20th day sober. I did the usual routine last night; went to bed around 5 or 6 AM, woke up around 2 PM, got all the things packed and headed out for the post office and FedEx a bit after 6. Besides my vitamins and some nuts (sunflower seeds) I had a couple of scrambled eggs before leaving so I'd not be tempted to buy food somewhere.
The drop-offs went fine, and I picked up some "foam core" behind FedEx, which comes in handy at times. I stopped at the storage unit and picked up a bunch of small things to list, so I'll have things to list over the weekend.
I'd noticed Tom was in front of his place breaking down more wood stuff, so while on the way out I'd just gone right by (and he didn't seem to notice me) after I was done at the storage unit I went over and hung out with him for a bit. He'd used the trumpet oils and stuff I'd left for him, and has his trumpet back to "100%". He's still keen to get up to speed and get out busking, so I think I might have something going here.
I reiterated that my Yamaha is for sale, and Tom asked about a few makes of student trumpets he'd seen on Craig's List I guess, and I said that yeah, anything by Olds is good, the Olds Ambassador is fine, but really, if he's got his trumpet working right, it should be all he needs for at least the next year if not longer. I told him about my cheapie $220 shakuhachi which may not be perfect, but is all I'll need for at least the next year or two.
We discussed songs to work on. I said you can't be a busker without a good "Amazing Grace", so that went on the list. Likewise "It's A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, and I mentioned "St James Infirmary" which I can play so melodramatically it's sad and hilarious at the same time. I said we can do things like alternate playing then play in unison, in a song. That would wow 'em.
He asked what instrument I would play if be busked together. I said if we're going to busk in 2 weeks, I'd play my Yamaha trumpet. But if we're going to busk in 2 months, I'd consider renting a sax and give that a try; that while I'd gotten a handle on how the pros play, high abdominal pressure and low pressure on the lips (as opposed to students who get into the trap of using too much mouthpiece pressure) I'd gotten that straightened out, but that I'd decided trumpet is just too hard on my system.
I'd already decided, I told him, that the shakuhachi is perfect for Hawaii, as the ruling class there is Japanese and it's highly regarded by that group. But, if for some reason my dream of moving back to Hawaii never happens for some reason, I'd definitely choose the sax because hardly anyone on the mainland knows what a shakuhachi is.
I got back here and put things away and cooked up a pork ramen from a kit from H Mart and as usual it came out really good. It's a little bit expensive, coming out to $2.50 and that's not counting the cost of the pork I put in it, but it's a lot cheaper than going to a ramen shop.
Oh, and as for the title of this post, the "ghost kitchen" up the road has indeed given up the ghost. No more "Neighborhood Kitchens" sign, no more inflatable wiggly green inflatable dancing-around thingie, no nothin'.
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