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Since 1987 |
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HIS SPIRIT LIVES ON! ... BONER, THE PIANO DOG ... November 27, 1994 ... February 20, 2010
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March 31, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Did you know that Las Vegas has something like 250 miles of tunnels that run underneath the city?
Tonight, Traveling Piano Dog Mo and I joined up with Holy Smoke - Misfit Missionaries, a group of comedians and entertainers who help the homeless living in the tunnels beneath the Vegas Strip. It is not pretty at all down in those sewers. It is fascinating (not in a fun way) to see the different levels of functioning and very sad that people have to live this way without options they can work with in their minds. The group shared home cooked pasta, socks, underwear, water, batteries and I made some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with snacks and candy to bring along. The tunnels felt claustrophobic for me. If someone snapped out I would have no place to go. We had to walk in sewage, ugh. And the stench... I was very impressed with the one-on-one relationships my new friends have been able to create and nurture with those living in the tunnel gutters.
| March 30, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
The temperature is beginning to rise. I must get out as much as possible into nature before it is too late. There are only a few weeks before it will be too hot for both of us to do any serious hiking or climbing or just being in the sun. Mo and I drove to the Valley of Fire. We meandered as usual and found several spots totally alone and far from anything outside of pure nature. We climbed high up to a cliff. I am so thankful to be doing what I can, while I can. I felt a little dizzy and Mo he was also not sure of himself. He had trouble getting back to the truck and drinks water every twenty minutes or so as he stops to rest. His strength and ability to walk, climb, step over rocks diminishes each time we go out it seems. The same with me. With Mo it is age, with me it is my weight more than anything else. But still... we go... we do... we experience glory. We sat in a rock cove for security and experienced a feeling of awe while looking out over a vast amount of earth. I am so fortunate. I am so thankful. Nature helps me to stay sane.
| March 29, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
I have a new keyboard. It is a less quality model than I presently have, I just had to get something before the present keyboard just falls apart. I took it to a Kundalini Yoga center a block away from where I live to give my friend Mandeep who owns the place a session of Traveling Piano music. We lit a candle, she laid on the message table, I hooked up headphones for her and myself and then I created music for about eleven minutes as an experiment. I've been wanting to do this for years and actually did some experimenting with it in West Virginia many years ago. I would like to sell the idea it as a sort of meditative, musical therapy through the intimacy of live music one-on-one. She thought it was interesting. I'll try it with one of her employees in a few days to get some feedback.
| March 28, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
I was able to get to bed earlier last night because we were exhausted from yesterdays hike. Once awake we got outside with the Traveling Piano for our weekly Sunday commitment on main street to pick up anything that people might drop off to share with the homeless in the area. My friend Loretta dropped off some cupcakes and peanuts. Another friend that I have not seen in a few years stopped by and dropped off a hundred dollar contribution. That felt amazing. He said he sees my posts online all the time and had to wait to find a way to contribute that suited him verses monthly or through a fundraiser.
I've learned through the years that people give as they can give and that is for a myriad of different reasons in different ways at different times. It cannot always be the way I want it when I need or want it but the "givers" in fact eventually always find a way for themselves. About half way through the time my energy level started to drop big-time. Yesterday began to catch up with me and wow, I became completely exhausted. And as well my body began to ache. All this should have been expected. Its ok, after creating some music and spending two hours on the street, I went and gave out food and supplies to about a hundred people and called it a day.
| March 27, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Mo and I had to get out and into nature. As usual I did not quite know where we were going. We ended up at a pull off south of Redrock Canyon. Verses hiking towards the canyon, I've always been curious about the ridge on the opposite side of the road far away. There was not anything interesting about it and I've never seen anyone head in that direction. There is no trail. Today was that day to explore in that direction as there surely would be no people. It was a steady incline. We would reach a point and I would see another point up. I would look at it and hmm and haw as to wether I could make it. But curiosity has always had the best of me in situations such as this even with a little fear because we were so far away from anyone or anything. We just keep going. I would fixate on a bush farther ahead and say, "you can do this" "you can reach that" "it is never as far away as it looks."
