Monday, August 29, 2005

Big Red Weds

Matt "Stubbs" and Audrey "Big Red" at their wedding Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 in Moorhead, IA

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Everything's gonna be Okay


After our first REAL day of practice, I'm a lot less anxious. I had them run and they ran without whining- what's more having them run helped the ADHA girls focus more.

The junior high kids are willing to work. We started with the most basic fundamentals- motion technique.

Three of the five varsity girls know their suff already- two vets and one short-time vet, and she told me that she's been working really hard to review and practice as much as she can. The rookie who missed just forgot, she wasn't skipping.

So maybe this will be a pretty good season after all.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

I'm so dang old.





Whew! I don't know... do I still have what it takes to do this?

Looks like 6 Junior High, 3 Eighth, 3 Seventh. 2 of the Eighth graders are vets. Talk about a lot of gossip! What hard lives some of these kids have! Yikes.

And are we down to 4 Varsity, not 5? At least one Sophomore cheered last year and two Sophomores cheered in junior high. Just one Freshman who's a TOTAL rookie. She, and one of the Sophomores are pretty seriously ADHD!

We've got our work cut out for us... First game in less than 2 weeks (Sep 2).

The one that got away?





Man! I just talked to the eighth grader who hadn't gotten her physical in yet. Her older brother is her guardian and he doesn't want her to go out for Cheer, because he doesn't think it's athletic enough, and he doesn't want her to look like a "puss."

HELLO?!
1) She's a @#*!&! girl

2) I need more "jocks" in the program to help make the perceived image of our squad less like a bunch of "puss" es (pardon his word, not mine)

3) It is a sport, just because you don't compete for a ball. I make them run laps, I make them do crunches and sit ups and push ups. The flippin' University of Nebraska had to close down their whole cheer program because someone was killed because it's such a dangerous sport.

I'd call this "parent" (brother) but I don't want to cause more trouble for the student. She's so loud and has so much energy- she'd make an AWESOME cheerleader.




I don't know....
Does this freshman look like she's ready for Cheer practice today?
Better lose the ear-stud, Nikki.

Back to School





Well, this afternoon will be our first practice.

VARSITY

We're kind of a motley crew, but at least there's a squad. Underclassmen all the way.
3 Sophomores; one was on Varsity last year, one was on Junior High for a brief time, and another that was on Jr Hi for two years- she just got 3rd place at the Iowa State Fair for Gymnastics!

And 2 Freshmen; complete rookies to the sport of cheerleading, one of whom is pretty cynical and pretty stubborn- she has also already admitted to having dealt with an eating disorder this summer. Yikes! I hope they know that I'm no Dr. Phil!

JUNIOR HIGH

I was SO excited about having such a great squad, but three of my returning eighth graders and my most zealous seventh grader are all playing volleyball. It should be okay- Basketball is a longer, more involved season that Football anyway, at least for our Jr Hi.

So I have three eighth graders; one is new, but she's been researching cheer on the web and trying to practice with the DVD we made last Spring, one is the quietest, most shy girl ever, and the third hasn't got her physical turned in yet.

Then there are the three seventh graders; THERE'RE SO TINY! I guess I got too used the almost-all-Senior Varsity squad I had last year. THis group really makes me feel old though, because when I first came to Boyer Valley 5 years ago, I tought them Art as Second-Graders!

Crazy.

Time to take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, and get started on the season!

Friday, August 12, 2005


Here is the design I made up for this year's T-shirts. Pretty cool huh? I guess I was inspired by Sturgis. Most of the few girls we have like it too.

Well, school is just a few days away. I guess I'll make up posters to recruit candidates for this year. At least the Jr Hi end of the program is solid.

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Aiyiee yiee!


Well, what are ya gonna do?

My best Freshman is moving back home to Kentucky. I'm overjoyed for her, since it means being reunited with her Dad who's stationed there in the Army, but I'm dissapointed for our program.

And I got an email from my one and only Junior telling me that she'd opting out for the sake of her grades and Student council

This COULD leave me with three if one of my veteran Sophomores doesn't flake on me too (which she could do).

So we could just have 2- one of whom is a TOTAL rookie.

Sigh,

I guess you just say a prayer and throw up your fate to the wind.

Friday, April 15, 2005


Morningside Mustang Cheer Clinic
Saturday July 23, 2005
8 AM- 4 PM

Meet us at school at 6:40 AM to travel together in a van, or meet us there.

$25, or $35 if you want a T-Shirt.

