maybe I don't really wanna know...

             MONDAY 10/29/18 8AM--I ran a series of video tests...I hope to do more later, after Lunch...it could be advantageous to shoot the vids "incorrectly"--that way (I think) I can monitor what I'm shooting...the good news? I'm getting better at it...the bad news? it uses up a lot of battery juice...
               Maybe I'll shoot tonight's set at GYY, w/o doing a test shoot of one of the other performers...a test shoot will use valuable juice...whatever songs I intend to do, I'd better pick 'em and practice 'em...
                   The songs I do tonight at GYY will likely be the songs I play tomorrow at Crossroads...I intend to video that set as well...maybe tonight's set at GYY will be a test in itself...
          TUESDAY 10/30/18 10PM--for whatever reason, my (almost) solo set at Crossroads went better than the set at GYY...I was joined by Alan Main on guitar and vocals...some of my mistakes might have been caused by his participation, his presence was a bit distracting ...the other significant between tonight and last night is that I didn't let anything derail me...no matter what, I kept going...I guess I'm not ready to quit after all...
WEDNESDAY Halloween 8AM--chatting with Alan last night, I cryptically (or so I thought) hinted that I was attracted to Angela...he implied that she knows that...mixed feelings about that, if it's true...oh well, now I will start thinking about tonight's Jam at Crossroads...I really don't think I know that many Blues songs...maybe I can re-arrange some of the ones I do know...
11:40PM--I didn't have to worry about being the (temporary) band leader; I was playing my preferred role of sideman whenever I was onstage...and I would give my guitar playing a 9.5 on a scale of 10...I even did a little bit of harmony singing...a very good night as far as I'm concerned...
THURSDAY 11/1/18 7:35AM--leaving for McDonald's and then Dr. Borelli's shortly...could be back home by 10AM...I hope I remember to stop at CVS...I think the house is about as ready for the cleaning ladies as it's gonna be...and like I say every two weeks, I wish I knew when they were coming...I guess I'll just live my Life as if it was a "normal" day...If I had MY way, they'd be here and gone by Noon...
   9:47AM-I showed up for my appointment with Dr. Borelli an HOUR early! boy does that suck...well, at least I wasn’t late...by the time the M&Ms kick in it will be nap time...I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open...

             

it went better than I expected

                      FRIDAY 10/26/18 10:35AM--recovering from last night...the houseband's opening set went well enough, including LOLA...again, it was a tough gig with Angela, Alan, Ann AND Angela's ex-whatever in the audience...but I survived...there was even a small acoustic jam after the open mic was over--I played SUGAR MTN., the acoustic group seemed to be in a CSN/Neil Young mood...I had to bribe him a bit, but Alan and I played Guinevere...I held it together especially well; maybe I was too tired to get emotional...
                  After my mid-day nap, I'm going to go vote--BLUE all the way...as for Dinner, I'll likely go to Wendy's and get a burger...not sure what's going on this weekend...I think I'll be hanging out with Dianne Saturday morning...
6:30PM--the mid-day nap was a fairly deep sleep...but I groggily got up and went to vote...I think I'll be back in bed before 11PM...
SATURDAY 10/27/18 12:08PM-we’re at Unique...I haven’t bought anything yet... can’t wait to get home eat lunch and take a nap…
1:53PM--wanna be in bed by 2:30 more or less...I don't expect to be going anywhere tonight, but I'm thinking of going to Best Buy tomorrow...
4:25PM-hoping to go to Best Buy when Dianne leaves to go to water aerobics and then the grocery store tomorrow...that way maybe I can start practising shooting myself on video as soon as she leaves to go visit her parents later in the day...
5:25PM--I'm kinda looking forward to Monday, THAT doesn't happen often...after my Dr.'s appointment, Lunch and (maybe) the mid-day nap, I hope to get in some more practice...

