Saturday, August 02, 2008

Busker du Jour • James James


IMG_2401, originally uploaded by mareike.liewald.

Friday, August 01, 2008

Video du Jour • Larry Pringle

T. Nelson Downs • King of Koins


King of Koins, originally uploaded by Dai Vernon.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Camp Paradise • Week 54

Had a good day today. Worked out this afternoon w/ Aaron, yesterday we trained with Morisio. It's fun getting in shape, who would have thunk. Going to work soon, to display my craft, make people happy and some cash at the same time. Then after a few hours of that sort of fun or frustration (we'll see how the evening unfolds). Probably go back to the gym for another round before going to the Magic Castle to see my pal Aaron Fisher who is working late parlor this week.

I felt like a girl trying on a couple outfits that were a bit snug even a month or so ago. A long way to go, but creating much better habits. Continuing to eat right (for the most part). Never been much of a drinker (some might dispute), so that's not much of an issue.

It's been BEAUTIFUL this week in Hollywood, CA

Palm trees, neon, over the top retail, sports cars you've never seen before, Bently's common.

Bitches. . . off the hook . . . now did I really have to say that . . . .

Recently sold on Ebay • 1st Edition of "Expert at the Card Table"







From the Jay Marshall Collection

Erdnase, S.W. The Expert at the Card Table. [Chicago, 1902]. First edition. Illustrated. Original green cloth. Pages browned as usual. An exceptionally tight, clean copy of the desirable first edition.

Sold for $2,800.00

Tuesday, July 29, 2008


Professor Pipe Speaks to Oscar, originally uploaded by brancusi7.

Polly

I dig my chick, what can I say. She makes me feel loved and wanted. She says she's crazy about me too. . . but I just think she's crazy. It takes a strange woman who wants to spend her life with me. I know, I've been through a a few of them. We just like each other. We're nice to each other, she's a real good kisser.

We enjoy each others company and spend as much time together as we can.

She's at work and I miss her.

She cooks, she sews (call me old fashioned, but I think that's cool). She makes me happy.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I cant trace time

Last week I received an email with a power point presentation from the street performer coordinator (a Universal/NBC employee), it had pictures of our acts and bullet requests for changes to be made. On my list were a few items like: Don't put your amp on a stool (then they suggested I could put it on my table), Skirt your table (storage area below visible), Loose the doctors bag for tips and use a basket or clear jar.

I don't like being told what to do. . . . that's why I'm a street performer. I sucked it up and made the changes. Big deal, I'll kiss a little ass when it's called for. This is my bread and butter. They run a tight ship on every level. It's one of the things I like about the place.

The day I got the email, I went to Guitar Center and bought a proper amp stand. Then Polly volunteered to take on the skirt issue. She went to the fabric store, busted out her fancy sewing machine, presto chango, I have a very sparkling table skirt, total show biz baby.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

"I'm with it"

Last night Danny Sylvester and I met t the Steve Allen Theater to see Aye Jaye perform his one man show entitled "Carney Trash". I met Aye Jaye years ago at a SAM National Convention in Cincinnati with JR. Aye Jaye is a wildly friendly cat with a big smile and a huge heart. His show took us through his family history, several generations of carnival owners and operators. He hips the audience to the secret underground subculture of carney's and tells of his adventures while educating the audience to the hundreds of years of history relating to carnivals and circuses. 10 in 1 shows, freaks and geeks, scams, cotton candy, midways and sideshows. It's a colorful story and well told. I had a good time and was glad we went.

Afterwards Danny and I hung out and shot the shit for an hour or so. Good to hang with my soul brother.

aj

Cups from the Jay Marshall Collection

All recently sold on Ebay. I bid on some, but didn't get any.



Magic Inc.  Charlie Miller Cups
Tayade Cups & Wand
P & L Cups