I LOVE: October 2016

Monday October 31 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Black Tea.

Business. Catching up on Music Makers bills.

Tuna Salad Sandwich with Tomato and Lettuce. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea. Fuji Apple.

Watching Black Mirror.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Book keeping at the store. Writing checks. Managing.

Back home. Ana...“won’t leave me alone” she interjects as I write this sentence. What I meant to say is she cooked us a unique dinner of Lentils, Zucchini, and Quinoa. I toast a few Whole Wheat Buns to go with.

Organizing and editing video footage.

Playing with Ana and the cat.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

[i] Images by Ana.

Sunday October 30 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Ana makes us homemade Blueberry Pancakes for breakfast. I brew some Guayusa Tea to go with.

Today is the big day for rock school. All four bands that Jimmy, Drew, and I have been coaching the past two months are performing at Shaka’s. It’s a long afternoon that involves a lot of set up. All the bands really shine this session. I’m very impressed with Cassie and her band. She, along with everyone else, really came out of their shell. God, did she sing her heart out. Everybody did such a wonderful job.

Settling in back home. Enjoying a long awaited lunch: Scrambled Eggs, Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese, Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato, and Honey Green Tea.

Later on, unloading all the music gear to the rehearsal space and the store. Taking care of some business.

Ana and I decide to treat ourselves out to Fujiyama Sushi.

Organizing video footage from the show.

Sleep next to Ana at 3 a.m.

[i] Images by Kevin Moore.

Saturday October 29 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

Final rock school rehearsal for the kids band, The Pineapple Keys.

PB&J. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.

Teaching some lessons at the studio.

Then, two more rock school rehearsals. The lead singer of The Nameless was having issues with letting her nerves getting the best of her. After gulping down an entire water bottle and talking her through it she eventually builds up the confidence. We end up having the most energetic practice we’ve had this session.

Back home.

Ana made dinner: Tofu with Brussel Sprouts, Onions, Kale, and Quinoa. Hard Cider.

Her and the boys go to Elliott’s Halloween bash in Norfolk. I’m too pooped to join in on the festivities. I need a break from the day.

Later on, when Ana gets back home we go to the space to rehearse the set for her band one time through.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Friday October 28 2016

Waking up at 10:15 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Coffee.

Basketball at the Rec.

Tuna Salad Sandwich with Lettuce and Tomato. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.

Watching Anthropoid (2016).

Teaching one in-home lesson.

Then, off on errands. Selling clothes to Plato’s Closet and in return buying a few pairs of pants. Checking out a fairly new music store called Music Go Around next door.

Target. Trader Joe’s.

Back home. Ana’s here earlier for a change. Making Naan Pizzas and Mushroom Fries.

At the music space with Ana rehearsing drum parts for rock school.

Troubleshooting the washing machine some more.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Thursday October 27 2016

Waking up at 10:25 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

Teaching a lesson.

Errands and things.

Toasted PB&J. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.

Teaching more lessons at Music Makers.

Apple.

Tempeh with Kale, Zucchini, Carrots, Onions, Quinoa, and Beet Soup.

Watching the new Black Mirror (2016).

Ladada rehearsal with Jonathan, Josiah, and Bobby. As soon as the amps turn on and the drums start pounding we enter a creative force of new song after new song. Time flies as we sift through solid guitar licks and drum lines.

Holiday Grapes.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Wednesday October 26 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

Teaching a few lessons at Music Makers.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Potato Chips with Avocado. Honey Green Tea.

Watching Into The Forest (2015).

Banana.

Teaching more lessons at Music Makers.

Back home.

Mixing leftovers of Vegetable Lasagna and Brown Rice Quinoa Noodles together. Naan Bread.

Our fairly new washing machine malfunctioned the other day, or should I say somebody made it malfunction by overloading it. I manage to reset the drive motor but we still have this issue of the tub hanging too low. I spend a good amount of time troubleshooting.

Black Tea.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Tuesday October 25 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

Meeting with Addie at the bank to officially get started on this business loan. It’s just one hurdle after the other.

Shooting the basketball at the Rec.

Egg, Vegetable Soup, Beet Greens, Naan Bread, Grapes, and Honey Green Tea.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers all day.

Apple.

Back home. Ana made a wonderful Vegetable Lasagna with Brussel Sprouts and Bread.

At the Music Makers store late at night with Ana helping her on drum parts for rock school and other various things.

Shortbread Cookies. Pu-erh Tea.

Watching Into The Forest (2015).

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Monday October 24 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:20 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Peaches, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

Running errands.

Ray Selman is at the store tuning the old Wurlitzer upright piano that I teach on. He’s great at what he does but man can he dive into tangents – he can talk you to death.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.

Coaching one rock school session with Drew.

Then teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Back home. Cooking dinner for the family, and by family I mean mom and Ana.

