starting over

  FRIDAY 9/30/22 4:26PM-so Dianne and I are at a local orchard. I’ve gotten off a couple of pictures so far; there may be more. 5PM-I DID get off a couple more… Now I’m waiting to pick up our Chinese dinner. Actually, Dianne is picking up the dinner in addition to going to Walmart to buy her mother a birthday gift. We’re going to Riderwood on Sunday. I think we’re getting the effects of hurricane Ian. It’s starting to rain and will probably rain for the rest of the day and into the night and some of tomorrow I think. SATURDAY 10/1/22 4:28PM-I went to unique with Dianne; and bought two pairs of pants. One of which is a pair of brown corduroy pants. The other one is a somewhat dressy pair of slacks in gray. I plan to wear the gray ones tomorrow when we go to Riderwood. Of course, I have to take a shower and shave – at least once. 5:00PM-Dianne is almost finished; and I am ready to go… We’re going to have dinner out this evening, but I have no idea where.

             WEDNESDAY 9/28/22 10:34AM-well, due to a screwup, I have arrived at the doctors office about an hour early. I’m not really sure how or why that happened. And I missed the turn to get to the street where the doctors office is; so I had to make a U-turn. Needless to say, I’ll be very glad to get home, even though I have a lot of straightening up to do. The good news is that I have all day to do it. As far as I can tell, I have no commitments on Friday; for which I am internally grateful. 10:44AM-well, I could sit out here in the car for the next hour or so, or I can just go in the office and sit in there for an hour. It probably won’t make a difference. 6:35PM--saw the Doctor...she very much wants me to schedule an MRI (ugh) and a blood draw. I apparently was supposed to have done it by now, but I forgot. Hopefully I'll get it done this time. Tomorrow I have an in-person visit with Dr. Shah; and (I think) nothing else going on after that. Y...

         MONDAY 9/26/22 8:30 AM- So Dianne and I will be here for about an hour or so. I hope to cancel my stress test appointment in about thirty minutes. We’ll see. The rest of the day should be manageable after that.    9:02AM-canceling the stress test will cost me $200 dollars. I f**kin’ hate Mondays.  9:16AM-so I canceled the stress test, but that will cost me 200 bucks and I have yet to reschedule it. I will reschedule it later this afternoon. I don’t know if I should be, but I’m (temporarily?) relieved. 3:50PM--it's been another sucky Monday and it's not even over yet. I don't think I'd mind not waking up tomorrow morning, except Dianne has more than enough on her plate already. 6:30PM--just finished dinner-a buncha chicken nuggets and a couple of fries. Like always, I'm very tired, whether I should be or not. Not in the mood to do almost anything. But garbage day is tomorrow. So I'll take care of it. TUESDAY 9/27/22 5:20PM--today was a b...

            SUNDAY 12:01PM-We’re at the Olney Farmers Market… the guy playing music under the canopy in front of where I’m sitting knows a lot of the same people I do on FB – including Michelle Murray.     After we leave here we’re gonna ultimately end up at Safeway. I don’t know when I’m having Lunch. And I dunno what I’m having for dinner.             I really need to learn how to be LESS outgoing. That’s gonna be difficult for me. It’s against my nature. But I’m gonna work hard on it. I didn’t bring my lenses, but I don’t feel like taking pictures anyway. I guess I don’t feel like doing much of anything. 4:56PM--I hope to reschedule my stress test first thing tomorrow morning. But I think the test is scheduled for--first thing tomorrow morning. 6:38PM--the downstairs toilet seems to be very stopped up; I did more than a little plunging; that didn't help so I'm trying Drano. and crossing my fingers. 9:58PM--I see a...

                  SATURDAY 9/24/22 11:28AM--So I did the gig with Michelle George and Arlene after all. If nothing else, I discovered that I couldn't get the sound I wanted outta Blackie (the Tele). So I switched to Butterscotch, which made a bit of a difference. I suspect Blackie will be sold first, possibly on consignment. I tried the amp George brought for me to use but *I* couldn't get any sound out of it. It's a good thing my amp was in the trunk, where it had been since (I think) last Saturday's gig with Ray at Brian Boru.            I don't want last night's gig to be my last gig, but it seems likely that it will be. What a bummer. I consider it to be a major anticlimax to a 50 year life as a Musician. Which somehow seems appropriate.  As for what's happening today, I have no idea. Maybe Dianne does, but *I* don't.            After all the evenings I spent out this past...

              THURSDAY 9/22/22 12:03PM--Like I've said before , I can't quit playing Music cold turkey, so I'm hoping to go to Bippy's tonight with my Bass. If I go at all. We'll see.   12:15PM--I did accomplish a couple of things. I took out the trash I had accumulated from the basement, got some gas, and bought a pair of shorts from the "small doggie place". (whispers) It's a good day--so far. 12:40PM--I might do some more work in the basement--I have to put Butterscotch downstairs and bring the Bass upstairs. If it isn't raining, I should get the amp outta the trunk and bring it in the house. 1:24PM--Not gonna work on the basement--it's as straightened up as it's gonna get for now. And I have a bit of a headache...as far as *I* know , all I gotta do is get the trash and the kitty litter  and recycle-ables out to the curb--hopefully before I go out. 6PM--getting nervous about going to Bippy's...If I HAVE a second home (musically) Bip...

