I passed my orange star assessment, so I can scrimmage in practice now! It kicks my ass. Because of the nature of roller derby, almost the whole game is going on behind you and you are repsonsible for offense and defense, simultaneously. Additionally, people are trying to knock you over the whole time. It's a lot to wrap one's head around, and I'm sure glad I'm not allowed to bout in public yet because, boy, that would be embarrassing.
I put in an offer on a house this weekend, and am waiting to hear back. I went a little low, but left room for bargaining, and my agent says it's low but still reasonable. He doesn't see any reason they wouldn't work with it. I like the house and I want it. All appendages are crossed.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
up in the ranks
Last night at practice, I got my yellow star.
There is this advancement system, see, that indicates where you are skill-wise. When you first make the league you are Fresh Meat and a White Star. You can do non-contact drills but that's it. After X number of practices you can test for your yellow star and, if you pass, become eligible for contact/blocking drills. After another X practices, you test for Orange and this means you are allowed to scrimmage. Finally, your Green star means you are no longer Meat and are now eligible to be drafted onto a team and bout in the regular season.
Last night I turned Yellow and boy do my shoulders hurt.
There is this advancement system, see, that indicates where you are skill-wise. When you first make the league you are Fresh Meat and a White Star. You can do non-contact drills but that's it. After X number of practices you can test for your yellow star and, if you pass, become eligible for contact/blocking drills. After another X practices, you test for Orange and this means you are allowed to scrimmage. Finally, your Green star means you are no longer Meat and are now eligible to be drafted onto a team and bout in the regular season.
Last night I turned Yellow and boy do my shoulders hurt.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tenderized
My fresh meat is sore. Not as sore as I had expected, but sore all the same.
As though I have just been tenderized.
I expect Thursday to be worse.
As though I have just been tenderized.
I expect Thursday to be worse.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Saturday, January 05, 2008
just in case.
Tips for watching roller derby.
Skillz workshop tomorrow. Makes me a little nervous. I skated like total crap on Thursday - I swear it felt like I'd never been on skates before. There is a workshop tomorrow and one other before tryouts.
I want to be good now!!
Skillz workshop tomorrow. Makes me a little nervous. I skated like total crap on Thursday - I swear it felt like I'd never been on skates before. There is a workshop tomorrow and one other before tryouts.
I want to be good now!!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Derby, it's what's for dinner.
Open skate's tonight and I'm taking my killer new knee pads! I've also got a decent ankle brace now so rock-star falls, here I come!
There is a skillz workshop this weekend, and next weekend too, and try outs are on the 21st. The league here is The Charm City Rollergirls. Their site has some video clips and info about the teams. They also have a myspace page.
Here is a cheesy, yet informative, youtube video about the basic rules of skating in a bout.
I'm still compiling a list of possible names. I don't expect to make the cut on the 21st, since i've only been really skating since mid-November, but if i did make it, i'd have to register a derby name. There is an international derby girl name roster to check against and get inspiration. It's a slow load, so be patient.
There is a skillz workshop this weekend, and next weekend too, and try outs are on the 21st. The league here is The Charm City Rollergirls. Their site has some video clips and info about the teams. They also have a myspace page.
Here is a cheesy, yet informative, youtube video about the basic rules of skating in a bout.
I'm still compiling a list of possible names. I don't expect to make the cut on the 21st, since i've only been really skating since mid-November, but if i did make it, i'd have to register a derby name. There is an international derby girl name roster to check against and get inspiration. It's a slow load, so be patient.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
stutter steps
We're going to give this a trial go and make no guarantees. I'll post if I feel like it and not post if I don't.
I'm training up for roller derby. I know you're probably thinking of 70's disco-gold-hot-pants-and-fake-wrestling-fight derby, but I assure you these rollergirls mean business. A college friend of mine invited us all to a bout and I was hooked right away. I've been looking for a way to get less fat for quite some time now and haven't been able to stick with anything. I think it's because I need the element of competition and that's hard to get when you're exercising solo.
I've also been feeling, lately, that I'm getting old before my time. I'm only 33 but most days I feel like other 33 year olds are having way more fun than I am and that's just not right. I feel like I've lost touch with my inner bad-ass, however small and quiet she ever was, and I miss her. I've busted out my college/high school angsty rock and made a derby mix to get me in the mood for open skate nights. I've got my own skates and I am skating on a regular basis now. There are tryouts in January and I aim to go, even just to get an idea of how they operate and what they're looking for.
