Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Practice #5 - after a whole week....
Last Sunday we didn't have practice because CMRD (Central Mass Roller Derby) had a fundraiser and I WENT TO SYTYCD on TOUR...
Come Monday morning, I was sicker than a dog... I started not feeling well Saturday and it was like a down hill sprint to sickness... I was supposed to go to a training on Monday in Nashua for how to change my wheels and stuff. Tuesday I was supposed to go to Roby park and practice outside and Thursday I was supposed to got to Tyngsboro, MA for regular practice. I was so sick I didn't do any of these or go to work for 5 days...
Therefore tonight was practice #5... I heard Thursday's practice was over 3 hours of endurance and stamina building that would make even the most competent Fresh Meat almost cry.... I probably picked a good practice to be too sick to practice. Tonight's practice was amazing... Went off with Terri while NHRD scrimmaged against CMRD. FINALLY was able to do a T stop and practiced weaving to the point where a crossover may be coming my way soon. I just need to stretch and get my legs ready for that position....
After being off to the side, we all came together and Tank'd Girl and May B. Knotty ran practice. We did 5 minutes of suicides doing one type of stop... Another 5 minutes of suicides doing a different stop... We did laps and some drills about how to enter back into the track if you get bumped out by a blocker or if you bump out a jammer what to do...
We did some more stop drills... What killed me the most was the last 4 minutes of practice... Two minutes without PICKING YOUR SKATES UP OFF THE FLOOR of doing laps... ALL EIGHT ON THE FLOOR, no picking up a skate to push oneself... KICKED MY ASS... Then after the 2 minutes were up, we turned to skate counter clockwise and do the same thing... HOLY HELL...
3 more practices and I will be able to have my derby name. I am going with SKATEY KAT... Plus my number will be ME0W and the zero is ME0W will have the kitty ears, whiskers and tail... LOVE IT!!!! Some of the fresh meat have great derby names - Terri wants Harmony Lix (like how many licks will it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop... she had to explain it to me.) Melissa wants MZcheif n Mayhem... VERY CREATIVE!!!!
Come Monday morning, I was sicker than a dog... I started not feeling well Saturday and it was like a down hill sprint to sickness... I was supposed to go to a training on Monday in Nashua for how to change my wheels and stuff. Tuesday I was supposed to go to Roby park and practice outside and Thursday I was supposed to got to Tyngsboro, MA for regular practice. I was so sick I didn't do any of these or go to work for 5 days...
Therefore tonight was practice #5... I heard Thursday's practice was over 3 hours of endurance and stamina building that would make even the most competent Fresh Meat almost cry.... I probably picked a good practice to be too sick to practice. Tonight's practice was amazing... Went off with Terri while NHRD scrimmaged against CMRD. FINALLY was able to do a T stop and practiced weaving to the point where a crossover may be coming my way soon. I just need to stretch and get my legs ready for that position....
After being off to the side, we all came together and Tank'd Girl and May B. Knotty ran practice. We did 5 minutes of suicides doing one type of stop... Another 5 minutes of suicides doing a different stop... We did laps and some drills about how to enter back into the track if you get bumped out by a blocker or if you bump out a jammer what to do...
We did some more stop drills... What killed me the most was the last 4 minutes of practice... Two minutes without PICKING YOUR SKATES UP OFF THE FLOOR of doing laps... ALL EIGHT ON THE FLOOR, no picking up a skate to push oneself... KICKED MY ASS... Then after the 2 minutes were up, we turned to skate counter clockwise and do the same thing... HOLY HELL...
3 more practices and I will be able to have my derby name. I am going with SKATEY KAT... Plus my number will be ME0W and the zero is ME0W will have the kitty ears, whiskers and tail... LOVE IT!!!! Some of the fresh meat have great derby names - Terri wants Harmony Lix (like how many licks will it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop... she had to explain it to me.) Melissa wants MZcheif n Mayhem... VERY CREATIVE!!!!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Practice #4 BLOW OUT
Practice # 4 started out like any of the other past practices. We skated around in a "Sprint" which I can't do yet - CROSSOVERS... ARGH.
