My Coach's highest complement...

..."OH MY GOD, that was nice!" - Richie Gaona (July 18, 2010)



I also got a "Soooo much better Jen....Very Nice!" from Alex in the catch trap. Still need more practice to get back to the Board every time but I'm getting closer and closer with every practice.

A good day!

The Return of Greenie! July 13, 2010

After a 6 week absence, Ira's favorite toy (and best pal) Greenie returned. (I found him in a sneaker that apparently I haven't worn since May.) I think Ira likes greenie because he can bully him and greenie never talks back...

Murray's Abdominal Ultrasound - July 13, 2010

During Murray's annual "senior wellness" exam his vet ordered an abdominal ultrasound to further investigate a perceived mass found in his x-rays. What follows is the report from his radiologist...

"Murray was a perfect patient! (I beamed with pride when she told me this.) The ultrasound shows a small (2.5cm) right kidney, a larger (4.5cm) left kidney, but no mass in the abdomen. (FYI, normal feline kidneys range between 3.0cm and 4.0cm) Both kidneys show degenerative changes that are common in older patients, but based on blood and urine tests, they are functioning normally. The remaining organs, including the stomach and intestines, appeared normal. I did not identify a cause of his vomiting but suspect a food allergy."

In order to perform the scan, Murray had to have his belly shaved. We call it his "summer cut" and it should grow back in about 6 weeks. Right now, his belly is really soft! Here he is resting with his brother Ira...

Some close-up shots of Murray's "not quite six-pack" abs...

Muffin Top

Good to have my baby home and healthy. I love my boys!!

Day with Destiny - July 11, 2010

After trapeze, I drove with my friend Karen to visit her horses (she has 2) out in Simi Valley. She first introduced me to her beautiful, gentle 11 year old, gelding, Destiny...

We took a long hike up the ridge and back through the pasture. Destiny and I bonded quickly and soon we both were comfortable with me taking my very first bareback trail ride...(Karen stayed close and held an additional reign.)
Bareback atop Destiny, A most beautiful view...And feeling Grandpa's energy all around us
Catching up with the herd...
Beautiful Horse! Beautiful Sky! Beautiful Day!
Overwhelmingly Powerful Energy...standing in the middle of the herd.
Karen among the herd
DONKEY!
:)

More video from SKYDIVING!!!! June 19, 2010

Here's Richie's version of the day! Richie, Tad and I jumped while Brian was on the ground shooting video. Richie and his helmet cam, jumped right after me and captured really cool footage of his fly-by. Brian caught Richie's smooth landing...that's how it's done!

SKYDIVING!!!! June 19, 2010

My first time skydiving, a tandem jump with Joey @ SKYDIVE TAFT! I jumped with Richie and Tad. Here we are pre-flight...

Leveling out at 13,000ft. Almost time to jump...

I'm READY!

Moment of Truth!

Here we GO!

LEAP OF FAITH! Out of the plane...with Richie following.

Tumbling...

Tumbling...

Tumbling...in FREE FALL!!!

OPEN!!!

This is INCREDIBLE!

Loving every minute of it!

Richie does a fly-by!!!
Free Falling! I don't want this to end.

Born to FLY!

Born to FLY!

Here comes the 'chute!

Parachute deployed!

Gliding under the canopy...


Coming in for a landing...


LEGS UP! Touch down...





That was a BLAST!!!

WOW!

Thanks Joey!

AWESOME!!!

My Birthday Weekend - May 29-31, 2010

3 Days, 14 flyers, 25 Practice swings/tricks, 24 Tricks thrown to catch, 4 Board Buddies, 2 Special Guests, 2 Catchers, 1 Coach...Infinite Memories!!!

Day 1

Air Sisters!

Me, Meredith & Carol

First rip of the weekend...a Baby rip from falling out of my Uprise and peeling off the Bar.

After a wonderful BBQ at the Waldman's, flyers drove to Santa Monica to shake a monkey's hand for $1. Oleg loved my convertible.
Day 2

Flyers taping up and stretching...

Me and Master Trapeze Coach Richie Gaona

Chicks Fly! Judy, Amy & Me

Mica shows off her heart shaped rip while Terry ponders the mysteries of the Universe.

Mica *Hearts* Trapeze!!!

Mica and The WINNING RIP!!!! (And she kept on flying.)

Trapeze paparazzi...Meredith...

...Me...

...Meredith...

Special Guest Terry Cavaretta, the youngest girl to ever perform a Triple! Inspiring!!!
Practice Bar
Rest when ever and where ever you can - Me, Judy, Carol & Marisa
Rest when ever and where ever you can - Alex, Ruth, Rebecca & Denise
I knew that callous was going to go. A person could stand upright under that skin flap.
Hard core flying! Judy shows off her hard earned net burn and rip at Richie's flyer BBQ.
Relaxing at Richie's BBQ for flyers.
Day 3
Me and my Air Sister!
Amy's Grandma and I adopted each other.
Inspiration and coaching from the greats Terry and Jimmie Cavaretta!!! "Finish the 2, hold your 7, WAIT, WAIT, Kick back hard" and I'll make it back to the Board every time.
VIctory Pose! Amy's Hox Saulto Catch
Victory Pose! Anthony's Double Full Catch
Terry and Mica
Judy's Legs Catch Return
Victory Pose!
Taped up, grips secure and ready for one last round of hard core flying...

First Generation Trapeze
Celebrating great flying with Oleg
Wonderful to fly again with dear friends Amy & Anthony
Me and Meredith
It's great to have friends on the Board, Anthony & Ruth. Thanks for the "Grab & Scoop"!
With some of the Best Guys in Trapeze - Terry, Richie & Alex
3 days of hard core flying and my hands held up!

Richie was proud!
Flyers & catchers hands after 3 days!
We flew Hard! We Flew Strong! We Flew Safe!
A whole lot of hard core flying took place here...

...until we fly again, thanks for the memories!