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.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Catching up on business.
Ana and I do a workout session with Vlad.
Banana Protein Shake.
Scrambled Eggs. Green Beans. Toast with Butter and Jam.
Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Back home.
Eating leftovers: Pancit Noodles with Herring and Kale.
Doing the accounting.
When Ana gets off work I’m in the middle of putting up the
small Christmas tree up on the dining booth. My mom bought this tree a few
years ago so 1435 could have something. While putting all the old family
ornaments up Elvis pokes his head around and Ana enjoys those cheese-less
cheesecake things.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Ana and I hit the road with plans to enjoy a leisurely day
in nature. Checking out the Suffolk side of The Great Dismal Swamp. This is a
“staycation” as they call it since we’re not even leaving the 757. Walking a
total of 9 miles along the Washington Ditch deep in the heart of the swamp all
the way to Lake Drummond. It’s a long, long walk but we soak it all in –
chatting about everything – listening to music – listening to the stillness.
We’ve been long overdue for a nature trip.
Our legs are killing us upon returning to the car. Driving
back home to VB.
Ana and I curl up on the couch and take power naps. Elvis
snuggles into a crevice between our legs. He’s a pro at cat napping.
We decide to hit up our favorite local Italian restaurant,
When in Rome. They gave us a table right near the kitchen in view of the chef
cooking on the gas stove. I envy a stove like this. Enjoying beautiful plates
of Pasta, Salads, Cannolis, and Chianti wine.
Catching up on chores and business back home.
At the studio late at night organizing and things.
Waking up around noon. I rustle up Ana and I to check out
the VB Flea and Farmer’s Market over by Three Ships. We never get the
opportunity to check these kinds of things out cause by the time we wake up it’s
all over.
There’s quite a lot of people (masked up) strolling around
from booth to booth – vintage clothes, pottery, and antiques. Nate Sacks and
company are playing right out of Igor’s garage. Buying a few t-shirts from Pink
Dinghy and Three Ships.
Back home. Enjoying Waffles and Coffee.
Ana and I continue to enjoy our joint days off together.
Doing chores around the house – cleaning the downstairs bathroom and some of
the upstairs bathroom – vacuuming.
Running errands.
Smoked Salmon Sandwich with Vegan Cream Cheese. Green Tea.
Getting groceries.
Doing more stuff around the house.
Making dinner: BBQ Tempeh with Peppers, Onions, Celery,
Green Beans, Carrots, and Rice.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Catching up on business.
Heading out to Norfolk for the Dark Arts Fest at Smartmouth.
Quite a few bands playing and a pop up market. I’m playing bass in Bamm Bamm, a
lineup with Josiah and Josh McHugh. We only had two practices but we manage to
rock through the half hour set. It’s an interesting set up outside with the
stage right under the garage doors and tables spaced out. People still stand
around in small groups all masked up. It almost feels normal again! I set up
two iPads to live stream Facebook and Instagram – seems to work out well. Later
on, Community Witch, Song of Praise, and Norfolk Nightmares perform. It’s a
real fun time.
Afterwards, hangin’ with Josh and Josiah over by Cogan’s
Pizza. They closed early so we stand around outside recapping the show and our
thoughts. Meanwhile, the dudes smoke through a couple cigarettes.
Back home. Settling down with Ana over some chips and salsa.
Cereal with Blueberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Doing stuff around the house.
Ana and I head out to Norfolk to her mom’s house for a small
Thanksgiving meal. Her mom’s husband and Jeremy are here too. Enjoying a classic
spread: Turkey, Stuffing, Roasted Veggies, and Mashed Potatoes with Gravy.
...
Later on, we take a walk down the street to the park. Papa
and Sunshine, the tiny loving dogs, are with us. Ana keeps complaining how they
don’t know how to walk on a leash. Some kids are playing basketball nearby. I
join in for a 3v3 pick-up game.
Playing music in one of the bedrooms with everyone –
skimming through piano books and trying out different songs.
Back home in VB. Sharing a quick dinner with Ana: Spinach
Salads with Smoked Salmon and Toast with Vegan Cream Cheese. Coffee.
Doing some chores. Ana accidentally sucked up a sock in the
vacuum hose. I spend a good amount of time troubleshooting how to pull it out.
But in the end I use my ingenuity screwing in a bolt to the end of a curtain
rod – does the job!
