I think I made a sale...maybe

THURSDAY 1/30/2020 7:20 PM... I think Butch is going to buy the wireless unit… I’m not sure WHEN he’s going to pay me for it, but that hundred dollars will come in handy whenever I get it from him...
FRIDAY 12:50 AM-I think I held my own again Johnny V-at least for awhile...
4:43 PM-I think I’ve caught up on the sleep that I missed last night And I didn’t sleep so much today that I have a headache – because I don’t have a headache, for which I am exceptionally grateful… I haven’t checked my email yet, but as far as I know I don’t have a set list for tomorrow night’s gig with the Combustibles…
8:16 PM-I sent Barry an email, I think he’s going to send me a set list but I don’t know when…
11PM-got the set list…now I have to find my tablet...I think it’s in the basement...
SATURDAY 2/1/2020 8:38 AM--Thought about going to Litz to get a guitar case for eBay...because it's missing one of its' "legs" it leans, precariously...I have $189 dollars store credit...and (I think) I have time as well...planning to take eBay to the gig tonight...so I'd better get on with my errands...
1:11 PM--got a new case for "eBay", an in-depth book on the Yardbirds (50% off) and a 6ft. cable--all using my store credit...nap time is coming up soon...
1:47 PM--not five minutes ago, I checked the ACME ReverbNation page...I wasn't listed as a member of the Band...seconds later, i got an e-mail from Dave--"Mike has updated the ACME RN page..." NOW I'm listed...as is our schedule...
2:03PM trying to focus on TWO (or is it THREE) different bands at once...not easy...I need a nap...The Combustibles are gigging tonight, ACME is Lahinch next Friday (2/7), and the LCB Reunion is scheduled for March the 21st...I labeled  my new guitar case with a silver "E"--for "eBay"...the "E" is made from duct tape; I carved it myself...that's the guitar I'm using tonight...I'm just taking the one guitar and leaving the amp stand at home as well...I've got a spare set of strings and a string winder...

it feels like an awful lot of work to me

   
         TUESDAY 1/28/2020 10:30 AM--I'm not at all sure how long it took, but I FINALLY got a slowed down version of George Strait's AM I BLUE into my iTunes Library...I'm gonna work on it after my planned nap, after Lunch...I kinda getting tired of it already...
11:51AM-- I think I might maybe have possibly gotten the guitar riffs for AM I BLUE ready...*I* would say it's as close to "the record" as *I* am gonna get...I'm not now, and never will be a Human CD player...one of the other guest songs seems to kinda feature a slide part...I've got today, some of tomorrow and hopefully some of Thursday afternoon as well...
     Kinda concerned about getting to bed at a decent hour (whenever that is) Wednesday night after practice knowing I have to be at Aldi's by 7AM...dunno what if anything I'm having for breakfast...Dunno how long I'm gonna be there--NOT gonna ask either...I think I've got tic tac breath mints somewhere...
3:57 PM--gonna continue listening to the o.m. songs, a little at a time...we'll see what happens tomorrow at practice...In social media News, I've (temporarily?) switched from Flakebook to Twitter...I dunno how to do Instagram on the laptop, and I'm not sure I know how to do it on my phone...I THINK it's all about posting a photo with a caption...
WEDNESDAY 1/29/2020 5PM--FHB practice is two hours away...getting nervous about it...and other stuff too..
9:33 PM--I get the feeling that the other members of the FHB feel roughly the same way about backing up the amateurs at the open mic as I do--it's not all that much fun...for instance, Howard seems to want (expect?) to do more than three songs...and it appears as though at least one other member of the band feels the same way about Howard that *I* do--he's "a character"...which may be how my bandmates feel about ME...and as I've said before, that kinda hurts a teeny bit...
THURSDAY 1/30/2020 11:19 AM--brushing up on the open mic songs I need to work on--WICKED GAME  and I GOT YOU by some guy named Jack Johnson--that's a slide part, but a rather easy one...I'll brush up on stuff a little before I head back out...
11:37 AM--Angela probably won't be at the open mic tonight, but Ann might be...Angela's one-time (almost) boyfriend (Steve?) is apparently in a band with Craig Allison...that should be interesting...I THINK Barnaby is their Bass player...he said, at practice last night, that Steve is a bit of an asshole...hmm...I also found out last night that, like it or not, my amp is available for guest guitarists to use...that was news to me...
               This oughta be a fun gig, but it's not...I hate being set up next to Butch...I bet HE doesn't like it either...do other bands put two guitarists side by side? I doubt it...I think it's because of Barnaby and his keyboard(s)...and if I get there on time, I have to sit around waiting for Brian...so getting there after three o'clock actually makes sense to me...I wanna look forward to Hershey's, but I'm not--not yet anyway...it's a tiny stage...
6:05 PM--not sure why, but I seem to be thinking about the LCB Reunion, which is almost TWO months away--IF, of course, it actually happens...I guess I have to remember to be the "me" that I was back in 1985...not that I've changed THAT much...that is, I don't THINK I've changed that much...I suppose I'll have to go back to NOT being Ray's co-pilot, IF I have been for the past couple of years...

