Home from RollerCon

Wow, what a week! I can't believe how quick time flies when you are learning so much. I was so busy, I didn't take many pictures. Boo.

I took a doTerra essential oils class. I received some great free samples and learned many new things.

A blurry shot of the class registration line on day one.

Here is me this morning. We decided since we had to catch the shuttle at 5 am, we should just stay up. There was a fun pool party almost all night long. And we had to pack. 

Our flight home was quite the adventure. It's the first time I have even been in an airplane that had to turn around and land because of engine issues. We waited around in the airport for another plane and were five hours late coming home. But so thankful we made it!

Hello again!

It's been a long time.  I decided to come back to blogging, give you an update on what's new, and journal my journey.

I am still playing roller derby.  I just finished my second season as a skater, and my husband is a referee for the same league.  Right now we are currently in Las Vegas for RollerCon 2014.  We got here early on Tuesday and it's been go, go, go ever since.  I am enjoying a quiet morning in the hotel room, since we were up so late last night.  I am learning a lot and having fun!  The kids are at home with Grandma, and they seem to be doing well.

I am working part-time at a pregnancy clinic.  It's been great, but I seem to be having a hard time juggling everything at once.  I also am working on my art business, White Rabbit Arts.  I have sold several paintings this year, and am setting up a booth to sell art and crafts on Aug. 2-3rd.  I have a lot to do the week I get home from Vegas!

The kids are doing ok.  L. will be a senior this year! I can't believe it.  C. is going to be a sophomore, K, a fifth grader, E. a third grader, and S. a first grader.  I hope life will get a little easier, now that three kids are all at the same school.  E. has been going to therapy/counseling for attachment.  We found a wonderful local woman who understands attachment issues, having been adopted and gone through it herself.  She is great!

Great Derby

I had a road trip last weekend with my friend. We drove down to Olympia and watched a bout with some amazing athletes. It was good to watch and fun to hang out with a friend.

Derby Break

I just finished my fresh meat season and our wonderful team won the league championships on Saturday night! I am so thankful for my league and team mates for the relationships I have formed, motivating me and teaching me. I can't wait for next season! The first bout will be sometime in January. I am planning on working hard, to continue learning skills and the game, and to get stronger and faster on eight wheels.

Local Derby in the news

http://m.westernfrontonline.net/mobile/sports/article_0f801554-bcb1-11e2-a607-0019bb30f31a.html

AND I skated in my first bout ever on Saturday!!

Accomplishment is a good feeling

I went to my team practice yesterday morning, determined and mentally prepared. I was able to participate in every drill and finished the whole practice! I left feeling so happy with myself. At one point I fell while doing a drill, and a flood of emotion hit me...fear, frustration, anxiety. But I skated a lap, sucked it up and got back in. I am sore today but it feels so great!

RollerCon!

I have thought attending RollerCon sounded like so much fun since I heard about it a few years ago. But I wasn't sure if I could swing it this summer. I have been thinking about it for a few days now, and looked again on the website. The MVP passes have all been sold out and I wasn't sure if it would be worth going if I couldn't have access to everything offered. But guess what? There just happened to be some people who turned in their pass for a refund and I was able to buy an MVP pass with my savings!! I am very excited. It is a great motivator to get in better shape too. So, who's going with me??
www.rollercon.com

Snow, rain, crab benedict and tats

This morning I woke up early and met my mom for a late birthday breakfast at The Mount Bakery Cafe. I have been dreaming about trying their Eggs Benedict for a long time now. They had a crab benny special served on a savory Belgium waffle. Mmm, mmm. After breakfast we headed to a used bookstore where I found a few books, but I'm more excited about the vintage buttons I scored!

My mom tried to convince me to head to the Farmer's Market with her but it was so cold and wet, and even snowing on the drive home!

Today is the third bout for my team Tough Love. I have still not skated in a bout/game. I was injured and then out of town, so I really would be putting myself at a greater risk of injury if I played full contact right now. I will be working hard this month and next so maybe at the May 11th bout I will make the roster! (Probably shouldn't eat any more eggs benny though.)

Thinking about derby, and my lack of enthusiasm lately, my mind went to the tradition of the "fresh meat" tattoo. It is one that many players get their first year of a steak. I'm really not excited about that idea, and being not one of tradition, I am thinking of getting a wolf tattoo. Our recently retired coach (who is also a hockey player) liked to quote a hockey coach, "The legs feed the wolf". I think that is a little more inspiring that a slab of meat.

Happy 12/12/12

Today I am celebrating my small accomplishments in my pursuit of health and fitness. I have been keeping to my habits of no aspartame, more fiber, no alcohol, no caffeine and no sugary drinks. I am beginning to feel a little better and have a bit more energy. I know that once I completely cut out the other bad stuff in my diet (while hard at first) I will feel even better. On Jan 1 I will start my elimination diet for three weeks at least. I have been staying in my calorie range and exercising daily.

I get discouraged easily when I don't see immediate results or when I mess up on my eating plan. I need to remember to hold my head high and be happy with where I am right now.

We had our first team scrimmage last night during practice. I felt like I am improving! I got some good hits in, and I feel like I am starting to understand what is happening on the track better.

I did it!

I finished booty camp and lived to tell about it. That night (Sunday) I received the call inviting me into the league. I am now a Roller Betty! The league has 3 teams plus a traveling team. They will have a draft in early November so I should know if I make a team in a few weeks! If I don't, there is a pool they use to pull subs when there are injured players or what not.

