tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68411213041761506932024-03-12T20:52:13.849-07:00Dixie von Doom's Derby Lovedixiedoesderbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14420313786735850616noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-68606876456316572013-06-26T18:11:00.003-07:002013-06-26T18:11:36.112-07:00Quick updateI will be back on skates Thursday for the first time since probably March. This should be interesting. Meanwhile, I've kept busy with life and general drama and announcing roller derby and getting into a gym habit. Today I did a 16:32 mile on the elliptical and felt like a beast.<br /><br />I'm anxious about Thursday, but only a little bit and I'm hopeful that I will progress quickly. next month I am either announcing at a bout for another local team again, skating with them or reffing. We will see where the girls need me to be. I'm hoping for skating with them cause that would be AWESOME!!!<br />
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Derby love,<br />
Dixie von Ddixiedoesderbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14420313786735850616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-70384339627654553562013-04-05T10:14:00.000-07:002013-04-05T10:14:02.471-07:00Still rollinI'm still going to the gym and rolling along, altho I feel like I'm not making any progress at all. new plates are helping my form and confidence, but shin splints are awful and I'm thinking that they are at least partially due to a loss of ankle strength after taking too long of a break and not doing anything else to keep up with my exercise because one of my feet was incredibly unhappy if it had to do anything other than walk at a nice, slow sedate pace. <br /><br />So now I'm trying different things with my cushions and am working to build up strength in my ankles and calves so that the problem will go away. If I could skate more frequently that would help of course, but I don't see the stupidly restrictive league policies changing anytime soon. The most positive spin I can put on this is that when I do finally get my strength built back up and have trained my endurance to where it needs to be I'm going to get back on the track and hit bitches like they've never been hit before. And I really don't think that is something my team is expecting me to do so I imagine that some of them will be a bit surprised. Hopefully...they like surprises...<br />
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Dixie von D.dixiedoesderbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14420313786735850616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-29389761236153284602013-03-11T07:49:00.000-07:002013-03-11T07:49:10.875-07:00Gym TimesGym Wednesday, Derby Thursday, slacking off Friday and Saturday (bad Dixie), back at the gym Sunday and again this morning (Monday). I will get back to where I need to be, then I will get better. It will take time, hard work, dedication, and sometimes sheer stubbornness. Tomorrow will be an off day for sure because I know that I need at least one a week and because I will literally have so much going on between errands before job 1, dinner between jobs, and job 2 that doesn't set me free til 11 that I don't know when I would workout and still sleep. So I will take a break and rest tomorrow.
Then Wednesday I am gonna go right back at it. I can either go to a spinning class, zumba class, kickboxing class (or all three) or I can go a bit later and do my cardio/circuit that I've been doing. At some point I want to try the classes, but I'm so anxiety ridden about going to gym yet as it is that I think it may have to wait for a bit. I'm resisting the urge to step on the scale every time I set foot in the place...that will only make me be a freak about the numbers and I don't want to do that. I just want to be a better me and play a better game while I'm at it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-11488586406082735942013-03-06T12:46:00.000-08:002013-03-06T12:46:49.317-08:00Moving forwardSo it's early March and I'm finally starting my gym routine as of tonight after work. I will be skating on Thursdays and Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be gym days. Monday and Tuesday are days that I work at both of my jobs and therefore have become rest days, although I can picture myself stopping at the gym on the way home if I have had a rough day at work and just need to chill for a bit and zone out with some cardio. I will probably chuck a pair of leggings and a t-shirt in my car just in case that happens.
I'm still upset about not being able to skate more than once a week, but I'm trying to focus on being able to use that time for the gym and getting stronger, better, faster, and when I go back to derby full-time being able to just destroy the endurance laps (that are stupid anyway given the nature of HOW derby is played, but that's another issue) and being able to lay down hits like Beyonslay (I can dream!!) I am hesitant to set goals in relation to losing a set amount of weight or gain X amount of muscle mass or what have you simply because if those goals do not happen as quickly as I would like them to I am far more likely to get discouraged.
