#northbeast

It was worthwhile, though. I think I want to compete next year, if I can win local qualifiers and get on the team.

My body held up ... ok. The first day was pretty much fine. I ate every couple hours, drank water, and had a hot chocolate around 4 that left me perky and awake long into the night. Around 9 or 10pm I started to get weird acid reflux / esophageal spasm but sleeping solved the problem. The second day I woke up at 5am and couldn't get back to sleep, so it was a longer day and a bit harder. I had a weird experience trying to get dinner, so by 6 or 7 I was totally wiped, and then I had to go watch finals. I thought about trying to sit it out but I knew people would ask me to weigh in on the poems from that bout. The finals were in this completely packed, dark theater where you really couldn't leave your seat and then expect to come back to it--plenty of people were standing. I was very, very tired but I'm glad I stuck it out.

Today my left side is all twisted and messed up, which is normal, but I do think it's a bit worse than normal. My shoulder and hip feel fully out of place. My left pinky toe is tingling with a weird little neuropathy.

I did read a poem about costochondritis at the open mic, though.

Our city sent two teams to the event and both were good. Impressive. I feel like I could be that good with feedback and support. Every city's team had a pretty different vibe, so there was a pretty diverse offering.