I LOVE: February 2017

Tuesday February 28 2017

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

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

Catching up the to-do list.

Running a few errands.

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

Watching Man Down (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Fuji Apple.

Back home. Ana made dinner: Curry Chic Peas with Onions, Red Peppers, Cauliflower, and Quinoa.

It’s the end of the month and time to do the books for Music Makers and figure out rent and such.

Practicing songs.

Chamomile Tea. Brownie.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

Monday February 27 2017

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Waking up at 10:40 a.m.

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

Basketball at the Rec.

Banana.

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

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Working on keyboard patches.

Leftover Pizza with Cabbage and Kale Slaw.

Finishing Shut In (2016).

ELO rehearsal.

My head is throbbing.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Sunday February 26 2017

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Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

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

Rock School rehearsals all day.

PB&J. Potato Chips.

After I’m done cleaning up the rehearsal spot I pick up Ana (or rather she picks us up) and go to Trader Joe’s for a few things.

Back home. Making dinner: Lentils, Rainbow Chard, Carrots, Onions, and Quinoa.

Business – printing flyers for rock school.

Brownie made by Ana.

Configuring keyboard patches.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Saturday February 25 2017

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Waking up at 9:30 a.m. My stomach aches from I don’t know what, maybe from pizza last night or maybe from having to wake up an hour earlier.

A bowl of Honey Crunch n Oats with Banana and Almond Milk.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

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

Watching Trevor Noah standup comedy.

DEJA rehearsal. This is the last one we really have until our debut show for 2017. It’s an overload on our brains trying to remember all the finite details in the songs.

Back home. Ana made dinner with love: homemade Chic Pea Burgers with Lettuce, Tomato, and Beets.

Catching up on business.

Working on keyboard patches and parts at the studio.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Friday February 24 2017

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Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

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

Catching up on business and teacher homework – organizing papers – printing.

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

Teaching all my in-home lessons.

Fuji Apple.

After 8 p.m. I meet up with Ana at Pizza Chapel for dinner. The bar is crowded with 30-somethings from Shadowlawn. The floral wall paper stills confuses my senses while I eat this pizza. Sipping on Crispin Cider and making fun of each other.

Back home. Settling down. I’m tired earlier than usual.

Chamomile Tea.

Ana and I sleep next to each other at 2 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Thursday February 23 2017

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Waking up at 10:35 a.m.

A bowl of Honey Crunch n Oats with Banana and Almond Milk.

Teaching a few early afternoon lessons.

Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Bread with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Potato Chips with Avocado. Oolong Tea.

Watching A Bigger Splash (2015).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Ana made dinner back at home: Lentils, Kale, Carrots, and leftover Rice with Naan Bread.

Watching the movie.

Ice Cream.

Ladada rehearsal with Bobby, Josiah, and Jonathan – working in two new songs into the set we’ll be doing next Thursday at Charlie’s.

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Wednesday February 22 2017

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Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

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

Basketball at the Rec.

Naval Orange. Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Bread with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Potato Chips. Oolong Tea.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Banana.

Back home.

Maple Mustard Salmon with Broccoli, Carrots, and Bamboo Rice.

Watching Girlfriend’s Day (2017).

DEJA rehearsal.

Ice Cream.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Tuesday February 21 2017

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Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

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

Time to run some errands with Ana.

“How many errands did we run today? Can you count them all?” I ask Ana in good humor.

We count seven in total: bank, tailor, recycle, Red Chalk Studios, Whole Foods, Urban Cupcakes, and Music Makers.

PB&J on Sourdough. Rice Snacks. Banana. Oolong Tea.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Fuji Apple.

Back home. Making dinner with Ana: Tofu with Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Onions, and Quinoa.

I hop down on the Melodigrand piano and tinker at the keys while mom and Ana clean up.

Cupcakes!

Practicing piano.

Later on, Rich comes over. I set up the Nintendo emulator in my room and compete in R.B.I. Baseball. Eventually we migrate to Will’s room to rack our brains over this bomb diffuser game called Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, where one person works at diffusing a bomb while the other people stare at a manual and instruct the diffuser on what to do without seeing the bomb itself.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Monday February 20 2017

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Waking up at 10:40 a.m.

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

Playing basketball at the Rec. Towards the last couple of games I get called “MVP!” from making fast breaks and shooting in a buzzer beater 3-pointer.

Scrambled Eggs. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Oolong Tea.

