This Saturday

The usual Saturday morning session will not be held this Saturday, Sept 29th.  We are all going down to Philly Fest!  Feel free to join us down in the city for a day of open Juggling and an evening of wonderful performances.  For more information see the Philadelphia Jugglers and the festival page.

No practice sessions for Thursday, 10/6 and Saturday, 10/8

(Sorry, I should have posted this several days ago.  But anyway...)

West Chester Friends is having an art show that will take over the gym beginning Thursday evening and lasting until sometime Sunday. 

So we won't have access to the facility.  (I've seen the artwork that's going on display.  Trust me, you don't want to get a juggling club within 30 feet of this lovely stuff!!)

Schedule should return to normal on Thursday, October 13th.

A DVD for dealing with "Numbers Envy"

It's happened to most of us -- and happens to me on a regular basis it seems:

You're performing for friends or family or whatever and just getting into the good stuff when someone innocently asks you, "So, how many can you do?"  (Meaning "How many objects can you juggle at the same time?" of course.) And if the answer is less than twelve or so, you might start to feel inadequate.  I know I do...

But we all know that juggling as entertainment goes 'way beyond simple counting.  There are creative and artistic elements to juggling as performance -- and (my opinion!) nothing does a better, more concise, more entertaining job of pointing this out than the IJA's tape of The Beauty of 3-Ball Juggling. 

I now have DVD copies of this tape, which is no longer available through the IJA.  And they're available for the ridiculously low price of $8.00.  Cash only -- no muskrat pelts will be accepted at this or any other time. 

Those of us who have been involved with juggling for a decade or more will certainly recognize many or even most of the performers -- and that alone makes this video fun to watch. 

Some of the tricks shown are fairly easy to understand and include in your repertoire.  Others are mind boggling -- but intriguing to watch.  All of them are (to me) inspiring and open avenues for future work and development. 

The quality of the video is somewhat degraded, and the colors are a bit washed out.  But the tricks themselves and the performers are completely recognizable and the audio is perfectly fine. 

Please let me know if you're interested in a copy by catching me at a THJ practice or e-mailing me at GotaJugl@msn.com. 

Autism Awareness Duct Tape Bracelets

Hey all! I'm making duct tape bracelets for Autism Awareness (April is Autism Awareness month.) The bracelets are $3 each, and ALL the proceeds will go to this great organization called Autism Speaks. I'll bring some with me to the gym, and will be selling them over the next few weeks. So let me know if you want one!

My Website!

Hey everyone! I just thought I'd share the link to my new website. It's still a bit under construction, but better than it was on day one. (Yesterday)

http://ihaveaspergers.webs.com

Check it out!

(I know this doesn't have anything to do with juggling, but I DID mention my cup stacking on the site!)

Branin Juggling on Youtube

Hey All, I've finally gotten this video onto YouTube. It's been a learning experience. Copyrights? Who knew? Anyway, it's not all that I wanted it to be, but it could still be the first step on the road to my 15 minutes of fame. Now you have to do your part: pass it along to all your friends and relations and point out that the deeply textured camera work and intricate story line will richly reward multiple viewings. Search for Mr. Boyd at Ski Sawmill or use the URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HvlJ2ve8jc

Oh yea, do we still use this blog, or did we move on to something else? I do so try to keep up. I guess I'll know when I don't get my 15 minutes of fame.

Running Away With the Circus Blog

Ever wondered what it's like to run away with the circus? Now you can find out by following Shana Kennedy's blog "Running Away With the Circus", in which she chronicles her family's experiences as her husband, juggler Greg Kennedy, tours with Cirque du Soleil's show Totem.

Juggling Resolutions

As 2010 concludes, I've been thinking about some of the juggling progress I've made over the past year. I've also contemplated the goals I made but did not attain. Did you meet the juggling targets you set for yourself in 2010? Or, as in my case, did gravity alter the trajectory of your intentions?

If you attend our session at the gym on New Year's Day, kindly contribute to my research by letting me know of your juggling-related aspirations for 2011. If you consent, I'll post them on the blog. If you can't make it, note yours in a comment to this post. It's a personal issue but I assure my interest is magnanimous, to support the exchange of expertise and juggling growth among all club members in 2011.

Claymotion Primer

I was introduced to Claymotion juggling during the last Phillyfest. If you're like me and you've forgotten what you learned, here's a great online primer.

THJ Practice on Christmas and New Year's Day

Well, once every seven years or so (on average), the aforementioned two holidays fall on Saturdays. And -- lucky us -- this is the year!

I'm inclined to cancel the THJ practice session on these two days, unless some member of the THJ Executive Committee feels they'd like to have a session and is also ready to supervise the gym at that time.

(Having a session on Thanksgiving is something of an annual tradition for us, since it always happens on a Thursday [i.e., a practice day], but these sporadic dates are something different...)

So, unless you see a further posting on this subject, please note that there won't be sessions on either of these days.

Hoping that the holiday season is bringing you happiness and continued good health.

Throwing, with Accuracy

If you think juggling requires precision throwing, check out this related activity.

You Gotta Love This!

Ellen has provided us with a wonderful example of a discipline closely related to juggling called "Rhythmic Gymnastics." It's a full-blown Olympic event, but rarely if ever gets shown on US television -- which is really unfortunate. As I think you'll agree after watching this video.

I hope someone smarter than I am about these things can get a better copy of the video uploaded -- since Ellen sent this to several of us at a much higher resolution. But this will give you the basic idea... (Adam, can you help here?)

THJ Cards -- I finally thought of this...

