Choking my chicken (At the rubber chicken poetry slam)

Hello from California! (sunny albeit chilly, as I've been telling everyone this whole stint). This family vacance has been a very nice one although not SO dynamic. Or.. well.. maybe suburbia and subpar hotels are not for me. I like being wined and dined in Manhattan at the Rihga Royale, Michelangelo, Sheraton... and I'll EVEN admit it. Anyway, I could go thru a laundry list of things I've done and seen (which I'll do at a later time, of course. As Proust dictates, everything is better in Retrospect.) Just a few to whet the palate: met a Wellesley sister (Tammy!) and hung around San Jose, saw Aida, went to San Francisco MOCA.. ate some Dim Sum. And oh, my friends, how the list doth go on. But the COOLEST.. HIPPEST...MOST INCREDIBLE thing happened today. We visited Big Sur, California. And I know you're thinking one of two things:a. what the he-y is that?b. what the he-y is that and why should I give a flying...?Ok. Henry Miller Memorial Library. AKA Hippies. AKA POETRY SLAM in Monterey California. (Poetry Slam being operative phrase). Which brings me to the Rubber Chicken Poetry Slam, suggested by the guy -Ted- who ran the HMML. This is something to add to my resume as my first COMMUNITY poetry slam (ie without my peers or anyone really backing me.). It's also REALLY important, because it marks my first (and only?) poem of the summer. Or, I might have written a couple earlier on, but this COUNTS as a real Ashira slammable poem. Needs some refining, but here you go:I don't un-der-stand the tricks we trade for T-shirts stamped with the namesof our FAVOURITE localesmiles of coasters or shotglasses TAMPAX? imprinted with Tourism comma EVERYWHERE comma I...was....heredot DOT dotI like to send postcards-----> NO no, I like to WRITE postcardsand leave them in post offices without stampswhen You receive those 'I'm thinking of you' cardsdon't you wonder what they're thinking ABOUT you?It's safer to leave the address bookAt Homeon vacationtoo much TheraPEYOOTIC time to think about TRANSITIONS about leaving about suitcases full of folded socks and DEPO camerasI'd like to remain in transitionin remission of a stationon..... a...... rollI SAW Santa Cruz seagulls sailing overNorth Carolinianswith California license platesand I---- took MY watch OFF when I switched timezonesI'd like to remain in transitionin remissionof a stationon.... a.... roll...~*~