I've been thinking quite a lot today...

I've tapped into something greater
much further than before
far beyond, too removed
to mind about the score
Perhaps it's to my detriment
right here upon this plane
and i no longer fear death
i'm feeling what's its core


--CONTINUE / COMMENT--

...

Not to sound old, but gee they don't make 'em like they yousta!







enjoy!

--CONTINUE / COMMENT--

I've always been crazy...

to my own delight and despair
and ultimate detriment
sorry, but it's true
(as if there were ever a question)

i think we all are, though
just in individualized flavors
some are better at hiding from it than others
is it weakness?
we seem to agree that it is
use it to write off credibility
dismissing occasional mirrors

the most intelligent folks i've ever met
all suffer from these demons
some more than others
perhaps what the bible said was right
about eating from the tree of knowledge
entering a living hell;
gazing into the abyss -
and the torture when it finds you there

all that's to be done is keep fighting
keep trying to not exhale negativity into this world
though it never ceases to take over, at times

else simply be blind, guarded and numb
how's that living?

found this interesting article (with more interesting links within) on our brain-body connection and so on.

Take it away, Waylon!




--CONTINUE / COMMENT--

forgotten found snow art

--CONTINUE / COMMENT--

48

--CONTINUE / COMMENT--

Remembering Italy, part III

Despite having a ton of other projects that are far more important, I remain fixated on this. Yeah yeah yeah, I know. Hoping to pump this out and move on. Keep moving. Stick and run.

I
II

As the train pulled away, my 3 hours of sleep finally sunk in, bringing out all the terrifying realities of this isolation and ineptitude like a shovel to my forehead. My first reaction was obviously to call her. Sadly, that was a wasted endeavor – I was in such a state, I didn't begin to consider a country code, I just kept trying and retrying the contact number, which would proceed to connect us, allow me to hear her voice, then cut right out. At this point in my head I felt exactly like Roger Ferris, upon learning of the capture of Aisha. So we both jumped to texting. I eventually caught on to the train system, and boarded the next one, making an entire car uneasy with my own distraught manner. I realize how idiotic it seems, but when we found each other in the crowded Roma Termini, it truly was one of these moments...







We ride the rails through the countryside of Italy and Tuscany to Florence, in one of the most beautiful scenic rides imaginable. When we grab the cab upon arrival, we encounter one of the great comic book scenes of my life - our cabbie is instantly screaming and flailing arms uncontrollably at everyone, including stopping and pulling up alongside cars to argue in person. Some of this I have on tape. It's beautiful, they stop and yell at each other, then carry on as if nothing happened. No baggage, time is time, move on. We arrive in an area on the waterfront, surrounded by Africans selling bootlegged purses on blankets. I would soon come to learn that these are the only black people in the entire country.



Finally we find our beautiful hotel, which to me seems oddly placed, as its entrance is located in what appears to me to be a 'rape cove'. Of course I'm probably wrong about this, the hotel is quaint yet amazing, with a beautiful rooftop view of the river. I can't complain.

said 'rape cove' in daylight - imagine this with no light!

One interjection of love for Europe: most folks still smoke. I love this. I respect and uphold all our new laws regarding smoking, ultimately thinking Bloomberg is a genius guru for dreaming this up any time I wake up the morning following a night out carousing and not feeling the pain from smoking ten times more than usual. But at the same time, it was wonderful to be in a place where I didn’t feel like Satan for lighting up. As a matter of fact, the number of times I could count people smoking right next to ‘No Smoking’ signs with polizia standing right next to them is countless.

