Monday, July 19, 2004
Ready! OK!
Thursday night was a great evening. There was an optional workshop to go over the tryout material. Only a couple of us showed up, along with a couple of current squad members. The rookies knew the routines and felt comfortable with things so it was a very laid back evening. It was nice to be able to spend low key time with the squad members. It released so many of the doubts I was having earlier in the day, that I left excited and looking forward to the tryouts on Saturday.
I was fine up until an hour before I left for the tryouts. I was just nervous and started doubting myself. The physical part of the tryout went well enough. I had a couple of slight baubles, but I performed the routines at least once without a problem. The "leadership" part I hated. They asked about a dozen questions. I'm a blunt/truthful/honest person. I need to be less so. Being as such, I felt I was brutal with my replies. After I was done, I figured I was done for and I shared that with the other rookies.
All said and done, the rookies made plans to either celebrate or comiserate at Las Mananita's later that night. The results were to be posted on the website by 5:00pm. I lasted until 4:30pm before I checked to see if the results were posted early. Five of us tried out, Five of us made the squad. Las Mananita's was a celebration!!!
I am again a Cheerleader!!!
Sunday was the first day of practice. The rookies have a lot of catching up to do. I think we'll be fine. I'm learning that some of my issues are not solely mine. Some personalities are not 100% embraced and some choreography is dispised.
I still have some concerns, but I passed the first hurdle. The second and third hurdles I'm worried about. Learning the routines and then performing them in less than 3 weeks is worrisome. The 4th hurdle and beyond...piece of cake.
Thursday night was a great evening. There was an optional workshop to go over the tryout material. Only a couple of us showed up, along with a couple of current squad members. The rookies knew the routines and felt comfortable with things so it was a very laid back evening. It was nice to be able to spend low key time with the squad members. It released so many of the doubts I was having earlier in the day, that I left excited and looking forward to the tryouts on Saturday.
I was fine up until an hour before I left for the tryouts. I was just nervous and started doubting myself. The physical part of the tryout went well enough. I had a couple of slight baubles, but I performed the routines at least once without a problem. The "leadership" part I hated. They asked about a dozen questions. I'm a blunt/truthful/honest person. I need to be less so. Being as such, I felt I was brutal with my replies. After I was done, I figured I was done for and I shared that with the other rookies.
All said and done, the rookies made plans to either celebrate or comiserate at Las Mananita's later that night. The results were to be posted on the website by 5:00pm. I lasted until 4:30pm before I checked to see if the results were posted early. Five of us tried out, Five of us made the squad. Las Mananita's was a celebration!!!
I am again a Cheerleader!!!
Sunday was the first day of practice. The rookies have a lot of catching up to do. I think we'll be fine. I'm learning that some of my issues are not solely mine. Some personalities are not 100% embraced and some choreography is dispised.
I still have some concerns, but I passed the first hurdle. The second and third hurdles I'm worried about. Learning the routines and then performing them in less than 3 weeks is worrisome. The 4th hurdle and beyond...piece of cake.
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Cheerleading Update
2 1/2 weeks ago I saw the cheerleading squad in the parade. During those two and a half weeks I've gone from school girl excitement to guarded wariness.
Saturday and Sunday were the two mandatory workshops for us to learn what we'll be judged on during the tryout. The tryout requirements are a short dance, a cheer and three jumps. Tumbling and stunting are not being judged. During the workshops we did work on stunting, but more for them to see how we learn and what is our potential.
The requirement pieces are not a problem. Hated learning the dance, but I've got it down 90%. The last 10% is general comfort and timing. Not a problem with 2 days left till the actual tryout. The cheer I'm able to do in my sleep. The jumps not a problem.
So if I've got all of the requirements down, then why the guarded wariness? Well the other judging criteria is "leadership". Not leadership in how well I lead, but "leadership" as in what is the captain's opinion of my personality. The "leadership" portion counts for 50% of the tryout.
The captain/founder has participated in two other community cheerleading squads in Dallas and San Francisco, but not athletically at High School or collge level. His experiences in Dallas and SF have caused him to be gun shy about who joins the Chicago squad. I guess that the other squads had members who are a bit dramatic and not shy about causing trouble within the squad. Because of being gun shy, he has installed the "leadership" requirement for the tryout. I hate kissing butt and this is what I feel the "leadership" requirement is encouraging.
On top of the "leadership" issues, is the squad itself. I've met about half of the squad so far. I'm comfortable with most of them socially. Performance wise, they can be a bit much. My college captain Tricia was over the top at times with big head movements and over expressive faces. Some of the Chicago squad make her look positively placid. Add the fact that they are guys and my skin really starts to crawl. B said to perform the way I normally would because I'm not going to change and if that isn't good enough, better to know now.
While its a minor point, I'm a little disappointed in the physical abilities and desire to improve with the squad. No one does any partner stunts. They almost seem afraid to try, along with strength issues. I know I'm out of shape, but my thought is by January I'll be ready for partner stunts. 4 - 6 months of regular workouts by January should have me ready for the attempt. I haven't gotten the feeling from anyone else that they have the same goal / drive.
I'm starting to wonder if I'm trying to recreate what I had in college. That team had their issues, but I enjoyed myself so much. I always get down on B for his remeberances of his performance days and seeming to be stuck in the past. Am I doing the same thing?
There's a lot for me to figure out between now and Saturday afternoon.
