First, i have to thank Matt Mason and Zedeka Poindexter for doing a great job with the GPPP. it was a poetry slam, that felt more like a poetry retreat. 30 poets invaded a small Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska.
Where?
Fremont, Nebraska.
Where?
Fremont, Nebraska.
Oooooh....
leaving their ego's at home but bringing great poetry.
a lot of people know of me from taking pictures but hadnt seen me perform, so this was a great chance to showcase what i can do. also, performing in front of some of the poets i have always admired and obtain feedback, was great. i held my own and would have gone further in the slam if it wasnt for the damn time penalty for the "Kiss" piece. i love doing that poem.
*Note to Ed Mabry...i really didnt bite the Kurt Cobain piece, honest.
the Klute, did a great liveblog on livejournal of most of the bouts and offering comments (sorry, i dont know how to do the link thing but find him on my friends list on livejournal).
things learned:
1. gotta keep the "Kiss" piece under time.
2. practice, practice, practice.
3. write, write, write...more.
4. commit more pieces to memory.
5. sushi, is GOOD.
6. Rob C, snores really loud! lol
7. practicing poems in the shower, can get you to finals.
8. Ed Mabry can tap dance
9. even the most seasoned slammer, has 'ooops' moments
10. riding with members from Denver, was awesome. Bitch better have my money!!!!
My Bout:
tonight there are two round with ten poets in each round, im in the second round. in my round, i pull the 8th spot which is pretty good. coming out the gate, scores are pretty low....so, i breakout 'tell him, im waiting', the serious piece and get a 26.8. things are looking pretty goo, im in fourth place. the next round, everyone starts dropping serious pieces. so, i pull out the 'kiss' poem, which is my funny piece and personal favorite. it does the job, i get a 26.4.....tough but im still in the runnings!
until the MC announces i have been hit with a time penalty! the piece clocked in at, wait for it.......3:40.
fuuuuuuuuudge!
i cant believe, i went over on time. then again, i can because i forgot to chop out a verse. my score drops me out of, not only finals, but the last chance slam as well. yet, im not upset. after spending last weekend in the hospital, im grateful to be performing. im grateful to be performing in front of friends, some who had never seen me perform. im grateful for any advice that will come my way from those in a attendance.
Overall:
it was a great weekend for poetry. much love to everyone that attend. from the organizers, to the poets, to the volunteers...i would mention names but dont want to leave anyone out. i would suggest everyone make plans to attend next year and experience the fun personally but.....then i might not make the list and we cannot have that!!! so dont attend. it was terrible. i hated it. the town didnt even have a McDonalds!
oh yea, we had and afterparty that was even fun, until the cops showed up. do police officers in Fremont, Nebraska...REALLY need to wear black leather gloves? sheesh, you are an officer in Fremont, Nebraska.
where?
Fremont, Nebraska.
where?
Fremont, Nebraska.
Oooooooh......
pictures can be found at: http://flickr.com/photos/copaseticsoul/sets/72157607434800129
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
the Grateful List...Special Edition
im SOOOO grateful for:
The Creator: blessings me with one more to enjoy life. everyday is a beautiful day regardless of the weather.
Another Chance: once again, the Creator has given me a chance at life. for that im forever grateful. i will not question just attempt to be a positive light.
Courtney: writing a 'get well soon daddy' message on the bulletin board in the hospital room. that made me smile.
The Parents: being more worried than me and telling me to keep my ass in the hospital till i was better.
Co-Workers: Ms Alberta, who told me to go to the hospital. Kenny, who drove me to the hospital.they saved my life
Co-Workers pt.2: Trina, who snitched to everyone at work about me knowing about my bp and not doing anything abot it. NOW, all my co-workers are on me.
the Poem: there is a poem about this waiting to be written,lol.
Phone Calls & Text messages: from those offering their concerns or to let me have it.
All of You: for taking the time to read my blog, when there are a thousand other things you could do.
The Creator: blessings seen and unseen. prayers granted and ungranted...YOU know whats best for ME.
PS. this past weekend was my wakeup call about the seriousness of keeping my blood pressure under control. if you dont believe its serious or know someone who doesnt, have them read my blog.
keeping your blood pressure under controle IS a very serious issue.
The Creator: blessings me with one more to enjoy life. everyday is a beautiful day regardless of the weather.
Another Chance: once again, the Creator has given me a chance at life. for that im forever grateful. i will not question just attempt to be a positive light.
Courtney: writing a 'get well soon daddy' message on the bulletin board in the hospital room. that made me smile.
The Parents: being more worried than me and telling me to keep my ass in the hospital till i was better.
Co-Workers: Ms Alberta, who told me to go to the hospital. Kenny, who drove me to the hospital.they saved my life
Co-Workers pt.2: Trina, who snitched to everyone at work about me knowing about my bp and not doing anything abot it. NOW, all my co-workers are on me.
the Poem: there is a poem about this waiting to be written,lol.
Phone Calls & Text messages: from those offering their concerns or to let me have it.
All of You: for taking the time to read my blog, when there are a thousand other things you could do.
