Derby Days Are Here Again!

Have I mentioned I referee roller derby?  I'm sure I have *nudge nudge wink wink*.  I know I didn't post nearly enough in February...but between school and scrimmages...I've been swamped.  I've got a paper due in two weeks, will have 2 midterms that same week.  Then one more class added in the last 8 weeks. THEN GRADUATION!!!

But enough about that.  Derby.  Blood, sweat, tears, bruises, twists, breaks.  Derby.  This past weekend I reffed 5 bouts in less than 24 hours.  It would have been more but I hurt my ankle and knee after being way-layed by skaters in two different games. I got nothing on our head ref though, he now has THEE prettiest eggplant colored bruise that covers the majority of a butt cheek and partial thigh.  He was way-layed by skaters twice in the SAME bout and then by a chair in another.  In his defense, he was skating backwards..show-off!

Friday night's two bouts were for the Blacksnake Roller Girls in St. Joseph, MO.  It's my hometown, my papa and one of my four sisters showed up.  It was awesome to see them and great to get some time on skates before Saturday.

My Dad, Me and sis, Emily!

Saturday was opening day for Fountain City Roller Derby!!!  FIVE bouts at Hale Arena in Kansas City!  All of our teams played, concluding with a bout against Benton County Roller Derby from Arkansas!  As refs, we play every jam. No rest except for between periods and half-time.  So on a day with five bouts, it was kinda silly to ref two the night before, but I love it.  And FCRD loves us.  A special Zebra Den was put together for us with water, snacks and chairs.  It was glorious.

Thanks FCRD for the pic.

Oh look, you can see some of us arriving for our long day.  I spy One Hit Thunder, Aaron Grievances, Bitter Sweets, me and Hellbilly Delux.  I also think I spy Mr Roboto...

Thanks FCRD for the pic!

Today I ate a chocolate chip scone, coffee, PB&J sandwich, grapefruit, apple, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin chocolate chip muffin, Spicy Indian vegan burgers on bread.

Today I bought nothing (but I've bought so many other things since the last post: various subscription boxes, tent, air mattress, new derby pads, sweaters, shoes).

All About the Zeebsss

This is just a shorty short post. I wanted to show off my reffin' Zebra crew!!  Fountain City Roller Derby 2015 is ready for action.

Thanks to Kate Wood Raclin for the pic!

My fellow skater, Uniscorn, and I were reffing a scrimmage last night.  She is also the awesome photographer that took all of team pics.  This is her with me, below, in a pic taken by another fantastic photographer, Heith Carnahan.  

Uniscorn and Trixie

Well, I'm tired.  Two scrimmages in as many nights and tomorrow I go make sure everything is squared away so I can graduate in May (finally).


Today I ate cereal, coffee, carrots, Boca sausage with Daiya cheese on biscuits.

Today I bought nothing.

Ooh, Time to Start the Podcasts!

Podcasts!  I love them.  I don't get to listen as often as I like because I'm the kind of person that needs to pay attention to them.  I remember when I got my first iPhone, wayyyyy back in 2009, it was refurbished 3G and it was awesome!  It took me a bit to get used to it.  I remember going through iTunes and looking at these 'podcasts' I had been hearing about.  One of the first I subscribed to was Nerdist (this would be spring of 2010 for all the time nazis).  Yeah, with Chris Hardwick from MTV's Singled Out.  Then it seemed like it would be my cup of tea, now it's a mega empire of awesome podcasts covering everything you can imagine almost.  My favorite is the Thrilling Adventure Hour.

It only falls to course that I would like to do one myself..so I am.  I hope to start at least two.  The first will be about roller derby.  Of course.  Specifically here in Kansas City, and with my beloved friend and Wolfie, Bitter Sweets! Check out her awesome derby blog HERE. She has some great ideas to start with and I hope to have special guests who don't mind talking about themselves and their derby paths.

Trixie and Bitter Sweets!

The next one I hope to start soon will revolve around Paganism, again starting out specifically around Kansas City area peeps and activities and hopefully evolving into more of Pagan community based endeavor.

There seems to be a lot of things to consider when jumping into something like this.  I've got the first step down: I have a microphone! (oh and ideas of what I want to talk about).

A. wants to produce, which is awesome because he is very interested in that side of it.  Things I never thought about like sound quality, mixing equipment, space, sponsors, etc.  We were actually talking about it this morning and after listening to him talk about various technical items, as well many podcasts I realize, he would have to be a behind the scenes man because he has so much information that is very interesting to him, but that loses me after about 10-15 minutes.  He could probably pull off a podcast about podcasting, but only if he had a co-host to reign him in. It's exciting to have him on board considering all the weirdness with our relationship.

I know I usually end the posts with what I've eaten and bought, but I've actually written this before leaving the house for the day so I haven't done either yet.  Instead I'll leave you with a small list of my favorite podcasts!  Feel free to recommend some to me!