had to do it eventually

                    MONDAY 10/22/18 11:17AM--so it took about 45 minutes, but I put (expensive) new strings on the Fender acoustic...they're supposed to last longer, because they're coated, with what I dunno...the original set seemed to last longer than the strings I used to use on the Crafter...maybe there is something to that "coated" idea...I'll probably go to GYY tonight...what am I gonna play? THAT I don't know yet...
   1PM- it’s really too soon to know for sure, but the new strings feel and sound pretty good and the Guitar seems to be in tune all up and down the neck… Maybe it’s worth the extra seven dollars I paid for that set of strings…
MIDNIGHT--the new strings stayed in tune, it was my fingers that had problems...hopefully I'll do better this evening at Crossroads...while I'm sitting here doing almost nothing, I should plan my setlist...
TUESDAY 10/23/18 11:27AM--took care of the dry cleaner stuff--pants getting altered, jacket getting dry cleaned...should be able to practice after my nap...still dunno which songs I'm doing...I should decide that soon, right? As for Lunch, I had a turkey burger and a chicken finger...which means I could have Cheese and bologna sandwiches for Dinner...that seems logical to me...
4:04PM--added some more songs to my book; I don't wanna be known as the 60s/70s guy, or "that old hippie stuff" guy...I added three songs from the 80s...might do one of 'em tonight...I wanna mix it up a bit, if I can...
         I bought a music stand a couple of days ago...when Donate pulled hers out last night at GYY, I thought that they were exactly the same...they are not...mine doesn't come apart, I think I'm gonna like that...
11:36 PM--a bad night at the Crossroads IMO...that's all I wanna say for now...except that (at this point) I intend to practice the acoustic solo stuff and worry about Thursday on Thursday...
WEDNESDAY 10/24/18 8AM--that is still the Plan for today, after I go to Safeway...8:51AM--it's hard to believe that the butterfingered guy I was at Crossroads last night is the same fleet fingered guy I've been for the past few minutes...it's rather frustrating in fact...oh well...
 5:33PM--getting ready to go to a Jazz/Blues Jam--or is that a Blues/Jazz Jam? kinda nervous about it...
THURSDAY 9:46AM--my set last night at the blues jam went well enough...I shared the set with a guitar player named Roger...I might go back next week...but for now, I gotta think about tonight...

jealous and not jealous

     FRIDAY 10/19/18 10:23PM--Dianne's new car is way way way WAY too technologically advanced for me...I'm quite satisfied with my car, thank you very much...If I had to I could start the engine and drive it somewhere, but that's about all...
             SATURDAY 9:05AM--leaving soon to go do her Saturday stuff after which we're going to visit Sue and Mike in Annapolis...dunno when we'll be home...hopefully before 5 o'clock... I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere tonight... I might want to, but I think I’ll be too tired...I still plan on going to the movies tomorrow...maybe...I got very sick somewhere around 1AM...that I DIDN'T throw up is a minor miracle, but I had a lot of trouble at the other end...maybe it was that Subway sub I had for Dinner...
          6:12PM--got home from Annapolis at about 4PM...took a brief nap--lately all my naps have lasted about an hour...that bothers me, and I don't know how to make the naps last longer...
        As I predicted, I'm too tired to go anywhere...not that there is any band playing nearby that I wanna see/hear--at least none that I'm familiar with...
   10:39PM--twenty-one minutes until bedtime, if I can hang in there that long...as risky as I think it could be, I bought a movie ticket online...the  movie (FIRST MAN) starts at 11:30AM...I plan to leave the house by 11:00...I hope to be home by 2:30, more or less...
       SUNDAY 8:33AM--just finished breakfast...by lunchtime, I'll be watching FIRST MAN, so when do I eat Lunch? at 3PM?at 11AM? on the way to the theatre? smuggle a sandwich or two into the theatre?
      9:25AM--had to throw out about a half gallon of milk--I'm pretty sure the milk was causing my stomach problems...nothing to do for about an hour and a half...then I'll go to the movies
     3:16PM--went to the movies and the grocery store...the movie was good IMO...not so sure I wanna see BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY anymore...Dianne is on her way home from her Sunday travels...I hope to be asleep before 4PM...waiting for her to arrive in her new car...
     5:30PM--nothing on TV, nowhere to go...no books to read--yet...a long Sunday evening ahead...could be in bed by 10PM...out of boredom...
     8PM--I think I ate too much, or too fast or both...will likely make it to 10PM, but not much later than that...

