What SWEETHEARTS! - Yaremis, Sara, Adam, Gretchen, Shahla

Thanks to Yaremis Felix, Sara Wildavsky, Adam Reich, Gretchen Amstutz, and Shahla Atlas for their generous contributions to the fundraiser to record a demo for The Sweethearts of Swing! The demo is now up on the website - click here to give it a listen!!

Yaremis:

laughter's contagious

an epidemic of mirth

is what the world needs

Sara (in honor of her brother Dan):

hear tunes with Sara

eat some burgers by the sea

perfect day for Dan

Adam:

a life in the arts

the magic is in doing 

when all else is loss

Gretchen:

she is living proof:

if you follow the music

music follows you

Shahla:

just look at those boots

if you need fashion advice

she's the one to ask

what a SWEETHEART - Julie Sax

soaring melodies
hot riffs right in the pocket
how she plays her horn*

*in Julie's case, the saxophone!

Thanks to Julie Sax for her generous contribution to the fundraiser to record a demo for The Sweethearts of Swing! The demo is now up on the website - click here to give it a listen!!

what a SWEETHEART: Annbritt DuChateau

she lifts her baton
with a commanding gesture
upbeat: giocoso

Thanks to Annbritt DuChateau for her generous contribution to the fundraiser to record a demo for The Sweethearts of Swing! The demo is now up on the website - click here to give it a listen!!

what a SWEETHEART - Sherrie Lavelle

singing in a group
can be very relaxing
sometimes there's food, too!

Thanks to Sherrie Lavelle for her generous contribution to the fundraiser to record a demo for The Sweethearts of Swing! The demo is now up on the website - click here to give it a listen!!

Haiku #385 - Amazing Jellies

Allison Posner and Eli Bolin front the Amazing Jellies

their name describes them

they're a band that makes great jams:

amazing jellies

Haiku #384 - Mama's Backyard Cafe

Cappuccino and mini chocolate cannoli at Mama's Backyard Cafe in Queens

simple little things

life should be filled with pleasure

as much as can be

Haiku #383 - To The Moon

when you're awf'lly tired

your wildest dreams carry you

to the moon and back

Haiku #382 - SWEETHEARTS in the Studio

mixing in pro-tools

Chris adds finishing touches

keep your ears open!

Haiku #381 - A Night With Janis Joplin

reminiscences

face-melting guitar solos

amazing voices

Haiku #380 - SWEETHEARTS in the Studio

Gilbert in his studio, "The Spot"

all of the layers

listening so carefully

to get the right mix

Haiku #379 - Sheri Sanders in Concert

me with my friend Rebecca and her friend Sam
Ready to see Sheri Sanders rock!

a force of nature

happens when you know your stuff

rock the audition

Haiku #378 - Perfect Broadway Day

church bells are chiming

"no business like show business"

at quarter to two

Every Wednesday at 1:45 pm, the church bells at St. Malachy's on 49th St. call theatrical parishioners to matinee by chiming "There's No Business Like Show Business". Today at that time, I was sitting across the street by an open window in the rehearsal studio, alternately playing dance breaks for a Book of Mormon rehearsal and reading a book about Irving Berlin, who wrote that song, as well as many others that form part of the American soundtrack. Perfect.

After rehearsal, I had sushi with a friend and colleague, saw the evening performance of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, and had a nightcap of matzo bowl soup at a nearby diner afterwards. Perfect.

Not every day is this perfect, but there truly is no business like show business, and I wouldn't trade it for all the cute babies in day care.

Can you believe I'd NEVER tried matzo ball soup before?!

Haiku #377 - In the Studio

tracks are all laid down
next there's magic to be made
in the studio

Haiku #376 - Broadway Cares Flea Market

Surrounded by my Mormons at the Book of Mormon's booth at the
Broadway Cares Flea Market

playbills for a buck

never know what you will find

at the flea market

Marc (waving, on the right) and some awesome Broadway-bound kids
working the Broadway Workshop booth

I also stopped by Revolucion Latina's booth, but forgot to take a pic! I love how the Broadway community comes together to take care of each other!

