Saturday June 30 2018

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Ana made Pancakes and Coffee (with the help of mom).

Teaching afternoon lessons at Music Makers.

Tuna Salad Sandwich with Cucumber and Tomatoes. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Guayusa Tea.

Ana picks me up and we go to Alpha Music for the Pedal Con. They’ve got an aisle of amps ready to sit down and test out pedals sent in from various pedal companies. I catch up with Clavan, the guy who mans the keyboard/sound room and who also runs sound for DEJA a lot.

After we finish tinkering around with pedals we drive back towards Hilltop. Stopping by the Asian Market. Now we’re on the hunt for a bakery. We end up at the Bundt Cake place to whom Music Makers has close ties with. Meanwhile, the traffic struggle is real around these parts. It almost takes ten minutes to get home!

Napping.

Ana started prepping to make dinner but I interrupt with a surprise idea to go out for food. We end up at the Bay Local Eatery, a restaurant I’ve been wanting to go for a while. It’s kind of upper class with its small portions but delicious plates. I order a Blue Crab Cake with Old Bay Fries, Asparagus, and we split some Shishito Peppers.

Later on, I’m at the rehearsal space setting up the room for the MMLIVE summer sessions.

Then, at the studio doing the accounting for the month.

Sleep 4 a.m.

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[i] Images by me.

Friday June 29 2018

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.

At the Great Neck Rec with Ana. I use one of bicycle machines for a while. Then, Ana and I mess around on the basketball court but I keep my left hand out of use. Recording videos of trick shots like behind-the-back.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Vegan Cream Cheese and Poppy Seeds. Veggie Sticks. Tomato. Coffee.

Watching Blackway (2015).

Teaching all my in-home lessons. It’s ultra hot today!

Back home. Mom and I make dinner: Black Bean Tacos with all the fixin’s and French Fries.

Researching and looking for piano and violin teachers.

Pineapple.

At the studio cleaning and re-stringing a customer’s guitar and testing my wrist out on drums and piano.

Chamomile Hibiscus Tea.

Sleep 4 a.m.

Thursday June 28 2018

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.

Teaching a few afternoon lessons.

Napping.

Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Toast with Butter and Jam. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.

Finishing Beirut (2018).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Running a few errands – dropping off recycle – getting a few last minute groceries from Trader Joe’s.

Making dinner with mom as my assistant chef. Brown Rice Spaghetti Noodles with Mushrooms, Peppers, Onions, Tomatoes, Parmesan Cheese, and French Baguette.

Teaching an online lesson.

Catching up on business.

Troubling talks with Ana about money.

Sleep 4 a.m.

Wednesday June 27 2018

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Third day since my wrist injury and not so much pain. More mobility but only half way there.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

Working on chores and other business.

Scrambled Eggs. Poppy Seed Bagel with Vegan Cream Cheese. Salt n Vinegar Chips with Avocado. Coffee.

Watching Beirut (2018).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Back home. Mom and I make dinner: Black Beans with Onions, Celery, Flounder, Kale, Carrots, and Jasmine Rice.

Catching up on business.

Chillin’ with Ana and the cat. Her new guitar finally arrived in the mail. She won it from a contest with She Shreds magazine. I don’t think a day went by where she didn’t mention her concern for when the guitar was coming [see video for full experience].

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

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[i] Image by me.

Tuesday June 26 2018

Waking up all throughout the morning switching positions trying to get my left wrist in a comfortable position. At some point I actually get some deep sleep.

Awakening officially at 11:30 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Irish Breakfast Tea. Turmeric supplement.

In between resting my wrist and attempting to accomplish simple tasks with one hand I manage to get some chores and things done.

Watching episodes of Kitchen Nightmares.

Leftover Waffle with PB&J. Plantain Chips. Oolong Tea.

Napping.

Being productive.

Ana drives us to get groceries. At Whole Foods while waiting for a mom to finish filling her 25 jugs Ana and I play with her three kids.

...

As we’re walking into Trader Joe’s we pass that same mom with the three kids. This time she’s got them all at attention reprimanding them for misbehaving.

“Hi!” one of them notices me.

“Listen to your mommy!” I tell them.

“Okay! Bye!” the littlest one shouts.

Back home. Mom makes dinner: Cabbage, Potatoes, and Peas.

The three of us enjoy our meals over a movie: Midnight in Paris (2011).

Later on, Ana and I talk about how hard life is and for some people, like herself, gets overwhelmed easily by it.

Sleep 3 a.m.

