MARCH 2014

I have a dilemma. I only have a couple of chapters left in Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix (the biggest and likely best book in the series) but I also have a long flight to Austin, Texas. I want to bring the book and finish it on the plane, but I know I’ll also want to read The Half Blood Prince right after that, and that week in Austin, and also on the plane ride home. The problem is that these are both heavy hardcover books and that I’ve definitely already overpacked my suitcase. I’m headed to the Women of the World Poetry Slam after all. My mom suggests that I cut out the pages I have left to read from book five and I shoot her the dirtiest look of all dirty looks as if I’m Christian and she’s suggested chopping the Bible. And so I board the plane, two massive books on my back, towards Austin, towards four days of poetry, competition, women, warm weather, and food trucks galore.

I room with Sara Brickman and spend most of the week practicing and hanging with her, Carrie Rudzinski, and Katie Wirsing. Katie visited me earlier in the month and I’m pretty much psyched to be maintaining a friendship with such a deeply kind and fun person. I end up doing really well in the competition, placing 9th out of 72 competitors with many new poems I was really proud of. I chose this photo of Katie and I backstage for the performance on final’s night to represent March because it reflects both the accomplishment and the friendship of the month. 

Other Highlights: 

-Best Bloody Mary I have ever had in Austin, enjoyed with Katie, Sara, and one of Sara’s friends who was dressed like a nun for a party and we convinced Katie she was a real (drinking gay) nun. 
-The one warm day in the middle of so much shitty cold where I broke out a skirt and fell in love with life again.
-Dancing FULL OUT with Katie after some bad margaritas at an outdoor honkey tonk bar in Austin.
-Lots of Bahn Mi in general.