An alien hosted this month’s Austin Writers Roulette.
The Rouletters didn’t seem to mind, though.
LARRY MAYFIELD detailed two different worlds he didn’t want to live in here on Earth.
RG HOOK shared visitation dreams from her husband.
JOSH DAVIS told about his journey to the astral plane.
TERESA Y. ROBERSON fantasized about alien technology defying The Second Law of Thermodynamics to right the world.
THOM THE WORLD POET stated his experience with a new-age guru, then led the audience in a read-a-long chant about saving the Earth.
OPEN MIC
Click on the link below to see the performances of the following open mic artists: LARRY MAYFIELD, STEPHANIE ELISE FRENO, BIRDMAN 313, KATE O’CONNOR, LIABLEWRITER, ELLEN BRAVERMAN, RG HOOK, & THOM THE WORLD POET accompanied by LARRY MAYFIELD on flute
LARRY MAYFIELD
STEPHANIE ELISE FRENO
BIRDMAN 313
SCHNACK
KATE O’CONNOR
LIABLEWRITER
ELLEN BRAVERMAN
RG HOOK
THOM THE WORLD POET accompanied by LARRY MAYFIELD on flute.
Lady Liberty hosted the Roulette on Veterans Day 2018.
Two Rouletters had served in the Armed Forces: JIM TENNY in the Navy and STEPHANIE ELISE FRENO in the Air Force.
Although the host dressed in costume, JIM TENNY wore his actual uniform from more than 20 years ago.
The Rouletters gathered on this patriotic holiday to share their gratitude narratives.
URSULA PIKE was grateful for the life hack demonstrated by her dog, Hercules.
HOPE RUIZ led the way for the Self Evolution Revolution.
STEPHANIE WEBB expressed gratitude for not being alone in the struggle.
STEPHANIE ELISE FRENO documented her transitioning journey with gratitude for everyone who’s helped her along the way.
JIM TENNY witnessed self-evident truths that all men are created equal.
TEREA Y. ROBERSON expounded upon what it meant to be a part of We the American People, inclusively.
THOM THE WORLD POET praised the veterans in his family and worldwide…and the people who supported Global Peace.
OPEN MIC
Click on the link to view the performances of the following artists: STEPHANIE ELISE FRENO, JIM TENNY, SPENCER MIRABAL, VALERIE KLIEWER, LYNN HERRICK, HOPE RUIZ, BRIAN GROSZ, JOE BRUNDIDGE, THOM THE WORLD POET
The Seasonal Butterfly hosted this last Roulette of 2018.
The Rouletters gathered around and performed to a packed room.
LARRY MAYFIELD showed that the end of childhood innocence started the appreciation of family traditions.
URSULA PIKE reminisced about an end-of-the-year gift exchange.
ASA MORRIS turned the corner for a better life, but still dealt with his past.
HOPE RUIZ delved into the romance of beginning again.
JIM TENNY moved past remorse to forgiveness.
STEPHANIE ELISE FRENO shared the things she had to give up in order to embrace the woman she’s become.
BRENNAN UTLEY told an alliterative story about acceptance.
TERESA Y. ROBERSON recounted her series of career transformations.
THOM THE WORLD POET, accompanied by DANIEL DAVILA on clarinet, spoke about past lives and reincarnations while bringing continuous sunshine to whichever self he was.
OPEN MIC
Click on the link to view the performances of the following open mic artists: STEPHANIE ELISE FRENO, COLLEEN SAFFRON, BIRDMAN 313, JIM TENNY, ELLEN BRAVERMAN, KATI TAYLOR, BRENNAN UTLEY, HOPE RUIZ, BRIAN GROSZ, DANIEL DAVILA, CHRISTINA CULVERHOUSE, THOM THE WORLD POET, accompanied by DANIEL DAVILA.