Haiku #375 - L'Shana Tova

I have to confess that I had little to no awareness of Jewish culture when I moved to New York, short of having read a few books like Number the Stars as a kid. There are simply not very many Jews in New Mexico, and aside from a childhood friend named Rachel who was culturally Jewish but didn't know much about that heritage, and two short-term college roommates who halfheartedly tried to keep kosher with their three Gentile compatriots (at least we had 2 fridges?), I was clue-free about the Chosen People until I moved to New York. I've had many Heebpiphanies, if you will, from my first real bagel to realizing my coworker whose last name was Levy was not, in fact, a light-skinned Latino (of which there are many in New Mexico). Even now, I usually become aware of approaching Jewish holidays via facebook, or in this case, my lovely delivery grocery store, Fresh Direct (order now! we will sell out of Rosh Hashanah meals!).

I love living here, where people of so many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds coexist in relative peace - a politically correct, sometimes slightly hostile peace, but peace just the same. That is a fact I won't take for granted after trying to educate myself about Syria this week. There was a graphic that caught my eye that purported to explain why the conflict got started: a color-coded map showing all the different religious and ethnic sects living in close proximity. I suspect a map of Queens would look much the same. So...there but for the grace of (fill in the blank with your preferred higher power) go we. Still...there must be a way. But I think peace has to be the goal, not just a byproduct of some other goal.

To that end, to my Jewish friends, and all friends who wish to celebrate peace and new beginnings, from your Shiksa friend, with love:

L'Shana Tova
may we all have peace and sweet
apples and honey

Haiku #374 - Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm back! After taking (most of) the summer off, it's now past Labor Day, and I have no more excuses. So I'm starting off with a total cheater haiku, a 17-syllable quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. Despite its cheaterness, it's a lovely quote for starting the academic year - no matter how long I'm out of school, this time of year always brings with it the feeling of excitement, new projects and pursuits... 

My writing partner is getting married to her badass fiance this weekend, and next week is the first stage of the Sweethearts of Swing demo recording session, after which all the rest of our generous contributors who picked the haiku-perk will begin receiving their thank-you haiku. Lots of new things afoot!

Also, Happy New Year to all my Jewish friends!

the future belongs

to those who believe in the

beauty of their dreams

near West 72nd St and the West Side Highway

what SWEETHEARTS - Mom & Dad

parent paradox
make me strong to fly away
catch me when I fall

Thanks to Anne and Paul Sherrell for their generous contribution to the fundraiser to record a demo for The Sweethearts of Swing! 

Please visit our fundraising page - only 28 hours left to reach our goal! Every little bit helps, and for a contribution of $25 or more, I will write you your own haiku!

what a SWEETHEARTS: Kurt Crowley

it takes courage to
face the birds in the plaza
ev'ry single day

Thanks to Kurt Crowley for his generous contribution a couple days ago to the fundraiser to record a demo for The Sweethearts of Swing! His donation put us over the halfway mark!

Please visit our fundraising page - only 36 hours left to reach our goal! Every little bit helps, and for a contribution of $25 or more, I will write you your own haiku!

what a SWEETHEART: Erin Lecocq

sometimes you just need
a forkful of green chile
and a new best friend

Thanks to Erin Lecocq for her generous contribution to the fundraiser to record a demo for The Sweethearts of Swing! Every little bit helps, and for a contribution of $25 or more, I will write you your own haiku!

Please visit our fundraising page - 3 days left to reach our goal!

what a SWEETHEART: Carin Cahn

it stays on your skin
sparkles and catches the light
life needs more glitter

Thanks to Carin Cahn for her generous contribution to the fundraiser to record a demo for The Sweethearts of Swing! Every little bit helps, and for a contribution of $25 or more, I will write you your own haiku!

Please visit our fundraising page - 3 days left to reach our goal!

what a SWEETHEART: Cynthia Vaughn

lovely melodies
echoing through the Front Range
Magnolias sing!

Thanks to Cynthia Vaughn for her generous contribution to the fundraiser to record a demo for The Sweethearts of Swing! Every little bit helps, and for a contribution of $25 or more, I will write you your own haiku!

Please visit our fundraising page - 4 days left to reach our goal!

Haiku #373 - Fireworks

looking at fireworks

through the screen of a smartphone

are we really free?

