Monday February 29 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:19 a.m.

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

Working out at the Rec.

Grilled PB&J. Fuji Apple. Lentil Potato Curls. Pu-erh Tea.

Watching Trumbo (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

In between, filling up my water jugs at Whole Foods.

Back home.

Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce, Onions, Romanesco, and a Salad.

Watching Victor Frankenstein (2015).

Wine and Chocolate.

Visiting with Ana in her room. Her voice is healing but she's got a deadly cough. I supply her with dinner and a lozenge to help her throat.

Practicing.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Sunday February 28 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

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

Organizing.

The sun is shining and calling everyone out of their houses. I take to the Lynnhaven Middle School basketball courts to shoot some hoops for a little while.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Potato Chips. Pu-erh Tea.

Coaching three rock school sessions at the music space.

Fuji Apple.

When I arrive back home. Ana set up the lentils to cook in the crock-pot but we need them to cook faster so I transfer them to a pot on the stove. I kind of get aggravated about it but really I'm fine. I tend to sound more irritated than I really am. Her voice is gradually coming back but it's still raspy. We share a stressful moment. And then Kevin comes marching down the stairs and tries to intervene with his comical antics.

Me: "Kevin, I'm about to punch you in the face right now. Just be quiet!"

...

A few minutes later I step into Ana's room and apologize. We link up and sway to the music on the stereo.

"Sometimes we have to just stop a minute and...dance," I say.

Lentils, Carrots, Onions, Kales, and Quinoa.

Meeting up with Nigel and Jimmy at Soul Haven Studios off Witchduck. There's still some leftover harmony tracks we didn't record from a while back for the ELO project.

Back home.

Grapes.

Sleep 2 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Saturday February 27 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

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

Teaching a lesson at Music Makers.

Errands – bank – CVS – Trader Joe's.

Chic Pea Falafel with Lettuce, Tomato, Hummus, and Mustard. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Pu-erh Tea. Chocolate.

Watching Trumbo (2015).

Practicing. Reconfiguring patches on the keyboard. Organizing.

Banana.

Down the street at South Beach Grill for the DEJA gig.

Tuna Bites with a hefty Salad (brought lovingly by Ana).

There seems to be a lot of technical difficulties tonight – the light system keeps darkening – there are a lot of distractions – space on stage is limited creating a train wreck of cords and cables. I fumble on the Boston song in the organ intro. It being my first time performing it I kind of expected that. The triplet rhythm is hard to keep on tempo with the rest of the band. Michael Williams, a locally famous drummer and friend of the guys, takes over the microphone for the yodeling on Hocus Pocus.

Back home.

Navel Orange. Milk Chocolate. Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3:40 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Friday February 26 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m. My left thumb is sore and in minor pain. While trying to prepare breakfast and do basic things I feel so inefficient not being able to use my left hand like I'm used to.

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

Testing out my capabilities on the guitar without using my left hand thumb. I'm pretty much useless – no bar chords and no muting of the low E string. I've got a DEJA gig tomorrow so I gotta figure this out. The piano I'll have to improvise a lot of the left hand parts.

Organizing.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Plantain Chips. Pu-erh Tea. Banana.

Got a bunch of in-home lessons scheduled – one out in Lynnhaven and three in Croatan. Fridays have become my private lesson days.

At the Rec working out.

Back home. Ana's making us a scrumptious dinner. I lend a hand. There's a traffic jam in the kitchen. Will already has rights to the kitchen after us but Kevin comes marching in demanding to cook his green beans.

Roasted Portobello Mushrooms with Tomato, Avocado, Beets, Onions, a Salad, and Baked Yuca Fries.

Ana's lost her voice – it's adoringly raspy. I mention how similar her voice sounds now to Scarlett Johansson.

Will says, "You sound like Scarlett Johansson with laryngitis."

Later on, my mom pops in for a minute. We share a glass of Wine.

Practicing piano.

Grapefruit.

Soaking my thumb in Epsom salt.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Thursday February 25 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

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

Cleaning. Chores.

Chic Pea Falafel Sandwich with Lettuce, Tomato, Mustard, and Hummus. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Oolong Tea. Coconut Flour Brownie.

Watching Criminal Activities (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

At the Rec for adult basketball. Before the games even start, while I'm shooting around, my left hand thumb gets bashed in by an air ball shot by some idiot kid. I'm in pain. I'm angry. It wasn't even five minutes after I stepped onto the court before I hurt my thumb. I could've just let the ball hit me in the face. I would've rather endured my glasses getting knocked off before I get mallet finger on my thumb. I keep ice on it. Despite, I still play a bunch of games – just gotta take it easy on my left hand.

