And things are sort of better.

So I was fired yesterday. But that meant I was free for a different job a friend told me about, and so my resume is submitted for that, and hopefully I’ll hear about it soon. I also applied to CostCo so I can at least make some money while I’m taking these courses (plus they’re supposed to be a great company to work for, and it’s not like I haven’t got retail experience or grocery experience!) so hopefully there will be some openings at at least one of the 3 relatively nearby ones if the other thing doesn’t work out. Also, I’m web-imping for a friend, and that came about last night as well, and though it is hardly any money it’s good experience in general and good for my resume to say I created and maintain a website.

Today I met up with my boss and turned over my supplies/keys and then went skating. I warmed up by seeing how many laps I could do in 5 minutes (16, though I wasn’t trying too hard so I think I could have done 20 really. I had done 23 in 5 before, but not since last spring, and I figured I’d be rusty.) and then I worked on rule 3.4.1 (aka “Maneuvers through 10 cones, each no more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) apart (not to exceed 50 feet or 15 meters), placed through the straightaways and track turns, in less than 6 seconds”) though I wasn’t even at the “in less than six seconds part. I basically just lined up 10 cones 4-5 feet apart and worked on slaloming through them. It was a bit of a discouraging skating day, I didn’t have any painful falls but I had a couple “wrong” falls and I tripped over my cones a couple times (they’re the 3″ high ones, so they’re easy to start to skate over.) Despite having my not-a-camelbak, I got pretty dehydrated and ended up stopping a lot sooner than I wanted. I tried 5 laps in a minute (first time: 1 minute 34 seconds) then sat down, took off my helmet and rested, drinking water a little too fast, and generally being way too warm, and then tried again (putting my helmet back on was torture, shoulda stopped then I think!) and shaved 8 seconds off, but I felt so hot and headachy (and not a little discouraged that the improvement wasn’t greater) I stopped after that, geared down in record time, grabbed my cones (squatting to pick up the 10 in a line, being lazy and bending at the waist to get the two that mark the outside bounds of the track) and got home within the 15-20 minute window for carbs/protein ingestion (see here, hattip to Surly of Whip My Assets for linking that one) and grabbed an Endurance shake, and then some chocolate milk, but the headache got worse anyway.

My no-longer-boss called and we had a really good talk about what happened and stuff (the dog-walking business is half-owned and run by my cousin, and she wanted to clear the air about the firing and some stuff) and then I had some leftover chicken and some migraine meds, iced my brain, and napped. For over 5 hours, it turned out. So I didn’t get to start on the website project, but now I feel a lot better both physically and emotionally (much love to Sashion Victim, roller derby announcer extraordinaire and all around sweetheart, for refusing to let me talk shit about myself on FB yesterday! Love ya, Sasha!) I also checked my progress last night; lost 2.4 pounds since starting to eat healthier and all that jazz, and lost 2.5 inches off my waist. Also, my boobs have not reduced. (Yay, boobs!) Though if they do, as I told a friend, they will still be awesome.

So now I’m gonna actually water my mint and chives that are out on the balcony instead of just saying “I need to water those plants,” make some dinner, eat some dinner, and stay up to what will probably be the wee hours of the morning playing code monkey, because that’s how I roll when I code, and tomorrow I have to do a tiny art project in preparation for Saturday’s bout and contact the College Park unemployment office to see about UI. Also do the workout I didn’t do this afternoon. Eh. Not a bad end to the week. Plus, Saturday? BOUT DAY!!!!! And, though most of the first half of the week was crap, one other thing happened; Kyle sent us the portraits he took! Click the link below the photo to see all three

From Roller Derby Saved My Soul

Mine. My own. My prrrrrrecious!

One of The Boy’s coworkers who I have met is interested in the rec league, but she didn’t have any gear. Since I had hung out with her before, she asked me for advice, and today we went to Department of Skate.

I tried REALLY HARD to be good, and not spend money, but I decided earlier this week that I was gonna get new boots. Today I bought new skates. THEY FEEL AMAZING OH MY GOD and they’re Antiks.
Look at the beauty! LOOK AT IT!

With the inserts for my arches, I had to go up to a size six. I tried on the MG2s, but they were a little too snug at the widest part of my foot, and they’re not the heat-moldable ones. I know leather boots stretch, but they just felt a little too off.

I also bought a laptop last night. So now I’m super poor. But I go into town to pick up a paycheck tomorrow (last severance check) and dad is gonna pay me enough for the work I’ve done so far (we’re at the ‘he has to do stuff in order for me to do the rest’ stage) to cover most of the two big purchases.

