It's almost February, which I am officially naming the Month O' Derby. There is at least one bout every weekend within drivable distance. I plan to be up to my neck in wheels and fishnets.
Speaking of which, last night's bouts between Rainy City and UDL were nail-biters! I'm not kidding, my nails look horrible. UDL really stepped up their game in the second half and had an outstanding comeback. Unfortunately they lost in the last few minutes, partly due to time spent in the penalty box. Now whether all the penalties were warranted is a completely different question and one I wish to remain neutral on--I'm Switzerland.
Instead I choose to focus on the fact that UDL came back strong from a harsh first half and nearly took the bout from a great team on their home turf. That's no easy feat. So congrats ladies on a truly exciting game.
And of course I have to say outstanding job to the "Fresh Meat" UDL team who did beat Rainy City's Fresh Meat (on their home turf). If you heard somebody obnoxious on the sidelines it was probably me. I got a little loud. It's all the pent up energy from not being able to yell at you if I'm keeping time in the penalty box.
As for me I did a little skating myself at practice that morning. The chest cold is finally on its way out, but I'm out of shape from not skating all week. We did "suicides," which are normally pretty fun for me. You skate out fast, drop to one knee, spin around 180 degrees on said knee, then "pop" up within 2 seconds and continue skating (repeat). It wore me out!
I'm supposed to be able to practice with the more advanced girls starting Tuesday. But I feel really out of shape. Here's hoping they don't beat me up too bad. If Tuesday night all I can write is HELP ME, you'll know it went badly.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Referee Scramble
Tonight's bouts were a little crazy! I was all prepared to do regular penalty box timing tonight. I've done that before and it's pretty straightforward. Usually, a blocker gets sent to the box, you time her for a minute, you're done. Until the next one comes around.
However a couple of refs and a couple of volunteers couldn't make it at the last minute, including our usual head ref, Whistley Crusher. So Slow Your Roll was the head ref for the night. And yes, refs get to make up cool names too!
After some discussion amongst the officials, here's more or less what happened. Slow Your Roll (to me): "So you're box manager right?" Me: (gulp, pause). Slow Your Roll: "Just say yes." Me: "Yes!"
Box manager usually times the jammers, which can be a little more complicated than timing the blockers. Some special penalty time rules can apply to jammers in certain situations. And the manager generally makes sure things are running ok in the penalty box. So managers have to know those jammer timing rules and when they apply and have to keep a pretty sharp eye on what's going on.
My mantra for the night was "Watch the refs, not the skaters!" I found that was the only way to really stay focused on when someone was sent out and make sure they got to the right seat to start their time. The toughest was when skaters were sent out right at the end of a jam since it's a little more chaotic with everyone coming off the floor and the officials scrambling to get into position for the next jam. I don't know, it just seemed like it was a lot harder to see the ref make that tell-tale gesture to send someone out! Argh. Now I know to really pay attention for that.
Everybody did an awesome job. I want to thank the two box timers, Slamsday and Mutha Smutha (hope I got your names right!) who were pretty much thrown in at the last minute without any practice or anything! They did great! And of course the skating was fantastic. It's so fun to watch all the skaters get better and better with every bout.
One of the funnier moments was when the jammers from both teams had gotten their 4th minor penalties at the end of the jam. So they both had to start the next jam in the box and stay there for 10 seconds.
For those who don't know: In a normal jam the refs blow one long whistle and the pack of blockers starts. As soon as the last blocker crosses that start line, then the refs blow 2 short whistles signaling the jammers to go.
Anyway, this time both jammers were in the box and supposed to stay there for 10 seconds. The penalty timing starts when that first long whistle blows. But the ref still blew 2 short whistles when the last blocker crossed the line--it was like Pavlov's dog! Their time wasn't up yet but both jammers nearly bolted when those short two whistles blew! Luckily they stopped in time, but it was all I could do not to dive after them!
Ok, so maybe you had to be there. But I thought it was funny. Now that I've given my brain far more exercise than it was anticipating tonight, it's definitely bed time!
However a couple of refs and a couple of volunteers couldn't make it at the last minute, including our usual head ref, Whistley Crusher. So Slow Your Roll was the head ref for the night. And yes, refs get to make up cool names too!
After some discussion amongst the officials, here's more or less what happened. Slow Your Roll (to me): "So you're box manager right?" Me: (gulp, pause). Slow Your Roll: "Just say yes." Me: "Yes!"
Box manager usually times the jammers, which can be a little more complicated than timing the blockers. Some special penalty time rules can apply to jammers in certain situations. And the manager generally makes sure things are running ok in the penalty box. So managers have to know those jammer timing rules and when they apply and have to keep a pretty sharp eye on what's going on.
My mantra for the night was "Watch the refs, not the skaters!" I found that was the only way to really stay focused on when someone was sent out and make sure they got to the right seat to start their time. The toughest was when skaters were sent out right at the end of a jam since it's a little more chaotic with everyone coming off the floor and the officials scrambling to get into position for the next jam. I don't know, it just seemed like it was a lot harder to see the ref make that tell-tale gesture to send someone out! Argh. Now I know to really pay attention for that.