However, I DO have an awesome support system outside of roller derby and I have someone who will see things about me that I won't see and will point them out to me when I struggle. So when I'm fussing that I haven't progressed or that I feel fat or whatever I have a constant source of reassurance that I will need some days. And this is in addition to what my teammates and other leaguemates will tell me if they see progress as well and I'm sure they will tell me if I look like I'm losing fat/gaining muscle or if I seem faster or meaner or whatever. One day, one mile, one lift, one squat, one workout at a time.
I will handle my mental health issues, I will improve my physical health, and I will keep going even on days when I don't want to. That doesn't mean that I won't backslide or struggle, but it does mean that I might have a day when I just want to cry and stay in bed and I might do that as long as I get up the next day and keep going. Just. Fucking. Skate.
Dixie von Doom
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-63365433860310491222013-02-21T20:31:00.003-08:002013-02-21T20:31:41.412-08:00Burning lungs and possible changesugh...I tried my 25/5 again and tonight was a real testament to how fucking hard derby gets when you can only skate once a week. I made 16 laps in something like 3:30ish before I had to stop or puke on the track. My lungs are still hurting and burning, but at least I can't taste stomach acid anymore...
This is one of the first nights I've been there that several of the rostered girls were also there and I got a hug from one and some of the others were asking how I was doing and what was up. My derby wife and our team captain asked me what I was planning to d to stay involved while I wasn't skating and suggested that maybe I should announce until I get back to a point where I'm ready and able to bout. I'm considering it, but I want to get my shit together before I say I will do it. I would much rather be skating and that will remain my ultimate goal.
I'm finding that as I start to deal more with my mental illness in a way that is going to be healthy and constructive that I have more support than I ever thought I would from both family (derby and otherwise) and one of my jobs at the very least. Not to mention the wonderfully special person in my life whom I would be lost without...<3
I was incredibly depressed when I got home tonight but as I'm settling down and starting to get tired enough to sleep I'm not feeling too bad. Pretty mellow. I will be getting back into the habit (or trying to) of posting regularly. Love and comments are appreciated.
Crazy derby love,
Dixie von D.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-60889654643622164902013-02-19T13:52:00.000-08:002013-02-19T13:54:34.389-08:00StrugglesSo I didn't want to write about this because it sucks. But right now I'm not a rostered skater for my league. Coming back from an injury and not nearly enough gym time means that my endurance had gone to shit (it was never very good) and I can't quite make my 25/5. Our league doesn't knock you off roster for the entire season so I can work my way back onto the roster (hopefully in short order).
Unfortunately for me, everything is coming at a terribly inopportune time. I'm struggling with two jobs, not being rostered, life itself, and on top of that my mental health is in a less than stable state due to a doctor who has decided they are unable to treat me and current medications no longer working. So I've been feeling super overwhelmed. But I am in the process of seeking treatment, finding a good gym (that I can afford), and just trying to keep a positive outlook in the face of some things that are pretty unpleasant for me. Last time I skated my 25/5 I was at 22 laps and have gone as far as 24.5 laps. I've also done it before so I know I can do it again.
I'm sharing this because my mental health has always made derby both a struggle and a kind of therapy for me. Now I've lost that therapy aspect and my health makes derby feel harder than ever. Only being able to skate one night a week (between both jobs and not being able to attend rostered practices) is hard. Seeing all the new skaters pass their skills and not feeling included anymore is SUPER hard...like harder than I ever thought it would be. *sigh*
I don't really know what to say here or what I want to say. I just want other skaters to know that they aren't alone if they struggle. When I receive a final diagnosis I may share it here because we all need help and support. So if you're feeling overwhelmed by life or derby or any other of a million factors, try to just keep fucking skating. I didn't let the fact that I was (am) overweight stop me, I'm not going to let mental illness stop me, and I'm not going to give up and walk away from something I love so much.
Dixie von Doom
PS - After scoring a SWEET pair of vintage 265s that fit me like amazeballs I've been able to put my semi-custom bonts (that I couldn't really afford) on hold. Once I finish getting these all spiffed up, pictures might follow. If I have any dedicated followers out there who really want to see them, let me know!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-6559298041334768352013-01-27T19:31:00.000-08:002013-01-27T19:31:02.837-08:00Trials, Tribulations, Rants, and Maybe Some WhiningIt's now the end of January and there is one more night of the training camp that we do every year to go. I have been struggling with shin splints the entire time and I've tried to do my best, but I still feel like my best just isn't good enough. I should not still be struggling with 25/5 even with shin splints. But I do. I've come as close as 24.5/5 but haven't broken that last lap in more than a year. Tonight was the best I've done in some time with 20/5. I'm not that far off...and I don't know what else I can do to make it easier on myself.