At the metro station today I had to buy a new smartrip card, and the thing was all pissy and denied my card, so I was worried that buying the computer made the bank go all “YOU ARE SPENDING MONEY THAT’S WEIRD” and freeze it, but it seems metro is just as inept with their cards as with their everything else. I used a different machine (because the first one wouldn’t stop telling me the transaction was cancelled) and usd my debit card, which worked, and then my regular card worked at Department of Skate, so YAY.

I also bought foods today. I went to the farmers market and it totally sucks and is tiny and lame. Only 2 stalls I’d actually go to (meat, and leafy greens). I know it’s early, but it was SUCH A SMALL market and prices were high. I mean, duh, farmers market, but still. Just in case you were wondering. Will check out another one on Tuesday, maybe.

Pump up your Jam starts MONDAY!! Eeeeeee!

Weekend Update

So this weekend consisted of the penultimate bout of DCRG’s home season and the Celebration of Life for my grandfather.

Typing that made me want to throw up. I played the part of support beam, balustrade, buttress, rock, shoulder, other synonyms for solid and strong and supportive on Sunday, despite my occasional desire to burst out with a tearful “it’s not fair.” (Generally when no one needed a rock et al-it’s easy to be calm when other people need me to be.) But the celebration was lovely, many stories were shared, and afterward we went to grandmom’s and lit a fire in the outdoor fireplace and had a less formal gathering. My cousin’s son was running around begging everyone to play with him. We played “baseball” for 6 innings (about 20 minutes)…3 innings in we had a “half time” because I was tired and my l’il cuz added 5 runs to my score, lol. He’s a little unclear on the rules for strikes and balls, and he gets tired of batting and just declares a switch so he can pitch (because of course everyone who played with him let him win, though I did tag him out once)…I actually didn’t hold myself back as much as I might have needed to this time last year, because running actually does not feel so great all the time with my tibia. I think it has something to do with how my foot hits the ground, though, rather than the leg itself, so I’m going to have to have someone watch me and give me pointers on form. Fortunately, l’il cuz was delighted anyway.

It probably didn’t help that I spent 6 hours on my feet the day before. April bout day was a big day because it was the first WFTDA sactioned bout of the season for the All-Stars and the first home bout for the National Maulers, our new B-team. (The Capitol Offenders will be a pick up team, which it always sort of was.) We played the Philadelphia Liberty Belles and their B-Team, the Independence Dolls. Because Philly is ranked so much higher than we are, we went into the game knowing we were going to lose. Statistics had us losing at a ratio of 7:3 (they score 7 points for every 3 we score) but when it was all said and done, the All-Stars lost at a ratio closer to 2:1 (the final score was 266-113) so we counted it as a win! The girls skated SO HARD, but Philly keeps the pack speed so fast that they tire the competition out! Definitely something to work on. DNN has a write up of the All-Stars bout. In addition, fan Mark Webster put up his photos from the bout and so has Pablo Raw. Pablo also put up this time lapse of the bout, which is super cool.

After the bout I went to the afterparty, but I didn’t stay long because I wasn’t feeling well. It turns out that my caloric intake was equivalent to not eating at all, when the exercise of running around head bouncering was factored in. Oops. I didn’t discover this until I got home, and I tried to eat but wasted one of my yogurts because my stomach was like STOP IT OH MY GOD I AM FILLED NOW, YOU CAN’T EAT AN ENTIRE DAY’S CALORIES IN 10 MINUTES AT 11PM!! I ate like a pig on Sunday, but I was planning on doing that anyway-if there is one day you should be able to skip calorie counting, it’s the day of your grandfather’s memorial service thingy. Plus, Fenwick Bakery treats were present in abundance! Can’t turn those down. (yes, the website is awful. I keep meaning to offer to fix it up but never remember when I have time.) So I’m working on readjusting to being a healthy eater (except I took all my healthy food home and am now at mom and dad’s for two days, oops) At least I still have my herbalife goodies. (I forgot my cymbalta at my grandmother’s, too, so that will have to be fixed ASAP)

Derby Portraits

This week has been pretty awful from a broad point of view. The events in Boston and Texas are tragic and made me not want to post in a blog about my life and roller skating. I’m glad the surviving suspect was caught and hope that he gets rehabilitated, even if he never rejoins society at large.