I expect to be disappointed

              SUNDAY 1/26/2020 8:45 AM--I've been fairly excited about going to the Dead Jam in Takoma Park, but now I figure, well, I'm not in charge...The ACME Band Co. is (IMO) not a very good band anyway, so if there's a subtle, unspoken competition between the pretend Dead groups, we won't win it...and unlike (I suspect) almost everybody in the place, I WILL NOT WEAR A TIE-DYED SHIRT...
                   9:40AM-still struggling with my lunch and dinner plans...it’s possible that I’ll stop somewhere on the way home... I think the “gig” ends at 8...our set is supposed to start at 5 and end about 40 minutes later...
 I suppose I could leave when we're finished...but I probably won't...
               10:44AM--and I STILL dunno if I'm gonna bring the ME70 to Takoma park or not, but right this minute it seems likely...why shouldn't I do what I can to stand out from all the other Garcia clones I'm gonna hear today? I dunno if Dave realizes this, but I'm NOT bringing the keyboards...of course I dunno if Geoff is gonna toss me any solos, but I wanna be ready if he does...
                   8:40 PM--got home about 10 minutes ago...had a very hard time finding my way back home...I had an OK time at the Jam...but of course, I woulda liked to have played more...Geoff threw me more solos than I thought I would get...the amp's reverb has stopped working again--*I* give up...I guess I'll have to take the ME 70 with me every time I take my amp somewhere...there's got to be an alternative...
Based on my research, the EH Oceans 11 Reverb pedal is the one I'm gonna try next...I'll go to Litz, get it and try it out at the ACME rehearsal Monday evening...a rehearsal that I'm not looking forward to...
                  In FHB News, the song list for the 1/30/2020 open mic is up...it feels like more work than I want to do...but I need the money...
MONDAY 1/27/2020 12:22 PM--going to Litz tomorrow, I don't need MY amp until Wednesday evening...
5:13 PM--Barry is doing a duo gig with John Trupp on 2/7...they've done gigs before, so I don't think this is  Barry's way of flipping me the bird or anything--but it could be...I'm not taking the keyboard to ACME practice tonight...mostly I don't feel like it and I'm not sure the keyboard is essential for all the new songs...it IS essential for at least two of Lee's songs...I think it was a guy I met at the jam last night who said that Lee is not his favorite female singer, if ya get my drift...
10:36PM--Lee wasn't at practice...all that keyboard anxiety wasted...Dave is delusional when it comes to the competency of the ACME Band Co....we're just as bad as the Combustibles, if not worse...I don't think Geoff has ever listened to anything BUT Grateful Dead...and I think he's "buzzin'" by the time he gets to practice...very frustrating to me...

