Raggin' Piano Boogie

 

 
HIS SPIRIT LIVES ON! ... BONER, THE PIANO DOG ... November 27, 1994 ... February 20, 2010

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November 30, 2017

Zion National Park, Utah

I can feel myself in the present moment and it is not because of fear when I am forced to be in it. It is all through joy. As I lay in bed writing this I keep forgetting that I am not in Las Vegas. While driving through Zion today the feeling of being in the world, on this planet so magnificent, so grateful to see, feel, touch and hear the reality of such a grand spot of earth... I feel complete with it all. Mo with me is icing on the cake. He experiences everything as I do. I stopped and felt inspired to create music while thinking I always wanted to create and record music in this park. I did it a few years ago and now again for the second time just, wow. When in Montana's Glacier Park some years back hiking I experienced the feeling of simply "being" with nothing else necessary.



Today I felt that for the first time ever with my music. A girl drove by with an old woman that she was obviously taking out for a days drive. They turned around, drove back and stopped to listen to the music for a few moments. I knew the woman was too old to get out of the car so I pointed to her and said. "this (the music) is for you." I've never heard such a respectful and appreciative "thank you sir" come to me from another human being before. We met a few more people along the way. At one point the park service descended on me, four intimidating officers appeared to interrogate me. "Take you hands out of your pocket sir" they commanded as they asked questions. Someone had notified them that I was entertaining in the park, creating crowds and traffic congestion. I think it was a ranger at the toll both in the park. Before they left the guy asked if I had any questions for him. I said no, but please tell whomever lied to you about what has been going on to stop looking for trouble. There was no entertaining, no crowds, no traffic congestion at all anywhere.



I mean really, take my hands out of my pocket? I'm an old man on a pickup truck with a piano in the back and a pup on top of it not causing any trouble. Did they think I had a grenade or machine gun in my pocket? There was no excuse for that. Nothing like putting a downer on such a fantastic day. Then I stopped at a park building to find a hiking path I was looking for and ran into a group of people from a park related function, ending there day. They helped me to let go of the bad energy and we got a group shot with the Traveling Piano. Mo and I sat in a riverbed as the sun set and I watched the massively grand mountain tops and stream turn into nighttime. I was thinking how amazing and alive the earth is with water that is always running and the seas and the air and even the mountains move as the planet spins. My room is a half hour away form the park and how nice to not have to think of driving three hours back to Vegas. I can just relax and write this blog.

November 29, 2017

Pine Valley, Utah

It feels like the old days! I'm in a new environment and it feels like a new season here in the high desert. The land feels fresh and new like many places I've been to in the past... a totally clean feeling. A forrest, I was in a forest with some snow on the ground and an incredibly beautiful lake. Oh how I have missed the greenery. Mount Charleston outside of Las Vegas has green, but the ground has been trampled by millions of people and the soil is still dry dirt, nothing lush about it. I was driving around randomly and found Pine Valley which is an amazingly magical little place. One store/restaurant place closed for the season because it can only stay open for visitors to the forrest. It is now off season and no one was there except for one fisherman. Mo and I found a reservoir, I did not have it in me to create music, just enough to enjoy the scenery after a three hour drive.



The motel I am in is new and I am on a fourth floor with a balcony and mountains outside and I feel like I am on vacation... so in the present moment. Clean, roomy... can you imagine that the motel room is larger than my entire micro studio in Vegas? If feels good to spread out some. The television was not working so I joked around with the manager suggesting a discounted price and she said absolutely which was totally surprising as I'm already getting a huge deal as it is. They offered an extra night same price and I realized I need it! So I have three nights here. How could I pass it up? It cost twice as much as the room to drive here and back so I'm doing this while I can. So thats two separate trips worth of gas money saved. Who knows when I will be able to get back or afford it again. I'm a happy pup with my pup Mo right now.

November 28, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

I'm working to wrap my brain around leaving tomorrow for Zion Canyon. There is angst about spending the money, very much excitement about how much I will love the two days there and then there is trying to clear my head as to what to take with me as in packing, what I will need straightening up I have have to do before leaving. I was only on the road once this year. It was to go to San Bernardino after the school shooting there in the spring. Treating myself, taking care of myself in this way, doing it just for me is very, very difficult. I feel I must be responsible with every penny I spend but and need to sort of just fake it until I make it in knowing that to take care of myself is a responsible thing to do. When I fill up my sense of self enough then I have something to offer the world as in work.

