June 1, 2012: Post 153, Day 153

June 1, 2012

Daily Comment

In lieu of rehearsal yesterday, we had a band meeting without the band's leader, who had to cancel (see yesterday's comment).

I ran my mouth on a variety of subjects: The band's direction, goals and how to achieve them, playing philosophy, and modelling the band. All these things are related as far as I am concerned. 

To me, there's a simple and obvious model for the band: The E Street Band. Unified in support of one person, the creative leader and visionary for the band. That is what I suggested: Everything we do should be to promote the band's creative source: J. Brazill, who sings lead, writes all the original material, and works harder than any of us on the creative end. Get J. the audience he deserves.

To that end, each individual's efforts must be to sell every song we perform. I gave some examples where everybody succeeds there, and suggested a more minimalist approach. Playing technique doesn't necessarily move an audience - unless your audience is other musicians, which it isn't. I suggested a more stripped-down approach.

When you play only what is essential, stripping away everything extraneous, everything that doesn't directly contribute to the feel of what you're doing, what you are left with is powerful. Very powerful. I sometimes have a problem with this in my playing, but have gotten better (much better, I think) with dealing with this as I got more experience. 

Which brings me to the real subject of this commentary:

In conversation, discussion, human interation, I'm not so successful, because I struggle to be succinct. What I manage to avoid musically - having my music lost in excessive displays of technique - applies in interpersonal communication: Often, my meaning gets lost because I cannot explain it simply and quickly. The target of my verbage glazes over. 

Being able to use few words to express an idea is the essence of good verbal communication (along with consistent body language and tone of voice). 

I am prone to failure in that regard. I almost always over-talk, over-explain. I rely too heavily on the semantic meaning of the words I use, too, while neglecting the non-verbal parts. 

It may be an ADD thing, it may come from bad modelling, or bad wiring in my brain. But I perceive it as my greatest social communications flaw. When I am not in a heightened emotional state, this awareness helps, and I work on it. How much of the time that is the case, though, often keeps me silent.

As to the band, I think I was understood - even with my tendency to over-explain. It wasn't a big leap, or a controversial idea. Thank goodness for music.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        201.8 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    203.0  lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 1.2 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

Yesterday's 20 hour fast didn't make a dramatic difference in my weight, although it was a step in the right direction. Today's skipped breakfast and big lunch probably won't help, although the fact that I'm out of home-made mayonnaise might.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
At Ling-Ling:

Salad with lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, peas, tomatoes, cucumber and ranch dressing; kimchee; Stir fry pork and chicken with snow pea pods, broccoli, onions, tomato, cabbage, mushrooms and peppers.

Dinner

Grass-fed beef burger with guacamole, salsa, and faux-mashed potatoes (cauliflower, butter, salt and pepper)  

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   22 oz,   Water:112+ oz

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