better than I expected

 
   THURSDAY 1/23/2020 10:49 PM--got back from Damascus about twenty or so minutes ago...Lou and I both stayed until the end...like I said, IMO Lou and I were pretty dammed good...Lou was happy with our performance...Lou and I were sharing a table with some acquaintances of his, one of whom was named Mary Ann McAllister...no, I'm not in love...but if she ever needs a guitar player, I'd audition for that position...Lou kinda sorta seems to be struggling a teeny tiny bit himself, which is probably why I don't hear from him...
    I was nervous enough to goof up the lyrics to LMYR, a Neil Young song I've probably sung as much as HE has...I flipped the verses...I don't enjoy playing MR. SOUL with Lou even though it's one of my favorite songs, but tonight, perhaps because I was playing electric guitar, it sounded pretty good...
FRIDAY 1/24/2020 7:43 AM--If I hadn't gone out last night, I might have gone out tonight to see Bailey and Dave Weber at the Grape Escape...but I did so I won't...Bailey said something on Flakebook about "joining in" with the singing, but I'm not sure she meant ME sharing the stage with them...
     Gonna try one more time to fix the reverb unit on my amp...I don't wanna take the ME 70 to the Grateful Dead jam that most of ACME will allegedly be participating in...maybe duct tape will do the trick... 
1:39PM--if only for a few minutes, my amp's reverb is working again...I think duct tape is the reason why...still undecided about bringing the ME 70 to the ACME event...at this point it seems likely, but who knows?
3:31PM--haven't checked in two hours, but I assume the duct tape is still holding things together inside my amp...still dunno what stuff I'm taking to Takoma Park on Sunday...In other News, even though it's so far away, the LCB reunion is being discussed in detail...the date has changed to the 21st and the scene of the crime will now apparently be Killarney House...allegedly there will be a reunion between Mike and Ray (and me?) at Galway Bay on the 15th...
 SATURDAY 1/25/2020 10:23 AM--I think I can take the ICC to get TO the gig tomorrow, but I will likely have to use the Beltway to get back home...there shouldn't be too much traffic on it at that time of night...
5:27 PM--If there's a problem with Sunday's schedule, it's the question of when (and what) do I have for Dinner...I suspect it will be a VERY early (or super late) Dinner...or more likely a very late Lunch or...whatever...To me, THAT'S the problem...I think I should allow myself time to get lost...if I wanna be at Post 350 by 4:15 or so, I think I should leave here by 3:30, more or less...I can eat Lunch on the way to Takoma Park...I have yet to determine if this particular VFW Post serves any food...
6:09 PM--it just might be quicker to take 270 and the Beltway to go TO the gig as well...it shouldn't be dark at 3:30...the Google Map/Directions are on my phone...I don't think there will be a problem getting there (crosses fingers)...

dunno if it's worth it

        WEDNESDAY 1/22/2020 9:48 AM--I'm supposed to go to Butch's house after my nap, but I don't feel like it...of course I don't feel like doing anything...and Butch wants to hang out and practice stuff...I know I should help him, but I don't (yet) feel like it...IF he's moving away (and leaving the band) why bother?
        Suddenly, I'm having trouble with the electric XII...It IS hard to keep in tune...in fact, perfect intonation is NOT POSSIBLE with this guitar, mostly because of the bridge...This is one of those times when perfect pitch is a curse...I was hoping to use it on THE HARD WAY, which Karen Pitts wants to sing at the open mic on the 30th...now, I wouldn't count on it...
5PM--hung out with Butch Thayer for awhile this afternoon...learned some stuff about him I didn't know..he used to play drums! He's gonna tryout my wireless unit to see if he likes it enough to buy it...he says he IS planning to move to the Eastern Shore(?) AND stay in the FHB...but I don't think his Plan is carved in stone...I still think he's the weakest link in the FHB...speaking of weak links, Rick the keyboard player in the Combustibles, left me a voice mail; I'm NOT looking forward to listening to it...
6:55PM--most of the members of the ACME Band Co. are said to be attending what I think is a Grateful Dead jam in Takoma Park...the jam is on Sunday from 5 until 8? at the VFW post 850...I believe the place is known as Hell's Bottom...
        Just remembered--I told Butch about my leaving the Combustibles...I told him why and who *I* thought the weak link in that band was...we talked about getting more work for the FHB...Like Leisure World and Lahinch...either one works for me...there don't seem to be many places to play 'round these here parts anymore...
9:05PM--I just listened to Rick's voicemail message...he was just inviting me to one of his basement jams...maybe next week...maybe...I don't think it will be all that much fun, but who knows? I hope I can make it to the Dead Jam in Takoma Park on Sunday...I would expect Geoff to play nothing but Garcia riffs there...Dunno if that makes me the Bob Weir substitute or not...
     Probably going to the Music Café Thursday Night open mic...I think Lou will be there...I think the acoustic needs new strings on it though...I guess I'll be making a trip to Pritchard's...
THURSDAY 6:40 AM-maybe I will later but right now I don’t feel like going to Damascus...But I said I would, so...
8:29AM--gonna go to Pritchard and get acoustic guitar strings and put 'em on after the cleaning ladies leave...hopefully they'll be broken in by the time I leave for Damascus...
12:20 PM-NOT going anywhere to buy new strings for the acoustic...kinda wish I hadn’t sorta promised Lou I was gonna go...I’m so tired or sleepy or something...the cleaning ladies just got started about 40 minutes or so ago...they could be gone by now, but I wanna be sure...
12:54 PM--Lou is bringing his amp, so I'll bring Butterscotch--and some stomp boxes...should shower and shave after my attempted nap...
4:06 PM--so I shaved...I suppose I could have dinner there...I think I can afford it...
8:10 PM-But I changed my Mind about that...miraculously I arrived at the Music Cafe at 6:45...I had a teeny tiny fender bender on the way to Damascus...the driver of the truck I "dinged" and I agreed to forget the whole thing...thank you Universe...I dunno what time Lou and I are going on...maybe not before 8:30...