We did it and it was just awesome to be at the very top of the ridge. It was up high enough that is was windy and very cool. On the way up I was thinking how, very soon as it turns warmer these hikes will no longer happen. Definitely not with Mo and I will not be hiking without Mo. He would stop every once in a while when he just could not go farther and we would take a water break, I'd lay my coat on the ground and we would take a twenty minute nap... then get up to continue onward. It is difficult with his bones now old. He's an old man now. At one of the spots we he stopped, totally exhausted with contentment from hiking, climbing and simply enjoying the pureness of nature today in the desert, my old buddy Mo turned to give me the his sweetest look of loving, respectful appreciation. We have a good life together. I felt very accomplished today as I have not hiked this distance in over a year.
| March 26, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
I've had a gallon of steel cut oats needing to get mixed with something to take out onto the streets. The something mix ended up being with marshmallows, chocolate cake frosting, peanut butter, sugar and butterscotch. A little wet, I wrapped them in tinfoil, gave them out with forks and napkins. Someone gave me about five pounds of rice. Oh no people... do not be giving me things I need to cook. Not becoming burnt out from all this is a challenge. Tomorrow I think I will need a break.
| March 25, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Someone I know personally, was vaccinated 4 weeks ago and tested positive on Monday. Now is not the time to let down your guard. Out of millions of vaccines and millions of unique individuals it can not be expected that everything will move along perfectly. This is not how life works. Nothing will ever be 100%. Do everything you can to help. Wear a mask, it helps. Get vaccinated, it helps. I received my second dose vaccination today. Whoo Hoo!
Once again, the Crazy Cook in a Small Space strikes with a successful ten gallon meal of pasta, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, broccoli, celery, radish, onions, parmesan cheese, salami, black olives and olive oil, butter, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, cilantro and parsley. Chopped it all up last night, mixed it all today, (what a talent) packed it all into serving cups with forks, napkins and water, went out and delivered it all to my friends on the streets. Lastly, I provided some Traveling Piano music for dinner and Traveling Piano Dog Mo looked on in friendship while really just wanting to gobble up the scraps.
| March 24, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Finally, I got going with preparing food. I spent the day making Traveling Piano Chunky Peanut Butter, Butterscotch, Betty Crocker Chocolate Frosting, Marshmallows, Butter, Chow Mien Noodle Candy Clusters... just exactly enough for every single person on the street that I came across... about a hundred servings.
| March 23, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
I spent the entire day trying to get started on preparing and cooking food to take out onto the streets and because it was all "try" "try" "try" what I got done was "nothing" "nothing" "nothing." I either do or I do not do.
| March 22, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Every single time a tragedy... killings occur like today in Colorado... because of people who support gun ownership... every single son, daughter, parent, family member, friend, neighbor and American citizen who has had a personal encounter with gun murder in the past... relives it today as their own experience. This hell... over and over, thanks to those that say nothing, do nothing and in fact support the presence of guns through ownership for others and themselves. And especially if they claim to be a Christian while supporting gun ownership, they only show that they in fact do not live in faith and through Jesus Christ, they show they live in fear with no other option then to use a gun as their lord and savior. And of course, many men just use them or the idea of them to masterbate with. Get rid of the guns! This one hit me hard today, I'm trying to not go down the rabbit hole of sad, sorrow and pain. For a second, I thought about driving to Colorado with the Traveling Piano... what I think I may do is... everytime someone is gun murdered here in Las Vegas I will go to that spot and create music. There are so many sad memories with the Traveling Piano at Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook CT, San Bernardino CA, Skid Row LA, Trevon Martins spot in Florida, here in Las Vegas, etc...
| March 21, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Today was the regular Sunday commitment on Main street to create some musical presence and pick up some goodies to share. It is just two hours. My friend Loretta dropped off two large bags of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with pairs of socks and I still had a few cases of water. So, when I was done there, Mo and I headed out to do our thing as in hand everything out. We had one interaction. It began with an adorable and friendly puppy. I had to get a picture of him with Mo on top of the piano and that led to a photo with the owners of the pup also. Just two people and a dog today on the Traveling Piano... it is so very difficult to not engage with everyone. What a beautiful day to be out and about with of course a feeling looming that is not good concerning people being out and about with this pandemic happening.
| March 20, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
These days of the year now are absolutely perfect, beautiful, sunny, comfortable temps... I just had to get out and felt like I have not felt in a long time. I was just going to meander and create some spontaneous synchronicity like in days of old. Ha, that did not happen. I ended up a block away at my friends yoga place that was having an event and I ended up just hanging out there. I was treated to an amazing vegetarian sandwich made to taste like chicken and had fun with some new people. Not many, just a few. It was in a back ally so a lot of the neighborhoods homeless were sniffing around hoping I had some food for them which I did not. Tomorrow...
