tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90740650459016794372024-03-19T15:28:31.247-04:00Bonko BlogThe rants and raves, quips and quibbles, meditations and deliberations of Aaron Bonk, Object Manipulation Specialist. Juggler. Stilt Walker. Fire Dancer. Whip Artist.Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-27873153090736832402011-12-21T20:00:00.000-05:002012-01-03T16:56:07.681-05:00Performer Spotlight<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;font-size:130%;">i’ve decided to start a series of blogs spotlighting performers who have had a particular impact on my life. my own performance heroes, for one reason or another. it is going to take a while. like many endeavors upon which i embark, it will probably never be complete. nonetheless, it is a worthy cause. each person mentioned will, of course, deserve more from me than some little mention on a personal blog site that very few people actually bother to read, but it’s my way of saying thanks. thanks for being awesome in my eyes and for being you.</span></p>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-3718928175428410972011-12-21T18:41:00.004-05:002011-12-21T18:52:35.571-05:00Performer Spotlight 1 - Sora Sol<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOs-MoVvrkvVafcehVGSkQZ59Fwc7OVEOhRQErGLdi-YoKGcyggDxJDx6Alv4Q1P6LIb2A4okiLq4MBZQpJqT9qDQgzSWfbSvd18I0pV3sFuLR9qeNJqyJOf3P35wHVJTc9SajiNT01So/s1600/Sora+in+Chains.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOs-MoVvrkvVafcehVGSkQZ59Fwc7OVEOhRQErGLdi-YoKGcyggDxJDx6Alv4Q1P6LIb2A4okiLq4MBZQpJqT9qDQgzSWfbSvd18I0pV3sFuLR9qeNJqyJOf3P35wHVJTc9SajiNT01So/s400/Sora+in+Chains.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688733291716957506" /></a><div><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Heather “Sora Sol” Iriye is my hero and one of my favorite people in the world. she is Aerialist, Dancer, Artist. Sora practices her art with ferocious dedication, strong-willed determination and impassioned self-critique. her routines are the movement-based manifestation of her passion for life and all the contents of her heart. she demands perfection of herself, almost to a fault. yet she approaches every other person and situation with tolerance, compassion and love. she is a constant reminder that i should strive to do so as well.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">a few years ago, i had the honor of sharing a stage with Sora in a show that we produced together and it remains to be one of my favorite performance experiences ever. when the time is right, i know we will do so again and every fiber of my existence is looking forward to that day.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">go to her website, watch her videos, go to her shows. if you have the good fortune, spend some time with and get to know her--your life will be better for it.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.PassionateSky.com/">www.PassionateSky.com</a></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Sora Sol, thanks for being you.</span></span></p></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-38191195758863377192011-01-14T20:31:00.004-05:002011-01-14T20:46:04.125-05:00addicted to crack...<div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...ing whips. terrible, i know, and of course i mean the pun. anyway, a few months ago i commissioned a matched set of two 4-foot red and black nylon bullwhips (seen below) from </span></span><a href="http://metrowhips.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Steven Susanka</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> at </span></span><a href="http://metrowhips.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Metro Whips</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. his work is awesome; go to his website; spend money there. these are now my favorite whips to use. i got shorter ones so i could use them in a tighter street setting and have been meaning to put them in the show for a while now. finally, in the last show i did on this past new year’s eve, i whipped ‘em out and went at it (so to speak). with no prepared schtick and just the desire to do something out of routine for my last show of the year, i showed the crowd what i’ve been practicing, ending with a simplified version of the </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_UegNWo93M&feature=related"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Queensland Crossover</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (think crazy, cross-handed flailing and lots of cracks). i had fun an</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">d the crowd seemed to dig it, too. good way to end the year.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">whips have fascinated me for as long as i can remember and i SO enjoy playing with them. been starting to get the 2-handed volley and i’m rather excited about that. don’t know what that is? here’s a link to my newest hero, </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1UbT2Lhj20&feature=BF&playnext=1&list=QL&index=1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Adam Winrich</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, explaining the </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1UbT2Lhj20&feature=BF&playnext=1&list=QL&index=1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">volley</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. he is a whip god.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">so, if you catch the show sometime this year, look for whips to play a bigger role. yeah, they hurt, but i kinda like it. wink wink, nudge nudge...