• Irish and Celtic Music Podcast - just what it says!
• Nerdist - pop culture, nerdy, entertainment types
• WTF with Marc Maron - lots of ranting and interviews, been around for.ev.er.
• Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann (professional podcaster) and John Roderick (of Long Winters fame) just riff on shit and it's beautiful
• You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me Loose Wheel - very down to earth derby blog, I love reading it and you will to

Today Was A Great Day

When I started roller derby in 2013, I did not pass my basic skills. I was then, and am still, out of shape to the point that I cannot pass certain skills.  I also am still attending school in addition to working, so I don't have as much time to dedicate to practicing and building my skills.  I am, however, building friendships.  I must apologize now if there are grammatical or spelling errors, I am full of Mothers Lil' Helper, as well as Captain Morgans Spiced Rum and Pepsi. 

There are a group of us who did not pass the skills last year.  We started a group called the Wolf Pack, which is not an official DGD/FCRD group.  We encouraged each other and work towards the goal of passing our skills.

This year we invited any 2014 Fresh Meat who did not pass to join us. 

As you know, I moved recently into my own place.  Tonight, I invited my Wolf Pack over for a night of camaraderie  and Cards Against Humanity.  This forced me to get my ass in gear and put my place together a little better.  So I did. I unpacked a little more and did some decorating.

My altar.

Reading area.

Work space.

We had a great time.  Everyone brought yummies and something to drink.  We had some big fun with the CAH and I'm ready to buy expansion packs and have everyone back.

Wolfies.

I miss them already, now that they are all heading home.  I got to know a few of them better.  I'm glad they are friends and hope they are too.  All I can say about it is "Spaghettisburg Address!"

Today I ate: sofritas burrito, smoothie, part of a veggie cutlet, some veggie pinwheels, Mothers Lil' Helper, Rum & Pepsi.

Today I bought: vitamins, food, Ref dress, book.

You Keep Me Hanging On

I had an idea for a book once.  I'm sure it's one that has already been done by someone.  But I wanted to write a book and each chapter title was one of a song lyric.  Someone's done it, I'm sure.

I won't do that with these post titles...all the time.

Still waiting on a determination of my relationship. Bah.

Tomorrow..umm...later today...there is a bingo fundraiser for one of our co-ed teams, I love bingo.  I haven't played for a long time.  I'm really looking forward to it.

I feel like smacking my neighbors.

I bought a 3 month subscription to Loot Crate.  I received the first one today.  There was some stuff in it that was pretty cool.   My favorite was this:

It is so good. And the inside is awesome.  Maybe now I can get back to Shoddy Odditors, my comic.  I wrote three strips..but need a bit of motivation for more.  This might be it.

Yesterday I ate 2 glazed chocolate donuts, carrots, cherry tomatoes, Boca Chick'n sandwich, mozzarella cheese sticks, sleeve of graham crackers.

Yesterday I bought a dress and a skirt.

Today I ate a vegan pumpkin with chocolate chip muffin and Chai tea latte from Mud Pie, Chipotle Sofritas Burrito, 2 Quik Trip single serve cheesecakes.

Today I bought some ice trays, paper, paper towels, Llewellyn's 2015 Magickal Almanac and candles for the Imbolc ritual. 

Ode to Tina Belcher

Uuuunnnhhhhhhhh!

Spixie Drawer comes to a halt at her station on the outside of the track, red whistle held lightly between her lips, waiting for the next jam when she feels it.  Could it be?  Yes.  The round magnificence of a butt, right up against her very own.  She looks back over her shoulder, ooooh, not just a butt, but Ira's butt.  Sure, he was busy talking to others behind her, but his behind was making nice with hers. She looks back across to the starting line. Skaters were moving into position, Reftractor was conferring with a coach.  Yes.  There was time.  The shimmying begins, back to back, butt to butt.

Then, Reftractor is back to position. The whistle blows. The jam begins. The butt shimmy ends as abruptly as it begins, leaving Spixie with the warmest butt she's had all day.***

Sometimes, I have a moment of brilliance.  My ode to Tina Belcher's Erotic Friend Fiction, I feel, is one.

It came to me while I was in the car. A welcome change from my mind's meanderings of late. Most of my ideas seem to come when I'm driving, which sucks.  I'm usually not near anywhere to pull over and I never remember what it was once I got home.  I would just remember that I had a good idea.  In an effort to combat this, I downloaded a voice recorder app, but I was busy on the highway and about to exit, so I couldn't really use it.  Luckily, I was almost to Chipotle. And I could see the line was long, as usual. I whipped out my trusty Moleskine and began to write.  A glance in both directions told me I was looking pretty anachronistic as everyone else had a glowing screen.  Tonight, I was not one of them, I was a wielder of pen and paper.  And this ode is my gift to you.

Today I bought tickets to see Father John Misty at the Grenada in April.
Today I ate 2 glazed chocolate donuts, a venti soy cappuccino, 2 single serve Quik Trip cheesecakes, a Chipotle Sofritas burrito.


