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.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
Ana replied back with a bunch of little messages on Facebook. It's crazy how we have to "write" to each other despite living in the same house where it would be expected to just talk to each other in person. But we have two entirely different schedules during the week. It's not until late evening we can connect. We'll get it straight eventually and liven up the dance around the fire of our relationship.
General chores around the house – spray-painting a night stand for the storage unit – washing clothes.
Naval Orange.
Grilled PB&J. Potato Chips. Honey Oolong Tea.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers. In between a thirty-minute window I have to ride my bike down to 17th Street to retrieve my car. I spot Kevin on his bike in front of our neighborhood – he just happened to be starting out a ride of his own so we pair up.
Back home. Ana made us extra big salads to go: Spring Mix, Spinach, Carrots, Tomatoes, Beets, Hard-Boiled Eggs, and Quinoa. Elliott picks me up from here while Ana drives separately. We grab Joel and head to Norfolk for You're Jovian band practice at Ross's house in the basement. Beforehand Elliott treated us to Gelato treats from Strawberry Fields.
Back home. Lying down with Ana in her bed and chatting for a while.
Snacking on a Banana and Swiss Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts.
At the new music space organizing. Playing on the drums, which I haven't done in quite a long time – it felt really good.
At the new music space – continuing the process of organizing all the stuff and designing the layout.
Then, to the old storage unit to continue deconstructing my grandma's old piano. I take apart every screw I can find, salvaging all the piano keys and pieces with the piano brand printed on it.
It's been a filling night. My brain is tired from all the thinking and moving. I still have to drop my car off at the shop on 17th Street and ride back home on my bike before I settle in.
Eventually, my wish comes true and the day is officially complete. Meanwhile, I'm deep in thought about my relationship with Ana as of late. I've been so busy with "things", just things all the time – moving out of the old storage unit – practicing in two different bands – teaching lessons – working at China Wok. It's all so overwhelming when I think about it and even more so living in it. I can sense Ana's dissatisfaction. We haven't been sexually intimate in a while. I know it takes two to tango but I wish she'd come onto me a little stronger and not worry about what I'm thinking or my prerogatives – just get what she wants, make her desires known. This week has just been abnormally hectic for me. I write out all my feelings to her in a Facebook message cause it's 4 a.m. and she's asleep.
Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
Teaching my second lesson to one of my favorite students, Kristian. The more I learn about this kid the more he resembles me as a child – collecting everything imaginable, including fruit stickers, which I still collect now as an adult.
Transporting my first load of stuff from the storage unit into the new storage space.
Scrambled Eggs with homemade Salsa (by Ana). Blue Corn Sesame Chips. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam. Pineapple with Greek Yogurt.
Teaching a lesson at Music Makers.
I was supposed to work a China Wok shift but as soon as I walk into the restaurant I see how slow it is. I request to go home and stay on call.
Back home. Ana is being a busy little bee today. It's her day off and she's got a list of things she's trying to accomplish like hand washing her car, errands, and re-potting a blueberry bush and other plants she got from the store. Meanwhile, I work on my own list of things to accomplish like building a piano footrest out of encyclopedia books for my students, storage unit stuff, and other various repairs.
I head back to the storage unit to transport a second load of stuff. Ana lends a hand at bringing everything into the new space.
Lentils with Carrots, Asparagus, and Quinoa.
Tearing my hair out trying to put together this old bookshelf from the Norfolk public library.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
All day shift at China Wok.
Banana.
Mid-60's. Cloudy. My favorite weather condition as a delivery driver.
Grilled PB&J Toast. Plantain Chips. Honey Green Tea.
I've discovered the best way to enjoy a warm PB&J is to just eat it like toast because as a sandwich the peanut butter oozes out the bottom during every bite creating a very big mess. Now with toast I can lift the two separate pieces like slices of pizza without a drop of peanut butter falling on the plate.
When delivering to Queen Victoria in Emerald Point Apartments I observe a baby staring out the window with curious eyes. What is it about cats and babies hanging out by windows?
The rain starts to fall thankfully washing away all the yellow dust everywhere. I love that fresh earthy warm smell at the beginning of a rainfall.
Continuing on into the night with my windows fogging up because I haven't had the A/C repaired yet.
Raw Cacao Protein Shake with Banana, Strawberries, and Almond Milk.