</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3JgLxRvzscZFQb9KtDsyOe_wbgRJXp8QWDP9ItWfCpSxJvmAm6u00MTAWqbvxkU-i6-I8CO8M0rwa2l81_eOyXVIWiRDQDl3G3_cCHRdoyYaBjPGqD-HmHDE5gd8nXBY5cK8xdn5q-w/s400/IMG_1023.PNG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562220315714081618" /></span></span></p></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-35525891106996585532010-10-07T22:43:00.005-04:002011-12-21T19:14:35.394-05:00marco! photo!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">this past August, while I was performing on the 17th Street Stage in Virginia Beach, this guy stopped by my show and took some cool photos. his name is Marco and he has one of my favorite business cards ever. you're going to have to go meet him to see it, but here are some of the shots he took. please check out his professional photography sites here:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.dreamdeveloperphoto.com/">www.dreamdeveloperphoto.com</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.dreamdeveloperphoto.com/blog">www.dreamdeveloperphoto.com/blog</a></span></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OzoPhE4N4M4BpR_Q_xoGnQpOZnLHvozZ2NKOowAdf6JtUYtTJLVrdVUBTFlCRnzGz0bxifhJSKXqVl6o8vtbiJZEMPSLxj06N4ywX5shccalsZhzsz-egZwHNjlIo4IFIBwML-qzaG0/s1600/at+the+beach-16.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OzoPhE4N4M4BpR_Q_xoGnQpOZnLHvozZ2NKOowAdf6JtUYtTJLVrdVUBTFlCRnzGz0bxifhJSKXqVl6o8vtbiJZEMPSLxj06N4ywX5shccalsZhzsz-egZwHNjlIo4IFIBwML-qzaG0/s400/at+the+beach-16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525503440347310898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirb02znEFhxOs6sGSAtVs51Tdba-tanxeodM5h8cntaSq4VO86AnEeSDBQEdhGPaqD3r3Bq-l-Ftc-z2mhbp9bcT9IuOGZboeFoV9_G8647HSMPdfKrPVcpzP8DB_qtKmnVUiSxO-Ek0U/s1600/at+the+beach-15.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirb02znEFhxOs6sGSAtVs51Tdba-tanxeodM5h8cntaSq4VO86AnEeSDBQEdhGPaqD3r3Bq-l-Ftc-z2mhbp9bcT9IuOGZboeFoV9_G8647HSMPdfKrPVcpzP8DB_qtKmnVUiSxO-Ek0U/s400/at+the+beach-15.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525503434709342658" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cZFRTQnZUR7lryCnEy9KDTP32PiZaR3WzzhkZEH3Em1R9t9QqBcv2INyJWUUtnilB_8oT4L_mtiBQfyr41MYvropcUWUQQWqhE7-bWoESyBOen8ugclu0h2QKo1XR10W5DLaq3PMhxk/s1600/at+the+beach-13.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cZFRTQnZUR7lryCnEy9KDTP32PiZaR3WzzhkZEH3Em1R9t9QqBcv2INyJWUUtnilB_8oT4L_mtiBQfyr41MYvropcUWUQQWqhE7-bWoESyBOen8ugclu0h2QKo1XR10W5DLaq3PMhxk/s400/at+the+beach-13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525503080193771026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NV5b2JGCp4_oUhTGUziS9rlOrpq3J5lJ5HlBgH3cwfdyVWBYVK0Eq9Njt09w96GL1b-o2oSk2DwDxui4oKR038tmrakNIePuYIMTdrFo0ubVwckCCy-yqVnrEQv1X_Dmdjo98A0kbDs/s1600/at+the+beach-12.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NV5b2JGCp4_oUhTGUziS9rlOrpq3J5lJ5HlBgH3cwfdyVWBYVK0Eq9Njt09w96GL1b-o2oSk2DwDxui4oKR038tmrakNIePuYIMTdrFo0ubVwckCCy-yqVnrEQv1X_Dmdjo98A0kbDs/s400/at+the+beach-12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525503073349515138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgFoc3MrJ1OIKIso0lF8PuBK5TnSX-68f54eZEI0WgnbVdlzf-WBtCxRK7Uhk9v-z6I-jCAy4BCMrWf8ul7mfVMolCrt4jXuAvnJoloD37cqENyOLG15zajMx6padP8wulQmX0P32eww/s1600/at+the+beach-7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgFoc3MrJ1OIKIso0lF8PuBK5TnSX-68f54eZEI0WgnbVdlzf-WBtCxRK7Uhk9v-z6I-jCAy4BCMrWf8ul7mfVMolCrt4jXuAvnJoloD37cqENyOLG15zajMx6padP8wulQmX0P32eww/s400/at+the+beach-7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525503064521542706" /></a>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-24983962186488580742010-08-04T03:09:00.003-04:002010-08-04T03:37:50.270-04:00test<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">after taking over 7 months to write a blog, i knew i either needed to come back with something monumentally important or ridiculously trivial. the "important" thing was way too much pressure. so, here's the triviality:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qqsRGoRV7wLJiA8X-MYpnzzFc2Ro1T-7IFTxDCgSHIEbcGDsP411ppEVomqKUTF2AQhRjAf9pULqKgDvu0B50RDAnU7Ulr4QFCbIvdhJ8CixctAPPmgBhrvXc-Xd6t2Mir-beDVCCfM/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qqsRGoRV7wLJiA8X-MYpnzzFc2Ro1T-7IFTxDCgSHIEbcGDsP411ppEVomqKUTF2AQhRjAf9pULqKgDvu0B50RDAnU7Ulr4QFCbIvdhJ8CixctAPPmgBhrvXc-Xd6t2Mir-beDVCCfM/s400/IMG_1520.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501448777396521202" /></span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">this picture is of a test. first, a little context. i went to see </span><a href="http://www.zachdeputy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Zach Deputy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> play some astonishingly good music at Doc Taylor's Cafe in Virginia Beach last week. he really deserves his own blog entry, but he's probably not going to get one here. just go see him, be amazed and dance to the phat groove.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">when i stepped into the men's room to "shake hands with the senator," i saw this: a soaking wet dollar bill on top of the urinal. you may not recognize it as such, but this is a test. sure, it may have accidentally fallen there, but i believe it was placed there as a question to any who would step up to the porcelain princess that night. the question, of course, being "how much is a dollar worth to you?" it is soaking wet, but there is no way to tell if it is just water or otherwise. your primary nature upon seeing the dollar is to get excited that you found it and then pick it up. the hesitation comes with the location and circumstance. do you just walk away and leave it like a decent human being or do you give in to the greed and hope that it is just water, or, failing that, hope that you are able to wash the bill and your hands to a convincible level of clean? rough call for some. times are tough. had it been a fiver, i think it would have already been gone. but there it was, a simple test for any man who passed through the pisser.