042104

 

San Antonio, TX

Wednesday April 21, 2004

     11:11am  I am leaving my mom's house for the day. Shit, I don't know what day it is. I think it's Wednesday. My feet are pretty well-rested and I got my Nike shoes on. I look crazy. I got my Willie Nelson shirt tucked in. I got this yellow army belt my little brother gave me. Man, my brother likes giving me stuff. He even bought me a pack of cigarettes last night. He told me, "Here, I got something for you." He bought me a pack just because he turned eighteen. Anyway, I have a project for today. I found this business card on the ground. I don't remember when. It's for the Creative Sewing Center. It says they do repairs. I'm going to ride the bus out there and ask them if they can fix my pants for free. I'll tell them what I'm doing. They're going to think I'm crazy. I look all crazy today.

     11:35am  I'm on the 610 going towards Ingram. Right when I finished my cigarette it came. Perfect timing.

     11:48am  I asked this one dude wearing a crucifix on the bus if I could tell him my story. I told him my mission-objectives. Right after I told him I was going to get marijuana legalized he dung the bell for a stop. Damn the ignorance in this world. He was wearing a crucifix and everything.

     12:39pm  I got off the #8 over on NW 24th and Culebra. I see an Al's Barber Shop. I'm going to go see if I can get a free haircut.

     12:47pm  I'm out here in front of Rio's and Dave hooked me up with a lighter. I asked him for a light and he gave me a lighter. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit in my game, thanks.

     12:54pm  I was standing in front of Al's Barber Shop. I didn't go in and ask because there was lots of people waiting. But I look across the street and I see a Rio's $4.99 haircut place! They always hook me up there. I went over there and just stood in front smoking a cigarette. I got seen. I went inside and asked and they told me the manager wasn't there. Well, forget it. I'll go back to the barber shop and ask Al.

                    Actually, I see the bus coming. I'm just going to jump on the bus and go downtown.

     1:03pm  Mr. Chaverez is hooking me up with a ride downtown. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit in my game.

     1:18pm  Got off on Flores and Pecan. I'm going to go to Travis Park.

     2:05pm  I asked for change for a hotdog and Rita gave me some chips. I appreciate it, Rita. Everybody gets credit in my game. Thank you.

     2:09pm  I started telling these girls my lines. I told them that the greatest problem in the world was ignorance. One goes, "No, it's not!" and they started talking about other shit and not listening to me. I told her, "You are proving me right right now by not listening to me. Thanks."

     3:03pm  Sylvia is hooking me up with a whole dollar. I had just asked her for some change. I appreciate it, Sylvia. Let me see if they'll give me a hotdog for a dollar again. Everybody gets credit in my game. Thank you.

                    I just had this awesome presentation with this girl at the bus stop. She listened to me like crazy. Awesome. Good things are happening.

     3:34pm  I was desperately looking for some weed and everybody was telling me no. Finally, I ran into Jay and Monica and they hooked me up with a hit. I appreciate it, guys.

     3:48pm  Here comes the #5 bus. I called the sewing place and they told the 5 or 602 goes by there. Hopefully I can get my pants fixed.

                   Right now I'm walking down McCullough over by Elsmere. I see a big banner up in the street. It says BEAD BAZAAR. Oh shit, I need some rainbow beads for my walking stick! I'm going to walk back and get the time and date. It said it was at the Live Oak Civic Center. I need to go there.

                   It's a good thing I'm walking so people can see me.

     4:22pm  I stopped and smoked my last cigarette. I gave a lot of them away from the pack that my little brother gave me. I'm at the bus stop on McCullough and Melrose right now.

     4:33pm  I walked down to Primer. There's a bus stop here. I'm standing here waving the peace sign at everyone who goes by. I'm just doing it to kill time until the bus comes. It's all these rich white people talking on their cellphones. I'm giving them the peace sign. Haha.

                   It's weird I had just found this card at Travis Park on the ground. I went, "Let me put this in my pocket. I need to get my pants fixed." That's how I got this destination to go to. Hopefully something cool will happen there.

                   I'm just following my signs. I need to follow that one sign to the Bead Bazaar.

