Friday July 31 2020

 

Waking up around noon.

 

Ana and I enjoy a beautiful stack of Blueberry Pancakes that I made from scratch with Tea.

 

Catching up on business and doing the books.

 

We thought it was gonna be a nice sunny day but then the rain falls like the flood. But that’s not gonna stop us from doing what we wanna do!

 

Ana drives us to Aloha Snacks for lunch: Tuna and Tofu. Fries. Malasada.

 

Picking up some pots and saucers from Taylor’s Do-it Center.

 

Chores around the house.

 

I’ve got to get a second application from the doctor on this lesion or wart.

 

At home it’s time to repot a bunch of plants we’ve been rooting and some that just need replenishing. I spend practically the whole night doing it – it’s the kind of thing that you need a whole day to really do. Ana does some of her plants and helps cook dinner.

 

Watching episode of Chef’s Table on Netflix over bowls of Japanese Style Fried Rice with Asparagus and Carrots.

 

I finish doing the plant thing and cleaning up. There’s so much to do.

 

Finally, taking care of myself upstairs. Ana explains how grateful she is to have me and to have each other.

 

Thursday July 30 2020

Waking up at 11:15 a.m.

 

Cereal. Breakfast Tea.

 

So much business and things to take care of.

 

Chores.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Three Ships Biscuit with Jam and Butter. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

After work Ana and I pick up some Fish Tacos from Gringo’s for dinner. Always the best tacos!

 

Later on at the storage unit practicing with the Ladada boys, including newly acquired Elliott. He’s still learning parts and getting used to our band vibes. We have a good time.

 

Wednesday July 29 2020

Waking up at 11:30 a.m.

 

Doing a Zoom meeting with Jacki, a friend of ours that’s a realtor. We’re gonna gear up again and start this process of looking for a house to buy.

 

Ana and I run some errands.

 

Egg Sandwich with Spinach and Tomato. Orange Honeydew. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Warming up leftovers for dinner.

Watching The Vast of Night (2019).

 

Green Tea.

Catching up on business.

 

Late night bike ride to the oceanfront. Thinking about mom as usual but especially when I’m riding around. I remember a time in the 90’s when I was little she took me to see the sunrise. I was so tired and cold. We sat up in one of the lifeguard stands wrapped up in a blanket watching the sun rise one color at a time. Wish I was there now.

 

Tuesday July 28 2020

Waking up at 11 a.m.

 

Ana and I hit the road to Norfolk. Snacking on some breakfast goodies she got from Prosperity.

 

Meeting up with Stephen Suratos at his apartment. He’s moving to New York soon and wanted to use a new camera he got to do a photo shoot of Ana and I. We brought guitars and drums. Setting up and posing against a bare white wall. Then, trying out a few spots outside.

 

Making it back home just in time to make lunch.

Scrambled Eggs. Spinach. Toast with Butter and Jam. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Afterwards, shooting the basketball around. I haven’t exercised much lately. Lost motivation cause it’s been raining off and on the past few weeks. Finally have a chance to move around. Meanwhile, there’s a lightning storm in the distance.

...

I find this lone turtle that seems to be stuck near a bush. There’s ants crawling all over him but he’s alive. I scoot him in a box and relocate him to the river in the woods.

 

Back home. Warming up some dinner: Brown Rice Quinoa Noodles with Tomato Sauce, Peppers, and Kale.

 

Taking care of business and chores around the house.

 

Playing DOOM.

 

Monday July 27 2020

Waking up at 11:20 a.m.

 

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

 

Catching up on business.

 

Ana freaked out cause she thought she had to be at work at 4 but they called and she got it mixed up – she was supposed to be there at noon.

 

I run up to Three Ships for coffee beans and make sure she has her favorite pop-tart waiting for her on break. I write a cute note saying, “Look and see...a treat waiting for thee.”

 

Scrambled Eggs. Three Ships Biscuit with Butter and Jam. Potato Chips. Coffee.

Watching Vivarium (2019).

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. Ana and I put dinner together: Mung Beans with Kale and Rice.

Watching an episode of Chef’s Table on Netflix about a woman Indian chef telling her riveting life story – a lot of great tid bits.

 

Researching.

 

Sunday July 26 2020

Waking up at 11 a.m.

 

Cereal. Breakfast Tea.

 

Coaching two MMLIVE bands at the rehearsal spot – staying productive and getting songs done.

 

Tuna Salad Sandwich from Panera. Iced Coffee.

 

At the Broadway rehearsal. I lead some of the group in this rendition of “You’re in the Band”. Everything’s really coming together.

