Month Update!

It has been 24 days since my last posting. Sorry to all our faithful. I have no excuse. As is our norm we don"t perform a lot in January. We spend most of this month either marketing, going to conventions, repairing or building new tricks and/or props, and developing new skills, tricks, stunts, etc.   The kids work daily on new stunts on the tight rope, the unicycle, hula hoops, Contortionism, etc. A long time ago we removed most of the furniture in our living room and have taken the 27X14 foot space and turned it into a training center/stage where we practice.   Of course the tightrope and trapeze work is done outside when it isn't raining or too cold.
Well, this January has not been boring. California had a special election so Jim and I were asked by the Voter Registrar's office if we would be election officials again. We had the day free so we went for it.  Turn out was very low since there was only one race on the ballot.  At my polling place we have two precincts and the inspector (manager) of the other precinct came down with the flu and couldn't work so I volunteered to be the inspector for both precincts. That meant double the work, which wasn't mush until closing. That's when all the official stuff goes down and everyone is running around like madmen getting the place torn down, ballots counted and sealed, etc.   In spite of the double duty we were out of there by 8:25 and the long 16 hour day was finished.   We slept late that next day.

Like in the presidential election I was at the prettiest polling place. In fact, in the morning and evening we got to watch a family of deer (a buck, two does, and 4 fawn) eat the grass outside our 20 foot high 50 foot half circle window.

The day before the election I had to put Cynthia and Miles on a plane back to Kentucky. Both wanted to stay longer but school duties have since come into play and they are doing well out there.

This month also brought a couple of medical alerts for us. First we heard that a good friend from our church had a mini-stroke.  Now this lady in in her 80s and still rides her bike everywhere. She lives way out in the country up and down a couple of pretty good hills. Yet she rides almost everyday. She's not the type to enjoy a hospital stay.  So when I visited her I found her dressed in her bike-wear and on the edge of her bed literally ready to leave.   She was signed out while I was there.
I was already in the hospital because my mother had gone in the day after our friend went in for the stroke, for an operation.  She would stay for about 4 days and is now at home recovering. It's amazing how just going home can lift a person's spirit.  She is doing well but has had an infection come and go. Keep her in your prayers please.

Here are a couple of fun pictures I have come across. Apparently the prez often runs into fly trouble. Over the last four years he has had three interviews where flies attack.  Proof that what comes out of this man is pure BS????

 The rodents are coming out in support of gun proponents. (credit goes to Facebook for this picture.)

And here is an interesting picture that shows the highest area of gun violence seems to be areas with the strictest gun laws and the most democrats. 

Ok, enough of that talk for now.

Bookings are coming along. Our summer tour has us in TN, OH, IA, WV, AZ, CA, KY, and possibly MI as of right now. We are in talks with a couple of other states.   Quassy Amusement Park had inquired about having us back (they are in CT very close to Newtown).  They didn't like our prices and don't like us selling things to compensate for a lower rate so those talks fell apart.  They are sticking with local acts this year to save some doe.

 Above...Jim at the Iowa Convention in my costume balancing a girl.  Below...bored at the hotel prior to the convention Jim builds a monument.

Jim went to Iowa and was able to get us a very nice Iowa tour that will keep us in the Corn State for the full month of July. As always he was a popular guest at the convention and balanced everything he could find on his face.



My dear friends, JC Dunn and Bill Jackson, will do our yearly pilgrimage to the Magic Castle in Hollywood next week. We always have a good time and it's a great networking and marketing opportunity. And you can't ask for better travel companions.






Well, that's all I have got right now. Talk again soon!