| March 19, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
The goal... not to just to share some home cookin' for those living on the streets but to give everyone a special feeling of worth in being human. My friends Eric, Mary and Barbara today went to major lengths to help Mo and I do just that. With some kitchen space to spread out in, we all worked as a team to make about five gallons of kickass potato salad. We used potatoes, bacon, celery, onion, mild jalapeño, cheddar cheese, hard boiled eggs, salt, pepper and mayo. Then we moved onto making tuna wraps with mayo, kale, cheese, garlic powder salt, pepper and more mild jalapeño. They were wrapped in soft tortillas.
Two friends were going out of town today and dropped off all their perishable food for us to use. There were lots more apples and oranges along with four cases of water my friend Todd dropped off last Sunday. We we're also given some books for people to read. Last night my friend Amanda delivered about a hundred twenty hand sewn face masks and Eric bagged another hundred disposable masks into zip lot bags to give out. With all that help and support Mo and I went out into the dark tonight with the Traveling Piano to spread the love.
| March 18, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
My friends Eric and Barbara , we got together to see a exhibition called Omega Mart at Meow Wolf that is interactive with mind-bending art at a place called AREA15 today. It is the first time I've seen any kind of show here in Las Vegas after all these years! There were way too many people in there. I cannot imagine what it would be like without the Covid restrictions. Mo went in with us. Afterwards, he was exhausted from all the stimulation and chaos. What an amazing animal he is to behave so well. I did not bring my camera. I forgot it. Some day I will go back for sure. My energy is almost completely depleted.
| March 17, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
There are those who nap, so they can go hike. Mo and I hike, so we can go take naps! As elderly gents this is what we do... meander a little, nap a little, meander a little, nap a little... luckily, there is enough desert around that we can get away from people to do it. We were in the Valley of Fire, Nevada today and got there early enough to just sit for hours in the quiet. Both of us are in bliss together when we find a spot to just sit in. Mo usually likes to rest about 20 feet away from me. Sometimes we lay next to each other. My head and face are a little sunburned. I'll need to watch out for that big time this year. We both drank a full gallon of water and needed more. I began to get a little concerned until I realized and had three cases of water in the back of the truck under the tarp to give out to people living on the streets. The temperature and sun was amazing. The Valley of Fire every year, is getting more crowded with people.
Four years ago I could go around this time of the year and be by myself. Those days are gone. With the third nap I felt rejuvenated and wanted to create some music before dark. That was not possible in most areas because I would have drawn a crowd and I am not into that, especially when the goal is to get away from people. It was sunset and we drove to a spot where I knew it would be most empty. Once there a vehicle came up full of mom, grandparents and five kids. They were running around playing and not so into nature. Then one of them came up to me and asked if I would play the piano for them. Of course I had to do that but told them they needed to sit and watch the nature as I was doing it. They all did it without reservation. When I saw that they we're being so good, I lost control and had to let them on onto the piano. I broke virus protocol again but it felt safe, sort of.
Probably because I wanted it to feel safe, lol. Although, I felt sure it was. But still, posting a picture of it online does not set a good example but I just have to. I want people to see that the life blood of the Traveling Piano is still flowing. It is what it is. While just hanging out in the desert I tried to remember in life when I have been able to just sit and do nothing, not think... nothing, just look at the sky. It may have happened at the beach a few times in life. Today, it for sure happened in the desert where I was not even thinking, "this is beautiful, thank you God, etc..." there was simply "being." Now that I write that... there have been many times in nature throughout this journey where I just "be" and nothing more.
| March 16, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
So it has comes to this! The photo posted... creating music next to trash cans for homeless people living literally in gutters on the street with a religious whack-job in the background promoting trump with signs of his name on her truck while serving food in his honor. Lol, it is all kind of surreal yet pathetically real. Yet, I have nothing but gratitude for the love, fun, friendship, respect and musical healing that I can bring to this kind of environment and gratitude for the love and appreciation, respect I am given in return. I can be together with everyone on the streets as an equal through the Traveling Piano. Concerning the whacko, I have no desire to be with that type of person... equal or not.
| March 15, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Oh, for the love of daylight until 7:00pm!!! Especially for a Traveling Piano Man who does not get up until after 12:00 noon! Mo and I walked out into the desert where I found a dry bed of pebbles to lay in and listen to the worlds silence. Mo found a stick to play with. We both we're in heaven together.