it figures

         TUESDAY 1/21/2020 9:55 AM--I went to Litz and bought another tablet holder when I was unable to find my original tablet holder...NOW I have TWO...they are about as different as they could be, but I don't think I NEED two of them...oh well, it happens--a LOT...
        11AM-went to Victor let’s, I got store credit for the base that I never ever use, personally I think $50 store credit is pathetic but I was in no position to argue… I got $140 store credit for the reverb pedal, so together I’ve got nearly $200 worth of store credit which I’m sure will come in handy if I decide to buy a case for the electric 12 string... Actually if I’m going to use it at any gigs in the near future a case would be essential…
         12:19 PM--due to a major computer glitch, I have to record this BLUE entry for at least the THIRD time...I'm gonna try one more time to fix my guitar amp's reverb...if it malfunctions again, I'll give up... Luckily, the ME-70 has reverb in it...I guess I'll have to bring it with me each and every time I play electric guitar thru my amp...so much for the downsized approach that I've been using with ACME, Stu Judd and ITN and most open mics...so what happens to the Manchester bag? Maybe the "downsized" approach will work for any acoustic gigs/open mics I may be involved with...problem solved?
       I kinda reminded Barry that I really was leaving the Combustibles and that he really should look for a replacement...he says he will...
6:41 PM--Angela is apparently about to go into the studio and make an album...just one more local artist who seemingly doesn't think I'm good enough to play on their album...Funny, Sherri Robbins did...kinda depressing...
7:02 PM-I have about a week to learn a bunch of songs for the January open mic...so far, the biggest challenge is AM I BLUE? by George Strait...it’s in F... It’s been suggested that I put a capo on the first fret – I don’t know if that will make things easier or harder…
9:45 PM--there's a bunch of songs on the 1/30 open mic list, but I think I'll be OK...playing Music used to make me feel good...feeling unwanted does not...leaving the Combustibles IS/WAS my idea, but feeling a lack of respect from (at least) some of the other members of the FHB makes me miserable...It's like the various bands/band leaders all say, "He's just about good enough, and he's willing to work cheap...so we'll keep him..."

The end of an error?