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i won't say whether i took it, but i will say this: thank god they stocked the soap.</span></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-64854420802056015582009-12-26T01:28:00.006-05:002009-12-26T02:20:57.020-05:00practice space<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">it is the bane of the existence of every juggler. the constant question in the appraising look in our eyes as we turn them upward, at the ceiling of every room. the impassioned longing that fills us at the sight of a warehouse, church or gymnasium. it is the marks on the walls, the dents in the furniture, the broken chandelier. it is the desire, it is the NEED, for practice space.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">my apartment has a 7-foot 9-inch ceiling. my soul dies a little every day. i have a gym membership down the street, but let's face it--there are just some things i cannot practice in front of the conservative suburbanite crowd at the Painesville YMCA. in fact there are some stunts, like the one in the video below, for which i might just get arrested.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">regardless, we sally forth, determined to hone our skills by whatever means necessary. after all, one never knows when one might be called upon to entertain a group in the most inconvenient space possible. one must be prepared for the structure of an inconsiderate architect who never bothered to plan for a juggling show. thus, the video. i offer it as a treat to you, the dear fans of the Bonko Blog; a glimpse at the new trick on which i've been working.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a few answers:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-yes, it is my living room.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-yes, it is astoundingly more difficult to do while kneeling.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-yes, they are sharp. very, very sharp.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-yes, this is how i spent my christmas.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">enjoy.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwwVQ0f5DMuREDQ8WN3GEO_Yz2FLXbd8bs14C6GBmO2JpphpJ17Ly03enBltsvpfH3udyRDJNLIHev9HUk7Nw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>music is "Nothing is Something Worth Doing" by <a href="http://www.twistedmusic.com/artists/shpongle/">Shpongle</a>.</div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-70341879096697581862009-12-16T17:38:00.008-05:002009-12-16T19:29:22.398-05:00here we go steelers...<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY9OCF7O92hKlfg_x4eTIHX0rCJRBDUa6XsSU3sXVO0QTGbvC-krpGSuvh2u5r_DXU0aN8XDiB1jD92WwUsqzGEgknjxbyVXYLI7f3Jq4qA_w4eF-2dNn43ZBiu1SfJzLLZeR3lWPus0/s1600-h/IMG_0817.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY9OCF7O92hKlfg_x4eTIHX0rCJRBDUa6XsSU3sXVO0QTGbvC-krpGSuvh2u5r_DXU0aN8XDiB1jD92WwUsqzGEgknjxbyVXYLI7f3Jq4qA_w4eF-2dNn43ZBiu1SfJzLLZeR3lWPus0/s400/IMG_0817.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415995449805765090" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"didn't you grow up in Cleveland?"</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">yes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"then why are you a Steelers fan?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">good question. actually, I was born in Allentown, PA, and the Steelers were my team before my family moved to Cleveland when I was 5 years old.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"but that's eastern PA, shouldn't you be an Eagles fan?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">funny story...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've been dealing with these questions for as long as I can remember. I myself have often wondered how I became a Steelers fan (Dad likes the Packers and Mom roots for the Browns) Then, one day, my older Brother recounted the story to me (I was too young when it happened to remember), just as I'm now recounting it for you. Enjoy:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was January 20th, 1980, and I was just under 3 years old. The Pittsburgh Steelers (defending champs) were playing the Los Angeles Rams for the Superbowl title. Gathered at my parents' house were a collection of their friends who had come over to watch the game. Living in eastern PA, many of them were Philadelphia fans and they had given my brother and I matching Eagles jackets in an effort to bend us toward the dark side. Apparently, when Pittsburgh won 31 to 19, I took off the jacket, threw it to the ground and declared to all assembled that I was a Steelers fan. And so it has been ever since. Even at such a young age, I knew a winner when I saw one.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">At the age of 5, my family moved to Cleveland so my Dad could attend podiatry school here and my allegiance came with me. My Mom took up an affinity for the Browns and we've bet on nearly every game the two teams have played since. In 1987 we went to a game at the old stadium and I was on the news for being a little kid who was stupid/crazy/ballzy enough to wear black and yellow in a sea of brown and orange--folks kept threatening to throw me into the dawg-pound. In grade school I caught no end of crap for wearing Steelers garb on special "Browns dress down days" in the late 80's when Cleveland was reeling in the Kosar years. I've been yelled at, threatened, hit, shunned and hated all for staying loyal. Of course, this city's football record doesn't really offer much to induce traitorous thoughts, but that's another story.