starting over

  SATURDAY 4/30/228:04AM-coming to the Mount Airy flea market/yard sale was, in my opinion, a bad idea. At least it was a bad idea when you are me. I think if Dianne wants to see everything we will still be here at dinner time – I’m not kidding.     For a while there, I was totally convinced that I wouldn’t be able to find the car. For once the  Universe was on my side – I found it. And it turns out Dianne knows approximately where it is already. I don’t need anything, I mean ANYTHING. In my opinion, Dianne doesn’t need anything either. Like I’ve said before, we are a ranch house full of stuff crammed into a townhouse. I’m thinking the Dianne might start thinking that every dealer’s area looks alike, more or less. I’m hoping will be out of here before lunchtime; but who’s to say? 8:41AM-not bringing a “thermos” full of water, like Dianne did, was another bad idea. On the other hand, it’s a long way to the PortaSans 9:30AM-I know it’s not, but it feels like it’s almo...

                  FRIDAY 4/30/22 11:37PM-at this point in time, iTunes still works. As with some other apps, I kinda have to take the "scenic route" to get to 'em.      At somewhere around 6:30AM,  Dianne and I are planning to go to Mt. Airy for a yard sale. I have no idea when we'll be back home. I'm trying to relax so I can get some sleep; starting in about 15 minutes, more or less.            SATURDAY 4/30/22 615AM-I think we're leaving for Mt. Airy in about thirty minutes. We'll see. And as far as I can tell, iTunes still works. And that's a VERY good thing.

        FRIDAY 4/29/22 8:27PM-I probably shouldn't say this but for NOW, iTunes IS BACK!!! The young lady at Best Buy fixed it. Naturally, Dianne is a bit angry, because I didn't let her help me. I really REALLY REALLY  didn't wanna dump any more crap on her plate. She doesn't believe me. And yet Dianne fixed my fit bit. 9:00PM--I feel as though my diary entries aren't making it to this page. Or maybe that's what's left of my Mind playing tricks on me.      Dianne is right , of course. I should stick with Google Chrome as my browser or whatever, and leave MS Edge alone. I hope I know how to do that. UPDATE--apparently I do--maybe. 10:10PM--On my own, although it took some time (but not much) I created a shortcut for MESSENGER. I think Chrome Land is finished. No need to go to MS Edgeville.     11:25PM--With regard to the Lenovo, I may be taking the long way Home, but I DO get there. It's also possible that Lenovo laptops do some things...

        FRIDAY 4/29/22 10:10AM--   To recap:            1. I can read/write my Gmail.            2. I can view my Google photos.            3. I can watch/listen to youTube videos.            4. I can do my Zen Coloring artwork.            5. I can do something (?) with Virtual DJ. (dunno exactly what)            6. I can apparently do some phone things on the laptop, like Google Keep. (shopping lists, etc)            7. I can do Google Maps.            8. I can do Facebook.            9. I can do Messenger (thru FB)          10. I can do Google Documents            Some, if not all of those things can be done in a somewhat round about w...

              THURSDAY 4/28/22 6:15PM--this laptop is close to being very good, all things considered. The sound quality coming thru the earbuds is not so great, but it's better than nothing. I bet a LOT of what I would wanna hear is on youTube. I mean way WAY lots. The next thing to worry about this evening is whether or not I'm gonna get any sleep tonight. 7:19PM- I’m not sure if the phone entries lineup with the laptop entries when it comes to blogger.com. Will find out eventually. 10:14PM--I think, that is, I THINK I've got Virtual DJ up and running-maybe. 10:24PM-Generally, I can do quite a few things I used to do, just not the way I'm used to doing them. 10:31PM VDJ is running, but maybe not the way it should. The sound quality of the earbuds might take some getting used to, but it's better than nothing. 10:46PM-I think I need to make a list of questions and/or comments for the Geek Squad for the visit tomorrow. I wouldn't mind having nothing e...