When he was apprehended, I was at a bar in a hotel in DC with 10 DC Rollergirls, waiting for Kyle Cassidy to finish his paying gig so he could come photograph us! His job went longer than he expected, so some of the girls left (they had another event to go to) so in the end it was Saulty, Miso, Pow, Comma, Kitty, Zeebz, JK, and me. As I am not technically a rollergirl, I made sure the skaters got their shots done first, but I got to do some too! I was very shaky on my skates at first (not wearing pads and being on concrete made me (and Pow) SO NERVOUS) but it went well. So much fun, and Kyle is great. Because this was scheduled last-minute, no one could stay to hang out with Kyle post-photoshoot due to various other plans, but hopefully next time we can show him a DC good time!

Kyle shooting Comma, the glamour girl! (click to big)

That was totally fun. No really.

Friday I noticed that my neck was puffing up and my throat was getting sore again (eating was fine, but drinking hurt.) I mentioned that, I think. I got a response from the doctor saying “the amoxycillin should have worked, go to urgent care to get another examination.” So I did.

According to my parking ticket thing, I entered the garage at 5:40. I finally drew the notice of the lady at the urgent care counter and got my info put in the computer at 5:50. I sat down to wait, and read my book, and cursed that I had forgotten my cellphone that morning. (They have an internet portal in the waiting room, but it is broken, so it was of no use in letting The Boy know where I was.) Around an hour later I was called back, but just for triage. After describing why I was there, again, and getting my vitals taken, I was sent to get my throat swabbed and then to sit in the waiting room some more. (This was when I discovered the broken state of the terminal.) At 8:20, I was called back to wait in a room; “Someone will be with you shortly,” I was told. Another hour, a trip to the bathroom, and a trip to the nurse’s desk to ask whether or not I’d be seen any time soon and I finally got visited by the doctor. The whole time I am feeling stupid for even being there, because OMG IT’S BARELY ANYTHING JUST GIVE ME SOME MEDS AND LET ME GO HOME. It’s not like penicillin has some amazing street value, or is gonna get me stoned. So anyway, the doctor was very nice but basically seemed to think I was overreacting, and did a far less thorough examination than the previous one (she looked in my mouth, but didn’t depress my tongue or use a light, she felt my neck but nothing else, didn’t listen to my lungs or heart, kept dismissing bits of my story) and then told me that since I’m concerned the infection isn’t gone, she’d put me on zpack and do a monospot. I told her that I had had mono before in case it would have an affect on the test, and she said it would not. Which is not what the rest of the internet says, but whatever, it doesn’t feel like it felt last time I had mono, and I’m not paying extra for tests or anything so do what you want. I get my blood drawn for the monospot and head over to the pharmacy to get my zpack and some migraine meds I had asked my neuro to renew for me, since I was there anyway. It took a little while because they were all filled separately, by different people, and put in different places, apparently. I finally got my ticket validated and went down to go home. I pulled up to the ticket thing for the garage at 10pm. It kept trying to charge me, so I had to back up, turn around, go back and park, walk back up to the kaiser offices, get it re-validated, and then do it all again. I was less than thrilled.

Spent the entire weekend either napping or goofing off watching hulu or reading the internet. I suppose I could have mono, but it is all sleepiness in my head instead of physical fatigue in my muscles. Who knows. At least I can stay awake and go to work and stuff when I gotta. Last day is Thursday.

Derby stuff: Photos of the DC All-Stars playing CTRG’s Stepford Sabotage, and scrimmaging against Suburbia, as well as this article, “In Defense of Falling Down.” Enjoy; I am sleepy and want to finish these last folders so I can start the paperwork before going home.

Good Times!

Sorry this is a little late, I forgot that my boss and I were going to help the clerk of one of the subcommittees organize their storage locker so I didn’t get lunch until after normal lunch times. (15 minutes ago.) And I got grapefruit juice by accident. BOO GRAPEFRUIT. But it was actually kinda fun to clean up the locker, and I got a cool recreated poster from the Titanic launch and *might* get some other cool things if the committee proper doesn’t want them (they’re space themed!!) because they’re not the sort of thing we archive and so they’d just get tossed if no one wants to hang them in committee offices. So that’s cool!

I lost my jammer hat yesterday–I had it when I left my cubicle but when I got in at my apartment, it wasn’t there! What happened? NO! But then apparently someone found it and took it home with them and then brought it back and left it on the stair rail in the lobby on my floor (at work) so I could retrieve it when I was getting ready for lunch today! Yay!

On tap Magazine took pics at the January bout and put them in their February issue! They also posted pics from the Tsingtao Challenge, 3 of which feature yours truly in a supporting role!