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">See, the Steelers are my team, but Cleveland is my city.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've now lived in the Cleveland area for almost 85% of my life, and regardless of my football team, it is my city. I grew up here. I'm hard pressed to find a building downtown in which I haven't worked or a parking lot where I haven't changed outfits for a gig. I've lived through the surrounding passions and let-downs of every major sports team being almost good enough. I know where to find free parking. I know which exit to take. I live on the east side, but I'll still drink on the west side. I understand how unusual that last sentence is. I know the people throwing the parties and I know the sound techs, too. I'll easily navigate University Circle. I'll get to Coventry faster than you. I'll tell you at any time how close you are to a Subway or Chipotle. I live in the 440, but I am always 216. I partied in the Flats. I've danced in the Warehouse. I've drank in the dives. I've skied in the lake. I've watched some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world from illegal rooftops. I've lived in East Cleveland and been a guest in Bratenahl. I know this town probably better than you. And so I, still a Steelers fan, even want the Browns to be good again, because it means so much to the people around me, with whom I have grown, lived, laughed and loved.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And I congratulate you on your win last week.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Enjoy it, cause we're gonna kick your ass next year. Twice.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-28627706454177673882009-12-07T22:45:00.003-05:002009-12-07T23:04:14.507-05:00movie madness<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There is a Blockbuster about a mile from my house. I love to watch movies and don't have the patience to wait for them in the mail, so I love this fact. Especially since I know of many other Blockbuster locations that have closed down because of heavy competition from internet-based sites. Recently, while on a familiar stroll down the "new release" aisle, looking for any movie that might promise a few good laughs or even some rockin fight sequences, I came across a section of...books. Yes, books--slipped in between the C's and the D's. I actually had to stop and look around to see if anyone was laughing at what could only be some kind of crazy joke. When I noticed that no one was even looking in my direction (not even the cute girl behind the counter--damn), I decided that they were serious about this. Thing is, they were not even movie-related books. I could certainly understand trying to cross market the Twilight series, but that was not the case.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now, I consider myself a pretty avid reader, but I am not so naive to think that anything in which I am interested is good for business.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So there I stood, dumbfounded, asking myself, "Is this Blockbuster's big plan for boosting sales in the wake of Netflix and Red Box? Books? Don't they know that all the book stores now sell movies so they can stay open?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Well, I wish Blockbuster the best of luck. I'm going to miss them when they're gone.</span></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-85161626086296351612009-11-24T23:21:00.006-05:002009-11-30T19:50:29.140-05:00feeling dumb?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">well, a new study recently showed that learning how to juggle helps develop both grey and white matter in the brain, which essentially makes you smarter, more physically adept and accurate, and puts you one step closer to being a super-hero. check the article </span><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17957-learning-to-juggle-grows-brain-networks-for-good.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. juggling also helps you develop hand-eye coordination, earn money on the street in tough financial times, relieve stress, have fun and become much more attractive to awesome people. really, it's true. and anyone can do it. yes, even you. but, you need a good teacher.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">funny you should mention it. as a matter of fact, yes, i am teaching a "how to juggle" class this Tuesday, December 1st, at the </span><a href="http://www.thejasminedragons.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jasmine Dragons</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> at 111 Main St., Chardon, OH. there will be a 7:30pm beginner class and an 8:30pm experienced class for those who can juggle but want to learn more. call 440-286-5153 to reserve a spot in the class. if you are thinking about it, please call and make a free reservation (just leave a message if no one picks up).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">otherwise, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope to see you on Tuesday!<br /></span><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgsx1PR4_GtRWDLZ_mSyY6RU66NQ8h0KLcUICTxYUXqXfMabfoGlysngFBVrkg9AKs4uBjPGoWMNXnyAzgM-irTxzT-jVaQVtt6yGylp-iHOlVTIFJk-fX9UgmDk_pR1sLGpSDrWZz-g/s400/JUGGLING+dec+1st+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407895003039077522" /></div></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-6571545422485208112009-11-12T12:25:00.003-05:002009-11-12T12:48:55.974-05:00saturday in awesome-town<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">because nothing says, "i'm a hip, cool, suave world-traveller" like "i'm going to pittsburgh for a juggling convention." might as well don a Star Trek uniform and fanny-pack while i'm at it.