a long day for both of us

            THURSDAY 11/29/18 5:30AM--the roomie is going into the hospital this morning...it's an overnight stay...I hope to be back home before 10AM...Then I'm going back to sit with her hopefully not before 2PM...I'll be leaving there at 5PM to come home and feed the animals...gotta load up the car...and in addition to all that, the cleaning ladies are coming sometime today--hopefully after 1PM...I probably won't feel like it, but I WANT to work on my homework while I AM  home...

1:20PM- I know Dianne is the one who is in pain, but I’m pretty fucking miserable myself... I am 6 feet away from a soda machine doesn’t work;  she isn’t in her room yet, but should be in in about 30 minutes…
 3:40PM-It took longer than 30 minutes, but she has a room...I think she’s gonna take a nap...My plan is to leave before five o’clock...I don’t wanna drive home during rush hour in TOTAL darkness...So much for my plan-I think I’ll be leaving at 5-ish...I wanna be at the OTWC by 7

FRIDAY-even if I wanted to I won’t be seeing the Crimestoppers tomorrow night...If *I* think I'm somewhat pathetic, I wonder what other people think...I think Jeff Jones is 'emotionally needy" so I'm sure other people say that about ME...even *I* say that about me a little...aside from being Dianne's caretaker, I'm really wiped out from my long day yesterday, so going out tomorrow night just doesn't seem at all likely...
it's not impossible, though...never say never...

not much time left

             TUESDAY 11/27/18 5PM--just hanging 'round, doin' nuthin'...I feel as though I've GOT to do at least some practising for the open mic tomorrow...I won't have any time to practice on Thursday...I'm not yet worried...
        Except that my "to do" list seems to be growing by the hour...my new mattress just arrived...dunno when I'm gonna get to sleep on it...the plan is to have it unpacked and ready for me by tomorrow night...
           There are things I could do now--the kitty litter, for instance...but my 2nd wind hasn't kicked in yet...
11:07PM--took care of the kitty litter, that's one less thing...I have my alarm set for 7:30, but I expect to be up sooner than that...I think the old mattress is gonna be problematic...I hope I'm wrong...
      WEDNESDAY 11/28/18 9:37AM--actually, neither the old mattress or the new one was problematic...I set-up the new one all by myself...I think I'll be taking the mid-day nap in the roomie's bed...Ready or not, I plan to sleep on my bed tonight...
   10:27AM--I've been active since 8AM, I assembled a new mattress, disposed of the old one, took Muzzy to the vet, made an attempt to straighten up for the cleaning ladies and washed the rags they use...I'm ready for the mid-day nap now...
    4:15PM--getting excited about the open mic...but first I have to spend about five hours watching Dianne lying in a hospital bed, closer to being asleep than awake...She's (reluctantly, I'm sure) letting me leave the hospital at 5...I'm gonna come home, feed the animals, change clothes and go to the OTWC...
       7:25PM--I hope I'm as sleepy/tired at 10PM as I am now...but I still plan on taking at least one Melatonin...
8:50PM- I think that the new mattress is going to work out just fine…Of course I dunno what kinda shape it will be in a year from now...