Monday June 25 2018

[i]

Waking up at 10:30 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. English Breakfast Tea.

Basketball at the Rec. I end up spraining my left wrist. Some heavyset dude new to lunchtime basketball is running with the ball and when I go into beast defense mode I end up falling backwards. His foot accidentally steps on mine causing my fall to be awkward. There goes another injury.

Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Toast with Butter and Jam. Salt n Vinegar Chips with Avocado. Coffee.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

My wrist hurts big time. I’m lucky to be done teaching my 7 p.m.

Back home. I decide to pop two generic Vicodin pills I had from a year ago. About 15 minutes in I start getting dizzy. I hobble over to the bedroom door and faint. Meanwhile Ana, mom, and Austin are downstairs waiting on me to join them for dinner. I hear the sounds of their voices as I come back to consciousness. I can’t believe I just passed out like that. Apparently feeling lightheaded and dizzy is one of the side effects.

We all end up in the living room and decide to watch a movie. I’m still in pain but it’s manageable while I eat the Pho Noodle Chicken Soup. Watching Kodachrome (2018).

Trying to get comfortable in bed. I pop one pill this time just to get me to sleep and distract myself from the throbbing pain in my wrist.

Sleep 2:45 a.m.

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[i] Image by me.

Sunday June 24 2018

[i]

Waking up at 12:40 p.m.! Talk about sleeping in.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.

Catching up on business and chores.

Mom and I run some errands – grabbing a few things out of her storage unit to donate and organize – putting together the band photos and brainstorming at Music Makers.

Back home.

Making dinner with a mish-mash of leftovers. Final product: Vegetable Fried Rice with Sardines and Crab Rangoon.

MMLIVE planning.

Going for a late night bike ride to the oceanfront. Halfway through taking a break at the 1^st Street jetty – smoking a clove and watching a heron standing like a statue.

Smoothie.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

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[i] Image by me.

Saturday June 23 2018

[i]

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Ana made us Waffles and Coffee.

Teaching some afternoon lessons at Music Makers.

Leftover Spaghetti with Kale, Carrots, and Sourdough Toast.

Ana and I set out on our bikes to the oceanfront for a fun-filled day of music. The Psychedelic Weenie Roast is happening at The Shack on 8^th Street. It’s the event’s debut. Zach, guitarist of Snake Mountain Revival, put this whole thing together with helping hands. It takes a village...

Ladada was supposed to play but Josiah is busy proposing to Bianca in Japan. Will meets up with us. With his short board and our bikes we ride from up and down tourist filled Atlantic Avenue catching a peek at the DEJA show on 17^th where I was also supposed to play but Eric Vetterick is filling in instead. We spot Rob Oliver and Joe McMurray along the way. Ana gets us to go to an ice cream sandwich shop. Will and I enjoy some ultra sweet desserts but Ana declines for some reason. Even though we’re all having a good time she sometimes has anxiety. I notice this but try to attack it with humor and lightheartedness. 

Back at the Weenie Roast. The Shack is bumping with all kinds of people. There’s so much going on. It’s like a huge backyard with corn hole, giant Jenga blocks, basketball pong, foosball, swings, etc. Enjoying some Black Bean Tacos and an Orange Crush. Meanwhile, the inside venue we watch amazing talented bands like Broken Beaches, Invisible Landscapes, and of course the all encompassing Snake Mountain Revival with their authentic psychedelic rock n’ roll and artists manning the overhead projector with colored inks spinning in a clear bowl creating the ultimate visual experience over the band.

Back home after a long day. Ana and I discuss her troubles with being in big groups and how it affects her emotionally. Everybody struggles with living in their own realities even though everything on the outside might be fine.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

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[i] Images by me.

Friday June 22 2018

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. English Breakfast Tea.

Chores and errands. Taking a look at Ana’s bike. Just needed to tighten a few screws and pump some air into the tires.

Lunch: Scrambled Eggs. Sesame Bagel with Butter and Jam. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.

Watching Ready Player One (2018).

Teaching all my in-home lessons.

Back home.

Making Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti with Mushrooms, Onions, Carrots, Kale, and Lavash Bread.

Organizing at home then getting lost at Wal-Mart looking for various things.

Smoothie. Ana chills in my room and chats about her current thoughts and the show she went to at Toast tonight. Meanwhile, Elvis tries to lick the side of my smoothie glass.

Sleep 3:45 a.m.

Thursday June 21 2018

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Teaching a voice lesson.