      WEDNESDAY 4/27/22 9:09PM--I never know when I will get to my diary when I wanna; or Facebook or zen coloring or...anything. Hopefully that will fade away. 10:25PM--I fear that (for whatever reason) my iTunes Library is gone. I dunno where it is; IF it's in the laptop at all    THURSDAY 4/28/22 9:06AM--Dianne's house is as ready for the cleaners as I'm gonna make it.I got quite a surprise just now. The beard trimmer that I threw in the trash because *I* thought it had died, suddenly came to Life. (sigh) Go figure.  10:50AM-still learning how to do things, but...it's kinda like to get to the basement I have to go outside and around to the back of the house and come in thru the sliding door...it works, but there's a faster way than that. 11:03AM--found an indirect way to get to certain apps I like...it'll have to do for now. 11:10AM--here's a horrible possibility--I don't have iTunes AT ALL, not even a little. 11:28AM--and suddenly I'm having tr...

                      TUESDAY 4/26/22 8:24PM- well I have abandoned the idea of getting a new ASUS laptop and changed over to Lenovo Instead. Of course, it cost about $100 more but I’m not surprised at that. I also bought an external CD burner which doesn’t play CDs, that would’ve made it cost more. I think I’ll be hearing back from the geek squad in a couple of days or possibly sooner, but I’m not getting my hopes up.      Now the only way I can communicate with the outside world is through the iPhone thru Facebook and stuff like that. I didn’t think that would be a problem or that I couldn’t be patient enough; but right this minute I am hoping they will get the laptop done quickly. Like I’ve said before, EVERYTHING is a patience test.        WEDNESDAY  4/27/22-The needles and pins Have intensified a little bit; I’m hoping to get the laptop back today, but that’s not a certainty. So for now ...

      MONDAY 4/25/22 11:52AM--So far I've paid off a medical bill, and (I think) fixed the toe(nail) that made putting socks on my right food difficult. I paid a medical bill too--AND did some grocery shopping as well. Almost forgot--and did a load of Laundry. 4:15PM--SueEl can't go to Hank's tonight, but *I* still plan to. And I'm planning on taking Buttersotch One with me. 4:42PM--a little over an hour before I leave for Hank's and I'm tired already. I assume Butterscotch is under my bed. If it's not...that may mean I've LOST a GUITAR!!! UPDATE--found it !!!        10:-16PM-Turns out it just might be the guitar that made me sound amateurish; but being able to hear yourself is also very very important too and I rarely can hear myself. at Hank’s.  So I’m gonna try to worry a little less. I guess the more I play the Telecaster, the sooner I’ll get used to playing it. Hopefully… I think SueEl wants to go out somewhere Thursday; I just don’t know wh...

            SATURDAY 4/23/22 6:03PM--I allegedly bought this laptop about 7 years ago. I'm not surprised that the Best Buy guy recommends getting a new one. I found one I like; the hard part will be loading up the new one with programs I like--I think I have to make a list; THAT'S likely to be a MAJOR Gov't Project. I'll do that some other day, I'm kinda burnt out on technology... 7:28PM--I guess SueEl and I are gonna be going to Hank's on Monday. I'm gonna take the Strat, I think. I wanna compare Butterscotch with Butterscotch II. I suspect there will be a difference  I have yet to hear from SueEl. I just realized today is not Sunday. If I COULD do the Snoopy Dance, I would. 9:35PM-I dread the coming of Monday. I’m not playing with a full deck. Most of a full deck, maybe…but not all of it. SUNDAY 4/24/22-Well we made it to Olney and I’m leaning against the tree that’s in the shade, at least for now. Our next stop is the landfill, and the stop after t...

       THURSDAY 4/21/22 10:50AM--going to an open mic tonight  with Lou (hopefully) and I'm taking BII...I don't think I'll have time to warm up. I hope I'm wrong. Or maybe I can warm up a little while we wait to play. I think I can set the amp controls while we wait as well. 7:29 PM—It’s been a rough day so far and actually this evening isn’t getting any better either… I’m almost considering prayer to improve the situation as it stands. I think Lou and I are up after the next performer. The anxiety is really hard on me right now. 8:34PM-L&S didn’t Suck as bad as I thought we were gonna suck. I was amazed that I managed to keep the vocals going well even as my guitar playing was going to hell. I still think the action needs to be raised, and/or the neck needs to be aligned properly.  I’m going to take B II to Pritchard Music Academy because they have a small repair shop now, so let’s see what they can do with it. Thank my lucky stars, if I have any, th...

