the "Tree of Heaven" grows like a weed all over new jersey and the northeast in general.  find it along highways growing out of concrete or in other places where trees aren't supposed to grow.  it's difficult to eradicate; cut one limb off or even break off the whole trunk and it will sprout new branches within a few days.  when handled, its sapplings leave a distinctive odor on one's hands and clothing.   as the tree grows and gains in bulk, its huge branches, made of spongy, soft wood, have a tendency to break off and come crashing down, especially when agitated by high winds.  a neighbor of mine has one such tree growing in her yard.  late one night, i found myself jumping out of bed and running naked (it was summer) from one end of the apartment to the other.  a sudden loud crash had awoken me.  it turned out that one of the two main branches of her tree had fallen into my immediate neighbor's yard, crushing her above-ground swimming pool and backyard furniture.  and so began the deforestation of my backyard.  no more trees, just nice flat savannah on which to plant tomato and basil.  so, in the end, and not to be irreverent or anything like that, i got the point.  and who needs that kind of surprise, anyway?

the nature of man is to remain in a stasis cocooned in belief, a most plush blanket from which it is most difficult to extricate oneself.  hence, our preconceived notions are undeniably shackles with warm, velvety interioirs.  and who in their right mind would want to leave warm, velvety interiors?  so, when challenged by the prospect of sudden change, we act like prisoners who know only the darkness of our cells- we denounce the open door and turn our backs to the light.

It's dawn now-
I feel it in my breast.
Ignoring past and all the rest,
I'm looking far, far ahead.
I raise my eyes unto the sky
And feel new age upon me.
I shed one skin and seconds later
Another takes its place.

I radiate not unlike her.

what a lovely morning.  been watching "Jericho" OnDemand.  good series.  it's about this small town in Kansas and how folks are trying to keep it together after most of the major cities have been nuked.  i wonder what i would do if shit hit the proverbial fan?

work again tomorrow.  and the day after that.  then off for the weekend.  on saturday run some errands.  so much on my plate, but it's all good.  i'm happy.

apparently a BIG snow storm is headed this way.  work has been calling round the clock for folks to do overtime.  it's tempting but i can't.  besides, the prospects of having to spend the night at the hospital in an empty patient's room isn't appealing at all.  and i've already done my share of O.T. for this week and last week.  i need my beauty rest, na mean?  ha

anyway, what to do?  been catching up with season 6 of Smallville.  good stuff.  even caught a glimpse of what could be the "Man of Steel", a terminator-like manifestation/version of Superman.  and as usual, Battlestar Galactica still kicks ass.  don't ask.  i'm just a geek at heart.  in any event, at least i'm not doing this.

there's nothing like using a bucket to manually drain a filled tub.  everything else works and thank God none of the frozen pipes that have since unfroze have burst.  that would have just sucked ASS.

anyway, life is good.  i can't complain.  and even if i did find something to bitch about, all i'd have to do is think about these folks to put it all in its proper perspective...

my fuckin' pipes have froze.  i am please to announce that now have no running cold water in my kitchen and that the drains in my bathroom don't work.  how am i supposed to wash my ass?  thank God for redundancy.

saw my first big production opera two weeks ago at the Metropolital Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York.  it was Puccini's La Boheme.  the set and performances were amazing.  they have a caption system with translations so you won't feel left out.  so, if you're into opera and don't have A.D.D., bladder incontinence or a chronically itch ass, then i highly recommend.

oops, it's already sold out.  oh well.

thanks, Ray!

poor man with no tonicity,
you sit upon your throne.
thank God you've got a booster seat
or else your balls'd get cold!

~

now, i can honestly say that i've seen a man whose scrotum was longer than his wanker.

oh, another one...

~~

oh, okay.  maybe not.

in youthful days long gone i helped you out
your shaking voice convinced me, left no doubt
your choking tears
your talk of fears
your future in my novice hands
naive, i thought back then i'd understand

so, gave the means
i gave the means
to do your deed
to kill your seed
such need, dear friend!
such self-preserving need!

now, here i am much older than before,
standing at the edge of unknown's door
with bloodied hands
with bloodied hands
regretting what i've done
the innocence
the innocence
long gone