Ooh, 43 days since my last post. That's one more resolution biting the dust.  But it does give me an excuse to consider at the year so far.

Good shows, for the most part -- particularly the last two, in Winnipeg and at the Parkview Theater in Minneapolis. I am heartened enough to continue moving toward "Whiporama," the hour-long bullwhip show I envisioned near the end of last year. It'll be a new form of an old art.

The speedbump on this journey is that my beloved camper is in the shop with a seized engine. To replace the engine will take some money, so I have been thinking, researching, and making a lot of phone calls.

This vehicle -- a 1974 Type 2 Volkswagen Westfalia -- has been our office on the road, our transportation, our hotel room, and our dressing room. It has allowed us to do gigs we could not have accepted because we would have had to charge an arm and a leg just to cover plane tickets and hotels. In short, it has been our Freedom Mobile.

For now it is drydocked while we've been hunting for a new engine for it. We have found one in Chicago, but that begs the question of how to afford it on what we make.  It's time to become creative on many levels.

I have put the word out through my social networks that contributions are welcomed. If 210 people gave $10 each, we'd be back on the road in no time. As of today, nine people have pitched in, which means there are 201 to go. I've even put a clickable link on the main page at www.bullwhip.net.

What can I offer in return? Only my thanks and an acknowledgment in the program for "Whiporama," which will be ready by June. Naturally, if anyone would care to give more than $10, we'll get where we need to be that much faster.

What else can I try? Someone suggested Kickstarter.com. It's a place where you can post your project (like "Whiporama") and if people like the idea, they can send donations your way to make it happen. They've approved my pitch, and the campaign will be up in a few days..

What else can I try? Aha! We were recently paid for a show with the equivalent of our fee in silver jewelry, based on my designs. Top-notch merchandise, not for the faint of heart, any more than we are! These also will be offered publically (and privately).

The new whip maker is still getting the range on what I want in a whip to offer the world under my name, but we are now many steps closer, so I am confident we'll get it.

Surely there's something I haven't thought of. With many irons in the fire, I never know which one will carry the magic.

I'll write here how things are progressing. If you have any new (and legal) ideas I haven't thought of, clue me in, please -- I'm listening, and all my doors are open. Right now, I'm waiting to hear from the remaining 201 friends.

Thanks!