If you’re visiting the blog direct rather than using Google Reader or the wordpress blogs page, you may have already noticed, I cleaned up the links a bit on the left and got more specific in categorization. Because I’m a nerd. Yes it makes me happy. :p There’ll likely be another new addition to the links, too, because I’l probably include the parent blog for this entry on roller derby/head injuries that everyone should read. CONCUSSIVE SCIENCE IS A BIG DEAL.

Thinking I will ask my primary care to refer me to one of the other orthos. I’m going to contact the current ortho again before I do, but he seems really resistant to doing anything, and I can’t do a lot of things I need to be able to do, and that has to be fixed. I’m working that leg out more, with an aim of strengthening the muscle, and the pain and weakness has not changed at all. (And it’s not pain and weakness associated with the extra working out, because when I take time off from working out, it continues.)

Judging from the pending copay to my insurance company listed on my card, I’ll be getting my meds in the mail tomorrow or the day after, so YAY THAT, too! And speaking of mental healthiness, go watch this. It’s long, but it’s worth it. Then share it with someone who needs it.

fighting the stall

I got up this morning, had a snack, hung out briefly, then pulled out the core exercises/stretches mat and did a 30 minute set focusing on the core muscles. I did more stretches than exercises (because I don’t know what all the exercises are, but I know all the stretches from yoga)…often, I found myself with a curious kitty in my face, curled up under my legs, or smelling my crotch (thanks, cats!) I’ve also re-introduced doing squats when I pee (which is often!)–I make sure I’m low enough to barely touch the seat, which keeps me from splattering all over it. Keeping my back straight and shoulders over my knees (rather than farther forward) is the main issue. Last time I went, I was all shakey in the thighs (but you guys, I am SO LOW!!) so I’m probably gonna try to do it like, every other trip to the loo.

I need to create a schedule beforehand for working out, because I waste too much time deciding what I’m going to do in the morning. I have the 4 workouts from the Roller Derby Workout dvd, I have the arms workout, the core workout from the mat, and a yoga workout I want to incorporate. Eventually, I want the roller derby workout to count as 1 or 2 instead of 4, but right now my stamina is not there.
I need to schedule time for other stuff too, like job hunting/applying, learning to code other languages at codecademy (I know HTML and sort of know CSS), and working on the website for this year’s DCRG drive for the DC Public Library Foundation (since we won’t be partnered with Pamie and Dewey Donation System this year–Pamie has enough on her hands with her new baby!)

DCist posted pics and a much more detailed set of bout recaps here; you should check it out.

Say goodbye to my long, gross, dried out locks! I’m getting a haircut tonight. So exciting! This winter has been especially bad for hair. 2 years I’ve been growing my hair out, this is the first time I’ve gotten all dry and split ends-having and such. Started in December. DO NOT WANT.

I am wondering if the pain in my leg/shin is actually the plate on the tibia, because it’s worse when it’s cold. Gonna ask the ortho about it (and getting it out) before my insurance runs out. Because it’s not fun.

February Bout Report

If you were not one of the 1,551 spectators, 70+ skaters, or 30+ volunteers in the DC Armory on Saturday (despite the Armory metro station being closed!), you missed out. You missed out BIG TIME. Both bouts were AMAZING.

First up we had a ridiculously close game between the DC Demoncats and the Majority Whips. The Demoncats came from behind to take the lead only to lose it again, then did it again, before finally losing by TWO POINTS to the ladies in green. TWO POINTS! I was tweeting madly:
-The whips v dcdc- its a 1 point difference and the bout is almost over! Who will win?!
-OMG IT’S TIED!
-At the LAST SECOND Whips whipped it out!!!
The final score was 207-205. But it wasn’t a rivalry without affection:

Demoncat Jersey Jill shows some love for Majority Whip Frightmare.

I was running around a lot during the first bout, so I didn’t get to watch most of it. I was riveted during the final jam, however, and held my breath waiting to see how the score would change based on those last few seconds. I also missed most of the first half of bout 2 between Scare Force One and the Cherry Blossom Bombshells.

