This is an open and unfiltered diary-style journal
on the life of James Robert Smith.
This blog will contain sometimes graphic experiences (both beautiful and ugly),
sometimes stark insight, and all honest and factual documentation of dreams, diet, activity, and thoughts.
Waking up around noon. Had a dream mom was still alive – I
tend to have these often. In the dream it’s like she survived past death but is
still sick.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Catching up on business.
Meeting with Jordan and Kay at the MOCA to look over the
sound and light system in the auditorium. Meanwhile, people are setting up for
a wedding.
Scrambled Eggs. Biscuit with Butter and Jam. Kale. Chips.
Coffee.
Watching an episode of Unsolved
Mysteries (2020).
Running errands.
After Ana gets off work we head to The Alley where Three
Ships and Pink Dinghy are. They invited everyone here for an outside jam
session in celebration of Chase who recently passed. Zack, from Snake Mountain
Revival, set up a couple drum sets with an organ, guitars, a marimba, mics, and
percussion instruments. Everybody just hops on things creating a beautiful
unified jam right under the bright lit moon. It’s a perfect Halloween night.
Catching up on business and promoting the show for tonight.
Searching for a vest at the thrift store but no luck.
Instead I employ Ronnie to borrow his ruffled shirt and vest from last year.
Packing up and driving out to Norfolk.
...
PB&J. Coffee.
Tonight is the big night for Fleetwood Massacre. We’re here
at Smartmouth setting up for the Halloween Rock n Roll Revue featuring October
Gurls (Big Star), George Harrison’s Ghost Band, and us. I spend a lot of time
working on logistics on stage and figuring out how to rig the iPads and cameras
in the back to live stream the entire show.
...
Both bands before us perform a tight set of songs. The crowd
is all seated and socially distanced with masks on anytime they’re moving
around. It works out pretty well in that regard.
Then, we hop on stage and do an hour’s worth of Fleetwood
Mac. Everyone of us jives together and everything comes together in the end
with a few hiccups. So much energy and liveliness. We were fortunate to recruit
Chris Remaley to help out on drums for a couple songs – he fits in perfectly.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Ana and I do a workout together with Vlad.
Vega Banana Protein Shake.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Avocado. Kale.
Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Off work I snack on an Apple and deliver the drum set to
Smartmouth. They’re going to need it here for afternoon when Cole’s band
practices. Meanwhile, Ana is having her Community Witch band practice.
...
I head over to Cogan’s to link up with her after for Pizza.
Skippy just so happens to be here. But then it’s just Ana and I with our pizza,
garlic knots, and a couple of blue beers (which she doesn’t care for). We’re
sitting on a picnic table outside – she vents to me about her band and all the
conflicts that arise at times.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Running errands – picking up some coffee beans and pastries
from Three Ships – groceries at Trader Joe’s.
Catching up on business.
Scrambled Eggs. Biscuit with Butter and Jam. Kale. Salt n
Vinegar Chips. Coffee.
Watching Fargo
(1996).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Ana and I both get off work at the same time. We head over
to The Pink Dinghy for dinner and show our support for this place – Chase, one
of the owners and friend/legend of the community, passed away recently. They
just opened up for tonight and tomorrow. Enjoying Sweet Potato Empanadas and
Bean Pupusas.
Then, the final Fleetwood Mac band rehearsal at Music
Makers. The whole band is here. We run through the whole set very smoothly then
pick and choose tunes that need polishing. But overall we’re ready!
Staying behind to change a snare drumhead and pack up a few
things.
Cereal with Blueberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
The phones are blowing up with cancelations and scheduling
issues.
Ana and I drive over to Great Neck Rec to vote! This year
because of Covid things they’ve organized early voting all across the city.
It’s her first time being able to vote since she became a citizen. There’s a
long spaced out line outside – we wait about an hour to fill in our ballots.
Making a quick lunch cause we’re just barely getting back in
time.
Scrambled Eggs. Kale. Toast with Butter and Jam. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Chicken Pad Thai from Bangkok Garden for dinner.
Watching Fargo
(1996).
Catching up on business.
Green Tea.
Playing DOOM.
Ana and I take the recycle out. Then, I practice a little
drums at the studio.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Workout session with Vlad – Ana tags along – we focus on a
workout for her this time.
Vega Banana Protein Shake.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Vegan Cream Cheese and Jam. Kale.
Chips. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Sharing dinner leftovers at home with Ana.
Fleetwood Mac rehearsal. We’re feeling almost over prepared
at this point but we’re locked into an hour headlining set so we gotta know
what we’re doing.
Staying back after rehearsal to sort and organize things.
Cereal with Blueberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Gotta coach two MMLIVE bands – teen band and adult band.
With Devon’s help things go smoothly. PB&J break somewhere in there with a
Nitro Cold Brew Coffee.
At the studio organizing and setting up all the gear we
brought in from last night’s gig.
Warming up leftovers for dinner: BBQ Jackfruit/Tempeh on a
bun with Tomato, Lettuce, Carrots, and Kale.Meanwhile, Ana’s here on her work break eating a decent microwave dinner
and watching old Addams Family episodes on her phone.
