Gimme a 'C'...

Breaking news...

Okay...so it may not be breaking news to you...but it is exciting news for me! 

It started with the opening of college football season last week.  Then the anticipation of the the NFL season starting this coming weekend.  Then...my husband and his fantasy football madness. Football, football, FOOTBALL.  I have always loved high school football games, especially back home in NC when the fall weather brings those crisp Friday nights. (for my friends in Florida, this 'Fall' I mentioned is a time in September-November when the temperature and humidity drop and you can actually stand to be outside for more than twenty minutes.  I know, crazy right?)  I had so much fun watching the ECU Pirates play when I was living back in Greenville in undergrad and grad school and have even had the chance to attend some professional games in NC, CA and FL.  When it's football season some kind of balance is restored in the world...at least at casa Gironda.

Tailgating at ECU (GO PIRATES!)...tom foolery in the sporting good store yesterday...and a pic from a game we went to when living out in San Diego. (GO CHARGERS!)

Yup, that's me circa 1996. Just a baby.

 As the years have gone by I have enjoyed football season more and more...but there has always been one main reason:

The cheerleaders.  After all, I used to be one myself.  I do watch the games...but I keep my eyes on the sidelines for these amazing athletes as well!

If you know me then you know that I used to cheer back in the day and I have coached and judged cheerleading for many years now. I am not coaching a team this year but I am hoping to get back into the judging circuit after a year hiatus. This series isn't just about my love for football season but it is also about my passion for the tradition and sport of cheerleading.  I seriously LOVE cheerleading...it's right up there with my love of art, organization, cats and sparkle.  Many of my art friends don't get this part of me...but if you know my enthusiastic, upbeat personality...well, then it will probably make sense.

And you know...when I get into something, let me admit, I get pretty nerdy about it.  I get into the academic study of the things that interest me, whether it is researching artists (like Frida Kahlo, the inspiration for my last series!) and time periods in art history, reading Tim Gunn's books (I LOVE YOU, TIM GUNN!) and other fashion-related books...but this also applies to cheerleading.  When I first became interested in cheerleading when I was 11-12 years old I got mom to take me to the bookstore so I could find a book about it..and I did.  I still have that book, the pages are folded, high lighted and filled with my notes and sketches...along with a few other books, notes, etc.  I wanted to know as much as possible about cheerleading.

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What a nerd I was...AM!

If you follow my Instagram you have probably seen me use #ArtNerd.  Well...guess I am also a #CheerNerd too.  If you also want to geek out, here are some links that I like, 

• A Brief History of Cheerleading, TIME Magazine photo essays
  
• Being a Cheerleader, The History of Cheerleading, Varsity web site
  
• The History of Cheerleading, International Cheer Union web site

For this series I will be focusing on various high schools that I have had affiliations with...colleges I have some connection to...and, of course, professional teams.  Note...the teams that I select are not based off the football records.  Some of the images may have some type of historical reference, in terms of the history of cheerleading, some because of a direct or indirect affiliation that I may have with the school, location or an individual relevant to that team...and some just for fun, or just 'cause.  The pieces will probably NOT be in any type of chronological order of importance...just gonna let myself get inspired and see where that SPIRIT takes me. 

So that's it.  Grab a foam finger, put on your team colors and take a seat next to the fifty yard line...time to KICK OFF this series!

Three cheers for...the first piece in the series!!