All day shift at China Wok.
The yellow dust has settled on everyone's car – it's officially pollen season. Everything I see through my windshield has a yellow tint. With my finger I draw out an image on my rear window that says, "I AM THE POLLEN KING!"
Banana Almond Meal Muffin.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam. Sweet Potato Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado.
Some thoughts and terms I've taken in while listening to various podcasts on the drives...
The news (the media) is an echo chamber.
Experienced world-weary person – I feel myself becoming.
Basically, we are all getting smarter because our beliefs are constantly being challenged via The Internet through argumentation theory.
Naked cynicism is a recurring problem along with contrarians.
"Reason allows people who have the right answer to find arguments to convince the others and allows those who have the wrong answer to accept these arguments and to see their strengths." – Hugo Mercier
After the dinner rush an older lady is placing an order at the counter. As of late the daughters, Janice and Eileen, have been helping out with answering the phones and handling the cash transactions with the pick-up customers. The lady hands Janice her credit card to pay for the food.
She turns to me and asks, "I don't know if it's true but is it illegal for the children to be handling credit cards?"
I never even considered this to be a concern until she asked.
"They're all family. It's okay," I assure her.
Off work and back home.
Tofu with Broccoli, Onions, Carrots, and Rice in Garlic Sauce.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
All day shift at China Wok.
Banana.
"That is the gayest car I've ever seen," says a man on the sidewalk as I pull out into the road. The color purple gives off mixed feelings to the general public, especially to a masculine man walking with his wife and kids into a trailer park.
Grilled PB&J. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea.
It's a busy dinner rush considering Art isn't here to help deliver. It's just me left to be a super delivery driver.
Honey Crisp Apple.
The deliveries go late into the night, even past 11 p.m. I get a little impatient with Ling when he hands off a chicken wing order without cashing me out first.
Me: "Really? You can't cash me out now? It's 11:10!"
He doesn't take this attitude from me very well.
"No free time!" he yells.
...
I storm off in the car heading to the Courtyard Marriott as fast as I can. Two obviously drunk guys move out of my way in the front parking lot. As soon as I get out one of them takes a liking to me. In my mind I already knew they were going to bother me (to test my patience).
"Hey! Is that Thai food? I think that's for us!" they keep pestering me but not in an obnoxious manner. One of them introduces himself to me as Frank and keeps trying to predict what room I'm going to deliver to. He pulls out his wallet and asks how much for the food.
Me: "No man. This isn't for you."
In general I'm a light hearted person when it comes to strangers – I guess you could say I have a high tolerance level because, well, I'm understanding. But here I am dealing with the drunk guy situation as best I can. He gets off the 11th floor and follows me. I make the exchange with the lady customer. She looks at him confusingly.
Then he immediately pretends to be a hotel supervisor, "Hi mam! I'm the supervisor here at the hotel. Just wanted to make sure you are enjoying your stay here."
I can't tell if she really believes him or not. Back in the elevator with Frank. He kind of shoots me this face as if to say, Can you even handle me right now?
"It's been a long day," I respond out loud.
We pound fists, he gets off on his floor, and I'm out.
Finally settling in my room at home. Appaloosa Beans with Broccoli and Rice.
At the Rec Center messing around on the courts. I catch wind of a game that's in the works on the other court. They need just one more player for a scrimmage against the 1992 USA Dream Team. Yes. That's right! The Dream Team from 1992 starring Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, etc. I'm in shock. What in the world are they doing here in Virginia Beach reuniting to play a scrimmage? It doesn't make any sense. Nonetheless, here I am about compete with NBA's top all-star players from the 90's. Before the game begins there's pre-game celebration and performance by a dance troupe. I walk outside of the gym to find a long line of people waiting to get inside. Larry Bird is standing near the front laughing with a buddy of his. He's much taller that I imagined, in an abnormal way, almost four feet taller. I approach him and request a picture with him on my phone.
▬ ○ ☼
Waking up shortly after noon.
Raw Cacao Protein Shake with Banana, Strawberries, and Almond Milk.
Seeing the chiropractor. Getting some tools and a floodlight from Lowe's. Getting groceries at Whole Foods.