After Sunday's skill and endurance test, I realized how out of shape I am. I'm actually probably more fit that I have been in a few years, but attending 2-3 practices a week will be tough physically. I need to get in better shape fast!! Squats are my new love{hate}.

courage

I have been feeling like many times I try to step out of my zone and do something new and challenging, I get shot down by others.  Why is that?  Are they just trying to be realistic and helpful? Are they jealous of my attempt at success? Are they just Negative Nellies? What gives?  Even when I was in high school I remember this happening to me, wanting to apply to a university yet being pushed in another direction because my grades and SAT scores were only average.

So I come to my point...roller derby. I would like to become a skater, but comments from well meaning people have me on the edge. "Isn't it dangerous?" "Those people are tough!" "That requires a lot of time commitment.", etc. I am sure these are valid points. So when do you know to follow the desires of your heart and go for it vs. listen to suggestions/warnings from others?

I did a pros/cons list with J. last night while talking in bed. They both are about even. I think my biggest fear is devoting so much time, money and effort into it only to discover I don't really enjoy it. I do know that I love being amongst the atmosphere at the practices and bouts. I have met some really great people in derby. Skating is a wonderful form of exercise. J is supporting me 100%. So I guess I have some praying to do about it and hopefully a clear answer will come. If I don't try out as a skater, I will of course remain involved as a non-skating or even possibly a skating official.

Baby Goats

Our family had a blast at the end of roller derby DEA barbecue. 

We were lured there by Kamarie and speak of baby goats and chicks at the farm.

We  had to check out these goats and babies as soon as we arrived.

E. liked watering the crops.

 

We all got to eat fruit and veggies off the plants!

Miss Lori brought cake, gave piggy back rides and played on the tree swing. 

She is now E. and S.'s favorite person in the world. 

We even got to wear cool hats to protect our tender heads from the sun.

 

 And we played a fun game, no one really agreed on the name. 

The most family friendly name is ladder ball.

Derby update

I got my insurance approved through WFTDA! I could have been on skates for scrimmage yesterday, but I have been fighting this flu and still felt lousy. I am planning on gearing up for our practice on Sunday though! I am super dooper excited and was told I would get some tips on how to avoid falling on my tush.

My favorite person in the world, J, has decided to join me and has signed up for the DEA (Derby Enforcement Agency). He wants to become a skating official/ref. First he needs some skates and gear...and get insurance. Oh my, this is becoming an expensive hobby!!

Lacing skates

I got new toe guards and laces for my skates the other day and finally decided to put them on. Way more confusing than I thought! I resorted to google and found this tutorial! (who would have thunk it??) http://www.screamprinter.com/2011/03/how-to-lace-roller-skate-toe-guards-and.html?z&m=1
I tweaked it a bit and here is the final result:

First Bout

Last Saturday I experienced my first roller derby bout and was a non skating official (DEA Derby Enforcement Agency). I got to the gym early and helped lay down the track. I hung out at a friends house after, got dressed and put on makeup, fixed our hair and got ready for the big debut of my alter ego...(derby name) Scarlett Let Her. We had team photos done and a meeting with the refs and officials. I got a rundown of my duties...lineup tracker and outside white board. I learned a lot and am so excited for the next bout day in March!

Also, I got a chance to skate in a real rink last Friday on a date night with my new skates (and husband) I fell once toward the end when I was getting pretty confident and gaining speed. Oww!

Derby photo taken by Kim Lincoln Photography.

T minus 5

Five more days!! I feel excited and nervous. Some days I feel so out of shape compared to what I used to be. 130 lbs and working out 3-5 days a week. Granted, that was pre-kids, but still I would love to get there again some day.

I started today by donning my skates. They are so pretty! I did the Roller Derby Workout video in them and it added a whole 'nother level of difficulty with the extra weight. I wasn't able to complete all the reps for the abs portion, but I did my best.

After the video and when the house was quiet with time for just me, I soaked in a mineral salt bath and just relaxed.

I did well with my eating and stayed on my skates for several hours!!! After dinner when J got home we went to the gym where I was on the elliptical machine for 50 minutes and stretched lots. I feel so good today!

T minus 6

No real workout was done today. I did wear my new skates around the house for about an hour tonight. I was really busy, I went from church, to DEA practice, 1 1/2 hour drive to skate shop, to a Phinneus and Ferb live show (never will get those two hours of my life back!) then 1 hour drive home. I'm so tired!

Today I learned derby skates are a lot tougher to skate on than the roller rink rentals! Yes, you could say I'm a poser, but I'll be the first to admit I know nothing and I'm starting out very slow. My goal is to wear my new skates around the house as much as possible and when I'm more confident, practice more on the cement floor in the studio (after getting some pads!).

I'm also learning slowly about the game, rules, etc. But I will get there! Today at practice I learned a ton, hopefully I will retain it all.

Skates

Went to a skate shop in Seattle called Fast Girl Skates. www.fastgirlskates.com
I tried on two pair within my price range and skated on their floor, landing flat out on my rear once. I picked out the Riedell Vandal and a couple pair of awesome knee socks!

Derby

My interest in roller derby is growing. I went to a practice on Tuesday with some new friends, and fell in love.

I have a goal to get in shape, practice skating and attend the Booty Camp in the fall. I am on the team as a non skating official. This means I help with things like score keeping and penalty box time keeping. This will help me learn the game and make connections.

I ordered this great workout video and got it in the mail the other day. I would like to do it every other day. Now I need to buy some skates!!