My LOVE for Footnotes

As most of you know I work at a dance studio in Ceres... This is my 5th year with Footnotes Dance Studio! Now, I have worked for some real assholes in my life! ALL MEN! The one positive thing that I took from my crappy experiences was a BACK BONE! I used to come home crying from the gymnastics gym I worked at almost weekly! James always said, "Kerry, you have to speak up for yourself or people will always run over you..." Guess I took that advice and RAN!

I started dance at age 3 in King City Ca at Pauline's Dance Studio... Black leotard, and pink tights, bun in hair every week! It was instant love! I LOVED to dance and entertain! I was introduced to "The Nutcracker" where I portrayed a mouse! I know, freakin lame right? BUT, I was little, and cute:)

We then moved to Anaheim Hills Ca where I danced at Christines..... Stayed there and did 2 recitals and we were off to move again!

Ending up in Turlock at age 8, my Mom enrolled me with Deborah Morgan.... I danced with Deborah for 13 years.. I had some amazing experiences, including many trips! LA, San Fran, Vegas.... But nothing could compare to the very last trip I was able to make at age 20, to Europe! I traveled to England, Amsterdam, France and Scotland! Danced in Hyde Park in London, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland just to name a few. It was a chance of a lifetime! I was on a tour for 2 weeks, never been away from home, and in love with my future husband... I was so home sick! However, the experience was one that I cannot begin to put into words! Simply AMAZING!

I started coaching cheer for a local youth team at age 15... I stayed with Turlock Youth Cheer for 7 wonderful years! I talked the advisors into letting them compete which was something they had never done! It kinda escalated from there! I worked with some amazing young ladies, and some with whom I am still in touch with today..

After I realized I could actually get paid to teach, I moved onto high school cheer teams... Denair High, Delhi High, and then onto a magnificent Co Ed All Star Team named: Turlock Cheer Unlimited! They were the highlight of my coaching career! Kicking ass and taking names! Damn kids were spectacular!

I took some time off from coaching to start my family, and I missed it so! I contacted a local gym owner to see if he'd be interested in starting an all girl all star team... He agreed and I worked with Cheer Force Unlimited All Stars for 2 years... After my 2nd year, I was up to my neck and, had had it with cheer! I was so done! I wanted so badly to go back to my roots and start teaching dance! I wanted to be at a studio that had competitive teams as well as regular classes! Be careful what you wish for!

I met Lindsey Taylor years ago when I danced for Deborah.... We were in the same class... Very sweet, beautiful, curly blonde girl from Ceres.. Always thought she was a little quiet but oh so nice! Little did I know that years later that quiet, pretty girl would be signing my paychecks!

I ran into Lindsey at a local competition in Turlock my last year of cheer.. I said hello, and told her if she was hiring for her studio to please let me know! I wanted OUT of that crazy cheer world! Much to my surprise, she e mailed a few weeks later..

When I started with Footnotes I was so nervous! So scared, I mean I was so much older then the other instructors, and obviously not in the same shape as these little 2o somethings! Talk about intimidation! Almost immediately these people made me feel so welcome! They were funny, and you could tell they were all close! I really didn't think I would be accepted....... I was so wrong!

Five years later and I know I am where I belong... These people are family! I have developed some amazing friendships and bonds with these talented individuals! They have ALL been there for me through good and bad times.... The staff in the above picture are the people I can turn to in any crisis... I could not ask to have a more amazing job! I get to work with the sweetest kids who LOVE coming to dance class! I want to make their experience that much more special each week! Those kids light up my life, and if I am ever down they make me smile!

Netta, Chrissy, Melissa, Roxanne, Linds, Simon, Brianne, Melanie, Twitter, Morgan, Haylee, Sonya, Steph and Pookie:

You are so special to me.... You are not only co workers but you are FAMILY to me.... Thank you for making work such a fun and interesting place to be! Always a good time with this crew.... The work that we create together as a company is PHENOMENAL! Recital after recital we always pull out the most fantastic shows! I love you all so much and am so grateful that you have all come into my life..

Oh, and it's nice to have a boss who appreciates you.. It's also a perk to have that person be one of your very best friends.

YOU ALL ARE SUCH TALENTED AND REMARKABLE PEOPLE.. CHEERS TO ALL OF YOU!

XOXOXO

Peas and carrots

I could go on and on about Footnotes Dance Studio... You can check us out on Facebook or at

www.footnotesdancestudio.com

You won't regret sending your dancer to us! The STAFF will treat you like family...

Complaints Complaints

Ok, tonight I am going to vent and complain, so I am WARNING you now.... Don't read ahead unless you want to hear me whine!

Ok, first off.... It is against the LAW to go into a cross walk while pedestrians are in it! I deal with this everyday when I pick Jayce up from school! Even if they are half way through you CANNOT drive through it until they have crossed completely! Get it assholes? GOOD! Don't do it!