Almonds. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam. Honey Green Tea.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
With Ana at the Great Neck Rec for adult basketball. She makes use of the fitness room while I run hard on the basketball courts. There're just enough players to keep the games going back to back without any breaks. It's strenuous but satisfying. I start to lose my focus after the 5th match.
Back home. Preparing dinner for Ana and I: Chicken Thai Peanut Noodle Salad with Cucumbers, Red and Yellow Peppers, Tomatoes, and Carrots. Washing it down with Original Sin Hard Ciders.
"You are a great chef," Ana exclaims after the first couple bites.
Me: "This is delicious and refreshing. And it didn't even take that long to make."
Cuddling in her bed while talking about our high school identity crises.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
Putting together a couple of shelves, a square display and a corner display, that I've had just collecting dust in the storage unit. A few years back I was commissioned to sell these for a friend but never had any luck. You can never have enough shelves in your home.
Grilled PB&J. Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea. Banana.
At Music Makers teaching piano lessons.
Papaya and Greek Yogurt.
At the Great Neck Rec with Ana. Having an invigorating basketball practice by myself and then a couple 1-on-1 games with another guy.
Back home. Making dinner for Ana and I: Fava Beans with Roasted Asparagus, Carrots, and Quinoa.
Kevin with a big smile plastered across his face marches down the stairs with a violin in hand.
Me: "I knew it!"
Kevin: "Bonjour, madame. Señor. I came here to serenade the both of you...while you enjoy..."
He catches my eyes rolling and reacts, "Okay! Fuck you, Robert! You should be happy that somebody that plays the violin is, like, trying to serenade both of you."
He starts stroking the strings with his bow to an Asian-style melody.
"I should be happy," I mutter to Ana.
After dinner Ana and I continue in our kitchen witch activities. She makes breakfast banana oat muffins while I make almond milk and brew a big batch of green tea.
Later on, I draw plans to build a stable footrest for my piano students who aren't big enough to reach their feet to the floor. You have to consider every little detail to make it kid-proof. I find a stack of old encyclopedia books, drill holes on the edges, tie it shut with twine, slap some Velcro tape to a wood slab, and voilà! I still need to go to the hardware store for some screws to keep it more secure.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
Organizing.
Meeting with my financial advisor at Chartway – finalizing my Roth IRA account.
Cleaning up things at the storage unit.
Trader Joe's.
Meeting with Danny on Skype to talk about an on-going film project.
Grilled PB&J. Veggie Potato Chips. Honey Green Tea. Banana.
Watching Daredevil (TV series 2015).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
At the Great Neck Rec for adult basketball. I didn't get a chance to warm up at all but after the first few games I'm killing shots right and left.
"MacBook's on fire tonight!"
Elliott scoops Ana and I up from the house for You're Jovian band practice in Norfolk. We gorge on Salad and Pizza for dinner. Ana's gonna guest sing on "Maybe". Elliott's a bit nervous and uncomfortable about the songs but it's only because it's been a while since the band has been truly active. We've got this show in Fredericksburg next weekend. Sharing a few Miller High Life's.
Ken posted a video of Tokyo's drum ensemble portion of a NorVa show back from 2006. It inspires me to dig up old videos from those years. I get lost in a sea of nostalgia and inspiration.
In Vegas for some kind of singing convention or maybe it's for a big Easter Sunday service. I'm with Ana. We have on ridiculous looking outfits where we've draped ourselves in colorful blankets. It's kind of a nuisance to keep them on as we walk around. We meet Lindsey and Preston (friends from my old church in waking life) in front of the main building. It seems they're having relational conflict. Lindsey is dissatisfied because all she wants is some private time with Preston and they've been so busy the past couple days. This could be representative of Ana and mine's busy lives and how we barely have time to spend together. Later on, Ana and I are in a club where ridiculous outfits seem to be the norm. She disappeared – I have no idea where she went. I'm left alone to mingle. A concert is about to begin. A couple female punk performers are organizing their gear and lugging it inside. Meanwhile, the venue crew secretly moves my belongings outside. I'm angry.
Me: "Hey! Where did my stuff go? You can't just move my stuff around!"
