October 8, 2005

• Ah, what a bittersweet day.  Today was (and still is) Libby’s 11th
  birthday. We left the house at 5:25 a.m. for her first ever
  cheerleading competition. (We had to be in Lock Haven by 7:00, and I
  wanted to eat a nice breakfast at McDonald’s.)  My bottom was
  already sore from sitting when the competition finally got underway at
  10:20. There were five groups there: Centre Bulldogs (us),
  Williamsport, Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, and Central Mountain (Lock
  Haven).  In Libby’s category, the oldest group, all but
  Williamsport had a team.

  Libby’s squad, by far, had the most difficult and entertaining routine.
  They showed the most pep and smiles.   But, when all was said
  and done, they wound up in third place.  I believe that at the
  level they are in, Novice, only considers how well you perform the
  routine, not how difficult it is.   They had a few bobbles
  and such on their mounts, but nothing major.  The team that took
  first looked great. The team that took second looked weak. Their
  routine wasn’t all that entertaining, but they did it well. 

  When they announced that we had taken third, there was silence in the
  gym. I think everyone was stunned that we didn’t place higher. 
  People from other teams came up to our coaches to express
  astonishment.  Unfortunately, the coaches, in their frustration,
  shared this fact with the girls and the fact that they considered that
  we were “robbed.”  I just don’t like it when another group’s glory
  has to be lessened to make us seem better. Yes, we did a fantastic job,
  but for some reason we didn’t place in the top two.  (The top two
  squads advance to regionals.)

  After all the crying and more crying by the squad, we left for
  home.  A trip to Dairy Queen for supper and the promise of
  presents did cheer Libby up, but I know she is still bummed. For my
  part, I am disappointed for the girls, but I am glad that we don’t have
  to go to New Jersey to compete at the Regional level.  Fundraising
  to earn money for a bus and hotel and such doesn’t sound so wonderful,
  especially since both Michael and  David have undefeated teams,
  which more than likely means trips to New Jersey for Regionals for both
  of them.   It’s a good thing we really like the other
  parents. We see a lot of them.

  To finish Libby’s birthday, we opened presents (a scooter, outfit, book, lip gloss, gum, flannel sheets) and watched Napoleon Dynamite,
  which the kids had been dying to see.  Not surprisingly, they
  found it lacking in plot and not that funny, although they kept
  proclaiming, “Oh, Jud does that perfectly” every time Napoleon did a
  “Gosh…”  I think an early bedtime is in order, even though the boys get to stay up to watch the Penn State game.

  As for me, my fivef hours of sleep didn’t go too far. I did try to fall
  asleep earlier by going to bed at 9:30 last night, but it didn’t
  work.  Such is life.

  • 7:38 pm
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