About A Lucky Man...

I Find 42 Dollars Laying On The Floor

After writing yesterdays post, and mentioning that I was trying to scrape up "at least 35 dollars" as travelling money, I left the computer and was walking out towards the lobby of the library and there was 42 dollars sitting on the floor.
I pocketed it; aware that it could not have been laying there for very long; due to the amount of traffic in that area; even though it was almost closing time and the place had thinned out.
I got on one of the 30 minute "express" computers to put the finishing touches on my blog post; all the while keeping my ears pealed for the sound of someone asking the librarians if anybody found any money laying on the floor; or for the sound of the librarians telling someone to check the lost and found.
After the half hour was up, I left the library; feeling slightly guilty over the fact that I hadn't been more pro-active in trying to return the money.
I had a feeling that the two 20 dollar bills could have been returned; and the two 1 dollar bills might have been my reward, if the person was just as poor as I and really needed the money.
But then, I thought that, either the person wasn't aware of losing it, or couldn't think of where they may have dropped it, or didn't show up during the half hour because they were rich enough to say "Oh, well. It will make somebody happy..." and just let it go.

42 dollars is the exact same amount which was in the purse which I found (and returned) in Baton Rouge almost a year ago...
I went to Royal Street, stopping at The Unique Boutique for a 24 oz. Twisted Tea, and a pack of smokes; as a way of "splurging" on myself.
Then, it was off to work.
The Guy With The Really Loud Voice Who Plays A Fender Guitar
I passed The Guy With The Really Loud Voice Who Plays A Fender Guitar, who was set up near Hotel Monteleone.
He uses an amp, but only for his guitar and sings without a mike.
He is the arch enemy of Jesse (The Grizled Old Guy) because, in Jesse's opinion, he sets up too close to him and pulls business away from the ATM machine across the street from where Jesse sits.

"...I used to see people over there, doing their transactions, and they get to hear me for more than just 10 seconds; and a lot of times, they will come right across the street and throw me a tip...Now thet're hearing a mixture of me and that guy bellowing out whatever that crap is that he sings..."

His voice is a little rough, but well suited to his material, which seems to come from the 90's. He was singing a song by the band called "Live," when I walked up.
He has been here for two years, though I only remember meeting him a couple times, because he used to play on Chartres Street, where I never had the need to walk past; and where I actually avoided because of Caveman Guru in his efficiency apartment nearby.

Half of the mixture

I keep asking him why he plays on Royal Street, and hint that I have found much better spots (for what I do, specifically).
He keeps telling me that Royal Street is where it is at and has whipped out large wads of bills on more than one occasion in front of me.
The last time he did that, he was holding about seven 20 dollar bills.
They were all "facing" (the same way) and all crisp and in the same newish condition; as if they had come out of an ATM machine.
"They were tipping 20 dollar bills this morning!," he had gloated.
"Wow, no tens or fives or ones?!" I asked, barely concealing my sarcasm.
"No, these were all rich people," he said.
I had walked away thinking about the probablility of 7 individuals each throwing a 20 dollar bill;  all in the same new condition and folded uniformly so that the bills fit together like spoons and all bearing the "G" seal of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Ron The Surfer

The new ferry scedule does not bother Ron the Surfer.

He is still staying in the stand of cedar trees.

The guy with the weed whacker (far left) is cool with Ron having his tent pitched in the stand; where you can't even see it (not shown above) and his stuff up in the cedar trees, ditto.

Ron is really a "people person:" is almost covered in tattoos and surfs.

Ron does a good job concealing things up in trees, evidently.

Yes, that is a trailor of the kind which is pulled behind a bicycle, up there in the tree; along with a copious supply of camping gear, etc.

The tent isn't up there, as it had been, because Ron now keeps it permanently pitched.

I don't trust the citizens of Algiers not to drop a dime on he and Howard; maybe out of envy, should they see the lap of luxury that they are nestled in and think it not fair that they are not paying rent....

I Played and made about 10 bucks that night...

You've Read Some Already...

I woke up this morning with some extra cash which I had gotten on Bourbon Street late the previous night.
I can't remember anything about it except the satisfaction that I had gotten after nailing a few songs to my satisfaction and the almost instant tips going into my case.
I was all around the Quarter and on foot, as the bike still has the flat tire and the shop isn't going to be open until tomorrow.
I plan upon putting the bike, flat tire and all, on the front of one of the city busses and getting it there, rather than pushing the thing with a flat tire; wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have the guitar and backpack fighting for my attention with the bike with the flat tire.
Avoidance
Saturday night, I continued to avoid Tanya and Dorise.
There was no reason to do this, as, it might indicate that I felt that they had wronged me in some way.
But, I needed to let some time pass between being told things like "Tanya invited you there; so it would look like they had a following; even if they had to kick you out it would show that there were people clammouring to hear them play."
I don't believe that.

