Up 6. Breakfast, coffee. Read to p. 90 Brooks, a few poems in Ric Caddel.
Therapy; off next week.
Called my uncle Anthony for Xmas. Called Bree in France, put Dad on w/ her family.
Read another 10 p. of Brooks, did this and that (dithered) for a while, but digital piano + accessories in car (actually, put the piano in last night, while it was raining; it’s a chore, and I knew it would be on my mind).
Left for Orange County around 2:30; not as much rain as expected. Listened to a CD of James Scott’s piano rags, and then worked on lyrics to Laura’s song in my head. Got somewhere on the bridge.
Filled up gas tank. Visited w/ my cousin Toni and Family in Mission Viejo about 3:30-5. Gave me cookies and focaccia to take back to dad. Went from there to my cousin Lynda’s for Christmas Eve — at this point, it’s more their friends, and some of her husband’s family, than “ours.” Still homey. Set up the keyboard, led the annual singalong of “That’s Amore” and “12 Days,” + played some carols w/ a friend of Lynda’s who took up her high school flute during lockdown. Decent tone, no “time” to speak of. Didn’t deprive myself at dinner, but didn’t go nuts — skipped the cake (but had cookies), didn’t drink after a little cup of punch.
Headed back around 9:30, listened to a rather good old(ish)-school hip-hop show on KPFK, home by 10:30; not much traffic.
Wrote in the poetry notebook. Lights out around 11.
11.23.21
Up 7:30. Breakfast, coffee. Read 5 p. each of Brooks and Eliot. Social media posting about radio show.
Left a little after 9:15. Did my show: playlist.
Stoped at Huntley (the 5 Colleges bookstore); bought some pencils and 2 books on clearance.
Lunch at The Meat Cellar, just for a change in routine. What in notebook while waiting. Probably overate.
Too rainy to feel like going somewhere to work. Picked up a couple of gift cards for the caregivers at CVS.
Went home, watched Bell, Book, and Candle (Quine 1958), w/ catnaps. Made some coffee.
Dinner - kept it light, just salad, vegetables, 1/2 avocado.
Read 15 p. Brooks.
Wrote from about 9-11 pm; fixed up the current graf, on “You Are My Sunshine” and “Pistol Packin’ Mama.”
Lights out midnight.
12.22.21
Up 4:30 am. Didn’t really get back to sleep after that. 10 p. Middlemarch.
Breakfast, coffee. Wrote a little in notebook before therapy.
Played a little Gershwin, finished Davies. Also read front matter to Richard Caddel, Uncertain Time. “No ideas but in Tunes.”
Half-napped 11-noon; felt a bit better.
Went out before 1. Got a haircut in downtown Upland, w/ both myself and the barber,a guy I’ve taken my dad to before, masked. (I’d passed another barber where no one was.) Thought I’d stop in the tiny art book/supply store that’s opened up on the same block (a hopeless business for the area but the rent must be modest), but it was closed until 2. Intended to work at Lucky’s, but the outside tables were occupied. Drove up to Coco’s on Foothill to see about ordering something in for Dad on Christmas Day. Inconclusive; they don’t know if they’ll have prime rip b/c of supply chain issues. Tried same at Corky’s near the Whole Foods, but they’ll be closed. Worked at the Starbuck’s there 3:30-5:30, revised yesterdays graf, more satisfactorily, moved on to the next. Picked up some green beans to cook for dinner, went home.
Yesterday’s covid test came back negative. Discussed a couple practical things w/ my dad, inc. his Xmas gifts to caregivers. Helped w/ dinner. Jeopardy! In most areas of life, I root for the underdog, but when someone has a streak on Jeopardy!, I want them to keep winning.
Played through Invention No. 1 a couple times (I think that’s the one I have the best handle on).) Got some records together for tomorrow’s radio show. Forced myself to write my 1 p. Notebook poem (doggerel, really); put on side 1 of Adele Bertei, Little Lives, a very slick 1988 by the ex-Contorionist that I thought would be artier.
Wrote 2 p. In notebook, petered out at 10. Couldn’t get to D. Brooks or songwriting today. Lights out 11, but had quite a bit of trouble sleeping.
12.21.21
Solstice.
Up 6 am.
Read a few p. Each of Brooks and Davies.
Notebook 3 p. (some of it just scheduling).
Read 5 p. of Middlemarch.
Emails, texts, and the like 9-10:30 or so. Accomplished a fair bit. Sent KSPC a pic to promote my show.
Therapy w/ Bree.
Watched last night’s Jeopardy! w/ Dad, got out of the house around 12:30.
Lost 30-40 min. in construction traffic driving to Pomona; frustrating, but at least I listened to most of an Anthony Braxton CD (4 compositions from 1992, not sure exact title of record, but Ted Reichman is on it).
Wrote for a scant hr. at Terra Mia on Indian Hill just above Holt. Wrote a shorter, more usable version of yesterday’s graf; other details can wait for the TPA chapter.
Did a drive-thru covid test at a CVS on Garey (my reason for heading that direction); done by 3:30.
Made my semi-annual stop at Glass House Records on Holt — bought a dozen or so LPs inc. some for the new wave show; only item more than $8 was a copy of Phil Ochs’ Gunfight at Carnegie Hall, which you don’t see often. Put a lot of stuff back after a quick spin at the listening station. Left at 5.
More Braxton on the way home, and the first few tracks from Nels Cline, New Monastery; all Andrew Hill compositions, w/ Bobby Bradford.
Dad was watching A Beautiful Mind when I got home. I read to p. 25 of Brooks + worked on Schubert & Bach for 30 min. before dinner. Heard from Laura C. — sounds like I got out of NYC just in time, virus-wise.
Watched Jeopardy! and an L&O.
Started new poetry notebook.
Read to p. 50 in Brooks, a few more pages of Middlemarch. Lights out 11:30.
12.20.21
Up 5. Didn’t get back to sleep, tired and dragging from mid-morning on.
Watched 2 episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent (too much).
Talked to Bree — bought my Ticket to France
Read 20 p. Davies.
Wrote 2 p. in notebook.
Therapy.
Went out after lunch, stopped at Claremont Library, bought two Thomas Crow books and others I can’t recall exactly (they’re in the car), worked 2:30-4-ish at Sanctuary Coffee on Foothill. Not elegant, probably won’t keep much. Picked up a snack and some herbs and garlic at Sprouts, home about 5. Watched Kind Lady (1935, George B. Seitz) w/ Basil Rathbone and Aline McMahon. Basically a home invasion/takeover movie, like The Servant but pushing the plot rather than the psychology. Enjoyably acted, weak ending.
Sautéed mushrooms to have w/ dinner. Played piano aimlessly, mostly half-baked Monk. Jeopardy! was pre-empted for football, so I went back to my room early. Had thought about Laura’s song off and on, jotted down a few things but most of it hasn’t cracked.
Basically, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, and never have.
Not nearly enough energy to start any serious reading today. Lights out 10:30 pm.