Yes, it's been awhile. I've been too busy doing stuff to write about it! Here's a fun tidbit, though. A friend gave Wes and I a little pocket video camera and he's been going nuts with it. (See his new blog, Wes Runoff.) One of the things he did with it was to record my performance at the February 23rd Talent Show held by our building and a few neighbors. Here it is for your enjoyment. 
This was the first time I'd done this with actual feathers: at poetry slams, you can't use props. I flubbed a couple of my own lines. It was fun for all, anyway. For a very amateur video, I'm tickled with it. :)
Here are the words as they are supposed to be:
Mother Escapes
Many years ago my mother was locked up
in St. Francis Cabrini Hospital because
we didn't know what else to do
with manic women
back then.
But Mother knew
LOTS better things to do
than to be locked up in a little room.
She tore her down pillow open
with her teeth,
blew handfuls of soft white feathers under the door,
and yelled,
"Fire!
Fire!"
An orderly actually came
and threw the door open.
Faster than a naked toddler
Mother skinned under his arm,
dashed down the hallway,
slammed through the front doors
and raced down the sidewalk;
3-o-clock in the afternoon,
broad daylight,
92 pounds in a flapping hospital gown,
long wiry black hair
and feathers,
yelling,
"Fire!
Fire!"
Mother told me the story herself.
I was ever so proud of her.
To this day
I stand a little taller
when I have feathers in my hair.
© Anitra L. Freeman