starting over

      TUESDAY  8/30/22 5:30PM--I think last night at the Blues Jam, I may have made a decision. I think my days as a Musician are coming to an end. I blame no one but myself (mostly).    The MontCo live music scene seems to be nearly back to "normal"; most  of the Musicians I know are back to gigging at least semi-regularly. But I'M not.    Maybe I wasn't quite as likeable as I thought I was. I USED to be a pretty good guitarist, but I didn't work on it nearly as much as I should have--nobody's fault but mine... And now it's like I'm almost a beginner again. 10:23PM--it's quite depressing to scroll thru Fakebook and read about all my Musical "friends'" gigs and stuff...       THURSDAY 9/1/22 9:03AM-The cleaners are supposed to be here any minute now; that means they should be gone by 11 o’clock-ish. I think that’s fantastic timing. I’ve got a lot to do this morning, so as soon as they get here, I’m going to get on with it. 4:4...

          MONDAY 8/29/22 7:21 It’s been two years since I last saw Rick Kanton… But here we are at Wolf's blues jam at Hank Dietle’s Tavern. I don’t really feel like playing but I could change my mind.     8:37PM-I still don’t feel like playing, but the  OM leader doesn’t seem to believe me.  9:55PM-well, I don’t think we were very good at all, but I could be wrong I suppose. that’s what I get for using a guitar that belongs to me that I’ve never played in public before: it did feel a little strange and I was told by the host that I was a bit too loud which is kind of irony at work. But anyway we did it it’s done. It’s time to move on, to what and/or where I have no idea. PS--I saw Steve Little there for the 2nd time in two years 11:22PM--If I have MY way, I won't be going to the Blues Jam any time soon.          TUESDAY 8/30/22 9:30AM--I thought I had a virtual appointment of some sort, but no one has e-mailed or t...

         FRIDAY 8/26/22 6:55AM Took a few sunrise pictures…some are  keepers some are not… I don’t think it’ll do any good, but I’m going to try to go back to bed.        9:07AM-actually it did some good I went back to sleep dreamt I was walking around with a loose tooth in my head. Weird, isn’t it?       The roomie is out sticking  her toes in the ocean and I am staying up here watching everything. Nobody’s going too far into the water because of the threat of sharks. That kind of sucks.                          When she gets back from her little visit with the Atlantic, we’re gonna go to breakfast somewhere. And I think we’re going to the pool after breakfast. Or after Lunch, which I think we just had. Otherwise I bought a bathing suit for nothing.  12:26PM-BTW, I’m not having that much fun yet. 2:46PM-Had a nice brunch or lunch or whatever it wa...

            TUESDAY(?)  8/23/22 12:54PM--had to cancel my appointment...I went to the Dr.'s office without my wallet, w/o the prescription and w/o the work order and or the referral. So I canceled today's appointment and IF I can get my shit together I'll start over from square one. Meaning that I'll have to reschedule.      But now I can give my full attention to the visit to Ocean City. 6:33PM--I'm about 90% packed for trip. 9:15PM--I lost a tiny piece of photographic equipment...very VERY frustrating. Not the lens cover, but the other end, which is also needs protection. If I'm especially careful, I think I can still use the macro lens. I still plan on taking them to Beach, Risky as that may be. If I have to buy the whole set again, I'll do it. Just not until the SSA check comes in. If I don't have enuff cash to use in Ocean City, I'll pull out the plastic. WEDNESDAY 8/24/22 9:06AM--I thought we were going to OC this morning. We're n...

          MONDAY 8/22/22 9:35AM--The virtual appointment I was scheduled for had to be cancelled; and I'm absolutely tickled pink about it. So now I'm free until Wednesday, when we leave for Ocean City.  5:29PM--actually, I'm not free tomorrow. I'm planning on getting fitted for my new diabetic shoes. The appointment is for one o'clock. Surely, it won't take more than an hour. THEN I'm free until Wednesday. I just might go see Ken and Luisa at Hershey's tomorrow evening. Lately every attempt I've made to include SueEl in my plans has failed for some reason; so I'm not gonna bother contacting her. If she  wants to, she can contact me.                 9:33PM--So now the roomie thinks I take advantage of her. Maybe she doesn't get that I get about $900 a MONTH from the SSA but SHE gets (I strongly suspect) $900 A WEEK. There's a BIG difference between the two IMO. And I guess she's forgotten the many insignifi...

