Rollergirl

When some friends and I went out for St Patrick's Day last night, the tent serving the jello shots caught my eye--but not for the reason you may think. See, the shots were being served by the Ft. Myers Derby Girls.

(Those of you who know me can already see what's coming.)

Yup. I want to be a Derby Girl (think girls on 4-wheel skates going around the rink, racing and occasionally body-slamming each other). I told them that I was a VERY beginning skater and one of the girls said she was, too--she just joined the team and right now she spends more time on her butt than on her feet. But they were all really nice and they're looking for skaters and it sounds really, really fun.

After talking to them and collecting the info, I marched back to my friends. "I'm gonna be a derby girl!" I announced.

And it's funny--they started to laugh, but then stopped and said, "Actually, Jen, we can TOTALLY see you doing that."

Since my sensei left, I've been unable to get back into karate--I've visited a few dojos, but I just don't get the same "vibe" from them that I got from my old place. Plus, my monthly fees would literally quadruple (from $25 a month with Sensei Annie to $100 at these other places). But I really, really, REALLY miss having something just for me. And I think that this derby thing could do kind of the same thing for me that karate did--give me something to focus on and works towards, something to distract me from the other stuff going on in my life, something to bring up my self-confidence. Whether I stick with it for 3 months or a year (or more!), this is something else I can add to my list, something about which I can say, "Yeah, I've done that." As you may have noticed by now, I take *pride* is taking on activities that are more unusual and out there--or ones that other people think I can't...just like with karate. Some people laughed when I started taking karate lessons--but I stuck with it and actually accomplished something (and I would have gone even further, if circumstances hadn't changed).

SO. I'm going to go check them out at the local rink Monday night. Monthly rink expenses, they say, run about $40 a month--MUCH more within my budget than a new karate place. Plus, I already have skates! (Hahahahaha--I wonder if I'll even be allowed to use my Britney Spears ones. How freakin' funny would THAT be? Yeah, I'd be a badass, all right. LOLOL) All that's left is for me to get a helmet and pads. They practice twice a week with bouts (not "matches" or "games") about twice a month. (Imagine how good of shape I could get into!)

And here's the most fun part. Once you become a skater, you have to come up with your "alter ego"--the name and persona you take on on the rink. The names are *supposed* to be funny, creative and out-there. Well, I tried to come up with a good one in bed last night and most of this morning. But every time I thought of a good one, I'd run to check the International Rollergirls' Master Roster of names (yes, there is such a thing)--and inevitably, it'd already be taken. Finally, I thought of one that made me laugh out loud AND is still available--so if I officially sign up for this, I will be known as:

Stacked Attack

And my number?

36DD.

=-)))))

(Your number can be absolutely anything you want. If you check out the roster, some girls have #s that aren't even really "numbers"--like "WD40." Like the names, the numbers can be as funny and silly and stupid as you want them to be.)

To check out my (possible) new team, go to http://www.fortmyersderbygirls.com/

If you're bored and want some laughs, check out http://www.twoevils.org/rollergirls/ (the official list of skaters' names)