Salmon with Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, Black Beans, and Bamboo Rice.

Chocolate Cupcakes. Chamomile Tea.

At the store with Ana – while she practices drums I stay sharp on the piano.

Back home.

Chilling with Ana and the cat. Feels good to make love again.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Sunday October 23 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Peach Apricot Black Tea.

Coaching three rock school rehearsals with Jimmy.

PB&J. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.

Back home. Recharging myself with a nap.

Homemade Vegetable Black Bean Soup made by Mom with Naan Bread.

Back to the rehearsal space for DEJA Wall rehearsal. We’ve got all the girls here but no John. So we all attempt to fill in the lead vocal lines throughout the movie.

Home again. Having more soup and Grapes.

Catching up on things.

Sleeping next to Ana at 2 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Saturday October 22 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Peaches, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

Teaching afternoon lessons at Music Makers.

Toasted PB&J. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.

Tristan arrives in town to join in on the little reunion we got planned with Anthony, Josh, and friends later tonight. Him and I hop in the car and run some errands. Stopping by the Salvation Army Thrift Store and Guitar Center.

Then, meeting a guy off Craigslist to buy a pink mini Squier electric guitar and practice amp. Tristan and I didn’t realize we were walking right into an amateur car show. We look for the ’69 Camaro, white with black stripes.

Later, meeting with Charlie, the piano player at Bella Monte, to discuss possibly using his piano for a recital in December.

Tristan and I make it back home. All through the house not a creature was stirring and then, I hear the ruckus through the front door. Anthony is back in town for his birthday. He wanted to gather everyone for a reunion. And so we take a trip back in the past when things were quote unquote LIVE, a time when nothing was sacred in Kevin’s room (or maybe it still isn’t), a time when rules didn’t apply (or maybe they still don’t). Either way we’ve all grown up but the youthful spirits still hang on.

I cook up a big pot of Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti for myself and anyone.

Later on, we all corral at our favorite dive bar, The Office. Almost the whole gang: Anthony, Josh, Will, Tristan, James, Allyson, Aj, Melissa, Jessa Potter. Cynthia and Ana join up after I down a few Whiskey Sours. Anthony marches around in his new black and white Chuck Taylors of which he receives a new pair of every birthday by his parents. Good times. Good tunes on the jukebox.

Somehow we make it over to Mermaids, not sure why.

The late hour is upon me. I’m in my room now before the rest of them arrive home.

[i] Images by me.

Friday October 21 2016

Waking up at 10 a.m.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Coffee.

Taking some amps to Alpha for repair.

Basketball at the Rec – playing a bunch of full court games.

Selling some laser lights to a deejay guy named Floyd at Music Makers.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.

Teaching all my in-home lessons.

Back home. Halibut Filets with leftover Black Beans, Quinoa, and Vegetables. Sparkling Grapefruit Water.

Watching The Siege of Jadotville (2016).

Chores – laundry – cleaning the vacuum cleaner.

Apricot Peach Black Tea.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

Thursday October 20 2016

Waking up at 10:15 a.m.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

Teaching a few lessons.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Corn Tortilla Chips with Salsa and Guacamole. Honey Green Tea.

Watching a documentary on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Teaching more lessons at Music Makers for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Leftover Pizza.

Trying my hand at poker night with the boys. I last a long time as usual but then the slow bleed on my chips begins until the an all-in on nothing.

At the store troubleshooting amps and cleaning guitars.

Ana stops by to practice drums. She vents to me about her frustrations at work.

Back home.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Wednesday October 19 2016

[i]

Somewhere around 8 a.m. Ana and I make love after patiently waiting for her period to end.

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

Teaching a couple lessons at Music Makers.

Toasted PB&J. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.

Teaching more lessons at Music Makers.

Back home.

Black Bean Bowl with Quinoa, Cabbage, Beets, and Guacamole.

One rock school rehearsal with Lou, Mike, and Hannah.

Settling down back home.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Tuesday October 18 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Greek Yogurt. Black Tea.

Errands.

Chicken Salad Sandwich with Lettuce and Tomato. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.

Watching PlantPure Nation (2015).

Teaching lessons all day at Music Makers.

Back home. Ana made dinner: Tempeh with Vegetables and Brown Rice/Quinoa.

ELO rehearsal.

Chilling with Ana and Elvis watching the cat guru on YouTube explain cat behavior.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding.

Sleep 2 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Monday October 17 2016

Waking up at 10:20 a.m.

Sweet Potato Biscuits from Trader Joe’s. I burnt the bottoms of them from adding coconut oil spray. Oh well. Ana and I still eat them.

Guayusa Tea.

Taking care of errands – refilling the honey container at Heritage – dropping off documents at the bank – attempting to clean off the oil stains on our parking spots at Music Makers.

