time slogs onward, like a slug through mayonnaise

(no idea where or how or why I came up with that simile)

Anyway.  Every year our league has a big end-of-the-year party, which involves a lot of drinking and fun and playing Hit the Beach Ball Back and Forth in the Pool When It's Dark Out and You Can't Really See It, and me screwing up my ankle.  This year was no different, but this time it did NOT result from me being drunk (although I was) - there was a divot in the host's yard that had been covered by a cooler, but the cooler got moved, and it was dark and I stepped backwards and fell. 

It's better now, but the first thought that went through my head was EIGHT WEEKS I HAVE EIGHT WEEKS UNTIL BIRMINGHAM WHATEVER JUST HAPPENED BETTER CURE ITSELF IN UNDER EIGHT WEEKS.

I also was awarded some trophies!

yay me!

They are, of course, proudly displayed in our dining room, on top of the china cabinet, along with all my other awards.  (My husband and son have taken over the fireplace mantel with their bowling trophies.  I may need to muscle in on their turf.)

The off-season is over next week, anyway - Tuesday the 4th is our first practice back.  I finally got around to getting new elbow pads (mine basically disintegrated the last time I put them through the wash), I bought a new mouthguard to try out (I haven't worn one since I started reffing, but probably should), and we'll move onward and upward to the NEW SEASON, HUZZAH!

71 Days (not that I'm counting)

watching the North American East Continental Cup and realizing THAT'S GOING TO BE ME OUT THERE IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

wait...what?

this past weekend was odd.  Saturday I just sort of lounged around the house, read a book, watched a movie.  At the end of the day I was like "I get to do this again all day tomorrow?" 

What Queen Kicktoria Can't Live Without

(shamelessly stealing from http://nymag.com/tags/celebrity-shopping/)

1. Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick

I've tried every single "long lasting" lipstick out there (or what feels like every single one) and this is the only one that lasts longer than 10 minutes under heavy whistle usage.  I still have to reapply it at halftime, but at least it's still somewhat there.

2. Etymotic High Fidelity Earplugs

 Whistles.  All the time.  (So many times I will forget to put one in, and blow my whistle, and be like OH FUCK OW THAT HURTS) I had ones without the cord for a while, but I kept losing them.

3. A Stadium Seat

This isn't the one I have, but it's similar.  You don't realize how much back support you need until you've been sitting on the ground for multiple hours watching games.

(Here's where I admit I have one of those inflatable lounger things, but I can never get it to inflate enough.  I run around the parking lot like a maniac, but it never inflates.  This is easier to deal with.)

4. Portable Hanger Thingy

Clip your pads to it, hang it somewhere, AND HOPEFULLY YOUR STUFF WILL GET DRY. 

(This really only works in a place that has hanging hooks or cords or whatever, so you can hang it without it bumping up against a wall.)

5. THE TOWER OF POWER

There are never enough outlets in the officials' room.  Plus, this one has USB ports, so you don't have to worry about losing your adapter thingy.

reviewing my 2018 goals

• HR a game (I've been told this will happen at least once) Four games!
• Go to one of the "bigger" tournaments La Classique Georgia W. Tush AND CONTINENTAL CUP EUROPE
• Apply for certification, if it's open [it's not open yet]
• do more NSOing I did some, but mostly Scorekeeping.  Did get to penalty box manage a juniors' game, so that was cool.  I might also NSO some upcoming local-ish games)
• learn how to run the scoreboard I sorta did - watched a live game and ran the scoreboard.  Not sure how I'd do, though, with people relaying the information to me and possibly talking over each other

so yay!

indeed and whee-ee-ery

• Tournament
• Tournament
• Home Game
• Away Game
• Tournament
• Away game (with a Friday night game in Buffalo)
• Tournament
• Nothing, but there's a Friday night game in Buffalo I could go to
• Kid's birthday weekend (he's going to be SEVENTEEN WTF)
• Tournament
• Tournament
• Away game
• Men's game
• Away game
• Home game

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that's a wrap!  The Onslaught of Derby is done!  47 games in 92 days.  (18 OPR, 14 JR, 4 ALTR, 4 HR, 4SK, 2 IPR and 1 PBM.)

No wonder I'm exhausted. 

Anyway, there's one tournament I'm waiting to hear from, but other than that, I don't have anything scheduled for the rest of the calendar year.

Oh wait - that's not right.  I do have one more thing....

a very special day is today

Ten years ago tonight I went to my very first roller derby practice. 

It was during Adult Skate Night at the local rink.  All we could do were pacelines and some weaving and sprinting around.

But it was enough.