I’ve made it to Worcester, Massachusetts. Worm Town. I am sitting at Jumpin’ Juice and Java where Poet’s Asylum is held every Sunday. Bill MacMillan (javabill) turned 42 today and is proudly displaying that number on his new Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy tee-shirt.

The poetry and spoken word scene has welcomed me with open hugs. I dig these people deep.

The night I landed, I featured at Slam Free Or Die! – Manchester, New Hampshire’s sweet, sweet open mic and poetry slam at the Bridge Café. The place is small, but the crowd and heart are huge. I’m so used to sharing winter features in the north east with Robbie Q. Telfer, that I felt a little lonely not having him here with me this time.

Marc Palos, slammaster of SFOD, picked me up from Logan Airport, took me to Worcester, where I saw my apartment for the first time. I had not seen it prior to taking it. I live on the edge.

Got my keys to my new place. It’s a little dumpy, but I know how to make dumpy feel like home or look like me. The worst part is the bathtub. There’s a slanted wall that takes up most of the standing shower space. Not very appealing, but I’ve never been one to take long showers anyway. I just despise mold and mildew and I just know there are enough crannies there for it all to hide.

I will have a major clean-up day this week. I will probably officially move in on January 1st. I own no furniture, so if you have something you’d like to hand-down to me, I will take it. Namely tables (coffee/dining/desk-ish), shelves (real or collegiate crate), and lamps. I love lamp(s). Basically, if you have a piece of furniture you do not want, AND it doesn’t smell, carry disease, or welcome infestation, then I will probably accept it and hug you in return.

I am moving into a two bedroom. I have always wanted to live alone, but it has never happened until now. I have always lived with siblings – given and chosen.

It is high time I had a space that was all mine. A number of people have hinted or mentioned wanting to take one of the rooms, but alas, that would defeat the purpose of moving here in the first place.

I like the scene here. I love many of it’s participants dearly. However, my intention was to spend as much of my 33rd year on this planet as a writer. Writing. Just getting shit out of my head and into a fixed format. Worcester will help me do this. The spoken word scene here will support me, I will support them, and we will be critical when necessary. So many good homies. So much to write. So many opportunities to eat and be merry with merry eaters.

I have always wanted an office separate from my bedroom. For the last 4 years, I’ve wanted a kitchen I can really get into and cook. I’m good at it. I want to celebrate life with people. Traveling poets. Locals. Foreigners. Lovelies. Women. Family. More women. And ladies. I want to fill my living room and kitchen with good people.

I get to do this all pretty soon.

While I may hermit-ize myself for the first couple of months, I will open my place up a bit more. I feel a little selfish about this, but not guilty. I also feel very great about what this self-centered-ness is getting me. Space. Mine. Living.

I am amazed at how little I know about living somewhere. I am floored by solitude and a bit intimidated. This is good food.

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I will be in New York on January 5 at Bar 13. I will then perform at the Bowery Poetry Club the next night. There is more information on these shows behind this link: Calendar Schedule of Touring Dates

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This entry was written by Mike McGee, posted on 28 December, 2008 at 3:38 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged moving, new york, scenes, spoken word, Worcester-Massachusetts. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.