Back home.

Vega Protein Drink.

Ana and I put together a quick dinner: Tempeh, Asparagus, Purple Cauliflower, Carrots, Onions, and Couscous.

Ana and I hop in the car and head to Norfolk for Throwback Thursdays at Work Release. Tonight the deejays are spinning 90's era hip-hop.

Back home.

Pomegranate White Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Wednesday February 24 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10 a.m.

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

At the Rec working out – continuing my vertical jump regimen – feeling real good.

Vege Protein Drink. Grilled PB&J. Potato Chips. Fuji Apple. Pu-erh Tea.

Watching The Walk (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Ana's not feeling good at all today – she claims to be feverish and achy. I propose making tea for her.

"I would like some tea but I have to pee," she says.

Me: "That rhymes, Ana!"

For dinner: Vegetable Pad Thai with Vegetables, Eggs, and Brown Rice.

At the music space rehearsing a new song with DEJA: Foreplay/ Long Time by Boston. It's got a speedy triplet progression in the beginning that shines the spotlight on me. I don't feel competent yet on the parts and yet the boys are pushing to play it at the gig this Saturday. I admire their ambition.

Back home.

Peaches and Applesauce.

Sleep 2:40 a.m.

---

[i] Philippe Petit. 1974.

Tuesday February 23 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:40 a.m.

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

Business.

At the Rec shooting the ball around. No strenuous workout today.

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

Finishing Secret in Their Eyes (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Fuji Apple.

Meeting a guy off Indian River to check out an upright piano that one of my Chinese student's mom is interested in.

Picking up a few things at Target.

Back home.

Making leftover Sprouted Mung Beans, Kale, Carrots, and Brown Rice.

Watching The Walk (2015).

Lindt Milk Chocolate (Molten Lava Cake) and Argentinean Malbec Red Wine.

Practicing keyboard licks.

"You know what? I like having chocolate with wine," Ana says to me as she sprawls out on my bed. I supplied her with dinner as usual as well as chocolate and wine tonight.

Lounging in the bed with her. I hang up her green bath robe on the edge of the loft bed creating a curtain.

Me: "It's like our little clubhouse! Nobody can see us."

She hops on top of me and we go at it. It feels good to make love.

Sleep 2 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Monday February 22 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:22 a.m.

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

At the Great Neck Rec working out. Focusing on increasing my vertical jump.

Vega Protein Drink. Tuna Salad Sandwich with Lettuce and Tomato. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Oolong Tea. Navel Orange.

Watching Secret in Their Eyes (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Dried Mango.

In between lessons I sell a wooden corner shelf I've had for many years and then turn around and buy a piano from another guy – it's a Melodigrand, a 64-key compact piano that was used in a music school somewhere in town. I couldn't resist forking out $40 for it.

Back home.

Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti Noodles with Marinara Sauce, Mushrooms, and Onions. Salad. French Baguette.

Organizing – doing teacher homework like printing out practice worksheets and writing out the schedule for the week.

Orange Juice.

Setting up stuff at the music space.

Sleep 2:30 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Sunday February 21 2016

Waking up at 11 a.m.

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

Doing my house duties of cleaning the kitchen.

Grilled PB&J. Oolong Tea. Fuji Apple.

Coaching Rock School sessions at Music Makers.

Snacking on Plantain Chips.

Sometimes it can be stressful managing everybody's role in these bands. I gotta watch myself cause I can be a bit pushy and forward but it's easy to turn that into something humorous.

Leftover Sprouted Mung Beans with Purple Cauliflower, Carrots, Onions, and Quinoa.

There's an application that can read your face to see if you have "resting bitch face". Apparently, I show contempt and anger equally. It's fun to compare results with roommates. Meanwhile, the smoke detector sirens off cause Ana left the tea pot on the stove boiling water for so long it evaporated and the enamel burned into the range.

Sleep 2 a.m.

Saturday February 20 2016

Waking up at 11 a.m. feeling well rested. I was starting the habit of getting up earlier than this but my body needed more sleep to heal my muscles.

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

Watching Chef's Table (2015).

At the Rec but not for working out. Today I plan on playing basketball as hard as I can.

Back home.