Everybody did an awesome job. I want to thank the two box timers, Slamsday and Mutha Smutha (hope I got your names right!) who were pretty much thrown in at the last minute without any practice or anything! They did great! And of course the skating was fantastic. It's so fun to watch all the skaters get better and better with every bout.
One of the funnier moments was when the jammers from both teams had gotten their 4th minor penalties at the end of the jam. So they both had to start the next jam in the box and stay there for 10 seconds.
For those who don't know: In a normal jam the refs blow one long whistle and the pack of blockers starts. As soon as the last blocker crosses that start line, then the refs blow 2 short whistles signaling the jammers to go.
Anyway, this time both jammers were in the box and supposed to stay there for 10 seconds. The penalty timing starts when that first long whistle blows. But the ref still blew 2 short whistles when the last blocker crossed the line--it was like Pavlov's dog! Their time wasn't up yet but both jammers nearly bolted when those short two whistles blew! Luckily they stopped in time, but it was all I could do not to dive after them!
Ok, so maybe you had to be there. But I thought it was funny. Now that I've given my brain far more exercise than it was anticipating tonight, it's definitely bed time!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Time for Dumbo to go!
Sitting here in my glider about to tuck in to a cup of chamomile and the episode of 30 Rock I was too tired to stay up for last night.
The cold seems to be easing a little but it still kind of feels like an elephant on my chest. Maybe a baby elephant, but still an elephant. I'm going to try to suck down some more saline then strap on my vest for a while.
The vest is this odd looking thing. I'm not sure how to describe it. Imagine crossing a life jacket with a bullet proof vest. It inflates and connects to a compressor. The compressor moves the air in the vest around (oscillates it) to create vibrations over your chest and back. It helps shake loose any crud you have hanging out in the lungs.
Anyway I can't type while doing the vest because it would lllloooookkkkk ssssoooommmeeethingggg llliiikkkkeee tttthhhiiiisisss!!!!!!
I need all the help I can get to shake this (ha! literally). I want to go to skating practice tomorrow and I don't want to carry the elephant with me. Maybe by tomorrow it will be a...what's slightly smaller than an elephant?
The cold seems to be easing a little but it still kind of feels like an elephant on my chest. Maybe a baby elephant, but still an elephant. I'm going to try to suck down some more saline then strap on my vest for a while.
The vest is this odd looking thing. I'm not sure how to describe it. Imagine crossing a life jacket with a bullet proof vest. It inflates and connects to a compressor. The compressor moves the air in the vest around (oscillates it) to create vibrations over your chest and back. It helps shake loose any crud you have hanging out in the lungs.
Anyway I can't type while doing the vest because it would lllloooookkkkk ssssoooommmeeethingggg llliiikkkkeee tttthhhiiiisisss!!!!!!
I need all the help I can get to shake this (ha! literally). I want to go to skating practice tomorrow and I don't want to carry the elephant with me. Maybe by tomorrow it will be a...what's slightly smaller than an elephant?
Thursday, January 20, 2011
This cold is kicking my butt
I finally found something to occupy my time while I'm chained to the nebulizer! This blog! I'm sitting here inhaling hypertonic saline because a cold is currently kicking my butt. Again.The last 6 months has been awful in terms of catching colds. I'm pretty sure my toddler is a human petri dish.
This cold seems especially tenacious. It just. keeps. hanging. on. Ugh.
Here's hoping Spring is a healthier season. I'm tired of sitting home at night coughing when I could be skating.
I did go to practice last night just to help with timing the penalty box--which I will also be doing during Sunday's bout. It's pretty sweet! I get to go to the bout and sit "ringside" while timing the girls who get sent to the penalty box!
A word to any derby girls who get sent to the box: according to the rules I can't say anything to you except how much time you have left and when you can go back in. Last time I felt like such a bitch! But them's the rules!
I can't tell you why you were sent to the box (even if I think I know), I can't advise on rules at all. I can't tell you you were awesome or that you look cute in those booty shorts (even if I'm thinking it). So if you ask me something besides how much time and I don't answer I'm not on a power trip or ignoring you. It's just that Whistley or whoever is running the box will yell at me.
Speaking of rules I have to brush up on the WFTDA handbook. And finish this damn saline.
This cold seems especially tenacious. It just. keeps. hanging. on. Ugh.
Here's hoping Spring is a healthier season. I'm tired of sitting home at night coughing when I could be skating.
I did go to practice last night just to help with timing the penalty box--which I will also be doing during Sunday's bout. It's pretty sweet! I get to go to the bout and sit "ringside" while timing the girls who get sent to the penalty box!
A word to any derby girls who get sent to the box: according to the rules I can't say anything to you except how much time you have left and when you can go back in. Last time I felt like such a bitch! But them's the rules!
