Up the Tree

  • In a weak attempt to get myself prepared for my upcoming open-mic show I have been busy listening to one man blues recordings. Let ma just say that the blues makes me feel so good. I can’t really understand why, when what they are singing about is slavery, broken hearts, and the like. It’s all about suffering, yet I have a huge smile on my face.

    *And no, not becasue I like slavery!* _(Smartass)_

    It reminds me of the movie _The Jerk_ with Steve Martin, where after Steve’s character has a freak out, his black mother comes into comfort him and asks him if he wants to come out and sing some blues to which he responds “I don’t know why, but that music depresses me!”

    the-jerk-movie

  • Roger at his first wedding

    Some people think my dad and I look alike, but although my dad may be a cute little English dork it is still not cool to look like your dad. _I mean he’s my dad dude!_ Then my father was sent this picture by his first wife of their wedding 30 years ago. Everyone at the office is all giggly “You look like your dad.”

    They were married for a few years, but it was apparently evident that it was not quite right. They are still friends if you’re concerned.

    Now, I know it’s not cool to look like your dad and everything, but I do admit there is a resemblance.

    Ben and Diane

  • Hey everybody! Isn’t it fun to think that we may be together soon? In Iraq, or Iran perhaps? Shooting up innocent people? Torturing prisoners? You, me, and a big old gun. I’m just so happy that I have the opportunity to join in a groundless war and kill for our maniacal president.

    Just so that you know if you are aged 18-26 you will come with me… by law. It will be like a vacation. A vacation from sanity.

    Congress.Org — Issues and Legislation

    _(Or maybe it’s just brilliant bullshit designed to get us thinking.)_

  • Although Up The Tree has been _on again off again_ recently, let me assure you all I am still in full effect over here. I am just so busy that getting a message out is a little difficult at the moment, but I hope to post more regularly soon. My focus on this website was initially to post my thoughts about life, but it seems as of late a little too _article-y_ for my tastes. I hope to bring back the more personal posts to the site and slow down the diatribes.

    So, how have you kids been? I feel like we haven’t talked in a long, long while. Up in the tree Diane and I are busy trying to enjoy the sun and spending much needed _nesting time_ together. Yesterday we went over to Brighton Beach and hung out with the Russians, who I must say dress very… provocatively. Men and women alike all dressing like flouncey lounge singers. AND THE BOOBS! Jesus, I mean what do russians eat to develop huge boobs? If you’ve never been to Brighton, it’s an amazing area predominantly Russian and Middle Eastern.

    Musically, I am readying for my official first gig, which will be over at an open mic night in Brooklyn (please e-mail me if you’d like to know where and when). I have a new guitar that I am in love which is making playing much easier. The poetry I have been writing recently has also affected my lyric writing, which I hope will add new life to my compositions.

    Work… Well, not really great right now, but I’m keeping positive and hoping for a vacation soon. There is just so much work that needs to get done and not enough time to accomplish it all.

    But my personal projects are flourishing and keeping me interested in my profession. I even have new project which should be launching shortly, which I will give you good folks a preview before anyone else! Can you feel the excitement?

    *Sorry, got carried away there.*

    Enough about me, how are you.

    Best,
    _Ben Up The Tree_

  • pixelart-blue.gif

    Have you ever forgotten how yummy fruit is? It’s really tasty, super nutritious, and makes you feel good.

    Have some blueberries.

    _It’s on me._
    (Not literally of course… figuratively.)