Street Musician Daniel: Super Wednesday

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Super Wednesday

Court "Gives" Daniel 15 Days
New Food Card Balance $253.00
Off Working On Feature Story

I will make a few "business cards,"
to leave with select individuals, before
I embark on my journey to look for gold in
the mountains of California

Righteous Gigging On Bourbon

This morning, I woke up at 6:05, just as Howard was arising to make his habitual morning run to McDonalds and thn to get coffee and a newspaper from Brother's Market.
I layed back down to sleep until my alarm clock (thank you, Lidgleys) rang at 7:05.
I should have been able to shake off drowsiness and make it to the bus stop in time for the 7:40, (which would have gotten me to the courthouse on time) but it seemed to take me forever to sit up, change socks, put on sneakers, pour some instant coffee into a bottle of spring water and chug it down, roll up my sleeping bag, put it in the trees, fold up my cardboard, put it in the trees; glance at the sports page, glance at the weather page, answer Howard's "How did you do last night?" habitual morning question, bag up my trash, use the porto-let, and then go to the bus stop.
The 7:40 pulled away right in front of my eyes.
My only hope then, of making it to court on time, rested in my ability to make a run for it.
I would have to run like the wind, with backpack and guitar around my neck, and cover the mile to the courthouse in under 10 minutes.
Instead, I had a cigarette and waited for the next bus.
Attorney Howell was livid and told me that being 45 minutes late was a big deal, in the eyes of the judge.
The Deal
However, she had worked out a deal with the City Attorney, whereby my charges would be dropped and instead, I would recieve a 15 day suspended sentence for "contempt of court" for being late.
If I am "caught"* in New Orleans after the 15 days, then I will serve the 15 days "or more," said the judge, who seemed like a nice Irish fellow...
*being "caught" would mean being cited for something.
"It's what they do for the tourists, so they can pay their fines and then leave without having acquired a 'record,'" said Attorney Howell. "They hit them for 200 dollars a pop, which you don't have, though"
"Consider yourself lucky," seemed to be the implication of that.

Finally havind the food card credited means shopping at
the big new Rouse's Market (this morning) which is the
"official grocer of The New Orleans Hornets."
Hopefully, some of the magic of their now 12 win-31 loss season
will rub off on me...

Clean, Well Rested And Unmurdered
She basically told me that it is hard to pull oneself up off the streets of New Orleans, "If you're not 'together,' it's hard to get it together," is a paraphrase of what she said.
She added that I should go somewhere "to (build up resources)" -i.e. to rest- and if I want to return in the not-near future, I could do it on a grander scale, like the performers who have equipment enough to sound good, and loud, and who make 4 times as much as I do, playing the same songs, though not necessarily even as well as I do, and who can get a motel room the same night of their arrival, so as to stay clean, well rested and unmurdered.
Outside the courthouse, she handed me 10 dollars and wished me luck in my travels.
Jammin' With Jeff

Jeff from San Francisco, er, Virginia.

I ran into Jeff From San Fransico, who told me that he is actually Jeff From Virginia, only just recently of The Bay Area, last night. He told me that it was his last night in the city because he is leaving (this) morning.
He was playing at the spot on Royal Street, across from Rouse's Market.
I have found that to be a hard spot to make money, and after we only made a dollar each, despite delivering of ourselves what I thought was an excellent jam, I told Jeff From San Francisco as much.
I told him that I was going to my spot on Bourbon Street, where I actually have been making money, and where I have the blessings of the residents in the condos across the street, and "exclusive rights" to play there have been bestowed upon me.