           WEDNESDAY 8/17/22 8:17 AM-Due to an error on my part, I arrived at the MedStar facility super early. No biggie. I think I’ll be leaving for home by 10AM. After which I might stop somewhere and get a BIG laundry basket. *I* think we can donate the small ones. I bet Dianne will disagree with me. And I’d like to go to Michael’s and look at picture frames. I also have to get tonight’s Dinner.    10:42AM-FINISHED!!! I don’t think I would wish even my enemies to go through what I just went through.      After dinner we're going...somewhere...the plan  is to get a big laundry basket, come home and prep for the cleaners' visit tomorrow. 10:31PM--the trip to Target was not fun and most of the time here at home hasn't been fun either. Maybe she's having a reaction to her meds; she's been super grouchy for several weeks-*I* dunno why.   THURSDAY 8/18/22 12:10PM --the cleaners are due at approximately 1PM. Maybe that give...

            SUNDAY 8/14/22 8:25PM-I was inspired by a photo art exhibit that I saw at the Montgomery county fair. I have 25 photos that I would consider art worthy. That’s approximately, (at six dollars per photo) $150. I guess I’ll pick one a week.       8:38PM-I just ordered one photo from CVS at four dollars for an 8 x 10. I can pick it up tomorrow morning and pay for it at that time. That’s one down, and 24 to go. 10:18PM-Looks like I'm gonna be fairly busy tomorrow, but I don't have any Doctors appointments. If I could, I'd do the Snoopy Dance.  11;24PM--I was late taking the Trazodone, but I'm gonna go to bed at Midnight, whether it has kicked in or not. I don't think I'll have much trouble falling asleep. MONDAY  8/15/22 8:31AM--The busy day has started. I'm hoping to be back home by Eleven o'clock. 12:52PM-got home a little while ago...accomplished everything except getting the Klondike Bars-RATS! So I'll go to McDonald's a...

        SATURDAY 8/13/22 10:04PM--where do I begin? For starters I asked Tom to get my car out of the "parking lot" and on to our hosts' driveway. There's a big scratch (?) on the passenger's door. Tom put it there. It sounds paranoid but I can't help but wonder if he did it deliberately.       As for the gig, I think it was the worst gig I've ever played. The sound was pretty crummy, our performance was not good. So let's put it behind us, as soon as possible. To be fair, there were fleeting moments of  greatness; but not many. Due to circumstances beyond our control, for better or worse, we got to play three extra songs-none of which we had worked on. The biggest surprise was FOLSOM PRISON BLUES.             SUNDAY 8/14/22 9:36AM--a few hours ago I had a dream...I dreamt that I was at an outdoor gathering, similar to the gig. I jumped up to sing with a certain someone and a young woman I didn't know. The cert...

              FRIDAY 8/12/22 9:38PM-Dianne and I are at the Elks lodge watching 49 Cent Dress play what they’re calling their last gig. It’s 70 degrees out here, but I’M cold. There’s quite a few people here that I kinda know. I’m ready to go home, not sure if Dianne is but I sure am.   11:24PM--just took some Trazodone...gonna turn in at Midnight, hope I can sleep until 9AM...I THINK the upstairs bathroom is working again. 11:40PM--nope, gonna go to bed NOW. SATURDAY 8/13/22 9:58AM--so now the anxiety starts...and I'm gonna be fairly  busy this morning, helping Dianne organize the stuff she wants to take to be donated. *I* don't think I'll have enough time to do all the things I want/need to do. That stinks. 11:45AM--if it wasn't for having a gig later, I would take a nap. But I do, so I can't. I have NO IDEA  when I'll be back home. Because I have no idea when the party will end. 1:33PM--At this moment, I'm more concerned about gettin...

        FRIDAY 8/12/22 12:56AM--just got home from the Bippy's Pub open mic...Amazingly, I had NO TROUBLE getting there. There's a "Blink or you'll miss it" entrance that I'd never really noticed before. And I figured out how to get to Eastbound route 40 from the Bippy's parking lot. In addition, I DIDN'T miss the entrance to Route 29 South.        As for my performance, I got quite a few compliments. Whether the complimenters meant them or not, I dunno, but I'm gonna enjoy the attention anyway. *I* would give myself an 8 on a scale of 10. I'm already looking forward two weeks to the next one.         But now it's time to turn my attention to Saturday's gig. I think Elle and or Tom want me to bring ALL my stuff over to Elle's in order to save time. But that means I'll have to adjust the Gizmo without knowing what it will sound like. Not crazy about that idea. 10:29AM--It's still kinda early but it's been a good day so ...