We were paired up with our Skater Sister and then we were to pair up with another group. It was Roxie Rollin, her skater sister Fresh Meat Anne - this was Anne's first practice as she was on vacation and couldn't make it to the same practice that this fresh meat group started at - Myself and my skater sister Pixie. This started out that the last person in the line of four had to push the other three people around the track as the other three just stood in their skater stance. As Roxie started pushing and pixie was heading to the front of the Anne went down. I don't remember but I managed to get over her, not touch her and then fall down myself... Anne immediately said her ankle was broken and it definitely was - it was perpendicular and just wrong looking... That puts a damper on practice.
What was amazing was how this group of 25 girls was like a well oiled machine. One girl was on the phone with 911, another girl had an ice pack... It was scary but amazing at the same time. Anne ended up breaking 3 bones and everything in her ankle/foot was dislocated.... She wants to come back and skate! LOVE HER!
We were paired up with our Skater Sister and then we were to pair up with another group. It was Roxie Rollin, her skater sister Fresh Meat Anne - this was Anne's first practice as she was on vacation and couldn't make it to the same practice that this fresh meat group started at - Myself and my skater sister Pixie. This started out that the last person in the line of four had to push the other three people around the track as the other three just stood in their skater stance. As Roxie started pushing and pixie was heading to the front of the Anne went down. I don't remember but I managed to get over her, not touch her and then fall down myself... Anne immediately said her ankle was broken and it definitely was - it was perpendicular and just wrong looking... That puts a damper on practice.
What was amazing was how this group of 25 girls was like a well oiled machine. One girl was on the phone with 911, another girl had an ice pack... It was scary but amazing at the same time. Anne ended up breaking 3 bones and everything in her ankle/foot was dislocated.... She wants to come back and skate! LOVE HER!
Practice #3 9/13
This practice started out really well. We get to Leominster and CMRD (Central Mass Roller Derby) is practicing and they have a huge group of Fresh Meat (a lot of which haven't ever skated before - made me look like Brian Boitano in comparison! The guy, Ben, who was going over the ins and out of stopping and crossovers really spelled it out for me and I felt I improved LEAPS AND BOUNDS just from Thursday.
After CMRD left the rink, it was time to skate with NHRD and do drills. There weren't many girls there as the All Stars had an away bout in Delaware Saturday and a lot of girls hadn't gotten back from the road trip.
Kissing Bandit was leading the practice and she wanted us to skate in a line and the last person was to weave in and out of the people in front of them until one reached the front of the line and then the last person would go.... YIKES. I say Yikes because we had to maintain an arm's length apart from the person in front of you. I couldn't do that as I haven't mastered the crossover which maintains speed while skating... So, after a few laps of just trying to stay an arm's length - so I just skated around with my Skater Sister working on my stops. I will say, however, this drill almost caused my first cry session. I felt very disheartened that I physically couldn't do what everyone else was doing. It has nothing to do with my size or whatever, it is that I just don't know how to skate that way YET...
Interestingly enough, after this drill was completed, Bandit worked on Whips... This would be propelling another skater forward to get ahead of a pack or what have you. Since I can't stop, propelling me forward isn't a good idea. Also, this is considered contact- which we shouldn't be doing until we are a level 1, but whips are actually for LEVEL 2's. Glad I didn't participate. Even though I didn't participate, it doesn't mean I went and sat down and watched. I skated around and worked on other things because sitting down is like giving up... And I don't give up!
I must say that I didn't fall at all at this practice.
After CMRD left the rink, it was time to skate with NHRD and do drills. There weren't many girls there as the All Stars had an away bout in Delaware Saturday and a lot of girls hadn't gotten back from the road trip.
Kissing Bandit was leading the practice and she wanted us to skate in a line and the last person was to weave in and out of the people in front of them until one reached the front of the line and then the last person would go.... YIKES. I say Yikes because we had to maintain an arm's length apart from the person in front of you. I couldn't do that as I haven't mastered the crossover which maintains speed while skating... So, after a few laps of just trying to stay an arm's length - so I just skated around with my Skater Sister working on my stops. I will say, however, this drill almost caused my first cry session. I felt very disheartened that I physically couldn't do what everyone else was doing. It has nothing to do with my size or whatever, it is that I just don't know how to skate that way YET...