The Creator: blessings seen and unseen. prayers granted and ungranted...YOU know whats best for ME.
PS. this past weekend was my wakeup call about the seriousness of keeping my blood pressure under control. if you dont believe its serious or know someone who doesnt, have them read my blog.
keeping your blood pressure under controle IS a very serious issue.
Monday, September 15, 2008
My Weekend In The Hospital
i work retail, and everyone knows that the weekend is the busy time. those of us in retail, dread the wildness of the weekend. plans of escaping these three days, are hatched, sometimes three days to three hours before a persons schedualed work time.
i was actually looking forward to working this weekend. it would have meant i was closer to Thursday, my off day. my travel day to Omaha, for the great Midwest Pile-Up (check the name,its 6am and im using my phone to do this). im looking to the Slam.
Funny thing is, Thursday night, i get a severe headache and my stomach rejects, what it earlier enjoyed. i think nothing of it, pop a couple of tylenol and sleep. im at work, the pain returns....a co-worker (who was a nurse in a previous life) says take him to the hospital. Emergency room.
im crying (i can admit that) but still not worried about the headache or the severity of the pain; i work retail, have a 15 year old daughter and hangout with poets. a headache is nothing uncommom for me. i didnt get worried until the nurse checked my blood pressure and HER eyes became wide. when she picked up the phone and mentioned a rush, i got scared.
what finally got my attention, where the words; "bp is 230 over 150 possibility of a stroke". NOW, Im worried.two days later of blood work, vitals being checked every four hours and a liquid diet. im still alive and doing much better. the blood pressure is stabalized and the headache is gone. im able eat solid foods.
i didnt want the weekend off that bad
ps. if you know ANYONE with high blood pressure who isnt doing anything about it, tell them to drop me a line and i will be sure to educate them. i had know about my blood pressure issue but didnt think anything bad would happen.
well the Creator gave me a soft wake-up call and for that im grateful. it could have been a lot worse for me.
i was actually looking forward to working this weekend. it would have meant i was closer to Thursday, my off day. my travel day to Omaha, for the great Midwest Pile-Up (check the name,its 6am and im using my phone to do this). im looking to the Slam.
Funny thing is, Thursday night, i get a severe headache and my stomach rejects, what it earlier enjoyed. i think nothing of it, pop a couple of tylenol and sleep. im at work, the pain returns....a co-worker (who was a nurse in a previous life) says take him to the hospital. Emergency room.
im crying (i can admit that) but still not worried about the headache or the severity of the pain; i work retail, have a 15 year old daughter and hangout with poets. a headache is nothing uncommom for me. i didnt get worried until the nurse checked my blood pressure and HER eyes became wide. when she picked up the phone and mentioned a rush, i got scared.
what finally got my attention, where the words; "bp is 230 over 150 possibility of a stroke". NOW, Im worried.two days later of blood work, vitals being checked every four hours and a liquid diet. im still alive and doing much better. the blood pressure is stabalized and the headache is gone. im able eat solid foods.
i didnt want the weekend off that bad
ps. if you know ANYONE with high blood pressure who isnt doing anything about it, tell them to drop me a line and i will be sure to educate them. i had know about my blood pressure issue but didnt think anything bad would happen.
well the Creator gave me a soft wake-up call and for that im grateful. it could have been a lot worse for me.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Grateful List....
Im grateful for....
The Creator, giving me another day to enjoy life. even cloudy days are beautiful.
The babies, just because.
Family, for their support and continued love.
Poems, that werent meant to be born but where birthed anyway.
Poets, helping me grow as a poet.
The Job, it aint the best but its a job.
Feelings, that 09 will be my year for Poetry.
Sanity, that i still have a little.
You, for reading this blog. Thank You
The Creator, for blessings seen and unseen. prayers granted and ungranted.. for YOU know whats best for me.
The Creator, giving me another day to enjoy life. even cloudy days are beautiful.
The babies, just because.
Family, for their support and continued love.
Poems, that werent meant to be born but where birthed anyway.
Poets, helping me grow as a poet.
The Job, it aint the best but its a job.
Feelings, that 09 will be my year for Poetry.
Sanity, that i still have a little.
You, for reading this blog. Thank You
The Creator, for blessings seen and unseen. prayers granted and ungranted.. for YOU know whats best for me.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
My Bout Draw For Great Plains.....
Here is MY Friday Night Bout Draw for the Great Plains Pile-Up:
6 is 9, St. Paul
Wonder Dave, SlamMN
Sara Lihz Dobel, Omaha
Deirdre Evans, Omaha
Steven Evans, Omaha
Michael Guinn, Fort Worth
Paulie Lipman, Denver
Janean Livingston, Fort Worth
Kat McCoy, TN
Copasetic Soul, St Louis
This is going to be REAL interesting. But if dont perform against the best, you cant become one of the best.
Funny, i dont know WHY, they put Mike AND Janean in the same bout....interesting.
