Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Finally some nice weather...what to do?

     Every morning I follow the same routine, whether it is a work day, weekend, holiday, school day, etc. I start by somehow figuring out how many scoops of coffee I need to put into the coffee maker to brew my coffee-when I'm only half awake at best, sometimes that is a daunting task. Then I go to the bathroom-thanks to the fact that I have to turn on a faucet to make coffee, which makes my bladder remind me I better go sooner rather than later. Then I let Sasha-our husky outside, thankfully she is patient with me. But this morning, I realized it was actually chilly! I'm sure she loved it, me, not so much. It didn't warm up a whole lot either by the time I had to take Autumn to my mom's, I was half tempted to grab a hoodie. How she (Autumn) was wearing a tank top and shorts without freezing is beyond me. I do have to admit, it was kind of nice driving with the sun roof cracked just to let some fresh air in, and not be running the AC in the car. I'm willing to bet the car was kind of thankful to.

     While I work inside an office, I really don't have any windows around me except the "sky light" type windows, that are behind me. I can tell when the sun is out in the afternoon, because it comes through the window and makes it next-to-impossible for me to see the computer monitor. I haven't been going on my lunchtime walks lately thanks to the heat wave we've been experiencing. Anyways, I went out to get the mail after lunch and couldn't believe how absolutely gorgeous it is outside! The sun is shining, and it is warm-this time I could wear shorts, maybe not a tank top, but definitely wouldn't need the hoodie.

     It also dawned on me the other day that I have YET to do any hiking, or even going for a walk around my neighborhood, or Crystal Lakes at all this summer. Today, I am hoping I can take advantage of this lovely weather and not having cheer practice. It would be nice if Corey-my husband, was able to get off work at a decent hour so he could join me and Autumn for a walk. I'm sure Tehya is enjoying the nice weather up at Indian Lake. She went with my in-laws to help keep Charli-my niece entertained (it's Charli's first time camping). I'm hoping she (Tehya) is also working on her backbend-walkovers, toe-touches, splits, straddles, and stretches like I told her to!

     Well, I better end it here, until next time bloggers...

Monday, July 22, 2013

A week off! Or is it really?

    So Cheer and Football camp is over, and now I have a break (for a week) from coaching. Well, that's as far as a break as I am going to get from it this week!

     I have to go pick up the uniforms today (about 40+) to get them washed and inspected. I know I am going to have an issue with some of them being too big for the smaller group, but there isn't much I can do about that other than have a few altered. Unfortunately, I had 3 girls that never returned their uniforms from last season, and 2 of those were XS's, which is what I am running short on, and will need more of. I am hoping this situation will help me plead my case in that we really need to get new uniforms for next season!

     I finished up my halftime show choreography over the weekend, and even have made for an even numbered squad and odd numbered. As of right now, I have an odd number, and I am hoping that doesn't change. Unfortunately (again) they are still allowing people to sign up during the first week of regular season (which is the week of July 29th). While it won't be as much of an issue for the halftime routine, I am only about 1/4 of the way with our competition dance routine. This one is already giving me enough problems figuring out, but if I have to add anymore girls to it, I will basically have to start over. I won't have time for that! Not to mention, I will be sending the warm up "fit kits" back that Wednesday, so I won't be able to fit anymore girls at that time. I'll also be ordering them that Friday, and I can't just add on to the order, if I ordered some separate, it will cost twice as much.

     I'm sincerely hoping that we luck out and don't have any more girls sign up. I think our squads have the perfect sizes as they are now. Not to mention, we've done a lot of sign ups between April and the last day of camp, July 18th. I think if people were going to sign up, they had plenty of time to do so. I can't stand it when someone procrastinates, especially if and when it affects me! I'm the kind of person that likes to plan months in advance when I can, or weeks if I have to. I have never been a fan of people doing things, or changing things on me at the last minute. I almost quit coaching last year because of it.

     So, during my week off, I am planning on washing all the uniforms and seeing what I have to work with for my girls. Then I need to finish my competition routine, and maybe do like I did for the halftime routine, and add groups "just in case". The problem is, that I am not doing pairs for competition like I am for halftime, so it's not going to be a matter of adding pairs, I will have to see who I can fit where. I haven't even started on the cheer chant part of competition. I told my assistant I am pretty much leaving that to her, I have a cheer or two to add, but as far as placement and order, I have nothing. That's the point of an assistant, right?

     Well, not much else to say here, so I guess I better get back to doing that work thing...and redrawing my movements/placements so my assistant can actually understand what I am trying to have the cheerleader stick figures show! Ha ha ha...I never claimed to be an artist.

