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.
Scottish Breakfast Tea.
At the studio putting together and cleaning a drum set to
put in the new space in order to teach some lessons in there.
Scrambled Eggs. Kale and Carrots. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Afterwards, Rebecca and I work out some Broadway related
things on her computer and discuss all the current drama/psychological issues
some of the students are dealing with.
Salad with Sardines, Tomatoes, Beets, and Pita Bread with
Hummus.
Watching The Best of
Enemies (2021).
Green Tea. Malasada (provided by Ana).
Catching up on business.
Was gonna ride my bike but it’s about to rain. Instead I
practice some Ladada bass tunes.
I’m stuck in a very stressful narrative where the actor Ray
Winstone is a villain that’s understood to have the power to end the world –
he’s running around town convincing people that this will be a good thing and
to help him make it happen. He has this unusual ability to convince you to be
on his side. As I’m walking nearby he attempts to use his power but it does not
affect me. I keep waving my hand in front of me and saying the word, “Bless!”
to prevent it. Him and I sit down and have a discussion about the whole thing.
I explain he’s not going to end the world because I won’t let him. He’s holding
the lyrics to the Fleetwood Mac song, “Dreams” – I tell him this is the
soundtrack to the end of your evil plan.
▬☼
Waking up at 11:30 a.m.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk.
Scottish Breakfast Tea.
On the phone with Dominion Power trying to get the
electricity started at the new space behind Music Makers but it’s proving to be
quite the hassle. I’ve been waiting to speak with someone for almost an hour
and even after I get someone on the phone turns out it’ll take 24 hours. And
today is the day we really need it working!
At the studio dragging the extension cords out to the new
space and setting up the room so I can teach a few lessons in there later on.
Banana. Scrambled Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin with Butter
and Jam. Coffee.
Teaching lessons. It’s a hectic day cause every single room
is in use including the new space.
Back home. Eating dinner. Leftover Noodles with Kale,
Carrots, Mackerel, and Pita Bread.
Watching Kate
(2021).
At the studio after hours cleaning up things and hanging a
few pictures.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, and Almond Milk.
Scottish Breakfast Tea.
Meeting up with Ana and Shannon at Music Makers to rehearse
B-52’s vocal parts. Then, right at 1:30 Olivia, Elena, and Samantha show up for
an MMLIVE band rehearsal. It’s fun working with the 3 of them.
Enjoying lunch back at home.
Scrambled Eggs. Toast. Kale. Coffee.
Watching A Quiet Place
II (2020).
Chores.
Over at the ELO space catching the tail end of the first
Broadway mandatory meeting. The room is full of all the cast members and
parents. Carol, Haley, Reid, and Rebecca lead the group in the script reading.
Afterwards, Reid and I help clean up.
Running errands – getting groceries.
Catching up on business.
Cooking dinner: Egg Noodles with Peas, Kale, Carrots,
Onions, and Peppers. Garlic English Muffin.
At Music Makers coaching 3 bands today for the start of our
fall MMLIVE session. We’ve reunited the adult band with Lou, Mike, Rachel,
Joey, and Reid while I fill in on drums. I woke up earlier to a text from
someone that was supposed to give me a hand but called out. So I’m essentially
on my own today. Rebecca had a few afternoon lessons but once she’s done she
gives me a hand with the kid band, which is helpful.
PB&J. Coffee. Apple.
After all the bands are done I haul butt over to Smartmouth
at the oceanfront to catch Ana’s band, Community Witch, Zack Mexico, and
Freedom Hawk play a show. It’s all outside with a food truck and vendors.
Hanging out with a lot of our friends and enjoying all the tight bands. It’s
just been music all day and night for me!
Enjoying a Veggie BBQ Sandwich with Fries and a few beers.
Bringing some chairs over to the ELO space and setting up a
couple things for tomorrow’s Broadway activities.
Back home settling down and catching up on the day with Ana.
Sharing Spinach Egg Beet Salads and Green Tea.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Strawberries, and Almond Milk. Irish
Breakfast Tea.
Catching up on business.
Ana and I fill up our cold brew coffee jug at Three Ships.
Then, grab some lunch at Zeke’s.
Tuna Pita Wrap and Pour Over Coffee.
Also, putting up flyers for the show tomorrow.
Later on, I’m back and forth at Music Makers – working with
Allyson on scheduling things – meeting with the landlord to get the key to the
new space (#104). Discovering I won’t be able to get the power on until Monday
because Dominion Power doesn’t allow the ability to start service through a
business without talking to someone on the phone. What a racket. So I devise a
way to string an extension cord through the window, install a small A/C, piano,
and lamp to get Rebecca through her daytime lessons tomorrow.
...
Making some copies of keys and buying a ladder from
Taylor’s.
...
Later on, after the studio’s lessons for the day Carol comes
by to make a thousand copies we need for the Broadway meeting on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Haley and Rebecca work on music in a lesson room. While I help Carol
print and revise the documents I simultaneously set up the rehearsal room for
tomorrow’s MMLIVE band session!
At some point I end up back home after 11 p.m. Ana arrives
home from a last minute band practice. I whip up something real simple in the
kitchen for dinner: Spinach Salads with Eggs, Japanese Milk Toast, and
Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese Bites.
We get into a heated conversation cause we had a few intense
momentary disputes today. It’s really hard cause we both have developed bad
habits in our interactions that don’t help create a healthy environment for us.
Waking up at 10:37 a.m. in a comfy hotel bed in Burlington,
Iowa.
A very nice old man named Ike drives Jimmy, Mike, Rebecca,
and I to the airport, about an hour or so drive. I sit in the back of the van
catching up on business while we pass by all the corn fields of the Midwest.
At the Quad Cities airport. Literally, the only people to
walk through security are us. At the terminal we’ve got loads of time till our
plane starts boarding. I give Ana a call and walk around. Then, killing time at
the tables with a Coffee and a Breakfast Bar.
On the plane to our layover in Dallas. We scramble to make
it in the nick of time for our next flight to Norfolk. Rebecca and I grab
something from a bagel place unsure if we even have time. There’s a funny
moment where we’re running towards to the gate to watch one of the ladies start
to close the door. She sees us and lets us through. That was a close one.
At some point after 10:30 p.m. the plane lands in ORF but
we’re forced to wait in taxi for whatever reason unusually long. Dave, Megan’s
dad, picks us up from the curb.
Back home, I walk in to find Erica baking a bunch of
Japanese Milk Bread loaves in our kitchen. Yummy smells fill the air.
Eventually, Ana gets home from work and we all share some food.
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