May 31, 2012: Post 152, Day 152 - Fast Day

May 31, 2012

Daily Comment

When I originally wrote today's comment, I began with this:

Tonight kicks off a busy weekend of bass playing for me. I'll be rehearsing tonight, then going to my 'neighborhood' bar to play some more.

The problem: I never played a note. Rehearsal was cancelled, and by the time I showed up at the open mic (before it started), the sign up sheet was already deep. Then, it was decided to put the bands up before the jammers, like me, got the call. That meant me getting up to play too late. I didn't get to play.

I'll play tomorrow. There's a new jam tomorrow night. It's only for June, though.

The band has a gig on Saturday.

Sunday, I'll be jamming at one, or more likely, two open mics.

Then, the band is going to play a showcase Monday, there's a once-a-month jam Wednesday, band rehearsal, then a jam Thursday, and an open mic Friday, 

All that playing next week is a good thing, because I won't be playing at all next weekend, when I'm down in the city and will have pleasures of another sort: The company of good friends I don't see often enough, and some even some relatives I see... well, almost never.

Playing like this is the local fun I have. This is my at-home social life, what gets me happily off my butt and out of the house. This is my joy.

My focus on playing is pretty intense. I am an ensemble player - I dislike and rarely play alone. I play by myself only for the time it takes me to learn whatever material I need to learn. And that is not my preferred mode of learning, I'd rather work it out in rehearsal (but that is too time-intensive). 

Because of this, I am dependent on rehearsals, open mic jams, and similar opportunities to get together with other musicians to provide me with pleasurable music-making experiences.

Is this a healthy focus? I think it is. I think it is so healthy for me, that I try to maximize my ensemble playing time. And I get impatient when the opportunity is there, but I don't get to play (even during rehearsal breaks!).

Other people see it, too. Musicians notice that I'm always smiling when I play (actually, I'm pretty sure that isn't true, because I have a lifelong 'tic' when I'm playing - when I get lost out of myself, I masticate. It isn't attractive, but like Michael Jordan's tongue coming out in a dunk, nobody boots me off the stage because of it) and it gives them confidence that everything is all right (although it doesn't actually mean that). 

Friends, when they hear me play, frequently remark on how they think it looks like I should always be playing - I look so happy and 'right' when performing.

This is an honest reflection of how I really feel when I'm making music in an ensemble. It's a very pure joy, down to the bone.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        203.0 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    202.8  lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 0.2 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

Will today's fast (only 20 hours due to my schedule) be the correcting moment for my almost two-weeks above the trend line? I'm hoping.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner

Tuna salad (w/celery, hard-boiled egg, and home-made mayonnaise) and Spring Mix greens with cole slaw veggies and balsamic vinaigrette. Not shown: Baby carrots and mayonnaise.

Snack
Pepperoni and broccoli.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   32 oz,   Water:96+ oz

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