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">regardless, this saturday (nov. 14th) i will be at the </span><a href="http://www.allinjest.com/jugglingfestclub.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Not Quite Pittsburgh Juggling Festival</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> in Sewickley, PA. i'll be teaching a Devil Stick workshop at noon and performing in the public show at 7:30pm. fest is free, show is $2. looks like there will be some other good workshops, vendors, games and lots of juggling. if you're into object manipulation of any kind and are in the area, you should definitely go. if you've always wanted to learn how to juggle, this is a good time. look for people walking around wearing a star--they have agreed to teach people to juggle. just ask. or, if you would just like to observe what happens when members of this uber-dork community congregate in a middle-school gym, this is your lucky day. come on down, it'll be fun.</span></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-65229784196610383792009-11-05T11:59:00.004-05:002009-11-05T12:24:01.938-05:00mum's the word<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So I was contacted by James Harris at H/L Communications because he was looking for buskers (performers who do their thing and pass the hat for pay) for an event this Saturday (more on that below) and to start doing events in the area to make busking more understood, accepted and even welcomed in the city of Cleveland. Awesome--I'm in.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Which leads us to tonight's word (yes, I watch a lot of Colbert): Mum's the Word. This Saturday from 1-4pm (I'll be performing 1-3pm) there is a FREE event to celebrate the opening of the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse's beautiful indoor chrysanthemum exhibit. There will be children's activities such as face-painting, mask-making and potting of winter-flowering bulbs. Also, local buskers will be performing juggling, magic, music and dance. Though the event is FREE, be sure to bring some cash so you can tell the performers how much you appreciate the entertainment they provide.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Plus, you can enjoy the beauty of the gardens and lush plant life. For more info, click on the flyer below, or go to the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse's website:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.rockefellergreenhouse.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">www.rockefellergreenhouse.org</span></a></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQN_f-Z2-cYxn9rWmLn6OK8DDi5x_GhDGMjLPoYgga6bn0xfItOdFOh7ZpJ7pAaCwyDLhzqhVu5zSJeDYYVrN3UB8ubBsVQxymTcM_NgST3eadW4cF1_GSjJIb2ictDGMR9kyfJwsz_4/s1600-h/Mum's+The+Word+Web+flyer.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQN_f-Z2-cYxn9rWmLn6OK8DDi5x_GhDGMjLPoYgga6bn0xfItOdFOh7ZpJ7pAaCwyDLhzqhVu5zSJeDYYVrN3UB8ubBsVQxymTcM_NgST3eadW4cF1_GSjJIb2ictDGMR9kyfJwsz_4/s320/Mum's+The+Word+Web+flyer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400666915251358242" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-83611220503699859942009-10-29T01:55:00.003-04:002009-10-29T03:25:00.796-04:00a more perfect union<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i saw a sign on the road yesterday that said "Slow Construction Area." and it made me wonder, has anyone ever seen a "fast construction area?" or even an "accomplished-in-what-seems-like-a-fairly-reasonable-amount-of-time construction area?" no. road construction is always slow. stupid redundant sign. grrrr.</span>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-34249630271550334792009-10-23T22:53:00.009-04:002009-10-24T01:01:41.096-04:00foxx-y<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i couldn't help it. it looked so beautiful. so tight and sleek. a creation of beauty. and i've wanted a true leather one for so long. wow, so long. probably since i was a little kid and saw Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the lost Ark at the drive in when it came out. sure, the snake scenes scared me, but damn, Indy was so cool. and that whip...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"i've given it some thought and i'm in. go ahead and make it" is what i told Louie Foxx, when he offered to braid me up a sweet 6-ft. kangaroo-hide bullwhip at a great price. i had been looking over his website, </span><a href="http://bullwhips.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">www.bullwhips.org</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, reading the reviews of ecstatic customers, drooling over the fine craftsmanship and reading the words of a man who is obviously passionate about his work. he showed me a picture of the whiskey-colored hide he would make it from and i couldn't help it. i caved like a little boy in a man's body who had enough in his account to cover the cost of the toy he's always wanted and could justify it as a tax write-off. (i love my job)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">so the really cool part is that over the process of making the whip, Louie took pictures and posted twitter updates and i could see it being built--knowing it was being made for me. so friggin cool! go to his website and check out the entries for Oct. 23, 2009, about the 6-ft 12-plait bullwhip. really, go now!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://bullwhips.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">www.bullwhips.org</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and here is a picture of the whip:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizRTfc9_qXVTAiLcEORFshGZwftw4jVoQOo4r4M5HffS0h3KAJFUijoElRzBOigcmIFYCLHIgjCSxNc_ly93155A_gDlKBFe1iKFP-xTGmwhlhAOdLtO-CHECJrWXJi0P9AJGThhyphenhyphenzsY/s1600-h/bull_whip_whiskey_4_102309.