Later on, at the studio trying to configure the best way to
set up iPads on a music stand for the live stream tomorrow.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Workout session with Vlad.
Banana Strawberry Protein Shake.
Scrambled Eggs. Spinach. Toast with Butter and Jam. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Off work Ana and I attempt to grab some special thing Pink
Dinghy was doing but we’re too late cause they ran out. Instead, we grab some
Fish Tacos from Gringo’s.
Driving out to the Tidewater storage unit for Bamm Bamm
practice. It’s only our second time in preparation for Friday’s show. We hit a
few stressful moments when trying to show Josh the drum parts for “Party”.
Josiah hits a low point of impatience but in the end we manage to be nice to
each other and nail the songs.
Waking up around noon. Elvis is vying for affection and
attention from Ana and I while we lay lazily in the bed.
Cereal with Strawberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Catching up on business.
Running errands with Ana – getting groceries at Whole Foods.
All of creation seems to be here gathering up Thanksgiving supplies.
Spinach Salad with Tuna, Beets, and Cucumbers. Toast with
Vegan Cream Cheese. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.
Watching an episode of Kitchen
Nightmares.
In the evening I decide to stop by Elevation 27 to drop off
this cable we accidently grabbed from last show. I walk in the back door and
discover Mae is sound checking! There’s Zach holding his guitar. I chat with
him, Jacob, and Dave for a bit. How funny
is this?
At the studio pulling out all the Christmas decorations and
hanging everything up.
Leftovers for dinner: Peas and Rice with Mushroom Pastry,
Kale, and Carrots.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Teaching afternoon lessons at Music Makers.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Greens. Salt n
Vinegar Chips. Coffee.
Meeting up with Josiah and Josh McHugh at the Tidewater
storage unit. We have a Bamm Bamm show next Friday and today is our first
practice to learn 8 songs. It goes over well actually – throwing in old
pre-Ladada songs that Josh originally played on and some fresh new tunes Josiah
came up with recently.
I make it back to VB just in time for the live stream show
at the new Three Ships warehouse in Hilltop. Elliott’s the grandmaster behind
this whole thing. He’s got Bobby and Jesse Philips running sound and trying to
configure the live stream. Community Witch goes on first. There seems to be a
problem with the audio on the Facebook stream – it’s not synced up and there’s
a weird static sound interrupting the feed but we power through it. You’re
Jovian goes next. It all sounds great and full in the room. Joe Justice is here
shooting photography for the performances and doing some poses in front of the
garage door. It’s an overall fun time. Afterwards, everybody pitches in to help
clean/pack up.
Cereal with Strawberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Ana and I run some Friday afternoon errands. It’s a
beautiful day to experience the crowded streets and grocery stores of Hilltop.
Stopping by Three Ships to pick up our usual things. Elliott happens to be here
working. Meanwhile, the Igor guy is across the way painting a custom vehicle
turned into a Santa’s sleigh.
Scrambled Eggs. Biscuit with Butter and Jam. Greens,
Tomatoes, Beets. Coffee.
At Music Makers running the front desk for a couple hours
and cleaning up some things.
Later on, linking up with friends at a warehouse in Hilltop
where You’re Jovian and Community Witch is sound checking for a streamed show
the next day. Tristan, Chris Remaley, and I decide to grab some dinner at
Alkaline Baby Izakaya, a new ramen bar at the oceanfront. Jonathan Reynolds
happens to be working at the bar here too! We enjoy some cocktails with all
kinds of small plate goodies. Listening to Chris regale us with stories of his
merchant marine travels in Halifax.
Back at the warehouse hanging out/helping out. Elliott got
Bobby and Jesse Philips to set up sound and a camera to stream for tomorrow.
We’re all just here chillin’ and enjoying each other’s company.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Ana and I hit the gym. We were supposed to have Vlad train
us but instead we go it alone. It works out cause I’ve been taking notes.
Focusing on biceps, hams, rear deltoids, and back today.
Protein Shake.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Kale. Chips.
Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Warming up leftovers at home for dinner: Vegetable Soup with
French Baguette.
Watching Bushwick
(2017).
Catching up on business.
Doing chores.
Practicing some bass.
Hanging out with Ana – we stay chatty about our feelings on
current events and life.
Cereal with Granola and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.
Catching up on business and things. Dealing with emails and
such.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Kale. Coffee.
Watching Secrets of
the Saqqara Tomb (2020).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers. Some days there’s just so
much going on all at once but we’ve got a good team of teachers to help.