Ok. I do know. I need more cardio besides skating in my life. However, I work two jobs that adds up to 60 hours a week, plus my derby practices on three other nights a week. I'm not actually sure when I have time for more cardio, altho I might try squeezing it in during my lunch hour...as miserable as that sounds. Because if I don't do something I will lose my place on the roster for the 2013 season. I'm already worried about that because we have so many up and coming fresh meat who are really good.
Honestly, some thing that would really help me I think would be quitting my second job. It would give me more free time in my life as a whole that I could use to rest as needed or to increase my workouts. Both of those things are totally on the agenda.
Also on the agenda is a pair of Bont semi-customs. But I have pills to pay first and it doesn't look like I will be getting back as much in taxes as I had hoped for so I can't use that money. Well...I could, but that would be irresponsible of me...I'm trying to be an adult. Trying.
If there's anyone out there who has advice and tips for a rotten meat who still has endurance issues I'll take them. I just feel like I should be better than this and I'm only falling further and further behind. Sometimes I don't know what to do. So I just keep skating and hope that its enough.
DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-37774428026985514172012-12-14T13:06:00.001-08:002012-12-14T13:06:08.181-08:00TrainingSo last night I showed up at our Fresh Meat training night because I need to start getting moving before boot camp. This was after a quick mini workout in the AM and then during FM I realized that I have shin splints. So anytime I wasn't skating I was doing crunches. My abs can feel it today. I will also be working more fire hydrants/donkey kicks, etc. into my routine.
But my endurance has suffered and will continue to suffer until I can get these shin splints under control and/or gone. I will be incredibly glad when that happens. Then I can pick it up even further.
Also, I got to drool over a teammate's brand new, unmounted bonts last night and I have decided that i WILL have a pair. SO I did a mock up of the ones I want today and they will run anywhere from $375-400. Anyone wanna buy them for me??? LOL
And that seems to be my day...
DERBY LOVE!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-17611826354662430222012-12-13T07:13:00.000-08:002012-12-13T07:13:03.221-08:00Missing...One derby girl with too many skates, too much on her plate, and not enough time.
Yeah, it's been almost a year since my last update. Let's see if I can condense this into something less than a novella. So shortly after my last post I told my husband that I wanted a divorce. And that started enough drama and stress and hiccups in my life that blogging very quickly fell by the wayside.
I spent my summer working, skating, handling divorce stuff, helping my ex move out, and trying to handle my anxiety as it got worse and worse. The paranoia threatened to consume me and the insomnia drove me nearly crazy. I had a good friend here to help me pick up the pieces tho. It's been a long road, but I'm getting back to a place where I can try to become effective as a blocker again.
In the midst of everything I suffered from an inflammation of a bone in my right foot that made it impossible for me to skate. I missed the 3 months of our season and have only recently started trying to get to practices again. The amount of time I have spent off skates really shows and it doesn't help me that I had to get another pair of boots because the pair I love so much that I painted and customized were a poorer fit than I had realized and that contributed to my foot injury. I did get to announce at our last bout though and that was a long of fun. Once I stop skating I may try to get into announcing more. We'll see.
At any rate, life went nuts for a while and derby simply took a backseat to everything. Now the off-season is here and I've had time to rest and recuperate and make sense of all the changes in my life. League bootcamp starts on January 2nd and I am working towards that with the goal of coming out strong, better, faster, meaner. I want 2013 to be a damn good year with the Chautauqua County Roller Derby and the Babes of Wrath. I want this year to be my year!
