Hocks Saultos are for the Beginning of a Class

[no vids this post, sorry, will put up regularly scheduled Tuesday videos tomorrow night]

Sunday...
Woke up early, though not as early as I was supposed to, walked Fiji, then raced down the bike path to flight class number 1 of the day, at Houston. Full class, and with the new setup, returns don't get many extra swings in, since first-timers don't practice on the low bar first... that was the only draw of knee-hang classes -- the extra turns during the first 20 minutes.
So I warmed up with 3 swings into a b/e split, then tried my mod once (although it ended up being a back hip circle, then shoot... could do that triple time if it's clean, I think), then a couple of cutaways, to brush up on a fun trick, and then, catch time, with the usual splits and planche...

I needed to conserve some energy, since I then got back on the bike, went over the Williamsburgh Bridge and over to Streb, where I played on the static bar for an hour or so, then hung with Fran and her crew, and joined them for brunch. I have to figure out how to get some footage of static -- I may need to bring a video camera and then edit it... but I tried some things, and have a couple of new ideas for the piece. Still, no way it will be done before Sunday. Hopefully, though, before I go to Israel.

Back on the bike to head home, and then, after a leisurely walk with Fiji, and picking up Things 1 and 2, it was back to Brooklyn for a serious fly class. Just three students, so plenty of turns (I counted at least 24). I played with my cut/catch, uprise mod, straddle whip, and layout, and then, when I was too tired to do anything else, had the brilliant idea of working on the Hocks Saulto, which I haven't done since September! First time was pretty decent, but a little travelly. The second was high, still had a bit of travel. Third didn't travel, but I stalled it. And the fourth, well, Ishould have quit while I was ahead... Totally stalled it out, and was coming down onto my head/neck. There wasn't enough room to shift, but fortunately Manny was on lines, and gae me a tug that, yes, did knock the wind out of me and made me hyper-arch my back, but totally saved me from a potentially life-threatening injury, so thank you so much Manny. I know that I scare the shit out of you sometimes, and that I sometimes push the envelope too far. Believe me that I only do that when I trust the instructors implicitly, and wouldn't have dreamed of throwing the Hocks Saulto if someone with your experience wasn't around.

But with a fistful of Aleve, and way too much Tiger Balm, I am not suffering any ill effects today, and will try next time to leave the big tricks for when I'm fresher.

And, Monday...
Thing 1 is off for three days with her class. We had an extremely moving and tearful parting this morning. Thing 2 was so sad, and cried a lot, saying that she'd miss her older sister, so I arranged a sleepover for her, since that would be the one thing that was cheer her up.

Went to dinner with Trapeze friends, and got some good news from two of them.

Can't wait to fly again tomorrow.
Peace.

ps Dino? I'll get to you eventually as well :-)