family circus

when things got a little chaotic, my mom used to refer to our family as a three-ring circus sometimes when i was little.  she had no idea.

my friend mimi invited me to a circus party last night.  despite not knowing what that was (or perhaps *because* i didn't know what it was) i accepted.  it turns out that a travelling "radical circus" (for lack of better term, and to differentiate from animal-abusing circuses like the  shriner's circus) from milwaukee was passing through town.  they ended up staying at my friend's house because her roommate was friends with them, and they had tried to line up a show in flagstaff, but apparently flag's own "circus bachus" was unable to line up a proper show for them.  according to the circus people from milwaukee, circus bachus initially said they could do a house show at their house, but then changed that to "we're having a house party and you can come."  hence the circus party.

when i stepped into mimi's house, the circus party had already begun as far as i was concerned.  on top of the tv-less entertainment center was a cage with a rat in it.  zelda, according to the charming and flirty young woman (she made me an anarchist black star necklace out of a twist tie later that night) who was it's owner.  zelda was the only non-human member of the circus troupe.  however, as i went around the living room shaking hands, i soon met jugglers, musicians, magicians, and even a "boy-lesque" performer. 

as mimi and i attempted to bake some poppyseed muffins, we were so overwhelmed by jokes, loud balloons, and card and dice tricks that we could scarcely get out a measuring cup or find the salt.  going to the grocery store with the troupe was even more of a ... well, circus.  whether it was juggling oranges or balancing loaves of italian bread, the troupe never allowed for a dull moment in the store.  funny, i always figured that clowns would need some down time when they were off the clock.  not so, apparently - these kids just kept going like little energizer bunnies of radical circusdom.

sadly, there was no opportunity to see them officially perform.  however, i do think we got a pretty good show just by hanging out with them.