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| March 14, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
I'm taking it super easy today because of how much I pushed it physically yesterday while remembering that a full days work does not hit me physically until the second day after. I just finished posting all the Traveling Piano's Photos for 2020 in the Photo Galleries section of this website. Check it out. There are almost 2000 photos even with the Covid virus. While out working yesterday it came to mind how many people who have serious mental problems, emotional dysfunctions and downright warped minds, how they contribute to society in humanitarian ways. Seriously, people who are literally crazy can and do help those less fortunate. God, I hope I am not crazy and just don't know it. Probably, I am in several ways.
| March 13, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
I'll be paying a price physically tomorrow for the work I did today. I'll deal with it. I knew it was going to be a beautiful day with sun and the temperature around seventy degrees. It is Sunday and I go to my commitment on Main street to collect whatever anyone has to give me so I can share it with the homeless. My friend Todd came and dropped off cases of water. He is going crazy with the world as it is and I tried to comfort him some. It just reminded me of how much more difficult it is for others than what I deal with. My friends Loretta and Jane dropped off home made cookies. Mary, Eric and Barbara brought cups and spoons for me to use when serving hot food... lots of big fat oranges, bags of peanuts and bananas. Inside the Peddlers Market where I am situated, someone told the owner that I am doing a great business selling oranges outside, lol! Someone else came up to ask if they could purchase some water from me. Other people think I am busking for bucks. Word is beginning to get around about who I am and what the Traveling Piano is about but it is going to take time for me to present myself in a more clear way. I created music and it felt so good. The sun, I could feel on my neck. I will need to get some sort of setup soon for shade before the sun and heat starts getting strong in another month or so. Once I got on the streets with the food, which all went fast, I was reminded how much Mo means to many people. A friend Jimmy who I have known for years begged me to take a picture of him and Mo.
Once that happen I just broke down with my pandemic boundaries concerning people getting onto the truck with the homeless people I know. There was no way I could resist, I just could not take it anymore. I was talking with some other people who were giving out food and wanted to find a good spot to do it in. I told them to go to Foremaster because no one goes there anymore as it is such a trash pit with the worst of the worst. When I heard myself say that, I knew I had to go there because I had been staying away myself. Once there, I let a guy up on the piano named Strappy who I have known for years. Everytime he sees me he asks, so today I let him. Then another guy got up, he really needed the release to just tickle out a few musical notes. Mo has shared the top of the piano with many street dogs and today that happened with another old street dog that he knows. I hung out for a while with Curtis a guy who stays at a resource center on the street. My friend Amanda was going to drop off masks today but forgot. Curtis had a full case that he gave to me! There are so many conflicting feelings and thoughts, joy and reservations about the interactions with COVID happening. So many people have been letting down their guard. Well, I let mine down somewhat today. I'm doing the best I can. This virus sucks. The normalcy today, I could just cry with relief over it. One day at a time. Conscious awareness all of the time. We are all... well most of us, are doing the best we can.
| March 12, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
It was a pain in the ass! And... it took eight hours of cutting, cooking, stirring, switching ingredients from pot to pot to make seven gallons of chicken pre-cooked, cooked another whole chicken, added more chicken from 20 cans and all the juices with about 15 cans of garbanzo and pinto beans with the juices, mild jalapeño peppers and juices, gallons of green peppers, carrots and onions all cut up and cooked down in a pound of butter with salt, pepper, Italian seasonings with four bars of mild cheddar cheese and sour cream. Why? Because I could. I have food that needed to get used. I started around noon and got going out onto the streets about 8pm. It was cold, dark and wet out. What happens to people laying in dirt and on the sidewalks when it rains? They get wet along with everything they are wearing and their blankets for the night. Along comes the Traveling Piano man and his pup Mo and hot chicken gumbo, water and snacks. As soon as I began serving, it became all worth it. "Don't burn your mouth, its hot!" over and over I said about fifty times. If you received the Very, Very Real appreciation, gratitude, respect and validation... the friendship shared and given to me from the hard work, you would know it is all a no brainer in doing. It is called love for humanity. I hate having to do it. But once I get started it always pays off ten fold. I finished working outside at twelve midnight! Thank you to all my friends who help me along the way to be able. Those that give me food to share and those that send a few bucks monthly through this website.
