DOGGY BAG

Was invited to dinner at a fancy restaurant last night. Couldn't eat it all. Was given a "doggy" bag. I took it. And then, I passed several "homeless" folks who seemed to be without food. The thought occurred to me as I then passed hundreds of people at sidewalk cafes with half eaten plates of food that we and they should all take doggy bags with us to feed folks so they don't have to attack garbage cans for leftovers or throw aways. Restaurants aren't allowed to give the excess food away, but we can. Does that make any sense at all?

DOGGY BAG

Was invited to dinner at a fancy restaurant last night. Couldn't eat it all. Was given a "doggy" bag. I took it. And then, I passed several "homeless" folks who seemed to be without food. The thought occurred to me as I then passed hundreds of people at sidewalk cafes with half eaten plates of food that we and they should all take doggy bags with us to feed folks so they don't have to attack garbage cans for leftovers or throw aways. Restaurants aren't allowed to give the excess food away, but we can. Does that make any sense at all?

Hearts Care

I am a great believer in the healing power of music... the power to heal the body and spirit, transform emotions, bridge cultural and social divides, and inspire hope. I have had the great privilege of bringing joy and relief to individuals all over the world who are in need of special heartfelt caring. With HEARTS Care I continually seek ways to expand my personal involvement in healing through a community of dedicated, caring artists and musicians.

I saw the two worlds of psychology and music overlap while I was working as a psychodramatist at the Community Hospital in Carmel, CA. Time and time again I heard doctors, patients, staff comment "The best therapy we get around hear is when Chic brings his guitar to work", as if music were an emotional magnet drawing tensions out of the body long enough for it to heal.

Since then I’ve been able to take that concept to many different venues. At my school of performing arts in Santa Barbara, CA, students regularly performed for senior citizens centers, hospitals, juvenile halls, psychiatric institutions, and more.

One year I orchestrated a tour with musicians to Seattle's Children's Hospital. We dressed up as bugs and called it Christmas in Bugland. We brought guitars, shakers, harmonicas and violins. It was a wonderful way to bring joy and relief to the children. And the musicians had a blast!  This is a special work, and I thoroughly believe in it.

Fight or Fail?

Men and women who might disagree with one another will come together and fight as one when confronted in war with a common enemy. Must we define the quest for world peace as a fight in order to work together in harmony?

The Land Where Our Fathers Died

This is the land where our fathers died
The symbol of democracy
But if DIVIDED we stand then UNITED we will fall
The whole of humanity
African-American, Latino and Pole
Italian, Asian, German and Jew
The Arabs, Irish, Indians all
Sitting in a pot of stew
You may hold on to your nationality
Or put it up on the auction block
But no matter what the weather
If we don't live together
We'all arrive like a sinkin' rock

I AM

A poem by my son who will turn twelve in February.

By Julien Streetman

I am from poem
I am from baseball bats to violins
From Georgia to South Dakota
From the farm land to the inner city Roxbury, Boston
I am from steamed burnt vegetables
Ice cream and more ice cream
Home made blueberry pancakes fresh off the stove
And mixed fruit topped off with vanilla yogurt
As white as fresh snow
I am from expensive instruments
Heavy duty sports gear, black and white
Checkered decorating and Mac computers
Sprawled out on every desk in the house
I am from a loving family
Saying grace at a wonderful Christmas Dinner
With a long term tradition
With Christmas at Grandma's house
I am from a special smell only I can smell
Of my dad coming home from a trip
Clorox mixed with vanilla
I am from juicy buttery mouthwatering cream corn
I am from strong love between my mom
Dad, puppy and I
I am from a little bit of this and a little bit of that
That is where I am from

What time is it?

The world is getting smaller. Ought we not find a better way to manage it? What an anomaly. There are more people than ever and yet the world is getting smaller. Space is less. Pace is more stressed. What time is it? Ain't it time that you free yourself instead of waiting on somebody else? What time is it?
Ain't it time that you open the door to making love instead of making war?
What time is it
Ain't it time that you shake the nation with a little bit of peaceful confrontation?
What time is it?
Ain't it time that you make a stand and start lovin' everybody like you know you can?
What time is it?
Are you in time on time out of time or left behind?
What itme is it?
Are you buying time doing time makin' time or wastin' time?
What time is it?
Is it break time take time night time or the right time to stand up and fight time?
what time is it?
Is it dawn dusk or duck doomsday and are we out of luck?
What time is it?
Is it time that you light the night up with dynamite?
What time is it?
Ain't it time that we get it done equal rights for everyone?
What time is it?
Is it up time down time about time to come on out time?
Is it winnin' time grinnin' time grittin' time or quittin' time?
Is it movin' time groovin' time skin time or make a friend time?
Is it AM, PM or free him he only spoke his mind?
What time is it?

On Home

It is good to be home no matter where you are!! The Chicster

Passing the Blues Along - A documentary

I am excited to announce the release of Passing the Blues Along - a documentary directed by Joseph Sargent that covers mostly my adult years as a performing artist. Copies will be on sale beginning November 9th. For more information on Passing the Blues Along please call Mo' Street Music (206) 525-2993. -- The Chicster

Frank Buster

What a special little guy. He waltzed in tonight with his head bald and scarred from radiation, and a big smile on his face. The brain tumor would not survive. He was sure of that. He'd named it 'Frank' because he needed to know to whom exactly the hammer would be sent for smashing. I was given a tiny pin to wear. It said, "Frank Buster", and in 'that's-the-least-I-can-do' moment I joined his campaign to get rid of Frank. I scanned the audience for other Frank Busters and found a few. There has to be a song for this brave lad and I racked my brain to find it. I thought about "Lean On Me" and "Stand By Me", but his will was already so positive and strong. Why go there? Instead, we sang "don't worry about a thing, cause every little thing's gonna be alright". I am proud of my Frank Buster pin, and I will wear it forever in prayer for all the little children fighting for their lives.

The Art of Performance

I would love to have your thoughts in the form of an anecdote or two regarding the Art of Performance. Send me an email if you'd like to participate in the book I am writing (chic@chicstreetman.com), and I will send you the "3" questions.

Mantras

When your mind is happy so is your body! That's my mantra for the day. Get to walkin' and put a little synchopated rhythm into it. Do a little bop if you want to as the words roll from your tongue..."when your mind is happy so is your body". Tomorrow make up your own mantra. Your heart will be thankful. The chicster

Movin' on up!!

My wife has convinced me that blogging is the way to go. So, this is my very first blog. I have no idea what I am doing, but I am determined to keep on movin' up. That's the only way to go.
--the Chicster