I think it's something I could be good at and even just going to open skates makes me feel a little like my old pre-theatre-athletic-skinny self again, which is nice. Hearing about what they're working on in practice and seeing bouts, live or on video, makes me want to go out and knock people over and it's awesome.
I'm training up for roller derby. I know you're probably thinking of 70's disco-gold-hot-pants-and-fake-wrestling-fight derby, but I assure you these rollergirls mean business. A college friend of mine invited us all to a bout and I was hooked right away. I've been looking for a way to get less fat for quite some time now and haven't been able to stick with anything. I think it's because I need the element of competition and that's hard to get when you're exercising solo.
I've also been feeling, lately, that I'm getting old before my time. I'm only 33 but most days I feel like other 33 year olds are having way more fun than I am and that's just not right. I feel like I've lost touch with my inner bad-ass, however small and quiet she ever was, and I miss her. I've busted out my college/high school angsty rock and made a derby mix to get me in the mood for open skate nights. I've got my own skates and I am skating on a regular basis now. There are tryouts in January and I aim to go, even just to get an idea of how they operate and what they're looking for.
I think it's something I could be good at and even just going to open skates makes me feel a little like my old pre-theatre-athletic-skinny self again, which is nice. Hearing about what they're working on in practice and seeing bouts, live or on video, makes me want to go out and knock people over and it's awesome.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
returns, triumphant and otherwise
new changes around, if anyone is still checking.
considering a return to blogging; hard to say which way the wind will blow. either way, i was tired of that same green template.
hoot an holler if you're still checking.
considering a return to blogging; hard to say which way the wind will blow. either way, i was tired of that same green template.
hoot an holler if you're still checking.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
*witty title*
i'm listening to the 80's channel on my internet radio.... cherish the love, baby.
today i joined the y. i'm stoked about their summer softball league, and once it starts getting hella hot here i'm gonna need some other place to excericse than the 8th level of hell (where the a/c is always broken).
in anticipation of my trip (i'm fixated, can you tell??), i've purchased new sunglasses. they look hoTT. i paid more than i've ever paid for sunglasses but it was well worth it - i've never had sunglasses that actually fit my face, which these so very much do. to help ensure that i don't/my passenger doesn't sit on them in the car, i got one of those little clips for my visor. i am that person now.i've also purchased two more 512 MB cards (total of 3) for my digital camera and a new backpack.
now i'm surfing the net for books to read on the plane, to supplement the two that i borrowed from my sister - lolita, and a wrinkle in time (an old favorite). i've got a couple on my shelves that need reading, now that i'll have time this summer (and 6 straight hours on a plane).
next week is the last week of school. the lower and middle school have their graduations this Friday and the upper school commencement is next tuesday. then it's a couple of in-service days and then off across the pond. when i get back, i'm working a little summer program at school, the $$ from which will offset the awesome credit card damage i expect to wreak on my trip. then i have the rest of the summer off, to work out at the y, hang out with my cutie pie neices, and generally laze about.
mmmmmmm.... laze.......
today i joined the y. i'm stoked about their summer softball league, and once it starts getting hella hot here i'm gonna need some other place to excericse than the 8th level of hell (where the a/c is always broken).
in anticipation of my trip (i'm fixated, can you tell??), i've purchased new sunglasses. they look hoTT. i paid more than i've ever paid for sunglasses but it was well worth it - i've never had sunglasses that actually fit my face, which these so very much do. to help ensure that i don't/my passenger doesn't sit on them in the car, i got one of those little clips for my visor. i am that person now.i've also purchased two more 512 MB cards (total of 3) for my digital camera and a new backpack.
now i'm surfing the net for books to read on the plane, to supplement the two that i borrowed from my sister - lolita, and a wrinkle in time (an old favorite). i've got a couple on my shelves that need reading, now that i'll have time this summer (and 6 straight hours on a plane).
next week is the last week of school. the lower and middle school have their graduations this Friday and the upper school commencement is next tuesday. then it's a couple of in-service days and then off across the pond. when i get back, i'm working a little summer program at school, the $$ from which will offset the awesome credit card damage i expect to wreak on my trip. then i have the rest of the summer off, to work out at the y, hang out with my cutie pie neices, and generally laze about.
mmmmmmm.... laze.......
