are enthusiastic about piano still. Their dog, Ginger, isn't too sure about me yet cause she keeps barking.

Banana.

Shooting some hoops at the Rec and playing a few pick-up games.

Back home. Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti with Mushrooms, Green Peppers, Onions, and Tomato Basil Sauce. Salad.

Watching Burnt (2015).

Surprise visit from Darren. He pops in to say what's up and share this really expensive sour ale with me. We sit down at the dining booth and chat it out. Eventually, Will arrives home from work.

...

Darren: "Marketable skill. God I hate those two words."

Will: "I know."

Darren: "I could fucking gut myself – I could just filet myself on this fucking table!"

Will: "It's a very depressing set of words."

Darren: "Marketable skill. What does that mean? What is a marketable skill? I have a marketable skill: I'm not a fucking dumb ass – how's that?" 

FaceTiming with Ana while she's in Lynchburg with the You're Jovian boys.

ACV drink.

Sleep at 4 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Thursday January 28 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Organizing. Practicing piano.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Oolong Tea. Banana.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

DEJA has a non-paying gig tonight at Shaka's at the oceanfront. They wanted to get footage to put together a video promo. So we made it a free show.

Enjoying an order of Fish n Chips and Amstel Lights before we go on.

It's not a very big crowd but we still rock it. It's been a long while since the last gig so some parts of our set are a little rusty but overall it's a good time.

Back home. Doing some dishes. Then settling down in Ana's room for the night. Cuddling under the covers and enjoying the warmth from each other's bodies.

Sleep 2 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Wednesday January 27 2016

Waking up at 11:20 a.m.

Greek Yogurt with Strawberries.

Business.

Grilled PB&J. Fuji Apple. Potato Chips.

Watching The Last Witch Hunter (2015).

A full day of lessons at Music Makers.

Getting groceries at Kroger.

Making dinner: Brown Rice Vermicelli Pad Thai Noodles with Mushrooms, Green Peppers, Onions, Carrots, Red Kale, and Tofu.

Rehearsing The Wall with DEJA.

Back home. Making bread. Making a homemade hand salve from beeswax, coconut oil, and essential oils.

Spending a few minutes with Ana on her bed. She's all wrapped up in her Snoogle pillow as usual. She complains about constantly feeling like she's walking on eggshells around people at work and in general.

Banana.

Lemon Water.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

Tuesday January 26 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11:21 a.m.

Oatmeal Banana Breakfast Muffins. Yerba Mate Tea.

Business – making phone calls – scheduling – chores.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Corn Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Oolong Tea.

Watching The Intern (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Fuji Apple.

At the Rec for adult basketball.

Back home. Chili Beans with Onions, Kale Sprouts, Carrots, and Brown Rice.

Watching The Last Witch Hunter (2015).

Orange Juice.

Researching 8-track players, songs from the 90's, and music theory.

ACV Drink.

Sleep 4 a.m.

---

[i] 8-track player from the 70's.

Monday January 25 2016

[i]

☼ ○ ▬

Visiting my bosses at China Wok but the restaurant layout is different than in waking life. I walk around cleaning up and organizing as a generous gesture. Cecily requests that I scrub down the walls in the back where there is heavy oil residue. I don't really have time cause it's starting to rain and I have to get home. I strapped down a couple mattresses, an old piano, and some electronics to the top of my car but by the time I get to it the rain has already started dropping. Later on, I've become a prisoner to my aunt – I don't know why. But it's all very surreal and abusive, verbally I mean. We keep arguing. She has a police officer making sure I don't run away.

"Is this even legal for you to be doing this?" I question.

▬ ○ ☼

Waking up at 11:42 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

At the Rec with Ana shooting the basketball around.

Back home. Falafel Wrap with Hummus, Tomato, and Mustard. French Fries. Oolong Tea. Navel Orange.

Finishing Spectre (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Tempeh with Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, Beets, and Quinoa. Chocolate Butterscotch Caramels.

At the music space rehearsing with DEJA.

Back home. Pineapple and Scandinavian Swimmers.

Ginger Tea.

Sleep 4 a.m.

---

[i] Ingela P Arrhenius.