| March 11, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
I know this wonderful couple of forty two years, David Ettlin and his wife Bonnie Schupp. Both of these people I consider good friends and they have been consistent through the years as Traveling Piano supporters. Bonnie passed on today. My sadness is great. Bonnie gave me the ability to truly trust that she loved me. She cared for me and showed it through both action and words. Bonnie's life was all about fun, friendship and respect as an artist, a teacher, a mother and wife, an accomplished photographer and writer, piano player, she was a spiritual person who, as very few people I have known worked consistently to accept and love the worst of human nature in others, everyday. Bonnie has been unwavering in her quest for the understanding of others and she has loved everyone as she did me, equally. We did not have much contact through the years, it was never necessary.
Have you ever had a friend where you are both present in life almost all the time together and then when you do connect physically there has been no time lost? I have kept Bonnie close to my heart as a mentor, as example for me to keep love as my life's priority. There is no way I am going to let go of her and I know Bonnie will also stay with me. She is with me as I write this even though I am feeling a sense of lose. Both Traveling Piano dog Bo and Mo, we stayed with Bonnie and Dave three times during my journey. They gave me a feeling of family, of being home. The first time they welcomed me into their home, it was as a stranger having never before met. Many of her friends from around the world are feeling the lose of Bonnie today even though she leaves the world full of her spirit which will be forever present. Dave, my thoughts are with you and your daughter Lauren. I love you my friend.
| March 10, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
It is very amazing when I can see the universe taking care of me. It has been awhile but it happened twice this week. The first time, I was cooking for the homeless while thinking I had to go pick up some food in the morning. I can do that only once a month on a specific day at the food bank I use and that day was the next morning. Also as i was cooking I remembered that I needed to check on a doctors appointment concerning my hospital emergency ward visits last month. I thought the appointment would be in about two weeks and figured to check on the date in a few days. As I was leaving the house a phone call came in. It was the doctors office saying they needed to reschedule my appointment which was supposed to be for... tomorrow morning. I would have missed it and had to wait for another month. The appointment is important. My guardian angles were in play. Then... I am super, super conscious about my truck and apartment keys. When I am out, I usually hold them in my hands so I do not lose them. Every time I leave my room I stand outside for about 15 seconds to consciously know the keys are in my hand before I close the door. Tonight, I went out with some sandwiches, oranges and water to give to people.
As I opened the apartment complex door to leave, a guy that I gave my leather jacket to on a cold December night was standing there. He said, "I'm still wearing your coat piano man and I honor it." That made me feel very good, especially as homeless guys rarely are able to keep their coats. I walked around in the dark giving everything out. It is freezing tonight. There is an unusual cold front moving through. A women I know asked if I had a blanket. She never asks for anything and I could tell she was suffering. So, home I went to get my blanket to give her. I passed another woman just laying on the cold sidewalk so I had to get a blanket for her also. Once I got to my place I realized my keys we're not in my hand. They were not in my jacket. They we're not in my bag. I shook the empty bag, felt around completely in it, nada. I must have handed them to someone with food by mistake or dropped them when I was handing out food... in the dark. Ugh! I caught someone driving out of my apartment complex and they drove back to open the gate for me. I have a spare set of keys in the truck so I asked a neighbor to help me break into it. Another neighbor gave me a hanger. The apartment manager who lives onsite is leaving her job tomorrow (very, very sad to see that) and she got dressed to come outside and open my apartment door for me.
In the meantime I remembered how to get into the truck real easy to get the spare keys. I got the blankets and walked back to give the woman her blanket while retracing my steps and praying to St. Anthony to help me find them. Then, I went into the serenity prayer. I could not ask anyone on the streets if they saw the keys. There are limits to trusting people living on the streets, lol. The last thing I want is for anyone to know the piano man's apartment and truck keys are on the ground somewhere. When I got back to my room, my big empty bag once was front and center on the ground. I could not help but see the keys were in it sitting at the bottom plain as can be. Look at the photo I posted, that is exactly what I saw. I had checked that bag on the street and in my room the first time around, I had felt all around in the bag several times. It is not a big bag. It was as though the keys were put there for me from the universe. The sequence of events and thoughts are not new for me. It has happened about ten times before in my life in the very same way, to misplace, lose or have something stolen only to find it placed or returned for me front and center to see and find in a very unusual way. Always, I am being cared for from a spiritual realm. When I can see and know it... that is beautiful and miraculous. My life works by acknowledging whatever happens and then by having gratitude for what happened and then sharing it.