Back home. I picked up some Pho Noodle Soups for Ana and I.
We enjoy our meals over an episode of Ratched
(2020).
Later on, we hit up Wal-Mart for cat supplies – making it in
the nick of time cause they’re closing at 11. I ask Ana if she remembers a time
when we used to hit this place up at 2am back when they were 24 hours. Those
were the good ole days.
Waking up around 11:30 a.m. but also off and on throughout
the morning. Every now and then Elvis shuffles around the room but mostly
patiently waiting in the computer chair for us to arise, but not before we make
fire.
Meeting up with Jamil to pay him to replace the starter
motor in the truck.
Ana and I grab brunch at Commune – sitting outside on the
patio. It’s a bit windy but super nice as we sip on great cups of coffee.
Ordering the Pancake Stack with Bacon.
The truck’s all up and running so I run some errands –
dropping off batteries to be recycled – picking up a clock at Lowe’s – doing
some studio stuff.
Scrambled Eggs. Tomatoes, Beets, and Celery. Toast with
Vegan Cream Cheese and Jam. Black Tea.
Watching The Impossible
(2012).
Catching up on business and house chores.
Getting late night groceries.
Warming up some leftover Vegetable Soup with Rice for
dinner.
Cookies.
At the studio organizing all the gear from yesterday –
there’s a lot to put away.
Cereal with Blueberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Today’s the big day! At Elevation 27 setting up the stage
with Devon’s help for the Music Makers LIVE show. For some reason there seems
to be a lot more to figure out while sound checking. I’m running around back
and forth from all over the place.
Today’s lineup includes Subterranean Cathedrals (adult
band), K.E.O.S. (teen band), server name: bread_and_butter (kid band), and a
few solo performers.I’m so proud of
every single person up on this stage. They never cease to amaze me. Ana points
out how we really put the love into those kids and they put out the best
energy.
...
Not to mention, they upgraded the stage with an LED
projector screen. I put together a slideshow of photos and things. It looks so
cool. Jordan handles the special effects during the performances.
I realize I haven’t eaten since the morning. Whenever I’m
running an event like this there’s no time to think of an appetite. After all
is said and done I’m back home about to eat some leftover Spaghetti when I get
a call from Ana and her mom. She locked her keys in the car again. She’s been
doing that a lot lately. I muster up some energy to drive over even though I’m
drained.
Later on, napping in my bed.
It’s Ana’s mom’s birthday. She comes over with Jeremy, Ana’s
brother. Having a nice pot of Vegetable Soup for dinner. Sharing conversation
and enjoying the camaraderie with Ana’s family. Her mom is so silly all the
time. Singing Happy Birthday. I found out today that Jimmy, my stepdad, shares
the same year and birth date. I also talked to him earlier today.
Later on, settling down earlier than usual with Ana by my
side. I put on one of those “oldies playing another room” videos to lull us to
sleep.
Cereal with Blueberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Catching up on all kinds of business.
It’s funny cause it truly seems like everything happens all
at once, like everything comes tumbling in a wave of violence. There’s so much
Music Makes business to deal with and at the same time I’m planning for
tomorrow’s big show.
Michael, a guy from Becker’s Piano Tuning, is here at Music
Makers tuning the piano. I’m trying to patch up a bunch of things in the
schedule. Meanwhile, I notice somebody smashed in one of the windows by the
drum room. Because it’s double paned fortunately, the inside pane is still
intact. But I don’t have time to deal with that.
Grabbing a quick lunch: Scrambled Eggs, Kale, Toast with
Butter and Jam, Chips, and Coffee.
Then, it’s a long, long day of final band rehearsals.
Apple.
Devon and I pack up everything in preparation for tomorrow.
Finally back home. Ana left me some dinner she picked up
from Pink Dinghy.
Cereal with Blueberries and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast
Tea.
Catching up on business.
Setting up the rehearsal spot. Picking up some goodies from
Three Ships.
Scrambled Eggs. Biscuit with Butter and Jam. Kale. Cold Brew
Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Ana scoops me up from work and we grab a quick dinner at
Gringo’s. The restaurant is pretty empty so we’re able to get a table and enjoy
the best Fish Tacos and Chips n Salsa around. The two waitresses have been working
here for a long time. We get hooked up with extra Guac cause they have to throw
it out at the end of the night whatever they don’t sell.
