Purple Tinted Glasses

This weekend was Big Easy Rollergirls’ last home bout of the season against Orange County Rollergirls’ Orange Crushers. One of our own returned home with her new team and basically showed us how it’s done… if you want to look at it that way.

One thing I’ve noticed is that every time our travel team goes up against another team, they seem to tower over us. Surprisingly, that’s never the reason or any type of intimidation or pre-game jitters I might have. We usually have “got it all together” by the time a game comes to be.

We’ve been blaming a lot of our failure on the fact that we (BERG Allstars, as we’ve been referred to) are a mixture of all the home teams and, since our home schedule is heavily based on us playing each other as home teams, we rarely get to practice and play together unless it’s in the weeks prior to an upcoming bout.

There are teams out there that have been skating together for years now. Others are newer but focus most of their energy on Interleague play. I think we’re getting there. It’s just taking us a while to get our shit together.

So anyway, at this point I probably don’t even need to say it but we lost — again. We held it together for most of the beginning of the game. At one point I remember one of the announcers saying the game was tied at 39. It definitely was not as murderous as some of the games we’ve played in the past. Here’s to next weekend against the Hot Rod Honeys… where we will probably get our asses handed to us on a silver platter.

P.S. How did you like that art work on the bout poster? The girl looks vaguely familiar.

Well, the long awaited d-word is over. (That’s the draft for you non-derby loving folks)

It’s time for Bea to say good by MAs, hello Crescent Wenches! Now, it’s not all that bad being an Antoinette. I mean… we were UNDEFEATED! And, I did JUST buy a house in the Marigny to make us official. (I’ll let you believe that, if you wish.)

Here’s to next season. For now, I’ve gotta stay focused on the next two weeks. The last home game of the season is May 24, BERG travel team vs. Orange County Rollergirls followed by BERG travel team vs. Austin’s Hot Rod Honeys the next weekend.

I can’t wait to buy my pink leg warmers!

Here I am, two days before something’s due to the printer (more like 24 hours) and I haven’t started yet. It’s not that hard. Most of the work is already done. I kind of just forgot about it with everything else going on right now. I’m not stressing yet, but I don’t feel well and can’t keep my eyes open.

I notice I’ve kind of glazed over the last couple of derby matches, I think because I either run out of time or I feel like I’ve said the same thing over and over again.

Our last game was a travel game against the Caroilna Rollergirls Tai-Chitas. I guess there’s not much to say about this one either. At least it didn’tturn into the Philly Tournament manslaughter that we went through last year. It was still hard and we still lost, but we put a good number of points on the board.

I had the worst shin splints for this game starting at warm ups. Everyone keeps telling me that I skated very well. From what I could tell, I was slow as all hell, in a lot of pain and ate floor more often than not.

Without saying too much more, I really was almost just going to post this photo without saying much else. Thanks Scott, for always catching the moment!

This is starting to feel like a homework assignment gone bad.

As I was falling asleep last night, I had a semi-decent idea in my head as to how to start this story off. Now, a little more than 24 hours later… gone. Well, here goes nothing.

Once upon a time, we skated together. Today (or approaching a couple of weeks ago now) we meet again, bearing opposing jerseys, ready for battle (on the track that, is).

The score was close. We played hard. The Antoinettes took the victory that night. (Hey, that’s us!)

The worst part about being undefeated is the urge of the majority to cheer for the underdog. It is really disheartening when you hear the yells and cheers when YOU’RE the one getting nailed to the ground and knocked out of bounds. I could say that I got over it quickly and went on with the rest of the game. I mean, why should it bother me if people rejoice when I fall? Meh. Let them eat cake!

The most memorable event of the whole night was probably the after party. Too bad it was a Sunday and I had work the next day. It was turning into a good old-fashioned LNK night. I think it was 3am before I even realized I wasn’t in bed yet.

I guess I would have called it a night at the same time regardless. You see, I was catering (as best I could) to my broken butt, referee boyfriend (took a skate wheel to the tailbone). At this point he’s healing nicely, so you can see how much free time I’ve had lately to tell this story.

As for now, the Antoinettes are looking ahead when we take on our next opponents: The StoryVillians.

Hope to see you there (and cheering when I do something good).

And as a side note (my favorite moment from the BERG Blog)
After the bout and most of clean up:
Not Mel (Mr. The Countess): Have you ever seen Fred Astaire dance?
Beatrix: Well, yeah. In commercials and stuff.
Mr. The Countess: You skate like Fred Astaire dances.
Beatrix: Awwww, thanks Mel!

I’ll be honest. Saturday (along with the rest of this weekend) is a smudge in my cranium. I remember one series of events very clearly from bout night. Conceded as it may be, it was my first jam of the game lining up as jammer.

