Waking up a little before noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business. Running errands.
Eggs. Spinach. Rye Toast. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Mr. Shawarma’s for dinner.
Late night adult band rehearsal.
Afterwards, Rebecca and I talk a lot – mostly about light hearted stuff – reminds me of those late night parking lot conversations.
Chores. Catching up on things. Playing with Elvis.
Waking up a little before noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Staying at the computer working on a stage plot and other prep for the weekend.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Catching up on business.
Lupini Beans with Rice and Veggies. Garlic Bread.
Watching Long Shot (2023).
Working on stuff at the studio.
Chores.
Ice Cream and Green Tea.
Waking up a little before noon.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
At the warehouse helping Mike with a few cases and organizing some stuff.
Then, at Music Makers putting together the drum kit in the 104 space.
Eggs. Spinach. Toast. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Then, we have the teacher band rehearsal. I got pizza for everyone for dinner. It’s coming together and it’s pretty tight.
Salad. Popcorn.
Chores and playing with Elvis.
Ice Cream.
Waking up around 11:30 a.m.
Oatmeal. Tea.
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.
Watching Downsizing (2017).
Catching up on business and chores.
Green Tea.
Hitting the sack early.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
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.
I don’t think I arrived home till after 10 p.m.
Making Pasta and Spinach Salad for dinner.
Watching The Killer (2023).
Chores – dishes – playing with Elvis.
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.
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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.
Practicing some music.
Settling down at home.
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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.
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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.
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We have an insanely long time till show. Enjoying the catering downstairs in the cozy basement green room.
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The show goes over pretty well – not as full crowd tonight but the energy and appreciation for the music is obviously there.
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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.
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Piling into the bus. As we ride south regaling stories and cracking up over how insane these bumps are through New York City.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Waking up a little before noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business and emails.
Spending most of the time prepping and packing.
Driving around looking for a trailer jack at Harbor Freight then at Superior Trailer for landing plate to go with. I hate doing all this last minute tour prep but it had to be done.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Then, immediately back home packing up the rest of my stuff – prepping kitchen stuff.
Driving the bus over to the warehouse to link up with the ELO band. Nigel got us a new driver, Aaron. He seems legit and has some experience working at The NorVa. We also have Max, a new crew guy.
All is well on the Great Blue Ship as we head out across the Eastern Shore towards New England.
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Waking up around 11:45 a.m.
Cereal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Riding my bike to go vote – it’s a beautiful day – running a few errands.
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There are painters doing some touching up on the doors and trim outside Music Makers. One of the guys, a jolly black guy, sees me with my bike and explains, “Enjoy yo’self while you can cause when you get to be my age your knees go bad.”
Eggs. Spinach. Bagel. Vegan Breakfast Sausage. Chips. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Over at the warehouse Nigel’s got Megan and the grandkids here. I’m trying to get this trailer loaded up and check the tire pressure.
Back home. Making Pasta and Salad for dinner.
Finally I can start booting Windows onto my laptop equipped with my new Samsung solid state drive. Meanwhile, doing some chores.
Waking up at 11:30 a.m.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Doing some MMLIVE prep at the computer.
Virgil Computers finally got back with me and informed me that the solid state drive from my laptop has actually crashed. So there’s no re-juicing it. I immediately order one on Amazon to be here by tomorrow and pick it up. Luckily I do have it backed up on a cloud with the exception of two days worth of things.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffins. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Coaching the adult band rehearsal – we had to reschedule so everyone could make it.
Apple.
Tuna, Black Beans, Bok Choy, Mushrooms, Quinoa, and Garlic Bread.
Catching up on chores and stuff at the computer – mostly emails.
Waking up at 11 a.m.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
Coaching MMLIVE band rehearsals.
PB&J English Muffin. Coffee.
We try out a teacher band rehearsal – turns out to be pretty fun.
Back home.
Making Pasta and Salad for dinner.
Watching No Hard Feelings (2023).
Power napping in the chair.
Green Tea. Then, doing the accounting for the month.
Chores.
Waking up super late – need to sleep in.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Staying at the computer and phone catching up on footage and stuff.
At the studio cleaning up the 104 space and helping Rebecca get set up for the holiday caroling sessions.
Egg Sandwich. Tomato Soup. Chips. Coffee.
Running errands – Target, Kroger, Whole Foods.
Chores.
Making healthy Ramen for dinner.
Having a really hard time getting to sleep cause I keep hacking.
