Washington D.C.

We're here in D.C. for a month so we can put down some roots for a while and feel like we're not living out of a suitcase for once.  After almost a year on tour, that means alot.
Opening night at the Kennedy Center is really quite a thrill.  The hallways around our theater are these capacious marble and flag-festooned passages that look like something out of the original Superman movie.  The theater is reminiscent of the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC: deep red walls and huge chandeliers.  We've already had some VIP's come to the show (The Vice President's wife, Lynne Cheney, was here and she brought her granddaughters who are cute and love chocolate) and we're expecting some more to come see the show throughout our run here.
At the opening night party, Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's Hardball, was there and graciously agreed to pose for photos with many of the cast members.  Jeffery Ross, a comedian who has my record for the funniest off-color joke I've ever heard, was there, as well as Joe Pantoliano, who is much taller than I had envisioned him.
D.C. is very civilized (recent crime spree notwithstanding).  Riding the Metro here, you will see a courteousness that is sorely lacking on the NYC subways.  I've hypothesized that it has to do with the presence of so many military personnel, who have strict codes of personal conduct, that raises the bar on everyone's behavior.  It makes me think of all the young DC men who have the benefit of good examples around them on a daily basis and how in NYC I've seen small boys witnessing men behaving in the most deplorable fashion.  I'm a big fan of military people and all that they do for us.  Be good to them, they deserve it.
We took a tour of the Capitol building, courtesy of Congressman Ike Skelton via our own Cary Michelle Miller.  It was really amazing to sit in the House of Representatives and see all of your reps doing that thing that they do.  The Capitol is really an amazing place and if you every get a chance to have a look at it, it will take your breath away.  Next week, we go on a tour of the White House! I'll let you know how it goes.
My offer of backstage tours has been quite a success.  I've given a bunch of tours to all of you lovely people who managed to get out here and I look forwad to a bunch more.