<3
Dixie von DoomUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-552634482682108122012-02-25T18:07:00.003-08:002012-02-25T18:16:42.309-08:00Suck it up Buttercup!So...I got over my whiny fit. I put my big girl panties on. And I went to practice Wednesday night. I was determined to have a good practice and do well. I was also skating on different wheels that I am borrowing and they felt slippery. I think that was due to a cushion change I had made though and it has since been corrected. <br /><br />I was feeling pretty good and I've gotten so that I will step up and jam in scrimmage. I'm gonna get it! I stood on the jam line and was deliberately trying to annoy my opponent. I wanted to force her out, back, or simply distract her and apparently it worked. She took off before the jammer whistle blew and was forced to yield position. I was moving at a good clip, even with some slickness and had at least once (a teammate says two) really good,hard lateral cuts through the pack. According to my coach and teammates I was <span style="font-style:italic;">thisclose</span> to passing the pack on the outside. Then I fell...on my face. Busted my knee brace. And had a panic attack. Damn it. <br /><br />But the fact that I was seriously holding my own and about to make it through that pack. HELL. YES. <br /><br />DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-85301320138724209942012-02-20T13:55:00.000-08:002012-02-20T14:09:38.341-08:00discouragedSo I did manage to workout yesterday, but today my legs have been so sore that I've chosen not to workout instead of sucking it up. And now I have to leave for work shortly and therefore lack the time to properly workout and get cleaned up at this point. <br /><br />I guess something is better than nothing. And maybe I'm better not to push too hard and risk overdoing it or injury. But I just feel like I absolutely suck. I'm incredibly discouraged at my lack of progress in my life and it's something that I don't know how to fight back against.<br /><br />I'm cold and sad and wanna cry, but it never does me any good. Neither does the whining I'm currently engaging in really and I know that, but sometimes it just seems much easier to give up when I don't see progress. Being stuck in your own head really blows. Do I need drugs, therapy, or both? Or maybe nothing will ever change for me. I don't know. I do know that I'm tired of being tired all the time. And right now I'm tired of listening to myself bitch. I give up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-11534171210372011412012-02-19T10:39:00.000-08:002012-02-19T10:50:59.912-08:00So this is pretty non-derby related, but I don't feel like I have anywhere else I can vent. I'm just feeling very depressed again quite a bit lately. I don't know if it's the weather, the fact that it is looking like we won't be moving as soon as we had hoped, all the varied stressors in my life (which aren't that bad compared to some people I know), or if it happens to be a combination of things. <br /><br />My apartment is a mess, I feel completely under-prepared for the All Star bout that is fast approaching, and right now what I really want to do is crawl back in bed and sleep. I try not to let this side of me show too often because I know I can be a drain on other people, but trying to keep it together is a drain on myself. I feel as though I should be able t do more than I am doing on the exercise front, but there are days when I simply don't exercise for various reasons, none of which are good reasons. Maybe that's why I get discouraged. The progress is slow and hard to see and I don't really feel like I have much to encourage me. I feel as though I am easily one of the worst players on my team, but my efforts to improve never strike me as good enough. <br /><br />I'm a mediocre blocker, barely passable pivot, and a terrible jammer and not one thing seems to be improving for me in any of these areas. I have a shit job performing menial labor and despite my efforts have been unable to advance within the company I work for. I'm not even looking for huge advancement...just a tiny step up. And that legal degree I was so proud to have earned...well it's not much use when I'm working in a deli frying food and slicing lunch meat. Sure, part of that is because I do live in a rather economically depressed area where the job market just straight up sucks, but that doesn't make it easier. <br /><br />I guess I just feel like that despite my efforts I will never be good enough to have the happiness that I want. Or maybe I'm simply destined for boring mediocrity for the rest of my life. I dunno. I'm just fucked up and whiny today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-49538993899676211462012-02-07T05:43:00.001-08:002012-02-07T05:47:01.508-08:00Pre-season scrimmageWas a success. We won 174-42 even though we were skating on easily the worst floor I've ever been on. It had lumps and bumps, and uneven seams, and was so slippery that full speed wasn't even an option.