STEPHANIE ELISE FRENO
COLLEEN SAFFRON
BIRDMAN 313
JIM TENNY
ELLEN BRAVERMAN
KATI TAYLOR
BRENNAN UTLEY
HOPE RUIZ
BRIAN GROSZ
DANIEL DAVILA
CHRISTINA CULVERHOUSE
THOM THE WORLD POET, accompanied by DANIEL DAVILA on acoustic guitar
Once again, Cindie’s outdid itself with the His and Hers gift baskets for the best performer in both categories. These prizes were rewarded at the end of the show by audience applause.
Cupid hosted the show, explaining to the audience that they may think that she’s misfired some love arrows in their lives, but she assured them, the arrows always landed where they were supposed to and they’d just had to deal with it.
At least Cupid gifted audience members genital-shaped candy to cope with the bitterness of love gone wrong.
Cupid’s philosophy is, “One person’s heartache is another person’s punchline.” So, these Rouletters came to share their love survival story/punchlines.
RG HOOK dealt with one of the age-old dating dilemmas: is he a future boyfriend or criminal?
SUSAN MACK shared some ancient words of love.
LARRY MAYFIELD had his own version of the dating game.
TERESA Y. ROBERSON asked the contemporary, independent single woman’s question: why do men always f*ck it up?
THOM THE WORLD POET spoke from the heart of the joy and love for his homeland and his mother.
OPEN MIC
Click on the link below to view the performances of the following Open Mic artists: LARRY MAYFIELD, BRIAN GROSZ, R G HOOK, CAROL LENNOX, EMMA TUCKER & THOM YES.
LARRY MAYFIELD
BRIAN GROSZ
RG HOOK
CAROL LENNOX
EMMA TUCKER
THOM THE WORLD POET
All the women shared the fun Hers basket in a four-way tie.
BRIAN GROSZ won the audience vote for the His basket.
Yet he graciously shared some of the goodies with the other guys.
For this Roulette, Bougie Nerdy Black Woman hosted.
Still, The Rouletters showed up to not apologize for being who they are.
DONNA DECHEN BIRDWELL showed that in the great drama of life, you can’t keep apologizing for who you are.
NICOLE CORTICHIATO couldn’t bring herself to apologize for an elementary reaction from a crush.
HOPE RUIZ owed no apologies for her inner strength.
CHARLA HATHAWAY was unapologetic about exploring her own sexuality and healing others.
STEPHANIE WEBB offered no apologies to rich people.
RG HOOK delivered the most f-bomb laden nonapology about the changing demographics due to forced immigration.
TERESA Y. ROBERSON spoke of being unapologetically comfortable in her own skin, regardless of whether she was too Black or not Black enough for some people.
THOM THE WORLD POET, accompanied by DANIEL DAVILA on guitar, brought up the fact that indigenous people of his homeland, Australia, along with other indigenous people, were owed more than an apology.
Click on the following link to view the performances of these open mic artists: BIRDMAN 313, TREV, JEFFREY & JANELL TAYLOR, ELLEN BRAVERMAN, DANIEL DAVILA, RG HOOK, FONTY FOX, NICOLE CORTICHIATO, HOPE RUIZ, & SUNDAY THOM accompanied by DANIEL DAVILA on oboe.
An Upper Management Thug hosted the roulette this time around.
The Rouletters came to share their volcanic tales and memorialize BRIAN GROSZ.
BRIAN GROSZ, a gruff-voiced adrenaline-filled storyteller who, even in death, managed to sound like a cross between a joke and one of his crazy adventurous stories: “A man walks into a bar and…collapses.” We dedicated this show to him.
PAUL NORMADIN gave a hot, horny lesson about physics.
RT KILGORE shared an idyllic summer day at Barton Springs and a new species.
TERESA Y. ROBERSON warned that the craziness of the world continued its craziness, thanks in a large part due to the rise of an insidious evil machination.
THOM THE WORLD POET, accompanied by DAVIEL DAVILA on guitar, advised to interact with people in person rather than virtually.
OPEN MIC
Click on the link to enjoy the following open mic artists: DANIEL THE WORLD WARRIOR, DONNA DECHEN BIRDWELL, RENEE AMOS, HOPE RUIZ, URSULA PIKE, RG HOOK, RAW, EDITH “BLACKBIRD,” THOM TERRIFIC WITH DANIEL THE WORLD WARRIOR.