the day after

        FRIDAY 10/19/18 7AM--well, maybe the hang-up about playing the OTWC is a thing of the past...although with an audience of (maybe) six people, I might still have the heebie jeebies about playing there for a large crowd...
              As far as I know, the roomie is going to Fitzgerald Subaru to get herself a new (but used) car...I MIGHT have somebody help me figure out my car key problem...I'll leave here at about four o'clock `to get there by 4:30; Dianne is supposed to meet me there...
                I'm eating the best omelette I've ever made...shoulda taken a picture...as for going out tonight, don't count on it...I don't feel wiped out; I guess I'm saving myself for the trip to Annapolis on Saturday...
       2:50PM--Dianne suggested I eat an early Dinner because we're gonna be at Fitzgerald Subaru for who knows how long? I was kinda hoping to get my car key checked out, but I'll probably have to do that some other time...
4:33PM-before Dianne can bring her new car home it has to be inspected by the state of Maryland...we’ll have to come back on Monday...oh well...BTW, we both got here at 4...I don’t expect to leave here before Six...but I have nothing going on tonight anyway...
6:19PM--it wasn't necessary for BOTH of us to remain at the Subaru dealership, so *I* came home...
6:47PM--feeling tired/sleepy...maybe there won't be a second wind this evening...

the more ya do it, the better ya get, right?

   
           WEDNESDAY 10/17/18 9AM--time to focus on the Neil Tribute...later, after the nap...good thing I found a capo--I think I'm absolutely gonna need it...
             Seriously considering doing the solo acoustic thing at the OTWC Thursday night...I'll decide tomorrow...
  6PM- show time is an hour from now, I’ve already been here 15 minutes… Lou just came in;
  10:12PM--got home from Damascus about 25 minutes ago...*I* think Lou and I did pretty good...IF I'm gonna go out Thursday night to the OTWC open mic and do the solo thing, I need to give my voice as much of a rest as it can get...*I* think some of the other players had some innaresting chordal ideas, as in the wrong chords...oh well, whatever...
 THURSDAY 10/18/18 9:30--Just added another song to my songbook...I've got about 70 songs in it...haven't decided which ones I'm doing tonight...
   10:08AM--just killin' time...probably gonna have Lunch early, at 11 o'clock or so...maybe I'll be having pizza for Dinner, but I dunno who's just yet...
  10:53AM--having Lunch now...leaning toward having Potomac Pizza, and having it delivered... I will use four cans of Diet Coke… otherwise I don’t make the minimum amount for delivery...
12:19PM- The cleaning ladies came about 20 minutes ago; I should be able to go home in about 10 minutes or so--I’m on foot so it will take longer than if I drove…
     Suddenly, I’m thinking of going to the Old Angler’s Inn tonight instead of the OTWC...Tish might not be there, it'll be just Johnny...and Jackie might be at the Old Angler’s...chances are better than 50/50...
     2:50PM--should practice whatever songs I might do tonight...3:52PM--just found out the Old Angler's o.m. has been cancelled because of the cold...so it's off to Derwood I go, I guess...
   5:55 PM-kinda had my heart set on going to Potomac, a bit less excited about going to the OTWC...it could be that I'm nervous about going there...maybe that's what the Universe had in Mind all along...I might BE ready for the OTWC, but I don't FEEL ready for it...
6:37PM--might not use it tonight, but if I ever need a music stand, I've got one...
9PM-so here I am...Johnny brought a music stand...
11:40 PM-so the solo set was actually a group effort-I’m OK with that...I did all 7 songs I think... I would give US a 7.5...I got complimented ("you're good") on my ability-THAT feels good...my vocals were good IMO, but my guitar playing was a bit shaky...There was hardly anybody there tonight, *I* dunno why...maybe they were at Hershey's...I'm still not ready to go back there...
           I have been doing the solo thing for not quite three weeks, and I'm getting better bit by bit..."Rockville Mike" has been doing it for three years or more and he's still pretty bad IMO...after I played ADD SOME MUSIC, he decided he wanted to get back up again and do some more, like GOOD VIBRATIONS...ugh...
       Gonna start thinking about Gumbo Ya Ya on Sunday evening...

still dunno if I'm up for it...but I might be...