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
regrouping and ramping up
again with the busy schedule. this week was long, and i'm glad it's over. the weekend was busy and good. saturday another teacher and i took our "art of musical theatre" class to NYC for the day to see "phantom of the opera". it was an entertaining show. i last saw it on tour at the kennedy center but it was nice to see it in it's more permanent home. the coolest part of the trip though, was when the kids would see a magic moment in the show and immediately ask me how they did it - and i had the answers! i felt all cool and teacherly. photos are here.
on wednesday, we had a meeting about our upcoming trip to london. until now, and sort of even now, i can't really believe i'm going. the way my life developed and evolved after i got back from europe the first time really left me feeling like i would never get there again. it's been 10 years since i was in london last and this time i'm going for free. i pay for lunch and spending money, and that's it. i've got a new backpack, a current passport and a new digital camera. what more could i need? in that meeting we got an itinerary of sorts. the main reason we're going is to take workshop sessions at the Globe theater, with Globe professionals. Each day is a different concetration including acting, stage combat, design, and voice work. At the end of the week-long session the students put on a scene, which is directed by one of the Globe pros.
since it's a theater trip, we're seeing a show almost every night, and i think on one day we see two in a day. One show we see twice, once at the Globe and once with the RSC at Stratford.
Some of the shows we're seeing include:
avenue q
billy elliot
a voyage around my father
antony and cleopatra
coriolanus
titus andronicus (at the globe)
and titus andronicus (at stratford, in the noh style)
we're staying here, each in our own single room (with a common bathrooom though, so i'll be packing my flip flops for the shower). the workshops are in the morning and we see a show each evening, but we have the bulk of the afternoon to ourselves. the kids are allowed to go off in groups of 3, so it's possible i might actually have a moment to myself! i've decided on this trip to let my tourist self hang out all over. i will take pictures, make rubbings in westminster abbey, and point at stuff i think is cool. i will have a backpack, and a map at all times.
i'm so stoked.
on wednesday, we had a meeting about our upcoming trip to london. until now, and sort of even now, i can't really believe i'm going. the way my life developed and evolved after i got back from europe the first time really left me feeling like i would never get there again. it's been 10 years since i was in london last and this time i'm going for free. i pay for lunch and spending money, and that's it. i've got a new backpack, a current passport and a new digital camera. what more could i need? in that meeting we got an itinerary of sorts. the main reason we're going is to take workshop sessions at the Globe theater, with Globe professionals. Each day is a different concetration including acting, stage combat, design, and voice work. At the end of the week-long session the students put on a scene, which is directed by one of the Globe pros.
since it's a theater trip, we're seeing a show almost every night, and i think on one day we see two in a day. One show we see twice, once at the Globe and once with the RSC at Stratford.
Some of the shows we're seeing include:
avenue q
billy elliot
a voyage around my father
antony and cleopatra
coriolanus
titus andronicus (at the globe)
and titus andronicus (at stratford, in the noh style)
we're staying here, each in our own single room (with a common bathrooom though, so i'll be packing my flip flops for the shower). the workshops are in the morning and we see a show each evening, but we have the bulk of the afternoon to ourselves. the kids are allowed to go off in groups of 3, so it's possible i might actually have a moment to myself! i've decided on this trip to let my tourist self hang out all over. i will take pictures, make rubbings in westminster abbey, and point at stuff i think is cool. i will have a backpack, and a map at all times.
i'm so stoked.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
points of interest
point of interest #1: i've signed up to play in the faculty vs. varsity softball game. on the faculty side, which will be wierd on a number of different levels. thank god i've managed to hold onto my glove for just such an occasion.
point of interest #2: i was refered to as a "great role model for _girl x_ while she's figuring out who she is" meaning, there are a couple of girls we figure will end up kissing other girls and my mentor thinks i'm a great role model for these kids to aspire to. wtf? role model?
point of interest #3: i'm designing a scenic piece for Miss Gay Maryland 2006 to compete with in the Miss Gay America 2006 pageant this year. yes, yes i am. it's a 7 minute Wizard of Oz (of course) in drag, with backup dancers and everything. it has to be set up in 5 minutes and fit in a u-haul. we're thinking of altering my fall build schedule to accomodate me actually going to the event in memphis.
point of interest #4: i'm going to see madonna on the 12th of july. for a while i was worried about how to complete my gay trifecta, having seen cher in concert and now going to see madonna... i figure miss gay america fills that void nicely, particularly if i get to the actual pageant.
i must away now, as i have to teach at 8:05 am tomorrow morning.