Running late night errands – getting groceries at Kroger.
I’m so grateful there’s actually a grocery store open late at night for people
like me.
Catching up on business. Green Tea.
Later on, after Ana gets off work we make Cinnamon Rolls and
watch a touching and inspiring episode of Kitchen
Nightmares.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk.
Breakfast Tea.
Time to load up the vehicles with all the music gear.
Driving out to Smartmouth in Norfolk for a Musicplayer gig.
They’re celebrating their 8th anniversary with a Magic 8 IPA. Nate
Sacks performs just outside while we set up.
I’m out of practice doing all this setting up. Not since
last February have we played a real gig. Trying to remember our system of which
cords go where and everything.
We do 3 sets of all our familiar tunes with a few fresh
ones. Tristan Stewart’s here in support as usual. And more of our friends show
up later. This little girl about 5 years old, Beatrice, isn’t afraid to dance
and get on the stage with a shaker. We corral this drunk frat guy to play drums
on Rebel Rebel but he has a hard time keeping the rhythm. Later on, we get
Stacey to jam out on Satisfaction, which goes much smoother. Anthony and Miah’s
birthdays are this weekend also. He comes up and we play that Sugar Ray song.
Afterwards, everybody helps load out the gear to the cars.
Meeting up at Anthony and Miah’s apartment down the street
for a party. It’s nice to see all the old 1623/1435 crew.
Cereal with Strawberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Catching up on business.
Running errands with Ana.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Coffee (almost until I spilt it!).
Setting up the rehearsal spot for one MMLIVE band rehearsal
(the kids band). They’re a handful but it is very productive.
Back home. Ana starts up dinner. I was gonna burn some
calories on the basketball courts but it’s too crowded there. Instead, I do some
things at Music Makers.
Enjoying dinner that Ana made: Sloppy Jacks, as we like to
call them. BBQ Jackfruit and Tempeh with Roasted Potatoes and Cauliflower.
Later on, at the studio Ana and I practice any songs we need
to work on in preparation for tomorrow’s gig.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Workout session with Vlad.
Vega Banana Protein Shake.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Popped Chips.
Coffee.
Watching Unsolved
Mysteries (2020).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Leftover Vegetable Soup with Baguette.
Fleetwood Mac rehearsal – productive and fun as usual.
Back home. Josiah texted me about a virtual live show out in
the west coast with our band friends Levitation Room. Ana and I put it on in
the living room. Enjoying the 60’s sideburn vibes with a Cinnamon Roll and
Green Tea.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Catching up on business and scheduling.
Walking over to Taylor’s Do-it Center for some supplies –
it’s a beautiful day.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Kale. Salt n
Vinegar Chips. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
After work Ana and I grab some dinner at Pizza Chapel.
Sitting outside on the patio chowing down on Magherita Pizza and Garlic Knots –
sipping on beers that taste like incense (in a good way).
Practicing at the studio with Ana – going over as many songs
as we can.
Waking up off and on throughout the morning. I put on a long
rain sound video to help me sleep.
Up and about after 10:30 a.m. Down the street I find a local
coffee shop called Genesis – drinking a great 8 ounce cup of Coffee with a
Blueberry Scone. Sitting out in front of the opera house next to the WWI
memorial. It’s a beautiful day out with a slight chill.
Exploring the opera house – this place was built back in 1881
– climbing some ladders that lead to the clock tower. There’s a big old bell
too – how could I not ring the bell. Meanwhile, Jorge fills the theater with
beautiful violin sounds.
Setting up the stage for sound check. We just recently got a
whole new system for in ear monitors which makes everything go pretty smoothly.
Walking around town – finding an enormous antique shop with
endless rooms and corners full of creepy dolls, vintage signs, books, toys,
etc. Upstairs, there’s more rooms where the lights don’t work so you have to
turn on your phone light to see. The two country bumpkin dudes that seem to run
the place walk around pet talking to this Garfield cat named Pablo. The cat
purrs loudly and is very sociable. I buy an old case, a laser disc of American Werewolf in London, an old
program of The Cat and the Fiddle,
and two buttons for Reagan/Bush 1984.
Peanut Butter Protein Bar with Chips.
Talking with dad on the phone.
Green Tea.
Catering for dinner tonight is Spaghetti and Salad.
Hit time is 8 p.m. and we’re on stage playing our two 45
minute sets.
Afterwards, we do our best to pack up all the gear and
hightail it outta there fast cause we have a long overnight journey home. I
take the first shift to drive. At a gas station stop everyone tries to order
Wendy’s but there seems to be a long holdup and wait to get food. I settle on a
donut and Coffee.
...
While I drive I chat with Jorge who’s in the passenger seat
about his life story and his teaching experience. 4 hours in we stop at the
iconic South of the Border – it looks like an abandoned Las Vegas – so many
neon lights and signs – but the only thing open is a gas station and bathrooms.
I hole up in one of the back seats attempting to sleep the
rest of the way.
After all is said and done I arrive in my bed next Ana back
home around 8 a.m.