November 27, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Ok, the last few days caught up with me. I'm hanging low. I've been thinking about how winter is almost here and I must get to Zion Canyon before it gets too cold. I have not been there since moving to Las Vegas and its only a couple hours away. I have little money but I thought if I could find a room cheap enough I must go while I can. Driving the distance, spending time and then driving back in one day is a no go for me anymore. The energy is just not there. It is cyber Monday so out of curiosity I checked the area to see if I could find a sale on a room and found one for thirty six bucks. I'm doing it, booked two nights. My money will be tight until the first of the year as a result, so this will be my early Christmas and it will be worth it for me. I tried to raise some money during #GivingTuesday... nada.

November 26, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

The third day in a row out playing... I think my energy is improving. Its dawning on me more, how sick I was in a way that I have not been before. It felt like I had a deep cold of sorts, some of it is still there but whatever, I don't want to think about that. Also, the weather has been great and I am sure that helps my wanting to be out and about with the Traveling Piano. Playing on the strip and to have people get onto the piano to create music for the first time ever is fun. I tell them, "Look, its your first time creating music and your already performing on the Las Vegas Strip!" It was small business Saturday yesterday so I stopped at several places in my neighborhood to lend support. Today being the last Sunday of the month I stationed myself at Veterans Village an apartment complex up the street from me where there is a food bank.



I use it once a month. Like... today. It was unusual because I played more than I have in the past, only three people got on to play. Probably because just about everyone has already tried out the piano and they have no desire to do it again. This is a new situation, being around the same people for like ten months in a row. Spirit must have been playing through me more than usual. People were responding in ways that has never happened before. A homeless guy from across the street walking by stopped and began to raise his hands in the air with his eyes closed as people do when they are embracing the universe through meditation. Another guy walking down the street looked at me, gave me a thumbs up and blessed himself. Several other people showed significant interest and ways of responding. There were a good twenty five people who thanked me today one by one. It feels good even though I take no credit for it.

November 25, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

As it gets near the end of the month I'm getting a little nervous about money as I am living close to the wire again but at the same time there has been an overwhelming feeling of not needing anything which is a feeling I wish I could become complacent with for sure! It freed me to begin looking for some support. #GivingTuesday is coming up, an International day to celebrate the activism of giving! It was created for after Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I have taken a vow of poverty with my work on the Traveling Piano. It is out of choice. In the world, it is important to have people who give freely to strangers with no agenda. To give for the sake of giving without expecting anything in return is awesome. The Traveling Piano accepts no tips, fees, has no commercial affiliation. I receive no funds, have no income other than a friend who has been paying for a small room and a few people who have created a subscription on my website. Presently there are eight. One for $30, $20, $15. There are two for $10 and $5 and there is one for $3.



Supporting positive relationship between strangers through musical, fun, friendship and respect is an awesome gift for the world. My twelve years of doing this full time can be checked out everyday since 2006 on the www.travelingpiano.com website. Giving freely is something I very much enjoy. There is no better feeling! Also, it takes up 100% of my time, now more than ever with my age. So... I own one pair of pants and have ongoing monthly expenses like everyone does. We all know what $3 can buy these days, not much but even with that, your creating a subscription for the Traveling Piano is more than simply about the money. It represents contribution and support. Your being a part of my journey, that drives me forward to continue. The few people in my life, every month when their contribution comes in, that gives me a feeling of belonging, a sense of security, validation, reassurance that I am not alone and that we are all in this life together. Create a subscription for the Traveling Piano for #GivingTuesday. It will be an ongoing "feel good" and worthwhile for every level of existence!

November 24, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Surprisingly I was not too worn out today. I took a ride to the local firehouse to share some information about whats been going on in my neighborhood. One problem is someone setting fires to get warm right against the building where I live! The firemen were respectful and always they are interested in life so I showed them the Traveling Piano and we had some fun. Afterwards I pulled up to a new deli around the corner from me and created music for about forty five minutes non-stop just to see if I had the stamina to do it and because I need to keep my stamina up.

