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.
At Music Makers doing various things – watching the front
desk for some of Willy’s lessons – showing the 104 space to some potential renters
who seem very cool, young jazz musicians.
Running errands.
When leaving Whole Foods I witness three horse cops clopping
right out front – one of them drops a big pile of crap for all to see lol – a
gift that keeps on giving.
Dropping by Mike’s place to fix a little thing on an
acoustic guitar.
Tuna with Black Beans, Quinoa/Rice, Salad, and Garlic Bread.
Tuna with Black Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Rice, and Garlic
Bread.
Watching Florida Man
(2023).
I drive over to the storage unit (Ringo’s). Installing these
shelves and organizing the wall where all the bands keep their amps and
guitars. Tweaking and vacuuming.
At Music Makers watching the front desk while Jake teaches
drum lessons. I have some meaningful talks with Jacqueline’s Taiwanese mother
and American father about motivation within music lessons.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Organizing boxes in the storage room.
Catching up on business.
Running errands.
Bean Chili with Kale, Rice, and Garlic Bread.
Bamm Bamm practice at Ringo’s with Josiah and Josh. We
barely work on actual songs but rather have fun jamming and enjoying hang time
– going late into the night.
At the Rec exercising and shooting the basketball around.
PB&J English Muffin. Coffee.
Over at Nigel’s house with him and Ron having a business
meeting about ELO things. We’re really clamping down a solid game plan moving
forward in the new year with regards to money. We go head to head debating the
best strategies but eventually get on the same page. There’s definitely more
hope now.
At the studio organizing the band photos and talking with
Allyson.
Home. Making dinner: Pasta with Kale and Garlic Bread.
Watching Killers of
the Flower Moon (2023).
Green Tea.
Later on, organizing old boxes and photos in the storage
room of the house.
At the rec exercising and shooting the basketball around.
Eggs. Tempeh Bacon. English Muffin. Kale. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Running some night errands – grabbing some boxes from the
storage unit – getting some groceries.
Leftovers for dinner.
We have a Ladada practice at Music Makers. Working on an
original song.
...
Afterwards we take a late night field trip to the beach to
catch the meteor shower. Bobby drives us in his Flex all the way to 80th
Street. No light pollution out here – it’s super dark. We hide out in the dunes
where the wind from the ocean can’t beat us down – sipping on mugs of Chianti
wine and keeping our eyes peeled up at the starry sky. Every 5 seconds someone
spots a shooting star and howls.
At the bank talking with Linda Stephens about this issue
Music Makers is having with Zelle – seems like it would be a simple fix but
things like these are usually more involved than you want them to be.
Doing some business at the computer.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Afterwards, I link up with my dad and Patty – they’re in
town for a few days. We get Mr. Shawarma’s for dinner.
Visiting Rebecca at her place cause her kitty Eowyn has been
super sick and dehydrated.
At home, I continue rummaging through old boxes of pictures
and things my mom had packed away.
I stay home working on stuff at the computer – chores – and
working through some of the old boxes in the storage room. Finally getting
around to doing that, or at least starting the process.
I definitely didn’t even step foot outside the house.
At Music Makers watching the front desk and doing stuff at
the computer. Organizing a few things.
It’s a beautiful day out!
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Catching up on business and chores.
Cleaning some of the bathrooms.
Rebecca and I grab some drinks and pizza from Wasserhund
down the street. One of the employees there compliments on how sophisticated we
look.
...
Later on, checking on her cats – they’ve been sick from a
bad batch of canned food.
...
Then, finally watching Barbie
(2023). Afterwards, discussing some of the messages it was trying to convey
about male/female equality. One of the issues she has is Ken not actually
apologizing at the end of the movie. She kind of takes it seriously but I can
understand her reaction. The messages in this movie really resonate with our
current progressive culture in regards to male/female/they equality. But at the
same time it was also a comedy.
Sticking around at the studio for a while helping Modern Day
Warrior.
Later on, Brittany Mahig and I grab some dinner. I’ve been
meaning to get her perspective on some things going on with Rebecca and I
(since she is a good friend of hers and mine), but also we enjoy each other’s
company. Sitting at the bar at Tikki’s – it’s a total Hawaiian vibe complete
with an acoustic guy jamming while we sip on cocktails and eat Shrimp and
Musabi.
...
At her apartment we find Jimmy sleeping on the couch. He
doesn’t hang around for long but we continue debates into personal things and
whatever inspires the conversation in the moment.