Chic Pea Falafel Wrap with Lettuce, Tomato, Hummus, and Mustard. Potato Chips. Fuji Apple. Pu-erh Tea.

Finishing Legend (2015).

Organizing.

Business.

Working on a few old melodies on guitar – trying to write again. Listening to tracks from the full band Musicplayer recordings I was working on years ago that I never finished and feeling overwhelmed with all the original material I keep accumulating but never complete. In my mind is a library of little song ideas – it's a daunting task to actually work through and turn them into real things.

Salmon, Baby Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, Green Peppers, and Couscous.

Watching Solace (2015).

Ana arrives home from work. I show her all the revelations I had today with music.

Pomegranate Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Friday February 19 2016

Waking up at 10:19 a.m.

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

Teaching a couple lessons at Music Makers.

Getting groceries at Trader Joe's.

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

Watching Legend (2015).

Driving out to teach my Friday in-home piano lessons.

Back home. Feeling mentally exhausted.

Leftover Pizza and a Salad.

Practicing piano – learning Boston and Yes songs for DEJA.

Cutting my hair.

Ana comes into my bed – we share fuzzy moments together. She uses a word in tagalog, "gigil", which roughly translated into English means, "an extreme urge to squeeze someone or something, usually brought about by a cute or irritating object". This is something Ana does constantly to me, pinching my butt in joyful angst.

Sleep 2:30 a.m.

Thursday February 18 2016

[i]

☼ ○ ▬

I'm trapped in a storyline. Approaching an old house that's been haunted for years. I can see a black and white tinted image of ghoulish girl in the window of the second floor – it almost looks like an amateur crop job on the computer but it's understood to be real. The front doors fly open. I drift back slowly in hopes to leave the vicinity but I have no choice. The story controls me. I'm being pulled forward into the house. There's the girl from the window just standing sort of floating backwards. At first she frightens me – I try to avoid eye contact. But then, her whispers and ghostly cooing kind of turns me on. Now there's romantic feels between her and I. Now she just looks like a young attractive girl named Peppy. Another set of doors open and she is pulled away from me. I've been here before in this story or this dream. She actually died years ago but her sister is still alive. It's my job to investigate her death through the visions the house gives me. I take notes as I watch scenes of her sister, Kate, waltz into the house with boyfriends being careless around Peppy. I have five hours to take notes in a notepad and write up an article to publish online. Once I do this I'm free to go and Peppy's spirit will be free too. 

▬ ○ ☼

Ana's restless next to me resituating herself every five minutes.

"You're like a squirmy little worm!" I tell her.

After a little bit of sex I can't go back to sleep. It's almost 9:30 a.m. so I decide to hop out of bed.

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

Banana.

At the Rec working out.

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

Watching Chef's Table (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Back home. Preparing dinner and a movie for Ana and I.

Sprouted Mung Beans with Onions, Kale, Carrots, and Quinoa.

Watching The Lobster (2015). Both of us are amazed at how ludicrous the story is, and with an all-star cast. The whole movie feels like a darker version of a Wes Anderson film but you can still laugh your way through it.

Sharing Russian and Polish Chocolate.

Sleep 2 a.m.

---

[i] From The Lobster (2015).

Wednesday February 17 2016

[i]

☼ ○ ▬

With Ana trying to locate this café she went to a few months ago. She doesn't know the name of it and the only thing we have to go by is a few pictures on Instagram from her friend. We drive down VB Blvd near the thrift stores on Newtown Road and walk in a familiar coffee shop.

"This has to be it," I tell her. "I can't think of any other place."

Even after being inside it still doesn't ring a bell for her. We try to order a few things but their delivery truck hasn't come in yet so there's no food to make. When trying to leave we get separated somehow. I can't seem to find her anywhere. I assume she walked up the street to the thrift stores. Later on, we're all crammed up in a car driving in Florida in route to the beach. A man stops us at the entrance to the resort. He insists on searching Ana's pockets and backpack. He does so in a hostile and sexual manner. I march out and push him aside. I start demanding he stop.

"Why are you touching my girlfriend like that?!"

He fights back but I hold his arms in place.

"We're not fighting – we're just gonna talk," I tell him.

He turns into a little boy. Then, I start scolding him like one. Feeling worn out from trying to reason with this kid and trying to manage everything that's going on. I take a big breath and say to Ana, "I'm just so tired of...trying to keep everything calm."

▬ ○ ☼

Waking up at 10:20 a.m.