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizRTfc9_qXVTAiLcEORFshGZwftw4jVoQOo4r4M5HffS0h3KAJFUijoElRzBOigcmIFYCLHIgjCSxNc_ly93155A_gDlKBFe1iKFP-xTGmwhlhAOdLtO-CHECJrWXJi0P9AJGThhyphenhyphenzsY/s320/bull_whip_whiskey_4_102309.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395997256852010194" /></span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizRTfc9_qXVTAiLcEORFshGZwftw4jVoQOo4r4M5HffS0h3KAJFUijoElRzBOigcmIFYCLHIgjCSxNc_ly93155A_gDlKBFe1iKFP-xTGmwhlhAOdLtO-CHECJrWXJi0P9AJGThhyphenhyphenzsY/s1600-h/bull_whip_whiskey_4_102309.jpg"></a>hmm, she's going to need a name...</span><br /><br /></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-32895067524811135752009-10-09T02:07:00.003-04:002009-10-09T02:20:11.436-04:00bridge picsHere's a few pictures of your friendly neighborhood Bonk workin hard at the Bridge.<div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji72vnYvRBz-1gB1ljVfchgjY2QYDitKUcLqkcfild6zSliLoTsy6QCZubrp8iAFdl-NcBFBMRPi52QUF9T0upasz8SBw7xqhKvmJXIqbMbnDIBZP1Z_RcONULjcyjQq7oYwH5rhzIUSU/s1600-h/DSC_0004_72+(Susan+Curtis).jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji72vnYvRBz-1gB1ljVfchgjY2QYDitKUcLqkcfild6zSliLoTsy6QCZubrp8iAFdl-NcBFBMRPi52QUF9T0upasz8SBw7xqhKvmJXIqbMbnDIBZP1Z_RcONULjcyjQq7oYwH5rhzIUSU/s320/DSC_0004_72+(Susan+Curtis).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390478786428300994" /></a><div>The infamous "Keeper of the Bridge." Photo by Susan Curtis--you can find more of her work here:</div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20759268@N03/">Susan Curtis on Flickr</a></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqS1SG3QwqNdSINGHiyp5OW2iMdEgYjuneY6LhH8nOJCIDnuU6gyGQniMuKbcNKg1aEjZ5KC0EMFTJaMY5yC_Nc4-pkuVq_2wt0uM1DtsSSMpdtd-uqQDFSFEI5wQEkQtC67uqEmZfJc/s320/DSC_0003_72+(Susan+Curtis).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390478762081406546" /></div><div>Keeper sans helmet. Also by Susan Curtis.</div><div><br /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRx_sY2tcP1hvhvoX4_LivhYMW9FrbJf3yN-V9ltMguDc8slC3zrTZtN4m2A6AyubO8fTcJmFLsBxTN7GC3s2HqGKtbpNhpvmz64nUmkfyN2UG8Y1Qv0oyh_v9y-Fj6wq0-mlFng-dHpk/s320/dolly++(Eric+Metzger).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390478821575441378" /></div><div>Idiot with dolly on face. Photo by Eric Metzger--you can find more of his work here:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericmetzger/">Eric Metzger on Flickr</a></div></div></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-47405478087697638982009-09-28T03:04:00.002-04:002009-09-28T03:09:44.514-04:00projectionwow. the <a href="http://www.clevelandbridgeproject.com/">Bridge Project</a> was astoundingly more awesome than I even imagined it could be. if you were in the greater Cleveland area and weren't there, i am pointing and laughing at you in a derisively mocking manner. ha ha.<div><br /></div><div>there will be a picture or two posted soon. regardless, ha ha.</div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-55920049708202079922009-09-22T14:06:00.007-04:002009-09-22T14:41:23.709-04:00bridge project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80SBuEm-zwQc-beAoIfgtE0bbP38nzlVM2bd2YLLZ3VJVLL119mDya68aBA3STAhe_SJPFsmkMug4GAXcG4CIoH_jndB7xu_CbxRL3WLb_FBBASlOzYGHk-TtWYXVawLIs897n8lQc4o/s1600-h/bridgeprint.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80SBuEm-zwQc-beAoIfgtE0bbP38nzlVM2bd2YLLZ3VJVLL119mDya68aBA3STAhe_SJPFsmkMug4GAXcG4CIoH_jndB7xu_CbxRL3WLb_FBBASlOzYGHk-TtWYXVawLIs897n8lQc4o/s320/bridgeprint.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384362270745515778" /></a><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSc96Jz6BEu-gt1cVmwGArc2OG_AaMFlMWpGw8VH5YBPvnGIIuZIr7Bma8gFWz1zRyTZiKOppekkwdUgCVCxyWw70l9DlDqTLr7RgCZWvWD-tQnYy2nnGbMbsDHyzDhQUT-OLHUTpCEw/s1600-h/IMG_0497.JPG"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is going to be awesome! This coming weekend I will be performing as part of the </span></span><a href="http://www.clevelandbridgeproject.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cleveland Bridge Project</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, which will take place on the lower level of the Detroit-Superior Bridge in downtown Cleveland. Click the link and check it out. It is free and open to the public and will includ</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">e </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">arts and crafts vendors, food and beverage vendors (including beer and wine), buskers and solo performers positioned across the great span of the bridge with the more complex installations and performances taking place at either end.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">On both Friday and Saturday (Sept. 25 and 26) I will be Stilt Walking as the giant and intimidating "Keeper of Bridge," letting no-one pass lest they achieve some menial task. This is a new character for me and I'm pretty psyched about it.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Also, on Saturday at 6:30pm I will be putting on a Juggling Show in the </span></span><a href="http://www.allgosigns.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">All Go Signs</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> space on the East Side of the Bridge. As usual, </span></span><a href="http://www.allgosigns.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">All Go Signs</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> has put together a serious extravaganza of staging, lighting and some of the best bands and performers around, featuring Audiblethread, Miss Melvis, Paucity and the dynamite explosion of </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/soneboy111"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">SONEBOY</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">!!! Check the </span></span><a href="http://www.allgosigns.