2 1/2 weeks ago I saw the cheerleading squad in the parade. During those two and a half weeks I've gone from school girl excitement to guarded wariness.
Saturday and Sunday were the two mandatory workshops for us to learn what we'll be judged on during the tryout. The tryout requirements are a short dance, a cheer and three jumps. Tumbling and stunting are not being judged. During the workshops we did work on stunting, but more for them to see how we learn and what is our potential.
The requirement pieces are not a problem. Hated learning the dance, but I've got it down 90%. The last 10% is general comfort and timing. Not a problem with 2 days left till the actual tryout. The cheer I'm able to do in my sleep. The jumps not a problem.
So if I've got all of the requirements down, then why the guarded wariness? Well the other judging criteria is "leadership". Not leadership in how well I lead, but "leadership" as in what is the captain's opinion of my personality. The "leadership" portion counts for 50% of the tryout.
The captain/founder has participated in two other community cheerleading squads in Dallas and San Francisco, but not athletically at High School or collge level. His experiences in Dallas and SF have caused him to be gun shy about who joins the Chicago squad. I guess that the other squads had members who are a bit dramatic and not shy about causing trouble within the squad. Because of being gun shy, he has installed the "leadership" requirement for the tryout. I hate kissing butt and this is what I feel the "leadership" requirement is encouraging.
On top of the "leadership" issues, is the squad itself. I've met about half of the squad so far. I'm comfortable with most of them socially. Performance wise, they can be a bit much. My college captain Tricia was over the top at times with big head movements and over expressive faces. Some of the Chicago squad make her look positively placid. Add the fact that they are guys and my skin really starts to crawl. B said to perform the way I normally would because I'm not going to change and if that isn't good enough, better to know now.
While its a minor point, I'm a little disappointed in the physical abilities and desire to improve with the squad. No one does any partner stunts. They almost seem afraid to try, along with strength issues. I know I'm out of shape, but my thought is by January I'll be ready for partner stunts. 4 - 6 months of regular workouts by January should have me ready for the attempt. I haven't gotten the feeling from anyone else that they have the same goal / drive.
I'm starting to wonder if I'm trying to recreate what I had in college. That team had their issues, but I enjoyed myself so much. I always get down on B for his remeberances of his performance days and seeming to be stuck in the past. Am I doing the same thing?
There's a lot for me to figure out between now and Saturday afternoon.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
I'm a Hippie
Yea Right!! Well I was reading over at someone else's blog and this personality quiz came back and said I was a hippie. The full results were:
Wackiness: 32/100
Rationality: 26/100
Constructiveness: 56/100
Leadership: 44/100
You are an SECF--Sober Emotional Constructive Follower. This makes you a hippie. You are passionate about your causes and steadfast in your commitments. Once you've made up your mind, no one can convince you otherwise. Your politics are left-leaning, and your lifestyle choices decidedly temperate and chaste.
You do tremendous work when focused, but usually you operate somewhat distracted. You blow hot and cold, and while you normally endeavor on the side of goodness and truth, you have a massive mean streak which is not to be taken lightly. You don't get mad, you get even.
Please don't get even with this web site.
After reading it the first time, I had isssues with the "Follower" part. I don't think of myself as a follower. I then read the SECL to see if I agree with the Leader analysis. That was sooo far off base. I've re-read my original analysis again and it actually isn't far off the mark. I crack up about the mean streak comment and the plea to avoid revenge. I have to admit, I can be evil.
In a few weeks I'll be taking the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator test. It will be interesting to see how the two compare.
Yea Right!! Well I was reading over at someone else's blog and this personality quiz came back and said I was a hippie. The full results were:
Wackiness: 32/100
Rationality: 26/100
Constructiveness: 56/100
Leadership: 44/100
You are an SECF--Sober Emotional Constructive Follower. This makes you a hippie. You are passionate about your causes and steadfast in your commitments. Once you've made up your mind, no one can convince you otherwise. Your politics are left-leaning, and your lifestyle choices decidedly temperate and chaste.
You do tremendous work when focused, but usually you operate somewhat distracted. You blow hot and cold, and while you normally endeavor on the side of goodness and truth, you have a massive mean streak which is not to be taken lightly. You don't get mad, you get even.
Please don't get even with this web site.
After reading it the first time, I had isssues with the "Follower" part. I don't think of myself as a follower. I then read the SECL to see if I agree with the Leader analysis. That was sooo far off base. I've re-read my original analysis again and it actually isn't far off the mark. I crack up about the mean streak comment and the plea to avoid revenge. I have to admit, I can be evil.
In a few weeks I'll be taking the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator test. It will be interesting to see how the two compare.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Common Sense
Was reading at a message board today and a study was done that says while 43% of the population believes they have common sense, only 7% actually do.
Another poster put up a website that is supposed to test common sense. Don't see how it tests common sense, but it does show us what areas of common sense are our strongest. Intersting quiz. I got a 26-32-42. Don't ask me about myself, but if you've got a project to get done, I'm the one to call.
Was reading at a message board today and a study was done that says while 43% of the population believes they have common sense, only 7% actually do.
Another poster put up a website that is supposed to test common sense. Don't see how it tests common sense, but it does show us what areas of common sense are our strongest. Intersting quiz. I got a 26-32-42. Don't ask me about myself, but if you've got a project to get done, I'm the one to call.
