Postcard from Washington D.C.

Hello from D.C.! This was my view this morning as I walked from Le'Infant Plaza to the National Gallery of Art. Yes, D.C. is still digging out in some spots--lots of schools this morning had two-hour delays. The sidewalks and streets are clear, so life is slowing getting back to normal in our nation's capitol.

I'm sitting in Busboys & Poets at one of their work/eat stations. I think I'll just give you my impressions of the trip so far in quick hits/random thoughts. Here we go!

*First, I've been so busy this week that I haven't been able to respond to blog posts or visit blogs. I'm sorry. Hope to catch up over the weekend.

*I'm sitting family style at a table where people are eating and working. It's a little weird eating and working over my laptop with a table full of people doing the same thing. That being said, I had a Caesar salad.

*That was my mini-lunch. I'm meeting my friend Theron at Ben's Chili Bowl for the real deal. Ben's Chili Bowl is a local institution, and a favorite spot of our current president. I hope to catch up with Nizam, the owner's son who now runs the restaurant. Haven't seen him since our early 20s.

*Picked up a copy of John Murillo's Up Jump the Boogie and the anthology Full Moon on K Street: Poems about Washington D.C.

*Wonder how many poets are actually here at Busboys & Poets. I seem to be surrounded by law students.

*Last night's reading for INTERSECTIONS went well. It was a small but attentive crowd of listeners. Afterward, there was a Q&A with myself, host Fred Joiner, and fellow reader Kathi Morrison-Taylor.

*Each reading series has its own uniqueness and flair. Can't say enough about the Q&A. I liked that added element. We spend so much time reading that we overlook the value of talking about process.

* We spent a good amount of time bringing Lucille Clifton into the room. I didn't realize how accessible she was to the local poetry community around the metro D.C. area. Her loss is especially palpable here.

*Tonight I'm reading at at the Hillyer Open Mic Event (HOME). International Arts & Artists, 9 Hillyer Court NW, Washington, D.C. Sign up early, performances start at 7. Should be a lively crowd.

*Will talk about my experience at the National Gallery of art in a separate post.

* I feel a poem coming on ...