        TUESDAY 4/19/22 9:30AM--the UHC exam is later today. Another visit to the Geek Squad is today also, at 3:40. I'll be very happy when they solve the problem w/my laptop.        I don’t see me going to an open mic this week, unless I go on Thursday with Lou. I don’t think I’ll get to try Butterscotch out until next week… You have no idea how frustrating that is. 9:45AM—I’m getting desperate; I just might go to Hershey‘s on Thursday, if Lou and I aren’t doing anything.My financial situation is gloomy… I don’t have enough cash in the bank to get me through the next two weeks. Oh well, that’s what credit cards are for, right?     8:00PM--it feels to me that it has been a faily hectic day. Other than PT tomorrow at 11AM, I don't have anything else to do. And I'm OK with that. As for Thursday, Lou and I MIGHT be going to an open mic at Dominic's, which is in Monovia. 9:03PM--I feel like I'm almost ready to go to bed... 10PM--Dianne p...

             SUNDAY 4/17/22 8:08PM-my Fitbit is acting kind of weird… Sometimes it does everything I want it to do and sometimes it doesn’t; specifically I want to use the Weather app, but can’t yet. I do know how to use the alarms; that counts for something. 9:09PM--suddenly the Weather App on my Fitbit is active. MONDAY 4/18/22 9:19AM--I very much wanna put new strings on Butterscotch II, but I gotta finish putting the dishes away first. I hope to start working on B II around 10AM, more or less. The working area is SUCH a mess; I'll have to try to clean it up first. 11:35AM--Dianne took my blood sugar level...It was/is 175, which is NOT good. Before she did that, I put new strings on B II. and then coming up the stairs (2 of them) I fell down, but I ctually believe it as all my fault--Apparently I'd forgotten to close the case. Anyway, I'm optimistic that the new strings will make a difference in my playing. Rain or shine, I plan to go to Dietle's ...

         FRIDAY 4/15/22 6:49pm-I took the laptop to Best Buy...at this point in time, it's not 100% fixed. I'm gonna try again on TUESDAY. But for now, computers and/or technology are the LAST things I wanna think about. In fact, there's a lot of things I don't wanna think about.        SATURDAY 4/16/22 9:15AM--it took some effort, but I THINK I rescheduled my Geek Squad appointment. I moved it to Tuesday--I think.       10:30AM-well we’re out doing errands now, including a trip to Pritchard for guitar strings. It’s a nice day so far weatherwise – as long as you’re wearing a jacket and a hat. As for the guitar strings, I might not be able to put them on until Monday. I want to do it sooner, but I might not be able to. I have changed strings in the morning and gone out to play that evening; so I’m not too worried.     I think there may have been a change of plan possibly. I think we’re going to Riderwood today, but I...

                      THURSDAY 4/14/22 9AM-all I wanna do is write in my journal and now that has become a government project. Specifically trying to delete an entry has become a government project – I don’t fucking know why.     When the cleaning crew gets here, which could be any minute now or an hour from now, I’m leaving to go to Aldi’s to do some grocery shopping; but first I’ll stop by the library because I don’t want the food to sit in the car for two hours. And hopefully the library will be nice and quiet. 11:56AM-- it was...I got a book and a DVD. 12:16PM--I'm thinking nap time will be 1:30 until (hopefully) 4PM. I will shower and shave, have Dinner at 5-ish.Whatever I'm gona eat... I DO wanna stretch the strings a little and hopefully warm up some before I leave. 4:20PM--well the strings on Butterscotch II are as stretched as I can make 'em. I've even set all the knobs on the amp the way I think I want 'em. The...

        WEDNESDAY 4/13/22 10AM-Well I went to see Dr. Lahr. He took a look at the big toe and shaved off some of the dead skin and said it was OK to soak it in Epsom salts and use the emery board on it. So maybe later I will; but I’ve got too much stuff to do at home first.And I don't feel like doing ANY of it-yet.I'm not gonna look for my keys and wallet--they'll likely turn up if I DON'T look for 'em. 11:35AM-Found my keys!!! AND my wallet!!!! and my money!!! I was casually looking for them when I found them. 8:20PM-made an appointment to take the computer into the geek squad but not the one in Wheaton… Dianne has allegedly scheduled me an appointment for Friday at 4 o’clock-ish. 9:29PM--the confirmation email  took awhile to get to my mailbox. But I got it, that's the important thing. 9:42PM--Now I don't think I have nearly as much stuff to worry about tomorrow. Not yet anyway.

