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Yay, performance break time is here!

It’s the end of the year for me. I always take off November and December off from hard training; I’ve done this since doing tris. I need a mental and physical break – I’ve got repetitive use injuries in my knees and I need to heal a bone spur.

I finished up my last marathon weekend as of yesterday. With a cold, no less.

First, I went up to Pittsburgh to visit my friend Janim and dance with Ishtar, and had a lovely time. Pittsburgh is a very cool city, and the community was supportive and interesting. I wish I had more of an opportunity to explore both, but due to time constraints I had to just stay the night. I hope to get back that way again in February!

I came back home early Saturday morning, arriving just in time to get some much needed time in with my bronchially-challenged DH, who had been sick since the beginning of the week. A couple hours later, I had to switch gears and get into Jazz Fusion mode to make my way up to Westminster for a benefit show, with 32 acts.

That’s right, 32.

I had a break with reality at some point in the night. At our post-show meal, I ended up completely loopy and tried to booth dance with my dance partners to the obnoxiously loud and excessively harmonizing house band.

So now, break time! No solo performances until January. Time to start watching others perform.

So I’m leaving for Asheville in the morning, to spend 4 days with my teacher, the divine Lisa Z, and Ava Fleming. This year, I’m taking my partner in crime, Scarlett, to spend four days of intensive concentration on performance and stage presence.

Last year was revelatory, so we’ll see what this year brings.

I’m leaving with a cold and a nearly broken toe. I dropped a giant porcelain plate on my foot a few nights ago and it shattered, leaving the entire top of my foot purple. I haven’t been able to practice because of this, and being so insanely busy trying to leave, so I don’t even have my piece ready. We’ll see how this goes.

I’ll be in Roanoke tomorrow night, stopping to hike the Appalachian trail a little, then to Asheville Friday afternoon. Friday through Monday I’ll be at the retreat, and will then recuperate at Keswick Hall at Charlottesville. Then it’s up to the caves and back home.

At least that’s the plan. We’ll see how much I actually do.