Popping into the adult band rehearsal. They’re doing a one
off practice from missing over the weekend.
Green Tea. Cupcake.
Spending lots of time trying to figure out the best way to
make a slideshow for the show this Saturday.
Waking up around 11:30 a.m. I had very vivid and violent
dreams involving knives during my sleep.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Intense workout with Vlad.
Banana Protein Shake.
Scrambled Eggs. Kale. Toast with Butter and Jam. Chips.
Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Back home. Ana and I make dinner: Brown Rice Quinoa
Spaghetti Noodles with Tomato Sauce, Peppers, Onions, Mushrooms, Zucchini,
Carrots, and French Baguette.
Watching an episode of Ratched
(2020).
Cleaning up.
Later on, Ana and I take a walk to Music Makers. The
temperature is still nice enough to enjoy. Of course the grass is wet with dew.
Playing a few rounds of checkers and just hanging out.
Waking up around noon. Ana made us Blueberry Waffles. I made
Tea to go with.
We decide to drive out to the Less Than place to stock up on
dish detergent, laundry powder, etc. Spontaneously, stopping by Mount
Trashmore. We walk around the smaller hill next to the skate park. She
transparently shows herself to be unhappy.
“It’s such a beautiful day,” I say.
I try to cheer her up and hope the little things in our
environment will spark some brightness but she won’t budge.
Organizing things and cleaning.
Smoked Salmon Sandwich with Spinach. Salt n Vinegar Chips.
Coffee.
Shooting some solo basketball out by Lynnhaven Park.
Running errands – Target then Trader Joe’s. Ana seems to
have found a second wind and requests a comforting hug outside in the parking
lot. I warm up some dinner for her at home so she has ready on her break.
Catching up on business.
Eating leftovers for dinner.
Watching Unhinged
(2020).
At the studio organizing gear and practicing piano.
I wake up to the abrupt sounds of Roland screaming in the
hallway that Trump is no longer president. He’s angry with joy. I’m not gonna
lie cause I’ve been on edge along with the rest of America waking up every
morning wondering when the election will be over and now it’s over.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Teaching some afternoon lessons at Music Makers.
Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Baby Kale Salad with
Tomatoes. Chips. Coffee.
Heading over to MOCA for the big Music Makers Villainous
Broadway show tonight. Jordan and the other crew/teachers are already there
getting everything ready with the students/cast. I help get the cameras ready
and tweak with the mics. There’s so many moving parts but with the help of
certain parents and the Music Makers community we nail this show. It looks so
professional with the lights, projection, and costumes. I’m so proud of
everyone involved. I’m constantly running back and forth from backstage to the
sound booth. This our second Broadway show and we have stepped up the game for
sure. Everybody helps pack things up afterwards.
At Las Palmas we all link up for dinner and drinks. Rebecca,
Jordan, Addy, Garrett, and Ana joins us too. She had a Community Witch show
earlier in the night.
Watching President Elect Joe Biden give an inspirational
speech.
Finally heading off to sleep around 3 a.m. with Ana next to
me.
Coaching the kids band rehearsal. Then, Addy and I have to
jet out to the MOCA. Lily Mason in the band I have to give a ride to cause
she’s also in the Broadway show.
There at the museum we get everything sound checked while
the kids rehearse individual numbers. Then, we do an entire run-through of the
Broadway show. It’s a bit stressful keeping everything running smooth and
tweaking the levels on the mics and such. But in the end now we know what to
look out for tomorrow night with the show.
Eating Pizza that was provided by Carol for everyone.
Back home. Catching up on things. The presidential elections
are still keeping everyone waiting for an official win but all projections
point towards Biden winning the next president while the mail-in ballots pile
in.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Workout session with Vlad – Ana joins.
Banana Protein Shake.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Tomato and
Spinach Soup. Coffee.
Teaching a few lessons at Music Makers.
Then, packing up some things to bring to the MOCA. Jordan
and I are here with a few light/sound guys setting up the stage and sound
system for the Broadway show. Tomorrow night is the dress rehearsal so
everything has to be fully functional by then. It takes quite the effort
hanging the choir mics up in the ceiling. I do all the climbing of the ladder
and feeding the cables.
Ordering some Pizza Chapel for Ana and I to enjoy at home
over an episode of Ratched (2020).
Setting up the rehearsal spot. It’s a super foggy night out
on the roads.
