CURRENT MISSION

Busking (street performing) around the world!

ABOUT ME

I guess I'm a little surprised to have made it to 75 in one piece and still feeling fairly young. I've been a musician and entertainer all my life and continue to get paid to be a complete jack-ass in front of an audience. I'm amazed!

I'm a solo act now and too old and independent to be in bands anymore. They drive me nuts. Don't need them. And they certainly don't need me. I love performing by myself. No headaches.

I never turn down an opportunity to perform at any function that promotes peace and justice. Or really any other good cause, for that matter. Over the years I've done fundraisers for the Democratic Party, ACLU, Amnesty International, Veterans for Peace, Vietnam Veterans against the War, abused women and children and many, many more. And, yes, I'm bragging. Its something I've always been very proud of doing and happy I could create money for these groups from my small talent. I still do all the songs from the peace movement of long ago.

I finally escaped Los Angeles after 25 years there. In 2003 Lisa and I moved to the beautiful Oregon coast where we live in a house I built near the beach in Bandon, OR. I must travel a bit to perform but I'm mostly retired anyway.

I don't drink or take any recreational drugs anymore and haven't for many years. But I have no objection to those around me drinking. Doesn't bother me a bit. But, ya know, its funny. I still like to hang out in bars and nightclubs even though I don't drink. I guess because I still work in them so much.

PHILOSOPHY

Peace and Justice. I hate jobs. I know, they don't seem to have anything to do with each other. Oh well......

Politics: Registered Green.

I'm adding a category from another website I saw because it was so much fun. Anyway, I think it says a great deal more about my personal philosophy than me gassing off about it. Blah, Blah, Blah....

Favorite Quotations:

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Julius (Groucho) Marx
"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...well, I have others." Julius Marx
"How about NO, you crazy Dutch bastard!" Dr. Evil
"Settle down Bevis" Butt-head
"You know, I go to the theatre to be entertained. I don't want to see plays about rape, sodomy and drug addiction. I can get all that at home." Peter Cook
"I would much prefer to be a judge than a coal miner because of the absence of falling coal." Peter Cook
The one on the bumper sticker beside photo of G.W. Bush..."wtf?" Unknown
"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns one on, I go into the other room and read a book." Julius Marx
"I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member."Julius Marx
"Military justice is to justice what military music is to music." Julius Marx
"Wow wow wee wa!" Borat

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am brand new (2009) but hope to begin to participate in many ways....and soon.

I've just had my first real couch surfing experience and it was 100% positive. Met some really great people and Enjoyed my visit a lot.

That was way back in '09. Now I've had many couchsurfing experiences. All positive. Please see my references and friends.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I am brand new (2009) to couchsurfing.com, although I have certainly done my share of it informally all over the world. I enjoy people and seem to make friends wherever I go.

That was way back in '09. Now I've had many couchsurfing experiences. All positive. Please see my references and friends.

Interests

Rock and Roll, classical music, Opera, Contemporary fiction, R and B, my music. I am currently a member of Veterans For Peace and previously a member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War and ACLU. I would like to be a member of Greenpeace, The Rolling Stones and the United States Senate, but I don't have time.

Reading, mostly fiction.

Researching what country to live in next. I just about can't stand this country (USA), anymore.
Traveling for work and pleasure.

Eating hamburgers. (I know, very American. ugh!)

My music.

• books
• singing
• performing arts
• photography
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• music
• classical music
• opera

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: I don't know. Some of them are OK, I guess. How about "Borat" or "Reqeum For A Dream". All Jim Jarmusch movies. "Goldmember" maybe? How about "Rocky Horror Picture Show"? All Marx Bros. movies. I like "chick-flicks"! There, I said it! I feel better. I hate action/adventure. Don't like movies that supposedly appeal to men. Love comedies. Some of my favorites lately: Borat, Goldmember and a couple of really stupid Will Farrell movies. I like all musicals. Moulin Rouge. All Cohen Bros. Woody Allen.

Music: Bach, Mozart, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, Puccini, Temptations, Chopin, Verde, Earth Wind and Fire, Beatles, Beethoven, Brahms, Aretha, Ry Cooder.

Books: "Angle of Repose" Wallace Stegner
"A Prayer For Owen Menie" John Irving
"Pigs In Heaven" Barbara Kingsolver
"The English Patient" Michael Ondaatje
"The Megus" John Fowles
"Cider House Rules" John Irving
"Dancing At the Rascal Fair" Ivan Doig
All John Irving, all Wallace Stegner, all Alice Walker!
"A Confederacy of Dunces" John Toole
All Charles Dickens!
"All the Pretty Horses" Cormack McCarthy
"Time's Arrow" Martin Amos
All Kingsley Amos, (ya, Martin's dad)
Shakespeare, especially comedies.

Television: Don't watch it. Haven't for over 30 years. Too boring. Faux, pseudo. I like actual life and conversations with actual people.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I think the most amazing thing I've ever done was to perform at an orphanage last year in Hue, Vietnam. I support a couple of charities in Vietnam and finally had the chance last year to visit some of them. The Doc Sanh orphanage is a very happy place. What? An orphanage a happy place? Yes! Its run by Buddhist nuns. Buddhists actually love children and are nice to them. Anyway, I was asked to do a show there and I do a few children's songs, but only in English. I had 200 kids singing "Yellow Submarine" in seconds! Blew me away! They don't even know the language. But, they also liked R&R. At the end, the nuns said the children wanted to sing the one English language song they knew, to me. "You Are My Sunshine". Can you imagine 200 beautiful kids between the age of 4 and 10 singing to you, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray", etc. Well, I was blubbering like a little girl before the first stanza was thru and they went on. And on. The best show I've ever done in my life! The best audience ever!

Teach, Learn, Share

This category really excites me because I'm getting to the age where, even I can see, I actually know some pretty cool stuff. And, at the same time, know I still have so much to learn.

I can teach and share music, construction skills and photography. I can also teach loving peace, and how to argue against the death penalty with anyone, even you're mean-spirited, Republican in-laws.

I want to learn how to be more giving, less selfish and how to love more fully.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I think I am good company. I like to explore new places and people. Very conversational on a wide variety of subjects. And, of course, I can share music. I have done many house concerts for my hosts and their guests.

I'm sorry but I don't have much talent at cooking but I will gladly take you out for a meal.

I can engage closely with my host or be very independent and strike out on my own. I don't need a baby-sitter but love to spend time with my hosts, if they so desire. I can go either way. It's entirely up to my hosts. Hosts have lives and jobs and don't always have time to entertain couch surfers. I am always considerate of my host's time. But, suffice it to say, many of my former hosts are now long-term, personal friends who I now visit and chat with online frequently.

I am 100% vaccinated and even have my second booster as of 15 April, 2022. I will cheerfully comply with whatever local COVID19 restrictions or mandates which are in place during my visit to your home. I also will comply with your wishes in this regard in your home. Including, masks, sanitizing, social distancing, etc. as per my host's wishes. Let's all stay safe and healthy in whatever ways make sense at the time of my visit.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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