...

There’s a lot of things to sort out and manage this session. Sometimes it’s a little overwhelming but I have a lot more help this time around.

 

Back home. Ana and I tag-team dinner: Curry with Tomatoes, Peas, Onions, Okra, Carrots, and Quinoa.

 

Catching up on business and my to-do list.

 

Green Tea and chores.

 

Saturday July 25 2020

Waking up at noon.

 

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

 

Teaching afternoon lessons at Music Makers.

 

Taking care of business and chores around the house.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Leftover Green Beans and Onions. Toast with Butter and Jam. Coffee.

Watching Vivarium (2019).

 

Today is the official “Life In A Day” day where people from across the world film their day and send it in to this team of people. They’ll compile all the footage and put it together in a documentary to be shown at a film festival in 2021.

 

Continuing to work on things at the computer.

 

Ana gets off work. I cook dinner for us: Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti Noodles with Tomato Sauce, Green Peppers, Onions, Broccoli, and French Baguette.

Enjoying our meals at the table.

 

Roland and Eric drop in after a day at the skate park.

 

At the rehearsal spot setting up for band practices the next day. Anne is here reconstructing the sound system.

 

Later on playing piano at the studio.

 

Editing all the clips to submit for that documentary.

 

Friday July 24 2020

Waking up around 12:30 p.m. or so. Ana and I slept in, something I’ve been wanting to do for a while.

 

She makes Waffles for breakfast.

 

Catching up on house chores and business.

 

Ana and I run a few errands. It keeps raining on and off.

 

Tofu Scramble with Cabbage. Coffee.

 

Over at Elevation27 setting up the stage for the A New World Record (ELO) show tonight. Sound checking goes pretty smoothly. The venue did a good job at seating people at a safe distance and enforcing face mask wearing. I make sure to keep my face mask on when walking around back stage.

...

We do our two 45 minute sets. There were a few hiccups here and there but overall you can’t blame us since we haven’t played a show together in a long, long time.

 

Back home. Ana baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. We talk and connect upstairs in my room about current things in the world.

 

Thursday July 23 2020

Waking up at 11:20 a.m.

 

Cereal. Breakfast Tea.

 

Dealing with texts/emails/scheduling for Music Makers. Some days it requires all my attention and other days it’s a piece of cake.

 

Ana’s mom is here hanging out. I put this old school Galaxy II handheld game in front of her and she gets a kick out of it.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Three Ships Biscuit with Butter and Jam. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

It’s continuing to be one of those days where all kinds of attention is demanded from every nook and cranny of existence.

 

Finally back home. Ana made us dinner: Vegan Burgers with Potatoes, Carrots, and Cabbage.

Things are a little crispier than usual but it’s all good, still a wholesome meal. The cabbage reminds me of how mom used to make it.

 

Later on at the Tidewater storage unit to finally have Ladada band practice. We haven’t played music together ever since the pandemic hit. This time Elliott is joining in on second guitar. He’s been learning the parts cause Jonnie sadly disbanded from us for personal reasons. Ah, but it feels good to play music in this band. We’re all wearing face masks.

 

Wednesday July 22 2020

Waking up at 11:15 a.m.

 

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

 

Catching up on business.

 

Running errands.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Three Ships Biscuit with Butter and Jam. Chips. Coffee.

Watching 7500 (2019).

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. Cooking dinner: Tuna Steak with Green Beans, Mushrooms, Onions, and Rice/Quinoa.

 

Practicing Ladada bass tunes.

 

Tuesday July 21 2020

Waking up at 11:15 a.m.

 

Cereal.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Power napping.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Melon. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Eating leftovers for dinner.

 

At Music Makers I meet up with Chris Remaley and Aaron Lachman, two of my old buddies I used to play in various bands back in the day. It’s not often I get to hang with them. We jam for a little while, Chris on drums, Aaron on bass, me on guitar.

 

Taking care of chores in the house.

 

Monday July 20 2020

Waking up at 11:15 a.m.

 

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

 

Catching up on business.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Orange Dew. Popped Chips. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Eating some leftover Pizza with Kale and Carrots.

 

ELO rehearsal tonight. The whole crew and band is here. We’ve got a show at Elevation this Friday. We get off to a late start – most of the songs are muscle memory at this point.

 

Back home.

I’ve got a major headache – probably just because we haven’t rehearsed like this in a while. All the sounds and music can be overwhelming especially when wearing in-ear monitors.

 

Back home. Taking care of myself and doing a few chores.

 

Ana and I chill for some time in her room. I wouldn’t call it chillin’ though cause we get into some debates about who knows what by the end of it. But we always manage to kiss and make up by the end of it.