November 23, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Someone gave me 2 bagels the other day so that necessitated getting some cream cheese. At the supermarket it cost $5 bucks for 3 packages verses $2.50 for one, so of course I purchased 3. As I was sitting on the piano today playing music while thinking about needing a few more bagels to use up the cream cheese, two employees from Einstein Bagels walked. They were giving out surplus bagels to people living on the street. Lol, so now I have a dozen bagels and I gave my neighbor a half dozen. Mo and I headed for the skids today as in skid row Las Vegas. Its not just one street, there are many streets and more people than usual living on sidewalks. More mentally ill then sane or drug addicted.



I pulled the truck off to the side of the street in the only possible spot, a closed driveway with a gate that was chained up. It was outside of the Catholic Charities building and the guard came over to tell me to leave but... I knew he would be too lazy to go get the key for the chain so I just played music like I could not hear him until he gave up and left. It was an unused space, no harm being done, not in the way of anything they just hate homeless people hanging around their "fort" so to speak. The smell of urine was God awful with lots of flies and trash. My apartment complex cleans up around its outside periphery everyday and places like Catholic Charities should do the same around their property.



We met a lot of interesting and fun people there. It took one guy Larry ten minutes to climb up onto the Traveling Piano. He uses a cane and his left side is paralyzed but he was not going to let the opportunity to do something different and have some fun pass him by. I love people like this! So, I know I am going to be wiped out physically tomorrow and that is ok. Working everyday with the Traveling Piano or at least for a week straight would be great but those days are gone. Accepting that I am getting older and a bit slower and being able to do less is not a problem as long as I keep it real and talk about it when needed. Work a day, rest a day, sometimes two days seems to be how it is going and as long as I keep going everything is fine.



Thank god, thank god for this home base I have to work from. I've fixed it up so nice and it is all I need except for some room to lay out on the floor. Lol, thats not going to happen as I traded off the space for that to have a refrigerator! I am loving everything I have and feeling as always, very thankful. While out and about I collected two dinners being given out by random people and sat down to end the night with turkey, stuffing, ham, broccoli, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes... all that on top of three bowls of some absolutely amazing potato chicken soup someone had made to share with everyone they met on the street. Totally satisfying!

November 22, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

It was laundry day. Not fun but it had to be done. Laundromats are out of control! Poor people with big families and kids, they are really being taken advantage of. It cost me almost $30 bucks for two large wash and dry loads in those machines. It has become such a rip off they don't use quarters anymore, only cards that you buy with cash or credit card and of course they never get totally used unless you keep going back... and get another card to repeat the cycle. It took about three hours and between cycles of course I created some music in the parking lot. Mo hung out on top of the piano while I was inside. Workers from the stores around us were thrilled to see us again. It has been almost two months ago since we were last washing clothes. Most people choose to listen to the music rather than interact with us but there sure were a lot of smiles to interact with!




November 21, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Today was a wipe out, no energy.

November 20, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

We went to hang out at Bonanza and D street today. People live on the sidewalk there and you would not believe how many have experience playing the piano! It has been a half year since I was in this spot and a woman named Brenda was still there, thrilled to see me and was wondering where I had been. The Traveling Piano affects people's spirit on every level and its all good. Not to mention how it rallies strangers together. Music is so basically important. Mo is totally therapeutic for people to be with. I had to keep my wits about me all the time because the area is intense with mental illness, drug, alcohol addiction and seriously dangerous criminals and... all those types get onto the Traveling Piano to interact and exchange some "real" musical fun, friendship and respect!




November 19, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

I did a deep clean of my room, studio, micro apartment, teeny weeny space, whatever but it still took all day and its only half done. It takes a long time for me to do anything! When I was younger it took me a short time to do everything! It feels good, this space and its too small to get cluttered. Everything must have its spot. While I was walking Mo tonight I thought about the people I passed who were homeless and just standing on the street not knowing what to do and its going down into the thirties tonight. That reminded me how excruciating it was for me last year traveling when I knew I had to stop traveling and become stationary in one place after so many years. The worst problem was not in having a place. The angst was where to go, how do I find a place, not having anyone to stay with, how long can I stay, how long can I keep going like I was, the money... it was difficult to feel validated as a human being when I was lost in my head.