     5:02pm  I ended up on the corner of West Avenue and Blanco. The address is like a block away from here. I'm going to try and score at the Taco Cabana first, hehe.

     5:05pm  Angel Santiago is hooking me up with a taco. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit in my game.

     5:15pm  I came to the Taco Cabana before I went to get my pants fixed at the place. I don't even know where it is. I walked in and shot off my whole gasoline-for-the-stomach line. They hooked me up. These two kids, these two hip kids with rainbow necklaces on. They asked me what I was doing. Matt hooked me up with a cigarette. We came out here and Bubbles hooked me up with two tacos. Everybody gets credit in my game.

     5:57pm  I came in the sewing place and said, "Hey, let me tell you my problem. I told them the whole situation how I had found that card and had been procrastinating about doing it. They told me, "All you need to do is a patch." I told them, "I know. That's why I came here." She told me, "Oh, we don't do that here." They told me to just go to any dry cleaners. That they do alterations there. I guess that's what I'm going to do.

     6:10pm  I just went into the Cowboy Cleaners. I went in there and asked, "Hey, do you all do patches here?" They told me it would be five dollars. I told this lady about my cause. She couldn't listen because she had to work. I talked to her manager, some black thug dude. I thought for sure he would listen to me when I said marijuana. I guess I shouldn't assume. I told him, "Hey don't suppose you guys could hook me up with a patch for the cause." He told me, "I'm broke." I said, "I am not asking for money. I just wanted to know if you could fix it and not charge me." He said, "Oh no, we can't do that."

                   I guess I'm not getting my pants fixed today.

     6:52pm  I went on a big walk. I'm in this neighborhood here, making myself known. Giving the peace sign to every car that drives by. I ended up back on West Avenue. I went to the bus stop and caught the bus going downtown. I'm going to go back downtown.

                  When I was telling the lady at the Cowboy Cleaners that I was going to get marijuana legalized she said, "Oh, my daughter will be very happy about that."

                  Haha. See, all the kids smoke it.

     7:20pm  I was riding on the #5 bus. I get the urge to look outside and I see VICTOR real big. I jumped off the bus. It says, "Studio in the Park Haircutting VICTOR 822-2013."

                   Cool, at least now I know where I'm going to get my hair cut. That place has my name on it. Some other day. It's on 4822 McCullough. Oh yeah, I didn't have any pictures left so I couldn't take a picture of the big VICTOR. I'll come back and do that. Someday.

     7:35pm  Stephanie was nice enough to hook me up with a sandwich at Subway here on McCullough. I appreciate it, Stephanie. Everybody gets credit in my game. Stephanie is going to hook me up with a meatball sub. Awesome.

                    I walked out the Subway and I saw a car that said, "Visualize World Peace," on it. I went back in the Subway and asked the girl, "Hey, does your car say Visualize World Peace on it?" She told me no. I just saw the owner. Some old guy getting into it. He's looking at me talking into my recorder.

     7:49pm  Brett hooked me up with a cigarette in front of the Subway. I appreciate it, brother.

     8:07pm  Let's see, I walked up to the #5 bus stop. I saw these two hip-looking chicks go into the liquor store. I decided I would tell them my story when they walked out. I did and I asked them, "Hey, can I get a ride anywhere?" They're giving me a ride somewhere. I don't know. Let's see where I end up.

                   Shit, I left my water bottle at the bus stop, but Laura was nice enough to bring me back and get it. It was still there. Good thing. The spirits got my back.

                   Oh yeah, it was cool. Those girls I saw at the bus stop. I just wound up at their house and they got some weed! They smoked me out and gave me a little nugget for later. I was going to walk off. Their house is over on Howard and Melrose.

                   Oh yeah, I walked up to the HEB on West Olmos. I'm walking South to downtown.

     9:43pm  Jason, who I've met before gave me a cigarette. I appreciate it, brother.

                   I jumped on the #9 bus. I'm going to see if I can find those girls' house again. Heather and Jennifer.

     10:02pm  I'm passing the laundromat I was at the other night. I'm going to see if I can backtrack from here. I met them at the Diamond Shamrock down here. I'm going to walk there again.

