Did it!

So I did the stunt holding the flyer on my own, and I can do it!  Yay me!

Unfortunately, our flyer was away this week, so I didn't get to try the double base tonight.  But we did do a two-base-group stunt, the other groups' flyer falls into our cradle, then we pop her back up to their double base, and I did that OK.  So I think there's hope for me.

I'm having a blast, this is so much fun.  Our first competition is november 8th, although the coach suspects that we'll be the only parents' team there.  So next week we'll learn the spoken cheer portion, and that will be it for that competition and we'll add more later.  

Ultimate pride, the best you'll see!  Excellence, perfection, UCC... Stray Cats!

Not easy!

I was asked to base for the first time tonight. I did OK, t great, but my wrists just weren't supporting the weight as we lifted.  I mostly just need more practice, I think...

I've also been asked to be a base for a stunt, I lie on the ground and put my hands together over my chest, elbows locked, and another woman steps into my hands with one foot.  There's someone behind her to help her balance, but basically I have to hold her for about 14 seconds.  The catch is that she wasn't there tonight, so I was just going through the motions and I'm worried that I won't actually be able to do it.  I'm going to try with my daughter tomorrow and see... if I can't hold up a 70 lb child, there's no way I can do an adult!

Learning the routine

First "real" practice of the season last night.  We learned the first 32 counts of the routine, and it took over an hour, and we still haven't done the whole thing together with the stunt lift.

But it was fun!

Signed up, and paid

So I guess it's going to happen.  I've actually started to mention it to people.  For a while it felt like a dirty little secret, don't tell anyone or they might laugh at me.  The responses have been interesting.  My mom talked about how glad she was, that she always felt that when I was younger I'd chosen to do quiet things (piano lessons) rather than the more physical or social things (my sisters were in figure skating and dance).  A friend mentioned what good exercise it must be: you do flexibility, cardio and strength all in one.

I still haven't mentioned it to any members of my church, though.  Something odd about the pastor as cheerleader, especially when I'm a woman under 40 and fairly new to my parish and still trying to reassure them that I know what I'm doing and can be taken seriously.  As far as the sport may have come, as a sport, I'm not sure it's yet overcome the bimbo stereotype!

he promised

not to give me a hard time about cheerleading if I don't give him a hard time about his sailboat racing.

Fair enough.

"Cheermommy"

That's what my daughter called me last night.  Made me smile.

Sign-ups is in a couple of weeks.  I'm excited, but a little nervous, and also (perpetually) worried about the money.  But I think that it will be worth it....

Do you think you'll like cheerleading?

My daughter asked me that the other day.  I almost laughed; I've wanted to do this so much, it seemed absurd.  But as we talked about it, she was concerned that I be prepared that it is a lot of work, even though it is fun.

We practiced cartwheels two days ago, but we're on a family vacation and with traveling everyday, I'm finding it really hard to get the exercise.  That, and my spouse keeps feeding me really good food (You deserve it! You're on vacation!), I think I'm going to get home in a couple of weeks having actually gained weight.  Oh, well.  Having attended my first practice, and seen who else is on the team, I'm less concerned about it.  I mean, yes I want to work at this and get good at it, but five extra pounds isn't going to keep me form being a team member, so if I wait until I get back home to really pick up the exercise, it isn't going to kill me...