| March 09, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
I am cooking a lot. It is not what I want to be doing but what I feel needs to get done. Having picked up so much food from food banks, that was the fun part. Now I must use it for the intended purpose and no one else is going to cook it for me. My friend Eric stores it for me in his garage. I picked up some of it today and cooked another five gallon pot which took hours of work. It was all distributed in less than a half hour. Food disappears fast on the streets. It is what it is. People are totally appreciative and the fact that it is hot food is a big deal. Street friends were asking for seconds which made it feel worthwhile. First, I had to envisioned how I was going to do it all, especially in my small cooking space. I began by cutting up all the veggies. Set everything out on my bed in different pots and containers. In several stages, first I cooked the onions in butter, then peppers in butter and mixed the two to put in a large bowl. Then I took meat patties I had, cut them up into small chunks and cooked them in butter and added seasonings... barbecue, pepper and salt. Then I heated up garbanzo beans with butter while adding cheese and a large tub of sour cream. That turned into and amazing white bean sauce. The original idea was to make burritos as I had several large packages of tortillas. Once in the process I realized that was not going to happen. It was getting dark and I cannot wrap a burrito to save my life. So, I cut all the tortillas into pieces, fried them in butter and then just added them to the mixture. It all turned out perfect!
| March 08, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Seriously, life is becoming a blur. My holidays are running into each other. This picture from right now, in my room... what I will call my Valentines Day Hat (its really my "fuck trump" hat) and then my Christmas Amaryllis finally blooming, and then my "real" Halloween Pumpkin still going strong from the beginning of October!!! (and it was only four bucks!) I'm thinking at this rate, a Leprechaun might appear for St. Patrick's day and then maybe even the Easter Bunny!
| March 07, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Please God, help me get back to the Photo Art Gallery work! There's the dealing with the truck repairs ongoing and now my doctor appointments for old man physical issues, then the getting and preparing and serving of food to the homeless, music whenever possible, walking Mo and myself, trying to take care of everyday life and organization, my online work... I've been away from the photo gallery long enough now that I will need to start from scratch with all the filing I have done. This, because I cannot remember how I organized and filed everything so I would remember how I organized and filed everything!
I've been chomping at the bits to get back to normal downtown on the street with the truck and people and music but conscientiously, I just cannot do it yet with COVID still happening. The streets are packed with people not giving a shit. Why can't I be like them? It is completely frustrating. I tell myself to give it time, it will all be there when I return and if not something new will turn up. It always has. I will wait at least until I get my second vaccination at the end of the month but then again, I still cannot be letting random people on the truck to play with the piano. Patience is the name of the game.
| March 06, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
I'm posting photos from 2007-2008-2009 today. Remember that song, "Those were the days my friends..." Today is a most beautiful spring like day. When I moved here, I could feel the energy of what was to come for the downtown Arts District here, where I live. It is now happening. Bars and restaurants are opening up, the streets are becoming packed with people, only about fifty percent wearing masks... in the bars and eateries packed with people, no one is wearing a mask. Everyone is letting there guard down and I just cannot. It is an excruciating feeling wanting to be part of it all with the Traveling Piano and setting up a Photo Art Gallery, knowing that I should be working in and with everything as it begins so I am networked in from the start, and I can, but my conscious will not allow it for myself, not while people are still dying and the virus is still floating around everywhere. It is a matter of respect first and foremost for myself and others. Plus, I have not yet had my second dose of the vaccine. I still need to get the photo gallery organized and set up. The energy needed is just not there. Mo and I are loving each other totally and he is my consistent source of stability in every moment of life.
| March 05, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Alas, the Traveling Piano truck after some grinding and smoking and dashboard lights flashing, it will be in the repair shop for a few days... again. That is the way of life for a vehicle that has been on the road full time for the last 35 years! So... looking on the brighter side of the situation... no fundraiser is needed to pay for the repairs, I have a shop that I can depend on (for whatever that is worth) they have seen the problem, I have a roof over my head and friends I can depend on... one friend in particular willing to drive me around as needed. And food... I got lots of food to hold me over. But... underneath all the coping... its really emotionally exhausting dealing with everything.