Before I even realize where my stuff is it appears strangers have taken my laptop bag and a random drunk guy is banging up my car. It's a highly stressful situation. This idiot is wallowing all over the hood of my car – he's got his arm reaching all the way through the dashboard and grabs me every time I try to get in the driver's seat. I get help from a security guard. I manage to push this persistent drunkard off my car. I almost run over him trying to get away. I make it back to the hotel where I assume Ana is. After some problems trying to get up the elevator I make it inside the room. Ana is lying facedown on the bed with the phone in her hand. I catch her moaning sexually as if she was having phone sex. She stops immediately when I walk in. I pretend I didn't hear or see anything and start scolding her for leaving me at the venue without telling me.
▬ ○ ☼
As soon as I open the bedroom door Pumpkin enters with eagerness to receive (and give) affection after waking up from such stress dreams.
Ana is acting mad. I know Aunt Flow is in town and she hasn't visited in a while so they're still acclimating to each other. I offer to make protein shakes for us but Ana would rather nibble on a frozen slice of bread.
Me: "You'll come around. The beautiful day will get to you eventually."
I got a new student through takelessons.com. 6 years old. His name is Kristian and he's an avid collector of all things interesting: rocks, coins, lizards, etc. He also has an interest in patterns, which will make learning piano easy for him. I drive out to Kempsville to give him the first lesson. Talking with his mom, Shamara, about the likelihood of piano being in his future.
Me: "Oh yeah! It's definitely there! He's got something. And this is what I love to do."
Grilled PB&J. Plantain Chips. Half a Grapefruit. Honey Green Tea.
To Music Makers to teach more lessons. Today one of my voice students, Maria, comes in with the first two lines of a silly song she wrote. I decide to help orchestrate and compose. We spend most of the lesson working on it. Sometimes it's important to stray away from the exercises and training, and just make music with the child.
Working three hours at China Wok – it's pretty slow but I make a good money considering.
Back home. Preparing dinner with Ana: Baked Salmon and a hefty Spring Mix Salad with Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Carrots, Quinoa, and a homemade Ginger Carrot Dressing (that Ana made).
I didn't get the chance to do much physical exercise today so I take advantage of the wonderfully cool night air to go on a bike ride. As I pedal down Atlantic Ave I take notice of buildings and corners I wouldn't normally get to examine when delivering in my car. It's nice to see some of the older establishments and older hotels still in business. The sight of new strip mall developments isn't very appealing to me.
Back home. Snacking on Strawberry Greek Yogurt Pretzels and Papaya.
Researching.
Just before 3 a.m. as I'm about to go to bed Ana wakes up from her room and knocks on the door.
Me: "I like how you do that. It reminds me of my mom when I lived with her. She would always wake up in the middle of the night and check on me – see what I was doing."
"I started my period today," Ana informs me as I'm making my breakfast.
"Congratulations!" I say.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
All day shift at China Wok.
Banana.
It's a slow and mellow Sunday at the restaurant.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam. Honey Green Tea.
Ming's been gone for a week now. Art won't be here tonight or tomorrow. So it's up to Ling, Cecily, myself, and Eileen to hold the fort down. Surprisingly, it never gets too overbearing. I step up in the kitchen maintaining the fryer and expediting the orders, then of course delivering them.
I get off work and back home at a decent hour. Ana warmed up some leftover beans for me.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
All day shift at China Wok.
Half a Grapefruit.
On the other side of Virginia Beach Blvd I witness a guy driving carefully in the right side line with a long piece of plywood on the roof of his car. His hazards are on respectfully to warn other drivers of his slow speed. Another car comes zooming up behind him and honks or something. I arrive just in time to hear the plywood guy yell out in anger, "Fucking people!"
I just laugh to myself and empathize, "Yeah I know. I feel ya man."
Raw Cacao Protein Drink with Black Maca Powder, Banana, Blackberries, and Almond Milk.
All day shift at China Wok.
Navel Orange.
It's a hot one today but the winds always seem to howl and whoosh no matter the temperature.
Eileen has been taking phone orders for a while now but every now and then she makes a mistake. This time it involves the spelling of "suite #". Instead of this spelling she writes down "sweet #".
When cleaning out the fridge yesterday I threw out the last swig of Holiday Cheerwine that belonged to Whitney. I feel bad because her dad saved it for her and she just recently obtained it from him. She was a bit upset but we calmed the waters the night before. I discover that Fresh Market actually sells the original Cheerwine in glass bottles so I buy a few as a peace offering.