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

I grab Ana and we head to City Lights to buy new specialty bulbs for a neon sign in my room and the Asian waterfall lamp in the dining room. While over on this side of the city we scope out the thrift stores in search of dressers for Ana. Then, a visit to a European Deli market around the corner for Russian and Polish chocolate.

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

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Back home. Making four homemade Pizzas with Mushrooms and Peppers. Ana, John Fatigate, and Elliott arrive home from You're Jovian practice. I offered to feed them all. Hanging out and throwing pig dice on the table.

I've noticed Ana has been exceptionally more jovial the past few days – she's full of so much laughter and joy more than usual. I don't understand it. I mention how I think it could be because she's fresh off her period but I don't know. Whatever the reason I like this version of her compared to the times when she gets moody. 

Pineapple and Chocolate.

Settling down with Pomegranate White Tea and catching up on the day.

Ana comes into my room and says, "I'm sleeping with you in your bed tonight and I don't care what you say."

She's cute when she gets demanding.

Sleep 1:30 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Tuesday February 16 2016

[i]

☼ ○ ▬

Anxiety dreams with DEJA setting up at the MOCA for The Wall show.

▬ ○ ☼

Waking up at 10:30 a.m.

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

Ana and I head to the Great Neck Rec for an afternoon workout.

Back home. Sharing a Navel Orange. I make myself a Vega Protein Shake and a Grilled PB&J.

Gotta get to the MOCA art museum by 3 p.m. so that DEJA can do a run through of the set before the big show tonight. Of course, we're still dealing with last minute technical problems. Drew's computer that's supposed to be playing the movie is freezing up during segments. I run back home and snag my laptop so we can set it up on there. Everything's finally coming together piece by piece. Our nerves are high but so are our spirits. The theater room fills out quickly – not an empty seat in sight. I'm responsible for the very first note: an oboe melody in the key of C. And from there it all goes smoothly right up until the end where everyone shouts, "TEAR DOWN THE WALL!" over and over again.

Standing ovation after the last explosion. Mingling with people out in the lobby. Mike Gombas, Steven, and a couple other friends show up. Enjoying a big Chicken, Kimchi, Cucumber, and Rice Burrito I bought from a Korean food truck earlier. It's a big relief to finally be done with this show that we rehearsed over the past three months. It was worth all the work we put into it.

Back home. Will's been a busy little bee – installing a new adjustable shelf in the dining room and tweaking small things around the house.

"I declare this day Williams Day!" Ana declares.

Enjoying a Cookie.

Helping Will rearrange things.

Sleep 2 a.m.

---

[i] Image by Glenn Woodell – other images by me.

Monday February 15 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11:11 a.m. to the delightful aroma of Blueberry Pancakes being made by Ana downstairs in the kitchen. We enjoy three each with Greek Yogurt and Yerba Mate.

At the Rec starting up a workout regimen that I tried to keep up last year but it just faded out after a while. Instead of just playing basketball I'm gonna stick to working out on designated times.

Scrambled Eggs, Kale, Sweet Potatoes, Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese, Navel Orange, and Oolong Tea. Chocolate.

Finishing Lone Survivor (2013).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Fuji Apple.

Taking care of chores.

General Tso's Tempeh with Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, and Quinoa.

Watching Creed (2015).

Ana arrives home and discovers her share of dinner all warm and ready to eat on her desk. She enters my room and says, "You are too good to me and I don't deserve you."

"Shut up," I reply with a grin.

Continuing my chores for the night.

Practicing piano.

Ana comes in my room naked wrapped up in her fox blanket. We act silly and admire each other's bubbles butts. She keeps saying my butt is bigger than hers but I beg to differ.

Sleep 2:30 a.m. 

---

[i] Image by me.

Sunday February 14 2016

[i]

☼ ○ ▬

Drew and DeeGee are managers at my old workplace, Sonic on Nimmo Parkway (I spent a few years being a carhop and manager here in waking life). I got hired to work here again after all these years. After checking out the walk-in refrigerators I discover shrimp have been thrown all over the floor. Apparently Drew got angry at one of the other new employees. The POS screens fill up with orders. Some of the items look familiar but everything's changed slightly. I have good feelings about working here again – I remember enjoying the fast-paced environment.

▬ ○ ☼

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Ana arrives home from visiting her mom and aunt in Chesapeake. I made us breakfast: Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Strawberries, and Kefir. Yerba Mate Tea.