 

Sunday July 19 2020

Waking up at 11 a.m.

 

Cereal. Breakfast Tea.

 

Coaching two band rehearsals from noon to 3pm.

It’s Anne’s birthday. I brought special Bundt Cupcakes to share.

 

Tuna Salad Sandwich from Panera with Coffee.

 

At Broadway rehearsal – it’s very chaotic but productive.

 

Back home. Power napping.

 

Ana and I share Bangkok Garden for dinner.

 

At the ELO rehearsal space setting up the keyboard rig. We were supposed to practice but something happened. Instead we’re just setting up the sound system and making sure everything’s in working order for the next night.

 

At Music Makers late into the night recording inventory for all the books. Ana drops by and just plays on the piano while I work.

 

Saturday July 18 2020

Waking up around noon.

 

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

 

Teaching a few afternoon lessons at Music Makers.

 

Sardine Sandwich with Tomatoes. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.

Watching Frank & Lola (2016).

 

Running errands.

 

Taking care of chores.

 

Sharing a hodge podge dinner with Ana: Quinoa, Peas, Kale, Carrots.

 

Doing inventory at Music Makers late into the night.

 

Friday July 17 2020

Waking up at noon.

 

Cereal. Tea.

 

Coaching a band rehearsal for the kid band to make up for missing a Sunday. Things go well.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Spinach Salad with Tomato. Toast with Butter and Jam.

Watching Frank & Lola (2016).

 

Catching up on business.

 

Power napping.

 

Over at the Lynnhaven Park courts playing some 5v5 basketball with the Rec boys.

 

Ana and I go out to Pizza Chapel for dinner. Sitting outside on their patio enjoying some refreshing brews and Pizza. She’s feeling very accomplished cause she willed herself to go down some ramps today at the skate park. I’m feeling accomplished cause I made buckets in the basketball game.

 

Back home. Chilling on the couch with OJ on the rocks. Having a quickie fire session and enjoying each other’s company.

 

Taking care of stuff around the house. Playing DOOM.

 

Thursday July 16 2020

Waking up at 11 a.m.

 

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

 

Catching up on business – emails and scheduling.

 

Taking care of house stuff.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Spinach Salad with Tomatoes and Beets. Toast with Butter and Jam. Popped Chips. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Shooting some basketball over at the Lynnhaven courts. Some of the Rec boys are there. I’m able to play a few 4v4 full court games. They’re apparently here all the time so at least now we have a good group to play with.

 

Back home. Ana cooks dinner: Sloppy Jack’s (Jackfruit and Tempeh BBQ) with Zucchini and Carrots.

 

Green Tea.

 

At Music Makers organizing a few storage bins of guitar strings and dusting.

 

Wednesday July 15 2020

Waking up at 11:20 a.m.

 

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

 

Meeting with Sarah, a potential new piano/cello instructor. I give her the rundown of what Music Makers is all about. She’s big into classical and theory.

 

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

Watching The Old Guard (2020).

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Off work and back home. Ana and I pick up Sushi from Sakura. We’ve been trying to get sushi for a few weeks now but never can order in time enough before places close.

Enjoying some Tempura with Salmon and Shrimp Rolls. Kale on the side.

Roland converses with us at the table showing us his new tattoo.

 

Catching up on business and drinking Green Tea.

 

Later on after 1:30 a.m., I meet up with Roland, Ana, and Erica out in the nearby church parking lot to skate. Good times.

 

Popcorn. OJ.

 

Tuesday July 14 2020

Waking up at 10:20 a.m.

 

Cereal with Blueberries. Breakfast Tea.

 

I’ve got a dentist appointment this morning – getting a cleaning and exam.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Watermelon. Scrambled Eggs. Biscuit with Jam and Butter. Spinach.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Shooting some basketball at the Linkhorn courts.

 

Aloha Snacks for dinner: Chicken Sammy with Clockwise Fries.

Watching The Old Guard (2020).

 

Pointing out that I have three different kinds of melons ripening on the bench in the dining room I exclaim, “It’s melon season. I gotta live it up!”

 

 

Playing DOOM.

 

Sleep 4 a.m.

Monday July 13 2020

Waking up at 11 a.m.

 

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

 

Catching up on business.

 

Getting groceries.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Morning Bun. Spinach. Tomatoes. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Smoked Salmon Sandwich with Tomatoes, Kale, Carrots, Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado.

Watching The Town (2010).

 

Power napping.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Night bike ride to the oceanfront.

 

Fruit and Yogurt.