Salmon and Avocado Brown Rice Sushi. Black Bean Quinoa Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado. Honey Green Tea.
Later on, when Art comes in for the dinner shift, him, Cecily, and I talk about how Obamacare sucks – it's a billion times cheaper to simply pay the penalty for not having health insurance than to pay for health insurance.
I'm becoming frustrated because I'm only taking single deliveries at a time while Art handles 3 or 4 in one route. I just keep arriving back to the restaurant at the wrong times.
Navy Beans with Broccoli and Fried Rice.
Off work and back home.
Enjoying Fizzy Lizzy Tangerine Passion Fruit Soda.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
Fulfilling my kitchen witch duties – prepping/cooking for dinner tonight.
Because of Spring Break my lessons at Music Makers got all switched around. So instead of teaching today DeeGee has me watching the store for a few hours while her and Drew are out of town in Philly. Don't got much to do here except hold down the fort while Jay, the guitar teacher, gets through his students for the day. The first two are a no-show. So we chat about the local music scene, his beginning as a guitar teacher in the 80's, and our frustrations with students who have bad attitudes.
Toasted PB&J. Potato Veggie Chips. Honey Green Tea.
At the store I finish up the last of my taxes and other miscellaneous business things. Jay gets his last lesson done around 7:30. Then, I ride over to the Great Neck Rec to run a couple miles on the treadmill and shoot the basketball around.
Lemon Garam Masala Chicken with Kale and Jasmine Rice. Chocolate Chips.
With Josiah and Calum at the storage unit off Tidewater to rehearse new Ladada songs. We've got a couple shows at the end of the month and plans to record in May.
Back home. Conversing with Ana at the Rick's table – catching up on our thoughts and ideas.
Out on the front porch of a family summerhouse. I watch as a large roach scurries back and forth out from underneath rocking chairs. Suddenly, an electric spark occurs in his abdomen. It crackles and pops while it slowly transforms into a cute little puppy. After this happens the puppy comes over to me and seeks attention and affection. It's understood that this kind of transformation from a roach to a dog is commonplace. I try to explain what happened to the other family members sitting around a table nearby but nobody seems interested.
▬ ○ ☼
Waking up at 11:30 a.m.
Raw Cacao Protein Drink with Banana, Blueberries, Black Maca Powder, and Almond Milk.
Organizing. Errands: bank, Trader Joe's.
Kevin comes into my room requesting recording software and such. He says, "I need to record a solo album. It's on my to-do list. I don't wanna die without doing a solo album."
Three Scrambled Eggs. Guacamole Corn Chips. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam. Honey Green Tea. Navel Orange.
Watching The Gambler (2014).
I've got a stacked schedule of lessons today at Music Makers and then one in-home out in Kings Grant.
Honey Crisp Apple.
At the Great Neck Rec running a couple miles on the treadmill and shooting around the basketball.
Back home. Ana cooked us a nutritious dinner of her famous Lentils, Broccoli, and Quinoa. I nib on a few 9 Grains Dinner Rolls to go with.
I hole up by the computer to do the one thing that everybody loathes every year: TAXES. I procrastinated long enough. Clicking through question after question on my tax software. The whole process is so time consuming. Why am I giving the government so much of hard earned income? It's depressing.
Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Black Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
Errands: Stopping by The Heritage to fill up my honey jar. Dropping off recyclables. Getting one pair of pants re-fixed at the tailor. Cleaning and organizing the storage unit.
Banana.
Grilled PB&J. Chia Corn Chips. Honey Green Tea.
I mixed up my time slots for Music Makers and showed up late for my piano lessons, a rarity for sure.
At the Great Neck Rec for adult basketball. Wrapping up my left ring finger. It doesn't seem to bother me too much nor does it affect my game play. I'd rather be burning calories on the court than on a treadmill.
Back home. Fixing up my dinner to go: Spring Mix Salad with Tomatoes, Carrots, Chic Peas, and 9 Grains Dinner Rolls with Butter and Parmesan. Elliott scoops me up from the house. We pick up Joel near Rosemont and head out to Norfolk to have a You're Jovian band practice in a really cool basement designed specifically for bands to rent out. It's inspiring to see a customized music space like this. I'm jealous. I would like to build something like this one day in my own future house. Haven't played bass on these songs in a couple months but surprisingly it all comes together pretty easily.