MONDAY 10/15/18 11:55AM--when I get up from my nap, I'll REALLY gonna focus on tonight's open mic at Gumbo Ya Ya...at least, that's the plan...

4:54PM--I couldn't quite focus on anything...and, honestly, I don't yetvfeel like playing at the open mic tonight...even though I've kinda thought about doing I AM A CHILD and (maybe) SUNNY AFTERNOON...

8:33PM-lesson learned, maybe-REHEARSE THE SONGS!!! I’m gonna damage whatever reputation I may have if I don’t get better at this solo thing...gotta get to the point where I don’t have to think about what I’m playing AND singing...I’ve GOT to practice before I go to Crossroads, whatever songs I play...probably try the same ones... I actually used lyric cheat sheets on a couple of songs tonight...and I still sucked...

10:11PM--might just practice some BEFORE Lou comes over...maybe just go thru the set two or three times, one after the other...only played three songs, might wanna have one or two more ready just in case...

TUESDAY 10/16/18 7:10AM--Lou will be here at Noon--I guarantee it...I'm gonna try to get him to drop SOUTHERN MAN from our setlist...wish me luck, OCD people can be stubborn...

5:30PM--Lou and I didn't have any friction between us...I was ready to go to Crossroads soon, but the starting time got pushed back to 8 (7:30 sign up) which gives me plenty of time to get nervous...

6PM--the plans for the trip to Danny's wedding may be changing, in a good way perhaps...in other news, Dianne might be getting a new vehicle...

10PM-did alright at the Crossroads open mic...I give myself an 8 on a scale of 10...now I gotta get through the Neil Young Tribute...dunno what, if anything, I’m gonna do at the OTWC on Thursday...to me that's the big leagues, not sure if I'm ready for it...

why is this time different?

          SATURDAY 10/13AM- so I set the alarm off again when I got back from McDonald’s… I don’t know why or how exactly... apparently, once you fuck up the code you have to actually wait for the alarm to go off before you can shut it off;   I would say that this time the whole incident took about 30 seconds…
      There’s nothing on TV today except a MASH mini marathon that will get me to noon… at which point I’ll have lunch and read the Mike Love biography that Lou lent me several weeks ago-I had forgotten about it until recently… The plan for now is to have hotdogs for dinner; I will probably go somewhere tonight because there might not be anything on TV; but if there is I’ll stay here and watch it…or not; FOOTLOOSE  is on tonight, but I think I’ll record it and watch it Sunday morning… The April’s DVR is 98% full so I don’t know if I’m going to get FOOTLOOSE recorded at all…
    8PM- change of plans...I’m at the OTWC... I was going to go to Crossroads  but the band that was scheduled to play there (the Digits) canceled...so I finally get to see/hear Gina’s Soul Party...so far, they’re just OK...
SUNDAY 10:30AM- I am here in Rockville waiting for Dianne to arrive so we can go to Unique  and hopefully get me some nice clothes...a nice pair of pants and a nice jacket (and shirt)...I'm not at all sure why, but apparently Dianne‘s parents think that’s good enough-that I don’t need an actual suit to attend Danny’s wedding...I think the line of reasoning went something like this—why spend the money on a suit that you’re only going to wear once…To which I could say “what about Jonathan’s wedding or Debra’s wedding or somebody funeral?”   first I think we’re going to go have brunch someplace then we’re going to Unique and then I’m coming back here to take my midday nap after which I’m going to pack my stuff and go back to Gaithersburg...after feeding the cat one more meal that is...
   1:50PM- I think I have most of the clothing that I’m going to wear in New York at Danny’s wedding and the rehearsal dinner as well…  keep in mind, that I haven’t looked in my own closet yet… But I think I will need to buy a shirt, online or somewhere;  oddly enough, it was my ex in-laws that said “he doesn’t need a suit, he just has to look nice” which is what I’ve been saying for what feels like months now...
           5:45PM--got back to G-burg a little more than an hour ago...took a mini-nap...gonna have Dinner in a little while...
10:53PM--in addition to starting to think about the Gumbo Ya Ya open mic, I must also begin to focus on the Neil Young Tribute on Wednesday...Lou overthinks things sometimes...it must be some kinda OCD thing...I bet he's been losing sleep over it...