At the MOCA art museum with DEJA setting up for our big Wall show Tuesday. We have the whole afternoon to get everything in working order. There's tons to do. We barely have enough time to run through the whole set but it's looking awesome. I brought my survival kit of snacks for lunch: Peanuts, Almonds, Seaweed, Plantain Chips, and an Apple.

Getting some groceries at Whole Foods.

Back home.

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

Watching Lone Survivor (2013).

Blueberry Scone.

Ana arrives home. I have her dinner ready and waiting on her desk along with a single rose arrangement and a bar of chocolate.

Me: "And here's dinner as usual."

Her: "Every day is Valentine's Day here."

Chocolate.

Practicing piano.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Saturday February 13 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

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

Watching a documentary on Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Banana.

Afternoon DEJA rehearsal for The Wall, the last one till the big show.

Hard-Boiled Eggs. Potato Chips. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Dried Mango. Oolong Tea.

Making falafels from scratch.

Attempting to powernap but its futile cause Kevin marches into the house, then Ana.

At The Escape running a little bit on the treadmill.

At the music space packing my keyboard rig up and testing out this guitar amp that Jimmy Napier gave me.

Back home.

English Peas, Beets, Kale, Carrots, and Quinoa.

Practicing piano.

Sleep 4 a.m.

---

[i] Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Friday February 12 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11:15 a.m.

Greek Yogurt with Strawberries and Blueberries.

I sent a flash from the past picture from the 1623 days on Voxer, where James, Richie, Kevin, Anthony, Allyson, Stacy, and Josh are connected.

Anthony responds with his usual heightened conviction, "God, the past isn't as great as you think it is! Now let me listen to this Oasis song you motherfuckers! The past is a dead end! [Beck's 'Loser' playing in the background] Nostalgia is the worst kind of mania!"

He's still spitting out gold nuggets like a walking human novel.

Chores.

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

It's snowing steadily out. Thick snowflakes land softly on the roof of my car.

My Chinese student cancelled on me today cause of the weather. Because it's probably busy at their restaurant they didn't have time to bring home the kid.

While browsing the Salvation Army thrift store off Lynnhaven I find a large black sleeveless t-shirt with the words, "I LOVE ANA" on it.

It's a sign that I should continue loving her.

On to my students out in Croatan. Invigorating and fun lessons today.

Banana.

Getting groceries at Trader Joe's.

Power napping.

Salmon, Black Beans, Orange Cauliflower, Zucchini, Kales, Onions, and Brown Rice.

Watching Experimenter (2015).

Practicing music.

Grapes.

Hanging out with Ana in her room after she gets off work. She's finally off her period, which means we can enjoy sexual moods. Afterwards, I pull out her mini-synthesizer and pump out some cool electronic tunes.

Sleep 3 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Thursday February 11 2016

[i]

☼ ○ ▬

I come home to 1435 and find that Anthony has just cleaned the whole house thoroughly. Then I have to kick Richie and Mike Fry out of the house for being too rowdy.

▬ ○ ☼

Waking up at 11:15 a.m.

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

Teaching a lesson at Music Makers.

Stopping by the CHKD thrift store.

Organizing. Chores.

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

Watching Exposed (2016).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Adult basketball at the Rec.

Back home.

Leftover Pizza and Salad.

At the storage unit off Tidewater Drive meeting up with Josiah, Bobby, and Danny Rogers to shoot a Ladada music video for "Electric River". I brought some colorful wigs that make their way into the video.

Back home.

Orange Juice.

Spending a little bit of time with Ana in her room. She's wearing her light brown nightgown. I point out a couple melted chocolate spots on it that she was unaware of before I showed her. The evidence is all over her lips also.

"Ana, your bleeding chocolate!"

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

---

[i] Images by me.

Wednesday February 10 2016

[i]

Waking up just before 11 a.m. Ana and I take my car to Lee Papa's to repair a few things from my accident months ago.

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

Organizing. Ana takes me to my monthly chiro visit. While in the waiting room Ana sees a picture of a wolf and a vulture in National Geographic. We associate this picture with her affections towards chocolate...

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

Watching Black Mass (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Back home.

Mahi-mahi Filets with Beans, Orange Cauliflower, Zucchini, Onions, and Brown Rice.

At the music space for The Wall rehearsal with DEJA. Things are really coming together every cycle we take through the movie.

Back home. Enjoying some of Ana's homemade Blueberry Banana Muffins.

