Ow.

Well, I wanted to write about my skating journey, so I guess I have to admit to all the bad stuff as well as the good stuff.
I FINALLY got my new skates last week. I love them. They fit perfectly, or at least they will once the leather softens a little. I love them so much, I threw them on as soon as I got home and strapped on all my pads and went to the parking lot next door to skate around and get the feel of them.
I understand the difference between indoor and outdoor wheels now.
Indoor wheels have ZERO control on asphault. I don't have a lot of control anyway, because I am still trying to regain my skills. So there I am wobbling along, trying not to fall and kill myself and trying not to hit my children, who are riding their bikes around me pointing at a small child who is literally skating circles around me. (Not my child, but some random kid mind you) I managed to mostly get my bearings and skate a few laps around th eparking lot, I'm feeling a bit frustrated because it is harder than it was at the rink. Why am I suddenly worse? I slowed down to talk to my kid and all of a sudden, some evil twig reached up and grabbed my wheel. I fell. HARD. Right on my butt. What good does $200 worth of padding do when you don't fall on the pads? I have a fairly nasty tailbone injury, I may have cracked it. I can't really afford to go to the doctor to find out, because my insurance application is still pending. Blah. I went to scrimmage the night I fell, and I was talking to one of the refs for the WRG league and she told me it was my wheels. they are too hard and have no grip. Now I have to get some outdoor wheels so I can skate without killing myself.
So I have been working for a week now with a really sore butt. It hurts to walk, it hurts to sit, it hurts to stand, it hurts to lie down. Blah.
We had my hubby's family reunion this past weekend, which will be another post in a few days as I have to go to bed shortly. We drove for two hours to Bear Lake. Car trip=BAD. Camping with bruised/sprained/broken tailbone = BAD.
I think I have complained sufficiently for tonight. Sometime this week, I'll get in another post and talk about the reunion, because boy, my kids are hilarious.
Peace, Love and skating! (yes, I am still going to do it!)

Hard road ahead.

I went to the local roller rink with my friend last night. She decided I needed a chance to get out and skate. She also decided that she wanted to make sure the first time I got back into a pair of skates was NOT with the ladies of the team I plan to try out for.
GOOD THINKING MAYA!
So we went down to the rink, paid our admission fee, decided to upgrade to better skates (she wanted blades and I chose to get speed skates which is what I will wear in derby), and put the skates on.
WOW. I thought it'd be a bit like riding a bike, once you know how, you never really forget. I was mistaken. I stood up and felt a bit unsteady but otherwise confident. Then I tried to move. Just so everyone is aware, your center of gravity MOVES as you age, gain 100 pounds then lose 50. I have a lot of work to do before I can skate with those intimidating ladies I so long to join.
I did eventually mostly get my bearings (hee hee I so punny) under me, and discovered that I am actually more comfortable skating in a somewhat derby-like stance, bent over, than standing straight up anyway. I got ambitious and tried to do some crossovers. I have a good feeling that I will be able to do this as I get more comfortable on skates and was even able to get one foot slightly crossed over the other on the turn. I skated for an hour, with no pain afterward, except for one thing...
I fell down. yep. I fell down. It hurt. I didn't take my pads and all to the rink for fear of looking like a lunatic, so when I landed on my knee I got my very first rink rash. It's a sad little raspberry on my knee. It hurts. I feel like a big jerk now, because just yesterday I told my daughter to stop whining about her little scuffed elbow. Now that I have a similar scuff on my knee, I understand. Those things STING. I hope that this first fall being so small will help me not be afraid of the fall.
It was hard to get back up. Not mentally or emotionally mind you, but physically difficult to stand back up on skates, where I had nothing to grab and was afraid my fingers might get run over if I used my hands. But I got up. I continued to skate for a while until my feet were hurting from the rental skates and my skate partner was getting sore from using muscles she had forgotten she even had.
Thank you Maya, for taking me out and letting me be a fool in front of a few random strangers rather than letting me try my first skate with the derby girls.
Rink rash sucks. Can't wait to get another.

Celebrate the small victories.

I got word that Reidell has officially notified UPS to come get my skates to deliver! About FREAKING time! Now I just pray that they are large enough. I re-measured my feet and compared with the sizing guide. I should be a 7 1/2, but Vixens only come in full sizes. I ordered 7 and hope I don't need 8. *crosses fingers* Little victory = skates are headed my way.
Work has been rough lately. We are super busy and are once again short handed and training. It seems like every time we get a new full time employee just about trained, they turn into raving psychopaths who hate their job. One month. It'll get better. I know it. *crosses fingers again* Little vitory = still have a job, which i actually like despite the latest rough patch.
I have been getting to know some of the ladies from Salt City Derby. They all seem to feel like I'd be a good addition and are very encouraging. Little victory = somebody else thinks this might work out for me!!!! Now I just need to pick a team to try out for. Leaning towards Death Dealers and Bomber Babes.
Gotta come up with $24 to go to this week's bout. I have already been invited to the after party and REALLY want to go. One more chance to get to know the girls when they aren't towering over me on their skates. (In case you didn't know, these ladies are Intimidating with a capital "I")
well, enough rambles. I'm going to bed now so that I can survive another day in this endless week.
Peace, Love, and Rollerskating!

Happy Independence day USA!

I love Independence day! What could be better than a day filled with parades, beer, picnics, and fireworks? I am not one of those "God and Country" types, who will spout off pseudo-patriotic rhetoric about how this country was founded on Christian values and blah blah blah, becuase I don't believe it was. I believe this country was founded on the belief that people should be able to CHOSE their own religion, lifestyle, etc. Read the bill of rights, it's right there. I am proud to live in a country where I am not forced to agree with the government. I love the fact that if I don't like the way my representative works, I can voice my discontent and vote his butt out of office next term (well, in theory anyway, I DO live in Utah.) I can honestly say that I am thrilled to be a woman in a country that allows me to live up to my potential, or fail, as I see fit. I support the men and women of the armed forces and applaud their decision to defend their country, even while I disagree with the war they are fighting.
So, a toast to my home! Happy Birthday USA, I love you!