I can easily cry with gratitude everyday for this space I have now and the support to have it. I'm living bare bones but its secure and who knows even with that there is no guarantee. A neighbor just showed me a bullet he found in our enclosed parking lot outside my door where all the kids play. It had ricocheted off of something and I thought... "Get Rid of the Guns People!" Anyway, no place is going to be perfect although this has been pretty close to perfect for me as a transitional spot. Dealing with people here well, thats another issue. Problem is, this transition has been going on for almost a year now. I'm so comfortable in my small room. Sometimes I just want to hide, and I can! The feeling I have is that I should just keep doing the work I have been doing because I want to, it is good for the world, it is all I feel capable of doing in the present moment and my thoughts tell me I should continue.

November 18, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood today. A local church was having a fair with resources for the homeless so I decided to check it out as I have walked past the place about a hundred times. The paster extended his hand to me and was very nice. He had seen me on Halloween and his choir director was on the Traveling Piano with his wife and daughter. Seeing the place is Evangelical Lutheran I was wary of the energy so I asked if they were warriors for Christ or Lovers for Christ. They went for the lover definition along with the dogma they follow and I felt somewhat relieved as I've met some very hardcore Evangelical Lutherans in my time specifically after the Joplin tornado in Missouri back when.



Those people were totally ridged and anal, angry with pride in presenting themselves for Christ. There was also a guy I had met at another church about a half year ago from Lutheran Services a social agency that does really a lot of good in this area. Across the street was another church that was open for the first time that I have seen and I went to air a grievance of how I saw the police handling homeless sleeping on their property, the fact that they called the police with no attempt to handle the dilemma themselves in the name of Christ. There was understanding on both parts learned from that encounter although I'm not so sure the pastor there was open to suggestions. Before I left a mom with neighborhood kids stopped by and that was the best part, the hanging out with local kids.

November 17, 2017

Red Rock Las Vegas, Nevada

I simply stopped walking at this spot in todays posted picture and laid on the bare ground listening to silence for about ten minutes. No breeze, planes, people... absolute silence and then I heard the sounds of the universe in my head. Buzzing, high pitched sounds, whirring, faint but audible sounds. In moments like this I realize I am living the dream and there is nothing but wonder, love, joy, gratitude and a desire to share. I cannot walk very far these days and when I stop a sort of nap happens. Thats ok by me, all of it, as long as I continue to be gifted with what I see, my interaction with the world and my ability to participate. It was cold and windy but when I got to the spot in the pictures, everything became calm and comfortable. Before leaving I had to create some music in the beauty of it all and a couple from Virginia found us while coming back from a hike.




November 16, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

As the worlds thought and behavior becomes seemingly more erratic and barbaric I must keep a conscious awareness that constant love and joy exists as well as a maturing evolution into greater heights of wellness, compassion and empathy. I know the difference between the two extremes because I have experienced both and in fact can live in both at the same time. My life has been maturing and evolving forward, this is who I am and the world I choose to exist in... better than erratic and barbaric. Sometimes I forget that. It is a challenge to allow "better" for myself, to know that is who I am, want to be and the flow I want to exist in. Erratic and barbaric although stimulating cannot hold a candle to sophistication. This is known only through the truth of spirit and now is the time to stay close, as close as possible to the truth of spirit least I forget. I can be easily gaslighted into chaotic barbarianism without constant diligence to be aware, accept, embrace and act with gratitude.

November 15, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Mo and I took a drive to Red Rock Canyon to hike and read a book a friend had sent to me. I had no energy to hike and when your feeling like I have been feeling physically I'm finding it not difficult to meditate. When your mind is not working and you cannot think and have no energy, its easy to have a clear mind! Lol. The book is written by a Franciscan Catholic and it is about challenging how we think about living the second part of our lives with aging and suffering and you know... just dying. I only read the preface but even that helped. As a struggled to get up from the ground I decided to feel gratitude for the struggle and it was certainly better than feeling despair, frustration and doom! Keep the humor going... anyway, I just love being in nature as I feel "whole" in nature.