Interestingly enough, after this drill was completed, Bandit worked on Whips... This would be propelling another skater forward to get ahead of a pack or what have you. Since I can't stop, propelling me forward isn't a good idea. Also, this is considered contact- which we shouldn't be doing until we are a level 1, but whips are actually for LEVEL 2's. Glad I didn't participate. Even though I didn't participate, it doesn't mean I went and sat down and watched. I skated around and worked on other things because sitting down is like giving up... And I don't give up!
I must say that I didn't fall at all at this practice.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Day 2 on Skates
Last night was my second practice and what a WORLD of improvement. Let's say that Balance and learning how to stop are still on the top of my to do list, but I didn't fall as much! I think I had more confidence in myself because I survived the 1st practice, too...
Since the All-Stars have a bout Saturday in Delaware, the Fresh Meat (which we are called until we have a derby name; which is earned after 8 practices) were taken to the side and we worked on skills for our first test. Now, all of the Fresh Meat at practice last night have skated more than one time. I kind of felt a little like a fish out of water. That being said, when I am nervous I tend to make stupid jokes that only I think is funny. Therefore, not sure if I came across as annoying but I will tell you that I did my best at every skill they put in front of me. Some of the Fresh Meat in the group went to the Tuesday night practice- which means they are like ready to test to be a level 1... Personally I am as close to testing to be a level 1 as I am close to being Runner Up for Miss America!
We practiced stopping. One is a a Toe Stop - which is dragging the toe of one's skate to slow oneself down using the rubber stop thingie on your skate. I can get that one OKAY. Not perfect because I haven't mastered balance. The next stop is a T stop. I can't get this to save my life because I have to master that wacky thing called balance. It is literally using your lead foot and taking the opposite foot behind that skate perpendicularly to stop yourself. Because I can't really stand on one foot (whilst moving) I haven't quite gotten it yet. Reffington Steele (one of the Ref's who comes to practice to Ref the scrimmages at the end of practice) told me I can put my skates on and stand in my carpeted living room and just stand on one leg. I am going to try that because it won't hurt. Sadly, standing up with out skates on and standing on one leg is ALSO an issue with me. Balance is an issue NORMALLY for me. Not sure if it is a knee issue or what.
Nonetheless, we also practiced PLOW STOPS, which is just like skiing. However, I feel on skates you have to get your legs wider and your body lower. And since it is day 2 of skating my leg muscles haven't developed enough yet to give me that core strength yet to maintain a low stance. (We did a drill called the shopping cart and my skater sister Pixie pushed me around the floor and I had to hold the skater stance and steer. Steering was me not skating or moving my legs it was leaning into a turn and all that.... After me pushing her around and then her pushing me, my legs were MUSH and then I fell. Therefore I need to build up my strength and skating uses muscles really only built up by skating... GREAT!) I was able to figure out how to do the plow stop, but I think I pulled my groin in the process... We then did KNEE stops where, much like football, you take a knee but you skate into it and then in order to pass to the next level of skater, one must take a knee and get back up within 2 seconds. OH YA! You can't use your hands to get up you must use your legs. Another way to stop is the double knee or the ROCK STAR STOP which looks like the guitar pose where said guitarist slides across the stage on his knees... I got that one pretty well. Finally we did the Baseball stop which is basically like sliding into a base. 26 years of softball, I GOT THIS.... I do have some mechanics to work on, but I nailed it!
The part that will kill me is the cross over... This is how one builds up speed and in order to pick up my right foot, put it in front of my left (hence cross over) and push back out with it will come, but almost not fast enough for me....
I feel pretty good about my improvement from my 1st day skating - it is almost like night and day. Sadly, the girl from practice on Sunday who had a really hard time and had actually skated before, didn't show up. I hope she comes back!!!! I know I will.
No pictures yet of me in derby gear. I will work on that. Just keep praying for me that I keep picking it up quickly and I don't hurt myself.
Day 3 on Skates is 9/13! I'll definitely keep you posted!
