Haiku #227 - Silver Lining

delayed then canceled

means I get one more night with 

my snuggly kitty

Haiku #226 - Memorial Day

it's a good day to
remember - and celebrate
freedom they paid for


Sometimes people complain that these solemn national holidays just turn into an excuse to skip work and barbecue... Certainly there are some people who don't even take a second to think about the reason for the holiday. At the same time, I feel that men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country would be pleased to look down and see that we're spending time with friends and family and enjoying the beginning of summer in our beautiful land. Grateful to my Grandpa and father and cousins and friends who have served, and grateful they all made it back in one piece.


Speaking of beautiful land, I'm leaving for the last leg of tour tomorrow morning! I can't believe it's nearly over - just 10 more shows. On that note, I'd better pack!

Haiku #225 - Backyard BBQ

city girls choose shoes

to wear to backyard cookout

not thinking of mud

I think about puddles in the city, but never about mud unless I'm going to the park. How great to have friends who have a backyard, to be reminded about mud! The barbecue was at Nat and Shane's new-ish place on the West side. I miss having her as a neighbor, but it was fun to be at one of their first outdoor gatherings!

Haiku #224 - Story Pirates in Central Park!

Story Pirate Tim at today's show in Central Park!

children gather 'round
to hear stories and see a
grasshopper on stilts*


*the grasshopper on stilts had nothing to do with the Story Pirates - he was just there participating as we were in the Central Park Conservancy benefit.

Haiku #223 - Times Square

it's wise to have friends
with apartments in midtown
drink on their rooftops

Haiku #222 - New York City

from business meetings
to hookah bars with burlesque
day full of action

Haiku #221 - "Cooking"

my roommate and I
"cooking" dinner together
emphasis on the " "

Seth with his dinner

Haiku #220 - New York City

thousands of people
sidewalks on a late spring night
a tinted image


Met up with my friends Michael and Yare and heard two other friends' bands play tonight in the East Village - Tinted Image at Rockwood Music Hall, and Starnes & Shah at Arlene's Grocery.  Lots of people out, as always on a nice Saturday in the East Village.

Haiku #219 - Massage

like a piece of meat
kneaded, pummeled, tenderized
on the massage table

Haiku #218 - Cuban home-cooking!

Yay, family and yummy home-cooking!

Abuela feeds us
threatening amounts of food
too full to escape!


Tourmate Carlos lives with his family not far from Newark airport, where we landed yesterday for one last layoff before the end of tour.  Since we arrived right around rush hour, he invited Kurt and me to hang with his family rather than head right back into the city. We both accepted, since friendly people and home-cooked Cuban food sounded like a better idea than surly commuters and takeout. It was definitely the right choice choice - got to play cards with the kids, and meet a bunch of Carlos' family, and eat beans and rice, frituras, guayaba cake, chicken, caldo, steak and onions, yuca, salad with mojo, finished off with cafe... don't hate me cuz I'm well-fed!

Haiku #217 - Layoff!

last show til layoff
I think we're all ready for
a break from the bus

Haiku #216 - Mother's Day!

a labor of love
lifelong unpaid internship
say thanks to your mom

Mommy & me!

Haiku #215 - Backstage

what you see onstage
is such a small fraction of
what is in a show

Haiku #214 - Wichita

downtown Wichita

boy and girl on the sidewalk

forever playing

Haiku #213 - Confusion

turns out I couldn't
unlock my room with the key
from last night's hotel

(But at least I was at the right room.) Wichita for a couple nights!

Haiku #212 - Bus Fashion

we are making a 
bus travel fashion statement
the pic says it all

Nicole, left, and Nathaly, right, sporting the In the Heights national tour bus uniform

And yes, in case you were wondering, I was wearing a Heights zippy sweatshirt, capri-length sweats, and hot pink Sperry topsiders... I'm counting the shoes as my bold accessory also, owing to their color.

Haiku #211 - Artsy Rest Stop

Interstate 80

outside Iowa City

an artsy rest stop:

One of several quotation sculptures from prominent people with ties to Iowa.
Note to self: Misspellings in sculptures are forever (...Meredith Willson with 2 Ls)

Haiku #210 - Safe House

went to the Safe House

I didn't know the password

dum-da-dum-dum-DUMMMMMM!

I won't spoil it for those who haven't been there yet... A whole bunch of our company went last night. Once we got inside, we ordered spy-themed drinks, danced, and looked around at the 007-esque decoration.  Cherie and I eventually left via the secret exit (requires a quarter).

Haiku #209 - Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Art Museum - built like a boat, by a park on the lake

I like Milwaukee
there's a lake and a river
and stately buildings*


*also, lest anyone think I've forgotten, beer.


Milwaukee feels like Chicago's kid sister.  I don't mean that in a belittling way, just in that it is situated on a lake, with a river running through it, flanked by elegant architecture.  I took a nice jog between shows today, along the River Walk, and down to the Art Museum and Juneau Park.  Shame we have to leave tomorrow morning; I'd like to explore more! 

Haiku #208 - Greeley, CO

Erin's family drove all the way from NM to see me in Greeley...
...and I'm lame because I kept forgetting to take pictures with the people I saw today!

got to spend time with

quite a few blasts from the past

in my college town

Whew, I am exhausted tonight! It is to be expected and totally worth it after a day of coffee dates, catching up, and conducting.  I had most of the day free before the show, so I got to see some old friends and professors.  I got to conduct tonight's performance, which was cool because I had a lot of people there.  My friend Paul even brought a bunch of his musical theater students from Ft. Collins!

Haiku #207 - Sonora Desert Museum

Kurt and I play Organ Pipe Cactus at the Sonora Desert Museum
Photo by CBT

is it a cactus
or musical instrument?
try it and you'll see!


Trip to one of my favorite Tucson-area attractions, the Sonora Desert Museum! Had a lovely week in Tucson, now in Greeley, CO for a show tomorrow night.  Greeley, home of my alma mater University of Northern Colorado, is as it ever was (that is not high praise). But I am looking forward to seeing some old friends and familiar faces tomorrow night!