DANIEL DAVILA
DONNA DECHEN BIRDWELL
RENEE AMOS
HOPE RUIZ
URSULA PIKE
RG HOOK
RAW
EDITH “BLACKBIRD”
THOM THE WORLD POET with DANIEL DAVILA on clarinet
LITTLE RED hosted this month’s Austin Writers Roulette.
She brought all her star power to the show.
But she did NOT walk the straight and narrow like in the fairy tale.
The Rouletters were bright-eyed and bushy tailed for the Too-Woke Insomniac event.
THOM THE WORLD POET spoke of the coming end times whether we’re awoke or not, but from midnight to dawn are the poets’ hours. Accompanied by DANIEL DAVILA on guitar.
RT KILGORE revealed a post-apocalyptical world with walls.
ELLEN SWEETS navigated through political correctness one Lyft ride at a time.
RG HOOK shined a spotlight on dangerous, willful ignorance.
STEPHANIE WEBB attempted to clean up the environment, starting with the nonprofits.
HOPE RUIZ battled with the dominant narrative.
TERESA Y. ROBERSON described the battle to control the narrative between the Extreme Dominant Narrative Defenders and the Extreme Politically Correct Crusaders, using a popular fairy tale.
OPEN MIC
Click on the link below to enjoy the performances of the following artists: DONNA DECHEN BIRDWELL, HOPE RUIZ, STEPHANIE E. FRENO, DANIEL DAVILA, ELLEN BRAVERMAN, DANIEL BARON & ELIZABETH KAHURA.
This month’s roulette was hosted by Strict Librarian.
Rouletters came out in full force for their “Wildest Dreams” event.
STEPHANIE WEBB riffed of the wildest dreams from different times of her life.
RON SEYBOLD told of his own love and basketball story.
NICOLE CORTICHATO gave a taste of her fantasies and nightmares.
RG HOOK explained how the adventure of a lifetime cannot be planned.
JONATHAN WOODS showed what can happen when you give into your impulses.
ROBERT CARRANZA wondered if She existed only in his dreams.
ILENE HADDAD demonstrated that sometimes the wildest dream was actually the funniest.
GARRETT ANDERSON rode the rollercoaster of nightmares.
TERESA Y. ROBERSON wished that a magical book would cure the human condition.
THOM THE WORLD POET lead a guided reading from his poetry book of dreams, which he distributed to the audience beforehand.
OPEN MIC
Click on the link below to few the following open mic artists: STEPHANIE ELISE FRENO, LINDA MASTERS, ANANYAA RAVI, DONNA DECHEN BIRDWELL, EDITH BLACKBIRD, BRENT CROSSON, & THOM THE WORLD POET
The Conjure Woman hosted the Grand Finale of The Austin Writers Roulette. For this special occasion, her sister flew in from Virginia. After 8 years of producing The Roulette, a menagerie of extra details had to be taken care of–hint, check out the sign.
They finally got things together!
The Conjure Woman’s sister (CWS), a former model, used the time prior to the show as an impromptu photoshoot, despite the fact that several housekeeping tasks needed to be done.
BIRDMAN 313 joined in on the impromptu photoshoot.
The Conjure Woman indulged her sister, stating that this was the closest to a wedding shoot she’d get.
Nonetheless, since this was the last show ever, a little picture-taking indulgence was in order.
STEPHANIE WEBB lent a friendly hand getting things together for the show.
Newcomer JASON HILL discovered The Roulette at the eleventh hour. Despite the invitation-only status of this last event, Hill reached out weeks in advance with a compelling story and arrived early to participate. The Conjure Woman created an introduction and snuck him onto the lineup.
The impromptu photoshoot evolved into a hybrid family reunion crossed with a farewell tour. THOM THE WORLD POET came decked out in his signature yellow and DONNA DECHEN BIRDWELL dressed in costume in solidarity to the theme.
Even the pedestrian tasks, such as getting the video release forms from THE MALVERN BOOKS staff, was documented.