Since the All-Stars have a bout Saturday in Delaware, the Fresh Meat (which we are called until we have a derby name; which is earned after 8 practices) were taken to the side and we worked on skills for our first test. Now, all of the Fresh Meat at practice last night have skated more than one time. I kind of felt a little like a fish out of water. That being said, when I am nervous I tend to make stupid jokes that only I think is funny. Therefore, not sure if I came across as annoying but I will tell you that I did my best at every skill they put in front of me. Some of the Fresh Meat in the group went to the Tuesday night practice- which means they are like ready to test to be a level 1... Personally I am as close to testing to be a level 1 as I am close to being Runner Up for Miss America!
We practiced stopping. One is a a Toe Stop - which is dragging the toe of one's skate to slow oneself down using the rubber stop thingie on your skate. I can get that one OKAY. Not perfect because I haven't mastered balance. The next stop is a T stop. I can't get this to save my life because I have to master that wacky thing called balance. It is literally using your lead foot and taking the opposite foot behind that skate perpendicularly to stop yourself. Because I can't really stand on one foot (whilst moving) I haven't quite gotten it yet. Reffington Steele (one of the Ref's who comes to practice to Ref the scrimmages at the end of practice) told me I can put my skates on and stand in my carpeted living room and just stand on one leg. I am going to try that because it won't hurt. Sadly, standing up with out skates on and standing on one leg is ALSO an issue with me. Balance is an issue NORMALLY for me. Not sure if it is a knee issue or what.
Nonetheless, we also practiced PLOW STOPS, which is just like skiing. However, I feel on skates you have to get your legs wider and your body lower. And since it is day 2 of skating my leg muscles haven't developed enough yet to give me that core strength yet to maintain a low stance. (We did a drill called the shopping cart and my skater sister Pixie pushed me around the floor and I had to hold the skater stance and steer. Steering was me not skating or moving my legs it was leaning into a turn and all that.... After me pushing her around and then her pushing me, my legs were MUSH and then I fell. Therefore I need to build up my strength and skating uses muscles really only built up by skating... GREAT!) I was able to figure out how to do the plow stop, but I think I pulled my groin in the process... We then did KNEE stops where, much like football, you take a knee but you skate into it and then in order to pass to the next level of skater, one must take a knee and get back up within 2 seconds. OH YA! You can't use your hands to get up you must use your legs. Another way to stop is the double knee or the ROCK STAR STOP which looks like the guitar pose where said guitarist slides across the stage on his knees... I got that one pretty well. Finally we did the Baseball stop which is basically like sliding into a base. 26 years of softball, I GOT THIS.... I do have some mechanics to work on, but I nailed it!
The part that will kill me is the cross over... This is how one builds up speed and in order to pick up my right foot, put it in front of my left (hence cross over) and push back out with it will come, but almost not fast enough for me....
I feel pretty good about my improvement from my 1st day skating - it is almost like night and day. Sadly, the girl from practice on Sunday who had a really hard time and had actually skated before, didn't show up. I hope she comes back!!!! I know I will.
No pictures yet of me in derby gear. I will work on that. Just keep praying for me that I keep picking it up quickly and I don't hurt myself.
Day 3 on Skates is 9/13! I'll definitely keep you posted!
Monday, September 7, 2009
1st day on skates
Wow, was it daunting. I really thought it would be easier because all the girls make it look so easy. WRONG...
Thank god I started working out a month ago because if I hadn't I would have been toast yesterday. I still have add more to my work outs because core strength is important.
It was great - but the appropriate stance to not fall down is in a squat. I got pooped out really quickly and my legs were shaking like they were going to give out.
I am really nervous about going to practice Thursday because I was so freaking pooped but we shall see! Everyone just say prayers for me that I can pull this off. 7 more practices til I get my derby name!
Thank god I started working out a month ago because if I hadn't I would have been toast yesterday. I still have add more to my work outs because core strength is important.
It was great - but the appropriate stance to not fall down is in a squat. I got pooped out really quickly and my legs were shaking like they were going to give out.
I am really nervous about going to practice Thursday because I was so freaking pooped but we shall see! Everyone just say prayers for me that I can pull this off. 7 more practices til I get my derby name!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Bruised Boutique
My sister and I went to Nashua today to get my roller derby equipment. I got great skates with red laces and wheels. I got an AWESOME red helmet with a skull on it. I got some more socks, a derby skirt, special back pack to carry my gear and I won a skate key (I GOT A BRAND NEW PAIR OF ROLLER SKATES, I GOT A BRAND NEW KEY).