Haiku #372 - Dorian Gray

Picture of the menu at Dorian Gray. Yummy pub food & drinks in the East Village!

why can't the [Irish]*

teach their children how to spell?

I just want a beer.

*unskillful, I know, but it's so hard to decide between literary/nationalistic accuracy and a good musical theater reference! For the record, I drink draft AND draught beer. And sometimes bottled. I was discussing the spelling of the word with a friend yesterday, so this caught my attention. Also, I forgot to take a more New York-y picture today.

Haiku #371 - Pride

warm friendly city

where everyone's accepted -

except slow walkers!

The Empire State Building decked out in a rainbow for Pride!

Haiku #370 - Tech Week

Marc places a call

at the end of a long day

in the theater

Haiku #369 - The Girls in the Band

they said we can't play

i am made possible by

the girls in the band

New Yorkers, go see it at Lincoln Center Film Society now thru May 16!

Haiku #368 - Band Rehearsal

it's so exciting
when it all comes together
bit by little bit

Haiku #367 - Don't Be a "Pooper-trator"

stay classy, New York:

don't be a pooper-trator
if it poops, you scoops

hey, at least they laminated the sign.

Haiku #366 - Empire State of Mind

putting in the hours
working hard, working smarter
dreams are made of this

Haiku #365 - Shake Shack

the outdoor setting

and the frozen custard too

make it worth the queue 

Haiku #364 - Madison Square Park

a perfect may day

roscoe conkling* is lucky

tulips at his feet

*from another time of turmoil in the Republican party...
learned something new today. Thanks, statue!

Haiku #363 - Only In New York

only in new york
practicing shavasana
next to a tap class

Haiku #362 - K's Choice at Joe's Pub

Joshua (right) and me with Sarah, Gert, and RJ (?) from K's Choice

sitting with my friend

as k's choice sings songs that are 

anthems for my life

great venue!

Haiku #361 - The Poor of New York

the poor of new york
from 1857
still relevant now*

*and might I add, non-haikuly, extraordinarily entertaining!

Haiku #360 - Conservatory Garden: Spring

Great minds and nature-starved city dwellers think alike.

people snap photos

of daffodils raising their

faces to the sun

I was one of those people!

Grateful for the Central Park Conservancy

Haiku #359 - Fresco Gelato

salted caramel and espresso gelato from Fresco Gelateria in the East Village
Note to self: next time, get flavors that aren't the same color.

we're all thinking it:

"hello spring!!! suck it, winter!"

time for gelato

Haiku #358 - Fishtag

Radium (right) and me leaving Fishtag, having been well-fed and taken care of

masterful skill turns

ev'ryday ingredients

to sublime flavors

Haiku #357 - Columbus Circle

Columbus poses in front of Central Park.
He must not be afraid of heights.

ev'rything you need

here at Columbus Circle

nature and commerce

Haiku #356 - Aroma Espresso

mid-afternoon break

recollections of iced chai

under the blue sky

Haiku #355 - Friends in NYC

don't have much money
but my life's full of riches
my friends' hearts and minds

(Obviously this isn't specific to New York, but I was just marveling today at the friends I've gotten to see this week, and how awesome they are as individuals and friends.)

Haiku #354 - Central Park Reservoir

bib from Abby's Kick-Ass 5K

82 degrees

twice around the reservoir

we run for our lives

ready to run!

Haiku #353 - Spring in East Harlem

magic ev'rywhere

i know why the caged flow'r blooms

it's finally spring!

Haiku #352 - Badass Women: Yvette

Yvette is an actress, producer, and curator of this awesome hug blog!

one hug ev'ry day
or maybe six or seven
makes it all better

Haiku #351 - Badass Women: Sally Ride

sally ride rode far
to the stars and back again
inspired girls like me

Haiku #350 - Badass Women: Cherie

Cherie, practicing one of her many talents

stage manage, play drums

take pics, make a mean cocktail

she can do it all

Haiku #349 - Badass Women: Jenny

actress, now writer
life is full of surprises
following your bliss

Haiku #348 - Badass Women: Abby

Please check out my friend Abby's fitness blog (links below) - she's an inspiration!

if she can, you can
she conquers illness, grad school
now go out and run!