Double Egg Sandwich with Lettuce and Tomato. Corn Tortilla Chips with Salsa and Avocado. Honey Green Tea.

Coaching one rock school band with Drew.

Then, teaching lessons at Music Makers for the rest of the day.

Back home. Ana brought us Pizza from Whole Foods.

Ana, Cynthia, and I head to the music space. They wanted to play drums. I help restring Cynthia’s classical guitar.

Back home. Pumpkin Bread Pudding. Chamomile Tea.

Figuring out tunes on guitar and keyboard.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Sunday October 16 2016

[i]

Waking up at 10:20 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Milk. Yerba Mate Tea.

Rock school rehearsals all day from 12 – 6:30!

In between eating a Chicken Salad Sandwich with Lettuce and Tomato. Potato Chips with Avocado. Sparkling Watermelon Water.

Banana. Apple.

Immediately after DEJA Wall rehearsal.

My head is spinning and throbbing from all the music.

Back home. Black Beans with Kale, Carrots, and Brown Rice.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding.

Chamomile Tea.

Hanging out with Ana and Elvis – lying on the bed while the cat continuously attacks our arms and legs.

Sleep 2 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Saturday October 15 2016

Waking up at 10 a.m. I always have such vivid dreams when I drink chamomile tea before bed. But it’s difficult to describe all the details – something to do with trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic society.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

Right at 11:30 a.m. I’m at Music Makers teaching lessons until 4:30.

Peanut Butter Toast. Coffee.

Then, off to Croatan to teach in-home lessons.

Stopping by Trader Joe’s for groceries.

Back home. Mom takes care of dinner, which I planned out: Barbecue Salmon, Roasted Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Onions, and Quinoa.

Watching Kilo Two Bravo (2014).

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Friday October 14 2016

[i]

Waking up at 8 a.m., obviously earlier than usual for me. But I’ve got a dentist appointment in Richmond.

Granola Bar, Banana, and Coffee.

Ana and I drive to Richmond, a smooth ride with no traffic to speak of.

Ashley, my dentist, is a fourth year at the VCU Dentistry now. We take a few x-rays and she gives my teeth a cleaning. We make plans to deal with a sensitivity I’ve been having where she last did a restoration. Also, I need to seriously consider getting my bottom molars removed. Ugh.

It’s about 12:30 p.m. Ana picks me up just outside. Unfortunately, she had a terrible experience while waiting for me and she managed to jam her right thumb when closing the car door. It’s majorly bruised under her nail and she’s in so much pain it’s making her cry. I feel so bad. She explains she was making sure she remembered to not lock the keys inside the car so when she went to slam the door shut she reached her arm back to stop it and BAM! Last night I iterated to her how important it was to be careful about the keys so I feel like it’s my fault – maybe if I hadn’t of said anything it wouldn’t have happened.

At Harrison Street Café we get her a bag of ice to put on it. She’s not hungry anymore. But I am.

Egg, Cheese, Spinach, and Onion Burrito.

A trip to Richmond isn’t complete without visiting Diversity Thrift. Finding a few useful items: a water boiler for the store, a mini dry erase board, and candles.

Discovering Sugar Shack is closed for renovations. I’ve got a craving for donuts so we seek out another coffee shop called Lamplighter. Enjoying a huge Cinnamon Roll and Tea.

Back on the road to Virginia Beach. Even with sleepy eyes and dealing with rush hour traffic we arrive home safely.

Teaching one make-up lesson at the store.

Then, off to the Rec to get some exercise in on the basketball courts.

Back home. I brought Thai food from Bangkok Garden for us: Stir-fry Vegetables in Garlic Sauce and Rice. Ana really wanted curry vegetables. Later on, I wrap up her finger as best I can and give her some generic Vicodin. She’s got a grateful face on.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” she says.

I explain how it really bothers me when people close to me are in pain. “I just hate it. Even Elvis having to deal with all these fleas – I can’t ever feel at ease.”

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 2 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Thursday October 13 2016

[i]

Waking up at 11:30 a.m.

Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Guayusa Tea.

At the Rec – it’s finally open after having no power the past few days. Playing a few pick-up basketball games of 3 on 3. Three games are played and we win the series 2-1.

Tuna Salad Sandwich with Tomato. Potato Chips with Avocado. Honey Green Tea.

Watching 13^TH (2016).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers all day.

Back home.

Making homemade Pizza with this gluten-free dough (I actually don’t care for gluten-free stuff but this is what was in the freezer).

Later on, after Ana arrives home, it’s time to give Elvis his first flea treatment bath. He’s been having a serious problem with fleas. Of course, this is no easy task. Ana has to hold him down while I shampoo his fur. In the end I walk away with plenty of battle scars on my arms and chest from him trying to get away.

Settling down with Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

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