I was so nervous because I think of this new endeavor as like when I was deciding to pledge a sorority. I mean, I even get a name like a pledge name. I met some great people today who helped me out and the girls were SO nice.
I can't wait to get to practice tomorrow. I know i have never skated before but I can't wait. How long have I said I wanted to be a roller girl? Tomorrow is the day that this dream comes to fruition!
Along with this new endeavor, I am ready for a few more change ups. I am going to cut my hair, change my color and get a little crazy. Pics to come.
I was so nervous because I think of this new endeavor as like when I was deciding to pledge a sorority. I mean, I even get a name like a pledge name. I met some great people today who helped me out and the girls were SO nice.
I can't wait to get to practice tomorrow. I know i have never skated before but I can't wait. How long have I said I wanted to be a roller girl? Tomorrow is the day that this dream comes to fruition!
Along with this new endeavor, I am ready for a few more change ups. I am going to cut my hair, change my color and get a little crazy. Pics to come.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Roller Derby reality
Effective 9/6 I will be a Roller Derby Girl. I want a vicious name - Any Ideas? I was thinking of something w/ KAT in it so I can FINALLY go by KAT somehow.
Kat-a-Klizm
Kat-A-Tonic
Kat Von nasTY
I want a mean/perverse/KICK ASS name.... I was thinking of something that had Kat Fight in it or some sort of play on words with Knight Rider (or something). However, there is an official Roller Derby Registry and I have to make sure A.) no one else has the name B.) it isn't too similiar to anyone on my team. For example: A girl wanted Ali Kaslam but it was too close to someone else's so she will be Cherry Block.
Some of the names of the Jersey team that NH Skate or Die bout'ed against Saturday were horrendous. Don't Care Bear, Panda Gunz, Lil Miss Kamikaze.... I want something that screams my name and is awesome at the same time. I was trying to think of some Kid Rock reference but I am coming up with NADA.... HELP?!?!?!?!? (side note: one girl for the Jersey team was Toni Soprano and her number, because everyone needs a number too, was 4gettaboutit! hehehehe).
Kat-a-Klizm
Kat-A-Tonic
Kat Von nasTY
I want a mean/perverse/KICK ASS name.... I was thinking of something that had Kat Fight in it or some sort of play on words with Knight Rider (or something). However, there is an official Roller Derby Registry and I have to make sure A.) no one else has the name B.) it isn't too similiar to anyone on my team. For example: A girl wanted Ali Kaslam but it was too close to someone else's so she will be Cherry Block.
Some of the names of the Jersey team that NH Skate or Die bout'ed against Saturday were horrendous. Don't Care Bear, Panda Gunz, Lil Miss Kamikaze.... I want something that screams my name and is awesome at the same time. I was trying to think of some Kid Rock reference but I am coming up with NADA.... HELP?!?!?!?!? (side note: one girl for the Jersey team was Toni Soprano and her number, because everyone needs a number too, was 4gettaboutit! hehehehe).
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Sometimes I just hate Concord
Tonight - all I wanted to do was pick up the prints I had ordered off of Snapfish.com and I go to pull into the store and someone I don't want to see is getting out of the car to enter the store. I decide to not go in and continue trucking.
Then, I see all these hot rods at the Tuesday night car night at Arnie's. I actually think about pulling in and I see the ever familiar, ratty, white Chevy truck that belongs to a guy that called me a cunt... So, I can't go there.
It just sucks. Makes me want to move to a place where there aren't people ebbing and flowing out of my life that I just don't want to see or share air with. I don't consider myself the type of person that will duck and cover, but it just isn't worth my time, effort or energy to share space with these people.
The Irony of it all is in seeing the ratty white truck, I remembered that he put a NH Skate or Die Roller derby sticker on his dilapadated bumper. Funny to think that come sunday I will be on that team.
Then, I see all these hot rods at the Tuesday night car night at Arnie's. I actually think about pulling in and I see the ever familiar, ratty, white Chevy truck that belongs to a guy that called me a cunt... So, I can't go there.