point of interest #2: i was refered to as a "great role model for _girl x_ while she's figuring out who she is" meaning, there are a couple of girls we figure will end up kissing other girls and my mentor thinks i'm a great role model for these kids to aspire to. wtf? role model?
point of interest #3: i'm designing a scenic piece for Miss Gay Maryland 2006 to compete with in the Miss Gay America 2006 pageant this year. yes, yes i am. it's a 7 minute Wizard of Oz (of course) in drag, with backup dancers and everything. it has to be set up in 5 minutes and fit in a u-haul. we're thinking of altering my fall build schedule to accomodate me actually going to the event in memphis.
point of interest #4: i'm going to see madonna on the 12th of july. for a while i was worried about how to complete my gay trifecta, having seen cher in concert and now going to see madonna... i figure miss gay america fills that void nicely, particularly if i get to the actual pageant.
i must away now, as i have to teach at 8:05 am tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
selfish
tonight i feel selfish. i ate what i wanted, and i watched what i wanted (HP - GOF). i haven't done a single responsible thing since i got home from work.
i made it through the middle school musical which ended up taking a lot more out of me than i had expected. today i finished teaching my middle school class so now i only have the one class of upper schoolers who i warp and mold into mini-designers.
i'm going to NYC this weekend, as a chaperone, to take in some theatre. we're seeing three shows - a light in the piazza, doubt, and pajama game (with harry connick jr.). having never seen a broadway show, i am understandably excited. we're taking about 22 girls. we're staying in a hostel, which i haven't done since my semester abroad in '96. i had to buy flip flops for the shower. i forgot how much i hate flip flops.
after my weekend in the city, i have a week off for spring break... while i'm sitting around on my ass doing nothing, i will get paid. this is still a foreign concept to me... especially considering the summer break - which is also paid. it's very twilight zone. during my week off i plan to hang out with my mom, go see curious george with my sister and her girls, get my apartment back in shape, and go riding with Redhorse.
once work resumes, we have about 2 1/2 weeks until tech for the upper school play which is the marriage of figaro. then all the big events are checked off my calendar and it's down to speakers, convocations, and graduation. at graduation, i have to wear my cap and gown and master's hood and be all official faculty while the girls get their diploma. how trippy.
three days after graduation i am jetting off to london for ten days to take in some workshops at the globe and a metric ton of theatre. we are also making a day trip to stratford, where we will see titus andronicus in the style of noh theater. i hope to buy better souvenirs this time around since i'll a.) have more money and b.) have more sense. it will be 10 years to the week since i was in london last and i plan to have a rippin' good time.
here's my new favorite link. my sister will remember i used to rock the house at this back when we had the full size arcade games in the basement.
i made it through the middle school musical which ended up taking a lot more out of me than i had expected. today i finished teaching my middle school class so now i only have the one class of upper schoolers who i warp and mold into mini-designers.
i'm going to NYC this weekend, as a chaperone, to take in some theatre. we're seeing three shows - a light in the piazza, doubt, and pajama game (with harry connick jr.). having never seen a broadway show, i am understandably excited. we're taking about 22 girls. we're staying in a hostel, which i haven't done since my semester abroad in '96. i had to buy flip flops for the shower. i forgot how much i hate flip flops.
after my weekend in the city, i have a week off for spring break... while i'm sitting around on my ass doing nothing, i will get paid. this is still a foreign concept to me... especially considering the summer break - which is also paid. it's very twilight zone. during my week off i plan to hang out with my mom, go see curious george with my sister and her girls, get my apartment back in shape, and go riding with Redhorse.
once work resumes, we have about 2 1/2 weeks until tech for the upper school play which is the marriage of figaro. then all the big events are checked off my calendar and it's down to speakers, convocations, and graduation. at graduation, i have to wear my cap and gown and master's hood and be all official faculty while the girls get their diploma. how trippy.
three days after graduation i am jetting off to london for ten days to take in some workshops at the globe and a metric ton of theatre. we are also making a day trip to stratford, where we will see titus andronicus in the style of noh theater. i hope to buy better souvenirs this time around since i'll a.) have more money and b.) have more sense. it will be 10 years to the week since i was in london last and i plan to have a rippin' good time.
here's my new favorite link. my sister will remember i used to rock the house at this back when we had the full size arcade games in the basement.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
i am a secret romantic
could i be more excited about this???
wuthering heights is one of my most favorite stories of all time. i heart it..
wuthering heights is one of my most favorite stories of all time. i heart it..