<br /><br />Lots of slow derby was played that night. I broke a wrist guard splint (again. does anyone know where I can get stronger splints that will fit the hired hands?), played pivot, and even got to jam once. Sadly, my lone jam was a bad one...I spent most of my time chasing the pack. I will keep trying and I will get better though.<br /><br />Next up for me is an All Star bout with the NYS B Team as we take on the PA B Team on 3/3/12. I'm trying to train as hard for that as I can without overdoing it and injuring myself or anything drastic and then we start our regular season on 4/21/12.<br /><br />Roller derby is off and running!<br /><br /><3,<br />Dixie von DoomUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-66289995352571512182012-02-02T06:44:00.000-08:002012-02-02T07:13:49.942-08:00End of BootcampSO...I'm back after going to a months worth of bootcamps that were run by an awesome derby girl that I skate with (Love me some Stratosfear!!!) and I do think it has helped my skating. I did try to fit in extra workouts at home and have made some progress in the respect that I am working out more often. Even if I'm only doing short workouts at home that's better than sitting on my ass. And last night I felt faster than I had at the end of last year.<br /><br />Personal success...<br /><br />I'm back in the same size jeans I wore in high school and can wear a Junior size XL in some bottoms. Not bad at all I don't think. I'd like to drop one or maybe two more sizes,but I'm not sure if the width of my hips will allow that...LOL<br /><br />Last night I FINALLY managed to do several front to back transitions on my skates. Mind you I moving at a snails pace, but the fact that I did them had me grinning like an idiot. I'm trying to decide what was a bigger success, this or...<br /><br />My very first successful jam in which I was called lead. I was jamming against Stratosfear and she's in awesome shape in addition to being an overall much faster skater than me. But the girls on my scrimmage team held her up with some serious positional blocking while Aeon Fox gave me a giant whip through for lead status. Fear came out right after me though and we were on. It ended in a giant pile up as I was trying to pass the star and I landed flat on my back from which pointed I called it. <br /><br />So I do feel like I am improving, even if sometimes the gains are quite slow. I need to work on my toestop runs and am hoping to score a gym membership, but that remains to be seen. All is well in derby land. <3<br /><br />Dixie von D.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-56762119122675444272012-01-07T12:08:00.000-08:002012-01-07T12:26:13.113-08:00New Year New Dixie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCdGGxJjLGe4geMoyf2mtjj-d_z5krBOE4PMYpCSpIw0R7_m5H0mb_58K4GRaDdsmr-nOI1f8Sv-W3vqg12RpyO8TDx092mszjTA5xUwhazeZRpLo_JP3GTmbfqvOOAjOCPhX9vSBy2jU/s1600/purplesk8s.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCdGGxJjLGe4geMoyf2mtjj-d_z5krBOE4PMYpCSpIw0R7_m5H0mb_58K4GRaDdsmr-nOI1f8Sv-W3vqg12RpyO8TDx092mszjTA5xUwhazeZRpLo_JP3GTmbfqvOOAjOCPhX9vSBy2jU/s320/purplesk8s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694984927740447954" /></a><br />So I got my boots mounted to a size 2 Avenger Mg that I got for Christmas, painted them purple, and have been rolling along! Since we started an off-skates boot camp at our first practice of the new year I haven't had a lot of time on them, but it has been so nice when I've skated now. <br /><br />Speaking of Boot Camp....I thought I had made lots of progress getting in shape. The first night of Boot Camp proved me wrong and I am determined to not let my self-doubt or anything else stop me. Right now being self conscious when I have to do any jumping or jogging is a big hurdle for me as I am both top heavy and rather slow. I don't want to feel like I'm holding people back. But being unable to jog five laps around a derby track is somewhat depressing. I wasn't the only one there who had issues with it, but I was the only derby girl who couldn't do it. Despite how far I've come since I started out that really made me feel like the weakest link on a good team. I play one position, I'm slow, my endurance is light years AWAY from many of my teammates, and I still struggle with some basic things.<br /><br />However I have decided that I will survive boot camp and I will come out of it as a stronger woman and skater. In addition to the boot camp I am doing a Primer for the Roller Derby Workout Challenge that you can find on Facebook (the primer is on fleetly.com) and then I will be doing the RDWC for 2012. I am finally making a serious effort to not be defined by my pant size or by the numbers I see on the scale and instead am simply trying to be a better, stronger, healthier me. I'm hoping that by the time this is all said and done I will have made serious changes that lead to serious improvement both on and off the derby track.