It just sucks. Makes me want to move to a place where there aren't people ebbing and flowing out of my life that I just don't want to see or share air with. I don't consider myself the type of person that will duck and cover, but it just isn't worth my time, effort or energy to share space with these people.
The Irony of it all is in seeing the ratty white truck, I remembered that he put a NH Skate or Die Roller derby sticker on his dilapadated bumper. Funny to think that come sunday I will be on that team.
Take me out to the ball game?
Friday a bunch of former coworkers went to the Fisher Cats' game. Originally we all had tickets the day before my last day at liberty and I was going to throw out the 1st pitch. It was pouring and they game HAD to be played because there was no time to make up the game. So, the people that actually went to the game could use their old ticket stub to get a free ticket to any game they wanted. It was decided we would go on August 28th... I lost my ticket so I had to pay the whopping $8 to get a new ticket.
Well, we find our seats and approximately 10 rows in front of me is my first real boyfriend. The boy I lost my virginity to on August 11, 1994.... WITH HIS WHOLE FAMILY. His wife, his kids, his brother, his brother's wife, his wife's sister... Oh ya. Mind you, when my grandmother died this guy's brother was getting married and my mom didn't let me go to my grandmother's funeral because I was to go their wedding on the cape in 1996. Yup, missed my Grandmother' funeral for this family...
This was just surreal because I hadn't seen him since 1999... THE DAY OF GRADUATION... And I liked that I hadn't seen him. Well, he has not aged well. He still has his chicken legs, but he has DEFINITELY thickened up, his forehead has turned into a 6 or 8 head because his hairline is receding and he looks old. Mind you, his birthday is in 2 weeks and he will turn 33, so I am actually older than him... The best part of this is that my friends couldn't believe that HE was my ex and that I was actually older than him. They MADE this into a better event than it could have been. SERIOUSLY... They kept asking me if he was my professor in college and how did I know his real birthday because he looks far too old to actually be younger than me... Just made it better.
Sadly, a flood of emotions came into my brain about seeing this guy again. He is the only serious boyfriend I have ever had that I have dated for over a year... 2.5 years from the time I was 18 til I was 20. I thought I was going to be with him for the rest of my life. I am okay that we are not together because he did some hurtful things and said some even more hurtful things. In fact, what he said was SO hurtful to me that I still can't get over what he said and it has been over 10 years since he said them to me....
Nonetheless, while I know that I am the cutest person EVER, it makes me feel a million times better to know that this guy looks older than Methuselah.
Well, we find our seats and approximately 10 rows in front of me is my first real boyfriend. The boy I lost my virginity to on August 11, 1994.... WITH HIS WHOLE FAMILY. His wife, his kids, his brother, his brother's wife, his wife's sister... Oh ya. Mind you, when my grandmother died this guy's brother was getting married and my mom didn't let me go to my grandmother's funeral because I was to go their wedding on the cape in 1996. Yup, missed my Grandmother' funeral for this family...
This was just surreal because I hadn't seen him since 1999... THE DAY OF GRADUATION... And I liked that I hadn't seen him. Well, he has not aged well. He still has his chicken legs, but he has DEFINITELY thickened up, his forehead has turned into a 6 or 8 head because his hairline is receding and he looks old. Mind you, his birthday is in 2 weeks and he will turn 33, so I am actually older than him... The best part of this is that my friends couldn't believe that HE was my ex and that I was actually older than him. They MADE this into a better event than it could have been. SERIOUSLY... They kept asking me if he was my professor in college and how did I know his real birthday because he looks far too old to actually be younger than me... Just made it better.
Sadly, a flood of emotions came into my brain about seeing this guy again. He is the only serious boyfriend I have ever had that I have dated for over a year... 2.5 years from the time I was 18 til I was 20. I thought I was going to be with him for the rest of my life. I am okay that we are not together because he did some hurtful things and said some even more hurtful things. In fact, what he said was SO hurtful to me that I still can't get over what he said and it has been over 10 years since he said them to me....
Nonetheless, while I know that I am the cutest person EVER, it makes me feel a million times better to know that this guy looks older than Methuselah.
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