It's been a WHILE!!

Sorry all for the huge delay in writing the blog.  So much has been happening and we've been quite busy dealing with life as it comes!  Hopefully I remember all that has happened since the last time..
Firstly, I should explain the Visa situation.  We found out that Alex would not be able to receive a working visa, nor could she get a family reunion visa, so we were really left with no option but to send her home.  Overstaying a visa is not something we wanted to consider so she left promptly about 70 days into her 90 day allowance.  She has been at home for a while, adjusting to the time change, and the lifestyle change but doing well.  We also have been talking via Skype every night and things are good. The good side of her being home was that she got to see her brother, Tyler, play college baseball and see her younger sister, Sam, go to prom, as well as be home with the family for a while.

For me, things here have been good.  There have been some challenging times and some easy times but for now things are good. My dad and Deb came on Easter weekend!!  What great timing.  I was starting to feel a little homesick and needed a good break.  They came on a thursday and stayed until tuesday morning.  We had a great time.  It was the first time in Spain for both of them and we had a great weekend. They got to see the show, from the front row, and from backstage and got to meet most of the people I work with. 

On my day of we went to my favourite park, Casa de Campo.  We took the gondola to the middle of the park and walked back towards home, enjoying Sangria on a terrace too.   We got some dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, and had a great evening with a few drinks.  They left Tuesday morning, but luckily I was able to get Alex on the same plane home and they flew together.  Made the trip much easier for all of them I'm sure.

After everyone left my world changed...  It is quite a difference going from life on tour with someone to life on tour alone again.  There's no one at home when you're done work, no one to come to Sunday Brunch, and nothing to do in the morning...  On my day off I went into the Casa de Campo park again, which has become my new favourite place!!  Not only did I spend 6 hours walking through, I also stood below a tree during a huge thunderstorm with hail!!  It was one of the most powerful moments I can remember, and reminded me of canoe trips back when I was younger.  I took lots of pictures too, saw lots of birds, but one stands out as the most interesting bird I have seen here...  This is a Hoopoe.  A sort of mix between a woodpecker and a sandpiper.  He was very shy but for about 20 minutes he ate on the ground and I snuck up to him slowly.  Pretty amazing.

On May 5, I received an email that puts me in my new current position.  I was originally hired here on a temporary training contract.  It was originally only until the end of Vienna, however it was extended to encompass Madrid as well.  I have been training very well and my skills and performance have been gradually increasing.  It is hard to remember that I was only on a temp contract but the email reminded me of this and explained that after Madrid the contract is finished.  As of right now, on June 5, I'll perform the last show in Madrid and then head home for a while.  We do not know how long, nor when or if I'll be back.  I really love this show and the people here and will miss it so much.

Despite the news I have to keep training and I really want to.  I am getting better and would like to perform the full act before I go.  We have been working hard at it, and this is my new goal.  Everything is not completely set in stone and I am basically the first alternate for Planche.  There are much more decisions to be made but for now, this is what I know.

On a happier note, while here in Madrid I also had a chance to meet some extraordinary people.  Spain is all about football (soccer for the North Americans) and thus the players here are celebrities.  We have had numerous players come watch the show and in turn Real Madrid invited us to come see their practice and meet them afterward.  It was an amazing experience to see these professionals in their home, doing what they do best.  The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was huge!  It seats 80, 354 seated fans and it is monstrous!!  Not only did we sit in field-side seats but we also got a chance to go on the field and take photos with the players!  Of course, being part of UWO cheer, I needed a tuck picture.  I was able to get this photo, on the grass!!  After meeting with some of the players there, we left and they came to see the show 4 days later. Some of the players that came to the show were Pepe, Marcelo, Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso, and of course Cristiano Ronaldo!  Also Diego Forlan (best player of the 2010 World Cup) came to see the show.  These people came backstage afterward to meet us and we of course wanted to meet them too.  It has been quite crazy, but really great meeting all these people!

I think that about covers all the things going on now.  Alex is coming back soon with a friend to visit until the end of Madrid, so I am very excited about that!  Other than that, thing are quite normal here.  The show continues to be great and this week I am performing in all 10 shows.  I am currently writing this in between the two shows we have today!!

I hope everyone at home is having a good break from the cold weather and hopefully soon summer decides to kick in!  I miss everyone and may see you all soon!
'Til next time,
Aa

Ps. Please continue to keep our grandparents in your prayers.  Thanks!