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
my good ear
i saw this article on msnbc about 'tricks you can teach your body' and one of them really made sense to me. any one of you who know me really well will know why:
2. Experience supersonic hearing!
If you're stuck chatting up a mumbler at a cocktail party, lean in with your right ear. It's better than your left at following the rapid rhythms of speech, according to researchers at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. If, on the other hand, you're trying to identify that song playing softly in the elevator, turn your left ear toward the sound. The left ear is better at picking up music tones.
i think you know what i'm sayin.
2. Experience supersonic hearing!
If you're stuck chatting up a mumbler at a cocktail party, lean in with your right ear. It's better than your left at following the rapid rhythms of speech, according to researchers at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. If, on the other hand, you're trying to identify that song playing softly in the elevator, turn your left ear toward the sound. The left ear is better at picking up music tones.
i think you know what i'm sayin.
Friday, December 30, 2005
going commando
i spent wednesday night at my mom's house. we had fun all day, playing with my nieces. i washed my car; we went to the mall. i broke into my mom's house.
it was her garage, to be more specific. we were getting ready to watch sleeping beauty with my nieces and i wanted some popcorn. when i started the microwave, i blew a circuit - my mom says this has happened before. the fuse box is in the garage but, since she's had a new garage door opener installed on the same circuit that i just blew, we can't get into the garage to flip the breaker. i suggest we get the ladder and i crawl through the attic vent on the side of the house and jump down through the attic access trap in the garage ceiling. the vent is all one molded piece that goes under the siding. i had to break most of the slats away with a hammer while my sister shone a flashlight on them since it was about 7 pm and dark. after much prying and some laughter, i shimmied through the vent and promptly put my foot through the garage drywall ceiling. i crawled over to the trap and lowered myself through ( i have the sore shoulders and bruises to prove it), dropped a couple of feet to the floor, and made my way over to the fuse box where i flipped the breaker to turn the lights (and my popcorn) back on.
it was very exciting.
it was her garage, to be more specific. we were getting ready to watch sleeping beauty with my nieces and i wanted some popcorn. when i started the microwave, i blew a circuit - my mom says this has happened before. the fuse box is in the garage but, since she's had a new garage door opener installed on the same circuit that i just blew, we can't get into the garage to flip the breaker. i suggest we get the ladder and i crawl through the attic vent on the side of the house and jump down through the attic access trap in the garage ceiling. the vent is all one molded piece that goes under the siding. i had to break most of the slats away with a hammer while my sister shone a flashlight on them since it was about 7 pm and dark. after much prying and some laughter, i shimmied through the vent and promptly put my foot through the garage drywall ceiling. i crawled over to the trap and lowered myself through ( i have the sore shoulders and bruises to prove it), dropped a couple of feet to the floor, and made my way over to the fuse box where i flipped the breaker to turn the lights (and my popcorn) back on.
it was very exciting.
Monday, December 26, 2005
post xmas
my holidays have been good so far. xmas yesterday was great - i got good stuff, and i watched videos with my nieces all day. we watched rudolf, grinch, and pooh xmas. after dinner, we watched aladdin, with one niece giving a dramatic interpretation for some of the more climactic scenes - there was singing along and some definite character choices were happening. it topped the cuteness scale.
tonight is the party with my college friends and i'm really looking forward to it. i have to go wrap a present for the white elephant exchange...
tonight is the party with my college friends and i'm really looking forward to it. i have to go wrap a present for the white elephant exchange...
Thursday, December 22, 2005
cleaning
is what i'm doing.
i did manage to get a haircut today, now my ponytail is cute and bouncy.
i'm cleaning my room in anticipation of the imminent arrival of a new piece of furniture. now my scarves, blankets, sheets, etc, will have a place to live. it goes with a piece i already had, and i'm now on the hunt for a dresser to finish out my bedroom furniture setup.
tomorrow i'm going to my mom's house and my dad's. my sister is bringing the girls and we plan to decorate my mom's xmas tree and go bowling with my dad in the afternoon.
such is the stuff of vacations.
i did manage to get a haircut today, now my ponytail is cute and bouncy.
i'm cleaning my room in anticipation of the imminent arrival of a new piece of furniture. now my scarves, blankets, sheets, etc, will have a place to live. it goes with a piece i already had, and i'm now on the hunt for a dresser to finish out my bedroom furniture setup.
tomorrow i'm going to my mom's house and my dad's. my sister is bringing the girls and we plan to decorate my mom's xmas tree and go bowling with my dad in the afternoon.
such is the stuff of vacations.
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