                    TUESDAY  9/20/22 11:02PM- I should’ve stayed home tonight, no doubt about it. The evening was kinda lousy as far as I’m concerned.   I tried to go with the flow but I felt like I was drowning.           I got lost on the way TO the gig AND coming home FROM it. I dunno how OR why. As for the gig itself, yet again I couldn't hear myself and my playing was atrocious. My harmonies on the other hand, were, for the most part, perfect. Except that Ray's female singing partners sing parts that wander around, so it's hard for ME to harmonize when they wander around harmonically, singing some of the same notes I was singing.       I was supposed to take some video,--I didn't. I was supposed to take some photos--I didn't. I was supposed to make audio recordings--I did not. So my (top secret ) swan song was a HUGE disaster for me. It was such a horrible way to end my Musical ...

                SUNDAY 9/18/2212:41AM-well last nights gig with Ray seem to be from the audience’s  point of view, a success. As always, when I play with Ray, I couldn’t hear my guitar very well. But I heard the vocals, loud and clear. The harmonies were for the wonderful. 10:20PM--still thinking about last night's gig with Ray and Mike...I didn't care (much) if anyone could HEAR  my solos: I was more concerned with the harmonies. Actually, that's one of the few musical things Ray isn't good at--I dunno why.       10:25PM As Dianne and I were loading up the car in front of the hotel to leave this morning, a guy pulled up beside us and, spotting my guitar, asked me if I had played at Galway Bay Saturday night. I said "yes" and he told me that he thought we were great. I thanked him for the compliment and away he went. I've been fairly psyched ever since. But now it's time to mellow out, if I can.        ...

  … with a trip to CVS. And then it’s on the laundromat. FRIDAY 9/16/22 5PM-I think we’re going to have dinner  out somewhere, I just don’t know where yet. I am grateful to have put new strings on the acoustic guitar; that’s one less thing. 5:56PM-it’s shaping up to be a busy/confusing weekend… 6:09PM-doing laundry with the roommate is definitely not a whole lot of fun IMO, but once it’s done, it’s done. I don’t yet know what we’re having for dinner, but that’s OK. I’m pretty sure we will be home by 8:30. 9:12PM--we made it home by Eight...As for the trip to Annapolis, all I gotta do is pack--enough for an overnight stay. 9:55PM-- I am tired or sleepy, and yet nervous/excited about the gig with Ray (and Mike?) tomorrow. SATURDAY  9/17/22 8:45AM--waiting for the roomie to awaken so I can pack and hopefully check out the acoustic,,, I have no idea when we're leaving, but I imagine it'll be around Lunchtime. Annapolis is about an hour away, we don't have to be at Galway Bay...

        THURSDAY 9/25/22 12:05 PM- my 10:30 appointment went well enough; now I’m at Panera‘s: I'm  about to bring lunch back to Dianne and myself. 5:31PM--not sure what I'm having for dinner, either mac&cheese or fried chicken & mashed potatoes.  5:48PM--like I do every two weeks, I get happy AFTER the Cleaners leave. I don't know why that is. I'm just glad tomorrow's Friday. I don't think I have anything to do except put new strings on the acoustic. But that's enough, thank you very much. 7:11PM--fettucine alfredo and a couple of beets for dinner...later I'll work on the kitty litter and the trash and the recycling. 10:17PM--in addition to changing acoustic guitar strings, I need to separate the lights from the darks. Assuming that we're going to the laundromat, that is. Gonna start on the strings in the morning hopefully. I figure it might take an hour, hopefully less time than that.      Getting comfortable with the idea of givin...

       WEDNESDAY 8/14/22 11:34AM--for what seems like the umpteenth time, I'm trying to get off of Fakebook. Maybe I'll post occasionally, but endless scrolling? Not if I can help it. I might shrink my "to do" list a tiny bit now, and work on it some more later. 12:55PM--I have another Gov't Project to do TODAY...Somehow I have to make room for Dianne's former work desk in the basement. Not EVEN looking forward to that. 4:40PM--I think the best thing to happen to me today (so far) has been that I found out (via phone call) I don't need to bring anything with me to the appointment tomorrow but my ID and insurance cards. That's all. If I could do the Snoopy Dance, I would.     Tonight's dinner is planned out, unless I change that Plan. And there is a Plan B. 7:55PM- we had MOD pizza instead...I didn't think there was a pizza I wouldn't like--I was wrong. 10:35PM--slowly getting ready for the cleaning people, who are coming sometime tomorrow....

          TUESDAY 9/13/22 9:26AM--much to my displeasure, the cleaners are coming  on Thursday. So I've got all day tomorrow to get ready.     Last night I dreamt that Ray and me and SueEl (!) were on a way to a gig deep in Southern MD. On the way to the gig we stopped at a bar to check out a band. SueEl made an attempt to kinda join in. It didn't go well.    11:12AM--I found out I DO have a Dr.'s appointment Thursday morning. I just need to find out what kind of Doctor she (?) is. At least I know where and when the appointment is.    5:09PM--scrolling thru fakebook when I spotted a post by a "friend" of mine inviting FOURTEEN of our mutual "friends" to his house for an open mic tomorrow evening. It’s scheduled the last from seven until 10 PM. I guess he forgot to invite me. It's wonderful to feel wanted, so I've been told. I think it's the last straw.          5:25PM--I would say this marks the beginn...