        THURSDAY 8/11/22 9:27AM--already worrying about Saturday's gig...not so much the playing, but the getting TO the gig and parking wherever I'm supposed to. I want to make sure the Gizmo is all set to go, but that might have to wait  until tomorrow. I have to go to Litz to get a Phono to Mini adapter. I probably have one somewhere in the basement, but I'll never find it. I should also go to a grocery store to get certain things--although I don't know which things yet.        I might go to Bippy's pub tonight. I will be alone; SueEl is swamped, work-wise. I guess the easiest thing to do is get some fast food for Dinner; the groceries can wait one more day, and that is also true for The Paint Can Project; it's just gonna have to wait. 2:27PM--I think/hope the workers will be gone somewhere around 3:30. I plan on going to Litz as soon as they're gone and get back by 4:30. I wanna leave here around 5:30 in order to get there by 6:30. ...

              WEDNESDAY 8/10/22 8:45PM--The workmen are here, but I think all they're gonna do today is demolish the bathroom and paint it. They're gonna reconstruct it tomorrow.  I'm putting off the trip to the dump until then. I feel as though I need to focus on band practice, if I can ignore the noise they're possibly gonna be making.      For all *I* know, they could be done by Lunchtime. And that's OK by me. Because my amp is at Tom's house, I can't try out the Gizmo settings here. I might be able to just use headphones with the Gizmo; Guess I'll find out later if that works. 11:50AM--I think they've started the painting; I don't expect them to leave before Two o'clock. 12:55PM--they have been at Lunch for awhile...I think they're coming back in; shouldn't be much longer I would think. UPDATE--I was just told it will be another two hours; maybe they're gonna do more than just painting. 5:42PM--Practice was cancelled, with ab...

                      MONDAY 8/8/22 11:44AM--I spent about an hour with my new therapist; we spent the time getting to known each other. Well, she was getting to know ME. It was a virtual visit; it seemed to go well, from a technical standpoint. Except for the glare from the light above my head.          I think the rest of the day is open as far as I know. I don't have to go out until dinnertime; I gotta go to Safeway to get tonight's dinner-whatever it's gonna be. I'll have to cool off the car first, that should take about five minutes or so. 7:21PM--just had a store bought DiGiorno medium pizza, ate the whole thing...I'm gonna try my very best to NOT eat anymore today, except dessert. I think I can do it. 10:25PM--about to take the Trazodone...hope to be in bed by Eleven.             TUESDAY 8/9/22 8:36AM-The things I wanted to do today will have to wait. Today was trash day...

           SATURDAY 7/6/22 6:11PM- Waiting here at Merriweather Post Pavilion for the gate to open, so Dianne and I can go in and see John Mulaney. Parking was not easy, but we got to where we wanted to be. A little more than 15 minutes before we can go to our seats;       The word is that there is in fact, an opening act. A standup comedian no less. The brief mic check was pretty loud if you ask me. I don’t know for sure but I imagine the opener gets at least 30 minutes. The headliner might go for 90 minutes. I think it will be a miracle if we get home by Midnight. SUNDAY 7/7/22 2:40PM--we got home at about 11:30 or so; I was in bed shortly after Midnight. I slept until about 5AM more or less.

            THURSDAY 8/4/22 6:19PM-- started doing my band "homework"... Hoping to be ready by Sunday's practice. Made a legible copy (by hand and then laptop) of the songs and their corresponding NOTES. It didn't take too long, but I'm glad I'm finished. 10:22PM-just took the Trazodone...gonna give it until 11PM and then ready or not I'M going to bed. I don't know why, but I'm almost happy the cleaners won't be back for two weeks. This happens every time they come to clean. Tomorrow is Muzzy's play date. I should be back home by eight thirty, after I go to Safeway and get bologna.       FRIDAY 8/5/22 8:46AM--Dianne is going to the Germantown flea market by herself. She's OK with that. I've got a bunch of songs to listen to, about 14 of them. 12:10PM--I sorta forgot there will be other musical acts at next week's gig besides us...the most well known and probably the tightest will be the Marsh Brothers. Luckily we play first. 5...