On heading back to the truck, two guys were creating music and so I went to say hi. It was Phil 'Fang' Volk the bass guitar player from the original Paul Revere and the Raiders. He and his friend were hanging out creating music as I do and interacting with people. Paul Revere and the Raiders were a pretty huge rock and roll band in the late 60's, early 70's. Wow, was that fun. I have some video of them playing on the Traveling Piano that I need to share. That lead to meeting a 79 year old native to Las Vegas who was hiking and in amazing shape. Then I met a couple from back where I grew up. I mean literally a few blocks away from my childhood home in Philadelphia and then the home I owned in Bucks County, PA. Our families all went to the same catholic schools and so we talked some about Catholicism which was just crazy to do right after starting to read that book! The difference between them and me is that they are both 26 years old and I am 62, lol. And also, I no longer identify as a Catholic.

November 14, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Randomly I saw a link online about an event going on today and clicked on it out of curiosity. It was a huge event for local homeless services being held at the civic center. The idea of sharing the Traveling Piano there was the incentive to check it out and of course I didn't get going until it was almost over. Damm! Also, I have needed to check into any social services I might be eligible for. I've not used any to date and have really held off but I'm realizing that if they exist and I am eligible I should use them. It is not like I don't need help or have other resources. I have had no government assistance, I've worked with no income nor do I have any investments, etc... As I moved through the booths I found the health social services. With only fifteen minutes before closing I signed up for Medicaid! Wow, finally, what a move that was. The situation was put in my path and I simply followed through. And, if I had gone any other route it would have taken a half day in waiting.



I ran into the right person who gave me the papers to fill out and eyed a lady sitting at a table with the thought, "she's waiting for me" and then with no time left and people in front of me, the first woman I met came up and said have a seat here. It was with the woman I had the thought about! She quickly lead me through the process just in time before everyone began to tear down the setup to leave. That was so meant to be. I have had no health insurance for at least twenty five years and hope this does not mean I will be needing it but usually when things happen like this, it is for a reason. Who knows what may be. I mentioned that I needed to get Mo's service dog validation up to date and was pointed directly to a woman who has an organization that gives support to dogs who live with homeless people. She couldn't help me with the service matter but can with medical needs and food, etc... I told her I would wait outside until she was done and she would find me on the Traveling Piano with Mo creating music. I wanted to show her what I offer for society.



I waited a long time and met people throughout the wait. As I was about to leave because she was no where to be found I thought, "I'm going to look her up online and send an email saying I waited until the very last person left not only the building but the parking lot." So of course I had to follow through in order to be truthful. Guess who the very last person to leave was! Lol, so I may be able to get help for Mo as far as getting his teeth cleaned which I am concerned about and have been for months. He does not have the kind of teeth where he can chew on bones to keep them clean and they are getting bad and it is a leading cause of death for dogs... tooth infection. I really hope she follows through in helping me because it will also give me a green light to support her organization. It is perfect for me because it gives support to both homeless people and their pets and I can whole heartily support that. Dogs alone, not so much... people and dogs together... yes!

November 13, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Today was a down day... not feeling good, all alone... boo, hoo. Ha, I'm not into figuring out what is wrong physically but then again I spend most of my life "figuring" underneath my living in the moment. I may have sucked in Mo's dog hair all night while sleeping. That can be a killer for me. With what energy I had, I made a lot of soup to freeze with beans and tomatoes, vegetables, beef, ham, chicken pieces and spices. Its yum!

November 12, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

There was a huge Rock and Roll Marathon today in Las Vegas and they closed the entire strip as well as all the streets in my neighborhood for it. I got up early to get the truck out while I still could and parked up a few blocks by the memorial for those killed in the recent mass gun murder. I came back took a short nap but spent most of the day at the memorial with the Traveling Piano. As of today in the USA so far this year alone 13,464 people that we know of have been murdered with guns. Another 27,486 have been shot and hospitalized. Because of moronic pro gun people there have been 315 mass shootings in the USA just this year to date. That really pisses me off. Anyway, people come to the park to process their grief and fear and just have a safe place to be and maybe heal some. There were 22,000 people at the concert directly affected and then all the family members and friends. That is a lot of people affected first hand by just one gun lover.



