I realized I never wrote about mine a Robbie's trip to Toronto for their poetry slam. My good friend David "Big Deal" Silverberg runs it. He's an editor for Digital Journal and a swell dude. His hospitality knows no bounds.

Friday, January 12, 2007: The morning of my birthday started with Robbie and I waking up at my old friend Z's house. We packed up and headed to Z's work to say goodbye and return his keys. We got coffee and copies, then hit the road.

After a treacherously rainy drive from Detroit to Toronto, Robbie and I were running late due to Silverberg's untimely directions. That's what one gets when the directions come from and go to non-drivers.

We made it to The Drake Hotel (awesome place!) and hadn't missed much of the slam. Silverberg got us up on stage and Robbie and I performed our last set together, on my birthday. My first ever outside of the San Francisco Bay Area! After the slam -- which was won by one helluvan entertaining poet named Bonna (Boh nuh) -- Silverberg, Robbie, most of the poets, and many audience members retreated down the street to a bar for spirits and delight.

We chatted the night away and made new friends. Toronto's gig was certainly a highlight of the whole tour.

We stayed at Silverberg's for a couple of nights. I had a package waiting for me there from Maiya. She sent me some a much needed pair of house slippers. Shane Koyczan sent me a Zippo lighter with a blue whale on it, and Olivia, his girfriend and Maiya's roommate sent me a pocket watch. Pretty awesome birthday gifts! Maiya also made Robbie a scarf. He liked it a lot and was pretty surprised to get a present as well.

We played with many of the poets the next day, venturing around Toronto, running into other poets and people. Robbie truly seemed to enjoy himself. I was so glad Toronto was saved for last.

On Sunday, Robbie and I packed up one last time and headed to Chicago. We made a pit stop in Ann Arbor to the house of one Mr. Eric Daniel. We visited with him and a large portion of his family. Had coffee and hugs.

We made it back to Chicago and relaxed. I've been at citizenwind's apartment ever since, just hanging out with his cat, Lil Devil.
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Today, I walked over to girlacher's house and met up with her and her boyfriend Joel "Superbowl Rumble" Chmara to watch the last half of the Bears-Saints game. Poor Saints.

On the way there, I was stopped by a happenin' dude having a cigarette and beer with friends on a deck outside of a pub. This Chicagoan exchange took place:

DUDE: (thick Chicago dialect) Hey!
ME: (turning toward him): Yeah
DUDE: You know the score of the game?
ME: No, man. I'm sorry, I don't.
DUDE: It's 16 to 7 at the half. Bears are kickin' ass! Go Bears!
ME: Go Bears!

He wanted me to know. That was nice.
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Experiment: I'm putting together a special list with moxiedacolorbug. You can help by commenting with a list of three very awesome things in your life. Anything, but they have to be above all else in your life and in order of awesomicity. What you value, love, need, want...be as detailed as you wish.
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Word to the nerd.
2007 Go for it!
(thanks, Shan!)