081003

 

Berkeley, CA

Sunday August 10, 2003

     10:41am  It's the next day and I just realized that my batteries ran out. So, I hadn't logged this morning. It hasn't been recording this morning. So here I am flying my sign on my corner. I've gotten only two or three email addresses. I slept at the laundromat, as usual. I'll elaborate on it when I type it up.

     10:57am  Lisa gave me a cigarette. That's very generous of you, Lisa. Thank you.

     11:32am  John was nice enough to give me a cigarette. I appreciate it, John.

                     Some girl just told me to go online and search for "Camp Winnarainbow."

                     Hehe, when people walk by pushing stroller or with kids following them I ask them to stop and read my sign. If they don't I say, "I'm saving the world for you kids. Too bad their mom/dad doesn't give a shit."

     11:50am  This one idiot just stopped and I tried to make him read my sign. He just stood there and yelled, "I don't care! Some people don't want to read your sign!" I told him, "Well, thanks for proving me right about my whole ignorance theory. That's the problem, nobody cares."

     12:07pm  Not only did Jason listen to me, but he's giving me a cigarette, too. Thanks a lot Jason. I appreciate it, brother.

     12:08pm  And that ignorant line worked again. This dude, I got his email address and he even took a picture of my sign.

     1:30pm  Martin hooked me up with a cigarette. I appreciate it, brother.

     2:49pm  Dan's hooking me up with a cigarette. Thanks dude.

     3:55pm  Pixie just hooked up with a cigarette. I appreciate it, Pixie.

     5:35pm  I just got done having a good smokeout session. I smoked a couple bowls with Zack and he kicked me down with some trim, so I can stay high all night and work. I'm on my way to save the world.

     5:44pm  Deborah was nice enough to listen to me. She apologized for something and I told her, "No, No that's ok. You have given me more time than most. Thank you."

                   Cool, Rich gave me two more cigarettes.

     7:53pm  I've got some believers, hehe. Cool, cool. I had a most excellent conversation with these people. They listened a hella lot, hehe.

     8:35pm  I got hungry, so I went and stood out in front of Bay King and asked people walking by, "Could you spare a dollar for some day-old donuts?" I really hate spanging, but I do it so little I think I deserve to once in a while. It's not like I make it a career like all these other bums. Everything in moderation. And, I am not asking for more than I need. I don't want what I don't need. I don't need money(it just helps sometimes). I wasn't out there long before Ed gave me a dollar. Thanks Ed. Some gasoline for the stomach. See how you can just count on generosity? Human-nature.

     8:50pm  Pizza came to Hate Camp a bit early tonight, but Kiko was nice enough to give me another slice he snagged. Thanks, brother.

     9:06pm  I walked down Telegraph and when I passed Mrs. Fields Cookies, I stuck my head in and asked the pretty girl, "Hey, I don't suppose I could get a courtesy-cookie?" Sure enough, Priscilla hooked me up. That's very generous of you, Priscilla.

     9:10pm  The craziest thing. I just got this courtesy-cookie and I was walking out. All of a sudden Priscilla tells me, "Your dollar is going to fall out." Surprised, I reach around and feel and I do have a dollar sticking out of my back pocket! Where did I get a dollar? I must've stuck it in there a while ago. Wow, I have a dollar in my back pocket, and a courtesy-cookie. Badass.

     9:24pm  I'm in front of Blake's and Jessica was nice enough to give me a cigarette. That's very generous of you, Jessica.

     9:47pm  This homeless guy heard I was writing a book on generosity and he tells me he has a story. He says, "I was kicked down about maybe $6 or $7 in quarters on the avenue. I flew a sign earlier in the morning and no one gave me any money. If they would have, I was going to give it to people. I realized what it meant, share the wealth. So, I give it to other guys on the street that need it. I had a pocketful of change. They gave me all this change, so I just gave it to other people. I feel good about that. It'll bless my heart. Then I went and started feeling selfish. I really want to drink a 211, but I don't want to be a selfish. I guess I am. That's just who I am. My name is Eric Burg and I'm glad I'm on your thing. It's kind of a series on a nomad, a traveler."

Next day..