nixtress's Diaryland Diary

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Circus, circus

This will be number one of two entries for tonight. Too much to stuff into one.
The circus was an experience. We got up early and headed out, stopping for breakfast at Denny's (which I'll never, ever do again. It sucked.) and then making our way to Cleveland.
I'd never been to the Gund and was interested just to see the structure itself. Having left so early, parking was easy to find and very near the building. In fact, there was an empty lot just across the street from Gund Arena that was empty and affordable. We explored the exterior a bit and I got the joy of watching my sons respond to the giant buildings in Cleveland. They were so funny. One of the reasons we left as early as we did was because it had said on the 'Net that if you got there early, people could go down into the three rings and interact with the clowns and other acts. However, the gates didn't open until an hour before the show began so we had some fun standing in line and waiting. The boys got a little fidgety but nothing that wasn't easily managed.
Once we got inside, the boys spent 45 minutes watching the elephants, trying on clown outfits, learning how to juggle and laughing their little butts off at the antics of all the performers. Ryan was quite taken with one particular clown, a dward in a backwards ballcap.
The show was nifty, with all the typically nifty circus things: acrobats and Chinese gymnasts, clowns galore and elephant acts, horses and trapeze acts. The boys loved the daredevil motorcyclists and the upside down clowns (yes, upside down as in hanging from the ceiling. Somehow they managed to juggle upside down, pour water upside down and STAY upside down!) as well as the magician and the highwire act.
It was interesting to note that this Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus was different in a major way than the one I remember as a kid. I don't know if it's due to the success of Cirque Du Soleil or what but they really tried to juice it up with light effects, smoke and added drama.
The kids were hysterical. I laughed at their laughter, at their basic joy in being children. I think we enjoyed it for different reasons but enjoy it we did.
N.

8:30 p.m. - 2004-10-25

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