Watching Doctor Strange (2016).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Getting groceries.

Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti Noodles with Mushrooms, Onions, and Tomato Sauce; a Kale Salad; and Naan Bread.

Impromptu empowering talks with Anthony – reminding me to not forget about the talents I have and to pursue the things I really want in music. He sits on my bed with a glass jar full of old forgotten stout found in the fridge and speaks with a genuine conviction like he always does. He cares about his friends and is bummed I haven’t been spending more time on my own music. He pretends to be a journalist asking investigative questions on the real reasons behind what’s holding me back from doing what I truly want to do. Every now and then it’s good to get some perspective. He looks down at an imaginary watch and says, “Its 2017!”

Grapes.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Lisa Solberg.

Sunday February 19 2017

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Waking up at 10:30 a.m.

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

Rock School rehearsals all day.

Banana.

PB&J. Potato Chips. Fuji Apple.

It feels like a very productive afternoon with the bands. Everyone seems to be getting it and working together.

Back home.

Edamame with Japanese Style Rice, Quinoa, Carrots, Baby Broccoli.

Chores. Business.

Naval Orange.

Piano.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Saturday February 18 2017

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☼▬

On a beach I discover all sorts of dice buried in the sand. Not one is alike. They seem to be vintage and collector’s sort of dice. I pick a few up at a time and inspect the details. Some of the numbers don’t make any sense.

▬☼

Waking up at 10:07 a.m.

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

Teaching lessons at Music Makers all afternoon.

Banana.

Back home.

Toasted PB&J. Chips. Oolong Tea.

Later on upon reflection from the afternoon there were (and always are on my end) a couple moments where I get short and impatient with my mom while working at the store.

I text her, “I’m sorry I get so short and grumpy with you. I need to learn to have a little patience with you and the people I love.”

DEJA rehearsal – the longer kind where we dive into the details.

Back home. Mom helps get dinner done: Tempeh with Onions, Kale, and Quinoa.

Watching Allied (2016).

Ice Cream.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Friday February 17 2017

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☼▬

Ana texts me an address where it’s assumed she’s at. Its understood danger is coming to her. I have to hurry if I want to get her out of there in time. Running through the neighborhood looking for the apartment – the numbers are hard to make out. Somebody’s already here. I use my phone light to see inside the building cause the lights aren’t functioning. I manage to locate her but now we’re confronted with the enemy. Guns are involved but I’m determined to get us out of there safely.

▬☼

Waking up at 11:30 a.m.

A bowl of Honey Crunch n Oats with Banana and Almond Milk.

Business – meeting with a new drum instructor.

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

Watching The Descendants (2011).

Teaching all my in-home lessons.

Getting groceries with Ana at Trader Joe’s.

Mom made dinner: Chicken with Onions, Kale, and Quinoa.

Catching up on things.

Ana’s being extra sweet and playful in my bedroom. We start making love on the bed but in the middle of it all the cat suddenly scratches my arm and I lose it. I decide it’s time to clip his nails. He’s being extra reluctant – hissing and growling. It’s such a hassle having a cat sometimes.

Sharing Ice Cream.

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

[i] Mod Fox.

Thursday February 16 2017

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Waking up at 11:07 a.m.

Leftover Waffle with Banana and Greek Yogurt. Black Tea.

Teaching a few afternoon lessons.

Tuna Salad Sandwich with Roasted Potatoes. Oolong Tea.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Back home. Black Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Zucchini, and Quinoa.

Watching Rupture (2016).

Ladada rehearsal at the Tidewater storage unit with Josiah, Bobby, and Jonathon. We finish working on some new jams. After practice Jon gets honest with us and confesses that he’s “not having fun anymore”. It throws all of us off guard. We’ve integrated his second guitar parts into the songs so much that not having him will feel empty. I guess we were always satisfied with the purity of our 3-piece before Jon came along. But it still bums us out.

Back home. Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Wednesday February 15 2017

Waking up at 10:40 a.m.

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

Basketball at the Rec.

Scrambled Eggs. Naan Bread with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Potato Chips with Avocado. Oolong Tea.

Watching Rupture (2016).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Every student has different needs. There’s no method to conduct every lesson. They come in all shapes and sizes and breeds.

Back home. Ana bought a Whole Foods Pizza. I enjoy two slices with a Salad.

DEJA rehearsal.