<br />At the same time though I refuse to be super hard on myself because every step I make in the right direction helps and every time I slip up...well...I am only human after all. <br /><br />Derby <3,<br /><br />DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-14428507140588275932011-12-17T11:04:00.001-08:002011-12-17T11:07:21.235-08:00bootsOMG. Those skate boots showed up. I put them on and they fit...fucking perfectly...I cannot wait to get plates for them, mount, and skate them. I want to skate them so bad I will probably fill the holes and have them mounted ASAP even if I don't get new plates right away. And the dye job will happen when the stuf gets ordered and comes in. Pix will eventually surface!<br /><br />DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-20880863896786031342011-12-15T10:02:00.000-08:002011-12-15T10:20:05.906-08:00big updateSo after our season ended I pretty much took a hiatus from posting. I was still skating at practices, but there hasn't been a lot of exciting stuff going on. We built a nine foot roller skate for our local Christmas parade and that was a blast! Since my last post I have (FINALLY) started to kind of get the hang of turning from front to back. I'm very terrible at it though. But the progress is there.<br />I've also learned how to remove plates that have been riveted to a boot. A hammer worked great. Then I learned how to mount and realized that I need my own tools...anyone got a spare break off tool? I also bought a pair of vintage Riedell 265 boots. Sadly they are too small for me and despite my best efforts at stretching them they are still super uncomfortable. I'm probably going to sell them to a teammate if she likes them. <br />But not until the white skates I bought come in. They look like a Riedell 295, but the person I bought them from referred to them as 8wheel (brand?) skates. IDK. They are going to be plastered with purple leather paint and mounted on my size 4 invaders for now. Assuming its not too long for a size 8 boot...lol<br />At any rate I am hoping for a set of DA45 Avenger Mg for Christmas in a size 2. Those will be S/F on the new boots and if I don't get them for Christmas I will buy them just as soon as I can afford them. And I want to do my own mounting job. I need a drill. <br />And I think that I've covered pretty much everything that's been going on.<br /><br />Also, a note to the commenter who was concerned about my concussion. I am pretty sure that I had a minor one(my mom the nurse seemed to think so), but suffered no ill effects and am fine. My helmet has been replaced.<br /><br /><3,<br />DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-20701291378147029422011-10-09T06:14:00.000-07:002011-10-09T06:26:53.089-07:00ERG vs. CCRDWe lost our final bout of the season last night. Our first half was god awful and we had a rally in the second until some bad calls really killed our momentum. I felt like this was the worst I had ever played and managed to fall and hit my head pretty hard during the second half. I got up and kept skating but came back off after a lap or two because I tptally thought I heard four whistles. Turned out I was just knocked half stupid and hearing things. I think I'm OK tho. I mean other than just being depressed that we lost and feeling pretty inadequate as a derby girl.<br /><br />I'm thinking about blowing off practice for a week or two so I can regroup and get my head on straight but I dunno just yet how I feel about it. I do know that I am really struggling with feeling as though I practice well and then play at a level that is nowhere near how I do at practice. The problem is that I don't onow why thos and that is something I nees to figure out ir I'm ever going to get better. I've been up for less than half an hour so ir things are jumbled or whatev thaya why. Also I just realized that my head still effin hurts. Now I'm annoyed. And I still feel like the worst derby girl ever and I think I let my team down....<br /><br /><br />Not feeling the love today,<br /><br />Dixie von DoomUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-74852212635291111052011-10-05T21:34:00.000-07:002011-10-05T21:46:43.258-07:00Had a good practice tonight but left feeling a bit down after having to deal with someone who I find to be less than pleasant...I'll get over it I'm sure. Had some funny moments including hearing someone yell, "the goat's jumping the fence!" As I was the goat in question and directly behind the person speaking it made me laugh so hard I almost fell. Some of the ERG skaters came down and played with us to prep for our bout on Saturday since we are borrowing them against their own team. Is there irony there? Anyway if you're in WNY or Western PA or if you feel like a road trip come see us in our last bout of the season in Erie, PA. Also this post was sent from my phone so ignore my typos!<br /><br />Derby <3,<br /><br />Dixie von D.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-3567103081641461582011-09-26T13:19:00.000-07:002011-09-26T13:29:26.449-07:00Bout on 9/25 Pike, NYThe Babes of Wrath faced off last night against the Nurse Rachets from Rockin' Rural Roller Girls at their home in Pike, NY. Getting there was an adventure in and itself since it's almost a two hour drive on backroads....I took my time coming home as I spotted several deer and didn't really feel like hitting them...at any rate...