The kids don't play like they used to

 I woke up around 10-11, somewhere in there. The important thing today is, noticing that both halves of the overhead light lit up thus making is a lot less gloomy in here and good for photos, I took the 20 things I'd gotten ready last night and photo'd them right away.  Then coffee etc., then I listed them, and that was all done a bit after 2. 

Then I packed the two things that had to go out today, a small pump and a microscope, and took those up to FedEx. I went around to the chicken place and got two thighs and ate there, enjoying eating tasty chicken with my stomach feeling fine (and no headache too.) 

I found a good stack of shipping stuff, mainly one large box and a lot of big pieces of foam. I was going to stop by Tom's to tell him about the butter incident because it's so damned funny, but James was there so I rode on by. 

I dropped off the stuff and got my trumpet and stuff together, and left here a bit after 6. I stopped in at Nijiya for some of my beloved "Black Black" gum, then rode for downtown. I'd originally planned to go to Sunnyvale but that would have taken an earlier start. So my plan was to take a look at San Pedro Square and if Loud Band hadn't started up yet, play until Loud Band does, then leave for somewhere else, maybe somewhere outside Christmas In The Park or good old Whole Foods because by that time the cold will have driven away the lightweights. 

I got to San Pedro Square and it looked great. Lots of people, lots of kids. I set up in Trumpetman's old spot and started in, and almost right away met a guy who said he's a professional guitar player and we talked a bit. He told me "the kids don't play like they used to" and I said, "You mean ... they play electric guitar instead of classical?" and he clarified that they don't play at all, like they used to, anything. He'd know if he's giving lessons, and if he's a real pro he'll know all the other teachers and their impressions. So when he says the kids now just aren't playing .... instruments... like they used to, I believe him. Nice guy though and I said even though I joke about putting a little sign up that says ONE LESS GUITAR I greatly admire good players and grew up with my dad's classical guitar music playing, Andre Segovia and Julian Bream and all that. 

A couple-few tips later, a guy (I forget if he tipped me, I think he did throw a dollar in) said he thought he knew me from somewhere, and it turned out to be the guy from the machine shop up at the end. So that was kind of neat. 

All in all it was going along swimmingly, but the overall noise seemed to pick up and all the tips I was getting were one dollar ones, except for one from one of the Old Spaghetti Factory waiters, who tossed in about $2 in change. After a half hour, I'd made $14. 

I tried playing at the well-lit wall across from Farmer's Union next but that was not good at all, no tips. So I packed up and went over to Whole Foods. Sure enough, there was no one there. This *did* kind of surprise me, as Pee-Pee Lady had been out in the cold last night, and tonight, being Friday night, would surely be more lucrative. 

So I set up and played, roughly 7:45 to 8:15 and made another $30.68, bringing the total for the evening to $44.68. Not bad for an hour's playing, maybe a little bit more. People were happy to see/hear me at Whole Foods, and a nice Black guy with his little daughter, her hair all done up with beads, hung out with me and we talked about school programs and how to get his daughter playing music. As they left I gave her my Santa hat. (I have a theory that wearing it makes people think I'm part of some city program and already being paid, or that I'm trying a bit too hard and willing to embarrass myself by wearing a dumb Santa hat, and I seem to get more tips wearing my Pac Bell hat.) 

I worked on two more songs, too. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem, which we sang in school when I was little, and The First Noel which is sweet enough to give people diabetes, and they seem to love it.