| March 04, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Do you know what you get when you cook Mac and Cheese with fried Polish Kielbasa in a five gallon pot on a small burner? Mac and Mush and Fried Polish Kielbasa! What an enormous amount of work that was. It was worth it. People on the streets were like... "hot food, that is all that matters" "great for everyone who has no teeth" " "I'll eat anything and appreciate your making it." Know what many people want as much as food? The Traveling Piano's Music. How awesome that is! Of course I also gave them what they wanted today.
| March 03, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Usually, Mo and I are sharing food prepackaged, or made by others with those living on the streets. Doing that is very fulfilling. I'll tell you what is ten times more fulfilling than that. Sharing food I have cooked myself and put a lot of work into with people living on the streets who are really hungry and sick of eating the pre-prepackage crap! Food I cook for myself I have always had trouble sharing with others. Food I cook for others I have never had a desire to eat for myself. Weird. We found a group of about ten people huddled under a bank roof by a wall because it is cld and looks like rain and the police have been harassing them where they were. It was a sad picture and I am glad I could bring some care for them, unfortunately I ran out of food too early. Watching people enjoy the food I cooked was awesome!
| March 02, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
Last night I was up in the middle of the night not able to sleep, thinking about what I had to do today. And then as a result I did not get up until two in the afternoon making what I had to do almost impossible because it was so late. That was to cook a humongous amount of food using my small sink area and then take it out to serve on the streets. I got started around three in the afternoon and at about six I realized it was not going anywhere today. That meant moving my furniture around so I could get a shelf out of the fridge and rearrange everything in there to fit the five gallon pot. I had to wash everything in the tub. It was a huge undertaking for me but I felt I had to do it. I acquired the food to share with people homeless on the streets and needed to follow through. For my entire life I have had a problem sharing food I cook. I've crossed that period and now I do not even want any of what I cook for myself. I went onto Facebook with the issue of possibly letting it all sit on the stove overnoght and a friend said what a wonderful person I am. I replied that I only do what I do because it is fun. It is fucking hard work but... fun!
Also, I can only do what I do because of the friends that support me in all ways, they drive me forward because I have a deep desire to be part of, accepted, validated and reassured of having worth as a human being. That translates into contribution, I have no choice but to give of myself because of my intent for compassion, empathy and love... that is called grace... I do not take credit for that although I do feel a sense of honor in having it. The self-motivation, action part... comes from anger, pride and a permission to feel arrogant and cocky when I run into those who act out in life with nothing but self-centeredness and/or fear. Lol... thats just the truth here of what makes me tick. So... the kitchen was pilled two feet high with food, I cut everything up and put it into bowls, then the pot, then washing all the pots in the tub... (it is what it is in a tiny space) Peppers, Tomatoes, Onions, Kidney Beans, Garbanzo beans, Canned Pork, Hormel Bean less Chili, Jalapeño Peppers (mild) Butter, Meat Seasonings, Cumin... yep, its the bomb! Now it is all in the fridge to take to the streets tomorrow hot and ready in Traveling Piano style... after a reheating.
| March 01, 2021
Las Vegas, Nevada
So... with the rest of the time I have here on earth I am constantly hedging with what is possible verses what is not, how I want to spend the rest of my time, how I want to affect the world, what I want to leave with the world, etc... The priority is to enjoy my time with Mo while he is here in relationship and we both are happiest together in nature alone. We headed out to the desert for a hike and some meditation, to be in heaven for a while. I was ohm-ing in the desert with a gratitude mantra while sharing it with individuals in my life both past and present. I've had some good friends in life, men for example that I can call my brother. I unfortunately missed out on relationship with my blood brothers in life as well as my sisters, but I did spend time with each individually in spirit today.
My brotherhood I want to write down some names. There is Michael, John, Larry and Bob now passed and Dave, Jeff, Eric, Stephen still strong in my life. On the female side there is Kathy and Gertrude now passed and I have been forming a sister relationship with Mary and Barbara. There are several women I feel very close to but we do not relate in a very real sense and there are a slew of women that we're close but we no longer relate. All in all I must have shared time with about forty people today in spirit. Just about every day I consciously remind myself, "Danny, you live here, it is amazing." It is truly amazing to be able to experience the wide open desert landscape minutes away from where I live in the downtown local chic neighborhood area, with the Las Vegas strip casinos and hotels all around me!
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