Funny things
Many people in Scotland have been quite surprised to find out that I was a cheerleader (and now that I’ve revealed the truth, some blogmates may be surprised too). Loud music. Silly faces. Short skirts. Dancing. Tumbling. And some rocking stunting. That just doesn’t seem to fit into what they know of me now. Cheerleaders are supposed to be well, dumb, or at least not in the Honours classes. Can’t you see the headlines? “Cheerleader turned PhD” - utterly shocking! Cheerleaders, like (American) football players are also a part of enshrined American culture that is virtually and imaginatively inaccessible to other cultures. That is my interesting thought of today (and I’m not even sure it’s all that interesting).
What is something about you that someone might be surprised to know?
March 16th, 2005 at 11:40 pm
I like your headline, maybe “Cheerleader earns PhD”. A fair portion of your squad was scholastically advanced and a number will end up with advanced degrees and/or great jobs. So, you mean English football (soccer) teams don’t have cheerleaders? And your mention of the pounding beats, tumbling, etc. for me ties into your previous post, because I think I can close my eyes and still hear the music, see the tumbling runs, and the ‘facials’. Eight hours on a hard bleacher for two and a half minutes of cheering your squad!
As to your question, it reminds me of those dinner party games where you give three ‘facts’ about yourself, two of which are lies, and your friends try to discern the true statement. My surprise - I’ve saved two people from drowning on two different occasions.
March 17th, 2005 at 1:28 am
Tor, I find your level of interest in cheerleading slightly frightening :).
You saved people from drowning???
March 17th, 2005 at 11:24 am
I must say, I never would have guessed you were a cheerleader. However, it isn’t something that would normally come to mind from a canadian. Cheerleading just doesn’t make it past the 49th parallel. In fact… cheerleading was banned from my high school (could be because I went to a catholic school).
Anyways… here are three things about me. Guess which is false:
1- Competed in the Ontario 4×100m freestyle and medaly relay’s finals.
2- recieved all A’s in my final year of my undergrad
3- drove from toronto to vancouver in 45 hours
March 17th, 2005 at 12:11 pm
You know, it’s sad…I can’t really think of anything that people would be surprised to know about me. I’m pretty predictable. There must be something….
March 17th, 2005 at 10:57 pm
Dave, I guess that #1 is false…don’t know though…
And I went to a Catholic high school too - obviously cheerleading wasn’t banned there.
March 17th, 2005 at 11:35 pm
Since I can’t think of anything substantial you might not know about me, here’s a tidbit:
I once had a wild bird (I think a blue jay?) land on my head. I was about 5 or 6. I had been petting a little baby bird that was on my swing set, and I guess the mama wasn’t too pleased with me doing that. She swooped down, landed quickly on my head, and flew off; it did the trick–I was scared and went inside.
March 17th, 2005 at 11:36 pm
Nah, #1 is true. I have no idea how far apart Toronto and Vancouver are…I’m gonna guess #2 is false.
March 18th, 2005 at 12:00 am
I was never a cheerleader.
March 18th, 2005 at 9:57 am
2 is false…. i recieved all A’s except in my only physics course that year which i recieved a C.
March 18th, 2005 at 11:47 am
Hey David, how’d the move go?
March 18th, 2005 at 2:08 pm
i know something intriguing about Sarah…but we don’t really talk about it. It involves Bell Canyon.
As for me, I almost joined the Army. I know you don’t know me, but this surprizes others I tell. (Or neglect to tell…)
March 19th, 2005 at 5:37 pm
Most of the cheerleaders at my (evangelical Christian) high school were, um, rather promiscuous and snobby, so I’ve never been a cheerleader.
It’s cool that you were, though! You have a very cheerleader look to you, actually, if that makes any sense.
Deep, dark secret: I actually love rap music. Surprise.
March 20th, 2005 at 8:18 pm
Cool secret Manders - I imagine part of the appeal of rap music is from your poetry side. This pic of me on the blog does look ‘cheerleady’, I agree. But if/when you see me day to day, I look more like a tired, I-took-10-mins-to-get-ready student.
March 21st, 2005 at 10:37 am
I was a cheerleader in college…but I don’t think that’s a secret. I guess my secret is that I wish that I could theologically handle High Church Anglicanism, because I really like the robes and stuff.