I recently renewed my membership with the Association of Women Communicationsand am psyched to be back surrounding by such creative, supportive folks in their Freelance Austin group.
Summer stampede stalls to a stroll
Ah, there's that sweet summer smell of latex.
Did you know that when Edgar Ellington invented water balloons he was trying to solve ‘trench foot’, a disability that many soldiers acquired during WWI and WWII? And here’s what today’s people did with that invention.
Kickstarter’s concept of funding creative projects for artists, musicians, filmmakers and designers is brilliant. Here’s another great concept designed for writers. Writers pitch ideas, and readers vote on whether it should be published.
I’ve always had a thing for the circus. The color, the characters, the daring feats all mesmerize me. There’s something about the nomad lifestyle that calls to me. I realize it’s fantasy, a dreamlike production, that makes fulfilling the wanderlust so appealing to me. If I was part of the circus machine, I know the sheen would quickly fade, revealing the monotony of daily life.
Photo credit: Lone Star Circus School
I’ve done the flying trapeze, and loved it. What a rush. I got my circus fix for a second time by taking an aerial silk classes at the Lone Star Circus School. Who knew an aerobatic wonderland existed in a warehouse in the middle of Dallas? (well, in a suburb called Farmer’s Branch)
Amidst the trampolines, rings and raucous kids, hang hefty aerial silks (also called ribbons and tissues) in blues, reds and whites. Each is a unique two-way stretch polyester lycra, with different width, length and stretch. I watched the various class participants twist themselves amongst the fabric, engulfed in a childlike freedom.
My instructor Kelly Shea, instructor and Lone Star Circus performer patiently explained each move. A former ballerina and swimmer, Shea easily demonstrated each step, and gave positive critiques.
Some aerial silk tricks we practiced:
- climbing
- double tour
- egg
- handstand
- backpack
- arabesque
- starfish in the loop
And here’s a glossary of acrobatic terms. Check out the pros here.
Lone Star Circus School's Founder and Creative Director Fanny Kerwich
Eighth generation circus has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Africa, Russia, Canada, India, South America and the Caribbean. She founded the school in 2006.
The best part of aerial silk class was losing inhibitions, and getting a workout that didn’t involve a treadmill. Talk about a whole body workout. My muscles are sore two days later; Shea credited my decent performance with my gymnastics background.
I have to admit upside down handstands and arabesque do wonders for the ego, and gave me that graceful, circusy feeling. I’d trade aerial silk acrobatics to burn calories and develop a strong core to a sanitized gym any day.
Who knows, maybe my Water for Elephants moment is yet to come.
Shasta Nelson, GirlfriendCircles.com Founder
This is an interesting concept that matches new friends offline by connecting circles of women in your community.
Photo credit: KnittaPlease
The knit graffiti group credited with the birth of the international yarn bombing movement. What else is there?
B-I-N-G-O! Remember that popular elementary school song? What is it about the game that brings kids, retired vets and the gays together?
What? Yep. Last weekend a group of girlfriends gathered for a rousing game of B9, N12, mc’d with a drag queen and the whole ‘diva’ theme. Have you heard about Gay Bingo?
Funny thing, halfway through the game we realized that Gay Bingo winners weren’t winning by the standard diagonal, vertical or horizontal game. For a group of intelligent women, we were completely out of our element. In a good way!
I have a new respect for those retirement home powerhouse players who manage four cards at a time. No wonder things get heated! Mix in a Diana Ross tune and a blue metallic dress and you’ve got Gay Bingo. Check out the videos here.