This is a great bargain- 2-3 day private camps can easily cost neat $150, and commuter camps are at least $250. You'll receive training and advice from college level cheerleaders in Chants, Cheers, Dance, and Stunting. Anywhere from 25-60 schools from Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota attend.

This is important for having a strong foundation in the basics in order to be ready for football season. It's also powerful for building the squad into a team-unit. It's a great place to make memories. Best of all, it's fun.

This is manditory for Varsity, but strongly encouraged for Jr Hi too. Please let Coach Mallory know if you have a family scheduling conflict or difficulty with the expense. I'm letting you know now, in April so that you can do your best to schedule around it- especially work.

If we have more than 7, we'll need a second vehicle.

Please ASAP to Coach Mallory by or before May 13
(We must be registered before July to be able to get t-shirts)

Thank you,
Coach Mallory
Mallory

Wednesday, April 13, 2005


Jr Hi has been working hard, our sound and our syncronicity has REALLY improved. Bethany and Kassie are really sharp too.
Mallory

Monday, April 11, 2005

Dr.Phil's Personality Test

Dr. Phil scored (55) ----he did this test on Oprah, she got a (38).
Some folks pay a lot of money to find this stuff out. Read on, this is
very interesting!



Don't be overly sensitive! The following is pretty accurate and it
only takes 2 minutes.



Don't peek but begin the test as you scroll down and answer. Answers
are for who you are now...... not who you were in the past.



Have pen or pencil and paper ready. This is a real test given by the
Human Relations Department at many of the major corporations today.
It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and
prospective employees.



It's only 10 simple questions, so...... grab a pencil and paper,
keeping track of your letter answers. Make sure to change the subject
of the e-mail to show YOUR total.



When you are finished, forward this to everyone you know, and also
send it to the person who sent this to you. Make sure to put YOUR
score in the subject box.
===========================================================



1. When do you feel your best?

a) in the morning

b) during the afternoon and early evening

c) late at night



2. You usually walk...

a) fairly fast, with long steps

b) fairly fast, with little steps

c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face

d) less fast, head down

e) very slowly



3. When talking to people you..

a) stand with your arms folded

b) have your hands clasped

c) have one or both your hands on your hips

d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking

e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair



4. When relaxing, you sit with..

a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side

b) your legs crossed

c) your legs stretched out or straight

d) one leg curled under you



5. When something really amuses you, you react with...

a) big appreciated laugh

b) a laugh, but not a loud one

c) a quiet chuckle

d) a sheepish smile



6. When you go to a party or social gathering you...

a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you

b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know

c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed



7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're

interrupted......

a) welcome the break

b) feel extremely irritated

c) vary between these two extremes



8. Which of the following colors do you like most?

a) Red or orange

b) black

c) yellow or light blue

d) green

e) dark blue or purple

f) white

g) brown or gray



9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before

going to sleep....

a) stretched out on your back

b) stretched out face down on your stomach

c) on your side, slightly curled

d) with your head on one arm

e) with your head under the covers



10. You often dream that you are...

a) falling

b) fighting or struggling

c) searching for something or somebody

d) flying or floating

e) you usually have dreamless sleep

f) your dreams are always pleasant
===========================================================



POINTS FOR EACH ANSWER:

1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6

2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1

3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6

4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1

5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2

6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2

7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4

8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1

9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1

10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1



Now add up the total number of points.



DON'T LOOK BEYOND THIS UNTIL YOUR HAVE COMPLETED AND SCORED YOURSELF.

===========================================================



OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone they should "handle with care."

You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant.
Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't
always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.



51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile,
rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make
decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold
and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who
takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your
company because of the excitement you radiate.



41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing,
practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the
center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go
to their head.

They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone
who'll always cheer them up and help them out.



31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful,
practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest.
Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone
who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same
loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a
lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes
you a long time to get over it, if that trust is ever broken.



21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They
see you as very cautious, extremely careful, slow and steady; It would
really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the
spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully
from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this
reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.



UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive,
someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make
the decisions; who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or
anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that
don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know
you well know that you aren't.

Saturday, April 02, 2005

TeenVoices Online

TeenVoices Online
Notice that teen magazines don't have much to say? Except about clothes, shoes and sexy boy celeberties, that is.

Here's an alternative. Written by and for teen women since 1990. TeenVoice has won lots of awards for it's analysis of important issues, teen women's perspectives and guidance for surviving adolescence.