an inneresting end of the year

FRIDAY 11/24/18 11:40PM--just got in from the OTWC...it was a good night out...except the car is making new noises...
SATURDAY 9:15AM--all I have to do is wash my hair (maybe) shave (possibly) and change shirts (definitely)...going to CVS to get deodorant (after going to the bank to get some cash) will likely wait until tomorrow...
 6:08PM--got home from Damascus about 30 minutes ago...could be in bed by 11PM...
8:31PM--actually at about 6:15 I went upstairs and took a 45 minute catnap...I was sound asleep when Dianne woke me up...
11:30PM--I really thought I'd be in bed by about 10:00 or so...nope, gotta second wind around the time that Dianne went to bed, around 9:30 more or less...but come Midnight, ready or not, I'm going to sleep...
SUNDAY 5:30PM--Dianne really wanted to get outta the house so we went to what we call "the doggie place"...They were having quite a sale...I bought a book, some blank CDs...and a sealed copy of Bill Mulroney's SECOND WIND album...I dunno why I bought it; I think he gave me one...I dunno exactly where it is...
7:52PM--just finished dinner, later than usual...I imagine I'll still be up at 11PM if not later...that's ok...One AM or later? NOT good...I hope to be back after Star Trek...
8PM--I forgot--I can record ST-TOS but I can't watch it while it's happening, except in the kitchen, and I don't wanna do that...oh well...
MONDAY 11/26/18 3:47PM--can't really practice, the roomie is taking HER nap...getting nervous about tonight...I hope I don't forget to take a Xanax...
10:57PM--I took the Xanax, played a total of four songs and am digesting the sandwich and Fudgesicles and going to bed at Midnight...

getting things done, slowly but surely

    MONDAY 11/19/18 10:22AM--some good news, kinda...the car is going into the shop tomorrow...the repairs might cost about $400 instead of the $600...that's good news...We finished most of Dianne's "to do" list...just gotta work on cleaning the deck...that's a big one actually, not sure if we'll get that completely finished today...dunno what, if anything is going on at GYY tonight...maybe I shouldn't be, but I'm pretty darn tired...
TUESDAY 8:30AM--gonna get the car done tomorrow...the shop boss asked me to change my appointment, so I did...I MIGHT save a few bucks...and he told me I can drive the car for another six months; allegedly the only problem would be the noise would get louder...but I would rather get it done tomorrow...
5PM--itching to go play somewhere, but there's nowhere to go, kinda...
WEDNESDAY 9AM--now Dianne is mad at me because the day of her next surgery is the day (night) I'm the house guitarist at the OTWC open mic...she's mad at me because I didn't keep track of all the many Doctor's visits she has coming up...she's got one today; my car might be ready by then, but it will have to wait...
THURSDAY- almost forgot to mention-the car isn’t ready yet and probably won’t be ready until sometime Friday...I don’t remember him telling me that; although that’s what  they’re claiming… They are closed today for Thanksgiving...
          Having Lunch (pizza) then I'm hitting the shower, then we're going to Mike&Linda's...hope to be home by 8PM...gulping down some M&Ms to keep me awake, later...
Been here about thirty minutes ...bored already...but those meatballs were nice...
4:30PM- I think dinner will be served at 5 o’clock...I think I’m ready...
9:13PM--just got home...will be in bed before Midnight, I think...Dinner was good enough...had brownies for dessert, in lieu of fudgesicles...
FRIDAY 11/23/18 3:16PM--got the car back, which cost a bit more than I thought it would--they allegedly took $100 off because they had it two days, but still...in any case, I really wanna go out tonight, but there's nobody I know playing nearby...I don't think, anyway...but I might just go see Tom Blood anyway--he DOES write songs...

I'll take what I can get

                                SUNDAY 11/18/18 9:25AM--just finishing up breakfast...somehow I got my wires crossed--the cleaning ladies are coming tomorrow NOT, as I thought, Wednesday..so I have to wash the rags today...my bedroom is a disaster area, I HAVE to change that today...Dianne needs some groceries, I'll go get 'em sometime today...

5PM--I think I took care of my "to do" list...that makes me actually feel pretty good...I'm doing one load of laundry, dunno if I'm gonna do any more...

7:33PM--there's still laundry to be done, but it's gonna wait...not 100% sure Maria and the girls are coming tomorrow...but my room is ready if they are...

getting closer to normal

               FRIDAY 11/16/18 9:36AM--I cleaned my car off and went to McDonald's and now I'm going to Giant to get some groceries...as far as I know, I've got nothing else to do...
       3:25PM--dunno if I needed permission, but I have permission to go out tonight or tomorrow night...tomorrow night seems more likely, I'll probably go to Xroads...3 Song Sadie is playing there, with an opening act...well, it's something to do, right? TEN MINUTES LATER--according to what I just saw, Angela is going...any excuse to take a shower and shave...