Haiku #347 - Badass Women: Unknown

smiles into the wind

waiting for the bus to come

nothing keeps her down

I don't know who this lady was (so yes, this is kind of a voyeur pic), but her outfit caught my eye, and her free-spirited attitude. We exchanged a smile through the window as I ate my soup, and a couple minutes later, she and her silver boots climbed aboard the bus to whatever adventure awaited her next. I hope I'm as awesome as she when I'm her age.

Haiku #346 - Badass Women: Nat

Nat's and my iconic arm-wrestling moment from Nat & Kat's Adventures with the Time-Traveling Piano

collaborator

we climb mountains on deadline

fire under my ass

Haiku #345 - Badass Women: Grandma

help the war effort
physical therapy school
she sold her cornet

Haiku #344 - Badass Women: Christina

Christina and me geeking out over earthquakes in San Jose while we were on tour last year 

she's often quiet

but if you know her, you know

she has a big voice

Haiku #343 - Badass Women: Sarah

At our high school graduation with our buddy Dustin
Sarah's & my friendship predates digital photos, but I was dismayed to find that this is the only one of us of which I have a digital copy!
Need to document our next visit... 

been counting on her

since 1987

she's one you can trust

Haiku #342 - Badass Women: Tamara

making a gingerbread house w/ big sister Tamara (right)

she stands out a bit

a tall blond woman speaking

fluent Japanese

Haiku #341 - Badass Women: Sarah Elizabeth Foster

Joline, left, and Sarah, right, in front of Sarah's Wall o' Powerful Women
We recorded Joline singing one of Sarah's songs in her studio

recording music

in a studio filled with

powerful women

Sarah has a 100 song project to inspire her next album - check it out here!

Haiku #340 - Badass Women: Mom

Mom, wearing my nephew's Gryffindor scarf at Christmas

logodaedalist

keeps the plates and words spinning

big words and small plates

Haiku #339 - Badass Women: Erin

My college best friend, Erin, is simultaneously taking on the challenges of law school and motherhood.

to say at week's end

"I've given it all I've got"

that's satisfaction

Haiku #338 - So Simple, So True

Concluding February's love-themed haiku...

hang onto these words:
do not lose your faith in love
so simple, so true*

*tonight's haiku is in honor of/stolen from a song I really like by a band I really like, the Spring Standards. It's one of my go-to songs for melancholy days; I appreciate that it doesn't try to explain or reassure - just: don't lose faith. 

I also really like this song by the Spring Standards. The lyrics, esp the 2nd verse- internal rhymes and faint blasphemy!? Go listen, and buy their CDs so they can keep doing what they do, and I can catch them on tour sometime (I'm bummed I have a rehearsal scheduled during their one NYC gig this spring...)!

Haiku #337 - Warmth/Heat

it's so confusing
when a relationship's warmth
leaves before the heat

Haiku #336 - Long Day

it's been a long day
ready to lay down my arms
and fall into yours

Haiku #335 - Adventures in Dating (5)

the first time we met
i trembled when you held me
as we danced til three*

*well, it wasn't actually 3, but sometimes one needs to reference Gershwin

Haiku #334 - Adventures in Dating (4)

we had just ordered
when he conceded "weakness"
emergency room

Haiku #333 - Memory

i can still feel your
hand at the small of my back
all these years later

Haiku #332 - Absence

there are too many
days in my life that go by
without seeing you

Haiku #331 - Adventures in Dating (3)

it was his first date
since the divorce was final
my friend said - after

(he was very sweet
i had a lovely evening
have to start somewhere)

Haiku #330 - Fooooooooooood!

"There is no love sincerer than the love of food." - George Bernard Shaw

bacon is awesome
french fries are pretty great, too
cookies are the best

Haiku #329 - Adventures in Dating (2)

forty-five minutes
is a long time to be late
and expect third date*

*you see, he was 45 minutes late both times we went out...and then he told me I was rude when I plead busy to his invitation to a concert the next week. hmm.