 

Sunday July 12 2020

Waking up at 11 a.m.

 

Cereal. Breakfast Tea.

 

Coaching a few rock school bands for MMLIVE from noon to 3 p.m. We’re very productive today!

 

Quick stop at the house for lunch: Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Popped Chips. Coffee.

Meanwhile, Ana and her band are doing a photo shoot in the living room and backyard. Things are quite hectic around here.

 

At the Broadway rehearsal at the church. I’m not doing too much except trying to figure out a way we can set up on the second stage to practice one of the show songs.

 

Later on after putting gear away at various places and helping Ana resituate the living room from the chaos today…then over at the Lynnhaven basketball courts playing a 5v5 game. Apparently, this is the place to be on Sundays.

“You’re a legend around here, MacBook,” one of the dudes says but I don’t know why. I’m really not as good as some of the guys around here but I guess it’s more for lore.

...

Ana rides her skateboard around for a little bit.

 

Back home. Warming up leftovers: Spaghetti with Kale, Carrots, and a Baguette.

 

 

Playing DOOM.

 

Sleep 3:30 a.m.

Saturday July 11 2020

 

Waking up around noon.

 

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

 

Teaching afternoon lessons at Music Makers.

 

Melon. Egg Sandwich with Tomato. Kale. Potato Chips with Avocado. Coffee.

Watching The Town (2010).

 

Kevin Moore picks me up with my battery powered keyboard. We set up at the oceanfront fishing pier just past the entrance gate. I get permission from Aaron’s dad, Doug, to let us do this marriage proposal scene. One of Kevin’s co-workers, Rick, wants me to play “Your Song” by Elton John while he proposes to his girlfriend. Everything goes perfectly...

Once I see the couple walk past I shout, “Hey, let me play a song for ya!”

The girl, unaware of the plan, walks over with Rick.

“What kind of songs do you like?”

I start up the tune, “I think I got one. How bout this one right here...”

“It’s a little bit funny, this feeling inside...”

During the first verse Rick takes a knee and slips on her ring. A crowd has their eyes glued from afar. They reach in to kiss and everyone cheers. It’s really a magical moment. I don’t even know these people but I felt the guy’s nervousness and love.

 

 

Later on, Ana and I try out Quirks, this new restaurant over off Great Neck, one of the only joints open past 9 p.m. and with a decent menu.

 

 

Tuna Burrito and drinks.

 

Setting up the rehearsal spot.

 

Later on, Ana and I finally finish the last episode of Twin Peaks season two.

 

Friday July 10 2020

Waking up at 12:30 p.m. Yay for sleeping in!

 

Cereal. Breakfast Tea.

 

Taking care of house stuff – vacuuming and such.

 

Ana and I draw out a chart/list of things to help our relationship.

 

Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Coffee.

 

Visiting Dr. Werwath at The Doctor’s In for my annual. My blood work shows everything healthy and normal. Just need to make sure I take a Vitamin D supplement. We talk about the ringing in my ears and dealing with this little lesion in my groin area. It’s a simple fix.

 

“I wanna work on our relationship,” she says as she walks into my room.

She leans in for a kiss.

“Oh yes! Affection,” I say as I’m reminded of our relationship chart.

She adds, “If we’re gonna have a family we have to be really tight.”

 

I grab the basketball and shoot around at Lynnhaven Park. Two different full court games on either side of me, a group of Vietnamese guys on one end and some black guys I know from the rec.

 

Back home. Erica and Ana are prepping for dinner in the kitchen. I clean up myself first then take over as fry cook. Roland joins us at the table for a nice home cooked meal: Oyster Mushroom Tofu BBQ with Roasted Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Fries.

 

Ana and I cuddle in my room.

 

At the studio by myself practicing this song I have to perform for a marriage proposal tomorrow.

 

 

Sleep 4:30 a.m.

Thursday July 9 2020

Waking up bright and early at 8:30 a.m. Ana and I have to drop off Elvis for an exam.

 

Back home Ana and I return to sleep land – dreaming of very vivid things involving a doctor’s visit going wrong and a kid getting hit with a steel roller coaster track in France.

 

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

 

Catching up on business and chores.

 

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

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

After work, Ana and I exercise a little on the Linkhorn basketball courts.

 

Cooking dinner: Vegan Burgers with Lettuce, Tomato, Asparagus, and Corn on the Cob.

Watching an episode of Twin Peaks.

 

Taking care of chores and following up on the business of the day.

 

Ana and I chill at the studio. I practice this Elton John song in preparation for a marriage proposal some friend of Kevin is doing.