Last week in NYC

Well, the time has come, my furry friends, to wrap things up. I got back from Georgia, tired and hurting from pushing myself too hard, but eager to make the most of my last couple weeks in NY. (Athough directing and performing in the show downt here was an amazing experience. I sure do give orders better than i take them...hee hee).
After a few days of training, I decided it was best to stop that all together, just save my energy for teaching, and spend my extra time seeing NYC. I mean, how is it possible that I have been here 8 months and hardly seen the city? So, that has been my job lately, (besides odd babysitting jobs and teaching some evenings). I've had a great time eating out, enjoying central park, which is amazing this time of year. We even had a couple beautiful, not-too-humid, clear, blue days to enjoy. I have been catching up with my friends, meeting cool Kenyan acrobats backstage at a circus, going to comedy clubs and packing my life into boxes.

My ticket home is booked for this coming Monday! Burning Man prep will occupy the few days after that and then Corbin and I head out to the Neveda Desert for another Burning Man adventure. For those who have forgotten, that is where I met this circus group and got myself invited to NY last year, so who is to say what will transpire this year.

In terms of life back in California, I have done my best to set up work and activities that will begin as soon as I hit the ground. I will be working 5 days a week upon returning, teaching and nannying like before, saving up and hopefully going to cosmetology school next year.
I have been invited back to sing with The Choral Project (amazing choir!), which I am honored and excited about, and have plans to play music with my sister(s), in some form or another.
Corbin's house needs work, and he has a million projects already set aside for me, as I hear.
I am really looking forward to getting my butt back in shape the way only ISK kickboxing can do (since I am not training now, I am feeling the lack of exercise in my body, which is different from the over-use pain, but has its own drawbacks).
Then there is unicycling that I have missed terribly and a million other hobbies and interests that I may embark on at some point. Needless to say, I am still me, busy and excited about life, and will in no way be bored without my 30 hours/week circus training schedule.

The company I am leaving is doing really well, though. We had some members leave as of late (not just me), so that is a fall-back, but the core that is left is strong and able. Besides the performance company, the education sector is soon to become The New York Circus Arts Academy, which is very exciting. (I was offered a job teaching for them, but I didn't come here to teach, I came here to perform--although I was still honored at the suggestion). It is a little sad to leave such an exciting project in its infant state, but I know it is in good hands.

I think that is all the news for now. For those of you reading this in the bay area, I would love to hang out, catch up and have you over (yup, I am taking over the house already). : ) when I get back, so get ahold of me.
For the rest of you, this blog may become scarce when I am back, as the life of a music teacher isn't as exciting as a world traveler or one who runs away from the circus, but check back for occational unicycle pictures or performance updates, as I hope to never be truly boring.

I'm adding a few pictures from NYC: central park and such.

Ground Act

Here are some pictures of Ashley and I and some of the Ground Act poses from the 4-person acrobatics act. Ashely and I modified and did a shorter 2-person version at the show in Athens, Georgia last Friday. These pictures were taken in the driveway of her mom's house and during the performance.

Georgia on my Mind

No, really, I am in Georgia and California is on my mind, but no one wrote that into a song.
I do have to say that Georgia is quite beautiful, and besides the humidity, the woods are pretty and the thunderstorms are fun and the southerners sure do know about hospitality and kindness. I am amazed at how sweet everyone has been and I have been eating some good southern food: eggs in a basket, butter beans, fried okra, corn bread, spinach soufle and all kinds of things I would have never thought to cook.

So what am I doing in Georgia? Well, one of the other girls in the circus company, Ashley, is from Georgia. We came down to teach and perform last February on our southern tour and we were asked back to do a week-long residency at a great space called Canopy. Canopy was started by a woman who never had kids and instead made her love for dance and trapeze into her child by opening this studio on the north end of Athens, Georgia. (Athens is like a little Santa Cruz in the middle of the south. Cute little town). She has a great studio with over 12 rigging points so you can have numerous people on trapeze or silks at the same time.

Ashley was already down here for a wedding, but they wanted one more person to help teach classes and set up a show for the end of the week. Well, that was me. I suppose I am the only one who was disposable enough to leave for a week since I am not in any acts right now. Also, I am also the only one with trapeze experience and Canopy has more trapeze students than silk students, so it was a good choice, I think. I never knew I had such a knack for directing, but I really stepped in and had a great time running the show.
So ya, we taught classes and I picked the music and set the counts and modified the choreography I was given to work with and put together a show. Ashley and I also performed a short silks duet that we never even rehearsed fully with the music, so that was a little nerve-wracking. We also spent a bit of time modifying the 4 person ground acrobatics act (that I was in before I was injured) so we could perform it with just two of us. That was a real hit, although next time I have to remember to wear a shirt that isn't so low cut cuz I literally fell out of it while in a handstand, if you catch my drift.

We are headed back to NYC today. I am kind of dreading going back. I am really homesick and much prefer the beauty of Georgia to the smelly ghetto of Brooklyn, if I must be away from California.
I pushed myself too hard here and my old injuries are really giving me grief, but I guess that is okay cuz I don't have much longer that I will have to deal with such force on my body. For those who haven't heard yet, the director and I decided that it is best if we cut my contract short due to my continual injured condition and I will be moving back to California next month. I am so excited to come home, be with the people I love and give my body a break from circus work.

There will be a coming home/house warming party in September at Corbin's new house. Details will be posted next month.
hugs all around.