Thursday April 30 2020

 

Waking up at 11:18 a.m.

 

Cereal with Blueberries and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

 

Ana and I run grocery errands.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Popped Chips. Kale. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

 

Back home. Making dinner: Jackfruit Cakes with Zucchini, Onions, Cauliflower Gnocchi, and Spinach.

 

After Ana gets back from band practice we decide to join Roland on a late night bike ride to the oceanfront. Roland just got a fresh new bike so he’s excited to make use of it. It’s a near perfect night to ride – a little chilly and just the right amount of fog to make you contemplate the meaning of everything. It’s quite the ghost town at the oceanfront with all the bars and hotels closed.

 

 

Before going to bed Ana and I share a few words and hug each other goodnight. She wanted to lay next to me tonight but I insisted on sleeping alone. We’ve talked about this before how sometimes we need to have space between one another (plus my bed is small and sometimes I like to have the whole thing to myself). After I leave she texts persistently her feelings about it.

Wednesday April 29 2020

Waking up at 11:48 a.m.

 

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

 

Catching up on chores and business.

 

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

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Making a quick dinner: Pad Thai with Green Beans, Carrots, and Samosas.

Watching Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker (2019).

 

Grapes. Green Tea.

 

Chores.

 

Working on computer things and playing DOOM.

 

Tuesday April 28 2020

It’s been a while since I wrote down my dreams. Last night’s seemed worthy enough to record...

☼▬

I’ve suddenly woken up and somehow I’ve time traveled back to 2011. It’s understood that Morgan Hopkins in present time invented a time traveling device, I guess the one that brought me here. I’m in my house at 1435. There’s a bunch of people I don’t recognize or maybe I do, friends that used to chill at our house back in the day.

I try to explain to them, “I’m James Robert Smith. I live here!” and how I’m from the future. I try to show them my fairly new iPhone that they couldn’t possibly know about but when I look at them it appears the batteries were removed and they resemble mechanical shells of an iPhone. I keep thinking I can show them videos and pictures dated in the future and they would understand. I have no way of returning to present time but maybe I can warn everyone about the Coronavirus?

▬☼

 

Waking up at 11:30 a.m.

 

Cereal with Strawberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.

 

Getting groceries with Ana.

 

Working out in the living room to some 70’s funk.

 

Grapefruit.

 

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

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Shooting some basketball right before the sun sets.

 

Back home. Making a quick dinner: Japanese Style Fried Rice with Smoked Salmon, Cauliflower, and Green Beans.

 

Hanging out in the living room fixing up a shelf with theses hand woven baskets in order to keep all our arts and crafts things organized. Meanwhile, Ana watches this French film about a girl in the 70’s working on electronic music.

 

Later on, at the studio. I was gonna practice but I get caught up organizing and tweaking things in the lesson rooms. Sometimes, I think I’m obsessed with keeping things in order.

 

DOOM.

 

Monday April 27 2020

Waking up around 11:30 a.m.

 

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Black Tea.

 

Catching up on business and organizing.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Biscuits with Jam and Butter. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Finishing the last phase in organizing my mom’s stuff – moved the big dresser drawer into the storage unit. The living room is a little more clear now and inviting as a common area.

 

Ana cooked dinner tonight: Vegan Burgers with Roasted Potatoes and Kale.

 

At the studio working on this piano collaboration between Gabe and Sunny via email.

 

Deep talks with Ana.

 

Sunday April 26 2020

 

Waking up at 12:32 p.m.

 

Cereal with Strawberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Organizing things in the living room and a closet space at the studio.

 

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

Watching Extraction (2020).

 

Working out in the living room.

 

After Ana naps a little she joins me. Then, we go to the basketball courts. She brings her skateboard and attempts tricks.

 

 

Picking up some Gelato and Fish Tacos from Gringo’s.

 

At home. I finally tackle the task of going through mom’s dresser drawers. Organizing all her clothes and jewelry into bags and bins. It’s difficult making the decision whether or not to keep something. Although, a few particular things are obviously meant to be held onto.

 

Saturday April 25 2020

Waking up around 11:20 a.m.

