Haiku #294 - Volunteer

volunteerism
could be an everyday part
of our nation's life

...and other vaguely socio-political thoughts to be fleshed out another time.

Haiku #293 - Sandy Amazon Registry

supplies sent through the Sandy relief registry on Amazon,
stockpiled at a church that has offered its space for sorting and distribution
Photo courtesy Natalie Wilson

help from far away

send exactly what's needed

registry online

There are a couple different registries on Amazon (and probably elsewhere) - so if you want to help with the recovery effort by sending supplies, this is a great way to send exactly what's needed to a place where it'll be distributed to the people who need it most. 

Haiku #292 - Patzeria Friends & Family

Monday pizza day!
I forgot to take a pic
of my brocc'li rabe

I'll blame busy-ness and general hurricane discombobulation for my lack of a pizza haiku... I'll get back next week. But Patzeria on W 46th St I already mentioned as my favorite slice (I get the Grandma slice or the tomato-basil)...this is the sit-down Italian place on 48th and 8th that they opened about a year ago. I went in this evening between gigs and had a beer and a broccoli rabe at the bar and a friendly chat with the owner. Great place, great food, great people.

Back to normal pizza haikuing next Monday!

Haiku #291 - Broadway Impact

The Broadway company of Book of Mormon celebrates Brian Sears and Nick Spangler, who were to run the NYC marathon and raised thousands of dollars to advocate for marriage equality through Broadway Impact. They were taken on a "cool-down jog" through the theater district and led up to the mezzanine where many company members were waiting to surprise them.

you can run away

or run to create the world

you want to live in

Props also to marathoners who ran supplies and volunteered in devastated neighborhoods today, and to my friend Dodd who ran his own marathon through affected areas, and raised thousands of dollars in pledges for the Red Cross recovery effort.

Nick (left), me (silly pose), and Brian (right)
Why yes, those are handmade "mylar" blankets!
I love theater people!

Haiku #290 - Roommate

long conversations
about how to fix the world
small-kitchen summit

Haiku #289 - Hurricane Recovery: 3-2 Clave

one two three, one two
this music knows me so well
and carries me home

Today after rehearsal, trudging through New York City's partially-restored subway system with thousands of other hurricane-weary New Yorkers, I flipped through the limited music on my phone for something to drown out the din in and out of my head. I chose In the Heights - a show that's been an important part of my life for over four years, especially last year when I was on tour with it. I haven't really played it or heard it since tour ended in June, and today it was like putting on a really comfortable, comfort-ing hoodie. Just what I needed to put a smile on my face and make it home.

In the Heights is a show about community and family, and I think anyone who worked on it can say they were touched by the sense of family that prevailed in the company. Maybe I chose to listen to it because earlier today, I found out that two (separate) people from the Heights family lost everything in the hurricane. Another member of the original company has set up a donation page here. If you can spare "one dollar, two dollar, one-fifty, one-sixty-nine", or 96000, please visit.

...You know that makes you want to watch the 96000 Tony awards performance ;)

Haiku #288 - Discipline

discipline's your friend
it makes you write haikus when
you just want to sleep