SUNDAY 1/19/2020 6:15 PM-Combustibles practice was horrible… Actually it was worse than that, including MY playing…Maybe I’m used to Barry not being very good but I’m not used to Rick the keyboard player being bad...In addition, the (admittedly temporary) drummer was not very good either – he seem to have a built-in rhythm clock that ran slowly...I got the impression that Barry didn’t notice and that bothered me...
        There was a point in time when Barry was (in my opinion) the weakest link in the band…Now there’s no doubt in MY mind that Rick the keyboard player is the weakest link by far…I think my playing was so bad today because I’ve given up on the Combustibles…In fact I sent Barry a resignation email during the one break we took...when I get back to my laptop Monday mid morning I will send him a more detailed explanation of why am leaving…My last gig with the Combustibles is February 29 – if I have MY way that is...
      Right now, As far as I know, no one knows except Barry and Dianne...At just before 3 o’clock we stopped practicing, mostly because one of  Rick’s other bands had arrived and was ready to practice…During the brief conversation I had with those guys it came out that I have a major crush on Angela Drago...I was hoping to keep that a secret but I guess that idea just went down the drain thanks to Rick, the jerk...If he hadn’t been high on pot that might not have happened...oh well, such is Life...In fact as soon as Robert the drummer got there, before he played a single note he fired up a bong and took a hit off of it...
8:40 PM-Barry says he was confused by my 3PM email… So I informed him a second time also via email that I’m leaving the band…a fair amount of weight has been lifted from my shoulders... I wonder how long Barry will keep the news to himself...
MONDAY 1/20/2020 11:20 AM--in FHB News, Brian wants to play WHITE ROOM at the 1/30 open mic...ok, no problem...he wants to sing BOTH parts-that kinda hurts MY feelings...does he not think *I* could sing Clapton's part? Is he afraid I'll drift too far away from the melody as written? Should I ask him? or just forget about it? kinda sad IMO...again, it feels like a lack of respect...

The Great Unknown

       FRIDAY 1/17/2020 5:25PM-I’m a few miles away from tonight‘s gig at Leisure  World…And I’m an hour early; I had dinner at Wendy’s and I’m about to have dessert… I hope I can find the gig in the dark... If ever there was a gig where I should take a Xanax before I play, this is it-And I forgot to take one…and I THINK I forgot my tablet...
SATURDAY 1/18/2020 9:36 AM--Seemingly one of my diary entries went away--I dunno why...Anyway, last night Dave told me that he saw one of my posts on Flakebook about bands that I'm in that think they're good when *I* don't think they are...he guessed that I meant the Combustibles, and I did...but I didn't have the heart to tell him I also meant the ACME Band Co. too...By my former standards, we weren't very good last night...that especially includes me as a keyboard player...according to my new criteria, we did good...the audience liked us, possibly a LOT...there was a female musician there, she said I (we?) was really good, on guitar anyway...I assume she wasn't lying or pulling my leg...my tablet was in Gburg, which did me no good at all when I sang TAKE IT EASY...I came home with $61 dollars, including tips...and I still have $80 from house sitting...
    It seemed to take a lot less time to get back to Rockville after the gig...the load-in and load-out were both a major pain for me...but today, so far, I'm OK...and if there's a next time, I'll know where to go...basically, I'll look for the dumpsters...
I DO wish Geoff listened to guitarists other than Garcia...quite frustrating to me...
10:30 PM-apparently the concept for the fourth Thursday open mic (which will actually be held on the fifth Thursday-I don’t know why) is songs with color in the title... I’m going to do pink Cadillac… Stoney suggested Green-eyed Lady by Sugarloaf but Barnaby feels like that’s too much work for him to do...Arlene has at least four songs she wants to do… The more time passes, the less I like her…Generally, most guests pick a couple of songs–not her…She is after all a star, a member of the Newports...blecch...oh well...
SUNDAY 1/19/2020 11:30AM-soon I will be having lunch… After that I will load up the car and go to Rick’s house for Combustibles practice...I  should be home by 5 PM if not sooner…
6:15PM-I was home by 3:30… I took a teeny bit of a nap;