 

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

 

Ana and I do a live living room concert for the Friend Jam 2.0. All day long there’s musician’s performing in their living rooms. We only do a 30 minute set, which flies by like nothing. Roland sat in on the drums for “Psycho Killer”. It’s kind of weird performing without physical people in the room but it works.

 

Teaching a few online lessons.

 

Leftover Spaghetti with Baguette for lunch. Coffee.

 

Staying in tune on the virtual Friend Jam festival happening. Every 30 minutes it’s somebody new. Working out in the living room while Tyler (Tmobyle) deejays on Facebook.

 

It’s rainy and a bit chilly but that doesn’t stop me from shooting the basketball around.

 

Picking up a few things from Target.

 

Warming up leftovers for dinner.

 

Doing various things around the house.

 

Practicing music at the studio.

 

DOOM.

 

Friday April 24 2020

Waking up at noon.

 

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

 

Catching up on business and chores.

 

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

 

Roland and I hit up the basketball courts by Linkhorn Elementary. He works on perfecting some tricks on the skateboard while I shoot the ball around.

 

Back home. Organizing and cleaning.

 

Ana and I make homemade Pizzas using our favorite frozen dough.

 

Practicing music in the living room.

 

Sharing Hot Cocoa that Ana made from scratch with Marshmallows.

 

Playing DOOM.

 

Thursday April 23 2020

Waking up at 11:30 a.m.

 

Cereal with Granola, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Black Tea.

 

Running errands with Ana.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Biscuits with Butter and Jam. Kale. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. Ana made a big dinner. Tofu and Curry with Rice and Veggies.

 

Chores.

 

Chilling with Ana at the computer skimming through movie trailers and cuddling.

 

Playing guitar.

 

DOOM.

 

Wednesday April 22 2020

 

Waking up at noon.

 

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

 

Catching up on business and house things.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Bagel with Butter and Jam. Kale. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. Cooking dinner: Brown Rice Quinoa Noodles with homemade Tomato Sauce along with Broccoli and a Baguette. I’ve been perfecting this pasta dish for quite some time now. Ana approves.

 

Later on, her and I play a few tunes in the living room.

 

Working on updating the Music Makers website – mainly focusing on replacing photos.

 

Chores late into the night.

 

Tuesday April 21 2020

 

Waking up at 11:30 a.m.

 

Cereal with Blueberries, Granola, and Almond Milk. Black Tea.

 

Ana and I walk in the woods by Linkhorn Elementary and shoot around the basketball. The sun is out after a couple days of rain!

 

 

Scrambled Eggs. Kale with Cabbage/Onions. Poppy Seed Bagel with Cream Cheese. Coffee.

Watching The Rhythm Section (2020).

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. Making dinner for Ana and I: Vegan Dogs with all the fixin’s, Roasted Potatoes, and Peanut Salad. Alcoholic Kombucha. Meanwhile, Roland lounges in the green chair as we talk about fair distribution of ownership within creative endeavors like when bands write songs or somebody makes a movie. It all seems so trivial because art is formed and inspired from the engagement with others sometimes.

 

Later on, we practice music in the living room. We’ve slowly been turning this place into a music room. We’ve got Ana’s guitar amp and my three piece drum kit set up – there’s a Yamaha synthesizer – PA. Roland joins on the drums with a few tunes.

 

Monday April 20 2020

Waking up at 11:50 a.m.

 

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

 

Catching up on business at the computer.

 

Helping Ana get the living room ready to go for her performance tonight. There’s all these little things she wants to do to make it look nice. The living room naturally already looks festive. But now it really does.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Cream Cheese and Jam. Beets with Onions and Cabbage. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers. My iPad is going strong on these virtual lessons.

 

Back home. Ana does a solo Community Witch set at 8 p.m. live through the Popscure Instagram. I back her up on guitar and drums for a few songs. Most of our friends are signed on and the screen explodes with hearts and applause, except it’s silent in between songs. It’s kind of weird but also cool.

 

Afterwards, making a quick dinner for us: Japanese Style Fried Rice with Kale.

