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, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. English Breakfast Tea.
Finally getting my car back after two months without one. I ride my bike over to the 17th Street shop. Joel, the manager/mechanic there, kept me in the loop throughout the whole process of putting a new engine in. I ordered a barely used engine online. It’s as quiet as a mouse and runs smooth. I drive off down the boulevard so excited I forgot my bike!
PB&J Toast. Iced Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Cleaning/vacuuming out my car.
Getting groceries.
Cooking dinner with mom: Brown Rice Quinoa Spaghetti Noodles with Mushrooms, Onions, Mustard Greens, and Garlic Bread.
Waking up at 10:30 a.m. to Elvis nudging his head on my arm. Ana wakes up gently next to me. Engaging in a little “fire”.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, Maple Syrup, and Kefir. English Breakfast Tea.
Catching up on all kinds of business.
Meeting Bill the A/C guy at Music Makers – last night we discovered a leak in the ceiling from the air handler. Meanwhile, my mom’s truck is in the shop getting the A/C fixed and my car is getting a new engine replaced finally after almost 2 months.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast with Butter and Jam. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.
Watching Point Blank (2019).
Teaching lessons at Music Makers. The A/C will have to wait to get fixed till tomorrow. So we’ve got a slew of fans running and windows open to cool down this place as much as possible. We’re fortunate enough that it’s raining and the sun is not out scorching the city.
Back home. I pick up Bangkok Garden for dinner: Mixed Vegetables, Chicken, and Rice in Garlic Sauce.
Ana and I practice songs at the studio – we’ve got to prepare for the double gig this weekend.
Waking up around 8:30 in this modern feel hotel in Farmington, New Mexico. It was the last night on this mini A New World Record weekend of shows. I feel a bit hung over.
Grabbing some decent complimentary breakfast downstairs in the lobby: Oatmeal with Berries and Tea.
We all cram into the two rental vehicles. Some of the crew went their separate ways yesterday. Ron takes the wheel with John in the passenger seat – Kevin, Bri, and I in the backseat. Of course, the New Mexican landscape of cliffs, mountains, and open ranges are constantly catching our attention. Meanwhile, Bri controls the music – musicals and Peaches (a contrasting soundtrack to the surrounding scenery.
At some point a big debate between everyone begins about the future of humanity/earth, over population, and the power of community. What makes it interesting is there are so many opposite viewpoints all in one car – Bri is the optimist – John is the nihilist – Kevin leans towards apathy – and I sit here as a hopeful observer.
Stopping by Blake’s Lotaburger for a quick lunch. It takes longer than expected and for some reason we’re given way too many ketchup packets. We attempt to build a tower. I enjoy an Egg Burrito with spicy Green Chiles and Fries with a Coffee.
Checking into our flights at the Albuquerque airport. Quick connecting flight in Dallas and then we’re back home.
Ana picks me up at the airport. Finally, back home.
All the responsibilities come flowing back to my mind as I reconvene with my mom and her. Major headache but it’s nice to be back home.
Waking up bright and early at 8 a.m. (New Mexico time).
Downstairs they offer free and hot continental breakfast. I settle on some Scrambled Eggs and nibble on some Pancakes and Fruit.
Hitting the road with John and Kevin up front in the rental car – Ron and I in the backseat.
It’s a 5 hour drive but the time flies by cause we get so caught up in conversation and keeping our eyes busy looking out the window. I’m completely enamored with the mountainous cliffs and ranges. We can’t stop snapping photos and videos it’s so beautiful and awesome. Spread out across the fields are these unique looking Soaptree Yucca plants with tall flowering stalks. The road changes from 7,000 ft elevation to flat land stretches. It seems endless when you look out – mirages and refractions appear in the distance – sometimes no gas station in sight.
The best part about a trip like this is the camaraderie you develop in the van, especially in the car. You start to poke fun at everyone else and create on-going jokes that never get old. The night before last we were using Kevin’s phone to play music on YouTube and an ad appropriately came on just as we arrive at a gas station that said, “And thus begins your depression...”
Sipping on a Coffee and eating a Date/Almond Bar.
Later on, we come across a minivan that just caught fire. Damn! That’s how hot and dry it is out here – vehicles just catch fire.
We arrive in Farmington, New Mexico, a small town. Playing at the Civic Center, which is basically like a convention center for the town. It’s nice to be able to do some laundry since we’ve been having to wear the same performance outfits show after show. I spend a lot of time researching and trying to figure out a way to control monitors on my iPad.
Olive Garden catering for dinner tonight. Chicken, Pasta, and Veggies for me.
200 tickets sold – nothing like the last two shows where they almost sold out. But this show was just a filler so we could make it worth our while to be over this side of the country. The show goes pretty well except right when we’re about to start the second set everybody’s in-ear monitors stop working. We have to stall just a few minutes. I run over to Russell who’s running the board backstage. Nothing seems to be awry. We decide to just turn the board off and on again. And action!
After the show the whisky bottle starts pouring and Stella’s start gulping. It’s the last show of the weekend and we’re all ready to get loose. Piling into the rental cars – John takes the wheel and blares some raunchy trap music. It feels good to just let go and be/say/do whatever we want without a care in the world. We roll into the hotel appropriately called Home 2 with all kinds of youthful energy. The whole crew and band congregate in #224 – “having such a good time” as Queen would say.