I met some new neighbors and a few kids and John who lives by the park and is the sort of official mayor for the park brought dinner out for me... a nice piece of lamb with a baked potato, salad and bread. John is a life long Las Vegas artist. We almost became roommates. I wanted to interact with people and create music all day but I should have known better. I did last five hours which is pretty good I think... before I almost passed out from exhaustion. At one point Mo and I took a walk to the strip just to check out the action. It was pretty cool to see and hear the pidder patter of 10,000 feet running up the strip. It was pretty quiet except for that. I thought about how much money sneaker makers reap. The Memorial Park is two blocks from the strip. Every quarter mile there was supposed to be a rock and roll band. At the corner near my apartment the US Air-Force band played. Lol, not so Rock and Roll. As the tax payers paid for the band it would have been nice if someone knew they were there. As it was, the runners pidder pattering by head them, about four neighbors and me. The city made a huge chuck of money today with this marathon thats for sure!

November 11, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

The guy who works the food bank at Veterans Village told me of a new Veterans apartment complex opening today on Veterans Day. He said he would love it if I was there. So there I went... except he didn't want me with the Traveling Piano because the place was setup for a lot of hoopla for presentations, the mayor, senators, a band... the woman running the show told me there would be a lot of opportunity for me to volunteer and play inside when they got a piano. I bit my lip. Constantly I must accept that people will have their ideas about me and my agenda that are not remotely correct. The opportunity to perform, do I want? Not. A need to volunteer? Not. So anyway, I drove to the local park to hang out with some homeless people. I held space for some unusual music. As I kept my cool with attentiveness a kind of mental guy swooned on the piano while another stood there rambling on and on with talk and Mo sat there trying to take the attention with a constant whimper that he does.



The three of them kept it up continuously for about ten minutes while I just stood there being attentive to the chaotic sounds. It was all pretty funny because they are completely lost in themselves! Later, as I was creating music a guy named Scotty who is living on the street comes up to tell me how beautiful the music was. As we began to talk he asked, "Are you originally from Philadelphia?" I said yes and then he asked, "Were you at Hurricane Katrina?" I said yes, and then he proceeded to tell me in detail how we had met in New Orleans ten years ago while he was living on the streets after Hurricane Katrina, how he played on the Traveling Piano back then and the conversation we had in complete detail from back then!!! After that, I drove to another park where more homeless people who have seen me around found the courage to come up and interact. And then after about three hours I almost passed out from exhaustion. It was all amazing, beautiful, wondrous, magical, synchronistic and Godly.

November 10, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

My energy level is zilch. I'm going to stop saying that because I've said it enough. Playing out with the Traveling Piano for just a couple of hours exhausts me both mentally and physically. I'm not the only one. Mo is showing less energy also. He's aging very fast. I can see it. We are both the same breath of air. There is something special about accepting life on life's terms. An uncertainty that creates opportunity to live in the moment where all the magic exists. The trick is to actually live in the moment verses thinking about how the end may be near. I have a lot of gratitude going all the time. It feeds the joy of living.

November 9, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

I'm so thankful for Mo. I'm so thankful for this teeny weeny place I have, that the truck still works thirty one years and going and that I personally can still be of service for the world. My service feels less significant these days as I am doing less, get less feedback and it is not as exciting and stimulating as it has been in the past. Being able to give myself validation, reassurance and kudos' has never been my forte. I have been thinking about how constantly traveling, new places and staying with new people has kept me going over the years. As that died down, experiencing nature, processing it and sharing it online fed my spirit. Now, everything is different being back in one place as in pre-journey. I must find ways to stimulate myself ongoing to experience spirit alive and kicking all the while thinking in terms of survival. Nature is still there to fed me but I must extend myself more to experience it these days. It feels like I'm going into a blah, blah, blah mode so I'm going to stop, lol. Still having musical fun, friendship and respect along with inspiration and empowerment or I would not be writing this blog if the opposite was true.