                   MONDAY 9/12/22 10:10AM-- I'll start with changing the battery of the gizmo that controls the motorized shades' remote. 10:34AM--The roomie thinks the battery is NOT the problem; she (reluctantly I suspect) will help me with the Shades Project, when she feels better. Whenever that will be. And that is really fine by me. 11:29AM--planning on Lunch by 12:30 and napping by 1:30...We'll see. 12:21PM--lunchtime... 4:53PM--I THOUGHT I was playing with Ray tomorrow night. Thankfully it's NEXT Tuesday. I wanted to use Butterscotch at Galway, but due to circumstances beyond MY control,  the Galway gig will be ALL acoustic. Ray won't have time to set up a PA, so even the vocals will be "acoustic". Oh well.            So tomorrow night will be, hopefully Karaoke at Hershey's. 6:35PM--surprisingly, it turned out to be a good day. Now I'm choosing songs to sing for Tuesday night. I think I've got ...

            FRIDAY  9/9/22- I dunno exactly what we're doing tomorrow, but we're going to the Takoma Folk Festival on Sunday. That could be fun.Michelle is playing there with her bluegrass b SATURDAY  9/10/22 2:53PM-So, Dianne is in the Container Store on Rockville Pike. I, on the other hand, am in the Barnes and Noble bookstore next door. It’s quite overwhelming in my opinion. I was actually hoping to buy a book, but nothing jumped out at me. and of course money is a concern at this point. I’ve got $400 to last 21 days – I think that’s roughly $19 per day starting today. 3:46PM-Dianne is in the BIG doggy place and I am in the Dunkin’ Donuts nearby. The planned visit to Giant Food has been postponed. Not only do I WANT a nap, but I NEED a nap. Brief though it may be. 7:10PM--*I* think the TPFF will be rained out; but I don't what happens to it when it rains. I THINK it might be "rain or shine. 8:00PM--the roomie is still in the grouchy mood she's...

      WEDNESDAY 9/7/22 9:42AM--I intend to take the trash that, for whatever reason, didn't get picked up on Tuesday, to the landfill. And stop by Dr. Gold's office to drop off some paperwork so I can eventually get my new diabetic shoes.       And I have to re-hang my clothes on the new hangers I bought on Monday--that might be a small Gov't Project. Nothing going on tonight that I can remember, but Bippy's is tomorrow night--SueEl or no SueEl. Dinner? I’m thinking a cheeseburger from Wendy’s. Unless Dianne has other ideas. 12:37PM--getting closer to Thursday with each passing moment... 5:11PM--I was right the Hanger Project was/is a Gov't Project--but NOT a small one...not even sure I'm finished yet. But I'm tired and it's time to start winding down. 5:27PM--the day is over, the night has begun...relatively soon (about 24 hours) I hope to be having musical fun in Ellicott City. 9:37PM--Unless I'm forgetting something, I've got nothing to do to...

                  MONDAY 9/5/22 3:21PM we went to a Deli in Rockville for lunch and now we’re shopping in Rockville. I’m hoping we’ll  go home with a wastebasket for me, because I seem to have lost mine somehow. I need a slightly thinner one anyway to fit between the dresser and the bed. IF I can find one. Or I’ll just look on Amazon. 5:28PM--we're home again...we had our fun-SHE did at least, but I got a bunch of new hangars for my clothes...some of my clothes are gonna be donated, but I'm not sure when or which ones. 6:21PM--Starting awhile ago, while we were out shopping, I felt a headache coming on. I've taken Tylenol and a bit later some aspirin as well. Frankly, I'm a bit worried.       I think we're having fried chicken for Dinner. As for my "to do" list, most of it has to do with the text messages on my phone. But to me, that's stressful enough. Hopefully I'll work on all that stuff tomorrow.    9:50PM--...

      SUNDAY  9/4/22 11:49AM-we have a lot of laundry to do, so that’s what we’re doing. Unlike the last laundromat we were in, which is actually across the parking lot from this one, there are snacks and drinks to be bought. 1:31PM--so we did what felt to me like a LOT of laundry then went to Panera for Lunch. I hope to be napping in about twenty minutes or so. 5PM--so I slept some, now I gotta figure out what I'm having for Dinner. 7:47PM--looking at the JE song list I'm amazed that they attempt some of the songs they play. I can only imagine what they do to RAMBLIN' MAN or (especially) REELIN' IN THE YEARS. 9:53PM--but their fans seem to love 'em. And that's what matters most, right? Just daydreaming...could I replace Paul in what I think is HIS band? Could *I* be a front man? My honest answer is: maybe. But I'm not gonna hold my breath. I will continue to consider myself to be drifting away from my Musical life...into what I'm not sure, probably pho...