Sunday January 24 2016

Waking up around 11 a.m. next to Ana in my bed. I always give her a hard time about her butt and how I think it's big. But she always complains how she doesn't think it's big and even that my butt is bigger than hers, which is not true. In reality, I think she has a great body and I tell her this frequently.

Morning sex.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Watching Vsauce.

The winter rock school sessions have started. I missed last week's. We got a solid three bands: one adult band, one teenage band, and one younger. We're even throwing in some Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins this time around.

In between, I get lunch: Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Chocolate Butterscotch Caramels. Black Tea.

Chores.

Lentils, Broccoli, Zucchini, Carrots, and Quinoa.

Watching Spectre (2015).

Enjoying some Scandinavian Swimmers (gummie candy), the Trader Joe's version of Swedish Fish.

Figuring out stuff at the computer desk.

Talking with Will and Ana in the kitchen. I mention how Kevin took two showers within the course of eight hours. He barely left the house nor did he go the gym or anything.

"Let's not hurt ourselves trying to plunge the depths of his mind," Will says.

At Music Makers. It's past 1 a.m. Setting up the humidifier in the piano room then getting lost at the ivories playing through classical pieces and coming up with a new piano ballad.

Sleep 4 a.m.

Saturday January 23 2016

[i]

Waking up at 12:30 p.m. I could've woken up earlier but after checking my phone and seeing I had lesson cancellations I decided to just hibernate the morning.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Teaching an in-home lesson for Jolin, my only Chinese-speaking student. She's barely in first grade and only speaks a little English. The mother stands by to help translate my instructions. After the lesson is over the mother explains that she always wanted to be a great piano player when she was younger but her parents couldn't afford to keep giving her lessons. So she wants to give her child a chance to live that dream.

Out on the roads it's windy and icy, nothing normal people can't handle driving in.

Running errands.

Grilled PB&J. Fuji Apple. Oolong Tea. Chocolate Butterscotch Caramels.

Chores.

Our DEJA gig got cancelled tonight cause of the snow but only because the club owner decided it wouldn't be worth it to pay us and not have anyone show up. Instead, Drew invites me for a poker night at his friend's house down the street. His son, Tim, DeeGee, and other familiar faces from the last Music Makers Christmas party are here. $10 buy-ins for the first game with ten players. I manage to make it to the top three and then we split it so we can fire up another game. Someone orders Pizzas from Brother's. I partake in a couple slices and sip on a Crispin. The second game I win a few really good hands and from there I stay on top. Drew goes all in with two pairs and I call him with trip kings. It's an intense showdown. I walk away with the first place title.

Back home. Cuddling (or canoodling) with Ana in her bed. 

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Friday January 22 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11ish a.m.

Making breakfast for Ana and I. Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

At noon I look outside the window and discover thick snowfall. It looks like somebody in the sky just cut open a down pillow and feathers are floating all over the city.

My goal today is to purchase an actual coat for winter instead of always using layers of hoodies and track jackets. Ana and I head to Plato's Closet and then H&M at Lynnhaven Mall.

When leaving the store Ana waits for me to get in front of her and open the front doors.

"Go!" I say. "Why are you always waiting for me to go? Why can't you lead the pack?"

"I don't like being the leader," she exclaims.

"Well I don't like it when you wait for me to lead cause sometimes I need you to lead!"

Back home. Making lunch for Ana and I: Scrambled Eggs, Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese, Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato, and Honey Green Tea.

Will joins us at the table with a cinnamon raisin bagel. We discuss the concept of emulators and how in the future almost everything will have a digital emulation for it.

We had planned to eat at Commune on 17^th Street for brunch but as Ana states, "We had our own commune at the house."

Jimmy Napier had called me a few days ago offering me some music gear of his. He's my mom's ex-husband and father to my sister who died in '91. I have fond memories when I was a boy visiting his little apartment off Norfolk Avenue near Shadowlawn. He taught me how to play a bar chord on guitar. He also used to do a lot of solo gigs back in his day. Ana and I go over to visit him and his Vietnamese wife. We talk a little bit about music and traveling – and share tunes back and forth on guitar.

At the Rec playing pick-up basketball and shooting the ball around with Ana.