November 8, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

So, I'm not feeling well but forced myself to take a walk with Mo anyway which was good to do. Thank God I have this best buddy with me to help me to take care of myself through my desire to take care of him. Now that daylight savings time happened, I'm seeing a lot more local business happening because people have their lights on before work is done. It gets dark at five in the afternoon which I think is way too early. I met two women who have an accounting business and its a large space for what they need and also two guys from a new recording studio nearby. There are several music recording studios within a couple blocks from me and a few really nice office work station places. That is a new concept that I have discovered. I don't know how long it has been going on. Different business go and rent space in the same office. The city was working fast over the last month with new sidewalks in the area and the working has seemed to stop over the last two weeks.

November 7, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Not getting lost in social issues everyday is a challenge. I keep asking myself, "how best can I serve the world." Getting lost in social issues and trying to set people straight on social media is worthless. Creating love is the only way to go. Then I ask myself, "what do you want to do." Many options come up constantly. I've been asking myself this question for so long, its the same one's that come up over and over. Then I ask myself if I really want to do this or that, or have the energy at my age. Now its about how can I connect with and create a partnership in order to accomplish anything because nothing is going to happen just by myself anymore. Then the issue of compatibility comes up and that is most difficult to deal with in my mind. I forced myself to attend the local police sponsored community meeting tonight at the local police station and it felt good to have the police community liaison and patrol officers see me and for me to see them for the sake of working together to help keep the area where I live safe.

November 6, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Yea, I have a cough, cold, whatever lingering... waiting to explode. That is how it usually works. I feel it coming on and then I do everything possible to keep it from getting worse which does nothing but delay it until one day everything explodes full monty, I get real sick and then slowly recover. So I sleep, drink lots of water, take Airborn several times a day, make sure I get fresh air, eat right... thats been going on about four days now and everyday I can feel it inching its way to the full monty.

November 05, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Now I know what is going on with me physically. Heart failure has been on my mind as by nature I am drama ridden, lol. It is a cold and it is beginning to come on strong. When you get older colds feel different so they are not so easy to tell. Anyway, I am very blessed and I want you to be blessed. If you do not know, it demands action to be blessed. With what happened today in Texas, more gun murdering of innocence, I began to feel overwhelmed and then angry... hate began to seep into my spirit. So... I decided to go to the local Las Vegas memorial for all those affected by the gun murdering last month and listened to many details from gun murder survivors there. That people can trust me with their truth, there is nothing better in life. Do you know what the most painful thing that can be said to someone affected by gun murdering?



"I know how you feel, I can relate, I know what it must feel like" and the worst "I understand." Just be quiet and listen. And then... a huge group of survivors from the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando Florida appeared. They came to Vegas to lend their support to everyone here. What amazing synchronicity for that to happen. People who were present when the gun killing happened in Orlando, family members, the bar owner, a bar tender were here to visit. That they would all share their lives with me and allow themselves to trust and feel my support with the Traveling Piano well... please get out into the world and create a positive every time something happens. I do it to counteract any negativity from myself or others. Go walk down a street and smile at a stranger. It makes a difference. Do something in real life.

November 04, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

Today was a complete wash out as far as energy. I know whats going on the question is, can I find the inspiration to do anything about it. Getting in and staying in shape physically has been my longest running life challenge aside from, staying clean from drugs, drinking, relationships and feeling "part of." The hike on November first and then the Traveling Piano work on the second has drained me. The crap I've been eating does not help. The temperatures outside during the day have been delicious. At night when the wind blows wow, brrrr. When I was working with the truck the other night I took out my scarf and winter coat to use. I thought, "you silly man, as you are getting older the slightest bit of cold is getting to you."


November 03, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

I'm pretty wiped out physically but today is the first Friday of the month and the downtown area where I live has a festival every 1st Friday. I have made a commitment to share the Traveling Piano in my area where the festival does not extend itself to. It for my neighbors. Always, I meet new neighbors and a few more homeless people who have seen me around but who have not yet had enough courage to approach me as someone safe and respectful. There is no difference in the Traveling Piano experience between what homeless people say to me verses those who are established in apartments or high end housing. They thank me from the bottom of their heart, tell me how significant our exchange has been for them in a relational sense and how meeting me totally affected and changed their day into a positive.