and NOW there's feedback

     
          SUNDAY 1/12/2020 7:16 PM--Butch (!) weighed in with a list of comments regarding Friday's FHB gig...He knows we didn't bring our "A" game, but he thinks we brought our "B" game...*I* think we brought a "C" game at best--a 7 on a scale of 10, maybe...Silly me, I actually thought Barnaby would apologize for his performance on SOMETHING, but he hasn't yet, as far as I know...and Butch...wow...maybe HE gets really nervous, like me...I'm pretty sure he drinks more alcohol than me, cause I never touch the stuff...
       The Combustibles practice was pretty bad in MY opinion...I think I can guarantee that Stephen (our temp Bass player--this week) is not telling any of his friends that he's playing with the Combustibles...and I don't blame him...or he's telling them "Hey, you should hear the crummy band I'M sitting in with..." That's possible, if not likely...
MONDAY 1/13/2020 5:07 PM--as far as I know I'm practicing with Ken and Lisa tomorrow...dunno when I'll be back home, hopefully by four o'clock or so...dunno if  the ACME Band Co. is gonna rehearse before our gig on the 17th at Leisure World...I don't think it would make any difference if we did...
11:46 PM--I got the gig set list from Dave...I had to manually create a Word document outta the spreadsheet that Dave sent me...but I need to focus on what Ken and Luisa are cooking up...
 1/14/2020 7:31AM--I'm not even 100% sure I wanna be in the Reverbs again...it's a good thing that none of the other bands I'm in are all that busy...I enjoy playing oldies in small doses; I wouldn't want the Reverbs to work more than twice a month, if that...and I can always use the money...
8PM-The Reverbs’  rehearsal went well enough…Ken has an almost identical keyboard to what I have...In other news, I just now found out that the January 10th gig that the ACME Band Co. had didn’t happen because the venue was double booked…so I didn't miss a gig after all...as for this coming Friday, I found out that ACME will be using a substitute drummer Friday night at Leisure World... From what little I saw on YouTube he might just happen to be in some ways a better drummer than Mike – which is to say he’s not afraid to hit ‘em...
       I suspect it’s going to be an interesting gig…I've gotta get on with practicing my keyboard parts...hoping to work on that at least a little tomorrow and a bunch on Thursday and Friday...I'll only go out Thursday night IF the roomie goes out...
WEDNESDAY 1/15/2020 5:35--actually, I'll be in Rockville tomorrow night, so I'll probably go out somewhere, probably the OTWC...Tish and Johnny V are scheduled to host...not gonna bring any of my stuff...if somebody wants me to play, it will be on borrowed gear...OR I can come back to Gburg have Dinner at Wendy's and go to Pete's open mic at the Grape Escape...after which I might be taking care of Dianne's trash...if nothing else, Pete's open mic will be easier on my ears and won't wear me out physically...at my age, that's important...
   11:51 AM--so I went to Pritchard to get the cables...spent $45 bucks...THAT was unexpected...Joe's  Daughter is pretty...I'm sure she thinks I'm a psycho...she might be right...because of the Pritchard purchases,  I might not be able to use the house sitting money to pay down my credit card account...but that's OK--kinda...

I’M not the problem

 

    SATURDAY 1/11/2020 12:30PM-so the FHB played at the Elks last night… The turnout was very light, I don’t know why exactly… I guess some other more popular band was playing somewhere... I came home with about $70… I woke up this morning and put $20 in the bank to cover the EZpass account, although I have no idea when they take their money or how much they actually take when they DO take it… And I strongly resent the idea that I don’t get paid until I help with the  load out...Who helped ME with the load out? Who helped ME with the load in? nobody...Is it my fault that everybody else in the band has more stuff to worry about than I do? I really felt like shit after we were finished, physicality and emotionally – I think my blood sugar was extremely low – I should’ve thought of that ahead of time and had some chocolate and or sugar ready… Hopefully next time I’ll remember that…
           I will probably use the ICC to get to Ric’s house tomorrow – the Combustibles are scheduled to rehearse… Apparently there’s a gig coming up, although I am not sure where it is…Getting back to last night, I would say the vast majority of mistakes or the most obvious ones, were made by Butch... Considering the lyrics were right in front of him he made a lot of lyric mistakes... He got completely lost more than once…*I* think alcohol had something to do with it... I don’t think he would admit to being nervous; although that might be the problem…My new tablet holder worked as well as I wanted it to and I didn’t have too much trouble with lyrics, if any… There were a bunch of endings that were rather sloppy...
             I don’t think I’ve gotten an email from Stoney or Barnaby or Brian  criticizing the band’s performance...I’m pretty sure I will at some point… Stoney may not have time to do it today; he’s doing a gig tonight with the Crimestoppers at Lahinch… I’m not going out anywhere unless I get paid for it…
6:35 PM--at some point this afternoon, Barnaby sent an e-mail...He didn't comment on the quality of the performance...
 7:02 PM--from what I've heard so far (the first set) we damn near sucked...TEN MINUTES LATER--Listening to the  second set..Barnaby sure is fucking up SOMETHING--the song...I don't even wanna hear the third set, at least not yet...
Angela didn't show, Ann didn't show...Katie showed up late, but practically ignored me, like always...actually, Sue Johnstone ignored me at first, but at least she apologized...Carolyn showed up late...I think Barnaby is interested in her...naturally...