***based on a true story!

Pagan Panty Drop

That was the best line from tonight's coffee coven.  The Kansas City Witches Meetup Group has various coffee covens throughout the greater metropolitan area.  The Liberty one is closest to me and tonight I went to my first one.  It was fun.  Lot's of just shooting the shit with some great people. It was nice.

Tomorrow I go back to derby.  I do love it. I love reffing.  I've always been kind of a person who likes to know how things should be, so being a ref is right up my alley.  I love my fellow refs, not just the girls that I started Fresh Meat with in the fall of 2014, but also the others who have been in derby for a lot longer than I.  I have a new helmet, mostly because I've had a few knocks to the noggin from a rink floor...never do shopping carts with a vet when you can barely keep your balance as it is.  The back of my head bounced a couple of times because I couldn't keep my feet under me.  The clincher though, was when, as a pack ref I was waylayed by a jam ref going full speed and bounced the front of my head off a concrete floor at M.A.D.E Nationals.  Even though my helmet took the impact, I still had a knot on my forehead.  It. Was. Awesome.  I got a pretty one!

We play M.A.D.E. rules, so there is no soul crushing.  However, the sticker is fan-fucking-tastic and I had to have it. You can get your own at Rrrshop from Bruise Fairy.  She's a great skater and has awesome stuff in her shop. 

Today started out on down note, work was bearable.  It ended pretty good at the coffee coven.

Today I ate oatmeal, OJ, coffee, cheese sandwich, cottage cheese, cherry tomatoes, carrots, a sleeve of graham crackers, a Chipotle veggie burrito and half a glass of Pepsi.

Today I didn't buy anything, but I am about to.  Microphones for my new podcast endeavor.

Indian Food Cures Almost Anything...

Except feeling depressed.  So strange how that can creep up on you.  Possibly take over your life if you can't fight it off.  I've been lucky up to now..I can keep it at bay for the most part. I know the spiel.  I have a job and a place to live and plenty to eat (too much).  I have no reason to be depressed. I have a boyfriend.  I play roller derby with a lot of awesome people.  I have a circle with whom I practice my spiritual beliefs.

My job is alright but I would like one that didn't expect me to work 90+ hours every two weeks.  Yeah, my salary may be the equivalent of just over 2x mimimum wage, but once you factor in all the extra hours and then take out my deductions (taxes and minimal insurances) I bring home just about minimum wage.  As I say repeatedly, I work to live, not vice versa. I'm looking for other work..just can't find it yet.  Guess it's a good thing I graduate in May and will finally have a Bachelors.  Let's hope that helps. 

I recently moved out from having lived with my boyfriend for the last 3.5 years.  We didn't break up, though I'm not sure that's off the table.  I hope it is.

My circle is awesome.  We celebrate all the sabbats,(you can see some here) but any other get together type stuff usually happens when I'm at work.

Roller derby is back up and going after a month long hiatus, but I haven't made it back to practice..

I went out for Indian buffet today at Swagat.  I only had one plate though.  Not a lot I wanted to eat.

Today I ate one plate at the Indian buffet, a sleeve of cinnamon graham crackers with milk, some spicy banana chips, four scrambled eggs with cheese and a 12oz bottle of Natural Brew draft root beer.

Today I bought...well...see for yourself

Insomnia or just too much caffeine?

I was up all night.  No, really. I went to bed about 6 am.  Of course I could hear the neighbors downstairs until at least 2:30 am, but it was just normal friends gathering.  I can't begrudge him that.  I gauge him to be in his twenties.  I was always at friends apartments having a great, but loud, time at that age.  And at least I wasn't asleep and woken by his loud, drunken threats to "KILL" someone he was on the phone with.  I put a desk together, I put my new bearings in my wheels.  I also finished all the Criminal Minds that Netflix had to offer.

Did I mention I'm going to start at least two podcasts?  One about roller derby and another about Paganism.  I even bought a domain for the derby one...jblockoclock.com - A. came up with the name for it - J-Block O'Clock.  That's probably because I'm always j-blocking him in the store.  It's a good name, catchy.  I haven't really found one that talks specifically about M.A.D.E rule-set.  If you've seen Whip It, that's not how we play.  And if you have images of GLOW on skates, you are mistaken. I'm a ref for the Fountain City Roller Derby in Kansas City.  I love it and everyone in it.  I'm in the middle.  Trixie Horror.  On my left is Moriartease (Or as she is now called, Bitter Sweets)  and on my right is Noah Clue.  I love those girls.

Thanks to KC Carr for the pic!

Today I ate half a 12" vegan pizza & garlic cheese bread from Waldo Pizza, 2/3 of a regular banana-peanut butter concrete from Sheridans and some root beer.  I'm sure there will be more later.

Today I bought a new Roku, some lamps, some light bulbs.