So, you people who decide to walk in the middle of the lane in the Target Parking Lot (Or any parking lot) are idiots! Get the hell out of the way! Either move to the left or, move to the right! There are cars trying to find a parking space, and what's even more irritating is when I am creeping up slowly in my car behind you, and you KEEP WALKING in the center! Get the fuck out of the way! Seriously!

For Christs sakes people, do you have to bring 7 family members to a doctor's appointment for your child? As if their aren't enough seats to sit in already! I mean, is it a show?? And, what kills me is when the child's name is called they ALL go to! Next time Logan has a doctors appointment I am sending out (USING YOUR LINE CURRY), engraved invitations to my entire family so they can come watch him get weighed, check his height, check his temp or, get shots! I think it is insane! I mean my own husband doesn't come to the kids appointments! Glad everyone is spreading their germs in the waiting room as if it isn't infested enough with cooties from the green, snotty nosed kid who just sneezed everywhere! Stay home, please!

Is it necessary to leave your trash in the grocery cart? Empty Starbucks cups, used Kleenex, your shopping list.... I have even seen diapers! MARCH YOUR LAZY ASS TO THE GARBAGE CAN! Oh, the best is when people go car seat shopping and leave the big ass box in the parking lot! Now that's a good one! Like the people in the store wanna clean up after you, an ADULT! Geesh!

Last but not least.... Costco samples are NOT a lunch time buffet for your damn family! It is to try a product and move on! Don't "park" your cart in the middle of the lane, where everyone has to go around it or get backed up because you want to feed you and your 12 kids lunch! GO TO THE FOOD COURT!

Ok, I think I am done.... Gosh, I kinda feel better:)

All bitching and complaining is copyright of me, and only me.... These are just my opinions and random thoughts.

Ignorance is a bitch

First of all, SMB thank you for inspiring me to write tonight.... You are amazing..

Do you realize that in the last 3 weeks their have been 5 suicide's by teens who are gay? FIVE! That is one too many!.... WHY in the hell is this still an issue? I do NOT understand...

Now, before you judge me or, my opinion, I can tell you first hand that I have personally dealt with homosexuality almost my whole life... It is near and dear to me, and I have always been ok with it... It does not bother me at all! I am not writing tonight to change your mind, or to make you believe in what I believe in... If anything, take a moment to look around, there is someone near you almost everyday who is gay. Is it really affecting your life?

How sad that the families of these young victims are dealing with these tragedies! How SAD that these victims felt there was no other way... How sad that our society has so much other fucked up shit going on that their focus is to tell someone who they should or shouldn't love.... Tyler Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge... and 13 year old Seth Walsh hanged himself! In most of these cases, these kids were teased and bullied. This makes me sick! When I was in school, I got teased for having big boobs! It was so hurtful, and I cannot IMAGINE what these kids had to endure everyday of their lives...

Gay people aren't sick... You can't get a disease from sitting next to them. Gay people don't turn straight people gay... Why can't people in this country educate themselves? Why are people so damn mean? Oh, and let me tell you, gay people are NOT going to pick up on your ass! Trust me, they know who runs in their circle! Good lord.. You ain't that fly!

I found out that my Brother was gay when I was 15.. A Sophomore in High School, my Mom came into my room one evening to tell me.... I said, "ok...." She looked at me funny.... I said, "Mom, I could have told you that..." I knew, I always knew.... It wasn't something shocking nor did it bother me in the least. My Brother was an amazing person, both talented and funny........

I knew that I went to school with a lot of people who were gay... They either didn't know it yet, or they were too scared to admit it and come out... How sad! How is it that I can walk around and be who I want to be but, a gay person has to hide, bottle it up, pretend... I find that so disturbing and pathetic that I live in a country where I am supposed to have freedoms but, a gay person has to worry about the ignorance and brain washed church crowds to look down on them and "pray" for them? They don't need prayer! They need support, love, loyalty and acceptance! I hope that in my lifetime I live to see the day when the gay community is accepted by all... Until then, I will continue to LOVE everyone... Gay, straight, black, green, polka dotted, skinny, fat whatever!!

I am not here to change your views.... We all have a right to our opinion, that is for sure... I think that everyone needs to be aware of what is going on with these young kids! Our youth shouldn't be dying! They have a whole life ahead of them! I know that I have already talked to Jayce about the subject... I have told him that we DO NOT make fun of people regarding their race, origin or, choice of loved one.. It is WRONG and if he ever has any questions to come to ME!!! Not to anyone else! I will fill my child's head with knowledge and not HATE or disgust!

Take a minute to remind yourself that we all have choices... And although you may not "believe" there is no NEED to be mean and hateful.. Just mind your own business.

Rob,

You are amazing and I am proud of you everyday! You inspire me more then you will ever know! You have been there for me when nobody else was....... I know I can always call you for a good laugh and, although you are a state away I am always here for you and will hop on the next flight in a heartbeat if you ever need it! You are strong, and endured so much.... Your talent has taken you so far, and I admire all you do for others. You are the most unselfish person I have ever known. How lucky I am to have a big Brother like you!