     10:35pm  I stopped at the Westwood Apartments. I saw this dude smoking outside. I asked if he could spare one and he didn't have one. I asked him if I could tell him my story and he said he was waiting for someone. I'm just going to walk down the street. I think they live on Brahan.

                     Umm, it's not the right street but I'm going to walk it anyway. I'm not going to find their house tonight. It's alright. I can email them.

                     I'm walking through this rich neighborhood on Brahan.

                     Whoa, look where I ended up. I ended up at Fort Sam Houston. Established in 1876. That's weird. I wonder if they've got cameras watching me right now as I talk into my tape recorder.

     10:39pm  I'm back on Broadway. Cunningham next to Broadway.

     10:52pm  I walked all the way to North Pine. Turning right. I'm trying to get downtown so I can catch the last one, the lineup bus to Crossroads mall. I'll go and crash in that little hideout in the woods behind the plasma place(3-22-04, 2:10am). The homeless village.

     10:54pm  Turning left on Grayson.

     10:55pm  Robert, some dude I saw walking on Pine, hooked me up with a cigarette. I appreciate it, brother.

                     When I had first asked him for a cigarette he told me no. I told him, "Okay, thanks anyway," and started walking off. Then his friend told him something and he said, "Actually, I didn't mean it that way." He walked up and handed me a cigarette. I logged it.

     11:00pm  Turning right on East Carson. Government Hill Historic District.

     11:02pm  Turning right on Mason Street.

                     Turning left on Olive.

     11:32pm  I made it to Travis Park! I walked all the way from over there to downtown! I haven't missed the lineup buses. I thought, "Hmm, I could probably crash at Josue's or walk up to Nanos' garage. It looks like I'm going to crash in that little homeless village behind the plasma place.

                    Man, my feet don't hurt one bit and I've been walking nonstop. I love these shoes.

                    Man, it was awesome how I ended up where I needed to be on time. It was really cool the route I chose walking led me right to Travis Street. Perfect timing.

     12:35am  From Crossroads I walked over to Sam's and knocked on his door. He wasn't home or just didn't answer it. I decided I'd go to Jim's. I'll go hang out at Jim's all night. Then after that I'll go crash in that little hideout.

                     Actually, I've changed my mind. I've walked so much today. I have gotten the best exercise. My feet don't hurt at all. I could walk so much more. I'm thinking about the Jim's on Huebner and I10. I'm going to walk the I10 access road all the way.

     12:45am  I walked Fredericksburg all the way to Callaghan. I just got the idea, "Oh yeah, I can go score some food at Chacho's on Callaghan/I10. They're still open."

     12:55am  Angelo, the police officer at Chacho's hooked me up with a cigarette. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit in my game.

     1:02am  I just had me an awesome presentation with the police officer! When I went into the part of how I get free food he goes, "Oh, are you hungry?" I told him, "I walk for a living. I can always eat." He told me, "I'm going to go get you a couple tacos."

                   The cop! Oh man, this is awesome.

                   Those tacos were damn good. They hit the spot. Angelo even gave me an after-meal smoke.

     2:05am  Man, I'm having a good time at Chacho's. I didn't even go inside and I got some food. I was talking with the cop outside. He's a Converse cop, but he's doing security right now. Oh yeah, then this SAPD cop shows up with some other cop. I hear them talking and he goes, "Hey Victor, how did you get in the Oyster Bake?" I told them, "I asked people for spare change. Ask and thou shall receive. The universe provides."

                   Ha! The cops are all talking about me. This is so awesome!

                   Then Angelo asks me, "Victor, if I give you money will you go to the store for me?" I went and bought him a pack of cigarettes at the store.

     2:43am  Ruben hooked me up with a cigarette here at the Diamond Shamrock on Horizon Hill and Medical. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit in my game.

     3:14am  Man, I've been walking my ass off tonight. My feet don't even hurt that much. Man, these shoes are awesome. I just walked Gardendale all the way past Wurzbach to Bluemel. I'm over next to USAA now. I've got like a mile to go to Jim's. I'm almost there.

     3:43am  I'm at the Tigermart, the Exxon over by the Jim's.

                   Mike, in front of Jim's hooked me up with a cigarette. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit, thanks.

Next day..