<br /><br />In our first match-up against the RRRG the Babes (along with a few guest skaters from ERG) we ended the game at 192-140 Babes of Wrath after two periods of hard hitting fast paced, penalty laced derby action! I had a major track cut (not typical for me) and a low block major which I knew I was getting the instant I went to fall and my muscles tried doing two different things....OOPS. I haven't seen final stats and minors weren't being called to the skaters so I'm not sure where penalties for the rest of the team stand. Leanderthal scored MVP for the Babes and after her awesome jamming she deserved it. I keep hoping that one day I'll MVP for a game, but we'll see. I think I have a long way to go first. <br /><br />Also, massive bruise on my arm, not from a cool hit or anything, but because I slid out and missed the chair on my second trip to the box and bashed my arm into the announce table (i think). A few others had minor bumps and bruises I'm sure, but we didn't have any major injuries last night and that's ALWAYS a good thing. <br /><br />Our next bout, and last of the season, will be against ERG on October. 8th at Evan's Skateland West in Erie, PA. Here's to improving as much as possible between now and then!!!<br /><br />DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-62178967905145878842011-09-22T09:19:00.000-07:002011-09-23T13:20:32.315-07:00scrimmage practiceScrimmage practices are the best. It gives me a chance to take skills I've been working on and put them into play during a jam situation. I've gotten better at breaking out of the pack to form up a wall and better at communicating that I need that wall when no one else is near me. Also, my positional blocking does seem to be improving...as long as I can avoid tripping on my own feet. :(<br /><br />I had a few kicks from skates and a helmet to the thigh, plus general soreness from skating like mad, but I enjoyed every minute of it and am looking forward to our bout against Rockin' Rural Roller Girls on Sunday. I expect we will do well and as always each bout is a learning opportunity for us. Go Babes!<br /><br />DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-40669885998711764952011-09-21T21:29:00.000-07:002011-09-21T21:30:35.006-07:00I <span style="font-weight:bold;">LOVE</span> the last practice before a bout. That is all...for now.<br /><br />Dixie von D.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-82844156742817719382011-09-07T20:52:00.000-07:002011-09-07T21:02:05.308-07:00frustrationYep, missed a couple practice updates...nothing exciting to share that I can recall, which might explain why there was no update. Strategy, while necessary, bores the hell out of me and that was last week. Sunday freshie/endurance isn't exciting either, but more fun than strategy.<br /><br />This week I simply find myself frustrated at myself. I'm always struggling with endurance and keeping up my speed and tonight I really felt that. It sucks to know you're the slowest of the bunch...or to feel like you are, but I'm pretty sure I am actually the slowest skater that's NOT fresh meat. After a year and still being so slow I feel rather beaten down in that regard. And at this point I'm not sure that my slowness is a matter of endurance the way it once was. I think I'm just slow....<br /><br />Add to that my inability to complete a simple front to back transition (we have freshies that can do this, on their first night even) and I feel like I suck worse than ever. This is something that I've struggled with since I started skating and I simply cannot get my feet to do what I'm telling them to do while moving at speed. It is easy enough standing still, but a lot of things are easy when you're not really moving. I have this mental block or something in my head that tells me I can't do this...no matter how much I try. Plus not being able to complete said transition prevents me from learning a tomahawk stop as well, which isn't frustrating so much as it is annoying.<br /><br />I love roller derby, but am starting to have my doubts about whether or not it loves me back...<br /><br /><br />DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-31547517206218585492011-08-28T08:39:00.000-07:002011-08-28T08:52:55.773-07:00Recap,,,of a lot of stuffOK. So I mentioned in my last post that I was thisclose to my 25/5. I haven't gotten a chance to skate it again, but I'm pretty confident that I can do it. We were scheduled to practice Wed. night as usual, but we had several people who were out of town or off skates and decided that we could take a night off. So instead a group of us hit the local mall in our derby gear (practice was canceled late) and shopped for tights/fishnets, etc. It was an awesome bonding experience for the group of us and I really enjoyed it because I seldom get to do that with my league.
