my strategy is to throw them as high and hard into the air at the same time as i can and then run around willy nilly batting them back up, ducking when necessary. (all the things, that is)

Actually, things are going pretty well right now. I've been getting pretty consistent paid gigs. I've got a double hoop workshop planned and scheduled(doing the run through saturday), and I am teaching two sessions of beginning hoop next semester at the University of Wisconsin's student union.  I have a couple things up on my etsy finally, and I haven't had a day when I've been unproductive since the semester started. AND i might get to graduate in May, which would be pretty awesome.I'm taking three lit classes right now(and geo science, which i do not like), which are engaging and expanding. I'm doing a research presentation for global feminism on performance art, and Im really really, really enjoying that. Two things I love! Critical analysis and hoop dance! (Total nerd.) 

I have been having incredible break throughs with my hooping lately, when I have a chance to practice. I fully skipped geo science lecture to work on some things at the arboretum. 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPO2s-7Ubzk

I've been getting into three hoops, which has been teaching me new things about two hoops. (The vid only has a tiny bit of triple, though, due to my camera bailing on me.) And I've just been really absorbent to combinations and variations lately. It's hard to describe, but my flow isn't mine anymore. It's still unique to me, don't get me wrong, but it feels different. I sometimes do things while in flow that I have no prior knowledge of, and although I have had incidents similar through out my hoop journey (I used to refer to it as "Visits from the Spirit of Hoop Future." see? Total nerd.) its a lot more solid and pervasive now. Maybe i'm connecting to something more universal....

"Absorbed in the clouds a voice from afar said with the RiGhT DeVIce you can mAke a pAttERN grOw (or  you cantune up your car)" -Phish, train song