the big leagues

      FRIDAY  10/12/18 9:15AM--so I didn't do a solo set last night at the OTWC after all...Charlie says he didn't that "solo set" was what I meant when I said I wanted to go on between 10 and 10:30...I'm probably not ready for that venue anyway...Gumbo Ya Ya? probably...Crossroads? probably...The Music Café? maybe not...
              I'm pretty much all packed up for my weekend house sitting gig ..the Plan is to leave for Rockville at about 3:30 or so...
         Dunno if I'm going out tonight or Saturday night...I think the weather for Sunday will be good, assuming there will be a Gazebo Jam...dunno if *I* can be there or not...the Plan is to be back here Sunday at home by about 5 'clock more or less...
           6:10PM- The house sitting gig got off to a very very rough start-I set off the alarm rather than
disarming it...I told Linda it was only on for about 30 seconds; I think it was on for twice that… and I think Mike and Linda got a new TV because I don’t recognize a certain set of buttons… It took a while to figure out how to work the damn thing; if it wasn’t for having the money already, I’d be quite unhappy... as for Dinner, the fried chicken from Roy Rogers wasn’t nearly as good as I remember it being... The young lady at Roy Rogers automatically gave me the senior citizen discount-I have mixed feelings about that…instead of sleeping in the bedroom where I usually sleep, I’ll be sleeping in the guest room…
      I have nothing planned for Saturday as far as I know, but Sunday morning at 11 o’clockAM  Dianne and I are going to go to Kohls department store and hopefully buy a suit for me  to wear at Danny’s wedding...
6:45PM- considering how my visit here started, it might be wonderful having absolutely nothing planned for Saturday… of course, by the end of the day I might want to go somewhere in the evening...

today's the day-maybe

                         THURSDAY 10/11/18 8:45AM--I have to call somebody about continuing my health coverage;  I think it's gonna happen today, maybe before Lunch...the phone number was missing, but I found it...and I THINK I might have to reschedule my appointment with Malinsky, if I haven't already...and I think I did...and I bought a quart of oil for the car, I think one quart is enough for now...
       And today just might be the day I make my official solo debut at the OTWC...
10:37AM--I just finished recertifying my Medicaid coverage for another year!!!and I'd  already rescheduled my appointment with Malinsky !!! AND as per Dianne's request, I just called Sue and left a message regarding their (?) upcoming visit...
          At this point I'm quite happy...and now I can get back to watching TV, having Lunch and taking a nap--and then a shower...I might/should practice at least a little...when Dianne gets home, we're going to Poolesville to some kinda rummage sale...I hope to be back here by 7:30, if not sooner...I only have one piece of equipment to worry about, maybe two counting the Manchester bag so I could be at the OTWC eating Dinner by 8PM..the Manchester bag will likely hold my cables, the chorus pedal, the EQ pedal (just in case) and my book of lyrics...I guess I've gotta have it packed and ready by the time Dianne gets home;
               3:39PM--had a little nap, showered and shaved...packed the Manchester bag...even practiced a teeny tiny bit...a B minor chord is way easier to make on the Fender than it was on the Crafter...
          I'm not jumping up and down about going to Poolesville, but if it keeps my Mind off of the open mic, it's worth it, right?
           4:37PM--at the last second, I told Dianne I didn't wanna go to Poolesville...she left w/o me, but she wasn't happy about it...this could (should?) change my Dinner plans...
     6:40PM--Dianne just got back home, ten minutes ago, more or less...she says I didn't miss anything...it was, according to her, quite crowded...
           8PM- I’m at the OTWC, so is Angela, so is Ethan... I told Charlie I’d like to go on at 10 o’clock  or so... I certainly don’t wanna go on during peak hours,whenever that is...
9:35PM-sat in with Jeff Herbert on a pair of songs... I thought it was ok, not great...I thought my guitar sounded unbalanced tone-wise, but I just let it go...I dunno when I’m going on... the crowd is rather thin already...I’m OK with that...actually not 100% sure  I’ll get to play at all tonight... I think I’ll be disappointed at least a little if I don’t...but not angry...

