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.
It’s understood to be the near future or present day. I just finished playing a gig at London Bridge Baptist Church. In waking life it’s been many years since I’ve been inside this place. My keyboard rig is set up in the gym. I break everything down as much I can until I have to go get my car. Outside the gym in the foyer or what feels like a big intersection walkway for a mall. People are all over the place like it’s a big part of the city. I keep looking for people I think I know. While backing the car up to the curb I notice I’m getting in the way of a big semi truck – it looks all futuristic. The driver yells out to me but I can’t decipher the words, something along the lines of I’m in her way. Eventually, security guards or church faculty escort me around the building to take me back to the gym. We walk through the side door and I discover some kind of girls gathering in what’s understood to be the president’s room – there are regal pictures of past presidents on the wall – a tall teenage girl walks briskly by with nothing but a white blouse and underwear on. The guys escorting me direct me through a set of double doors. It’s the second or third floor and we have to strategically step down the balcony using parkour moves. Eventually, I make it to the bottom floor. They’re having some sort of youth group meeting where they talk about how to identify different types of music. Meanwhile, I’m struggling to find my keyboard rig. I explore every corner of the gym – there’s so much stuff in here. The whole situation is becoming stressful. My car is still parked far away. What’s the point?
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Waking up at 11:45 a.m. Sleeping in nice and late.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.
Vacuuming and chores.
Watermelon.
Taking a little trip with Ana and mom to the Gateaux Bakery near Shore Drive and Independence. Inside, a cheery young man with a flamboyant personality takes care of us while pop country plays on the radio. Not what I expected to hear at a French style bakery. But the French Baguette, Tomato Pie, and sweet pastries speak for themselves. Meanwhile, Ana isn’t feeling right emotionally. She had to work an early morning shift at 5:30 a.m. and is all out of sorts. She waits in the car while mom and I enjoy our treats.
Back home. Napping.
Revamping the way I conduct expenses for the house – using some Excel spreadsheets.
I fix up Ana’s bike while mom makes dinner in the kitchen and Ana tinkers on the piano.
Vegan Dogs with Roasted Green Beans and Potatoes.
It’s July 4th and we didn’t make an attempt to see the fireworks. But Ana and I take a bike ride to the oceanfront anyways braving the congested roads of all the people waiting to leave. We make it to Zack’s house in Shadowlawn for a little hang.
I hang out in Ana’s room trying to show her some YouTube channel I discovered where you send in real life creepy/scary stories to this guy and he animates it into a short. She acts disinterested sitting there with her sketch book. Honestly, she’s just not into scary things or thrillers. But somehow this turns into a trigger for an existential/relationship crisis on her part. Her attitude causes me to simply leave and head out to the studio.
...
She eventually ends up there after texting me a bunch of stuff. We talk it out.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.
Catching up on business. Searching for a new violin and piano instructor for Music Makers.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Potatoes. Coffee.
Watching Rampage (2018).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
As soon as I’m done at work I hit the road to Newport News for the DEJA gig at Boathouse Live. Eating some leftover Black Beans, Rice, and Kale on the way. Listening to a Radiolab podcast on genes.
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At the venue. It’s a regular DEJA show – two 90 minute sets with a break in between. This place is big and always treats us well - $100 bar tab and free food. I snack on a slice of pizza for posterity.
Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Irish Breakfast Tea.
Running errands – doing chores – stopping by the Plaza Bakery, a local run shop. Ana’s been entertaining the idea of working in a bakery so we’ve been looking around.
Scrambled Eggs. Everything Bagel with Vegan Cream Cheese. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Donut Peach. Iced Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers. As soon as 7 o’clock hits I have to scramble over to the 24th Street stage at the oceanfront for a DEJA gig. It’s my first gig since the wrist injury a week ago – my left hand is doing fine but I’m still wearing the wrist brace to be safe. It’s a great turnout out in the grass. Eric Vetterick is here on stage with us as second guitarist and an awesome synthesizer.
Scarfing down some leftover dinner that Ana brought: Black Beans with Kale and Rice.
Back home. The thermostat reads 87 degrees. They’ll never fix the A/C in this house properly.
Chillin’ with Ana for a while in my bedroom. Meanwhile, Elvis vies for affection at our laps.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.
Kicking off the summer sessions for MMLIVE today. With only two band rehearsals it makes for a little easier Sunday. We started off with “Any Way You Want It” by Journey and “Seven Nation Army” by White Stripes. Drew and I coach these bands into full force!
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Vegan Cream Cheese. Pastry. Coffee.
Catching up on business.