               (No pun intended) TUESDAY 4/12/22 9:43AM-of course, I forgot to bring Butterscotch II with me so that I can drop it off at Victor Litz after my physical therapy session. So on the way home I will stop at Jersey Mike’s cause I don’t have any cheese bologna or bread; and then I will go to Starbucks for Dianne. Then I will come home and have lunch and quite possibly go take the Guitar to Litz at that point in time – ignoring my nap. In MY opinion, it’s been a lousy day so far. I will stop at the grocery store on the way back from Litz. 3:12PM- what I ended up doing was going to Litz (NOW I think Butterscotch II is playable) going to Dairy Queen--seemingly nobody has found my keys. Then I went to Giant and got Dianne bananas and some stuff for me...naptime is in Ten minutes... 5:00PM--may have gotten a nap, I'm not really sure...Dr. Lahr suggested soaking my  left foot on a regular basis regularly--how ever much that is.I've done ...

             MONDAY 4/11/22 10:34PM--I figured out why my guitar playing (Butterscotch II) is not going well. The scale length (whatever that is) is different than the scale length of Butterscotch. And the string height STILL needs to be raised a TEENY bit more. I like to fight for the notes a little--not too much.  I plan to stop by Litz after physical therapy, hoping they can (again) do it while I wait. But I think Tony will be gone by then. I hope I'm wrong.                   I think SueEl wants to go to Bippy's on Thursday; which seems so far away. I really hope  somebody can work on the guitar tomorrow. TUESDAY 8:13AM--leaving for physical therapy in about an hour. As for the visit to Litz, I'll keep my fingers crossed. I suspect there will be a trip to the grocery store later. After that, a lot of house cleaning. And then Lunch and a nap.       

       SUNDAY 4/10/22 12:19PM--i’m slowly but surely getting the place cleaned up… After my nap, I’ll be eating dinner and shortly there after leaving for BWI while it’s still daylight. 12:25PM-The bad stuff is still happening, of course… But there are flashes of good stuff happening as well. 4:33PM-I  CAN'T BELIVE IT!!! I found my wallet and my belt and most importantly, Dianne’s keys!!! It turns out they were in the black jeans (the newer ones) in HER bedroom… Now, if I cry, they will be tears of joy. 5:34PM--I might not get much sleep tonight--because I'm so RELIEVED. If I was in England, I'd be "gobsmacked". I'm shell-shocked. WOW. I'm leaving for BWI at about 6:15. 10:40PM-we got back from BWI ten minutes ago; once I calm down I should be very sleepy/tired. Dianne will be possibly twice as sleepy/tired--and that is to be expected... 11:41PM--Life at 40 McDonald Chapel Ct. is back to normal, for better or worse.   I very much hope the guys across ...

 SATURDAY 4/8/22 1:06AM- I managed to get a flat tire when I hit the curb which snuck up on me driving around Wheaton not knowing where I’m going couldn’t see etc. etc. I’m pretty sure that if I had a loaded gun in my possession right now, I would gladly use it. I’m sitting next to the Dairy Queen in Wheaton while two dudes are talking about I don’t know what… The earliest the tow truck will get here is 45 minutes from now.          When I get home, I’m going to take four Trazodones. I suppose I should feel lucky that only the tire was damaged. But I don’t feel lucky, in the least. The only positive thing I can think of about this whole fucking evening is that I’m handling it as best I can under the circumstances. I WANT to cry, but I haven’t-YET. And of course, whatever this condition that I live with is  only going to get worse. 2:09AM-The latest I repeat the latest time that the tow truck is supposed to be here is three minutes from now. 2:15AM-well...