busy again

                        WEDNESDAY 10/10/18 8:12AM-gotta do some Laundry and pack for my weekend in Rockville...which officially starts at 4PM Friday...I'm at least 95% sure I'm NOT going to KiIlarney House tonight...I won't use up gas, or spend money keeping gas in the tank...besides, I'm saving myself for Thursday's acoustic open mic at the OTWC...
              I've got a fair amount of stuff to do around here...Dianne apparently doesn't do the jewelry making thing anymore, so she'll be home this evening...
          11:AM--went to Litz and got a hardshell case for the Fender...*I* dunno if $75 is so great, but that's what I paid for it...I wanted to buy back the case the Crafter came in but Tony said he couldn't find it...yeah, right...it must be a solid case, it's pretty damn heavy...I'm kinda hoping to practice at least a little after my nap...maybe...
         1:12PM--I don't wanna drive for an hour to hang with Ray, but I could drive to Agrodolcé in Germantown to possibly perform a song or two...I'd say there's a 50% chance I'll go...
 4PM--won't be practising after my nap--Dianne came home at about 2:30 or so...going to Agrodolcé probably won't happen, but I can't say for certain...the truth is, being out last night wore me out, even though I was home by about 10PM or so...
            Still planning on Pizza for Dinner, the question is, what size? I think by the time I bring it home (6:30?) I will be able to eat a medium, especially if I skip the crusts...
            4:40PM--the PP website is fucked up, so I dunno what the minimum for delivery is...I think it's $15, which is a medium pizza and one or two cans of soda...I guess I'll have to wait until 6PM just to check the website...I'll be pretty fucking hungry by then...fuck the website, I just called and placed a delivery order...I expect it to be here before 5:45PM...
       8:24PM- that’s about when it arrived, and I ate the whole thing…now I’ve got to start thinking about what songs I might do at the OTWC tomorrow...I’m going to rehearse four maybe five songs…
  10:42PM--well, I've got a thick book of songs now...admittedly, I probably won't ever sing a lot of them...but I've got 'em just in case...68 of 'em...

it only took two hours

          TUESDAY 10/89/18 1PM--MAJOR TECH NEWS--spent almost TWO hours in Best Buy...we all thought my laptop was fixed...well, not exactly...I wanted a certain folder (SCOTT'S PIX) back on my phone...*I* had accidently deleted it...it was way more than a Gov't Project, but the photos are back on the phone--if/when I retrieve them from the iCloud...I can put each one (one at a time) back on the phone, as needed...as long as I don't LEAVE 'em on the phone...if they're on the phone I can send 'em or print 'em or whatever...but there's not enough storage space in/on the phone to leave 'em there...
                   I suspect that one of the reasons the laptop was so messed up was my many visits to a certain porn site...well, I'm done with that...because of the longer than expected visit to Best Buy,  Lou and I had to cancel practice...but we're still going to Crossroads tonight...

4:30PM--in about 90 minutes I'm leaving for Crossroads...gonna shave and take a shower, have something for Dinner...likely that something will be sandwiches, but who knows?

7:45PM-My solo set  was a bit shaky but I survived it… Lou and I are up after the next two performers;   and in TECH NEWS the woman at Best Buy told me I had to go to the iCloud to get the photos from SCOTT’S PIX...I don’t think that’s true at all... I may have to rebuild the folder, but I’m not at all in hurry...so ultimately it was worth sitting in Best Buy for a couple of hours-I think...