At the studio restringing Ana’s guitar. She shows up and I instruct her on how to play this string part on piano for a rock school song. Then, we jam in the drum room.

Pineapple.

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Tuesday February 14 2017

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Waking up at 11 a.m.

A Valentine’s breakfast with Ana and mom: Ana made us authentic Belgian Waffles with Bananas and Strawberries. Black Tea.

Business. Research.

Tuna. Potato Chips. Tomatoes. Guayusa Tea.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

One of my new vocal students, Nick, a ten-year-old says he has a flare for nostalgia and listens to all the tunes I grew up with. For example, Smash Mouth...

After work Ana and I dine in at Baladi’s, a Mediterranean restaurant. Enjoying the romantic atmosphere. Eggplant and Couscous meal for myself and Rum drinks.

Later on, Ana gets in a real moody funk. No matter how hard I pry it’s no use. I head to the studio to practice DEJA tunes.

Back home. I try to ask again into the reason for her mood shift. She’s dabbing her face to dry the tears. I think what’s happening is expectations aren’t being met in the relationship, mostly in regards to music. It’s a big part of our bond, music is. We need to make music together soon. The problem is I’m so preoccupied with other projects and running the business. But I HAVE to make it work.

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Monday February 13 2017

Waking up at 10:40 a.m.

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

At the Rec for adult basketball.

Banana.

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

Watching The Last Samurai (2003).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

At Target.

Back home.

Linguini Noodles with Onions, Tomatoes, Naan Bread, and a hefty Salad.

Ice Cream.

At the studio practicing DEJA tunes and configuring keyboard patches.

Back home.

Naval Orange.

Sleep at almost 4 a.m.

Sunday February 12 2017

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Waking up at 10:40 a.m.

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

Time for rock school rehearsals.

Banana.

PB&J. Potato Chips. Fuji Apple.

More rock school rehearsals.

Setting up and tweaking a few things on a used drum set we’re about to sell to Leah, one of my drum students.

Back home.

Black Beans with Kale, Carrots, and Brown Rice.

Watching Spectral (2016).

Chores.

Naval Orange. Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Saturday February 11 2017

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Waking up at 10:08 a.m.

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

Teaching afternoon lessons at Music Makers.

Banana.

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

Watching Hacksaw Ridge (2016).

Errands.

Enjoying dinner at the table with Ana...

Lentil Noodles with Tomato Sauce, Zucchini, Mushrooms, Onions, Kale Salad, and French Baguette.

Sharing a bottle of Red Wine.

It’s time to really relax. After Ana finishes drawing a self-portrait I turn off the lights and flick a candle on. A little sexual episode on the computer chair gives us a breath of fresh air in our lives.

Pineapple and Greek Yogurt.

Sleep 2 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Friday February 10 2017

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Waking up at 10:35 a.m. to the sound of Ana yelling at the cat, “NOOOO!”

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

At the Rec for adult basketball.

Banana.

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

Watching Hacksaw Ridge (2016).

Teaching all my in-home lessons. In between the drives listening to NPR and a podcast for piano teachers.

Back home.

Black Beans, Kale, and Brown Rice.

Rich picks Will, Ana, and I up from the house in his ’66 Dodge Charger. Strapped in with school bus style seatbelts – blasting The Cramps on the stereo – enduring the continuous rumble of the old engine on the interstate.

At Charlie’s American Café for the punk show featuring Daikini, Boneske, PC Worship, and Naomi Punk. Drinking up a few beers and enjoying the mostly mid-tempo cathartic grunge rock sounds. This genre seems to be growing of the likes of Total Slacker and Creepoid.

Back home.

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by Elliott – others by me.

Thursday February 9 2017

Waking up at 10:35 a.m.

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

Teaching early afternoon lessons.

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

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Banana.

Back home. Dinner: Chicken Sloppy Joe’s with Kale Salad and Sourdough Bread.

Watching Hacksaw Ridge (2016).

At the studio practicing songs.

Blueberries.

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Wednesday February 8 2017

Waking up at 10:40 a.m.

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

Basketball at the Rec.

Toasted PB&J on Sourdough. Oolong Tea. Grapes.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Fuji Apple.

Back home. Ana warmed up dinner: Lentil Soup with Kale, Quinoa, and Naan Bread. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Watching Knowing (2009).

DEJA rehearsal.

Chamomile Tea. Grapes.

Sleep 2:30 a.m.

