photojournal because it's hard to write when it's sunny out!

Prosecco and bad acro in the park.

TRIP TO CIRCUS KRONE IN RAY'S LIMO

 

On our way to Circus Krone in the Elvis-mobile

reflections in a sun roof

My crown at Circus Krone

FRUHLING'S FESTIVAL (SPRING BEER FESTIVAL)

 

Breonna and Jurgen, Bree is in Jurgen's liederhosen at Fruhling's fest

The Ferris Wheel is an interesting place

Big Bier

An American and Frenchman in liederhosen

MUNICH WITH K-POD

Munich from the Glockenspiel

at the top of the glockenspiel

Rowr!

Our amazing pink paddle boat ride in the Englisch Garten

Barbie and Jenn in the pink convertable

the River Isar

Amaretto, caramel baked apples, chocolate souffle in banane sauce

 

 

Swan babies at Schlossgarten

8 babies.

A daddy and his baby watching the swan babies.

Just like a banker.

Blogging about this contract is really difficult for me and I just figured out why.
It's because it's not so completely brutal and insane.  We have a normal and healthy balance of work and play, the rope act is not terribly wearing upon the body, we aren't dancing on top of chairs in cheap plastic 3 inch heels, there are no dogs fighting back stage, and, it's beautiful in the springtime here.  It truly is.  It's like Stuttgart went from being the Bellevue of Germany to, well let's be honest, a cheerier Bellevue (I've even seen people wear colors besides black).  And everything feels normal...
...and then you realize you're wearing a pink wig, a mint green velvet bodysuit, 3 pairs of tights, and size 2 ballet slippers that are the new wave of foot binding.  But the realization is brief, and it still feels ridiculously normal.  There's a rhythm not so unlike that of any 9-5, except it's more like 4-12 (or really 16-24, here), and everyone in the theatre is in on it.  It's only bizarre when compared outside of the theatre family unit.  But why go and do a thing like that?

These boots ARE made for walking...and pony prancing.

The big realization for me is that I like normal...and what I was doing a year ago was not normal, but truly insane for me.  More so than the Youkali crazy.  I was working 12 hour days with an hour car commute on either end, then trying to force my body into submission on aerial equipment when I was absolutely exhausted.  I only want normal from now on.  Normal meaning sleeping and eating and pooping and having a diverse schedule that I can handle.  Yes, please, vanilla, even.  As long as normal can sometimes be neopolitan too... and include hanging upside down.

Samstag, it was above 80 deg F, and I went for an epic run.

I took pictures too.  I ran all over Northeast Stuttgart.  I got hot, sunburnt, but pretty darn happy.   It was really amazing to stop and photo these nesting swans.  Immediately after, I trotted about 30 ft and saw a crow lay down and die in the grass.  Bizarre start to the epic journey.

Daddy swan out for a swim

Mama Swan on the nest

Nine babies waiting to hatch, she counts them.

Mama leaves for a snack, Daddy comes in to take over duty.

Yep, nine babies here.

Circling to make sure, Mama sure is enjoying her break.

Little ugly ducklings inside.

What teamwork!  Daddy settles in.

Weird little hill that has a spiral path and view.

Hoehe park.

Killesburgseturm (turm is tower)

German engineering.  Killesburgseturm.

View of Hoehepark from Killesburgseturm.

Tomb at the cemetary I happened upon as I had to take many detours to find home.

NOT ON MY RUN, OTHER PICS :)

Okay, so I didn't see this guy on my run, but a few days earlier.  We snuggled.  I miss Dora.

View down to Charlettonstrasse, on a cloudy day.

Bree and Lara doing special Bree technique of massage.

Bree and Adriene double back butts.

Time for a blog copout...the list.

Okay, so I really feel like Stuttgart is mine now.  I know where I like to go but even better I know where I want to explore, I don't care about the supermodel idiot parade on Konigstrasse, and in a pinch, I can seek out a nerve-calming nutella und banane crepe anywhere.  This last week I got to settle a bit into a routine that my inner virgo loves...wake up naturally, 2 cups of coffee with either a book, internet, or study of something, then run, then eat, then walk across town. If I have time I may pick up a thing or two in the city or I just head to the theatre to train.  My body totally loves this rhythm, my mind too.  Which is why it was soooooo hard to wake up early yesterday (7am!  after a late show the night before) and go to Pilates Stuttgart to teach some German folk about their pelvic floors.  But that was totally worth it.
Anyways, here are my epic and not so epic insights from this installment in Stuttgart thus far...