I can't tell you why you were sent to the box (even if I think I know), I can't advise on rules at all. I can't tell you you were awesome or that you look cute in those booty shorts (even if I'm thinking it). So if you ask me something besides how much time and I don't answer I'm not on a power trip or ignoring you. It's just that Whistley or whoever is running the box will yell at me.
Speaking of rules I have to brush up on the WFTDA handbook. And finish this damn saline.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
First blog ever!
Welcome to my blog. I am new at this. But many of my friends have blogs and, ever the late-bloomer, I decided to jump into the blogosphere.
If you've found this, chances are you know somebody with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) or you like roller derby. Maybe even both! I wanted to do this to help my derby friends understand a little about CF and my other friends understand a bit about derby.
First things first. What is CF? It's a genetic disease that, among other things, contributes to chronic respiratory infections and also usually affects food absorption.
Chronic respiratory infections take their toll on lung function over time. Currently mine hovers around 70% of a normal non-smoking person. It also means I have a chronic cough and have to smile and nod when people who don't know me ask if I have allergies or "Is that cold getting better?" Hey, it's easier than handing them a pamphlet on CF. Actually maybe it isn't--I should just walk around with literature!
The food part means it can be hard to gain weight and also to absorb important vitamins. For me it's particularly difficult to absorb fats so I take prescription supplementary enzymes. So if you're out at a restaurant with me and I'm popping pills, rest assured they aren't happy pills!
I should probably include a link to the CF Foundation website. They can do a better job explaining things than I can. One thing I want to stress though, is that CF affects every patient a little differently. Some people get more virulent lung infections, others don't need enzymes to digest food. But whether through some unexplained genetic mutation, a fairly active life, or pure dumb luck I have done pretty well with CF.
Now, why roller derby? Those of you who are fans already understand. For those who aren't I'll just say that a few years ago my husband and I went to a local roller derby bout just to see what it was all about. We were expecting the old-school banked track with tough chicks in fishnets beating the crap out of each other. Well, we didn't get the banked track but we did get the tough chicks in fishnets!
But what I really fell in love with was the sport of it! It is a sport that requires strength, endurance, agility, speed, and control--on roller skates! Add in the fishnets and you've got one hell of a night! It's just the most gracefully brutal thing to watch! Ok enough raving. So after a couple of years of watching enviously, I thought I'm not getting any younger. I'd better see if I could ever possibly do this. So I showed up at Underground Derby's practice for beginners and have been hooked since.
After some health trials and tribulations (stupid lung infections!), I recently (mostly) passed their Derby 101 class. Hey, I'm not the best but I'm miles ahead of where I was about 8 months ago. And not many people have the guts to take up a full-contact sport in their mid-30s!
And as an end to this post I will just say that I think I need these ribcage earrings.
If you've found this, chances are you know somebody with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) or you like roller derby. Maybe even both! I wanted to do this to help my derby friends understand a little about CF and my other friends understand a bit about derby.
First things first. What is CF? It's a genetic disease that, among other things, contributes to chronic respiratory infections and also usually affects food absorption.
Chronic respiratory infections take their toll on lung function over time. Currently mine hovers around 70% of a normal non-smoking person. It also means I have a chronic cough and have to smile and nod when people who don't know me ask if I have allergies or "Is that cold getting better?" Hey, it's easier than handing them a pamphlet on CF. Actually maybe it isn't--I should just walk around with literature!
The food part means it can be hard to gain weight and also to absorb important vitamins. For me it's particularly difficult to absorb fats so I take prescription supplementary enzymes. So if you're out at a restaurant with me and I'm popping pills, rest assured they aren't happy pills!
I should probably include a link to the CF Foundation website. They can do a better job explaining things than I can. One thing I want to stress though, is that CF affects every patient a little differently. Some people get more virulent lung infections, others don't need enzymes to digest food. But whether through some unexplained genetic mutation, a fairly active life, or pure dumb luck I have done pretty well with CF.
Now, why roller derby? Those of you who are fans already understand. For those who aren't I'll just say that a few years ago my husband and I went to a local roller derby bout just to see what it was all about. We were expecting the old-school banked track with tough chicks in fishnets beating the crap out of each other. Well, we didn't get the banked track but we did get the tough chicks in fishnets!
But what I really fell in love with was the sport of it! It is a sport that requires strength, endurance, agility, speed, and control--on roller skates! Add in the fishnets and you've got one hell of a night! It's just the most gracefully brutal thing to watch! Ok enough raving. So after a couple of years of watching enviously, I thought I'm not getting any younger. I'd better see if I could ever possibly do this. So I showed up at Underground Derby's practice for beginners and have been hooked since.
After some health trials and tribulations (stupid lung infections!), I recently (mostly) passed their Derby 101 class. Hey, I'm not the best but I'm miles ahead of where I was about 8 months ago. And not many people have the guts to take up a full-contact sport in their mid-30s!
And as an end to this post I will just say that I think I need these ribcage earrings.
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