I know there are alot of people who read this page in different parts of the country and different parts of the world. But, here in New York City, this is an August weekend in New York. (Okay, it's not quite August, yet. But, near 90 degrees and sunny all day... that's August.)

You know where I'll be.

At "The Hill" in Central Park.

Y'know, I can look at the stats from this website. I can see how many people are coming here and how many "page-loads" there are on any given day. So, I have a pretty good idea that hundred and hundreds of you are reading the message boards. Why not pipe-up and say "Hi". That "Forum" (message board) is there for you guys. You can talk about anything you want in there. Music, movies, politics, world events, Love, sex... anything.

It cracks me up. Every so often, it even becomes a little bit of a "David Trashing Party". It's all cool. 'Cause when we first started that thing I said that there would be no censorship in there, and I mean what I say. It's been a really interesting ride to learn how different people feel about things, about Life in general... how their minds work and even more interestingly, what's in their hearts.

I'm just gonna ramble a little bit here this morning before I head out to the park with a guitar on my shoulder. This is probably more for me than anyone who's reading this. But, sometimes it's helpful to just write things down. Y'know? Once a wonderful old woman told me, "David... if you're not hearing the things you need to hear... say them!"

I guess it's just that, every time something horrible happens, all my life I've heard people say, "Well, y'can't change human nature." My feeling is... human nature doesn't need changing. It's arrogant of me to think it does. Human nature is probably just fine the way it is. Everything in this Universe is actually perfect the way it is.

Y'know? I'm a human being who was given very specific gifts that I try to use to the best of my ability alot of the time. (Then again, alot of the time, I'm just watching baseball or Seinfeld re-runs.) But, as a human being I know I am capable of such ugliness, such unspeakable cruelty... and, capable of harboring emotions like revenge and envy and selfishness.

But, human beings are also capable of unspeakable beauty. We are capable of such compassion, kindness and even what seems nearly impossible to me sometimes... forgiveness. Creating beautiful and helpful and wonderful things is a daily occurence on this planet. We are capapble of dreaming such amazing things... and, then actually pulling them off with dedication and work. And sometimes, if my heart is in a good place and my head is where it belongs, failure brings the most remarkable rewards of all.

As far as I'm concerned, it really comes in the one person size.

It really is in each individual spirit... in each individual heart.

Y'know what a coward is? Someone who sees the higher road and chooses the lower. Believe me, I know. I used to be a coward. (Still am sometimes, but not as often as I used to be. Maybe that's growth, hah?) Sometimes the higher road seems more difficult. Sometimes the higher doesn't yield results as immediately as I would demand. Sometimes the higher is as simple as allowing those who don't like you, or would cause you harm, to ridicule the things you do and say. (That can be tough.) Most often, the higher path is achieved through example... attraction rather than promotion. It requires wisdom and patience when the lower path makes the desired result look as if it can be forced by our own will and power. That cracks me up. Because, I found the reason behind the higher path is sometimes obscured for a while. But, it's always there. It's where Life is. It's where the real fun is. It's where most of the smiles are. It's where the real adventure is. It's where Love is.

"Oh yeah!? Well, just look at the news! Everything is negative ALL the time. You turn on the news, and there is nothing but negativity and crime and heartache and duplicity and lying..."

Y'know why I think that is!?

Because harmony is the norm.

Cruletly is the abberation.

Meanness is abnormal.

Negativity is news.

I've been playing in Central Park every weekend for the past 14 years. Hundreds of thousands of people smile and share music and laughter, commonality and memories, warmth and... uh... sometimes hot dogs. Every weekend! But, if someone got hit on the head and their purse stolen, (which has never happened.) ...that might make the news. Why? It's the abnormal occcurrence.

I guess I'm saying... I'm diggin' this adventure. I love people. (Oh, I don't like everyone. Go take a look in the message boards. There are even people on my own website who I probably wouldn't have a cup of coffee with... and, who certainly don't like me!)

But, it's all cool.

I'm a lucky man. See you guys out on "The Hill" today.

Anyway... yeah... just rambling.

Listen, I'm gonna be in Central Park all afternoon, playing music starting around 12:30. Anyone who knows me knows that most days I play for 5 or 6 hours without stopping. But, today is one of those 3 dates this summer on which a wedding is scheduled to happen on Hernshead behind me. (Actually, last time I thought there was gonna be a wedding, nobody showed up! Hmmmmm.) But, I just wanna let you know that I might hafta stop playing around 3:00, and then pick it up again after they are done getting hitched. (It's gonna be near 90 degrees, so I'm sure they won't be out there in their tuxes and gowns very long!) Then we'll head into, what I like to call, "the sweet part of the afternoon"... that late afternoon time when we do alot of the prettier songs, some of the more meaningful songs...

Then, tomorrow (Sunday)... we'll do a little music in Riverside Park again. Probably between 1:00 and 4:30. But, NOT in the same location as last time. I'm thinkin' it's gonna be on the South Lawn at the 72nd Street entrance. (Kinda near ol' Eleanor Roosevelt.)

Um... listen, we are also making real progress putting up the VOICES TOGETHER CONCERT to help the injured civilians... the men, women, and especially the children of Iraq, the ordinary people who's lives are being destroyed by this nightmarish mess of a war that was prosecuted with no wisdom or foresight. As it stands right now, we are probably going to be in a major musical venue here in New York City, probably in the last two weeks of January 2006. (Actually, it might be the finest music venue in town.) You can catch up on this idea by reading a recent update. Since the time we were all barbecuing on the Fourth of July weekend, just 20 days ago, approximately 600 more Iraqis have died in the violence. Thousands wounded and horribly injured... thousands... just this month. And, these are not minor injuries. These people are being injured in daily bombings and attacks. It's a nightmare and nobody, not our government or military, is helping these people who are suffering so terribly. So, we're gonna do our best to help the few wonderful, extraordinary human beings who are.

Get a general idea of what we're planning here.

Anyway... um... I've got alot of work to do in that regard. It's a massive undertaking, but I'm working with a group of really committed and fun people. I'm gonna be in Washington D.C. on Monday to talk to some people who may really be able to help us out with this effort. It's all good.

Thanks again.