We've had "business cards" available for our club for years. The cards list our website name, so folks can look us up on-line. And the website lists the "when and where and how to get there" of our practice sessions, links to reputable prop vendors, other links to "how to juggle" pages, and so forth. All good stuff.

The main supply of these cards has been sitting in a box in my desk for years. Where they don't do anyone any good at all... So I finally figured out that, if I leave a supply of them in our cabinet at the gym, people who needed some could take them.

(Pretty clever, eh?)

And I will do that this very afternoon. And they will be in a yellow envelope labeled "THJ Cards." So, during the next gym practice you're attending, if you'd like a few for friends, family, or your adoring audience, you can take them!!

And, by the way, these cards fit perfectly in a 3-1/2-inch floppy disk holder. Keeps them nice and clean and flat and straight. And I think I have a few of those disk holders sitting around here somewhere. Somewhere... (They're getting harder and harder to find in stores!)

So if you'd like to have a floppy disk holder to hold your THJ cards, please ask me to track down my supply of them. And I'd be happy to oblige.

Starting a juggling club in Oswego, NY

Hi Everyone-

It's been a while since I was last at practice, so I decided to start a juggling club up here in the great white north! There was a club based out of SUNY Oswego that is now inactive, and I was planning on reactivating it. Any suggestions? Most of the people that I have talked to that expressed interest haven't juggled before. I'm hoping that I can attract at least one or two more experienced jugglers to help me teach everyone (I've already started teaching a few people, but I don't know if I could do it in a group!). I really miss the feel of this club, so I'd like to model mine after the Turks' Head ^_^

I *really* miss juggling with all of you!!

Love,
~Katie

Saturday Sessions at the Courthouse

So, we've come up with a schedule for Saturday practices at the Chester County Courthouse (which is located at the corner of High and Market Streets in the very center of West Chester). Easy parking which is free on Saturdays. Coffee shops nearby. What else could you ask for?

The sessions are scheduled for the third Saturday of each month as follows:

-- Saturday, April 17th.

-- Saturday, May 15th.

-- Saturday, June 19th. (World Juggling Day! Be there!!)

-- Saturday, July 17th.

-- Saturday, August 21st.

-- Saturday, September 18.

Hope to see you there for all of these dates!!

Club Discount

Just to let you guys know... we have signed up with YoYoSam for a club discount. Just use the code TURK21 at checkout and you will recieve 10% off your order and Turks Head will recieve a credit for 10% too! It's a win win win situation

8 Reasons Normal People Should Juggle

More reasons to juggle, contributed by a friend. I like "#2 Got the Hunchies?"

"The average person spends 312 hours per day at a computer." Not physically possible, but I bet other desk jockeys would agree some Mondays do feel like 13 in a row.

Results from Cup-Stacking Championships

Drumroll please!



To make a long story short, 1st place in all four events in my age division, once again.

Plus I won 2 raffle prizes (with only 6 tickets to win with).

Beat my cycle time from last year by about a full second.

And no news about any new records just yet.

The bad news is that there were a lot of mean people there, this year. One girl even said that someone's time was "horrible", as they walked up to get a medal for their placing in their division. Her mother, not much nicer herself, kept telling her what she was doing that was wrong.

But, despite the poor sportsmanship from these people, there were a few that stood out (to me) for trying their best, and just giving it a go. And I applaud those people for an attitude that makes the world go 'round. No names, just fond memories.

Cup Stacking State Championships- Sat. 11/21

Ok, so a few of you may already know this, but I have registered (or will at the door) to participate in the PA state championships for cup stacking. Last year, I brought home four 1st place medals, AND the state record (still standing) for my age division, meaning I'm putting a TON more pressure on myself already!

And I already half broke another glow-in-the-dark cup! (I break them when I get nervous and frustrated, usually on my table at home)

So, here's hoping that the remaining cups will stay in one piece, and the half broken one (the crack hasn't gone all the way through to the other side) will stay intact for practice until Saturday.

For Saturday, I plan to use my REALLY good cups, in hopes that I do not break THEM during the competitions.

ANYWAYS (NOW I'M REALLY SHOUTING) Any positive thoughts sent my way will be much appreciated, as I'm having trouble sending them to myself.

I will now go have some of my dog's Valium. :P

Who am I kidding, I need to PRACTICE!!!!!!!!!

A Juggling Store in Wilmington!

There is now a juggling store within easy driving distance -- where you can actually pick up the props you're thinking of buying and make sure they're what you want.

The store is called Yoyosam, and its street address is 2501 West 3rd Street in Wilmington. Zip is 19805, and the telephone number is 302.352.1843.

And, of course, they have a website: www.yoyosam.com from which you can join their mailing list. Or order on-line.

I visited the shop a couple of weeks ago, and was impresssed. They are set up to do most of their business via internet, but are happy to see human beings walk in. But they suggest you call ahead of time just to make sure that someone's there.

They stock all sorts of "this may be hard to learn, but well worth the effort" type things, like yo-yo's, juggling equipment, flower sticks, diabolos, disc golf stuff, footbags, kites, etc.

They handle the full line of Higgins Brothers juggling props, plus Sundia diabolos, Crystal Stix, Luna Stix, contact juggling balls, and more. Their in-house selection of clubs is somewhat modest, but high quality stuff.

Where they see the opportunity to make their own props (like really nice juggling balls and 4" diabolos), they do so -- and offer truly amazing prices. Amazing compared to most other on-line, well-known juggling brands.

So, if you're in the market for new props, I strongly recommend you visit the website and maybe take some time to drive down to Wilmington. Or just give them a call and ask about what they've got in stock.

It ain't far, and could well be worth your time.