Back at the house. Feeding Elliott a dinner roll before he heads home.
Enjoying fresh Mango.
Installing a new metal shelf in the kitchen to organize the pots and pans.
In the back of a car. James, Josh, Leisa, and Ana are present. Sophie in my lap. Her fur resembles the color of whole wheat pizza dough. I point this out to everybody. Sophie seems to be very reserved and quiet. She rolls over on her back when I start to pet her head. Later on, I discover a dog (which is understood to belong to me) in the junkyard. His face has been splattered with some kind of transforming acid. He turns into a T-Rex hybrid and starts terrorizing the city. He's blind so I use that to my advantage.
▬ ○ ☼
Ana wakes me up at 9:30 a.m. just as I'm about to be fed popcorn in my dream. But I demand an hour more sleep. At 10:30 a.m. she comes back and riles me awake with pinches and slaps to the butt.
She made a Buckwheat and Oat Flour batter to make Waffles with this morning. I brew some Coffee to go with. They turn out nice and fluffy.
Briefly rehearsing songs we'll be singing together tonight.
It's a rarity that her and I have a day off together. Fillin' up the water jugs at Whole Foods. Picking up some music gear from the storage unit. Then, at the Great Neck Rec to exercise. I had planned on running on the treadmill but of course I can't resist the sound of the basketballs coming from the gym. I immediately get involved in a bunch of pick-up games one of which results in an injured ring finger on my left hand, just a mild mallet finger.
Toasted PB&J. Kale Corn Chips. Honey Green Tea.
Telling Ana at the table, "Every time I have a toasted PB&J I just wish it was a grilled PB&J."
Teaching one vocal lesson at Music Makers.
Then off to Chicho's at the oceanfront with Ana for another solo gig as Musicplayer with Mike Gombas. What's funny is that on this Monday last year I was doing the same exact thing. It's a super fun set tonight. I find myself filled with enthusiasm as I perform. Ana sings a song of her own and also harmonizes on half the others. Enjoying a few Amstel Lights and a few slices of Pizza.
Back home. General playfulness with Ana and an impromptu house meeting in the hallway where everybody stands by their bedroom doors, a comical scene.
Researching. Eating Pineapple. Reluctantly watching Taken 3 (2014).
An undesired shootout goes down outside a warehouse. I play a key role in protecting my friends. A group of hoodlums hide inside the back of a semi-truck about to take off. I spot a shooter aiming at my friends and take multiple shots at him. I manage to kill two. The others hastily search for me. I run behind the buildings and try to escape. Inside a garage bay made of giant cardboard boxes I discover a two heavy-duty hatches that lead to secret rooms. I carefully inspect everything before I crawl inside. I hit a button that activates a platform that I'm on. I can hear the voices of James Graves, Anthony, Richie, and Josh echo from the other part of the building. It's understood they were the hoodlums in the semi. They're searching for me.
James finds me in the secret room and asks, "Where are you gonna hide?" as if he's concerned about my well being.
"I'm not sure," I say.
Eventually, we regroup with the others.
I reprimand Richie, "If it wasn't for you this whole thing wouldn't even have happened!"
Nobody seems to care about it anyway. We have other plans. Hopping a train is one of them. All of us sit securely on the flatbed of a train car as it speeds down the tracks. No one has any idea where we are going.
▬ ○ ☼
Waking up to Ana's fair touch. The sun shines brightly through the shades of her bedroom window. The Easter morning birds tweet loud and clear. And in celebration of life and resurrection we make love.
Raw Cacao Protein Drink with Maca Powder, Blueberries, Banana, and Almond Milk.
All day shift at China Wok.
Slow afternoon at the restaurant. Snapping the snow peas and singing to myself while Janice comes back and forth pretending to be a teacher and punishing me like a student – I have to sit in my timeout chair and finish the whole box of snow peas before I'm allowed to get up again. Never a dull moment at China Wok when the girls are here.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Non-Dairy Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam. Black Bean Quinoa Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado. Honey Green Tea.
It picks up after Art comes in for the dinner rush.
Pink Lady Apple.
With Cecily gone for the day in New York we have to pick up the slack. I'm helping more with the expediting and cooking.
Elliott drops in and joins me on a few deliveries.
Tofu with Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, and Rice in Garlic Sauce.
