The Middle East

Wednesday: A nice morning, up and internet not working. Gus. Shower. Down basement, morning practices, and drums. Had a conversation with someone who I might co-lead a session with at a party in a couple weeks. Fetched the snow shovels out of the shed on the off chance that we get any snow this winter.

Headed out, stopping at the video store to drop off, and then at the donut shop for an egg sandwich. Still no word from my mechanic, so cruising in the Saturn. At work, checked in with B, and got a report about the trade-show. He thinks I'm being productive, so I guess I am! Then, talked to Al about a complex bit of engineering he did, that I now need to modify. Turns out MB had an ocular migraine. Finally got down to business and reworked some code I'd written just a couple weeks ago to be more convenient to use, now that I see I'm going to need to use it all over the place. Continued "two in one" conversion. Met Shawn at 7:30.

We drove over to Arlington. In preparation for tomorrow's gig, we worked in our most stripped down form: Shawn with a snare and one cymbal (and a boot on the floor) and me on acoustic. Some pieces take on a whole new life played in this way. Some don't really work as well. We did some worm on EotN, recording a snippet to Shawn's voice mail via my cell phone. Quite pleasingly low-fi, especially since the studio is underground.

Dropped Shawn at his place, and then drove back home, stopping at the Somerville Castle. A woman walked her dog in circles for what seemed a minor eternity. Back home, about to get out of the car, when my cell rang. MB was in the neighborhood, and about to head to the Middle East. Put my guitar and briefcase inside, and joined her.

Over in Central Square, ventured into the "bakery" side, and MB immediately met with the woman she was trying to connect with. Next door, for some food (garlic salad, grape-leaves, pumpkin kibby). MB headed back to the bakery, and I caught a cab.

The guys in the cab (driver, and his buddy riding shotgun. Both probably from Haiti) were friendly. The fellow in the passenger's seat said he loved watching the Patriots lose. "At half time, they were up 21 to 3, so I switched it off. Later I checked back, and they were down, 31 to 21, and I said 'OK, now I have something to watch!'"

Spent time trying to get the internet back on its feet. It was up, and then fell over again. Tea. MB came home. I got her connected to the net by leaching off a neighbor's open wireless. Now, down basement.