 

Later on, Roland comes downstairs and jams with Ana and I. He strums hard on the electric guitar while I tinker on the Yamaha synth and Ana banging on the drums. It’s a roommate jam!

 

Sunday April 19 2020

 

Waking up at 1 p.m. !!!!

 

Cereal with Blueberries, Granola, and Almond Milk. Tea.

 

Catching up on business. Running a few errands.

 

Working out in the living room.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Biscuits with Butter and Jam. Kale Salad. Coffee.

Watching The Rhythm Section (2020).

 

Off to the basketball courts shooting the ball around. I spot a fellow baller that used to frequent the rec when it was opened. We exchange elbows instead of the dab.

 

Back home. Transforming the living room into a humble stage for Ana and I. Setting up amps and a small version of the PA. She’s supposed to perform a live stream tomorrow night for Community Witch. And then this coming Saturday we do a little Musicplayer set.

 

Eating leftovers for dinner: Lentil Soup with Green Beans and Bread.

 

Practicing a little with Ana. Meanwhile, Roland chills on the back patio sipping on PBR’s.

 

At the studio practicing things.

 

DOOM.

 

Saturday April 18 2020

Waking up to a super rainy windy morning/afternoon at 12:09 p.m.

 

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

 

Teaching a few lessons at Music Makers.

 

Egg and Sweet Potato Sandwich. Kale Salad. Coffee.

 

Ana and I take to Target and Whole Foods. I help her figure out which cube bookshelves to buy – trying to reorganize a part of her bedroom. We notice how energy draining shopping can be.

 

Back home. Building the shelves for her and figuring out dinner.

 

Eating Vegan Sausages with leftover BBQ Jackfruit and Asparagus. Hanging out with Roland discussing the current political affairs.

 

At the studio writing songs and playing guitar.

 

DOOM.

 

 

Sleep late.

Friday April 17 2020

 

Waking up around 11:45 a.m.

 

Cereal. Black Tea.

 

Catching up on computer business.

 

Shooting some basketball around just trying to exercise. Another dude is here – he was here on the courts the other day.

 

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

Watching Fantasy Island (2020).

 

Organizing more of the living room. Since mom passed it’s been an on-going process. A little here. A little there. I’ve been thinking a lot about her this month for some reason. Always staying busy. I feel that helps me. I’ve always been one to not twiddle my thumbs ever.

 

Ana and I order Pizza from Brother’s. Eating a Kale Salad along with slices while watching an episode of Queer Eye in Japan. They always have little profound moments of inspiration and empowerment throughout these episodes.

 

Upstairs in my bedroom we make “fire”.

 

Later on, I’m at the studio practicing piano and guitar.

 

Playing DOOM.

 

Thursday April 16 2020

 

Waking up at 11:06 a.m.

 

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

 

Errands with Ana. Buying air filters from Taylor’s. Picking up biscuits and pastries from Three Ships.

 

Shooting the basketball around for some exercise.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Biscuits with Butter and Jam. Kale/Snow Peas. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. Ana made dinner: Falafels with Pita Bread and Veggies. Roland joins us for conversation and food.

 

Ana and I have to re-record the video of us doing the Clementine song so it’s in vertical mode. Smartmouth is gonna use it for a promotion for one of their beers.

 

We chat a long time about how we strive to be patient with each other and wanting this relationship to thrive for the betterment of our future and our sanity.

 

 

Playing some DOOM.

 

Sleep at some point.

Wednesday April 15 2020

 

Waking up at 11:56 a.m.

 

Bowl of Cereal with Granola and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Chores.

 

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

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. Cooking dinner for Ana and I: Lentil Soup with Cauliflower, Veggies, and Quinoa.

 

Afterwards, we set up in the living room and work on a rendition of Oh My Darling Clementine. Smartmouth Brewing is doing some kind of ad and needed local musicians to send a vid with the song. Ana and I have a hard time clamping down a harmony line for her but eventually we manage to get a decent couple of takes.

 

 

Taking care of myself and things.

 

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

Tuesday April 14 2020

Waking up around 11:20 a.m.

