Alright.
So, I am currently in that same cafe' downtown, spending countless minutes online... I figure this time I should fill in the blanks of the story.
By, now and due to my last post, you know that this blog is about my cat, me, and the chronicle of our adventures couch-surfing in NYC.
The first and most obvious question is, 'why are we couch-surfing?' Well, there are a myriad of reasons. I will let you wonder about most of them to make the story full of intrigue and mystique. In fact, maybe I will leave it incredibly vague: what you need to know is that for completely voluntary reasons, I and my cat June have found ourselves without an apartment for the next few months, but need to be in the NYC area for now for professional reasons. There. That answers that. If you want more info, you got it because you have my number and you called me saying, "Zach, what the H*ll you doin???," and then I told you.
The second, and much more interesting and immediate question (and the subject of this blog) is, "what happens while you surf couches in NYC, Zach?" Good question!!! Let me tell you!!!
I'll catch you up by telling you about my first departure, and couch #1, and wrap it all up by getting to this cafe' I'm sitting in.
When I knew I was going to be couch-surfing, I looked frantically online on Craigslist for a used back-pack that would suit my uses. I found it, for a very reasonable $40 from a lovely couple selling their packs that live in the West village. They had traveled the world and much of europe, including living on a Mediterranean fishing vessel for a few months. They lived this way using the pack I now own for a about 2 years. They now both work in finance, or computers, or something like that. Have a child or two, and live very happily in the West Village as a couple. The apartment was HUGE and gorgeous, as one might expect. They were fantastic, so Sara Lennox, thank you to you and your lovely husband. I hope that I can show your pack a little more of the world.
I packed FOREVER and finally managed to get my stuff together, and didn't go very far at all. I made my way to couch #1, staying with generous long time friend, Stella.
Here she is:
This is a picture of us at the senior dance when we were at Interlochen Arts Academy together. We go way back. Needless to say, her roommates Kendra and Kaetlin (kate) were fantastically generous to offer their home and couch to me for a very long time. They made me feel right at home, and their gigantic apt. was great for June to explore. She made herself right at home, and also made friends (or began to) with Annie, Kaet's resident house-cat. Here is Annie, and Kaet appearing courtesy of facebook.
June also found her way out the fire-escape one day and become well acquainted with how silly it is for kitties to climb up a flight outside in a rain-storm. Needless to say, she learned quickly and now uses a little more caution with stairs of any kind.
I joined a gym uptown as well, (Planet Fitness, highly recommended) and between the gym, the nightly guitar jams with Kendra and Kaet on harmonica, the late night after work 'spills' with Stella, and the Renaissance Fair in Fort Tryon park, we had a JOLLY old time.
While at aforementioned Renaissance Fair, I ate a turkey leg, watched a jousting competition, watched Robin Hood and his bandits brandish swords with the Sheriff, and I purchased a Nepal-ise curved field knife. (pics to come) It truly is a thing of beauty, and every traveler needs an all-purpose utility blade of
some sort. This particular one looks FANTASTIC with the hilt of it coming out of my backpack.
Here is me at the Ren Fair:
Also, if you know me, you know my AMAZING girl friend. She is the light of my life. Her name is Julie:
It's great to have a computer when you are couch-surfing, especially when your GF is far away. I spent much time at couch #1 on ichat with her as well, which was great because we could stay in touch. June is our duo-ownership/responsibility. We love her very much. We love each other very much. Julie and I, not the cat. Although the cat loves us both as well... and we love her. OK... moving on. :-)
The time came, mainly due to parental units visiting "The Carriage House" (which is what Stella Kendra and Kaet call their lovely abode), that I needed to move on. So, through a friend of a friend of a friend, I was able to find a SWEET pad to crash in in the famous East Village of NYC.
Couch #2 is owned by my new friend Aaron. I am not sure what he does for a living. He cracks me up. Great guy, who I met through Andi, my good Viola playing friend. We met a couple weeks ago, and the basis of our introduction was me trying to figure out his profession. He was clever, and I still don't know what he does. Probably will be a running joke with us. Ill let you know when I find out. Anyway, he offered his couch, and when I needed to move from "The Carriage House" I hit him up, and he was kind enough to offer his couch. #2 that is...
The photo from my previous post was me packing to leave uptown and come to his place. June meowed a lot, but upon arrival adjusted in 5 min. to her new settings. Observe:
She got settled in and the surroundings are quaint, and lovely. Best sleeping couch thus far.