6:43PM--actually getting nervous/excited about going to Xroads tomorrow night...probably wasting my emotional energy...that's not new...can't quite get Angela outta my Mind...
              I dunno what's going on besides my evening plans...Dianne wants me to start gathering up all the books I've got laying around (mostly) the living room and I hope to clean up the disaster area that is my bedroom, LOTSA laundry to be done...

SATURDAY 11/17/18 10:29AM--laundry is being done, dishes too...not quite as excited about going out tonight as I was last night...feeling non-existent with regard to my Musical Life...I just don't get it...it's VERY depressing...

7:30PM-I don’t think this night out is gonna make me feel that much better...let’s see how long I stay...cause I sure feel down now...

back to normal, more or less

    FRIDAY11/16/18 2AM- I can’t actually remember falling down the second time, but my neck and/or shoulder hurts, there are bumps on my head and of course the bookshelf is broken... The fact that I only got three hours sleep so far indicates that things are more or less back to normal…I still feel a little bit spaced out or tired or depressed or sleepy or all of the above…I’m not completely sure, but I suspect the weather is still quite yucky... I don’t know when we’re going to see sunshine again;  that would help me feel a little better

still not happy

           WEDNESDAY 11/14/18 6:30 AM-Life really seems to suck lately...I thought it would get better once we got back from NYC, but no...Dianne will be at the Doctor’s until about Noon... I brought two books to read...

11:10AM-just got home from Dianne’s appointment...can’t WAIT to have Lunch and take a nap...obviously not gonna go out tonight...probably won't go out until next Monday or Tuesday...I think Barry wants to rehearse this coming Sunday...

7:50PM--still feeling kinda down, definitely unhappy...probably will go to bed after Star Trek--AGAIN...wondering when I'm gonna feel better...

THURSDAY (I think) 11/15/18 (I think) 10:08AM--feeling a little bit better...if it wasn't SNOWING, I would consider going out tonight...I plan to go to Safeway after my nap...I just took ALL of my meds for the first time in I dunno how long...maybe that was causing problems, who knows...

    When I fell in my room, I busted up one of my bookshelves...I need to empty it and throw it away I guess...and then I'll have a box (or two) of books to deal with...

4:30PM--I've been dreaming a LOT since gulping down the Xanax and aspirin and Advil and (finally) all of my morning meds...the latest dream involved me and Roy Loomis (!) forming an acoustic group with an unidentified blond female...although we seemed to got together in Church (!) we didn't want to be perceived as a Christian group, in spite of the advice we were getting from various Church members...we seemed to get together as a result of singing Poco's YOU ARE THE ONE (?) somewhat spontaneously...

In part because of the horrible weather I ain't goin' nowhere tonight...in fact, I STILL don't feel like doing much of anything yet...

8:05PM--I hope I can get back to normal soon...well, MY normal...tomorrow would work for me...I think the Combustibles are practising on Sunday...dunno for sure, but it's possible...

I WON'T live like that

  TUESDAY 11/13/18 11:28AM--I was sitting on the sofa last night when suddenly I fell off of it, hitting my head...turns out the cushion was not properly positioned...okay, not too big a deal...but about five hours later, I fell outta my bed hitting my head again and I dunno why...I took a few Xanax and went back to bed...the cat had somehow gotten trapped in the office and was making a lotta noise...I thought I would feel better being home--I was wrong...
12:27PM--and my car battery is dead...what the fuck else could happen? No, don't answer that...but I’m getting a new one, for free...have no idea how good a battery it is or how long it will/should last...
5:08PM--so I got a new battery, but I sure as hell don't feel like going anywhere or doing much of anything; too much Xanax I guess...about 12 hours from now I gotta get outta bed and take Dianne to the first of many doctor's appointments...I'll probably be back in bed tonight by 9:30 or so...
6:03PM--having dinner, killing time...VERY bored or tired or sleepy or depressed or...whatever...
7:02PM--as of tonight, the weather for Thursday evening does not look at all good for going anywhere...there is the possibility of snow...could I BE any less happy? yeah, but still...