Tuesday February 7 2017

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Waking up at 10:40 a.m.

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

Stuff.

Running errands with Ana.

Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Bread with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Potato Chips with Avocado. Oolong Tea.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Back home.

Ana and I make dinner: Edamame with Brussel Sprouts, Red Onions, and Japanese Style Rice.

Chilling with her and Cynthia at the dinner table watching a few of SNL’s recent parodies of Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway.

Practicing piano in my bedroom – learning new DEJA tunes.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Navel Orange. Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Monday February 6 2017

Zombie dreams.

Waking up at 10:30 a.m.

A bowl of Honey Crunch n Oats with Banana and Almond Milk. Black Tea.

At the Rec for adult basketball.

Orange.

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

Finishing Last Knights (2016).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Back home.

Chicken Sloppy Joes. Kale Salad. Naan Bread.

Watching Rampage: President Down (2016).

ELO rehearsal.

Back home.

Blueberries and Greek Yogurt.

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 2:30 a.m.

Sunday February 5 2017

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Waking up at 10:30 a.m.

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

Rock school rehearsals.

Lunch break: PB&J. Potato Chips. Fuji Apple.

More rock school rehearsals.

Getting groceries.

Back home. Chicken Sloppy Joe with Kale Salad and Naan Bread.

Watching Last Knights (2015).

Chores. Vacuuming. Cleaning, mostly Ana’s bedroom and bathroom.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Saturday February 4 2017

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Waking up at 9:40 a.m.

A bowl of Honey Crunch n Oats with Banana and Almond Milk.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Lunch break: Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Potato Chips. Oolong Tea.

Power napping.

Ana finally gets off work after 6:30. We had planned on going to this open mic thing at the beach but she’s very reluctant, tired, and changed her mind about going. I somehow convince her to just muscle up and go anyway. We grab mom and head to Good Vibes Wellness on 16^th Street.

It’s a spacious new age store – a lot of people packed in here. I buy some vegan food they have for sale: Jackfruit BBQ Wraps with Mac n Cheese. The vibe here reminds me of all the Show n Tells we used to do but I guess more family friendly. Spoken word. Poetry. Guitar strumming songwriters. I beat down on a set of bongos for these two guys covering America jam band tunes.

One of my vocal students, Garrett, shows up to perform “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay”, a song him and I worked on in the lesson room. Its Ana’s turn to get on the mic but she refuses. I think the whole evening was a little longwinded and by the time it got around to her she lost the momentum.

Back home. Enjoying leftovers: Lentil Soup with Vegetables. And then, Tahitian Vanilla Gelato.

Ana discusses her feelings about choosing not to sing tonight. She keeps saying, “It doesn’t matter.”

I try to be as encouraging as I can, “But Ana you have an amazing voice and you should be singing any opportunity you get!”

Chamomile Tea.

Sleep 3 a.m.

[i] Images by me.

Friday February 3 2017

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Waking up at 11:40 a.m.

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

Taking care of things on my to-do list.

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

Watching Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016).

Teaching in-home lessons. I’ve added another student to the Friday roster.

Back home. Ana made dinner: Tempeh with Broccoli, Carrots, Mushrooms, Red Peppers, Onions, and Brown Rice.

Getting some groceries at Kroger.

Stuffing my face with Chocolate Chip Cookies that Ana homemade. Chamomile Tea.

Jamming with Ana in her bedroom on her awesome Yamaha PSR keyboard while Elvis gets riled up over the strange sounds.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

[i] Image by me.

Thursday February 2 2017

Waking up at 11 a.m.

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

Teaching a few afternoon lessons.

Toasted PB&J. Quinoa Sticks. Oolong Tea. Banana.

Watching Arrival (2016).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Apple.

Back home.

Lentil Soup with Kale, Quinoa, and Sourdough Bread.

Ladada rehearsal. It’s been a few weeks since the last practice. It’s always a relief to play with these guys. “Jam Stars!”

Chamomile Tea and Potato Chips.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Wednesday February 1 2017

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Waking up at 10:35 a.m.

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

At the Rec for adult basketball.

Vega Protein Drink. Banana.

Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Bread with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Oolong Tea.

Watching Cardboard Boxer (2016).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Lentils, Beans, Cauliflower, and Quinoa.

DEJA rehearsal.

Pear.

Ana sings me a few songs she’s been learning on guitar.

Sleep 2:30 a.m.

[i] Image by Anthony.

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