Off work and back home. Ana and I were supposed to rehearse some songs but she's lying comfortably under the covers and won't be able to give it 100%. So I head off to the unit to work on my own material.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
All day shift at China Wok.
First day of the season to start cold brewing my teas.
Banana.
The afternoon oozes by at the restaurant.
Stopping by the house for lunch: Grilled PB&J. Plantain Chips. Honey Green Tea.
I pop my head into Ana's room. She's naked. I always seem to catch her without her clothes on. But really that's just how she is, naturally a nude. Downstairs, while I prepare my sandwich, I offer her some cold green tea. Suddenly she feels the urge to use the bathroom. "I have to go to the bathroom every day! It's kind of annoying," she complains.
Whole Wheat Almond Meal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Cecily continues to make Janice hop around the restaurant like a bunny. According to her she has to do at least 24 circular laps in the dining area. To make sure all is accounted for she keeps a tally after each round. How fitting that Easter Sunday is tomorrow.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
All day shift at China Wok.
It's officially the first warm delivery shift of the season. I've got the windows down and the wind blowing across my jojoba-oiled beard. Wearing the sun sleeve to protect from UV rays.
Navel Orange.
Whole Wheat Almond Meal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
It's actually stupidly slow for deliveries. I take advantage of the down time to take care of necessary tasks in the restaurant like filling the dumpling sauce cups, prepping bags, bagging noodles, etc.
At the end of the dinner rush I put up with a headache and some kind of energy crash. The longer delivery drives make it difficult to stay awake.
Fried Shrimp with Broccoli, Onions, Carrots, and Rice in Garlic Sauce.
Off work and back home.
Catching up on writing.
At the god-forsaken storage unit just to practice singing a couple songs for a show coming up on Monday. This place isn't comfortable anymore after the water damage. I can't wait to move into the new rehearsal space.
Irish Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Maca Powder, Maple Syrup, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Coffee with Cream and Honey.
Getting household supplies from Target and groceries from Trader Joe's.
Meeting with the financial advisor at Chartway to officially open my Roth IRA account – gonna start saving for retirement now and at the same time investing.
Grilled PB&J. Lentil Potato Curls. Pu-erh Tea.
Teaching at Music Makers.
At the Great Neck Rec for adult basketball. It's only four teams tonight, which means non-stop games. I do well with my posse – a lot of teamwork and wins.
Honey Crisp Apple.
Back home. Dinner with Ana: serving up the Black Beans that have been slow cooking throughout the day along with Brown Jasmine Rice, Kale, and Carrots. Everything about this meal feels nutritious and wholesome.
Ana makes Chocolate Chip Cookies using whole-wheat flour and almond meal.
Rehearsing songs on the piano and guitar with Ana. The list of songs we sing together gets bigger and bigger every day. I feel bad for Ana cause she's suddenly come down with a runny nose – seriously, it's like a drainpipe just turned on. I equip her with a roll of toilet paper – she endlessly blows and blows while simultaneously singing her heart out.
Later on talking in her hot bedroom. She keeps that personal heater on even when it's not that cold outside – she's designed for tropical settings. She's unusually chatty for a late night, probably from the strong two cups of coffee she had before the gym.
Raw Cacao Protein Drink with Almond Milk, Strawberries, and Blueberries.
Researching.
Scrambled Eggs. Blue Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado. Naan Bread with Vegan Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam. Brown Rice Green Tea.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
One of my 7-year-old students sees my purple car and asks, "Why is your car purple?"
I quickly react with more questions, "Why are your shoes black? Why do you wear glasses? Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green?"
He smiles, "Those last two I can't tell you."
Me: "I can tell you why."
Kiran: "Why?"
Me: "Science."
At the Great Neck Rec with Ana. Making use of the new equipment they just installed – they upgraded some of the ellipticals.
Back home. Baking a Pizza we got from Whole Foods last week. Throwing in a Spring Mix and Baby Kale Salad with Tomatoes and Carrots. Watching Chef (2014) with Ana at the table while we gorge on our pizza slices.
Both our moods are lifted from exercising and the great dinner. Using that energy to rehearse songs on guitar and piano until the cop neighbor knocks on the door to complain about how loud we are. I forget his bedroom is right next to mine.
Finishing the movie in Ana's room, which is also uplifting and inspiring.
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