I have been *craving* a private dance area which is safe, contained and super close. I know I probably could blindfold myself and hoop at a local park, but some part of me hesitates since there is always some energetic dodging necessary even with open eyes with all the homeless people and others who approach. My livingroom would be too chancey blindfolded, with the tv and electronics so close. Kramer and I looked at a new apartment last week and are applying... I'm keeping my fingers crossed! It has both a small private backyard and a private contained rooftop deck surrounded by 8 foot walls! For me this would be a delicious gift.

My attenion spans for drills has suddenly disappeared over the last two weeks. I have been playing with mastery of shoulder duck outs on either shoulder in both directions. A lot of head bumping has resulted! But it has been fun. Also bringing my feet into the dance more. Also inspired by Beth who does a wicked "up the chest roll" (which I still can't get) but from attempting, I came up with this vertical chest roll to down the back of the spine, to a jump through from behind. Kind of an odd move, but something about it feels satisfying. Having fun with isolations while still dancing with the rest of my body, which is a fun challenge. Still working on barrell rolls with snake to vertical isolations where my head peeks out and looks through (a la Ann). Trying to increase my flexibility with behind the neck passes, which seem fluid in one direction but hiccup in the other. Two songs which I have been playing a LOT during practice are: Namoh Namoh by Daler Mehndi and Stars by Manou Gallo ... they have really been sweeping me into the zone.

I can't wait for BAH today! It has been a few weeks since I have played with the community and it will be fun.

I've been swinging back towards my daily tall green blended drinks, mega salads and lots of water. Kind of astounded how much kale I consume on a daily basis now.. at least 1.5 heads! Am I turning green inside? Obviously something is detoxing. Plouts, nectarines and peaches are so deliciously juicey and abundant right now, with such rich reds, oranges and yellows that I have been having them daily. The ripe strawberries are still hanging on as well, even though the season is passing. Yum!

I've also been trying to get back to long daily walks, where I can be in the trees or along the water while listening to books on tape or Agape CDs.. what a wonderful feeling of connection. Feels like my human spacesuit is changing shape again, as it often does, from more raw foods and movement. Contracting a bit from it's expansion during the last month which had so much seated work at the computer.

Performed at Ruby Skye last night... huge crowds! It was fun. Lots of old friends among the go-go dancers and trapeeze artists upstairs, which was nice. They also ripped out that gross carpet with layers of glitter and muck from the dressing room and replaced it with kitchen style moppable flooring. Nice. The crowds were unusually responsive too... probably had something to do with the fact that they cleared the whole stage for performances and used a spotlight (aside from cramming me in the corner as usual and using more dim light) It is so nice to feel so easily confident about being on stage. Geez, Ruby Skye is old hat now, even with 1200 people. I am grateful that it is so easy to just hop up there and rock out. I just stand by the side, do my dancing to get into the dj's groove and go for it.

I've had to let go of some ego resistance. I can't do all the super tricky stuff I do with my normal hoops since the led hoops I use weigh and perform so differently from mine. I actually am not a fan of having to use them since I have my own unlit favorites, but a girl has got to do what a girl has got to do. I suck in my attitude and give it up for the crowd with what I can muster with them. Instead of tricky tricks I focus on really dropping into the dance (even if the hoop orbits my waist for much of the time), smiling, interacting with and working the crowd and just exuding an aura of fun sensuality. Despite not even beginning to reach the bare minimum of a truely deep and complex hoop experience for me, people were still screaming their heads off with "Oh my God!" resounding again and again from the women pressed against the stage. So it was a good night at work. I am excited to truely rock out today in my own personal practice and then BAH, though.

I also want to take a moment and send some props out to my mom, Athena. She is pictured in today's blog in blue along with Candice in pink. She moved to San Francisco recently and I have been really enjoying having her be in my life in a bigger way. My mom took the HoopGirl Teacher Training this past weekend and it was a remarkable experience to be able to share something that holds so much passion for me, with her. It was an interesting turn-around, to be facilitating for my own mom, but it all was so revealing and wonderful. I feel so blessed that she is so open and willing to try something brand new and take risks. She is so beautiful! Even though her own hoop practice is just birthing, she was so present and open to learning on so many levels. It is really great to have a mom like this. Thank you!

So many things to be thankful for, really. I am so grateful for forward momentum, the gift of friends, the love of hooping and all the blessings which surround me! Thank you thank you thank you for the huge career opportunities which are now unfolding for me which may allow me to directly teach hooping to millions of people! Thank you for the wonderful fitness industry which has so enthusiastically embraced me and my work and sent such wonderful mentors my way who share a sincere love of hoopdance. Also, I am grateful for all the Whirly Girlz, especially Jasmine and Candice who have become close friends, and for Beth and the Hoop Path folks in North Carolina. I am grateful for the huge web of connections which I have been creating with hoopers and aspiring hoopers across the whole globe! I really feel connected to a huge web of remarkable people who are sharing a lot of light and goodness. Yahoo! Life is good.