I get on returning bus
"Hi again" she says
Before I went to the National Poetry Slam, I said that it was a big party disguising itself as a competetion. Now having gone through the experience, I see that it is so much more than a party.
In June of this year the Slam community lost someone great. Her name was Shannon Leigh. I never knew her, but last year she wowed everyone on the individual finals stage. She took third place, but many say she was robbed. Everything that I have heard about this young woman is amazing, and I am sorry I did not know her.
The grip of capitalism cannot be escaped, even after death. It is very expensive to die in this country. So many people bought, Tshirts, CDs, and books of poetry by and for Shannon. There was such an outpouring of support, for this young woman, and her family. Almost immediately after she went into a coma a Livejournal community was started, and continued after her death.
People say that the slam community is like a family. I saw that evidenced everywhere Shannon's name was mentioned, and even when it wasn't. We didn't just lose a poet, and friend. We lost a sister.
Shannon was not the only phenomenon that opened my eyes to the beauty of this event. On Wednesday night, two of the people from Mesa announced their engagement. I cannot think of a better place to propose than the National Poetry Slam. I cannot confim anything, but there have been rumors that they will either get married, or repeat their vows, at next year's Nationals.
Everyone you talk to about the National Poetry Slam will tell you this, but it really does have the atmosphere of a family renunion. Everyone knows everyone, and even though I knew hardly anyone it was easy to talk to people, and make new friends. Poets are great people.
I can never fully explain what the National Poetry Slam is like. It has to be experienced. The ony thing that I know is that I want to go back next year.
Approximately 24 hours ago the skies of Madison exploded in a torrent of rain, thunder, and lightning. Of course I slept through it. But that storm was a excellent start go an excellent day. I slept in, and then took my time packing, and checked out at 11:00. I then watched a movie, ate a burrito, and watched another movie. At which point I checked into my hotel. A great morning. Made especially great, by the fact that morning ended at 3:30 in the afternoon.
One of my team members then spent 40 minutes introducing me to loads of people. I am sure that one of them will remember me, but I will have forgotten them, and their will be much awkwardness.I then took a nap on the floor, which was great, despite being on the floor. Then I went, and had dinner, talked to more poets (We had a facsinating discussion about cow udders) Then I went to kick off party. I maintain that the only reason we found that party was because of this beautiful creation of mine:
The kickoff party was great. I talked to a whole bunch of people. Met a whole bunch people, many of which I will probably forget. We then went back to the hotel. I started this blog post, but then I was interrupted by another of my team members informing me that I would not have to sleep on the floor, and proceeded to fashion a bed from two seats and a cusioned bench. I will end this blog post with a picture of that bed.
It is relatively easy to set up a Wi-Fi network. It is also relatively cheap. As such many businesses offer free Wi-Fi for their customers. It is such a cheap and easy thing that there is really no excuse for charging for it.
The Tucson International Airport has free Wi-Fi. Several hotels between Chicago and Madison have free Wi-Fi. However Chicago Midway Airport decided to go against what everyone else is doing and charge for access to the internet. Because of them I spent two hours wandering about looking at people getting their luggage back. My bags are heavy. If I ever get arthritis, I am blaming you, Chicago.