living a dream

My first couple weeks in NY have come and gone and I am getting into the swing of my new life here. Sometimes I have a hard time believing it is my life. It feels like a dream to be part of such a great team of circus artists and even though I am so far behind and have so much to learn, they have embraced me as part of the company. I train 20 hours a week with the other performers. I also attend 8-10 extra hours of classes a week, given by the director as part of the education and outreach (and financial help) part of the company. So ya, it is a lot. And I am sore all the time. The ankle is slowly getting better but it is still mostly upper body, abs and flexibility stuff I am training now. I am off floor work (acrobatics) for a couple months just to be safe. Bummer, but it isn't worth getting injured again. Instead, I train lots of drills on the aerial silks, conditioning exercises, stretching and I even started trapeze, which apparently i will put together an act on for our late February tour. (aahhhh!--it's all new to me but I am working hard). I am learning so much and have so far to go. But we talk a lot about a long path and how that is desirable cuz it gives us somewhere to go and something to work for.

As far as work, I am working a lot. I have two different families that I am nannying for:
One has a 10 month old boy, Henry, who is so sweet and I love the parents.
The other has a 5 year old boy with Asberger's Syndrom (*a mild type of Autism) and is obsessed with Music Togther. He has perfect pitch and knows every Music Together song there is, better than me. His mom is a professional pianist and they sit and play songs and sing together. It is so sweet.

Both families are wonderful in their own way and are working around my training schedule and touring schedule and are both walking distance from our rehearsal space. The universe is looking out for me, I guess. Someone once told me if you tell the world what you need and what you have to offer, others will do the rest. I guess it is true.

I could sure use a hug, if anyone wants to send one my way, because as much as I love my life here, being across the country from the love of my life is hard. I miss you, Corbin.

Oh, and I am reading a fabulous book that my sister gave me for Christmas. "Smart Women Finish Rich" by David Bach. Highly recommend it, not just for women. It isn't just a guidebook to finances and future, it is about values and goals and dreams and if you haven't read it yet, it is a must. At least I think so.

Off to work,

Hugs to all,
and dont forget to live your dreams.

The Big Apple, as they say...

Well, friends, fans, family....

Here I am in NYC.
I am here as an apprentice for a circus/dance company called firefly dance. (fireflydance.com) Cypher, the director, has committed to training me and making me part of the team. I am so excited. I met him at Burning Man (an arts festival) last summer. Funny how one festival can change your life...

I live in Brooklyn. The living space is great. We have a nice 2 story, 3 bedroom house with a basement and a backyard. Yes, in NYC! I am living with the director of the company, another apprentice (like me!) and a couple other company members. So far, so good. We are like one big happy family, well, there are only 3 of us currently, but we buy all our food and cook and eat like a family, stretch and clean and organize and practice handstands in the living room. It is like a dream come true. I have been craving the community so badly, and I appreciate it all even more after my challenges in Barcelona.

In terms of my running streak of bad luck, I thought it was over cuz I got here and had a house with great rent and everything was going perfectly in terms of the housemates and weather and company members and the performance they put on New Year's Eve....but alas, I guess some of my bad luck followed me because in all my care not to hurt my ankle again, (the right one that I sprained 6 weeks ago hopping up a staircase on my unicycle), I sprained my OTHER ANKLE in my first day of training, trying to do a front hand spring (which I obviously wasn't able to do). So I am really gimpy now. I was unable to walk at all for a couple days, but some nice lady at a store overheard me saying I needed crutches, and lo-and-behold, had an extra pair next door. So that helped. And after getting lugged all over the city on the back of Cypher's motorcycle because I couldn't walk to the subway, I am now on my own and able to hobble down the street with a slight limp. I should be back to training in no time.

I had my first job interview today and I have another one tomorrow and next week. It is so much easier since I speak the language and have papers to work legally! I always took it for granted till I went to Barcelona and getting even a lame job was next to impossible. Now finding time to work outside my training and a job that will work around our tour schedule will be another story, but for a great nanny....it should be worth it. :)

Missing the California weather, even the storms, as I ride around on the back of a motorcycle with my eyes frozen shut (NY in January!) It's cold here, but I am happy. I am in the right place for this time in my life.

Thanks to everyone in my life who loves and supports me. Those are the important "things" in life, as I am learning.
Many hugs and sorry I didnt get to see everyone when I was back on the West Coast. The time went so fast. But anyone is welcome out to NY. I have my own room!

Hugs all around,

Louise Lovelle