1.  Anyplace is better in the springtime...love is in the air?  maybe.  At least with the ducks.  The ducklings in the pond are super duper niedlich (cute).
2.  German men possess qualities that are innately repulsive to me.  (yes, a generalization, but yes, it's true!!)
3.  I still love love love maltauschen
4.  Singing is food for the soul.  Even singing about bubblegum or sugar or other girl group fodder.
5.  Pink hair really does wonders for my complexion
6.  Elvis is a demi-god over here.
7.  So is David Hasselhoff, interesting.
8.  I really wish we could take dogs everywhere in the states like they do here.  Except that terrior was a bit much eyeing my maltauschen at Herbert's yesterday.
9.  Impromptu flea markets...yes!
10. Riding in an old limo with a Schwabisch Elvis impersonator is exactly as fun as it sounds.
11. Living with jugglers from Berlin is actually quite peaceful and nice, almost pedestrian, except we all forget to buy toilet paper.
12.  Those purple spikey heeled suede boots are still at the Italian shoe store, and they STILL have my name on them...
13.  Arugula rains down cheaply from the sky and into the market and adorns every meal deliciously
14.  Thomas from the band is actually very nice and fun guy, even though he often looks as though he is planning a bank heist and racing the Marlboro man to a premature death of lung disease.
15.  Tomorrow I have a day off, Tuesday too.  Can we say Heidleburg and castles???????

Me, Maude, and my Madonna microphone.  A girl needs to shimmy and sing at the same time!!

Thomas decided to sing with us, sehr niedlich!!

Pics...and a TV reel

 my pink wig.  I have an auburn one too, will take a pic soon.

 

My room.

 An ice cream parlor just outside my door.

 I thought I looked pretty cute for premiere.

 some of the GAZILLION stairs up to my flat.

 AJ Silver (lasso artist) and Ray Martin (Elvis, duh) standing by the limo.  We went for Schwabisch wine and food.  Sehr gut!!

 David (plate spinner) and AJ enjoying the local rotwein.

The lovely Marina...handstand artist and wine drinking extraordinaire!!

News Reel footage

Wiwa Las Wegas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I'm here.  It's not with the same sense of adventure as the last trip, as I am familiar with the Friedrichsbau Variete, Stuttgart, and a bit of German culture.  But the sense of adventure has been replaced with a little bit more ease and fun, even though we are very much scrambling to put finishing touches on our acts that can only be accomplished in the theatre space.  It's a time crunch unique to performing aerial acts in unique venues, with unique challenges such as a circular rigging arrangement from the ceiling, a VERY close and intimate audience, and a VERY short production "week" (3 days before performing in front of an audience).  Our primary concern is safety, not only for ourselves but the audience (trying not to whip them with ropes) and the muscisians on stage (trying not to impale them with giant color guard flags).
The show is called "Welcome to Las Vegas" and is a feature of Elvis and Anne Margaret.  The Aerialistas play a large role on stage at most times, singing back up to Elvis, dancing for Anne, and even singing our own numbers, all in addition to our featured aerial rope act and majorette-inspired dance number.  Elvis is a local...Schwabisch to be exact.  And he rocks.  He even has a limo and a truck with his name on it (Ray Martin)!  He does a pretty good job pronouncing his 'V's however every once in a while a "Wiwa, Las Wegas" slips from his mouth.  Anne Margaret is a master shimmier from Australia, played by Kimberly Trees, who, interestingly, also sings some very intriguing childrens songs (I highly suggest you look her up on YouTube singing "marshmallow twirl"). 
I hope to chronicle this contract as I did with the last, even if just to spread the joy of our sparkly gold underpants, which I will soon photograph.  The plan, Stan, is to rock it all week long and then have some adventures on....(Oh my god!!)...our TWO days in a row off every week!!!  Perhaps a trip to Munich?  Tubingen anyone?  What about a visit to the famous Stuttgart ballet?  Keep ya posted...

Home is where the...