6 is 9, St. Paul
Wonder Dave, SlamMN
Sara Lihz Dobel, Omaha
Deirdre Evans, Omaha
Steven Evans, Omaha
Michael Guinn, Fort Worth
Paulie Lipman, Denver
Janean Livingston, Fort Worth
Kat McCoy, TN
Copasetic Soul, St Louis
This is going to be REAL interesting. But if dont perform against the best, you cant become one of the best.
Funny, i dont know WHY, they put Mike AND Janean in the same bout....interesting.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Updates.....
Thank You, to the Creator....for giving me another day!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since nationals, i have been pretty busy......working!! it so sucks.
so, i have a new tattoo and new piercing (pics coming soon). see, these are the things that happen, when your next door neighbor is a tattoo artist/piercer. this might be my last piercing but its NOT my last tattoo....i want to get my entire right arm done, my back and maybe one leg. i just have to find a way to make the tat's flow together.....
as much as i like the dude next door, there is a tattoo artist in Atlanta that gives me goose bumps! his name is Miya Bailey, and the dude is FIYAH!! how hot is the brother, well...he is booked up till 09. peep his myspace page and see why, im trying to get to the ATL for my Earth Day. LOOK AT WHAT HE DOES WITH COLOR ON DARK SKIN...its going to cost some money for him to do the work....but im sure it will be well worth it!!
im tryin to catch up with my three favorite tatted up poets....Marc Marcell, Asia and L.I.F.E., they have some serious work.
somewhere, i have to get POET or SPOKEN WORD ARTIST tatted...i just dont know where.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
oh yea, my main pic was taken by Black Atticus during Southern Fried. we took a picture of the other taking a picture...the shit was funny.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Got to see Ruthie Foster in concert.....she was dope. if you get a chance, go see the sister, she will blow your socks off!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are slowly rebuilding the St.Louis Poetry Slam scene....i hope we can get it back to where it once was.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Going to Omaha in Sept, for my first big slam. there are some heavy hitters in the field but im not scared. i see it this way; "to be one of the best, you have to slam against some of the best." plus it will be fun to just hangout with the poets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Ups: Taz, Andrea, Chris Imperial, Mo-Man, Karen G and the St. Louis Poetry Slam Team....for the continous love since Nationals has been over.
Can you believe i STILL have pictures to post?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Im embracing the whole 'picture poet' concept.....see, these arent just pictures to me, i try to capture the emotions of the poets when performing. that way, it will come across to someone looking at the picture. sometimes i get that perfect shot, sometimes i dont.
i so love doing it......
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i didnt want to put this in the air but........Obama, just might win the election.
i enjoyed how the Democratic Party, took the high road when dealing with McCain. they made key points on McCains weakness on various issues...making them with class. there was none of the normal B.S. just straight to the point..body blows!!
Go Obama....its time for a change.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, thats it for now.....everyone be peaceful.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since nationals, i have been pretty busy......working!! it so sucks.
so, i have a new tattoo and new piercing (pics coming soon). see, these are the things that happen, when your next door neighbor is a tattoo artist/piercer. this might be my last piercing but its NOT my last tattoo....i want to get my entire right arm done, my back and maybe one leg. i just have to find a way to make the tat's flow together.....
as much as i like the dude next door, there is a tattoo artist in Atlanta that gives me goose bumps! his name is Miya Bailey, and the dude is FIYAH!! how hot is the brother, well...he is booked up till 09. peep his myspace page and see why, im trying to get to the ATL for my Earth Day. LOOK AT WHAT HE DOES WITH COLOR ON DARK SKIN...its going to cost some money for him to do the work....but im sure it will be well worth it!!
im tryin to catch up with my three favorite tatted up poets....Marc Marcell, Asia and L.I.F.E., they have some serious work.
somewhere, i have to get POET or SPOKEN WORD ARTIST tatted...i just dont know where.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
oh yea, my main pic was taken by Black Atticus during Southern Fried. we took a picture of the other taking a picture...the shit was funny.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Got to see Ruthie Foster in concert.....she was dope. if you get a chance, go see the sister, she will blow your socks off!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are slowly rebuilding the St.Louis Poetry Slam scene....i hope we can get it back to where it once was.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Going to Omaha in Sept, for my first big slam. there are some heavy hitters in the field but im not scared. i see it this way; "to be one of the best, you have to slam against some of the best." plus it will be fun to just hangout with the poets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Ups: Taz, Andrea, Chris Imperial, Mo-Man, Karen G and the St. Louis Poetry Slam Team....for the continous love since Nationals has been over.
Can you believe i STILL have pictures to post?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Im embracing the whole 'picture poet' concept.....see, these arent just pictures to me, i try to capture the emotions of the poets when performing. that way, it will come across to someone looking at the picture. sometimes i get that perfect shot, sometimes i dont.
i so love doing it......
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i didnt want to put this in the air but........Obama, just might win the election.
i enjoyed how the Democratic Party, took the high road when dealing with McCain. they made key points on McCains weakness on various issues...making them with class. there was none of the normal B.S. just straight to the point..body blows!!
Go Obama....its time for a change.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, thats it for now.....everyone be peaceful.
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