In her room we have a serious discussion on her feelings about our relationship. She's going through the time of the month where she has doubts about us clicking, which doesn't make sense to me cause we get along. Sometimes we have communication problems but we generally don't hate each other – if anything, we love each other.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

---

[i] Image by me.

Tuesday February 9 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11:30 a.m.

Greek Yogurt with Strawberries and Blueberries.

Chores.

Getting groceries at Whole Foods.

Scrambled Eggs. Potato Chips with Avocado. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Yerba Mate. Plum.

Watching Better Call Saul (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

At the Rec playing adult basketball.

Back home. Making homemade Pizza with Green Peppers, and Mushrooms with a Salad.

Watching Black Mass (2015).

Orange Juice.

At the music space setting up my keyboard rig and working on a few patches.

Talking with Emily Hill – it's been a while since we've caught up.

Back home.

Sleep 4 a.m.

---

[i] From Better Call Saul.

Monday February 8 2016

[i]

Waking up just before noon.

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

I can't talk to her today. She's still on wall mode. While driving to the gym together I try to investigate as to why she disabled her Facebook account, something she tends to do sometimes whenever life gets a little overwhelming. But just like last night there are no words...no answers...just brooding. Within a matter of ten minutes she's switched the stereo from The Smiths to a female singer-songwriter to the classical station and then to the big band station. This only reflects how unsettled she is in her mind. I really want to console her but it's all up to her. In the meantime I'm feeling annoyed at the way she's treating me.

Shooting some hoops and getting my cardio on at the Great Neck Rec.

Back home.

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

Watching Better Call Saul (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers. It's Addison's farewell lesson today. I've been teaching her for about a year. She takes home her piano exercise hermit crab and we write a song together about the heart...

Back home. Fixing the stereo setup for the TV in the living room. Meanwhile, Ana cooks up some dinner for us: Tempeh, Purple and White Cauliflower, Carrots, Onions, and Quinoa. We attempt to watch Suburban Gothic (2014) but the acting and pacing turn out to be unwatchable. So we skip through and find the decent parts.

In my room working on keyboard patches and practicing.

Later on, Ana comes in – we entertain ourselves with all the fun sounds on my keyboard.

Back in her room I tuck her into bed. She apologizes for being mean to me earlier today and mentions how afraid of everything she is.

"Don't be afraid of everything," I say. "Cause nothing is afraid of you."

We laugh at how ambiguous this sounds.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

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[i] Images by me.

Sunday February 7 2016

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Waking up at 10:50 a.m.

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

Rock School sessions at the music space with three bands. We had to schedule it earlier so other people could catch the super bowl on time.

Grilled PB&J. Plantain Chips. Applesauce. Oolong Tea.

Getting groceries at Trader Joe's.

Back home

My head hurts. Napping.

Practicing piano.

Black Bean Taco Bowl with Quinoa, Tomatoes, Beets, Guacamole, and Corn Tortilla Chips.

Watching Better Call Saul (2015).

Ana just started her period and so it becomes difficult for me to talk with her about her feelings on anything. She puts up this wall and there's really nothing I can say to tear it down.

Practicing more piano late into the night.

Sleep 3 a.m.

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[i] Images by me.

Saturday February 6 2016

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Waking up at 11 a.m.

My mom comes over, and with Ana, we manage to put together a delicious batch of homemade Blueberry Waffles with Yerba Mate Tea.

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Ana and I meet a guy off craigslist that's selling an old 8-track player. I've been trying to get my hands on an affordable one so I can transfer all these old 8-tracks my great uncle Kenny has stored up in his house.

"I feel full from the waffles," Ana declares while in route to the gym. She laughs at the slight tongue twister of f's.

Snacking on an Apple.

At the Great Neck Rec playing pick-up games of basketball.

Back home.

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

Watching Better Call Saul (2015).

Practicing piano and other various things.

Ana and I drive out to Charlie's Café in Norfolk for the rock show featuring Wandcarver, Basmati, and You're Jovian. Ana's been playing bass in Elliott's band. I also make an appearance on stage twiddling the tiny keys of an old synthesizer for one song.

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I order a 16-inch Veggie Pizza, gulp down a few O'Conner brews, and enjoy the show – seeing all familiar faces in the crowd and enjoying the colorful atmosphere.

Back home. Interacting with Will and his brother – making fun of Ana as she continuously reaches for handfuls of chocolate chips.

Sleep 2:30 a.m.

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[*] Images by me. 

[†] Images by Jeff Hewitt.