You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September 2011.
So on Friday, I may or may not have come home with another kitten…….
Ok, I totally did! My friend’s sister found him under her car and I couldn’t resist. Even B, who does not want another pet, loves him.
Isn’t he just the CUTEST? He is SO TINY.
We’ve been throwing around all kinds of names for him. He came with the name Neville, which we love, but aren’t sure it’s the right fit.
We both like the name Remy, so we think that might be it. I suggested the middle name Roller. Remy Roller. 
And things with his brother seem to be going well. Ollie plays with him sometimes, but mostly stares at him with puzzlement.
He’s the cuddliest thing, and so very tiny and cute. Who couldn’t love that face, huh? You tell me!
About a year and a half ago I saw the movie Whip It, and immediately knew that was something I wanted to do. At that point in my life, though, it just wasn’t possible. So I filed it in the back of my memory banks.
About four months after we moved here, B met a friend who was in a roller derby league about an hour away, so I began doing my research. Surprisingly, I discovered a league in my own town! After much procrastination, excuses, and fear, I decided to just show up to a practice at the beginning of July. A week later I went to my first practice with skates on, and I’ve fallen deeply in love since.
I cannot possibly begin to explain to you the athleticism, endurance, strength, and skill involved in such a sport. Most of the muscles that began to ache after the second practice hadn’t been exercised in years; nothing I was doing at the gym even compared to this kind of activity. And never mind that I don’t know how to skate. That the last time I was on quad skates was when I was about 10, and even then, I never knew how to crossover or stop, let alone skate backwards or jump over something. I knew nothing. And I still don’t, not really, but when I really sit back and think to my first few practices, there is obvious improvement. Right now, that’s where I’m at: trying to improve my skating skills every week.
The commitment to join this adventure is hefty; there are at least three practices a week, and that doesn’t include any extra derby stuff like bouts, fundraisers, after-parties, socializing, or other random events. It has been interesting balancing this new derby life and my life with B, as well as life with non-derby friends. It has not always been easy. I’ve been trying to be conscious of making time for my lover, and showing her how important she is to me without compromising what I want to do and what makes me happy. Especially during this beginning stage of me trying to learn and soak up every available opportunity to skate and be mentored. It’s incredibly time-consuming, but so rewarding!
Only recently have I begun doing some very light hitting drills – my general skating skills are really not in the right place for me to be doing that quite yet, but I’m getting exposure, and it IS SO MUCH FUN. The satisfaction of landing a solid hit on another woman who is happy to receive it, a move that is completely legal, is exhilarating. I know I have such a long way to go, but even the promise of possibly getting to a point in my derby career where I would actually be able to bout and do this is so exciting.
Until then, I’ll keep perfecting my falls and trying to graduate from my baby crossovers. Everybody’s gotta start somewhere, right?
The Others Have Spoken