8:35PM-Lou and I were an 8.5 on a scale of 10...my guitar FELT good, but sounded a bit “midrangy”  to me...that just might be Jackie’s fault...

10:36PM--I don't think I'm gonna make it past 11PM--so I can look forward to waking up at 2 or 3 AM, right?

I'm a solo artist? not yet, but who knows?

        SUNDAY 10/7/18 9:22AM--delivered Sophie to the vet;  getting her into the carrier is ALWAYS a Gov't Project and this morning was no exception...but it coulda been worse...I'm bringing my gear in gradually...I don't intend to do anything but sit here doing this, have Lunch and take a pretty good sized nap...

6PM--about two hours ago, I started getting a collection of lyrics together for my possible solo appearances...it's the most active I've been all day, looking up the lyrics and copy/paste-ing them in Word and printing them...before I go any further I should look in the basement for the batches I've prepared in the past...if a job is already finished, why do it again? getting excited/nervous about going to Gumbo Ya Ya tomorrow, not to mention Crossroads on Tuesday...

9:25PM-TECH NEWS-suddenly the laptop  is really fucked up, I don’t know why...there was a  noise in the headphones, among other problems...very VERY VERY frustrating... I foresee a trip to Best Buy tomorrow...I guess Monday is gonna suck, at least in the Morning...

MONDAY 10/8/18  11:53AM- so the laptop is at Best Buy, and I’m using an iPhone to take its place…  I know of course that it’s better than nothing;

3:12PM- actually got done one of the things on my “to do” list that I was going to put off until tomorrow; so in a little while I’m going to go downstairs and take a glance for my song books… I probably won’t find either one of them, but that’s OK… I’m going to an open mic tonight, but I don’t know if I’m going as a performer or a side man… to some degree, this solo artist idea  came from the one or two or three songs I did last week at Crossroads...So it seems proper to officially begin my solo career there tomorrow...

5:08PM- I actually found the songbook I was looking for… I might need to buy a new binder… A lot of the songs I don’t consider to be solo material, so I’m curious as to why they got in the book in the first place...I’ll work on all that stuff tomorrow morning…

8:33PM- well, my first set at gumbo Yaya went well enough I guess… I’ll listen to the recording later…I think I’m gonna try I’M ONLY SLEEPING...

9:40PM-SLEEPING was okay, not great...pretty good vocals, “iffy” guitar work...TAMBOURINE MAN was also just ok for the same reasons...BTW I didn’t rehearse anything ahead of time...hopefully I will get some practice in tomorrow...

10:17PM-got a voice mail message from Best Buy-the laptop is ready...

10:48PM- I just remembered, I won’t have to plan a solo set for tomorrow-Lou and I are scheduled to meet at Crossroads...unless enough performers  show up...

11:17PM-almost forgot, the fender acoustic made its’ public debut this evening...now I can be happy about buying it...and I am, quite a lot...I just remembered, Lou will be here in 12 and a half hours...hopefully I’ll be back from Best Buy, with the laptop-before Noon...

I AM here, ain’t I?

SATURDAY 10/6/18 5PM- well I’m here at the gig, setting up… The bass player(Doug) and drummer (Scot) are ignoring me, I don’t know why…I got lost trying to get to Charter House, where Oz apparently lives, but we still made it to the Moose Lodge by 4:30...I had a burger for Dinner, at about 6:30 or so...

SUNDAY 10/7/18 1:44AM-the bassist and drummer kinda ignored me at first...they got friendlier as the night went on...my playing AND my sound got better too, starting with the second set...using the gizmo in Manual Mode worked just fine, after I got done tweaking it...I switched to Memory Mode (U2-2) for some feedback/heavy distortion but otherwise I stayed in Manual Mode...I think that's what I'll do at any future gigs, no matter who they're with...like the fourth Thursday at the OTWC...
                 
      I’m coming home with $140 bucks...plenty happy with that...I think somebody charged us for Dinner and/or deducted it from our pay...I don't care...unintentionally, I took a different way home than I did getting there...but I was fairly sure I knew where I was going; I think it was roughly the same number of miles...

what the hell just happened?