Running errands. At the post office warehouse pickup place.
It’s kind of funny cause as I sit here in this weird plain holding room you can
sense the man in front of me is getting frustrated waiting and waiting. One by
one another person walks in and it feels like nothing is happening. Eventually,
I get my envelope and jet.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Helping Modern Day Warrior with their band practice.
The Music Makers Holiday Carolers are doing some outreach
performances – first over at the Discovery Commons living home off Old
Donation. The dining hall is filled with really grateful seniors singing along
and just happy to be hearing all the Christmas voices.
...
Then, over at The Painted Tree they do their whole set in
front of customers passing by. This place is like a flea market for fancy
crafts and gifts. Rebecca did a great job with them. They all sound well
rehearsed.
Eggs. Tempeh. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Catching up on business and stuff at the computer.
Running errands.
Chores.
Pasta, Salad, and Garlic Bread.
At the studio – organizing things – building this new black
garage shelf for the 104 space. I’m hammering this mallet strategically until
it’s done.
Today is the big day. Music Makers Holiday Recital. This
time we’re debuting at First Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Ryan, the musical
director, has been really hospitable to us and accommodating. And this church
has a beautiful sanctuary complete with colorful stained glass and fully
functioning pipe organ.
I arrive early on site – setting up everything in the sanctuary
– we’re using their in-house PA system with my own mini mixer. Even though it’s
much easier this way it still requires my full attention. Meanwhile, students
and families trickle in.
We do two separate performances cause there’s always so many
students that want to perform. I’m proud of everyone as I sit at the board
going back and forth from the stage/piano adjusting things.
Afterwards, Shaunna, Rebecca, and I grab some dinner at Torch’s
Bistro up the street. We recap over the most amazing burgers.
At the studio putting everything away.
Back home. Relaxing and watching Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021).
Driving out to Norfolk to meet with Ryan at the Lutheran
church off Colley. We’re doing a recital here tomorrow so him and I tweak with
the sound system and make sure things are in order.
I absolutely hate driving on Fridays – so much traffic
everywhere you go.
...
Stopping by Home Depot to buy a shelf.
At Music Makers printing programs with Allyson. Meanwhile,
Rebecca is directing the final caroling rehearsal in 104.
Back home. Making dinner: Chicken Sausages with Rice,
Veggies, and Garlic Bread.
At the studio packing up things for tomorrow – printing
stuff – running late night errands.
Finally at the Rec center after a long hiatus – exercising
and shooting the basketball around.
Errands.
Eggs. Avocado. Bagel. Kale. Chips. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Apple.
Driving over to Nigel’s house to meet with him and Ron –
financial meeting essentially to figure out some plans moving forward into the
new year with ELO.
Tuna with Black Beans, Rice, Baby Broccoli, Carrots, and
Garlic Bread.
Driving to meet a guy to buy a digital piano. At first we
meet in a neighborhood – it becomes obvious that Danny (the guy from OfferUp)
wasn’t actually selling it but rather his friend that just drove up. Because I
couldn’t test it out on an outlet I follow him to a Spanish church off Holland
Road. Strange at first but makes sense.
Errands.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Working at the computer.
At the studio fixing a few things.
Pasta, Kale, and Garlic Bread.
Later on I drive out to Ringo’s for Bamm Bamm practice. It’s
been a while – hanging out with Josiah and Josh – jamming on some tunes. At
some point Josiah goes out for a smoke. Josh somehow has a vocal mic on the
drums. With me on the bass we jam out to something really interesting – kind of
Frank Black meets LCD Sound System.
Waking up way late like 1 p.m. for no reason, other than I
can.
Oatmeal. Tea.
It’s Thanksgiving – I normally would be visiting my dad or
doing something. But while everyone else is out linking with friends and family
I decide to give myself a “Solosgiving”.
Working on things at the computer. Chores.
Eggs. Kale. Bagel. Chips. Coffee.
Watching Mindhunter
(2017).
More work around the house.
Now the sun has gone down, earlier these days cause of fall.
I drive over to the studio and work on some maintenance things – mainly cutting
up this rug to fit the drum set in the corner.
Back home. Making a quick dinner: Pink Beans, Salmon,
Quinoa, Bok Choy, Carrots, and Onions.
Working at the computer dealing with my files – scheduling
and communications with parents.
Eggs. Spinach. Bagel. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Getting groceries – grabbing Mr. Shawarma for dinner.