Discovering the toilet at the studio needs repairing – there’s a leak of some kind.

Scrambled Eggs. Pumpernickel Toast with Vegan Cream Cheese. Salt n Vinegar Chips with Avocado.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Orange.

Back home. Mom and I make a hodge podge dinner of leftover soups from C’ville, canned Tuna, Kale, Carrots, and Quinoa.

Catching up on business.

Later on, in the kitchen...bonding with the roommates.

“Kitchen karaoke!” Ana declares.

While an Ace of Base song plays on Ana’s phone we expose Austin and Will to audio gems from the 90’s.

...

Austin has never seen a CD zapped in the microwave so I feel inclined to demonstrate. Ana flips out. Her yells make it all that much more dramatic.

Researching.

Sleep 3:45 a.m.

Wednesday June 20 2018

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

Basketball at the Rec.

Scrambled Eggs. Pumpernickel Toast with Butter and Jam. Salt n Vinegar Chips with Avocado.

Watching Unsane (2018).

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Orange.

Back home. Making Pizza from scratch with Fresh Mozzarella, Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions, Garlic, and Tomato Sauce. Sautéed Spinach.

I’ve got a massage scheduled with Jonna again. It’s been a month or so. She’s got a different room set up at her house. I brought a Bluetooth speaker and a decent soft tunes playlist. There are so many tight muscles all over I never realized I had. She’s good at what she does.

...

Afterwards, her youngest daughter roams around on a Roblox game and the other one is freaking out about the shooting of rapper X.

Back home.

Smoothie.

Finishing putting my basketball cards together into plastic sleeves and binders. Meanwhile, Ana watches this French guy on YouTube showing people how to make sourdough bread and other things.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

Tuesday June 19 2018

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.

Catching up on chores and things around the house.

PB&J. Coffee. Apricot. Plum.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers. My workdays have been shortened cause of summer schedules.

Back home. Making dinner – joint effort with mom: Chicken with Onions, Mushrooms, Peppers, Broccoli, Carrots, and Rice. Beer.

Watching Unsane (2018).

Teaching an online lesson to Katelyn.

Gelato.

At the studio playing music with Ana.

Night bike ride to the oceanfront and back.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

Monday June 18 2018

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Waking up at 10:50 a.m.

Breakfast Bar. English Breakfast Tea.

Basketball at the Rec. Summer schedule has kicked in. We only get one court until school starts again.

Watermelon.

Scrambled Eggs. Bagel with Vegan Cream Cheese. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.

I don’t have to go into Music Makers until later so I catch up on emails and business.

Teaching lessons.

Back home. Ana made dinner: Peas with Curry, Cauliflower, Onions, Carrots, and Quinoa.

Chilling with Ana in her room watching an episode of Queer Eye.

Smoothie.

At the studio practicing music with Ana.

Sleep 4 a.m.

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[i] Image by me.

Sunday June 17 2018

[i]

Sleeping in until 12:30 p.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Guayusa Tea.

I’m so excited to have a 100% whole day off!

Catching up on business and emails and chores.

Grilled PB&J. Potato Lentil Curls. Coffee.

Watching Small Town Crime (2017).

Running errands – dropping off recycle – getting groceries at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.

Back home. Mom and I make dinner: Salmon with Asparagus, Carrots, Onions, and Jasmine Rice.

It’s an impromptu familial roommate night. The whole house is out of their rooms and hanging out in the dining room and hallways. We even pull a prank! Can’t remember the last time this house witnessed one of those. Austin and I found some expired condoms in the hallway closet, probably belonging to Kevin Moore from God knows when. I slip one on Will’s bedroom door knob.

...

Downstairs, I tinker on the piano while Will keeps pulling up Toto songs to sing.

Riding my bike down to the oceanfront. Ana meets me here by car. Grabbing an Oreo treat from Kohr Bros and taking a stroll to the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, my old stomping grounds when I used to work at the ice cream shop. It’s a candy store now. But Doug Lachman still runs the place. I catch up with him.

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

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[i] Images by me.

Saturday June 16 2018

[i]

Waking up at 11:08 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.

Teaching afternoon lessons at Music Makers.

Orange.

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Potato Chips with Avocado. Coffee.

Watching Small Town Crime (2017).

Catching up on things.

Practicing piano.