Back home. Making dinner: Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti with Tomato Basil Sauce and a Salad.

Chocolate Butterscotch Caramels.

Chilling on Ana's bed watching Portlandia and a bunch of movie trailers. Then, an exchange of I love you's and she's off to sleep.

Finishing up chores – prepping potatoes – washing grapes.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Thursday January 21 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Watching a Vsauce video about the Zipf mystery (the 80/20 rule). In the second half Michael mentions a word from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows...Olēka: the awareness of how few days are memorable. It's true that the majority of days will be forgotten. But throughout the days you are always searching for something transcendent. This connects with me and the reason I started writing the blog and documenting each day that I live.

"I cannot remember the books I've read anymore than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Organizing. Making bread. Chores.

Grilled PB&J on Sourdough. Fuji Apple. Honey Green Tea.

Watching Blunt Force Trauma (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Dried Mango. Potato Chips.

At the Rec for adult basketball. The parquet courts are extra dusty and slippery cause of the dry air. This causes quite a number of falls.

Back home. Ana cooks us dinner tonight: Tofu, Onions, Broccoli, and Quinoa. The tofu turned out to taste super salty from all the amino acids (soy sauce) she marinated it in. But we still enjoy the meal. Topping it off with cans of Pineapple Juice.

Practicing piano.

Meanwhile, Ana finished cleaning up her bedroom, a feat rarely performed in completion. I know it's been bothering her living in a messy room. Her mind always feels cluttered when her room is cluttered.

Sleep 2 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Wednesday January 20 2016

[i]

Waking up just before 11 a.m.

Greek Yogurt with Strawberries.

Teaching a lesson at Music Makers.

Picking up some stuff from Whole Foods.

Grilled PB&J on Sourdough. Fuji Apple. Yerba Mate Tea.

Watching The Gift (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Dried Mango. Red Grapes.

More lessons.

Back home. Making dinner: Barramundi Filets with Beans, Chard, Carrots, Onions, and Rice.

At the music space for The Wall rehearsal with DEJA.

Enjoying some Cookie treats with Ana.

Pomegranate White Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Tuesday January 19 2016

Waking up at 11:18 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Organizing. Chores.

Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Oolong Tea.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Banana. Dried Mango.

At the Rec stretching and shooting the ball around.

Back home. Making dinner: Lentils, Onions, Celery, Cauliflower, Zucchini, and Quinoa.

Watching The Gift (2015).

Practicing piano with the headphones on – rehashing DEJA tunes and making up a jazzy melody. Ana enters the room and remarks on how warm and comfortable it is in my room. I play the jazzy song for her.

"It hits all the right spots," she says.

Sleep 2:40 a.m.

Monday January 18 2016

[i]

Waking up 11:30 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Blueberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Errands. At the music space restringing Ana's electric guitar.

Grilled PB&J. Potato Lentil Curls. Fuji Apple. Honey Green Tea. Milk Chocolate.

Watching The Visit (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Then, straight to Chicho's Pizza on 29^th and Pacific. Mike Gombas is already setting the mood keeping us warm with his sweet melodies. My mom and Myra are actually here together (now that uncle Kenny is in the hospital for a while they're both able to go out). Elliott, Steven, and a few other familiar faces are here too. I've got Ana by my side singing harmonies and taking lead on a few songs. Kevin hops on the violin for the last three numbers. It's a fun little night of music and friends. I grab a couple Cheese slices.

At 30 degrees it's painfully cold, the kind of cold when all living things scurry inside to stay warm, even cockroaches – I've been spotting them throughout the night. Back home enjoying a couple bowls of Salad with Ana at the table.

Upstairs in my room Ana and I share conversation and reflect on the night. We embrace. I thank her for singing with me like she always does, "I ask a lot of you."

"I don't ask a lot of you," she replies. "But you give me a lot."

Pineapple Juice.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

---

[i] Images by Kevin Moore.

Sunday January 17 2016

[i]

Early in the morning before 9 a.m. I can hear the couple next door arguing – their voices sound like a low rumble but just audible enough to be annoying. The guy keeps hammering nails to the wall and ending his statements with "you piece of shit!"