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Waking up kind of early at 10 a.m. or so.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
Dropping off the trailer to the shop to give it a look over and have them repair a few things.
Home. Catching up on texts and computer stuff. I’m still stuck using the Music Makers computer temporarily.
Chores.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffins. Vegan Breakfast Sausage. Coffee. Salt n Vinegar Chips.
Watching Pain Hustlers (2023).
Attempting to take a nap for a little bit.
Then, at Music Makers warming up on the drums.
Driving out to Riffhouse Pub in South Norfolk for the show. I’m doing the two piece thing with Josiah on guitar and me on drums as Bamm Bamm, cause Josh is going through a tough time. Berries, Elliott Malvas, and Raise Hell Over The Summer are also on the bill.
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This place is such a unique hole in the wall dive but the sound (and the sound guy running it) is top notch. Sean really did a good job mixing all the bands. Found a magic charm on the floor – turns out to be a skull necklace. I wear it without question and I think it gave me magic powers on the drums. After the close out set we invite Jessica back on the stage to play bass with Josiah and I for an impromptu jam. We hit an ethereal musical high. Meanwhile, ex drummer for Raise Hell provides cathartic screams into the mic.
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It’s good to see everyone and hang.
Back home after offloading gear back to the studio.
Settling down.
Waking up around noon.
Oatmeal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
I drive over to Virgil Computers to have the professionals take a look at my hard drive and laptop. Unfortunately, I have to drop it off for them to take a look another day.
Eggs. Bagel. Tomato Soup. Spinach. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Salmon with Potatoes, Veggies, and Garlic Bread.
At Ringo’s, the storage unit to practice drums with Josiah. Unfortunately, Josh the drummer for Bamm Bamm is AWOL but understandably. But now Josiah and I have to do a two piece. It’s weird cause I know all the drum parts in my head from playing the songs so many times but having to actually execute it on a kit becomes a challenge.
On the drive back I hook up the trailer to my truck – checking all the tire pressure.
Relaxing back home.
Waking up around noon.
Cereal. Tea.
Catching up on business.
Driving the bus to the welder via Nigel’s request. Mike gives me a ride back home.
Eggs. English Muffin. Spinach. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Back home. I discovered earlier this afternoon my computer has decided to cease to load the operating system. I was in the middle of editing a video and it just crashed, first the blue screen then a black screen stating, “Operating System Not Found”. My roommate, Aluan helps me troubleshoot.
Later on, Bobby and Josiah come over to have a video meeting with Alan, the guy up in New York who’s mixing the latest Ladada tracks. We’ve been going back and forth with him giving notes but never actually talking with the guy face to face.
More troubleshooting on my hard drive. But no luck. I end up borrowing the Music Makers computer temporarily.
[Note: original blog entry was lost in a hard drive crash. Guaranteed nothing out of the ordinary happened besides dealing with the computer things.]
But here’s a month in the life of video…
[Note: original blog entry was lost in a hard drive crash. But guaranteed nothing out of the ordinary happens on this day besides dealing with the computer issues.]
Waking up reluctantly at 11:15 a.m.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
MMLIVE rehearsals all afternoon.
PB&J Bagel. Kale. Coffee.
Catching up on chores and things back home.
Pasta for dinner.
More work at the computer.
Finally I get to sleep!
[Note: original blog entry was lost in a hard drive crash. What you’re about to read was written weeks after the day occurred.]
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Running off absolutely zero sleep from my flight. Aaron gratefully picks me up from the airport around 10 in the morning. I have just enough time to get home, shower up, eat, and pack up gear.
Now heading out to Norfolk for the highly anticipated LAVA Halloween Extravaganza! My role today isn’t performing actually but rather being a referee (stage manager). I arrive early on while the sound crew is still setting up the stage. I get the dressing room tent set up and acquire my position by the stage.
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My main job is making sure everything runs smoothly and helping the bands get set up as quickly as possible on the stage. Meanwhile, it’s unexpectedly hot out...until the sun goes down. All the bands are amazing. So much work goes into each act – I love watching all the magic happen on the stage.
Working hard all the way through till the last note of Bruce Springsteen.
Awakening in the back of the bus on the newly designed futon. Mike ended up next to me. We both complain how you can’t ever really get a full hour’s sleep at a time.
Snacking down on a PB&J and Coffee for breakfast.
Then, suddenly we’re at The Honeywell Center in Wabash, Indiana. I must remind myself though it was a 15 hour drive in total to get here.