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<br />Last night we had our first open house/recruiting event and while we didn't have the turnout that facebook suggested we would have (not surprising) we did have a decent amount of people show up. We should get at least a couple girls on skates out of the deal, might have an NSO turned skater after her baby is born, and if we were going to try and start up a junior league we would have our very first derby brats! And they were too cute! Although I'm not sure the 13 year old would appreciate me saying that about her...she was a sweet kid though. All in all, the event seemed to go pretty well. And I got mad props off the coach during a pushes and pulls drill that we did during the practice portion that we did to let potential fresh meat get their feet wet. I was a speed demon around that track. Love to see myself improving and love it more when people notice!
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<br />This morning there was an off-skates practice with Tuesday Hula from QCRG that I was slated to be at, but my phone rang at 3AM with news that my in-laws house had burnt down. So I woke my husband (Yankee von Doom since he is actually from NY and I grew up in the south..hence my name) and we drove out because while there wasn't much we could besides be there for his parents there was no way were doing anything else. They were camping with some friends and their dogs so no one was hurt but the house and everything in it are total losses. It's a shame to lose the heirlooms, firearms, household goods, and whatnot, but I'm more grateful that no one was hurt. I will miss my big bad ass shotgun, but in the grand scheme of things that's not what really matters. At any rate, I texted my league and told them I would be there this AM because I wasn't sure what might need done. It turned out that I could have probably gone, but after sleeping for roughly three hours, getting woken up about the fire, and handling that boatload of information and adrenaline I got home about 6 or 630 and did some cleaning, puttered around a bit and was passing out on the couch while Yankee crawled back in bed. At 9 AM I woke him as per his request and then passed back out under a blanket with a raging headache for an hour. He feels very lost and in a way so do I...being here is more important than derby right now. I'm just waiting for things to be normal again for now...
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<br />DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841121304176150693.post-69679432108954342022011-08-21T13:46:00.000-07:002011-08-21T14:10:12.351-07:00Pre-vacation practiceThis is a note from last week's practice that didn't make it up before I left for Canada on vacation. We had a good night with most of the girls on wheels (people are recovering from a summer slump as it cools off I think). Couple of minor knee issues that should be fine with some RICE and TLC and since I am a total klutz I decided to take a massive spill. Somehow during a Wall Breaker drill as I attempted to juke through a wall I fell and managed to take a skate to the ovaries...between that and the fall I was curled up on the ground in a fetal position gasping for air and crying because in addition to that pain I thought I might've broken my thumb. Here I am, gasping for air, spitting my mouth guard on the track and trying to get my gear off which consists of me swearing, still gasping, and trying to remove my helmet and wrist guards while telling my derby wife (Aeon Fox) to "get it off. Pull it off!" She started at my helmet and then when I kinda waved the wrist in her face she got it...or maybe I said wrist guard..IDK...lol Suffice to say that it hurt like a bitch when she pulled the glove over my hand, but that my thumb was not broken in the long run, my ovaries did not have a skate shaped bruise, and I was back on the track within probably ten minutes. After laughing my head off after what our bench manager said was the hardest fall he'd ever seen...
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<br />To end the night we did a 25/5 time trial skating derby direction, non-derby direction, and I think backwards. Skaters who had not done 25/5 or just wanted to do it again could do it and then do other variations from there if we chose. Since I have been stuck at 21/5 for AGES I figured another crack at getting to 25 was in order. Also, my coach just basically asked me/told me i was going to do it...lol
<br />So I did it. And my time for 25 laps...was 5 minutes, 4 seconds...and as usual I freaked out afterward. Not because of my time as I was pretty happy to have finally gotten 25 laps, but just because I'm a freakin' spazz. So I have to shave four seconds off my time. After doing a lot of up and down hill walking on vacation I think it might help me with getting my time...LOL Here goes...DERBY!
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<br />DixieUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0