like always

THURSDAY 1/9/2020 5:57 PM--the ACME Band might have a gig on January the 17th at...Leisure World...it doesn't pay much, but the tips might make up for that...
FRIDAY 1/10/2020 11:01 AM--so I went to Litz and bought a mic stand tray, which *I* will use as a tablet holder...I forgot to take the tablet with me so I didn't know if it would fit until I got back home...By some miracle the tablet DOES fit on the tray...and I bought a BLUE glass slide that fits a bit better than the clear one Butch gave me...I charged both items...I had to...I have $4 in my pocket and just enough money in the Bank to get car insurance (which is to be taken by GEICO on the twelfth)--and NOTHING else...
      If tonight's gig falls thru or there's some kind of financial problem, I'm fucked...
1:20 PM-it’s not what I want to do, but in about 10 minutes or so I’m going to load up my car and go to the Elks Lodge… I hope to be back home by 4 o’clock, which gives me time to take a shower and eat dinner and then I’ll make my way back to the Elks Lodge to do some tinkering with my equipment… Like it or not, I think I will be in Manual mode this evening, except when I need the octave patch… Looking back on it, I should’ve done the tinkering yesterday – I just didn’t have the energy…
 2:20PM-so I’m out here in back of the Elks Lodge building waiting for everybody else to show up… I don’t THINK anyone else from the band is in there already, But I don’t know for sure... I don’t really know what everybody drives – maybe I should by now, but I don’t… I thought I heard Brian say that he would be here at 2 o’clock – I don’t know if he is or not…
2:55PM-well, Brian and Butch are here; I don’t think I’m going to be back home before 4:30…
3:55 PM-I’ll consider myself lucky if I’m home by 5 o’clock… My plan is to be back here by 7PM...we’ll see...
6:10 PM--didn't get home from the load-in until almost 5:30...wow, three hours...came home, took a shower...now I'm having Dinner...I wanna be back at the Elks Lodge by roughly 7PM...

the worst band I've ever been in?

                   SUNDAY 1/5/2020 5:15 PM--I'm so upset about being in a band that sucks as much as *I* think the Combustibles does that I wanna write a song about it...we had two "subs" practice with us today...the drummer was just ok IMO; the Bass player is very good and has played with us in the past...*I* think he left the band in the first place because we suck...I admit that my performance today was atrocious, but it's hard to want to play better when the rest of the band is so horrible...that may sound like a cop-out, but I swear it's not...
          As far as writing a song about it, I intend to think about lyrics once I've got the house to myself tomorrow...unless ideas come to me in the middle of the night...I won't stop 'em...but the situation is so depressing, it's hard not to think about it...but I'm soon gonna be too tired to give it my full attention...maybe that's a good thing...
6:45 PM--Ask me again tomorrow, but Ric is the weakest link in the band...we practice in his basement; I don't think we can tell him to stop smoking what I think is pot in his own house...we really did suck today...But *I* think we sucked a lot worse than Barry does...
MONDAY 1/6/2020 11 AM--starting to think about that song I wanna write, but I'm trying not to force it...it might take weeks before it's finished...it might be weeks before I even really start it...I'm not 100% sure all the members of the ACME Band Co. know that I'm not playing the 1/10 gig with them...personally *I* think somebody is too much of a Dead Head...I could be wrong but I think hallucinogens are involved...I kinda almost hope that's the case, then I won't be quite as annoyed with him...
TUESDAY 1/7/2020 9:45 AM--I'm supposed to go "practice" with Ken and Luisa later today, but I don't think Mother Nature is gonna co-operate...and I can't afford to have so much as a minor fender bender, however you define "minor"...I hope to re-schedule, yet again..I hope Ken isn't too upset...I have my work cut out for me, and I haven't started working on it yet...
1 PM--by mutual agreement, practice is now scheduled for tomorrow a 1PM...but FHB practice is scheduled for tomorrow evening...
4:14 PM--I took a risk and created a youTube playlist for the Reverbs songs that Ken sent me--the ones I didn't know, that is...a tech victory, minor perhaps, but still... 
5:42 PM--boy, did *I* open up a can o' worms on Flakebook...there's a page called Cover Band Central...I posed a question regarding the idea that (IMO) I was in a band that sucked and how do I handle that? I was accused of being conceited, and at least mildly insulted in other ways...I stand by my statement that one of the bands I'm in sucks--a lot...oh well...

