Aaah, Oops … a case of looks could be deceiving? Too well groomed, including their fine canine, to be true street people. Their cleanliness and state of their equipment is a clue also. Perhaps they trade stocks and manipulate markets by day and take to the streets for their own entertainment by night. Maybe they couldn’t get a gig at either The Lucky Dill or the Bubbly Bar and set up outside. How much did you drop in their rather large bright green bowl … a not so subtle hint for “:Gimme some green, Man!”
Quite possibly your observations are correct, Richard. What struck me, however, was the bored look on the second guy’s face as well as the vast amount of personal items in bags behind them. The dog was not friendly.
I prefaced & justified my taking pictures by saying I was going to drop some money in the bowl, which I did. I was thinking a couple of dollars but turns out I only had a five. When he said “bless you” I almost snatched my money back.
When I get that, reply, I politely say. Thank you, but I don’t want it and I don’t need it. Have a nicer day.” I rehearsed it so I can say it smoothly, emphatically and leave no room for any discussion. I thought that reply was better than saying nothing because I was pissed … and I knew I shouldn’t take the dough back.
Street St. PETE 
Aaah, Oops … a case of looks could be deceiving? Too well groomed, including their fine canine, to be true street people. Their cleanliness and state of their equipment is a clue also. Perhaps they trade stocks and manipulate markets by day and take to the streets for their own entertainment by night. Maybe they couldn’t get a gig at either The Lucky Dill or the Bubbly Bar and set up outside. How much did you drop in their rather large bright green bowl … a not so subtle hint for “:Gimme some green, Man!”
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Quite possibly your observations are correct, Richard. What struck me, however, was the bored look on the second guy’s face as well as the vast amount of personal items in bags behind them. The dog was not friendly.
I prefaced & justified my taking pictures by saying I was going to drop some money in the bowl, which I did. I was thinking a couple of dollars but turns out I only had a five. When he said “bless you” I almost snatched my money back.
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When I get that, reply, I politely say. Thank you, but I don’t want it and I don’t need it. Have a nicer day.” I rehearsed it so I can say it smoothly, emphatically and leave no room for any discussion. I thought that reply was better than saying nothing because I was pissed … and I knew I shouldn’t take the dough back.
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At least they were his own blessings and he wasn’t pretending he could have a god bless you! 🙂
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Good point, Bruce, I hadn’t thought of that.
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