home at last

       SUNDAY 11/11/18 9PM--we've been home for about 30 minutes...just had a sandwich, and I think that's Dinner...the bus ride home was a bit less comfortable than the ride to NYC...it took until I was on the way home to get the photos I saw in my head, but I got 'em...I think I woulda been fine with stayin' home...
                I might go to GYY tomorrow night, but (probably) only if Lou goes...I DO wanna go to Xroads on Tuesday, but I gotta make sure my voice is back..
MONDAY 11AM--I guess I miscalculated somewhere...I've only got $80 in checking...GEICO is paid for though, but I'm gonna seriously struggle for about a week or so...for now, I blame New York...All I plan to do is get some groceries...I'm too fried to wanna do anything else...and I can't afford to do much anyway...
5:10PM- I don’t think I’m going to feel like going out Wednesday...besides which, I’ll be taking care of Dianne (sigh)...for who knows how long...possibly until sometime in February...
7PM--I think I might make it to 11PM or so...as for tomorrow, I need to work on the dishes and do laundry...I might have to deliver the recycle-ables to the recycle facility myself...

new york, new york

   FRIDAY 11/9/18 9AM- waiting for the 11AM bus...we made it to Bethesda, via Uber...one less thing... I suspect a lot of the people around us are waiting for the 10AM bus...LATER-now there are people who are waiting for the 11AM bus...BTW, I feel better than yesterday, but still not normal...

SATURDAY 11:06AM-I am having less fun in New York then I thought I would have, mostly because I don’t feel good...
1:51PM-yeah I wish I had stayed home...can’t wait to get BACK home...
4:05PM -hope to be back at the hotel by 8 if not sooner...
5:25PM- feeling invisible...shoulda been prepared for that...
8:05PM-as BORED as I can be...*I* dunno why we can’t leave yet...
9:45PM-we left the reception about 25 minutes later and it took maybe 15 or so minutes to get back to the hotel...now I’m just waiting for the Xanax to kick in...
SUNDAY 10:20AM- first the Brunch, then a roughly two hour wait for the bus...and then the four hour bus ride...

I wouldn't mind a miracle

 
       TUESDAY 11/6/18 12:30AM--I'm still sick...at this point in Time, I don't think I'm going anywhere tonight...although a lot can happen in 18 hours...and of course, it would be unwise for Lou to come over if I still feel like this...dammit...
     8AM--cancelled practice with Lou...not going to Xroads tonight...probably shouldn't go tomorrow night either...at 8:30AM I'm going back to bed--until Lunchtime...
  6:27PM--I tried to get a couple of cat naps...that's all I got...I expect to be back in bed by 10PM...I've got two days to get back to "normal" before the trip to New York...going out tomorrow night (or Thursday night for that matter) feels like a bad idea...had an omelette and some soup for dinner...I suspect I had most of the noodles for dinner this evening...so the next time I have any soup from that bowl, it will be mostly broth...and that's OK...
WEDNESDAY 11/7/18 9:15PM--now I think it's the various meds that I'm taking to get rid of this cold that are making feel weird...dare I say, it kinda feels like the cold is on its' way out...I sure hope so...
 THURSDAY 11/8/18 12:25PM--the cold is not yet gone, but I'm going to New York anyway...it COULD be gone by tomorrow morning...I really REALLY hope so...
9:05PM--still dealing with a sore throat...if it wasn't for that, I'd be damn near normal...

