So things have been looking up for me recently, going surprisingly well actually. Last Wednesday I performed as the Moorpark College headlining poet at the monthly Poetry Read on campus. It was by far the biggest turn out that the performance has ever received (and I like to think that it was in part inspired by me) and I did a great job during the show. The professional poet who also headlined the show said that I was amazing and that if I do a couple of open mics at some venues she performs at that I would likely get offers to headline there as well.

Also, in March I am being paid to perform poetry at a Literature Festival in Moorpark for two hours, which would mean that I would now be an officially paid performing poet.

And today was great too. I got invited to go and teach a class on Performance Poetry at Royal High School in Simi today and the class went splendidly. The students are getting for the High School  'Poetry Out Loud' competition, which could eventually take them nationally if they win, so it was great to be a part of that. And then tonight I went with some friends from The Read to The Cobalt Cafe in Canoga Park and performed there on the open mic as well. That show went well too and a number of people seemed really interested in my stuff. I am so psyched about my poetry career actually progressing more and more.



PS. On a completely unrelated and disjointed topic, Heath Ledger died today. Just thought I would add to the general consensus of people posting about it. I am only really sad that he is not going to be able to reprise his role as the Joker at any later date now. Also, I had the biggest crush on him for awhile. That is all.

I totally geeked out today and it was amazing.

I had to go to Moorpark College to register for classes next semester, two art classes with lots of artwork needing to be done in them and an english class. I wanted to get into the creative writing class, but I have yet to complete the prereq apparently, so only those three next semester, with probably some theater stuff in the mix as well when I see what is on the bills for next semester.  Well, that took the whole of like half an hour, so I had like four hours of just sitting around campus until the poetry workshop I had later in the day on campus and it was around noon so I wandered to get some food. Munched on Bugles and Animal Cookies, finished some poems, and then grabbed a couple of bucks in quarters and spent much time on Metal Slug 3. Oh how I love that game. At around two I finally look up from the game to see a poster about four feet to my left, advertising none other than Nathan Fillion (Malcolm Reynolds...'Firefly', 'Serenity') being on campus this very day to have a Q&A session with students in the theater. And it was in a half an hour. Wrapping up my killing spree on Metal Slug I rushed across campus with time to find a good seat for the session.

Nathan Fillion is an awesome guy. Well spoken, really straight forward, and quite witty, the Question and Answer session was a great experience: from hearing funny tales about Joss Whedon, Tom Hanks, and Christopher Walken, to hearing more about how the business of films works, and about acting and life in general.  It lasted for a bit over an hour and then I was off to my poetry workshop where we talked all about the workshop for next semester. We made the workshop and our open mic events a lot more popular this semester and we plan on doing even more next semester. And I am going to start taking a bigger role in it all. Starting with the second open mic of next semester I am going to be the host of each of the Reads, as well as one of the key people in putting together each of the events. It feels great to have helped build this workshop into something so big and still growing. And even better is that for that first show of the semester (the one I am not  hosting) I am going to be one of the featured poets for the event, meaning I actually get to do a full set for everyone, like 15-20 minutes of poetry for everyone. I am stoked.

EDIT:

Some of them are oddly worded (like drinking Eberron [drink a whole campaign setting?]) and #1 & 3 are kind of repetitive, but I think I need to remind myself twice to cut down sometimes.

EDIT 2: I can't figure out how to lessen the length of that blank spot before the embedded object....I just don't know.....sorry.

You know, I should probably be sleeping right now, but I am not.....oh well.

Anyways, hmm, what to say. I didn't come here and start typing with something already on my mind that I wanted to say like I usually do, so what you are getting is what is coming out of me in this semi-conscious state of no sleep that I am in at the moment. Enjoy.

I freaking love performing: poetry, acting, dancing, just being random in front of a group of strangers...I just love it all.  I get such a rush when I am out there in front of people, being over the top and making them laugh, smile, think, perceive. That is where I feel the most alive, in front of people being myself and more.

Despite my ease at being in front of a crowd, I am rather self-conscious about my looks. I know that many people have told me that I am cute, handsome, pretty, whatever, but I can never really believe it. I don't really know what they see in me...I am just me, an average boy with a crazy military past and a couple bucks to my name. I am rail thin, mop headed, and as some would put it: 'way too tall'. I don't know what they see in me,but I'm not really going to argue it, I just don't understand it.

I feel like I am living in a dream sometimes, like this is a crazy facade I create while I sleep. It all seems so amazing sometimes, this life that I am living, that I just can't believe that it is actually happening to me. When I am surrounded by friends and loved ones I can't but think that maybe I am just imagining it all, that maybe they are all figments created by me so that I am not so lonely all the time.  I am so thankful for everyone in my life right now that I can't seem to bring myself around to actually believing that it is happening sometimes, that they are actually my friends and I am actually theirs.  I guess this is what happens when a loner kid finally finds a group to be a member of.

At the same time though, I feel like I am exactly where I need to be with my life right now, like this is my time, my place, and my life to be living. I feel so alive sometimes that I can't help but to know that this is where I am supposed to be. It all just feels so right. I can't explain it any better than that....

More to come later maybe if I can't get any sleep.....

~Adam

So, I have my website up for my poetry for quite a while, but it had been long neglected, a bullet point on my to-do list. But it is forgotten no longer. Spent a couple of hours today updating the puppy, redesigning the page layouts, adding poetry, taking out some crap, and overall making it a much happier site.  You guys should check it out, read some of my stuff, sign the guestbook with comments and all that good stuff.

Idiology

A Leftover from the Beat Generation,
~Adam Poisal

Well, things are getting better now.  I feel like I have gotten some of my wonderfully delicious metaphorical pie back after losing it for awhile. And it makes me appreciate it all the more.

Craziest shit happened today though. I was working down in the music section, walking around pretending to actually be working, when this guy with a semi-familiar face walks up to me and is like, "I saw you perform some poetry at Moorpark before. (Which was like 6 months ago.) I really liked you voice and I am working on this movie right now and I want you to be the voice over for a part in it." 

So, yeah, I am interested in it. He told me a little about the project (something about Nun-ploitation, which I am so down for) and he took my contact info, so maybe something will happen with it.

Still, randomest shit ever.