Nothing to brag about

          SATURDAY 1/4/2020 10:30 AM-The Combustibles are rehearsing tomorrow at 1 o’clock… Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will be working with a different drummer (?) and a different bass player… I want to ask both of them after rehearsal is over what they thought of the Combustibles, but I’m afraid they will tell me what they think I want to hear, as opposed to what they actually think... I’m pretty sure it will take more than just a different rhythm section to make the Combustibles a better band – I’m not sure that we can BE a better band considering the other players currently involved... I am excluding myself, of course…
           I think I CAN be a pretty good lead guitarist...and I think I'm a damn good harmony singer; My biggest problem is my stage presence...it's pretty bad; I find it difficult to look at the audience, generally I'm looking down at the floor...or, more likely, the ME-70, even when I'm not about to change patches...I DO talk occasionally, but only very briefly...
             The FHB is playing at the Elks club the same night that the ACME Band Co. is playing at Lahinch but without me... I hope Dave didn’t forget… Belatedly I reminded Mike the drummer that I won't be there...The Crimestoppers  are playing at Lahinch the night after... If I didn’t have a gig on Friday night I MIGHT go see them, but I do so I wont...
         10:32 PM--in an e-mail sent two days after Xmas, Dave mentions that their former keyboard player will be sitting in with the band at Lahinch...I can relax about THAT at least, although I kinda wish I could be there to hear what the band sounds like with Steve Kerschenbaum on keys...

same shit different year

WEDNESDAY 1/1/20 10:10 AM--I'm having technical problems with this blog and I dunno why...all I wanna do is list the bands I'm in...
1.The Combustibles--*I* don't think we're very good, but it's ok--we don't work much...
2.InToneNation--not a whole lotta variety in the song list, but it's fun...maybe because it's easy...
3.The ACME Band Co.--this band isn't all that good either IMO, but I get to play keyboards a little...
4.Stu Judd & The Snowdawgz--my 2nd favorite of the bands I'm in, assuming the band still exists...
5.The Full House Band--perhaps my favorite band, in spite of the internal friction...if I just keep my mouth shut there wouldn't be any...
6.Luisa & the Reverbs--we haven't re-formed yet, but there's talk...it was fun the first time around...
      None of the bands work all that much...I would like the FHB and the Snowdawgz to work more, but the G-burg/Rockville area no longer has that many places to play...If either of those bands wants more work, we have to expand our searches geographically, into Virginia or north into AA Co.
6:31 PM--lemme see if I've got it right...the FHB is practicing tomorrow at 7...the Combustibles are scheduled to practice Sunday at 1PM and I'm supposed to meet with Ken and Luisa on Monday at one o'clock...
 THURSDAY 1/2/2020 4 PM--I did some work on the ME-70, I hope it makes a difference sonically...I know it ultimately doesn't even matter if I go or not, but I'm hoping to see what's left of the Singer/Songwriter Showcase at the OTWC...Angela is one of the featured artists...I'd like to be there by 10 PM if not sooner, but who knows?
FRIDAY 1/3/2020 12:11 AM--made it to the OTWC by 10PM...Took some pix of Alexia and Angela...I bolted from FHB rehearsal...practice went better than I thought it would...but at least one of the songs' harmonies were pretty bad, but no one said anything--*I* dunno why...we're practicing again the Wednesday before the gig I think...John Trupp returned my amp cover to me, now I have TWO...I sent an e-mail to Geoff asking him if he needed/wanted one...dunno when or if I'll hear back from him...