This past Sunday was a real mixed bag. I started out by performing a set at the Pike Place Market at about noon. During the course of this set I was tipped exactly $6.66.

This is less a set than an insult. But the total was amusing.

In a rather beastly fashion.

Fortunately, between my second set (featuring two nice tips from market folk and a couple CD sales) made it a good day, financially speaking. I had decided that I could continue to be all ticked off and spoil it for myself, or I could take a deep breath and give it my best energy. I took the latter choice and was glad I did.

But the best was yet to come.

Last week Jason the Fezmonger sent out a message via the Fezorati message board that he would be in Seattle (up from SoCal where he lives) to visit friends. We got in contact and arranged to meet up. I looked up as I was starting the second tune in my beastly set and there he was, and his wife Maya too. He took a quick bit of live video, luckily coming in just after I seriously hosed up the intro. Great timing, Jason!

We arranged to meet up after he got back from visiting friends out on Bainbridge and I got in contact with salamandir, my fave tuba player, dispenser of incense and exotic goodies, and a fellow Order of the Fez member, so the he could possibly join us. Alas, he was already in town and hadn't brought his spif Fez-o-Rama fez with him but luckily I have a spare leopard skin fez I could lend him. (But not real leopard skin 'cuz that would be cruel.)

After all, what kind of friend doesn't have a spare fez about, hm?

We hung out at Von's, an uber-trendy and over-priced bar that actually happens to be located in the Roosevelt Hotel which is where Jason and Maya staying. This was a place that I'd suggested because I've walked by it many times and noted that it had this huge list of different boozes (including something like 62 different bourbons) listed outside and had always wanted to try it. Alas, I couldn't remember the name of it at all and after walking the wrong way for a couple blocks Jason whipped out his trusty webphone and googled it right up for us.

As sal pointed out, it was rather sad that two former Seattle cab drivers got so lost in downtown that someone from California had to google us out of the mess.

What a drag it is getting old.

Maya took charge of the trusty webphone and snapped the pic you see off to the left. You can click on it for a really large view if you're so inclined.

Thanks much for your kindness and hospitality Jason and Maya! Hopefully we'll catch up again one of these days.

Ah... the last couple of days have been mid-forties and wet. I'm loving it! A real ask and ye shall receive sorta situation.

And the busking today wasn't half shabby either. Sunday's busking bordered on splendid.

Now if I can just come up with the scratch for another round of CDs before the last minute Xmas madness, I'll be golden. I've got most of it covered, so I'm not actually worried.

Can you say, "Perfect stocking stuffer" boys and girls? I know my signage will read that way.

About two weeks left before the band's cool New Year's Eve gig and then less than a week later my movie schtick. January may be survivable after all. That just leaves the February doldrums to get through. And I may have a week's housesitting (and kitty sitting) gig for some friends from Pike Place Market in Feb. I'll cover a couple days for their products as well.

It'd sure be nice to hit the next busking season, if not at a run, at least at a stable walk.

But now... time for dinner.

Yesterday I froze assorted bits off while trying to busk. My ukulele strings did not like going from several days in a warm room to sub-freezing temps outside. And the money was teh suck.

Today the money was... so-so, but the weather was only somewhat chilly. Now that it's dark outside it's getting seriously colder but that's ok, I didn't end my set unable to feel my hands.

I want the normal Seattle weather please. Mid-to-upper 40's and constant drizzle, broken up by occasional downpours. The webbing between my toes misses the wet weather.

Good thing I didn't spend all my moneys yesterday as I managed to putter off most of today as well.

On the positive side, the small cut on my right index finger — aka main strumming finger — has had another day to heal. It's one of those minor snags, probably due to the cold, dry weather. Not painful or serious but those sorts leave a small tag of skin. I could all too easily snag it on a string while madly flailing away at my ukulele and turn it into one of those serious, strum-threatening injuries. They take longer to heal and I don't have any more (semi) lazy days left for a bit.

Busking tomorrow, without fail.

I haven't busked in the last two days. It's just been too bloody cold. Of course, that means my change jar (i.e. all of my "extra" money) is decimated, so I'll have to go out tomorrow, cold or not.

I wasn't completely without ambition though, I've been working on my room. Got the eMac up out of the garage and have everything that was in there, except one huge office chair, moved out. Hopefully I'll get that out tonight or tomorrow. The only things I've kept in there is one funky little "side table" — actually a painted crate — one small wire shelving unit, perfect for my coffeemaker and a few other things, and the bed. I got rid of the worthless little, tiny cardboard dresser and sweated the larger wooden one that I'd been using up from the garage. Of course I brought up the computer table that the Mac lives on. It replaces a much larger computer table that was not only poorly assembled but was covered in assorted crap. No computer. Just assorted crap.

I'm scratching my head here, trying to remember if I even mentioned this, so I'll risk repeating myself. For those of you who knew more about my living situation, I'm no longer in the freezing cold garage, I'm in a little room inside the house proper. It's a small enough space that a tiny, old school space heater hasn't much trouble keeping it toasty. Though the arctic front that's been with us lately has stressed it a bit.

I can also now sit comfortably and play instead of coming home and huddling under the blankets with a book. This will hopefully mean I can spend a bit more time writing tunes.

There are still issues with the living situation, but we're trying to take some steps to correct them. At least I won't be freezing to death this winter. Starving maybe, but that'll take quite a bit of time as, lost pounds notwithstanding, I've got some extra baggage to get rid of before I have to worry too much about that. [Insert smiley here. I'd put one in but for some reason the blog software insists on taking my well mannered : and - and ) and turning them into a really hideous cartoon smiley.]

Off to the room now for a sandwich and a little ukulele practice.

This past Thursday there were cards being passed around at the Pike Place Market for a free meal at a new downtown (at 3rd and Pike) branch of a restaurant called Chipotle Mexican Grill. It was the day before their official opening and all you had to do was show up between 5 and 7:30 pm and they'd give you a meal. Since I was already planning on hanging around downtown after busking, and free is a very good price, I took a card. So around 5 I went and had a very nice "fajita burrito" and soda. Free.

I was hanging around downtown because entrance to the Seattle Art Museum is free every first Thursday. I had two reasons to go there:

First, I hadn't been in a while. They have an Alexander Calder exhibit (very cool) and a large area with Pop Art, including a number of Warhol paintings.

Second, I'd heard that you could go in and fill out a little "pledge card" to reduce your solo driving — easy for me to do as I don't drive at all — and they'd give you a booklet with ten free bus ride tickets.

So after my free dinner I enjoyed a free hour or so at the museum and took home free bus rides. The latter will no doubt come in very handy during the hideous busking doldrums of January through mid-to-late March.

Free, free and free. And I'd had a reasonable busking day. All in all a day full of win.