Seattle 149, or Lacing Up My Traveling Boots

I know the saying doesn't go exactly like this, but sometimes, in the grayest parts of winter, a young poet's thoughts turn to getting the hell out of Dodge. This winter has brought a difficult mixture of delight and tsuris, often both in the same hour. This causes some serious mood whiplash, as you can imagine.

My dearly beloved home, the Ravenna Kibbutz, is shifting. All four of us in House Gimel are moving out on March 1st, and whether the organization will continue as just House Aleph (aka Beit Kayam aka Ecohouse) remains to be seen. Either way, it's most likely that my house will be gone and my community much dimished when I return.

Return from what, exactly?

Oh yes. Remember the part where last year, I nearly got my book published? And then found another publisher who would publish my book? Do you remember the part where that publishing company turned out to be a little meshuggah and threw me for a tailspin of doubts about whether the thing would be published at all, and I changed jobs and got three new housemates and a new interest of the romantic persuasion?

Oh, you say, it's apparently been awhile.

Here's the basics: I'm going on tour again, much like I did during the summer of '08. Except this time, when I return to Seattle, I'll have a whole lot more for when I left. Like a job. And friends. And the aforementioned interest, who has decided to take the name (for blogging purposes) of Secret Agent Lover Man. He is a captivating sort, and has proved himself to be a champion Scrabble player, a charmer of kids and babies, a voracious reader, and collector of jokes. These, among other qualities, present the makings of a damn good time.

Ah, but yes, touring. Buses and trains and hopefully, gigs. Would you like me to come read poems at your school/synagogue/church/youth group/living room? Do let me know. I'd love to stop by. The current plan looks like this:

Seattle, WA

Columbus, OH (the Women of the World Poetry Slam is a convenient launch point)

Pittsburgh, PA

Washington DC

Philadelphia, PA

Boston, MA

Northampton, MA

Various towns in Bergen County, NJ

...and from there, I've got at least another week free until Passover, which I will spend with my family before returning to Seattle by May 1.