   TUESDAY 10/3/18 11:17AM--went to the store, came home...forgot the fudgsicles...went back and got 'em...forgot that Lou is coming over --NOW...can't wait until 2PM, when we're done...still hoping to go out tonight...

10PM--just got home from the Crossroads open mic...I played (BY MYSELF) about a half a dozen songs...some well known, some quite obscure...I'm giving myself a "7" on a scale of 10...

         It looks like I've got a buncha phone calls to make tomorrow...the primary care physician, Oz,  the MD Health Connection, to keep getting Medicaid...not quite looking forward to making any of those calls, but all three of 'em need to be done, no stalling...

               I don't yet know for sure but I strongly suspect I'll have to go to Silver Spring to pick up Oz to take him to the gig...and bring him home of course...could do w/o THAT...would be kinda disappointed if I don't come home with at least $50...

THURSDAY 10/4/18 1:45PM--waiting for the cleaning girls to get here...I like it better when they come in the morning...I've been getting micro naps all day--that's not good enough, but that might be all I get today...I think I'm going to the Music Café this evening, whether Dianne goes anywhere or not...it starts getting dark at 7 o'clock...I don't like that, and it's gonna get worse...

2:37PM--the girls ain't here yet--that makes me unhappy...I DID have time to eat Lunch...and I changed into a pair of shorts...I'm considering walking to CVS, just to kill some time...but first they have to get here...figuring I'll go to Wendy's for Dinner...Lou wants to know if I'm doing any solo stuff tonight; I have no idea...

THIRTY MINUTES LATER--still no cleaning ladies...very VERY unhappy...and VERY sleepy (or tired)...I need sugar or caffeine or both...I was gonna get some ice cream, but soon it will be too close to dinnertime..

5PM--the cleaning ladies came at about 3:30...I walked to CVS...in about an hour I'm leaving to go to Wendy's and onto Damascus...

8:53PM— yeah, it was a mistake to get rid of the Crafter… or I should’ve shopped more… Maybe I’ve learned a lesson, maybe not…Epi’s battery is dying --I was expecting a 9 V; that’s not what’s in there...that didn’t EVEN occur to me...hopefully tomorrow I’ll focus on the Oz gig...dunno whether I should use the gizmo or not; is a wah-wah pedal that essential anyway? Maybe I’ll spend some time in the Lab to determine if it’s worth bringing...my gut reaction TONIGHT? I think I’ll leave it home...


10:42PM--gonna take Epi to Victor Litz to see how much a set-up will cost and how long it will take...I doubt if I can get it back by next Thursday (Charlie's acoustic o.m.) never mind Jackie's o.m. on Tuesday...the fantasy I just came up with is being able to return it...hahahahahaha...

FRIDAY 11:44AM--which is, surprisingly,  what I did...Tony gave me $300 (?) store credit so (for another $40 dollars) I got a Fender 60 SCE NA...which means it's a Single Cutaway Electric in a NAtural finish...according to the reviews I read online, it's a good beginner's guitar...I was pretty darn concerned about what kinda strings are on it and what guage  they are...I found out they are (allegedly) Fender Dura-Tone Coated 80/20 Bronze  .012-.052...they don't feel that heavy to me, but who knows? as for being coated, when I first picked it up to play it, something felt "funny" about the strings, but I couldn't describe what that something was...I can't wait 'til Monday; I'll likely go to Gumbo Ya Ya...and Lou wants to go to Crossroads on Tuesday...I think Jackie will be at least a little impressed...

3:32PM--I didn't get much of a nap, but the pre-gig gizmo test took almost no time at all...in the basement at least, my rig sounded pretty good...all I gotta do is pack it all up...I need to clean out the car--a lot...I've got the outfit ready, shoes and all...like I've said before, when things look up, it's time to look out...it's been a very good day so far...

SATURDAY  well, whatever’s going to happen today is going to start happening in about a half an hour or so… I will be leaving for Silver Spring to pick up Oz so we can go do the gig in upper Marlboro