Two days in a row blogging in the morning. Maybe like Stella I got my groove back. It’s not, I feel the resistance but I’m getting there. I realized last night that my functional depression was affecting my Quordle. I’m making mistakes from lack of focus. I find myself rushing. Luckily observing the workings of my mind makes me feel better and thus helps the depression. It’s negative feedback.
Today should be easy to write as I did things yesterday. It was the second Tuesday of the month and that means John Platt’s On Your Radar. I feel like burying the lede today, so I’ll get to that in chronological order. I needed eggs which mean walking to Stop & Shop two miles away. Sure, I could walk two blocks to the Fine Fare, but eggs cost 80¢ more there and I feel lazy if I get them there. More importantly, I like to walk every day. That’s good for both my mental and physical health. To make it extra healthy I also bought chocolate cookies and fudge rounds. You have your healthy diet and I have mine. Mine revolves around chocolate. Chocolate is mental health food. Time was running a bit short, and I did something I never do anymore. I took the bus home from the store. I simply did not have time for the walk. I knew that might happen and planned on the financials. When I got home, I put the eggs in the fridge, dropped off the chocolate, and headed straight to the subway. That way I got a free transfer from the bus, so the bus ride was free. I didn’t get as much exercise as I could, but I didn’t feel profligate. I ended up walking 4.98 miles yesterday, so I didn’t shortchange my walking either.
My timing was great. I wanted to get to Rockwood in time for Karen Dahlstrom’s soundcheck. When friends play John Platt’s On Your Radar I like to watch the sound check and schmooze before doors. I even had time to get a slice of dollar pizza. That’s my usual Rockwood fare I walk by the pizza place so it’s easy and cheap and I can eat is as I walk the two blocks. When I got to Rockwood Music Hall I saw two women in front of the door. I recognized the hair of one of them, It was Caitlin Cannon from Side Pony, they were on the bill too and would have been the first to sound check. I have never seen them perform but as I do the social media for the series, I have looked at their pictures many times. I went up to them and said, “Are you Side Pony?” That amused them as they were making a little video and joking about worrying that nobody would show. I’ll always fit in well with Joking. Fred showed up too and bailed me out. I offered to take a picture of the two of them together in front of the sign with their name, but I had a slice of pizza in my hand. Fred offered to take the picture. That saved me from wolfing down the last few bites and then worrying about where to throw out the napkin and plate. I had my first embarrassment of the evening as I knew Caitlin’s name because every time I hear “Caitlin Cannon” I think “Caitlin Canty” who used to live in New York, and I knew well when she did. What I didn’t know was Alice’s name. Even now I remember Alice and have to check on her last name, Wallace. She’s from Alabama, which should make it easy for me to remember Wallace as long as I make it clear I’m not associating her with former Governor George Wallace. I’m getting quite open about my name issues and weird name associations here. Those are not meant for public consumption. Why do I do that? I might have to clean my filter.
When I went in and planned to walk down and talk to Karen, I saw her upstairs at the bar. She had finished her sound check. I talked to Karen then went downstairs to make sure everything was copacetic and found that Billy Woodward the third act had even finished his sound check. I think this is the first time ever all three acts were sound checked before 6:30. Kudos to the musicians and kudos to Knowledge. He’s the sound guy. I then had my second embarrassment, I forgot Billy’s name. I have already met Billy and I’ve been promoting the show for a month. He is one of those people I have a mental block on the name. There are others, some I know quite well. As sound check was over early, they let people in early. We had the biggest audience since the pandemic, many of the regulars were back. Let me see how many people I can name that were there. Fred, Richard, Viki, Jamie, Dan, Phyllis, Laura, Kay, Paul, Katherine, Jen, Ellen, Fran, Lara, and David. My apologies to those I’m forgetting. I even remember the servers name, Trinity. Before I die, I’ll get good at learning names. Writing the names here helps. You can see why I say Rockwood, especially during John Platt’s On Your Radar is my Cheers, the place where everybody knows my name. This was a home game.
After the show I hung around a while socializing then walked to the subway with Katherine. I can get on the F train right by Rockwood, but I almost always walk to the D train to stretch my legs and enjoy being outdoors after sitting in a basement for two hours. It’s even more fun with company.
Now to eat my breakfast. What’s on the menu? I think it’s hameggandcheese on an English Muffin. I hear that’s a house specialty.
Important update. I discovered that If I want people to read this, I have to put it on the internet. Nobody comes to my computer to read it. I had that breakfast two hours ago. Now I’m posting.
Wise Madness 