As Rouletters arrived, the farewell photoshoot continued with PAUL NORMANDIN, BRENNAN UTLEY,
JACK MCCABE while the host ticked off attendance,
HOPE RUIZ during a breather in between hosting duties,
then joined by others since we were already posing.
LARRY MAYFIELD traveled the farthest to participate in the grand finale.
NICOLE CORTICHIATO merely wanted to meet CWS, but of course, became a part of the photoshoot.
And gracing the place minutes before the festivities officially began, RENEE AMOS and RG HOOK breezed in.
How appropriate that one of the celebratory cakes provided by MALVERN BOOKS reminded one of a present since the venue itself has been a gift to the literary community.
The second cake provided by MALVERN BOOKS had a split personality, half vanilla and half chocolate with a scrumptious raspberry filling.
The Conjure Woman exacted her own photoshooting revenge just before the show.
Rouletter JIM TENNY gifted a series of host pictures.
Finally, the picture everyone had been waiting for, the group photo.
The Conjure Woman rang finger cymbals three times to open the show, explaining that unlike previous Roulettes, all featured artists had received an invitation to perform and since many responded, every feature had a timed 5-minute slot and there would be no open mic.
ALLYSON WHIPPLE led the audience in a creative mediation.
During intermission and after the show, many audience members expressed needing that mediative moment.
LARRY MAYFIELD described his meditative style prior to conscious reasoning.
NICOLE CORTICHIATO colored her creativity with vivid imagery.
BIRDMAN 313 recited a medley of poems from shame to love.
DONNA DECHEN BIRDWELL shared both her very first Roulette poem from July 2012 along with the last in 2019.
JIM TENNY presented AWR producer/host, TERESA Y. ROBERSON, with a plaque, appreciating her muse effect.
Then, he dedicated a song to the AWR muse.
DANIEL DAVILA ruminated about creative germination.
HOPE RUIZ consulted the wise woman within herself.
She then honored the late Rouletter,
BRIAN GROSZ, by reading one of his pieces.
RG HOOK paid tribute to a gruff-voiced New Yorker muse.
CWS struck again during the ten-minute intermission.
JASON HILL soul-searched about his purpose.
PAUL NORMANDIN dreamed other people’s dreams.
BRENNAN UTLEY showed how a fictional writer wrestled with creative style.
STEPHANIE WEBB pushed through the life’s negatives to create.
URSULA PIKE daydreamed in the Spanish subjective tense.
TERESA Y. ROBERSON spoke of the very first live show she hosted as a child during bath time and other creative ideas she’s conjured throughout her life.
THOM THE WORLD POET, accompanied by DANIEL DAVILA on clarinet and JACK MCCABE on acoustic guitar, recounted the creative history of AWR and his performances.
In the end, TERESA Y. ROBERSON invited the AWR fans to check out her upcoming podcast about CBD & Poetry.
Receiving an airline travel voucher was one of the bright spots during my protracted, miserable return from a fabulous two-week Ghana vacation. I cashed that bad boy in before its expiration date, locking in a relatively low rate prior to the Iran “War,” which surged fuel costs and subsequent higher ticket prices.
The night before my flight, the government miraculously avoided another partial shutdown and paid TSA workers.
Appropriately, my journey began on the first of May AKA “May Day,” as many factors in my life clamored for a much-deserved vacation.
I drove nearly 90 minutes to a hotel close to the airport, parked my car, then caught their airport shuttle. After breezing through the security line, my biggest challenge was finding a working outlet to charge my phone.
Due to my second flight being delayed because of storms in Austin, I leisurely ate lunch while streaming “Queer Eye.” Throughout my visit, people thanked me for bringing the warmth and sunshine to the Lone Star State. Took it back with me when I left a few days later.
I’d wisely selected window seats for both flights. For the first flight, there was an empty middle seat. Wasn’t so lucky on the second flight. A man with his two-year old son held down that middle seat. In order to place luggage in the overhead bin, that dad placed his son in the middle seat. The toddler took one look at me and burst out crying.
Good to know that I hadn’t lost my touch!