Last month the Whips almost whipped SF1, until Sharp Shredder grated their lead during the final jam. I wondered if the Bombshells would pave the path the Whips had trod in the grass. For the first half, it didn’t seem like it. Every time I glanced up, it looked like Scare Force was dominating as usual. I don’t know what the bench coaches were saying to the pink and gold team over the halftime break, but whatever it was, it worked. The Bombshells brought the Scare Force lead down from 26 points ahead to 2 points ahead. After Yankee Scandal got herself a power jam, we saw a lead change, but SF1 wasn’t about to take that lying down and stole the lead back. This could have been a discouraging moment for CBB, but instead it made them fight harder than ever! Scandal once again brought the Bombshells score up, so that they had a real shot at winning if they could hold on to their 19 point lead! During what looked like the final jam, it looked like a win for the ‘Shells was assured. But because the lead jammer, CBB’s Jaminy Kricket, called it off with 20 seconds on the game clock, Scare Force pushed for one more jam, and it was granted. Everyone was on their feet. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?
Sharp Shredder stepped up to the jammer line for the Fright Attendants, but she missed lead jammer and the Cherry Blossom Bombshells beat Scare Force One! They were undefeated no longer! Final score, 189-171.

The Bombshells were mildly pleased. (Photo by James Calder)

The Examiner has their own write up (mainly focusing on the second bout) and fan Gary Robinette took some fabulous photos of both bouts. Also, the Wall Street Journal talks derby on their front page! And not a “by day/by night” lede in sight!

This morning when I came into work, the security guard who I had given a flier to stopped me and asked “roller derby?!” I told him it was the most fun I’ve ever had, and about the exciting bout last Saturday. He said he might come to the March bout because his daughter would love it. I encouraged this, of course, and told him that if we get a warehouse we’re going to establish a junior league, and she could play herself! Help empower girls and women by contributing to the DCRG Warehouse fund!

January Bout Report

You guys. YOU GUYS. OH MY GOD YOU GUYS. Saturday was CRAAAAAAZY. I did some errand running and stuff and that was boring and we’re not talking about it because boring. Then there was the bout!! The first one with the new ruleset!

First up were the Bombshells versus DCDC. It was an exciting bout, with the Cats coming close tripping up the Bombshells, but in the end, the winners were wearing pink: 186 CBB-144 DCDC. The one-whistle starts really helped with keeping the pace of the game up, and at some point Yankee Scandal got ejected for gross misconduct (it looks from the photos that she accidentally backblocked Hoova Dayum, but I was busy working and missed the actual call.) Everyone, skaters, fans, and officials alike, are still getting used to the new rules. We took a break for some gorgeous bellydancing, then it was time for the bout between the Majority Whips and Scare Force 1.

Dear. Lord! SF1 has been undefeated since season 5; season 6 was the Whips first season as a team. You’d think it would be a forgone conclusion, but you’d be wrong. Two of Scare Force’s blockers, Soledad and Chinese Cheker, transferred leagues when they moved away for work, leaving a potential hole in the fright attendant defense. The Whips have been stepping up their game every bout they play, and were thrilled at the thought of being the team that takes Scare Force down. The pickles started strong, taking the lead quickly. At the half, the score was 112-68! So many fans were holding their breath, wondering if this was the day the Scare Force regime would be toppled. During the second half, the lead flipflopped back and forth so much I was breathless just tweeting about it! In the end, it came down to the last two jams. There was a tie score (163) but Scare Force pulled it out in the end, leaving us with a score of 180-163. Now that the Whips have lead the way, maybe the Bombshells will follow their example through to the conclusion next month.

The Examiner has a more detailed write up, and On Tap Magazine took a ton of photos.

We’re still trying to raise funds for a warehouse, btw–go here to see how far we’ve come and to add your own two cents (or more!!!!)

Focusing on positives actually resulted in positivity; nation shocked.

Okay so yesterday I was all “MUST FOCUS ON GOOD THINGS BECAUSE EVERYTHING EVER SUCKS” and lots of stuff really does suck. My insurance card is essentially useless, because I have to change every single doctor ever in order to get any sort of medical coverage; my meds aren’t covered, and I can’t get them covered. I can’t use pharmaceutical patient assistance programs because I have prescription coverage, even if it doesn’t cover that prescription. (Trust me, I checked–I can use PAPs for other meds, just not for this one.) And the previous shit goes unresolved.

However! My brain is relearning to balance without training wheels. The stupid frustrating little things are not causing me to burst into tears, nor am I raging quite as much when they happen. I’m more able to be excited for the other freshies about try-outs (this Saturday OMG) rather than envious and isolated. I’m not screaming “I HATE YOU” at the cats anymore when they do cat things. Plus? HOW FUCKING CUTE AM I?

Photo by James Calder, 2012. “Love” written on my arm in eyeliner by friend and fellow freshie, C.