Haiku #230 - All-You-Can-Eat Sushi!

BEFORE
so many fishies
that were swimming in the sea
now in my belly!

Kyle and Dom had the help of 6 other people for demolish that sushi....
Alex took us (me, Cherie, Kyle, Dom, 5ive, Perry, and Virginia) to her favorite sushi joint here in her home state of Connecticut. We made two trips in her car to get there from the hotel, and on the way back, we piled our sushi-filled bodies in there, clown-car style, for the short ride back.  Have to ask her to remind me the name of the place, because I can't remember... it was really good!

Haiku #229 - New Haven, CT

such great energy
in the audience tonight
ev'ryone was there

We had a lot of In the Heights VIPs in the house last night - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alex Lacamoire, Karen Olivo, our producers, a bunch of Lin's family and friends... we had a party afterwards. A particularly great show and a great night. My friend and faithful blog-reader Bear was able to come up from the city to see the show for the first time, and meet some of the people he's read about!

Bear (right) said he felt like he already knew Kurt & Cherie from reading my haiku!


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 #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.