I do my duties of backing the trailer into the loading dock. Getting all the gear onto the stage – even though this is a one-off show it feels like we’ve done this a million times before. Matt, the new crew guy is a big help and has a lot of energy to learn.
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Running around like usual getting everything in order on the stage – sound check – then an amazing dinner of Encrusted Tilapia, (the best) Potatoes, Green Beans, and Pies.
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We get up there and do our two sets – mostly flawless.
Packing up and loading up the bus/trailer. I get dropped off at Fort Wayne Airport….
Sitting at a table catching up on work at the computer. I’ve seriously got all the time in the world till my flight leaves at 6 a.m.
Waking up bright and early at 10:45 a.m.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.
I have a video meet with Josh and a few of the Lava crew people to get an overview of what’s going to happen Saturday.
Catching up on emails and business.
Packing up things and doing some prep work in the kitchen.
Eggs. Kale. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Then, linking up with the ELO crew at the warehouse. Packing up the tour bus and hitching up the trailer. We all pile into the big building with wheels. Nigel hired a quiet preacher to be the official driver. And we have this new guy Matt on crew. Every row is taken so it’s a full house!
Howard takes us through the first two gas stops. Meanwhile, I catch up on work at the computer – mostly Lava prep.
Somewhere in the middle of the night I take over the wheel getting us through the most dangerous part of the mountainous terrain. Alarming red signs warning us of “dangerous mountain pass” ahead and tractor trailer run offs.
Eventually, I crawl to the back of the bus and attempt to sleep the rest of the way.
Waking up around noon.
Cereal. Tea.
Catching up on emails and business.
Aluan gives me a lift to retrieve bus from shop – just got two new tires installed.
Cleaning stuff up and organizing the bus.
Eggs. Chard. Bagel. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Then, over at the warehouse packing up the trailer with the help of Matt, one of the renters – he’s gonna join us for the one off show on Friday as crew. Nigel and Carson are here also – Nigel is in full form definitely drunk and full of jokes.
Pasta and Salad for dinner.
Back home. Catching up on chores.
Green Tea and Chocolate.
At the studio organizing some things.
Waking up around 11:30 a.m.
Cereal. Tea.
Catching up on business and emails – Lava Halloween stuff and ELO stuff.
Dropping off the bus to the Truck Fleet stop. Mike helps give me a ride back home. Meanwhile, he vents to me about ELO band problems.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Running errands.
Pasta and Salad for dinner.
Later on, having a roommate meeting with Aluan and Michael. The two of them had a few arguments some time ago. I basically play Judge Judy and try to mediate the situation. I think the real issue is Michael, with his history of brain problems and paranoia, has trouble trusting people and that creates some problems in the house. I guess it ends on a good note.
Chores.
Green Tea and Chocolate.
Waking up around 11:30 a.m.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.
Emails and business at the computer – mostly related to Lava Halloween.
Eggs. Spinach. English Muffin. Coffee.
Teaching lessons at Music Makers.
Ramen and Garlic Bread.
At the studio putting together this popup tent – draping some sheets together to build a dressing room of sorts for this Saturday.
Pineapple.
Waking up at 11 a.m.
Breakfast Bar. Tea.
At Music Makers all afternoon coaching MMLIVE band rehearsals with the help of Jake and Rebecca.
Lunch break somewhere in there.
Sometimes it gets to be a lot dealing with all the noise and at the same time trying to direct.
Cleaning up things and organizing.
Home. Bangkok Garden for dinner.
Watching The Fall of the House of Usher (2023).
Catching up on emails and such.
Waking up.
Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.
At Music Makers for a little bit while Jake teaches lessons.
Then, attaching the trailer to my truck. Over off Pleasure House Road a neighbor of Lou’s is giving away a piano – I recruited Chase Davidson and his dad to help move it and gift him with it. We came prepared cause we have to get it down a set of steps and such.
PB&J. Coffee.
Then, helping them move it into their house – I’m really proud of him and happy he’s able to have a real acoustic piano to practice on.
Running errands – stopping at Dick’s Sporting Goods for a referee shirt – hardware store.
Fixing a few things on the bus.
Eggs. Black Beans. Rice. Spinach. English Muffin.
Over at Ringo’s (storage unit) for Bamm Bamm practice. It turns out to only be Josiah and I cause Josh went off grid (he does that sometimes). So him and I jam but also organize some things.
Afterwards, we get invited to Public House for a get together for Anthony’s birthday. James Graves, Allyson, Rusty, and friends are all there. I sip on some brews and entertain ourselves with pool.
Back home. Settling in.