I think that Tanya invited me because she just wanted one more friend there.
I Accept Responsibility For Everything

"You wouldn't worry so much about what people thought about you if you knew how little they think about you" -Jesse

I have pretty much come to the conclusion that the music that I played there at Caseys just wasn't good enough.

For one thing, I got totally shit faced before going there, out of fear that I wouldn't be in the mood to play should the occasion arise; and out of plain nervousness and due to the fact that 8 p.m. is well after the "sundown" time when I usually have my first drink .
If I would have played something more entertaining; that might have made a difference.
I should have gone with the attitude like it was an open mic night and the people in the place were the ones to try to entertain; instead; I think I just wanted it to be fun for Tanya and Dorise; which in turn would have been fun for everyone; but I didn't get into my zone...
Alex In California Weighs In
The other thing is: I might have stashed my backpack somewhere and just showed up carrying a guitar and wearing clean clothes and not smelling except of patchoulli.

Alex

Alex In California, has the opinion that business is hindered by the presence of bums, who clutter places with their bags and offend people with their odors; and that Casey might be on high guard against the presence of anything similar in his bar.
Yeah, I thought about that; but I thought also about the fact that T&D are really doing the bar a favor by playing there; maybe in return for a favor done earlier when the girls were in Orlando and they were somehow hosted at Caseys then bar there. I thought that if having other musicians show up and hang around was part of their "persona" then, so be it. Their success speaks for itself...
And, about spending money in the place; I will have to just let that go. In my opinion, if people buy drinks for someone and/or food, then it is just as if the person came in and spent his own money, in my opinion.
Brian Hudson Weighs In
Brian Hudson, in a conversation which we had almost a month ago, told me something which I will paraphrase as::

"Just the fact that you are thinking about her (Tanya) so much; means that you are thinking of her for the wrong reasons..." -Brian Hudson

Paul (of Doreens Jazz Band) Weighs In (Out?)

Paul just smiled as I recounted the story of last Thurdsay with his lips pressed togeher in an expression which might have said "I could say something, but I'm not going to..."
He has been playing professionally on the street for 20+ years; Tanya and Dorise for 10+ years, and I'm sure that they each could say something but aren't going to...Adding Class To The Place

The other thing is that; my take on Casey is that:
He is from Detroit, which is in the North, which is a place that I understand.
He is following a proven formula for success in business.
It is one that I recognize and understand.
I just thought that, if he was a friend of Tanya and Dorise, then maybe he was on the same wavelength on certain issues, like them bringing in guest performers, hoping to add variety and maybe even help the guest artist along with their careers.
He has hired an excellent couple of musicians, who instantly set a standard in music as soon as they play, and that standard should carry over in that, a more "highbrow" crowd might be attracted there.
I told Casey that if Tanya and Dorise make it a habit to play there, then, within 8 months, the place will be packed and people will make reservations in advance to be there; and they will be turning some away. Then, I would understand myself not being allowed to hang around and maybe do a song or two...

I think Caseys intention is to "add class to the place," by bringing T&D there, and that is the well-spring of my problems; and supercedes the musical aspect of things.
He has basically given me the impression that he is looking for a reason to throw me out.
His assertions that I was taking space from paying customers (in a half full bar) and that I was bumming cigarettes (after I offered to buy one for a quarter) and that I was not spending money (though others were buying me things) all seem to be "politically correct" ways around saying "We don't allow homeless people here..." 
But, will the girls keep playing there; at a place that "big times" a friend of theirs because he happened to be broke on consecutive Thursday nights?
I happen to know that Tanya and Dorise are trying to be "greater than the music," and the fact that they have helped out a homeless street musician like myself is a testament to that.
I think they are set financially, and don't need to play at a bar on Thursday nights; unless they can make it something special in some way which will feed them artistically rather than drain them.

Saturday Night
An Asian Girls Face

"If you want to marry a Chinese woman, you need to accept the fact that she is going to be a little girl for the rest of her life; if you're OK with that, then go ahead..." -Howard

Out of the corner of my eye, as I crossed Royal Street, I saw the most incredibly beautiful face hovering in the semi darkness and seeming to be almost Photoshopped onto the black background behind her. An Asian girls face.
She seemed to be about 16 and the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen; including in my imagination.
I figured that it was a hallucination.