The Antoinettes were up, but not by much. I got through the pack, lead jammer. It was like my feet were thinking independently of the rest of me. My skates knew better than my brain that I just wanted to go really, really fast! I don’t even think I thought about it. Or maybe I did, but I certainly don’t remember (Have I said that already? I can’t quite remember). I scored 11 points that jam.

The rest of the game… well, 2 periods of 20 minutes of play went by in a snap. I jammed one other time, making my best friend very angry that I didn’t jam more. I can’t control her feelings. I can just agree.

I’m not angry or upset at anything from Saturday, though. We all played like rock stars. And by all of us, I mean the whole league. We were finally able to welcome the skater tots to the world of derby! It’s weird being called a vet now. I feel equal to these girls. And let’s be honest… any one of them could knock me to the ground and point and laugh and any given time.

‘Til next time. November 18th. It’s a Sunday. I expect to see you all there. Cheering for the Antoinettes as they take on their former teammates (Punches). I’m calling it the black team grudge match. I can’t wait!

Final Scores:
Marigny Antoinettes 99, Crescent Wenches 60
Story Villains 75, Confederacy of Punches 59

Oh yeah, we won!

Apparently I’m 3 for 3 this weekend: Antoinettes, Tigers, and SAINTS!

Apparently, if dreams were real, this is how long I have left to live unless I find the proper donor. Donor of what? I can’t remember. Although, death in nine days “unless” it is not considered terminal. Not in dream land. I basically spent my night last night thinking that I will soon be six feet under. There was present some Jumanji of a board game, where people from my past (whom are not very fond of me anymore, I’m sure) were forced to play in order for a chance to save my life. That’s not comforting. I was beyond relieved when I woke up to find that it was only a dream, at least.

My bad feeling escalated on the way to work when I realized my schedule for the next couple of days:

• Tonight: Practice, food, pack
• Tomorrow: Work, airport, Orlando, laptop in hand to start designing bout programs
• Saturday: Orlando, IBIE, LSU football game at a bar, BERG program work
• Sunday: Orlando, IBIE again, maybe some food, freelance (that I don’t get paid for) until I drop dead
• Monday: Airport, work, make myself up to look fabulous, Karaoke with the Rollergirls (Just remembering I need to print out flyers today, as well)
• Tuesday: League Meeting, program design
• Wednesday: I rest. But I want to paint my house. Maybe I’ll do this here, but then again, there’s that program that’s still not finished. Although this day is usually reserved for dinner and Dexter. Choices.
• Thursday: Practice. Slice. Program.
• Friday: Thankfully, nothing on the calendar yet. Hopefully the stinking program is done by now.
• Saturday: Practice. Zoo. Picnic. LSU vs. Kentucky
• Sunday: Practice. Maybe I can do that painting stuff here!
• Monday: Files to Printer. Managers’ meeting. That’ll take up the whole night.
• Tuesday: Flake out. Maybe wrap up uniform for the weekend.
• Wednesday: Possible Audubon, Dinner, Dexter
• Thursday: Practice
• Friday: Rally night at my high school. I may be a judge. I’ll find out soon enough.
• Saturday: Bout Day, LSU vs. Auburn
• Sunday: REST. (you realize that this day is Oct 20th… today is Oct 4)

So, I got carried away. I don’t see much room for sleep. Maybe it’s only until Monday, October 15 that I need to worry about. Then again, that’s pre-bout week and I’ll be stressing anyway. My birthday week follows. I’ve already decided I don’t really have time to celebrate this year.

One day at a time, right?

Glossary of terms:
IBIE: International Baking Industry Expo, in Orlando. I designed the booth graphics
Orlando: Where I will be, mostly for work, to train to do more tradeshows.
BERG: Big Easy Rollergirls. My full time leisure activity.
Program: Bane of my existence.
Practice: Depending on the day: Geared up, physical activity from 8-10am or 6:30-8:30 PM

For the first time in what seems like an eternity, I enjoyed myself a good ole’ fashioned Molly Ringwalds Weekend! Well, I enjoyed myself a Molly Ringwalds Friday Southport show and followed up with a weekend long hang over.

I’m serious. Nauseous until Monday morning.

How many drinks did I have?
Well, four.

What did I drink?
My usual. Kettle on the rocks with a lime.

What hangover remedies did I try?
Water, alkaseltser, Rock Star (energy drink — it’s got b vitamins), junk food, greasy food (will never eat crystal burger again… bleh), more water, diet coke, gas station chicken salad sandwich, more water… Can you believe? I completely forgot (when having an excuse) to DRINK PEPTO BISMAL? I bet that would have worked.

Was it worth it?
Um… Yeah. I got to see the Molly Ringwalds for the first time in what felt like… well, you know…

The rest of the weekend was consumed by derby, both practice and bout viewing.

Yes, I actually skated practice. I wasn’t ready to gouge someone’s eyes out until after I cooled down.

