We got the extraordinary opportunity to go see the Cavalia horses today. Cavalia is a Cirque de Soleil show (you can see videos here: http://www.cavalia.net/en/cavalia-show/videos) that’s centered around horses. The show starts next week, and today was the day that the horses arrived in San Jose. My beloved friend Valerie had a media pass to attend the press junket they were holding, so the girls and I got to accompany her and her girls. She didn’t have a camera, so I was her photographer.

 

The show is about the evolving relationship between humans and horses, and the walk way is paneled with beautiful photographs.

The girls, in front of the tents.

After much anticipation, the truck arrived!

Zoe’s face as the first horse came out:

She was so excited she couldn’t even talk.  The riders brought out their horses to show everyone.

Each horse had cushioning on their legs, and covers over their tails so that they didn’t accidentally step on or pull out their tails while in the trucks.

Such a lovely mane!

Tiny comparing cowgirl boots with one of the riders.

 

Then we got to watch an exhibition!

Zoe watching the performance.

After the performance, we got to wander the stables, and the girls got to chat with some horses.

Much to Z’s surprise (and delight), this one tried to talk back.

Aren’t his braids lovely?

Tiny was infatuated with the miniature horse, and not surprisingly wanted to bring him home. She’s decided that her closet can be a stable.

It was such a wonderful adventure, and we all had a most marvelous time. Thank you so much to Valerie for making it possible!

It is 7:17 am and beautifully overcast.

Z is awake, and cuddling with B. He got home from a month long trip 3 days ago, and I think she’s still relieved every morning to find him home. Tiny’s still asleep, though she may have just woken up. I’m hearing noises that could be her, I suppose I’ll know in a minute.

I woke up at 6 am to go running. Yes, it’s possible I’ve lost my mind. Our stake Relief Society is doing a 5/10k run in September, and since I’ve recently been ranting about people not being willing to support activities when it would push them out of their comfort zone, I felt like I had to put my money where my mouth is. Or my feet. Or something. I’m using the Couch to 5K app, it’s pretty awesome, I recommend it.

We have kiddie art class this morning- the kids will be painting plates in the style of Guatemalan pottery. Exciting, yes?

I have a new inspiration board, since it’s July. Do you want to see it?

Running, planning for Tiny’s birthday, reading Twelfth Night (so I can go see the Shakespeare Santa Cruz production) and books about Tokyo (my current obsession), peonies (my new favorite flower), and stills from Melancholia- a film I watched while B was gone that I’m still thinking about. It was so good; devastating, but thought provoking, definitely not simple. I have an interpretation of it, but I’m going to have to watch it again to see if it holds.

We’ve been watching the BBC Sherlock- I really like it. I comment every time that I think that Benedict Cumberbatch (Bandersnatch?) has the best name ever. It makes me happy that Mark Gatiss is writing it, though it means no new Lucifer Box books any time soon, which is sad.

I’ve read a bunch of books since I last posted:

Mitz: The Marmoset of Bloomsbury by Sigrid Nunez – A lovely biography of Virginia and Leonard Woolf’s marmoset. Really.

Book of Proper Names by Amelie Nothomb – An odd, but lovely, little book about a very little girl with a very destiny-making name.

The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa – This collection of novellas is disconcerting and compelling, in all the best ways.

Drinking with Dead Women Writers by Elaine Ambrose and AK Turner – This had a great concept, but the execution was rough, a lot of the “stories” felt like fictionalized encyclopedia entries, with the authors backing off and “changing the subject” right when things could have gotten interesting. It felt like the authors were afraid to put words in the dead women writer’s mouths, which is unfortunate, seeing as that’s the premise of the book.

Frommer’s Tokyo by Beth Reiber – Who knew that guide books could be fascinating? I want to go get a bunch of guide books now and read up on a bunch of different places. I actually think it would be a great approach for homeschooling lessons on geography when Z is older.

Tokyo on Foot: Travels in the City’s Most Colorful Neighborhoods by Florent Chavouet – This book is so awesome; the artist spent 6 months in Tokyo while his girlfriend was there on an internship, and rode around the streets on a bike, drawing things. He goes neighborhood by neighborhood, and the illustrations are lush and interesting.

I’m still reading Charmed Circle: Gertrude Stein and Company, and will be reading it until I die. But it’s interesting and well written, so it’s not a bad way to die.

I’m also starting At Home in Tokyo by Gwen G. Robinson, which looks utterly fascinating.

Now it’s 7:52, Z is playing a folder game, B is packing up his stuff for work, and Tiny is still asleep. I suppose I should get the day started. What are you doing at this moment?