Since being in the East Village, I have taken to Busking, which is also known as playing guitar on the street for cash. I've been to Union Square a few times now and done alright. I had a lovely day not too long ago where, after playing for a few hours, I met a duo of gentlemen inspired by Woody Guthrie to make their way across the country carrying everything they own on their backs, surviving by playing guitar and singing for cash on the street. They were the real deal, the down on the road blues-men, and these guys rocked. They played bluegrass tunes that were so simple and elegant. Lyrics: and I may paraphrase on this first one, "Lord, I know times is bad, but I refuse to be treated this way," set over a G, D and C chord. beautiful. another couple lyrics I identified with: "These 2 dollar shoes hurt my feet...These two dollar shoes hurt my feet." and, " Next time, 10 dollar shoes. At least the 10 dollar shoes, FIT my feet. At least the 10 dollar shoes FIT my feet. " These guys were amazing.
While watching, I met Gordo, a gentleman I didn't know was homeless at first, but he filled me in, and I finally realized the cart he was pushing was his livelihood, as he collected bottles and cans to turn into grocery stores for cash. He told me how he went from place to place collecting, and how after he was unhappy in school, he just walked away. Soon found himself in a shelter with a drug habit, and then walked away from that so he could be healthy. Now he is working with an agency that should place him in some real housing, and pay for everything til he gets on his feet. But, he refuses to go to the shelter again. I gathered that it was worse for him to be there, due to the environment that it exposed him to.
He went on to say this: I paraphrase: "You have to give to get. Everything with the people in my circle is a hustle. EVERYTHING. I mean EVERYTHING. So when I gave my boy a cell phone so he could stay in contact, he asked 'what's the catch?' and I said NO catch... just take it. Just take it. You have to give to get man. I don't starve. I don't. ( he was a large sort of guy...) I know where to find food and money... I don't ask, but if you give me something Ill take it. Give me that beer bottle, Ill give the beer to the guys, I don't drink or do nothing, but I give the beer to the guys, they love me for that, haha, and then I take that bottle to the store and claim it. ( he went on to give me recycling jargon that I doubt any NYC sanitation worker could recite with as much proficiency) I know where to find money. An officer gave me crap about searching in a garbage can, and I said officer i need the money. I said, 'officer can you give me 20 dollars right now? Cause then I can stop searching and picking up bottles for about 3 hours with a tip like that. Otherwise, Im going to take this bottle. I need to do it if you're not going to help me. I know where to find money, Ill go in the cans. Today, Im taking a break. A little 'mental hygiene' Do some normal stuff, walk around the park, talk to people, listen to some music (gesturing to the aforementioned bluegrass duo as he sang along...). Its good for me ya know? Everyone is in different places in their lives... wherever you are, you just have to be happy you know? My folks don't get it, they say our boy is homeless in New York, but you know what? IM HAPPY! Thats what matters most. Gotta have your head on straight, and your stuff together. That's what really matters. I'm happy. (He smiles.)
This man Gordo, has some things figured out.
That was a great day.
I met my friend Justin, appearing courtesy of facebook:
Later that night for a drink, and we talked about life. That might have been a different day, but this man is awesome. His friendship is unrivaled, and his Halo gaming skills are choice. I fear him with a pistol, or grenade launcher.
I played an open mic somewhere in there too, around the corner from couch #2 at a bar called 'Common Ground." Great place. Go. Guitar has indeed proved fruitful on the road, regardless of the extra lugging weight. Thanks Kendra, for making me get it before I left uptown.
Finally, COLUMBUS DAY!!!!!!!!!
After a couple auditions this morning, I walked into the parade and met this guy:
Not really... But his outfit is dope. He is leading the NYC sanitation dept's 'Drums and Pipes" brigade in the Columbus day parade. Here are some other sights;
Sorry random people if you don't like being online... You are now. The man who took the picture of me is Ray, the doorman at Buchwald. Ray is the man. Lives in Philly, and commutes 4 hours every day. Spanish man. Totally cool, and took a great sideways picture of me. His birthday is on the 16th of march. The day before mine. Pretty cool. We had a laugh about that.
Well, that's it. You know most everything. I hope to update more often, daily if possible, to keep you updated on the adventures of June and I. She slept most of today and loved every minute of it. Time to get out the laser pointer and make her tired as I am from walking all day.
Now, I have some notes to type up, and taxes to finish. Seeing as its not even Columbus Day anymore, I hope you enjoy the pictures, and consider them a great re-cap to celebrating the day that a European guy found America and started the New World... although he probably cherry picked it from the first Native Americans, or the Vikings (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100214203639AAm9fLF)
YOU DECIDE.
Happy Tramping.
