Cheer this!

The Chickabiddy Cheers with the best of them.

My parents hold season tickets to see the Lady Lobos. And they invite us often. I must say that I am not much of a basketball fan. I don't dislike the game, I just don't get much out watching it. But Kaisa-Tinuviel loves it. She loves the crowd. And noise. And the spirit. Yes, the spirit.

She's not as much enraptured with the game itself, but by the cheering. And the cheerleaders. She thinks cheerleaders are the best.

This past week, after much begging - albeit polite (most of the time) begging - we got her a cheerleading outfit, complete with "Future UMN Cheerleader" emblazoned on the front. She wore it to the game right after Thanksgiving.

I don't know who was more excited and thrilled, Kaisa-Tinuviel or the Cheer Squad. All the girls were so very nice to us. They invited us down on the court so we could get pictures. And they let the Chickabiddy cheer.

I really have no idea if my daughter will become a cheerleader. But I know what it is to have a dream about wanting to be something and be excited about it. I love seeing the joy and excitement in my daughter's eyes. She really is my favorite cheerleader and I owe her nothing less.

Thanks UNM Cheer Squad. You've made a little girl very happy. And you've made her parents pretty happy, too!

Woof Toof Noof Roof

It's cold and I want to climb. I really miss the warm days. And the climbing.

Being up on a climb (like Woof Toof Noof Roof (5.10d)) is what I need right now. But it is cloudy and 45 degrees. And that makes me sad.

I am a person who tends to take for granted the things that I love (sorry Eppu! sorry Pikku Boo!). I'm not certain why I do it. But it makes me grumbly when they are no longer around.

So on this cold, cloudy, depressing WORK-day, I realise how much I enjoy climbing outside. And I make this promise: I will stop taking things for granted - at least as much for granted. I will enjoy what I have. I will hold each moment of joy alive as it happens. A tall order, I know. But I think I can pull it off.

Spring, where are you? There're rocks that need climbing!