Friday, July 12, 2013

The Joys and Problems of being a Cheer Advisor-Head Coach

     We wrapped up the first week of football and cheer camp yesterday. For the most part, I think it went well. I am hoping for pretty much the same next week. Right now, my squad is the perfect size, but I know that I have at least one addition (maybe two). I've already got most of my half time routine figured out, but now I will have to make some adjustments now that we are adding on. I'm hoping to keep it an even number, because if I have an odd number, I am going to make some people mad. I already see a few headaches coming my way in the next couple of weeks (not just routine related). Allow me to share them with you...

    1. If I do have an odd number in my squad, I will not be able to pair all the girls up like I originally have in my routine, one will obviously be alone. I have decided that if this is the case (and I am truly hoping it isn't) that it will be my daughter, Tehya. There are a few reasons behind this. First, she has the advantage of learning the routine sooner than the rest of the girls because she lives with me. In fact, I kind of use her (or her body I should say) to see if certain things will work, especially tumbling stuff-since I am too old and my body doesn't forgive me like it did once upon a time. This leads me to my second point, if I have an odd number and she isn't paired up, then I can have her do some of her tumbling moves that the other girls can't do. I don't single her out because she is my kid. Every practice after warm ups and stretches, I have all the girls go through different tumbling moves-somersaults, cartwheels, round-offs, cartwheel/round-off combos, back bends (by going into them backwards, not doing what is called a "bridge" where you lay on the ground and push yourself up), and back-bend walkovers. While a couple of the girls can do a back-bend, she is the only one that can do a back-bend walkover. I also let them freestyle a couple of times to show me what they like to do. Most of them stick to simple things, but Tehya pushes herself. I know this will have parents thinking I am showing her favoritism, but in all actuality, I am harder on her than anyone else on the entire team (including the older girls). I am doing a skills assessment on all the girls the first week of the regular season-which is the week of the 29th, so that is about 2 1/2 weeks away. Both my assistant coach and myself will score the girls on their abilities and I average them out to give them a score. She's the only one that can do the walkover, so why should I not allow her to do it if she's the only one that can? If it were someone else and not her, I would make that girl do them. Then again, my attitude has always been "if you don't like how I run things, you should've volunteered when you had the chance." But this isn't the headache I am worried the most about...

   2. As I stated earlier, I know there is at least one more coming to my squad, but I could tell from my 5-minute talk with the girl's mother (the girl was not present) that the mom has a serious attitude problem. Upon meeting her, I hand her a cheer info packet (like I did with all the cheerleaders the first night of practice) that contains rules, dress code, a list of excused/unexcused absences, disciplinary/reward actions, and information about our cheer competition. This packet has two sheets that need filled out and signed, then returned to me. The first sheet is just basic info about the cheerleader (like allergies, previous injuries, or any information that coaches need to know so they know how to work with the kids-like ADHD, shy, etc.) then the second page is for the parent and cheerleader to sign stating they understand everything that is in the packet and they will follow it. Every sport or club has something like this. She immediately rolls her eyes at me, then says "There's rules? Oh my F***** God, are you serious?"...Um yeah, I am serious. I told her I run a tight ship, but that all the girls know this. Then come to find out this girl has learning disabilities, is dyslexic, and (I already knew) she never cheered before. But then the mom says "she MIGHT be at practice the week of the 29th"...Um, that's the start of regular season, attendance starts counting at that point and yes, I take attendance and I am a bit of a stickler for it. You need to understand that cheer is a team sport, and when one girl misses, it affects the rest of the girls who are there every day. I can really see me and this mom butting heads, because I have a game plan in place and I don't plan on budging from it much, especially if I already have to re-do the routine to fit her kid into it! I mean, I am willing to work with her a little bit, but at the same time, the mom needs to work with me or it won't work out at all. What is really bad (for me) is that she-the mom, is friends with two of the Board Members, so I am sure she is going to try to get them to pull strings. So I have decided that I am going to have a talk with them while I am working the concession stand with them tomorrow about it. Like I said, I am more than willing to work with her, but she has to work with me. She needs to understand that the rules I have put in place are for everyone, including her. If she doesn't like it, she can go.

     3. This issue I am not quite as concerned about as I was a week ago, but there is a lady who messaged me on Facebook about signing her daughter up (if she does, she will be there Monday). She said she never cheered before, etc. etc. which isn't a big deal. The issue is that I recognized her picture, so I decided to do a little bit of stalking (yes, I am guilty of that). Come to find out, she went to school with me, and is/was friends with the ex-boyfriend I was with before I started dating my husband. That guy was abusive, which is one of the biggest reasons why I broke it off with him (once I got the courage to do it). Well, this chick threatened to beat my ass, and all this other stuff...I am just hoping that either she doesn't remember me (I don't look like I did in high school, nothing close) or she, like myself, has grown up since then and won't make it an issue. Then if she does sign up, then I will have an even number again, so then issue #1 won't be an issue anymore.

     So, those are the problems I am facing all within my first week as the Cheer Advisor and Head Coach of the JV squad. I am hoping to be able to resolve them all within the next few days, then I think it will be fairly smooth sailing from here on out. Thanks for letting me rant and rave for a moment, have a great weekend bloggers and followers!