Will and I drop my mom off at her friend’s house for her to borrow a car. Then, we head out to Jimmy and Olivia’s house in Kempsville for Kevin Moore’s birthday gathering. The big 29 he’s turning. The whole Lazy Dangers crew and friends are here. Grilling out burgers, dogs, and roasting veggies. The pool is only halfway filled but that doesn’t stop the hooligans from jumping in and starting a human whirlpool. It’s always nice catching up with this bunch.
Later on, in the music den I hop on the keyboards and start playing a few chords, as instructed charismatically by Anthony. The rest of the band follows and amidst the ten minute jam Anthony starts singing this incredible anthem that could spawn a new song...
“Every time, every time, every time you walk out that door
Everything, everything, everything hurts a little bit more”
Ana made Pancakes and Coffee (with the help of mom).
Teaching afternoon lessons at Music Makers.
Tuna Salad Sandwich with Cucumber and Tomatoes. Corn Tortilla Chips with Avocado and Tomato. Guayusa Tea.
Ana picks me up and we go to Alpha Music for the Pedal Con. They’ve got an aisle of amps ready to sit down and test out pedals sent in from various pedal companies. I catch up with Clavan, the guy who mans the keyboard/sound room and who also runs sound for DEJA a lot.
After we finish tinkering around with pedals we drive back towards Hilltop. Stopping by the Asian Market. Now we’re on the hunt for a bakery. We end up at the Bundt Cake place to whom Music Makers has close ties with. Meanwhile, the traffic struggle is real around these parts. It almost takes ten minutes to get home!
Napping.
Ana started prepping to make dinner but I interrupt with a surprise idea to go out for food. We end up at the Bay Local Eatery, a restaurant I’ve been wanting to go for a while. It’s kind of upper class with its small portions but delicious plates. I order a Blue Crab Cake with Old Bay Fries, Asparagus, and we split some Shishito Peppers.
Later on, I’m at the rehearsal space setting up the room for the MMLIVE summer sessions.
Then, at the studio doing the accounting for the month.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.
At the Great Neck Rec with Ana. I use one of bicycle machines for a while. Then, Ana and I mess around on the basketball court but I keep my left hand out of use. Recording videos of trick shots like behind-the-back.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Vegan Cream Cheese and Poppy Seeds. Veggie Sticks. Tomato. Coffee.
Watching Blackway (2015).
Teaching all my in-home lessons. It’s ultra hot today!
Back home. Mom and I make dinner: Black Bean Tacos with all the fixin’s and French Fries.
Researching and looking for piano and violin teachers.
Pineapple.
At the studio cleaning and re-stringing a customer’s guitar and testing my wrist out on drums and piano.
Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.
Teaching a few afternoon lessons.
Napping.
Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Toast with Butter and Jam. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.
Finishing Beirut (2018).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Running a few errands – dropping off recycle – getting a few last minute groceries from Trader Joe’s.
Making dinner with mom as my assistant chef. Brown Rice Spaghetti Noodles with Mushrooms, Peppers, Onions, Tomatoes, Parmesan Cheese, and French Baguette.
Third day since my wrist injury and not so much pain. More mobility but only half way there.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.
Working on chores and other business.
Scrambled Eggs. Poppy Seed Bagel with Vegan Cream Cheese. Salt n Vinegar Chips with Avocado. Coffee.
Watching Beirut (2018).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Back home. Mom and I make dinner: Black Beans with Onions, Celery, Flounder, Kale, Carrots, and Jasmine Rice.
Catching up on business.
Chillin’ with Ana and the cat. Her new guitar finally arrived in the mail. She won it from a contest with She Shreds magazine. I don’t think a day went by where she didn’t mention her concern for when the guitar was coming [see video for full experience].
Waking up all throughout the morning switching positions trying to get my left wrist in a comfortable position. At some point I actually get some deep sleep.
Awakening officially at 11:30 a.m.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Raisins, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. Irish Breakfast Tea. Turmeric supplement.
In between resting my wrist and attempting to accomplish simple tasks with one hand I manage to get some chores and things done.
Watching episodes of Kitchen Nightmares.
Leftover Waffle with PB&J. Plantain Chips. Oolong Tea.
Napping.
Being productive.
Ana drives us to get groceries. At Whole Foods while waiting for a mom to finish filling her 25 jugs Ana and I play with her three kids.
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As we’re walking into Trader Joe’s we pass that same mom with the three kids. This time she’s got them all at attention reprimanding them for misbehaving.
“Hi!” one of them notices me.
“Listen to your mommy!” I tell them.
“Okay! Bye!” the littlest one shouts.
Back home. Mom makes dinner: Cabbage, Potatoes, and Peas.
The three of us enjoy our meals over a movie: Midnight in Paris (2011).
Later on, Ana and I talk about how hard life is and for some people, like herself, gets overwhelmed easily by it.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. English Breakfast Tea.