The bout viewing was in Mobile (vs. MSRG), where three of our top BERG refs went to lend their services. And as it happened in our first few bouts, so did it here… by the end of the game, everyone was angry with the refs. They’ll learn. It took our girls about three games worth of point counting and scrutinizing. It’s easier to just leave it on the track.

Pictures would follow, except I’m pretty sure I lost my camera at some point since Saturday at 6pm. Can’t find it and have no desire to look for it right this second.

And quit talking behind my back because it only took four drinks for my stupid hangover.

Imagine my disappointment: waking up this morning to find out, not only is it NOT Saturday, it isn’t even FRIDAY!!

Man it’s been a rough week. As some know, this weekend past was dedicated to derby in every way shape and form. Last week was a string of late nights, ending anywhere from 1am to 4am. Friday I crashed. I was in bed for 8:30 and didn’t wanke up until 5:30 am. I should have slept longer.

So Saturday (starting at 5:30 am), I checked some email, did the practice thing, ate… and then, DUH DUH DUHNN… it was “derby other” (a play on how I log my time at work). Call it a marathon of sorts. Let’s just say, the Saints game Saturday was a figment of my imagination, dinner sucked and I didn’t take a nap until about 5:30am. WHY? I was strapped to my laptop by my finger tips, sitting at Zotz, ignoring my white zombie (triple espresso and white chocolate over ice), laying out the BERG calendar.

Sunday appears, literally in the blink of an eye. Do I make it to practice? No. But I did make it to my team meeting where I did enjoy 3 hours with my new and old team mates, eating pizza and conquering my fear of the small blue backyard pool slides. Shortly after, I was back in front of my machine… sans power cord at this point since I absent mindedly left mine (apparently $160 worth) plugged into the outlet at Zotz.

Sunday night passes WAY to fast. Monday morning was here and I still had a few hours left on the layout. By the time 8am rolled around, I hadn’t showered since Saturday afternoon and I had given up all hope of making it to work before the afternoon.

I finally got to sleep at about 3:30pm on Monday for a two hour nap and didn’t get a good chunk of sleep until about 10pm later that night. I was described as simply, -out-.

Now, here it is, apparently only THURSDAY and I am still tired. I am fighting a silent battle in my mind as to whether sleep or finishing Harry Potter 6 is more important.

On a happy note, I got compliments on my skating tonight AND that $160 worth of power cord found it’s way back to me. Yay. Oh, and if you want one of those blood, sweat and tears calendars, go to www.bigeasyrollergirls.com while supplies last!

Boot Camp, Derby Style One month into training for the 2007-08 season, the league decided to kick it up a notch.

Thursday kicked off the start of Boot Camp at the normal practice time. The Carolina girls were welcomed by a slew of students, professionals and mothers turned derby chicks in a matter of minutes. Practice was followed by some drinking and squat contesting at the Bridge Lounge. Yes, that’s right, derby invaded preppy for just a couple of hours. (Warning: Do not try to do a victory dance straight out of a squatting position after a minute and 30 seconds while holding a beer - you will wind up ass first on the floor.)

Friday was an odd practice time, starting at 4:30! I left work early and was late, so I had to do warm up twice. I get livid when I have to do warm ups twice, by the way. I’ve never been more than 30 seconds off the track. But late is late and I only bitch about it when I’m one of the ones stuck warming up twice.

Saturday was running in the park followed by dry land exercises and an ity bit of yoga. Skating at Airline should have followed immediately. Alas, schedule conflict and we wound up in Audubon park where we practiced strategy amidst a huge family picnic complete with BBQ, some kind of boiling seafood ad line dances. I managed to squeeze in a $10 burrito, and a couple of laps before going home to shower only to run of to something else derby that I can’t quite remember right now.

Sunday was skating (again at 8am), followed immediately by more skating across the river for another 2 hours, some running in the park, some tricep-dips, MORE squats (holy crap, Em had everybody for SIX minutes!!)

We bid our Carolina mentors good bye at Savvy Gourmet and wound up wrapping up the weekend about 6 hours early. Let’s just say I had me some good sleep and a kick ass massage on Monday evening (which revealed that, although my right side hurt the most and had the least neck movement range, my left side was indeed much tighter and much more painful - in a good way- to get rubbed out than the other).

My favorite moment: getting complimented by Leadfoot long after the fact for a PERFECT hit I landed on a newbie. Yes, I felt bad for hitting her, but I bet she’ll always look over her right shoulder from now on.

To top it all off: I suffered through banged up knees all through boot camp with neosporin and bandaids. For those of you who don’t know, you can find pieces of my knee skin probably still stick to the pavement on Decatur where I went over the handlebars of my bike and landed the perfect derby fall sans knee pads and wrist guards. The rest of that story I’ll save for another time. I’m still waiting for my left knee to scab up and GO AWAY!