Wes and I ride out to Ladada practice at the Ringo’s storage
unit. We jam out to new streams of consciousness, notes we never played
together before. It’s a good time.
Today is the big day – MMLIVE show at The Bunker. I stay
fueled up with a Breakfast Bar and PB&J while setting up. Jake is here
helping get the drum set put together and other various things that need to be
done.
As always I’m very proud of all the bands. We put together a
teacher band set for a change at the end – also went over well.
Packing up and clearing out. Rebecca stays behind to help
out and transport all the gear back to the studio.
Relaxing back at home with the cat over green tea and ice
cream.
Going to the Rec – finally able to get to the gym after a
bit of a hiatus.
Eggs. English Muffin. Spinach. Coffee. Chips.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
After lessons, Rebecca and I chat for a long time about work
stuff but then we get knee deep into what we call “the reckoning” – just trying
to understand each other more and clarify concerns she’s had the past year
regarding our relationship and what’s really going on.
Tuna with Black Beans, Bok Choy, Carrots, Quinoa, and Garlic
Bread.
All afternoon MMLIVE rehearsals – three bands plus the debut
of a teacher band! It goes over pretty well even though we’re trying to cram a
bunch of different songs all in one show.
The bus continues on south on the rough and bumpy
interstates and parkways while I actually get some pretty good sleep.
Arriving back home in Virginia Beach. There’s always much to
do – unhitch the trailer and unload everything – clean out the bus.
I have to open up the Music Makers store for an afternoon of
lessons for Jake. Catching up on things here.
Back home. Doing chores – laundry – dishes – Elvis time.
Later on, I link up with Rebecca after she finishes up
caroling rehearsal. We had some divulging text conversations earlier trying to
understand and clarify some things.
...
We grab some dinner at Baker’s Crust. Outside of the serious
discussions we’re having comical things take place around us – the only two
bathrooms have been forever preoccupied by kids, like the entire time. Enjoying
some Crab and Shrimp Pasta with Chips. It gets kind of cold cause we get caught
up in talks.
Bus call 9:45 a.m. The snow has mostly melted away in New
Hampshire.
Breakfast Bar. Blueberries. Tea.
Our driver, Aaron, takes the wheel for the 3 hour drive down
south towards Connecticut. I catch up on stuff at the computer then take a nap
in the back.
Landing in New London, Connecticut at the Garde Arts
Theater. Pretty easy load-in despite some issues with figuring out where the
strings and drum risers go. The head honcho here at the venue comically
resembles Nigel’s personality almost too much.
PB&J. Banana. Coffee.
We all dress up in costume for sound check so Nigel can
capture some footage we don’t always get the opportunity for during a show.
We have an insanely long time till show. Enjoying the
catering downstairs in the cozy basement green room.
The show goes over pretty well – not as full crowd tonight
but the energy and appreciation for the music is obviously there.
Packing up and loading out. The stage hands here are
probably the most efficient crew I’ve ever worked with. We had that trailer
packed in record time.
Piling into the bus. As we ride south regaling stories and
cracking up over how insane these bumps are through New York City.
One truck stop after the other awakening like a cat from a
nap – the tour bus continues north through the New Jersey Turnpike and New
York.
...
I actually manage to get some much needed REM sleep.
Arriving at the venue in Concord, New Hampshire – Capitol
Center for the Arts (Chubb Theatre). We’re super early. Even though it’s rainy
and snowy some of us take a walk down the block and find a local Panera-like
café of sorts called The Works. Amazing bagels and eggs (and coffee).
Inside the theater we get right to work setting up the stage
– tweaking the strings and drum risers – plugging in cables – gaff taping
everything. There’s always much to do but we seem to be ahead of schedule
honestly.
...
Sound check then showering up. The shower stall is so tiny I
can barely move but this red light keeps it heated from the chill.
Rebecca and I grab dinner across the street at Constantly
Pizza.
Show time! Both sets run pretty smooth.
Packing up and loading out. Max, our new crew guy is really
helpful and does a good job considering it’s his first time.
I drive us all in the big bus to the hotel. Very grateful to
get to sleep in a non-mobile bed. Snacking it up and catching up on junk.
...
Rebecca and I get into a talk – we’ve been pretty distant
from one another before this trip. All day I was feeling a little excited to
reconnect with her – just to nurture something again. But it’s made clear that’s
not her intention tonight. Feeling a little defeated about everything and taken
aback. At some point we gotta get to sleep.
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