Raggin' Piano Boogie
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Since 1987 |
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September 07, 2026Las Vegas, Nevada
I took it easy today, an email came through from a family member a couple days ago and that always sets off negative emotional memories and feelings for me. I could write a book on how dysfunctional all that is. Yesterday at the end of the day I found a spot in an ally where no one would find me and created music for myself. That felt good but also I know the sound was wafting in every direction for at least a block. Its fun to think people are wondering what it is, if it is live or not, where it is coming from and I know they enjoy it. For neighbors they think, ahh... the piano man is out. Its comforting for them and something familiar thats good all around. I'm sure there is a negative in all that and luckily all I have ever experienced is an overwhelming positive response. It gives me a feeling of being part of the neighborhood and something that I can contribute for everyone. Music is a great communicator and my piano improvisations, the ambience i create is neutral and harmless. It is actually inspiring for people. I say that with total gratitude and humility. My playing improvisationally own music is something beyond my wildest of dreams. It did not start till age fifty. |
September 06, 2026Las Vegas, Nevada
Today felt pretty good as I could handle the temperature. It was about 90º and in the shade that was fine. I took about 100 ice pops to the streets for random people and then drove into the strip to meet up with my friend Dave's girlfriend. They both live back east and he wanted for her to meet me and give me a hug from him. Margie, she played a little piano herself and was in town for a conference. The interaction was great except for it being too short. She had a seminar she needed to get to. Being out of practice with my interactions, I need to focus strong and cannot take other people trying to control what I want to do or take me off script, lol. So... my keeping everything on track came across very direct... and strong in as fun a way as possible. I can be very directive. It has to be that way sometimes in order to just basically function with what I am doing. In the old days my energy was so strong my interactions captivated people. They had no choice but to follow my lead. It is not that way anymore. |
September 05, 2026Las Vegas, NevadaAlmost always I am thinking about how I want to life out the rest of my life. I am trying to be realistic concerning what interests me, how I can serve the world, what I can do physically while living in the moment and the present state of the world politically. I know that if I work to become lighter in weight, if I got up early every morning to work in finding support, I could still accomplish some major career goals. But... I am in my seventies now and those two things weight and sleep, I've been blah, blah-ing about for my entire life since I was in my twenties. The weight... up and down, up and down, up and how the hell did I get through life waking up without a schedule and pretty much on my own time? That, except for when I had performances or a commitment. My entire life has been self motivated. I've never had to do or have been forced to do anything, thank God. It has been a tradeoff. I've lived life my way at the expense of conventional security and career success. My way has been best for me. Everyone has issues in life and consequences for their choices. The challenge is to stay honest concerning when I think this or that never happened and that I wanted for it to happen. Fact has always been that everything that has ever happened is because I truly wanted for it to happen. If something did not happen I really never wanted for it to happen or the tradeoff was not worth it concerning living my life my way. No one gets to say my way is better or not except me. I've made it to seventy years and am still enjoying what "is" in most ways. |
September 04, 2026Las Vegas, NevadaToday was the First Friday event where I live. It was originally a neighborhood festival now turned into a city marketing event mostly attended by kids. I took the Traveling Piano out for the first time in a long while. Once the sun went down and the temperature went into the low 90's I could do it. There is a large space to park across the street where a utility structure is on the sidewalk. It is perfect because it is away from all the event action and a perfect excuse to play for my neighbors. At one point there were six neighbors with me at the truck. Us all being together felt totally good. Where I was, there is a huge parking lot the city uses to gouges people for parking from the usual $5 to the event cost of $30. And... the cities parking supervisor happened to be around. So of course I was hassled. I was not parked in a space, there were no spaces. He knew who I was, everyone does here and so it was an opportunity for him to feel special in being the jerk off he is. I was only there for an hour and was not obstructing anything, there was no safety issue, I live across the street and I was with my vehicle. So, with my thin skin that killed everything for me and I shut down. But, when all was said and done an hour for the first time out was enough. I would have continued until I did too much. Thank God the equipment had not fried over the last two months in the 110º - 120º heat every day. The speaker is does not sound full and the piano keys do not play evenly but I was able to work with it. |
September 03, 2026Las Vegas, Nevada
The temperature is going back up to 110º for a few days. I really need to get onto a real piano thats decent to play and practice on. I'm losing my joy in creating music because I do not have a decent instrument to use. And my chops, my technical abilities not only as a result of age but lack of practice and just playing in general, there is no way to keep it all going. It has come forward for me how people "feel" my music. It moves them emotionally and how much of a gift that is to be able to do. When I was younger I did not appreciate or accept that fact about myself, not at all. Now... in knowing it, this is a gift I need to share with the world as much as possible but, how? Creating music from the piano on the truck is absolutely hard work. And, I certainly cannot flow with any music. I use a keyboard and that is not a real piano. And as well the heat has fried any fluidity with the touch, action or sound. I mean people still enjoy it but I don't. Its looking like I would rather quit then leave it all with dissatisfaction. Although, that just leaves me jonsin' with desire to create music as I know and love it best and then there is the sharing of it with others. |
September 02, 2026Las Vegas, NevadaTook a ride to the Redrock Canyon overlook yesterday. It was under 100º for the 1st time in a while. This was my 1st time in nature without Mo. It is crazy how I can feel so "found" and "lost" in spirit... at the same time. The wind blowing nature into my face with what is now more than a familiar natural view, I am reminded why I am here on earth. It was a short time and walk as my physical capabilities are more limited now but... I think I will come back to life more with the heat not so bad. The Traveling Piano truck will bring the Beat to the Street tomorrow, if I can get it started. The desert is fried, the dead cactus stems below had the most amazing soft fur like coating on them. |
September 01, 2026Las Vegas, Nevada
I am feeling extremely good right now and need to say it out loud because that needs to be reinforced. It is 90º and that feels like a fresh spring day. The air smells and feels fresh. The urge to take the Traveling Piano out for work is incredibly strong so that is just a "tell" that as soon as it gets cooler I will be out and about again and motivated to find funding to continue with getting the truck workable for travel. The summer has been very difficult. Mo's passing in April, while I never went into a deep state of grief I have in fact been numb. There has been no happiness or feeling good. My pups not being in my life well, I miss the feeling of them everyday. Of course my leg and walking issue happened immediately after and then the heat has been just terrible. Functioning on any level has been very difficult. I have decided I want to continue living while also getting my bricks in order to the best of my ability for when I go. There are two men's groups I found. This is huge as I've not had luck in finding people to be with in Las Vegas since I settled here. I've been going out more and even driving in the dark some. That ability, in the dark, is getting worse with age. I so much want to go out and create music right now, I can't stand it, lol. |