Got a DEJA gig at 7^th Street again, the space between Chix and Mahi’s with the multi-colored umbrella looking canopy. My mom tags along. My aunt Pansy and her husband Peter show up too. The sun is shining – the weather is perfect – just the right kind of breeze. Right before we’re set to go on there’s some complications with having enough lines to plug in. Skinny Bob, our sound guy for the evening, tried to figure it out. Meanwhile, something John said triggers a short fuse in Drew and she gets real angry. Somehow, we manage to pull ourselves together and get this show going.

The back patios to both restaurants are packed and people surround the stage from the boardwalk. The coolest part is afterwards hearing the compliments from people. One of them explains to me about the ELO song I sang, “You sound exactly like Jeff Lynne.” I inspired someone’s grandkid to start taking piano lessons. It’s always an inspiring time at 7^th Street.

Back home mom fixes up a delicious smoothie.

Ana and I have a sudden urge to make love.

Bread and Chamomile Tea.

Watching YouTube.

Sleep 4 a.m.

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[i] Image by Peter.

Friday June 15 2018

[i]

Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

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

Last night mom started filling out an application to apply for social security retirement. She gets frustrated with the complications she’s running into while doing it online. But overall, it’s just a racket bringing up all this information from the past. Also, the benefits amount is not as much as she thought. People work hard all their lives to only make a little bit after they retire. I don’t like it when she gets stressed out like this. I give her a hug and tell her, “Don’t stress out. You’re taken care of.”

Meanwhile, Josiah and Jonnie are trying to get the tour van up and running. The battery died suddenly and so the AAA guy is out there replacing it.

Eventually, everyone is picked up and loaded up in the van. Onward to Charlottesville! It feels nostalgic being back in this van with the futon all spread out on the floor for comfort vibes and naps. We got a few weekend stints coming up in August that we’re all looking forward to.

Stop at a Subway along the way for subs.

The rhythmic and adventurous sounds of Paul Simon welcome us to town. The sun peeks through the clouds behind old churches and quaint houses. We arrive at The Southern and start loading in.

Ana drove up separately and links up with us. There’s a moment of stress when looking for parking.

Ladada goes on first dark and early. Not a soul in sight until after the second song or so. But we put on a “magical” show according to Ana. In between the other band performances, Ana and I take a stroll around historic downtown C’ville. The nightlife is poppin’. It almost feels like Bourbon Street in New Orleans but family friendly. We visit Tea Bazaar, a homely and enchanting hookah bar/venue that serves Indian food. I end up eating a fancy Grilled Cheese Sandwich from the other venue.

Towards the end of New Boss’s set Ana and I hit the road. She packed coffee in a mason jar. I grab two plastic cups full of ice and we turn it into Iced Coffee. It hypes us up the whole way home. We’re both talkative and keep each other entertained.

Sleep 4 a.m.

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[i] Images by me.

Thursday June 14 2018

Waking up at 11 a.m.

Small bowl of cereal. Irish Breakfast Tea.

Teaching a lesson then running some errands.

Grilled PB&J. Plantain Chips. Coffee.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Orange.

Picking up Ana’s car from the shop and getting a bit of groceries at Trader Joe’s. The people working the cash register are required to be conversationalists with you when checking out. I always try to think of different attitudes I can put on when asked things like, “So you getting into anything fun tonight?”

“No,” I reply plainly.

“But it’s so beautiful outside.”

“Not anymore. The day is done.”

Vegetable Fried Rice with Kale. Cupcake.

Watching Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2016).

Ladada rehearsal with Jonnie, Josiah, and Bobby – prepping for our out of town show in C-ville tomorrow.

Banana. Hibiscus Tea.

Sleep 4 a.m.

Wednesday June 13 2018

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Waking up at 10:45 a.m.

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

Basketball at the Rec.

Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Toast with Butter and Jam. Potato Chips. Coffee.

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

Apple.

Back home. While trying to cook dinner we realize we don’t have any parmesan cheese or baguettes to go with our spaghetti. I send Ana out to Whole Foods but they’re out and she only has $5 so getting the other expensive loafs are out of the question. I jet out of the house to Target to get paper towels and the immediate things we need. Sometimes I feel obligated to take care of everything. It can be stressful.

...

Eventually, we all sit down to enjoy our meal. The noodles have a little too much sauce in it but it’s okay. We got our buttery baguettes.

In my room, power napping in the computer chair.

These basketball cards have been sitting in organized stacks for a few weeks now. I finally start slipping them into plastic sleeves. Meanwhile, Ana lies down on my bed and we talk about various things like forgiveness, monogamy, and families.

Sleep 3:45 a.m.

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[i] Image by me.