it's time for time to move around

       SUNDAY 11/4/18 10AM--at least I THINK that's what time it is...Lou wants to go to GYY tomorrow...that's OK, Lou and Scott have never been there...he wants to get together at noon to work on new songs...I don't know why...everything we do would be new to the GYY crowd...whatever...
         11:36AM--as for me, I plan to go to Xroads on Tuesday...it's too soon to know what I'm gonna play...
2:35PM--I didn't wanna get up from my nap this early, but I dunno how to control that...
6:02PM--just finished Dinner, quite a bit early...have no idea when I'm going to bed...gonna try to hang in there until Midnight...
9:52PM--I'm kinda bummed about Lou coming over tomorrow; I guess the songwriting is gonna have to wait...I think I'm gonna get a haircut Tuesday morning, I'll have more time then than I will tomorrow...but I think I have time to get my sports jacket from the dry cleaners...
MONDAY--I seem to have caught a cold of some sort...no Lou, no GYY...Maybe we're going to Xroads tomorrow...so much for my solo aspirations...when I get back from the grocery store, I'm going back to bed for a little while...
11:28AM--gonna have Lunch a bit sooner than usual, then go back to bed...I might go get the haircut today, because Lou might be coming over tomorrow...
12:08PM--hoping to be back in bed a bit before 1PM, after which I'll go get my haircut...and I should go to Petsmart and get kitty litter although I could do THAT tomorrow...maybe I'll get some gummy vitamin C, the chewable tablets are not at all enjoyable...
4:09PM--so I remembered the apple juice but forgot the Vitamin C gummies--FUCK!

but not those kinds of surprises

    FRIDAY 11/2/18 9:16 AM--I just put the car in the shop...so now the worrying begins...probably gonna be a long day...they're not authorized to fix anything, but I doubt if I can wait another month to get the repairs done...
11:35AM--actually, I DO have to wait another month...as long as I keep the trips local, and stay off any highways I should be OK...I will have to find out what is meant by "local", but I imagine it means no trips to Glen Burnie (the Birdcage) or Frederick (Crusaders) for those open mics...and no trips to any of Ray's gigs if he happens to come over in the next month, which I don't anticipate...Dianne said she could help me financially in a month--although I didn't actually ask her to help me, yet...maybe if I can pinch my pennies like I did when I was working, I'll be fine...so I won't be going to Olney to see Jackie this evening; for one thing that's not something I HAVE to do...in the meantime, they're doing an oil change...they'll call when it's ready, which might mess up my nap, but that's Life...
12:36PM--I kinda wanted to go see Jackie tonight, as pointless as that would be...I was concerned about staying out/up late then getting up early to go to the G-town flea market...but I don't think going to G-town is a good idea, if for no other reason than I can't put myself in a position of being tempted...I can't afford to be tempted...it might not matter--it's supposed to rain tomorrow morning...
  2:10PM- so as far as I know, the car has had its’ first oil change since I got it, a little over a year ago… as for that driver’s side front wheel condition, we’re just going to have to wait a month...
9:42PM--I often get the urge to [fill in the blank] when I basically can't, like this time of night...and that's kinda where I am...in a songwriting mood...but instead, I'm gonna watch Bill Maher at 10:00 and then try to get some sleep...two of the songs on David Crosby's latest album have their origin in very old fragments...maybe I'll try that...
SATURDAY 11/3/18 9:41PM--just got home from dinner at iHop, seeing BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY and stopping off at Baskin/Robbins...we left the house at about 4PM...gonna try to go to bed at about 11PM...

I like surprises

             THURSDAY 11/2/18 11:14AM--I was an hour early for my appointment with Dr. Borelli...that kinda sucked...BUT by the time I got home the cleaning ladies had come and gone--that was worth that extra hour...I'm close to being happy...
     10:38PM still somewhat happy, if a bit depressed-I know that doesn’t make sense...
FRIDAY 11/3/18 12:15 AM--had a good time at the Singer Songwriter open Mic at the OTWC tonight...I thought that Hayley Fahey was humoring me when she said she would get me up to sit in with her--she was serious, it went well as far as I could tell...
8AM--and as has become the norm, I need time to recover from my nightlife...