Later on, Ana and I awaken before 10:30 a.m. and enjoy a little bit of sexy time.

While making breakfast she exclaims in a humorous way, "My face is all puffy from crying!"

"Well why you crying all the time?" I ask. "There's no reason to be sad. 'Don't worry. Be happy.'"

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

It's an icy rainy day – not cold enough to form into snow just yet. Ana and I run a few errands like getting groceries at Trader Joe's.

At the Rec spending all my time on the court playing pick-up basketball with a few guys. My team is undefeated the whole afternoon so I'm pretty much on non-stop.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Oolong Tea.

Doing my part of cleaning the kitchen. I attempt to get behind the stove but the cord is built into the cabinets making it difficult to pull out all the way.

Tangelo.

Power nap.

Painting on this mold killing primer on the bathroom ceiling.

Making dinner for Ana and I: Marinated Tempeh with Mushrooms, Onions, Broccoli, Carrots, and Brown Rice.

Later on, Will and Kevin join us downstairs. Kevin pulls out his fiddle so we can work on a few tunes he'll be accompanying me on tomorrow night.

At the music space with Ana rehearsing for the last time on songs.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Saturday January 16 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:30 a.m.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Skyping with Aysena, my ex-girlfriend who's living in Yakutsk, Russia at the moment. I'm helping her with writing a motivation letter to get a scholarship. But it's nice to catch up. Been a few years since we had a conversation.

Banana. Protein Bar.

Driving all the way over to an assisted living home to meet my mom. I offered to help her friend Reinette move to another assisted living home. There're a couple of older guys here with a truck and a van. Using dollies to get all the boxes and furniture shoved into our vehicles. It's a lot of work that takes about five hours to complete. With everyone working together we get it done.

Finally back home. I'm tired and hungry.

Eating leftover slices of Pizza and a Salad.

Power napping. Ana awakens me after a 15-minute sleep. She hops into my bed and cuddles my backside. She complains about how her hands and arms hurt from lifting freezer boxes at work.

At the music space with her rehearsing songs.

Sharing Popcorn and Dark Chocolate in my room. She sits on my bed while I scroll through videos on the computer.

Back in her room while snuggled up in her Snoogle pillow she gets a little teary-eyed, something about feeling alone. I let her know that I'm right here and that she's not alone, ever.

I settle down next to her at 2:30 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Friday January 15 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11:07 a.m.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, Maca Powder, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Teaching a lesson at Music Makers.

Organizing.

Grilled PB&J. Lentil Potato Curls. Apple. Oolong Tea.

Meeting up with Elliott and Nate at a Starbucks near Little Neck to transfer and exchange video footage from the racing weekend.

Rehearsing songs with Ana in her bedroom.

Then on to Norfolk for a rock show. Beforehand we get our grub on at Field Guide off Granby Street. Unfortunately, the closest parking place is near Work Release, where the show is gonna happen later. So for about six blocks we have to tromp through puddles and brace the pouring rain.

"We must really love our Field Guide to be walking through this," I tell Ana.

And it's true. There, I order the Yala Surfer (Grilled Chicken, Bleu Cheese Apple ColeSlaw, and Lupo Hot Sauce) and we share a side of Roasted Curry Vegetables. A delicious atmosphere.

Now to Work Release. I'm performing with Ladada on bass with Josiah and Bobby. We're on first. Then, a band called Due Diligence from NYC. They threw in the bass player from local band, Arms Bizarre, in the mix last minute cause I guess their bass player got too sick to tour with them. Issac, the lead singer, leads us all in a cathartic and interactive rally of rock n roll jams. We each get our own percussive toy instruments like tambourines, shakers, and clappers to make noise with during their set. Afterwards, the deejays spin the hip-hop, some retro and some current.

Back home. Glad to be able to rip off my soaked socks.

Sipping on Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Images by Kevin and some by me.

Thursday January 14 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11:32 a.m.

Greek Yogurt with a Cara Orange.

Teaching a lesson at Music Makers.

Scrambled Eggs with Spinach. Toast with Butter and Jam. Olive Oil Potato Chips. Yerba Mate Tea. Banana.