...friends are.
...cat is.
...dog wears outfits.
...rain pours.
...time stands still.
...reflections really begin to take hold.
...decisions can be made.
...wine is consumed.
...healing happens.
...coffee is really, I mean really, good.
...you can drink an ale at 3 in the afternoon.
...hug lines await.
...every thing feels the same but is moving...slowly, like the restaurant at the top of the space needle.
...brief respite is, regaining of footing begins.
...people bump into you and say "excuse me" and smile.
...people call cell phones, cellphones, and not "handy's."
...reliable internet.
...food has many colors versus varying degrees of tan with a blob of meat in the center.
...bicycle is the preferred mode of commute.
...happy hour is.
...clarity can be found.

I'm bringing this phase of my blog to a close, as I have returned to the PNW.  I may continuing to blog my evolution into someone who performs sometimes, teaches sometimes, and works on being happy all the time.  We'll see.  But to close this phase, I'm going to try sum up Youkali in Stuttgart in one long and winding sentence....

Youkali with the Aerialistas was like a haunted art deco hotel at the center of the universe, with a gravitational pull that kept us orbiting peacefully on stage and in the air at times, and other times, hurtling towards the center of its dark and dingy kitchens and laundry, bumping and colliding with its  kaleidescope of butlers, waiters, bellhops, and divas.

...Okay, so that's impossible to do.  But what I'm trying to say is that amidst the magic of the theatre there is an ordinary day to day which is sometimes beautiful and sometimes not, but it sure was great when you had been caught in the orbit of the day to day and all of a sudden, you'd awaken again to the magic of making several hundred people laugh, cry, smile, and cringe in a short two hour chunk of their lives.  The story of Youkali reflects that, and the actual experience of performing it and living day to day with the cast reflected the story.  Weird.

I don't believe any of us are truly "done" with the show.  I'm positive we are all still processing the intensity that was NYE (it's called Silvester in Germany), and I think that is good.  In fact, I hope we all never forget, but our memories serve instead of impede us in the future.  Good night, Youkali...

...hellllooooooo Elvis!!  

Life with a weekly day off!!!

So, during November and December we did a run of 6 weeks without a single day off...and let me tell you, that was brutal.  In January, we've had Mondays off and it is such and amazing thing what a day without drag queen makeup, full-body inversions, and sitting through songs that repeat such phrases as "ladidadida" and "diggadiggado," can do for one's soul.  We've not wasted these precious Mondays.  The unfortunate thing, however, is that museums are closed on Mondays.  So, creativity abounds and I have compiled a list of Monday activities found by the Aerialistas.

1.  Sleep
2.  Eat
     a.  leftovers in the fridge
     b.  Kuchen (Viv)
     c.  Maultaschen of all varieties
     d.  something alcoholic ( we can't cross the day off the calendar unless there is a forbidden workday
          beverage in hand)
     e.  chocolate of the Rittersport or homemade variety
3.  Explore
     a.  last Monday I took and epic walk across the city to the Fernsehturm tv tower, felt like a journey
          through Hansel and Gretel's woods
     b.  Shisha lounge  (not for everyone, but I really like this tradition)
     c.  Birkenkopf (Sara found this one)
     d.  miles and miles of Kraeherwald (local woods)
     e.  sometimes we explore the shopping wasteland that is Konigstrasse, but that can be the most fatiguing. 
          Germans like to walk straight into you.
     f.  The Spa!!!!  Swaebisch sauna spa experience.  nothing like it in the states...we will do this one more
          time before we leave.
4.  Movies:  we've been on a nostalgia kick.  movies from childhood primarily, like Legen, Princess Bride,
     Flight of the Navigator, etc.
5.  Did I mention sleep?
6.  Most importantly, what we don't do....training of any sort :)

View from Fernsehturm...A German friend asked me, "what??  were you bored?"  German efficiency does not allow for long walks through the woods apparently.  I thought it delightful, and with a very very  nice payoff of Bailey's and kaffee at the top.

Bizarre sculpture of a snake above the traffic light in Ludwigsburg

"modified" sculpture I pass when I run by the Neckar R.

This is the Schloss at Ludwigsburg as seen from the summer palace.  Sara's parents took the Aerialistas on an awesome day trip to the palace.  Thanks Steve & Jill!!!!

Viv celebrating 30 with cake on the face.

Lara's special party hairdid.  Cindy-Lou Who?