January 10th, 2023

This past Saturday was Minock Day!  Woohoo!  Always one of the BEST days!

We met up in Palmetto to see a performance of Cirque Italia!  I had never heard of them and assumed (though one should never) that it was one of the many regular Cirque du Soliel Shows.  We have seen a number of different Cirque du Soliel Shows, one in Denver in a tent but the rest were on various visits to Las Vegas.  They are always pretty amazing.

 Cirque Italia is not affiliated with Cirque du Soliel.   But yes, there are some similarities.    Both are wildly entertaining.  Both have  amazingly talented performers from all over the world and they both were inspired by the idea of a Circus.

But Cirque du Soliel began in 1984.  Cirque Italia first began performing in 2012. Cirque Italia wanted to bring a new look to the old fashioned idea of an antique Barnum and Bailey type Circus (without the animals).  Cirque du Soliel is all about being inovative and modern, contemporary and new, maybe even a little futuristic.  Italia is all about the past.  And oddly, that makes it very refreshing. 

There was definitely a vintage feel to the event, from the costuming to the music to the actual acts themselves.  It was, almost, like watching a two hour long version of the Ed Sullivan show (remember that?) only much, much more.  Their press says that it is a European style Circus. Having never seen a European Circus (as far as I know) I will have to take their word for it.  Whatever style it is, I vote resoundingly YES!

There was interaction with the audience, pratfalls, silly fun, death defying acts, gravity defying performances, sparkles and spangles.  We were surrounded by balloons, popcorn and candy apples.  Arrows were fired, people swung through the air or balanced on chairs and each other, there were dancers and unicycles and giant robots!  There were fountains and waterfalls and running gags.   We laughed, we gasped and we applauded over and over and over.  Two hours could have felt like an eternity but, instead,  it flew by far too quickly!  

For us, obviously, getting to have some Minock time was just icing on the cake.

In short, we had a wonderful time and we recommend Cirque Italia highly. They do tour around the US so if you have the opportunity to see them, consider it.  It was awesome!  

Keeping within the theme but earlier that same day, I tried to do my own home version of a Cirque Italia act.   Well not really.  Their performances are intentional. Mine was utterly by accident.    Let me set the scene for you.  I am at the kitchen sink, rinsing dishes and then putting them into the dishwasher.  The dishwasher is on my immediate right.  The door of the dishwasher, of course, is open because I'm loading it.   Funny things are being said to my left, so, instinctively, I turned that way, laughed and then turned back to my right to complete my task.

Apparently, when I first turned left, I took a teensy tiny step back without realizing it because when I shifted to the right,  instead of being beside the open dishwasher, instead I was, suddenly,  on it and then on the ground.  Yup crashed into (and onto)  the open door and then face planted onto the floor.   It happened so very fast that I don't really remember it.  First I was standing and then I was on the floor, certain that I had, once again, broken my nose.  (I did not by the way).

I stayed on the floor for a few minutes, attempting to gather my wits about me.  Tim leaned over me asking if I was all right.  The first thing I said was, "What a dumbass" in reference to myself. Who is that ridiculous?  I mean, other than me.  I am an accident waiting to happen at all times.

After the applications of multiple ice packs and a bit of rest, I pulled myself together,  we headed out and tremendously enjoyed the performance and the company of our dear friends.  But I'm telling ya, the next day I was so sore!  Shins, knees, ribs, hands and face. Shockingly few bruises,  mostly just the blackeyes,  thank goodness, and nothing appears to be broken, other than the door of the dishwasher, may it rest in peace.

I honestly thought the dishwasher was totalled but as it turns out, if you close it Just  Right, it  still works.  Tim has it doing a trial run right now to check for leaks.   So far, So good. Whew!

So there you have it!  Great Excitement! Terrific Evening.  Wonderful Company!  But from now on, I think I will leave the acrobatics to Cirque Italia.