The toddler eventually stopped crying, but never took a nap. The plane had no screens on seat in front of us to select entertainment. That poor dad had to entertain his son the entire time.
Just like the first flight, the second flight landed with a thud. I looked at the toddler and asked him why wasn’t he crying over that hard landing. He just looked at me with those big brown eyes with a hint of a smile.
Throughout the flight, the toddler had randomly pointed at a woman and asked, “Doni?” Then, his father would answer, “Yes.”
Once I had internet access again, I discovered that the toddler had been speaking Italian.
Like a dream, I picked up my checked luggage, then headed out to get my rental car. The only hitch was that one out of three elevators worked. After waiting far longer for an elevator than my luggage, I went to the car rental place on the third floor only to wait even longer although I was next in line.
The couple in front of me set out to prove that two heads weren’t better than one. During my interaction with the employee, I zipped through his upgrade questions. He then told me that I had to go to the third floor.
“I thought I was ALREADY on the third floor!” He just smiled and directed me out the door to go three floors higher.
Fortunately, the rental car wasn’t too technologically advanced. I made it to my friend’s house in 23 minutes. I always joke that she’s my third mother, after Mom and my older sister who thinks she’s my mom.
She had the Malbec ready. Followed my first glass of wine by a humanizing shower.
After a good night’s rest, I had breakfast tacos with the freshly made tortillas third mom had picked up that Saturday morning. Then, I took my first capoeira class in several years.
I’ve told people that pole dancing was just as strenuous as capoeira, but several minutes into the class, I remembered why I’d stopped training: I’d slowed down. In that class, which was supposed to include kids, I was both slow and out of practice. I’d counted on the presence of kids to slow down the pace. Instead we went full speed ahead.
During the warm up, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. The feeling passed after a few minutes. Despite avoiding a medical emergency, I didn’t spar at the end of class.
I used to train with half the capoeiristas who were there. Got to reconnect with some after class when we ate at a Mexican restaurant. From the moment I tasted that spicy, flavorful salsa, I laughed that many people in Fayetteville would choke. Whenever I visit Austin again, I’ll skip the class and meet them for lunch instead.
That evening, I regrouped and attended “Austin Is a Poem,” featuring Ebony Stewart. As usual, she brought the house down with her mixture of humor and poignant messages embedded in clever wordplay, and periodic staccato delivery.
She never appeared on my monthly, theme-inspired spoken word and storytelling show, “The Austin Writers Roulette,” but I’d send her notifications every month and handed her a business card-sized calendar of themes every year. As soon as she turned around, she immediately recognized me, giving me a big hug.
On Sunday morning, I met with a friend who I’ve known for a few years from a biweekly virtual meeting we both attend to discuss race-based issues.
Her comments usually resonated with me during the meetings. Hanging out at one of her favorite watering holes was even more entertaining.
Since third mom had driven us to the restaurant and we were going bra shopping afterwards, her spouse caught an autonomous vehicle. I’d seen many of those cars last night while driving to and from the poetry event, but this was the only one I had the opportunity to take a picture of since I wasn’t driving.
As I figured, when I got behind the wheel again to drive us to our soul food dinner date, I spotted another fleet of autonomous vehicles now that I wasn’t in the position to take a picture.
We had a lively, engaging dinner, starting out with a beet-a-rita, a sweet, powerfully tequila-laden drink. All except one person had participated in The Roulette.
Before leaving, one friend gifted a Seven Sisters rose branch to anyone who wanted it. Not only do I have brown thumb, but there was no way I would take any vegetation on an airplane. Flying was already a precarious endeavor. No need to risk having to quarantine because of a plant.
The next morning, the top of my thighs still throbbed once I made it to hot yoga. Prior to COVID, I took classes with that studio five times a week. In addition to participating in a 60-minute class, I’d hoped to see one of the owners. Turned out, I’d blocked him in the driveway.
The manager on duty, came out and instantly recognized me. Thank goodness I’d not changed too much nor was incognito with my latest pair of birth control glasses. She told me that I could leave my car where it was.