Monday, July 8, 2013

2013 Cheer Season Begins!

     Coming back to work after a long and lazy (for the most part) weekend is bad enough, but now we are getting ready to kick off the Wee Arrows Cheer (and football) season! Today will be the first day of camp, and I am hoping that Mother Nature turns off her water works, at least for a few days.

     We only have about 14 cheerleaders signed up total so far, but Camp Week is when everyone decides to join, so that number will double, if not triple in the next couple of days. We are starting camp a little early this year-due to some misinformation some of us board members got about a month ago. It's not necessarily a bad thing, in fact I think it could work in our favor. Since are starting so early, we decided to run camp for two weeks. This gives us an extra week to practice the fundamentals, and it gives us an extra week for sign ups...That's a win-win right there!

     I've already started working on one of the cheer dance routines for my squad. Let me tell you something, it is NOT easy to do! Not only do you have to have some kind of creativity to come up with a good one, but you better be in somewhat decent shape to, or you will quickly learn how out of shape you really are (like I did yesterday)! Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I think I am pretty good at choreographing dances, at least for not having any previous experience or training at it. The only experience I have is from the days when my cousin and I would make up dances in hopes of getting on the show, "Star Search" (yeah I know, I just revealed my age there), and watching my daughters do ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop dance for 8 years. It is a really rewarding feeling to work your butt off (along with your little cheerleaders) towards perfecting the routine and watching them perform it. It is truly awesome! This year is a little different for Tehya and I though, because we moved up a squad. We will be doing two routines instead of just one, and one of those will be for competition, which we will actually get scored and placed. Last year we just performed and were scored. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that if our level would place, we would have taken 1st, hands down. I haven't started working on our competition routine yet, but I am hoping I didn't outdo myself last year. We shall see.

     This is also my first year as the Cheer Advisor. This means I get to deal with all the parents (not just the ones from my squad). I'm not overly concerned about it, as I think I get along with most of the people there. Even if I ever came across a parent who doesn't like how I do things, or wants to complain, my words to them would be "if you don't like how I do it, feel free to run against me after next season...or take over as coach next year so I don't have to". I know my fellow board members like me enough to have my back in anything I do. I think I bring a good perspective to the table in that I understand where EVERYONE comes from. I understand the parents' point of view, I understand the coach's point of view, and now I see things from a Board member's point of view. I'm not out to please anyone, my job is to make sure that things are ran the way they are supposed to be, and to resolve issues that could arise. Given that we got rid of a board member that had a lot of bad stigma attached to us, I don't think it will really be much of an issue.

     For the first time in 6 years, I am actually looking forward to a season starting up. Go Arrows!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Nothing exciting here

     After reading my mom-in-law's and a friend's blog today, I realized I haven't written mine in a while. Guess that tells you how exciting my life is (or isn't)...lol.

     Well, As of Monday, I am no longer involved with direct sales. I am no longer a "dildo distributor" as a friend of mine likes to call me. I was kind of upset how the company treated me towards the end, but oh well. It really doesn't matter anymore. After 14 years of off-and-on direct selling, I don't think I will miss it. I know my bank account sure won't either! I got into it originally to get my own stuff cheap, but when you spend your profits and then some, it really isn't worth it. It's a lot of work, and when you already work full time, it's even worse! I don't know how I did it while going to school full time and coaching pee wee cheerleading on top of that!

    Speaking of cheerleading, that is getting ready to start up in less than a week. I am having a meeting with my coaches tonight to go over everything. I am mostly excited to start, but there are parts I do dread. I am not really looking forward to my days not ending until 8/9 at night (after getting up before 6 to get ready for work). The heat (more like humidity) and bugs get to me sometimes to. I'm also hoping I don't have a lot of parent drama, but there is always someone that wants to find something to bitch about. My thoughts have always been "if you don't like what I am doing or how I do it, you are welcome to do it for me" but naturally they don't want to step up to the plate. They just like to hear themselves talk/complain. Whatever floats their boat.

     We found out that Autumn's cheer uniform is going to cost $288 this year, and I also learned that it's a $100 increase from the years before. Apparently, pom poms cost $100 now, whatever...I think that the middle school is covering costs for the high school (who have to pay close to $400 for their uniform) which is bull shit, but I know if I said anything about it, it would only fall back on Autumn, and I don't want that. So I will just grumble as I write the check to pay for her uniform and hope that she really appreciates that I am doing this.

     I don't have any exciting plans for the 4th of July this year because Corey has to work all weekend. He tried to get it off but they denied his request. So, aside from football/cheer sign ups, I really have nothing to look forward to over my long weekend other than cleaning...yay...Did you sense the excitement in my "yay"? Ha ha ha...

    Well, not really much else to say here, so on that note, I'll write again later...Hopefully sooner than a week.