now is the time on Sprockets when everything EXPLODES

So.  This Friday I'm doing inside whiteboard at Buffalo for their league championships. (I should probably learn letter codes.)

This Saturday is a home doubleheader - JR the sanctioned and OPR the regulation.

Weekend after that is my kid's birthday*, otherwise I'd either be at Beaver Fever or Coastal Chaos.  At any rate I put myself as available for the regulation game in Buffalo on Sunday afternoon.

Weekend after that there's a triple header of home men's sanctioned games, but I can only do the first one, as I'd already promised myself to Ithaca for their sanctioned/regulation doubleheader.

Weekend after that is ECDX.

two more games down

Went out to Euclid, Ohio for two sanctioned games - one WFTDA, one MRDA.  Both went okay except that in the first game one of the OPRs (I was JR) made a call that I should have immediately overturned because I *knew* it was wrong (he called a cut, the player the jammer was supposedly cutting had been called on a penalty but wasn't aware of it yet) but I waited until the end of the jam.  Sigh argh bleh dammit.

Anyway.  Live and learn.

Nothing going on this weekend (Memorial Day) and then begins EVERYTHING HAPPENING.

ME: (looking through my planner) Hm, did I apply to that tournament?

(receives rejection letter from that tournament)

ME: I guess I did.

Ah well.  It was another bit of a reachy tournament, so I'm not horribly violently upset.

stomping towards the abyss

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Refereed a game between two D1 teams; did not die

Saturday night was Buffalo (27) v. Boston (29) and it went pretty darn well, IMHO.  I felt good about my positioning and my calls.

Saturday night's regulation game (Buffalo B v. Boston B) was also the closest I've come to having an all-women refereeing crew - one lone guy JR.

Got another doubleheader coming up this weekend - at home this time.  OPRing the sanctioned and JRing the regulation.  Wheee!

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One thing I need to work on is...just basic skating skills.  I always manage to fall at least once during a game through no one's fault but my own.  I don't even know what's causing me to do it - I should probably watch video (though I hate watching video of myself) to see what happens to make me fall.

Beast of the East review

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Refereed my 100th game*
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Refereed an overtime jam**
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Was the only referee in one game without a significant beard***
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Had poutine with guacamole and corn dogs****
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Got a parking ticket outside the venue*****

*everyone gave me a big cheer in the locker room and the Head NSO had the announcers mention it too!
**hint: it's crazy.  There would've been one in the championship game too, but one of the teams requested an official review with 0:02 left on the clock
***I drew a line on my cheek with a Sharpie which represented my beard so I could fit in #TeamWhiteGuysWithBeards
****it's AMAZING
*****not all achievements are good

this was a great tournament - the games are only twenty minutes, so everyone plays on FULL INTENSITY the entire time.  The stands were packed with people who exploded with cheers.  I also got to do some jam timing, which I enjoyed.  Got to work with some fantastic officials who were so nice and encouraging (I took a few jams as the front OPR because I know it's something I need to work on, and I mentioned this to the other OPRs in that game.  After a few jams, one of the [Level 4 certified] refs said "you're doing great!" which felt good).

I did keep tripping myself up and falling, though.  I'm going to say it was because the floor was really grippy (which was awesome in the turns when jam reffing, because I wasn't drifting all over the place), but made it easier to get my feet all tangled.


Oh - and -

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Applied to referee D2 Playoffs/Championships******

******I have a snowball's chance in the sun, but what the heck