  THURSDAY 4/7/22 6:05PM-so I’ve made it to Umberto‘s… It’s closer in reality than it looks to be on a map. Lou should be along in about a half an hour. I hope I don’t jinx it, but if Lou and I do our usual stuff we’re going to own the place musically, but on the other hand, I  don’t know who else is going to be here.          7:00PM-Lou is here but we’re not sitting together through some kind of accident. He brought his next-door neighbor. I stayed in my booth and they sat at the table.       It’s really too soon to know for sure, but I don’t think I’m going to regret coming here. The pizza was pretty good, if exceptionally thin.        I keep forgetting that some, if not most, people aren’t nearly as friendly as I am. So after an initial burst of socializing, I’m sitting in my booth by myself.      I’m gonna use the same route to get home that I used to get here; of course, it’ll be a lot darker then...

          THURSDAY 4/7/22 11:22AM--I went to Litz, traded in my Blues Jr. III--without a working reverb, and got the Tele I wanted, a strap (that I paid for) and a free good quality case. So basically I swapped the amp that needs repair for a case. I sspent about $500 bucks, which was my limit anyway. The credit card worked, THAT'S the botton line, right?        I won't get to try it out in public until Monday. :( Like I've said before, all of Life is a Patience Test. I gotta work on the trash/recycle-ables later today. I do not have to do Laundry until tomorrow AND  I have physical therapy at 9:30AM.     As far as *I* know Lou and I are going to Umberto's tonight, so getting to know my new guitar a little better will have to wait. Umberto's open mic is all acoustic. So be it. But I'm SO VERY GRATEFUL that the guitar I had my eye on (on the Litz website) was still in the store. It's a fairly good day. 3:28PM--I canceled my PT ...

        TUESDAY 7:38PM--Now, of course, I can't remember what the good omen was but, *I* took it to mean I could stop at Litz and come home with a Telecaster. There IS an open mic on Wednesday, at JV's. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna try for it. 7:53PM--and I just found out that the JV's open mic scheduled for tomorrow is (allegedly) NOT happening tomorrow. I just can not catch a f**king break.      Like I often say, All of Life is a Patience Test. And I lost most if not all of mine decades ago. 10:38PM--I hope three Trazodones is enough to help me fall asleep. We'll find out in about twenty minutes. 11PM--here goes...wish me luck. WEDNESDAY 4/5/22 5:50AM--I'm gonna wait one more day before I buy the Tele. As far as I know there's NO open mic at JV's this week, so I don't need it for that. I'm going out with Lou Thursday to an acoustic open mic, so I don't need it for that. I guess I won't need it until Monday, dammit. Oh well, Such is L...

                     MONDAY  4/22 9:38AM-I know it’s really really early but it’s been a good day so far, especially for a Monday.      I’m going in to do my physical therapy. I think it only takes about an hour, and that’s enough for me.  After that, I'll go to Starbucks and get Dianne some stuff, After my mid-day nap, I’m going to go to a certain shop in the Kentlands and get a haircut. The name of the shop is (I think)  Sports Cuts. I hope to be home by four o'clock or thereabouts. I don’t yet know if Sue Ellen and I are going out tonight; I guess I’ll probably stay home if she doesn’t go- maybe.             11:45AM--I really wanna get the "new me" up and running...there's that impatience thing again. I'm seriously considering going to Hank's open mic whether SueEl goes or not. I DO hope she goes, but she's been feeling kinda "oogy" lately.Time will tell. 12:15PM-the law...

             SATURDAY 4/2/22 8AM-Well we're at the Germantown flea market; and I’m sitting in the car waiting for Dianne to finish. I just couldn’t handle the walking and standing. I don’t need to accumulate any more stuff; in fact I need to start donating clothing, among other things.         I don’t know that I need to, but I want to get a Fender Telecaster of some sort, maybe that will rejuvenate me into playing Music. I could trade my Blues Junior III which is more than heavy enough and hopefully find a Telecaster of some sort at Victor Litz. I’m thinking a Squier  or a Squier Afinity, which is even less expensive. I saw a Blues Junior III on eBay for $540. *I* think that Litz should give me $200 bucks for it, except that the reverb needs to be fixed.       I’ll go the day Dianne leaves for Florida. I’m probably wishing it was Wednesday as much as she is. I expect to do some barhopping while she’s gone ...