Despite the jet lag and lack of sleep, it's still fairly early, so we decide to go back out. We chose to meander around aimlessly (big mistake), only to lose direction in a very windy city, where street markings are few and far between, not finding our way back for many hours. As frightening as it is to not know about your whereabouts or well-being, I always love it. It is – still – at this point, a true ‘enamored by Europe’ moment. The freedom of not even knowing your bearing, combined with the beauty of Florence, what could be better? We strolled into a friendly restaurant for dinner. I had some sort of amazing cured meat and cheese plate, along with some bourbon – OF COARSE, and we’re loving life. I'm a believer that Florence is about the most beautiful city in the world. We continue wandering, lost, taking in caffe and the most brilliant gelato you will ever imagine. Stroll into the vino shop to procure a bottle of - oh did I leave out that we're right in Tuscan wine country, and my favorite of all favorites is, in fact, Sangiovese? - exactly. I believe Chianti is what the region is known for, but I'm also pretty sure that Chianti is a blend from Sangiovese and others. I'm now in heaven with my baby, that's all that's needed to be said.



We eventually find our way back to the hotel, vino in hand, to end this monumental day in the best manner possible. Rooftop lounging, followed by many things I'll never write of. That's just too personal. :)



--CONTINUE / COMMENT--

Italia, parte seconda: Taken

1

As we’re in line to board our plane, each and every question I could ever have about European hatred lies in the family standing right in front of us. Certainly, we’ve all come to grievance with our population’s willfulness to sprawl out in public any way they see fit –taking shoes off and placing bare feet on seats, answering phones during movies, etc. I feel the European disdain as everyone is standing in line; calm, collected, patient – except this Long Island family, acting like the Kardashians with cameras on them. Yes, I feel it’s safe to say that everyone in line wanted to stab them, but they didn’t...


This next part should alarm you. Alitalia is trapped in time. The staff dress in formal green suits, and they rock them hard! And they’re friendly! As I realized all my overhead space had been swiped by the family not even sitting remotely close to us, I panicked. So, this is the moment I need to work in Italian with no help, less the week or so spent going over phrases that immediately disappears when put on the spot. Nope! The steward actually senses my panic, and I explain to him the situation. Rather than chastise me, the way I’ve witnessed on every flight I’ve ever been on, he thinks for a moment and simply waves me to follow him… to.the.staff’s.personal.storage!

“Come see me in the morning, they’re safe.”

Sadly, this high of human friendliness would only last about ten seconds, because I am about to meet the most obnoxious, angry person I’ve ever encountered on a plane – and of course he’s sharing our block of seats. On the aisle, and he’s sleeping. I excuse myself to take my seat, at which point he begins yelling in Italian to some passengers, who I later learn are his family – for a good twenty minutes. I have no idea what was said, but was able to piece together that he was offended because I didn’t address him in Italian and in the customary way. Fulfilling the annoying stereotype, this is what it looked like. This man was so awful I can’t even write about it without flying into a rage.



Morning finally arrives. Yay, howdy doo, we are in Rome. Everything’s different, all is weird – you know the drill. For my very first observation, I will need to use the ‘I’m a man’ card. The women, that’s what. It’s not to say that I was surrounded by Monica Bellucci, but there is some sort of phenomenon, one that allows even a ‘5’ to somehow seem as attractive as say, a’ 7’, and so on.

Thank Jehosaphras my wife did a bit of prep work – they do things very differently. When we planned this trip, we were to be staying with people and have a bit of chaperoning, but they broke up, and our friend was not even going to Italy now. This is not my first time in a land that speaks little English, but my weak Spanish carried me the other time. I even had a special app to translate, and still was weakened and mortified. I truly gained a huge amount of respect for ALL of our immigrants. People are not nice when they don’t understand you. I’ve always been the guy who, when a foreigner politely needing help approaches, always tries to at least guide them somewhere. Here, they were few and far between, the saints.

Finally, we are at the right place to get our train, and it’s there. We run to make sure to catch it, and do. I notice two other men also running for it. I was a bit confused by the absence of conductors; I’m so used to seeing them standing around, waiting for the time. My wife climbs up the high stairs and turns around as I boost her luggage up to her.

That’s when the doors close on me. I pound on the door, nothing happens. I proceed to yank my arm out, just in time to stare through the glass and view the horrific expression on my wife’s face as the train slowly pulls away without me.

I'm pounding and yelling to no response. Time stops. Everything turns to slow motion. I see the other men pounding on the train also, screaming – they understand what has just happened. The train does not care.

We are now separated and alone.


--CONTINUE / COMMENT--