Teaching more lessons at Music Makers.

Fuji Apple.

At the Rec for adult basketball. I'm able to arrive on time and play a string of games back to back.

Back home. Making dinner with Ana: Salmon, Rice, and Beans with Roasted Kale Sprouts, Carrots, and Onions. We're able to enjoy our meal together at the dining booth while Will and Kevin linger around us – talking about this game that Will has where you have to diffuse a bomb.

At the storage unit off Tidewater Drive for Ladada rehearsal with Josiah and Bobby. We're brewing up a couple of fresh jams for tomorrow's show including an old Bamm Bamm song and a Velvet Underground cover.

Back home.

Orange Juice.

Sleep 4 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Wednesday January 13 2016

[i]

Waking up around noon.

Banana.

Chiro visit.

Grilled PB&J. Fuji Apple. Yerba Mate Tea.

Watching The Harvest (2013).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers. In between, snacking on a Beet Spelt Muffin that Ana made yesterday.

Back home. Making homemade Pizza with Tomato Basil Sauce, Green Peppers, and a Spinach Salad.

At the music space for The Wall rehearsal with DEJA. Everybody is here, even Ana. And there's a video crew, friends of ours, here filming and getting shots for a promo.

Back at the house. Chit-chatting with Will and Ana downstairs while I repair a couple things on Ana's Epiphone guitar. She's walking around with her silk green robe and a towel wrapped around her head – her hands dyed blue from all the frozen blueberries she continuously nibbles on.

Sleep 4 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Tuesday January 12 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11:20 a.m.

Almond Granola Bars. Brown Rice Green Tea.

Business. Scheduling. Organizing.

Double Egg Sandwich with Butter, Mustard, and Tomato. Potato Chips. Pu-erh Tea.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Apple.

At the Rec for adult basketball.

Beans, Quinoa, Kale, Carrots, and Onions.

Finishing The Martian (2015).

Pineapple.

At the music space practicing The Wall set and figuring the last of my keyboard patches. Later on, Ana joins me to rehearse our songs.

ACV drink.

Sleep 4 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Monday January 11 2016

[i]

Waking up around 11 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Maca Powder, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Ana and I go to the Rec to shoot around the basketball and work out.

Making Grilled PB&J's. Fuji Apple. Oolong Tea. Lentil Potato Curls.

Watching The Martian (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

I got a little Thank You card from Jean-Marc, one of my former piano students who just recently moved to Italy with his family. It's letters like these that make me feel like I'm doing this teacher thing the right way.

He says, "Dear Mr. Robert, thank you for being such a spectacular piano teacher and being so helpful to me when I was not acting good. I hope you had a wonderful month. I have had a lot of fun in Italy. Love Jean-Marc."

Getting groceries at Trader Joe's.

Setting up some stuff at the music space to rehearse for my solo gig next Monday.

Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti with Tomato Basil Sauce, Mushrooms, Green Peppers, and Onions. Salad.

When Ana gets off work I take her to the music space to rehearse some songs. She accompanies me with a tom and a hi-hat on an old Musicplayer song. We get carried away with other songs while another band on the floor below us practices 90's tunes. I tend to get really bossy and charismatic when trying to clamp down a good take of a song but Ana usually takes it in stride and stays committed with me.

"Don't always focus on imitation – sometimes you gotta just find the notes that are supposed to be there," I yell out.

Back home. Sipping on an ACV drink then bedtime next to Ana. Before we drift off to sleep a little bit of sexy time.

---

[i] Image by me.

Sunday January 10 2016

[i]

Waking up at 12:32 p.m.

Steel Cut Oats with Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Maca Powder, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

Talking with Ana in her room about my trip at the racetrack with Elliott.

At the Rec playing a few pick-up basketball games, then King of the Court.

Tuna Salad Sandwich with Lettuce and Tomato. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Oolong Tea.

Watching Swordfish (2001).

At the music space for The Wall rehearsal with DEJA.

Back home. Eating leftover Lentils with Kale, Carrots, and Rice.

Organizing video footage from the weekend.

Enjoying a Crispin and sorting out the footage.

Raspberry Licorice Stick.

ACV Elderberry drink.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.