A restaurant that has been empty since I moved here opened around the corner. I've been watching the place thinking about what a good spot it is for a restaurant. I stopped by to say hello. It is called the SinCity Soul Deli and provides Caribbean BBQ. The owner, chef William got onto the Traveling Piano, treated me to some amazing beef brisket and one of his beef appetizers. Within a one minute walk from my apartment there is a New York pizza place with an Italian restaurant, Venezuelan, Beef Taco place and a Mexican Seafood Taco restaurant along with an authentic Puerto Rican street stand to go to along with about five fast food joints and a local bar/resturant. Too bad I do not have the money to eat out!

November 02, 2017

Las Vegas, Nevada

So with the five hours of driving and then the hiking I did on top of that as well as enjoying nature yesterday, I have been up and down with energy all day. Entering back into the real world from the dreamland yesterday can be a pain in the ass, often. When I am working with the Traveling Piano everything is wonderful. When I am exploring nature...wonderful. When I get social that is when problems arise. That happened today on Facebook. It is a responsibility to speak out on issues whether unpopular or not for others. The fact that so few people do that is simply a "tell" of how important it is for me to do it if only to help one person. So I posted on several Las Vegas group pages... To those it may concern: Please stop capitalizing with merchandising, advertising and promotion on the death of 59 people and 500 others who got shot in Las Vegas with the idea of making the tragedy about your agenda, business, personal caring or anything else for profit.



I continued... Same goes for American Flag waving. The dead people would all tell you the loss of their life was not about America except for the fact that some moronic American's have been promoting the type of gun ownership that killed them. Trying to rationalize that a portion of your proceeds from whatever you are selling or promoting will go to victims does not work. Give 100% of the proceeds and then you can say your truly giving. Using other people's money to give while you also pay salaries and expenses from the money, just no! The VegasStrong phrase and hashtag has become an abomination. What happened is first and foremost about "individuals" people, who have been murdered and those who will be traumatized for the rest of their lives from the tragedy. It is not about the American flag or Las Vegas which is what it has become about with the phrase VegasStrong.



So... one group I posted to was mostly venomous women who began to attack as a mob and I realized there was no hope for them so I just deleted myself and blocked them all. There are just some types of people I want nothing to do with. Nationalistic, gun nuts using capitalism for self-serving gain or just plain indoctrinated angry idiots who have no clue to what empathy or compassion is... that can all fit into one type of person that I want to be as far away from as possible. It is too bad that my journey and mission has reached a point that it feels I must take the strongest and most passionate stance for my truth. This has nothing to do with musical fun, friendship and respect and when people freak about seeing a different side of me other than my work mission... I always say that I cannot and will not be the one dimensional person they would like to see. The fact that they add absolutely nothing to my life, and would never care to... why would I give a shit? Lol...

November 01, 2017

Snow Canyon, Utah

So much I needed a dose of stupendous nature and I know where to get it. A little over two hours outside of Las Vegas, through a small section of Arizona and into Utah near Zion, Canyon I can find pure beauty. Mo and I checked out a state park there near St. George. It is a different world from where I presently live. Can we talk squeaky clean and white Mormon with a very conforming energy? Although, in the nature that we found the feeling is quite different. The energy there has no judgement. White mountains made of petrified sand dunes and lava rock made from dripping hot lava flows... the black color so pure that it was blue. We took a nap on different cliffs one in the sun and the other as the sun set over an awesome, dramatic expanse of planet earth.



I was reminded once again how we are living in heaven and how fortunate I have been to experience it to the fullest. The beauty of nature is what I will take with me when I leave this planet or whatever state I am presently existing in. I also created some music and of course people found us and so I was able to share with them. The day was complete with everything that is most important for me. The pictures I took are also part of that. As I go through them I am finding it interesting that the energy and focus of the pictures are different than usual. Physically, I was exhausted and the photography reflected that. The aspects of timing, lighting, focus, etc... it is all something no one would be able to detect but me. As I get older my eyesight is changing and that is reflected also in the processing of photography.