 

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

 

At the computer catching up on business.

 

Chores.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Sweet Potato. Toast with Cream Cheese and Jam. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers. Teaching virtually on iPads and phones can be frustrating and with certain students come more challenges.

 

Back home. Warming up some dinner: Japanese Style Fried Rice with leftover Veggies and Chicken.

Watching The Gentlemen (2019).

 

Hanging downstairs and cleaning up. Ana made a perfect batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies.

 

At the studio working on music.

 

Monday April 13 2020

Waking up sometime after 11:30 a.m. The power is out again, apparently throughout the whole neighborhood. I remember hearing it rain and storm early in the morning. My dreams were littered with anxiety about mom. In my dreams I always re-live the last weekend before she died.

 

Bowl of Oat Flakes cereal with Granola, Blueberries, and Almond Milk.

 

Catching up on business at the studio in between a light workout.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Sweet Potato. Toast with Butter and Jam. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

I get off kind of early and decide to hit up the basketball courts – it’s a perfect 70 degrees with no wind so no ball interference. I need to do cardio every day.

 

Making dinner: Jackfruit Tempeh BBQ Sandwiches with Kale, Snow Peas, and Rice. (AKA Sloppy Jack’s as Ana called it a while back)

Watching Just Mercy (2019).

Some really emotionally gripping moments in this movie. Freedom. Redemption. Justice.

 

Black Mango Tea.

 

Ana and I play music at the studio, practicing some songs we might do at an upcoming streaming show.

 

Back home. Grapes. Playing DOOM.

 

Sunday April 12 2020

Waking up at some point after noon.

 

Ana made the house Waffles for breakfast. At the dining booth enjoying some with Blueberries and Strawberries. Genevieve joins us.

 

Ana and I do some dancing and exercise in the living room then hit up the basketball courts and track field. 70 degrees make for perfect weather. A slight breeze makes shooting the ball a little difficult but we gotta burn some calories!

 

Back home. Snacking on a Sweet Potato Paratha that I made last night with some Peanut Butter and Jam. Coffee.

 

Tristan Stewart comes over. We go to Music Makers to troubleshoot some issues I was having with becoming PCI compliant on my credit card terminal. He has a better sense of certain tech things that I don’t. We manage to change a setting on the router that we think may work.

 

Later on, we order Brother’s Pizza. With Ana and Tristan in the living room eating slices with a Kale Salad and watching Knives Out (2019).

 

Ana gets inspired to make Brownies!

 

It’s after 2 a.m. We finished cleaning and putting the dishes away. Ana heads upstairs to pick up her room. I sit alone in the living room reflecting. I’m reminded about today being Easter Sunday. Thinking of my mom. Many memories flood my mind of all the Easter Sunday mornings as a boy waking up to find a traditional Easter basket filled with chocolate bunnies and Hot Wheels cars. If she were here now I know she would’ve corralled Ana and I to church. Of course, the coronavirus would’ve halted that notion though. Either way, she would’ve reminded us to celebrate the resurrection. She never gave up her faith not in the slightest during that year of cancer. If anything, it strengthened and brought her closer to God.

...

Sitting in this living room now where she used to sleep and live, most of the time, I don’t feel her around cause she is physically gone. In fact, her absence pushes me into the memories of her. I haven’t really talked about her at all besides the few times Ana and I do. Somebody from the bereavement services at the hospice center calls periodically but I’ve never returned the calls. Talking to Pastor Rick a few weeks ago I remember saying to him how I feel peace and anger at the same time. I know the peace comes from my mom and all the times she probably prayed to give me and everyone peace. I wrestle with the peace sometimes.

 

 

Sleep at some point.

Saturday April 11 2020

Waking up at 12:07 p.m.

 

Oat Flakes with Blueberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.

 

Teaching a few afternoon lessons at Music Makers.

 

Sardines. Toast with Cream Cheese. Corn Tortilla Chips. Coffee.

Watching Just Mercy (2019).

 

Lacing up and hitting the basketball courts. Also, running the track nearby. It’s a bit chilly out, enough to thicken up the lungs when running fast.