I did much better in yoga class than capoeira, but I was still out of practice with 25 out of 26 yoga poses. The easy fix: do a half set on my own just like I used to do prior to moving to Austin in 2009.
Later that afternoon, I met another writer friend at a restaurant known for its barbecue, especially brisket. She and I strategically chose a table near the order line as other people in our party straggled in.
After knowing one another for nearly four years virtually, I finally met one of my cousin’s long-time friends and creative partners in real life. He and his spouse moved to Austin six months before I’d moved away.
For a second evening in a row, I enjoyed a beet-based cocktail. “Beet ‘Em to the Punch” was a wonderful after-dinner beverage.
Afterwards, most of us went to a nearby coffee bar, which was far more than that. We met yet another poet and sat outside with our drinks, away from the live bluegrass band, so we could talk without screaming. Ideas flew around the table since all of us had produced different creative endeavors.
The last thing on my itinerary that I’d sent out prior to arriving in Austin was breakfast on Tuesday. Fortunately, three other friends met me there. Again, they had either participated on or attended The Roulette. Sometimes, one can fall into a nostalgia trap. Yet, I used the reminiscing as motivation to migrate eight year’s worth of Roulette summaries to this blog.
For my last dinner in Austin, we went to one of third mom’s favorite local restaurants. Good timing since Cinco de Mayo landed on a Taco Tuesday.
Before moving away from Austin, I’d ordered takeout from this restaurant. The food was as delicious as I’d remembered with the added bonus of dining in with good friends and a house margarita made with one of my favorite tequilas: 1800.
Since my return flight was in the early afternoon, I had plenty of time to gas up my rental car, paying the most per gallon in memory.
Fortunately, I needed little more than a fourth of a tank since most of the things I’d done were clustered around South Austin.
The joys of catching an early afternoon flight on a Wednesday: 1) sleeping in; 2) missing morning rush traffic; 3) allowing enough time to gas up the rental car before turning it in; 4) leisurely going through security.
Now for the downsides: 1) first flight was delayed for 20 minutes, narrowing the time I had to go from one gate to the other to about five minutes; 2) despite sprinting to the other gate, they had closed the door although the plane was still there and hadn’t pushed back yet; 3) those gate agents were far more concerned with disappearing than actually assisting me; 4) I had to handle my own rebooking because one of the gate agents hastily handed me a card to scan the QR code.
If I can help it, I’ll never fly on United again nor have a layover in Houston. This was the second time in a row that United has been woefully unimpressive with their customer service. Not only did their delay cause me to miss the connecting flight, but they also informed me that since the delay was due to weather rather than a mechanical issue, they wouldn’t give me hotel nor food voucher.
Well, fuck them!
Just wonder how long it will take their horrible customer service to fail like Spirit Airlines.
Some decision-makers at the Houston Airport thought it was a good idea to not allow stranded passengers to stretch out and sleep when screwed by airlines. I tried a variety of failed positions in a row of seats with fixed, extremely hard armrests.
The only entertainment break came while sitting askew in one of the massage chairs that had metal rollers uncomfortably jutting out in the back of the chair. I streamed Kimmel on my laptop and shared the screen with another woman who sat in the adjacent uncomfortable massage chair.
My gate changed twice, necessitating me to trek between terminals A and B via Skyway. The sad irony was that had I remained in A, I could’ve had a good night’s rest because there were a variety of different chairs associated with restaurants that were accessible even though the restaurants were closed.
To top things off, periodically and unnecessarily, those stupid safety announcements blared over the PA even though there weren’t any flights. The whole thing seemed like a scheme to prevent stranded passengers from sleeping.
Every successive plane seemed older than the last. My bottom line, as usual, at least we didn’t crash.
Once again, everything was smooth once I reached RDU: picked up my checked bag, caught my hotel shuttle back to my car and drove home in the rain.
Once home, I discovered a package from a friend who lived in Wimberley, TX. Our schedules hadn’t aligned for us to visit with one another, but Mom and I enjoyed his gift of pickles and onions.
Good thing I’d had a fantastic vacation because with the current high prices and sorry customer service, I’m definitely staying close to home.