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">All Go Signs</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> website for show times.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Come on out and experience this innovative event in an awe-inspiring space and celebrate something that is truly Cleveland.</span></span></span></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-33292436832913612572009-09-18T16:09:00.003-04:002009-11-12T12:50:25.447-05:00service this!i've been home for over a week now and the entire time my cable internet service has been intermittent--connected for a few minutes then shutting down and repeating constantly. after 3 hours on the phone with TWC (featuring 3 occasions when their phone line dropped my call) and one visit from a service technician who did little more than disconnect and reconnect cable connections, i placed another joyous call to tech support. after politely expressing my severely growing dissatisfaction with their internet service, the person on the phone actually tried to convince me that i should get their cable and phone services, too. as if to say, "i'm sorry the service you're already paying for isn't working, but can we sell you additional services that also may not work?"<div><br /></div><div>grrr.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-25179261466865436682009-09-09T19:33:00.004-04:002009-09-10T01:49:48.633-04:00home home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpjyoswAu_o1ucyvbWeYf_ZDQFeclA1mS9zC7kHVKeg_rjL9qf-Y_RQ2zxMh6euABODo2bfS84NmmbYS7kDXpKGuuYjiaSWE34EW0kStxqhm_-xexcqa-OzpcbQatL3-tqd1dcY-v9Cg/s1600-h/living+room.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpjyoswAu_o1ucyvbWeYf_ZDQFeclA1mS9zC7kHVKeg_rjL9qf-Y_RQ2zxMh6euABODo2bfS84NmmbYS7kDXpKGuuYjiaSWE34EW0kStxqhm_-xexcqa-OzpcbQatL3-tqd1dcY-v9Cg/s400/living+room.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379621029032574690" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />I am very fortunate--I have many homes. There are places where I am home because I have been there enough times or for a long enough time, that it is one of my homes. There are places that are home only because they are shared with someone so close to me that no matter where we are, it is a resting place for my soul. I guess on those occasions, it really is the person I am with that is my home. I have homes where my families live and where my friends abide--where I've stopped for rest on a long car ride. Fact is, there are countless places in this country where I feel right at home.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After a length of time away, it is always good to come home, even though I must almost always leave another home to do so.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But there is one place--the place with the address on my mortgage, the place with my bed, the place with my scent and walls of red, which is my home home. And today I have come back to find that I was smart enough to leave beer in the fridge when I left over two months ago. Good boy.</span></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-72821541758347022602009-09-07T23:26:00.003-04:002009-09-07T23:40:54.398-04:00leaving Va Beach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUVEGhNrLPfiCt6UHY0HyValXQPNCwQxb_z8vNgwkJC8v0CYOBI_bgQyCHuE8Ig9HEseBecEXB5lXs-YYBft3zypnrwAzeKHU3cdTikkqJU0hyphenhyphenebQYWVAart3sjvczwP6rJBquP8jHF4/s1600-h/IMG_7345.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUVEGhNrLPfiCt6UHY0HyValXQPNCwQxb_z8vNgwkJC8v0CYOBI_bgQyCHuE8Ig9HEseBecEXB5lXs-YYBft3zypnrwAzeKHU3cdTikkqJU0hyphenhyphenebQYWVAart3sjvczwP6rJBquP8jHF4/s320/IMG_7345.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378934366947678450" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo by Fragitsa Katogiritis</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Verdana"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">another two months are sealed and signed</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">my heart and mind in what i’ve left behind</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">memories pervade</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">of standing in waves</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">of ocean, applause and auras entwined.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Verdana; min-height: 16.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">to all my friends there, both new and old:</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">much love, give ‘em hell and i’ll see you down the road.</span></span></span></p><p></p></div><div><br /></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-62930756857171695462009-08-25T04:14:00.005-04:002009-09-28T03:16:55.486-04:00instant love<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span></span></p><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There was a rainbow out over the ocean today as we set the stage for our “magical variety show.” Thought of mom. Mom and I always connect over rainbows. It was a good way to kick off the night.</span></span></span><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Anyway, been thinking a lot lately about the purpose of a show. Some performances have a point--some message to convey. Not street shows. With street shows, the purpose is to get people to watch some crazy skill you have practiced for no good reason and then pay you with applause or money or both. Some performers take the “pay me because you’re supposed to just because I’m here doing this” attitude and some take the “pay me if you received something of value from my show” attitude. That value can take the form of laughter, amazement, a sense of wonder, inspiration, entertainment, education or an emotional connection to the performer and other audience members. I’m going for the second attitude and trying to imbue all of those values and more. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />I was told once by my friend Joey Hopper about a quote from noted puppeteer, Alexander the Great, who said of the audience, “you’ve got to love them; even when you hate them, you’ve got to love them--cause they’ll know.” I’ve been thinking a lot about my own mindset when getting ready for and performing a show. Love them--always. They have no obligation to watch me--if they are doing so, then be grateful for it and give them something good to watch. Without them I have no job, no reason to be there--I’m just some overgrown kid playing with his toys. With them, I have the opportunity to use the skills I have honed as a foundation to build a unique connection with this particular group of people at this particular moment in time. And if I show them some love and use that connection to craft a moment of enjoyment worth experiencing and remembering, then they’re going to show me some love right back. This creates a feedback loop of energy that cycles and amplifies and develops into a great show. The kind of show that people come back to see. The kind of show that can charge more to come back next year...<br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To recap, the idea is to love the audience and get them to love you back. This is more tricky than it sounds and it has been, and will be, my endeavor for a long time. The trick is getting them to love you now. Developing love over time is easy, but getting random strangers walking by to interrupt their schedule and bother to love you, well, that’s the golden hat.</span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />So, while backstage before my shows today pondering all this, I came up with the idea that my goal as a performer is to generate instant love--for the audience and from the audience. All of my shows will now be experiments in attaining that goal and I must remind myself of this before every performance. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />I’ll keep you updated about how that goes. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Also, if you read the last blog entry and want to know, Britainy Dibbs will again be performing with me on the street this Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25th and 26th, here in beautiful Virginia Beach, somewhere between 18th and 25th along Atlantic Ave, from 7:30pm to 11. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Much love.</span></span></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span></span></p></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-18047205382839394282009-08-14T03:38:00.008-04:002009-09-10T01:50:22.199-04:00fresh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7wO37htwlbhSfudL84e_j0B-dBilBSnRFUhiNvNOTVBzWvIdxplZp_mD0PaVeVye76Bd5Ez0y9dY017Zi7fbDVUjhmO1g7kDx17fDM1rKDoq-4RQFkROvJKD2IVAu3iPDDouHc82RRk/s1600-h/P1040942.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7wO37htwlbhSfudL84e_j0B-dBilBSnRFUhiNvNOTVBzWvIdxplZp_mD0PaVeVye76Bd5Ez0y9dY017Zi7fbDVUjhmO1g7kDx17fDM1rKDoq-4RQFkROvJKD2IVAu3iPDDouHc82RRk/s320/P1040942.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369722442779864866" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tuesday night, August 11th, I got to work on the 17th Street stage here in Virginia Beach and had the absolute pleasure of working with the brilliantly exquisite Miss Britainy Dibbs, who also performs under the name "Fresh Cut Fire." The picture above was taken by Chris Yerlig (Hoopoe the Mime) while Britainy was working her magic with a fire hoop. Earlier in the show she rocked the fire poi while I took a break and got to enjoy the view. Britainy has a lifetime of dance training under her belt and combines it with some severely bad-ass fire prop skills to create an enthralling and hypnotizing performance.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As a solo performer, I rarely get to collaborate with other artists in a stage setting these days and getting to do so with someone of Britainy's caliber and intensity was such a refreshing experience. Her passion for her work reminds me of why I got into prop manipulation in the first place. Sorry the picture is hazy, but I rather like the aesthetic of it. If you want a clearer view, then you'll just have to come check out the show. I hope to be working with her again at least a few more times while I'm here. I'll try to post when those dates are coming up, or you can contact me to find out more.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">***This just in: Britainy and I will be performing together again on Wednesday, August 19th, 2009, from 7:30pm-11 somewhere between 18th Street and 25th Street along Atlantic Ave. in Va Beach.</span></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9074065045901679437.post-36427281434413834732009-08-13T12:52:00.002-04:002009-09-10T01:50:37.754-04:00premier<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Well, today is the first day of the rest of my blog. Check back here periodically for a fun and potentially scary look inside my head and the ridiculous thoughts that flow through it. Here I will post stories of incidents regarding traveling, performing, striving, accomplishing, failing, pondering, wandering, wondering and otherwise (with emphasis on the "other" rather than the "wise").</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Peace and love.</span></div>Aaron Bonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210336084960066641noreply@blogger.com