 

Picking up some groceries.

 

Taking care of chores.

 

Trying out this recipe for Sweet Potato Parathas, which turned out like pancakes or naan bread. Made some Beans with Rice and Roasted Veggies to go with. Ana and I enjoy dinner together.

 

 

DOOM.

 

Sleep.

Friday April 10 2020

Waking up at 12:40 p.m. Sleeping in big time!

 

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

 

Chores.

 

Errands. At Target, they’re really enforcing keeping your distance 6 feet away from people. The self checkout lines are backed up and it creates a long line. I’ve never seen anything like it.

 

At Music Makers putting together this new cube bookshelf to keep the piano books organized.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Blueberry Bagel with Cream Cheese. Potato Chips with Guac. Coffee.

 

Back to the studio to keep organizing things. It’s amazing how much time can be spent tweaking everything.

 

Picking up some Bangkok Garden for dinner. At home Ana and I dig in while watching Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). At some point we’re eating Cookies.

 

Back to the studio working on a few original songs on piano.

 

 

Sleep 4:30 a.m.

Thursday April 9 2020

Waking up around 11:40 a.m.

 

Breakfast Bar with Tea.

 

Ana and I have started a code phrase between us whenever we make love. “Making fire” will be the new thing for us.

 

Making fire.

 

Running errands with Ana.

 

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

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. All of the roommates are hanging around the dining room/kitchen. Ana and I make Vegan Burgers with Cauliflower, and Corn Tortilla Chips with Guac.

 

Ana and I play some music at the studio. Just singing and working out new songs.

 

 

Popcorn.

 

Researching.

 

Sleep 4:30 a.m.

Wednesday April 8 2020

Waking up at 11:30 a.m.

 

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

 

Ana and I do yoga in the living room.

 

Shooting the basketball around down the street. Meanwhile, there’re two dudes with kids listening to what sounds like Christian hip-hop on the court next to me. The sun is blaring hot – feels like summer.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Bagel with Butter and Jam. Kale with Cabbage and Red Onion. Potato Chips. Iced Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. Putting together a hodgepodge dinner for Ana and I: Vegan Mac n Cheese with Peas, Vegetable Samosas, BBQ Brussel Sprouts.

 

Later on, I get inspired at the studio playing piano – been working on a few original songs.

 

 

Sleep 4:30 a.m.

Tuesday April 7 2020

Waking up at 11:07 a.m.

 

Oat Flakes Cereal with Granola, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Lacing up and hitting the basketball courts. Ana and Erica drop by to burn some cardio for a while.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Biscuits with Butter and Jam. Kale, Cabbage, and Red Onions. Iced Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers. It’s a bit of a stressful day sometimes juggling all the devices and figuring out when all the lessons are successfully had. Jordan does his best managing everything up front.

 

Back home. Leftover Spaghetti Noodles with Naan Pizza and Cauliflower.

Watching Bad Boys For Life (2020).

 

Catching up on business and research.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there in regards to Covid-19 I’ve been discovering. This whole thing has run a terrible course on society changing the lives of every single person out there.

 

Chores.

 

 

Sleep at some point after a few rounds of DOOM.

Monday April 6 2020

Waking up at 11:30 a.m.

 

Oat Flakes with Granola, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

 

Ana and I exercise in the living room – light calisthenics.

 

Then, I shoot the basketball around down the street.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Kale, Cabbage, and Onions. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Picking up a few things at Target.

 

Putting together some leftovers for dinner: leftover Tuna, Black Beans, Asparagus, Onions, Mushrooms, and Rice.

Ana and I finish watching Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019).

 

Cookies.

 

 

Upstairs in my bedroom we get into a deep discussion about emotions, expectations, and perspectives not just related to our relationship but also our individual endeavors. I especially touch on my aspirations in music and how I want to allot time throughout the week writing/composing.

“I’m an artist dying inside. I’m distracted by all these responsibilities (the business, the house, etc.) I just wanna make music.”

...

We talked so long and it got so late. She lies down all cozy under the blankets in my bed. I shoot a few rounds of DOOM then join her.