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 #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 #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! 

Haiku #206 - Real American: Gumby

Forgot your lunch or
need to clear a football field?
Gumby is your man.
from left: Gumby, Horsehead, 5ive (holding Gumby's lunch box)


Profession: security guard
Etymology of nickname: a supervisor who didn't want to remember his name
Professional triumph: running a guy off a football field during a rainstorm and getting invited to do security at NFL games
Random fact: loves comic books (Batman)