Haiku #328 - Adventures in Dating

a three-day weekend
canal boat, a boy, his friends
great! ...or DISASTER

Haiku #327 - Happy Valentine's Day!

never be alone
learn to do one simple thing:
be your own best friend

I'd like to expand on the 17 syllables today -
1. simple but not easy 
2. relationships are great, but I find it irksome that romantic love is exalted so far above any other kind. And, those relationships are not always perfect or permanent either. I have the love of my family, friends near and far, a most awesome kitty cat, and - most important - a me I've taught to take care of myself, draw boundaries, persevere when things don't go my way, relax - and reach out a friend when I alone am not cutting it. All valuable things, single or no. Hooray for love!

Haiku #326 - Better than Perfect

the way we relate
is so far from perfect that
it's even better

Haiku #325 - Worth It

i don't cook or clean
i kick and steal the covers
but i am worth it

Haiku #324 - Unexpected

love knocks on your door
it's not quite what you ordered
still, you let it in

Haiku #323 - Loneliness

don't beat yourself up
loneliness is bad enough
without guilt or shame

Haiku #322 - Blizzard

I've got my cat to keep me warm.

the wind howls outside

inside is warm and cozy

time for a snuggle

Haiku #321 - Heartache/Headache

why can't we just say
"I have a heartache" as if
it were a headache?

Haiku #320 - BFFs

precious are the nights

when you blow off work to talk

to your oldest friend

Haiku #319 - Sociopath

note to self: next time,
try not to fall in love with 
a sociopath

Haiku #318 - Rough Edges

sometimes love is pain

smoothing out our rough edges

on one another

Haiku #317 - Implications

i'm contemplating
the implications of not
pushing you away

Haiku #316 - Tour Buddies

Kurt & Cherie made everywhere feel like home.

i could be marooned 

on a bus and truck with you

for decades and smile

Haiku #315 - When I'm Very Old

when I'm very old
I won't have much, but I'll have
loved you for so long

Haiku #314 - DiFara Pizza

So, good intentions...yeah. What a boring theme! Can't wait for February. But here's a Monday pizza haiku about - wait for it - the best pizza in New York:

DiFara pizza

made the same way for decades

it is worth the wait

Daniel shows off his slices. I almost forgot to take a pic,
I was so excited to eat by the time the food came. 

A totally unassuming corner pizzeria in Midwood, Brooklyn, DiFara's pizza is not a quick slice, reheated from under a heat lamp. The owner has been making each slice/pie to order, no shortcuts, for coming up on half a century. Definitely worth the trek and worth the wait.

Haiku #313 - Flexibility

Sarah's attempt at a Mona Lisa smile...
we were having too much fun.
She intends to be flexible & open to new opportunities!

get rid of your couch

you're gonna work in Dubai

advice to restless

Haiku #312 - Feeding the Good Wolf

not always easy
you must make the choice each day
to feed the good wolf

There were many websites with the "good wolf" story; I linked to a blog geared toward military veterans because 1) it does me good to remember that I get to spend my life playing the piano and writing seventeen-syllable poems and 2) it's a really good post that elaborates on the old Cherokee story in modern terms.

Today, my good wolf ate:
15 minutes of yoga (better than nothing!), a mostly crossed-off to-do list, and a conversation with a friend when I was about to throw my bad wolf a big ol' steak drowned in A-1 negativity sauce. So, good wolf wins for today. Must remember to feed him again tomorrow...

Haiku #311 - Live Like a Playwright

Natalie Wilson, living like a playwright (see blog, link below)

live like a playwright

nothing ventured, nothing gained

maybe you'll succeed

Haiku #310 - Crock Pot

throw in the crock pot
chicken thighs and pasta sauce
easiest dinner

I hate spending more than I can afford to. So, in the lean freelancer month of January, when my thin wallet, determination to eat better, and relatively ample free time coincide, I cook more. But I hate to cook, so "cooking" in my world usually involves a maximum of one pot/pan and 3 ingredients (5 if I'm feeling fancy). 

Haiku #309 - The Road to Hell

my resolutions
make for a very smooth ride
on the road to hell

Nevertheless, this month's haiku theme will be resolutions, habits, good intentions, etc. I'm going to run a 5K with Nat at the end of the month! I also need to finish all my cookies and chocolate before Ash Wednesday... maybe the two will cancel each other out!