Basketball at the Rec. I end up spraining my left wrist. Some heavyset dude new to lunchtime basketball is running with the ball and when I go into beast defense mode I end up falling backwards. His foot accidentally steps on mine causing my fall to be awkward. There goes another injury.
Scrambled Eggs. Sourdough Toast with Butter and Jam. Salt n Vinegar Chips with Avocado. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
My wrist hurts big time. I’m lucky to be done teaching my 7 p.m.
Back home. I decide to pop two generic Vicodin pills I had from a year ago. About 15 minutes in I start getting dizzy. I hobble over to the bedroom door and faint. Meanwhile Ana, mom, and Austin are downstairs waiting on me to join them for dinner. I hear the sounds of their voices as I come back to consciousness. I can’t believe I just passed out like that. Apparently feeling lightheaded and dizzy is one of the side effects.
We all end up in the living room and decide to watch a movie. I’m still in pain but it’s manageable while I eat the Pho Noodle Chicken Soup. Watching Kodachrome (2018).
Trying to get comfortable in bed. I pop one pill this time just to get me to sleep and distract myself from the throbbing pain in my wrist.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. Irish Breakfast Tea.
Catching up on business and chores.
Mom and I run some errands – grabbing a few things out of her storage unit to donate and organize – putting together the band photos and brainstorming at Music Makers.
Back home.
Making dinner with a mish-mash of leftovers. Final product: Vegetable Fried Rice with Sardines and Crab Rangoon.
MMLIVE planning.
Going for a late night bike ride to the oceanfront. Halfway through taking a break at the 1st Street jetty – smoking a clove and watching a heron standing like a statue.
Leftover Spaghetti with Kale, Carrots, and Sourdough Toast.
Ana and I set out on our bikes to the oceanfront for a fun-filled day of music. The Psychedelic Weenie Roast is happening at The Shack on 8th Street. It’s the event’s debut. Zach, guitarist of Snake Mountain Revival, put this whole thing together with helping hands. It takes a village...
Ladada was supposed to play but Josiah is busy proposing to Bianca in Japan. Will meets up with us. With his short board and our bikes we ride from up and down tourist filled Atlantic Avenue catching a peek at the DEJA show on 17th where I was also supposed to play but Eric Vetterick is filling in instead. We spot Rob Oliver and Joe McMurray along the way. Ana gets us to go to an ice cream sandwich shop. Will and I enjoy some ultra sweet desserts but Ana declines for some reason. Even though we’re all having a good time she sometimes has anxiety. I notice this but try to attack it with humor and lightheartedness.
Back at the Weenie Roast. The Shack is bumping with all kinds of people. There’s so much going on. It’s like a huge backyard with corn hole, giant Jenga blocks, basketball pong, foosball, swings, etc. Enjoying some Black Bean Tacos and an Orange Crush. Meanwhile, the inside venue we watch amazing talented bands like Broken Beaches, Invisible Landscapes, and of course the all encompassing Snake Mountain Revival with their authentic psychedelic rock n’ roll and artists manning the overhead projector with colored inks spinning in a clear bowl creating the ultimate visual experience over the band.
Back home after a long day. Ana and I discuss her troubles with being in big groups and how it affects her emotionally. Everybody struggles with living in their own realities even though everything on the outside might be fine.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. English Breakfast Tea.
Chores and errands. Taking a look at Ana’s bike. Just needed to tighten a few screws and pump some air into the tires.
Lunch: Scrambled Eggs. Sesame Bagel with Butter and Jam. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.
Watching Ready Player One (2018).
Teaching all my in-home lessons.
Back home.
Making Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti with Mushrooms, Onions, Carrots, Kale, and Lavash Bread.
Organizing at home then getting lost at Wal-Mart looking for various things.
Smoothie. Ana chills in my room and chats about her current thoughts and the show she went to at Toast tonight. Meanwhile, Elvis tries to lick the side of my smoothie glass.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, Maple Syrup, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.
Basketball at the Rec.
Scrambled Eggs. Pumpernickel Toast with Butter and Jam. Salt n Vinegar Chips with Avocado.
Watching Unsane (2018).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Orange.
Back home. Making Pizza from scratch with Fresh Mozzarella, Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions, Garlic, and Tomato Sauce. Sautéed Spinach.
I’ve got a massage scheduled with Jonna again. It’s been a month or so. She’s got a different room set up at her house. I brought a Bluetooth speaker and a decent soft tunes playlist. There are so many tight muscles all over I never realized I had. She’s good at what she does.
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Afterwards, her youngest daughter roams around on a Roblox game and the other one is freaking out about the shooting of rapper X.
Back home.
Smoothie.
Finishing putting my basketball cards together into plastic sleeves and binders. Meanwhile, Ana watches this French guy on YouTube showing people how to make sourdough bread and other things.
