It's August and I'm hot

Hey kids! It's time that I told you of my latest endeavor. I'm taking on the challenge of women's roller derby. Not to fret, I'm still working towards my ultimate goal of WIPEOUT!; I'm just taking on another challenge that is also physically challenging. I fully admit that I was inspired by the non-Oscar winning film Whip It starring Ellen Page, Kristin Wiig and Drew Barrymore. Here's a sampling of the movie:



What I'm doing isn't exactly the same as the movie. The league that I'm trying out for is part of the Women's Flat Track Derby Associate or WFTDA. It's a flat track, not elevated. The try-out is pretty intense and includes the following minimum skills requirements:

• Skating posture, stride, crossovers, speed & endurance and stops
• Falls
• Balance/Agility
• Skating with others
• Blocking
• Rules Test (http://wftda.com/rules)

Please know that I'm trying out to be on the Windy City Rollers farm team, the Haymarket Rioters. Once you make the farm team, you are groomed to be on one of the home teams. All just trying to get to the big show.

I have purchased a pair of skates, helmet (still need to adorn it with awesome stickers), mouth guard, elbow pads, wrist guards, knee pads & guards. No pictures available at this time but not to fret, I'm sure I'll conjure something up soon. I've participated in a derby skills class as well as open derby skate. There's also various open skate sessions available. Since I'm still working Saturdays and have Fridays off, I found an open skate from 10 am to 12 pm on Fridays called 'Organ Skate' at the Lombard Rink. I thought to myself, "I could totally skate to organ music." What I didn't consider was the other people that legitimately enjoy organ music: the elderly. I'm easily the youngest person by 30+ years. Man, they are AWESOME!!! They're doing the cha cha and other dances on their skates all awhile holding hands, skating backwards, doing sassy turns! Very coordinated and impressive! My favorite part is the outfits on the women. There are a neutral top, sequined skirts and tan skating tights. I'm guessing many of them used to ice skate but that's just an assumption. This past Friday I had a small accident that resulted in this:

I fell and landed directly on my left knee. My right knee isn't used to skating and twinges when I walk. Finally my left ankle has been aggravating me for about 5 months. So, I'm icing everything. It's quite magical.

I'm taking any suggestions for awesome names but know that I already have a few in mind.

Thanks for reading. Sunshine and rainbows to all.