My plans for the official beginning of the summer season, Memorial Day Weekend:

1. Act a fool at my sister’s 3rd Annual Karaoke Birthday Bash on Friday night.
2. Finally get a haircut after at least nine months of hippie hair (can’t really remember the last one).
3. Finally buy some new tennies now that the ones I bought on the way to the 2006 HRD championship bout when I could only wear one of them are making a weird clicky noise when I walk the streets at lunchtime.
4. Be jealous of everyone on the river while I play on The Kitten’s slip and slide.

I love summertime! I’m sure I’ll think of more fun summertime things to do over the next four days, but that’s a good start. Who knows…the last three might kill me, or at least just make me die a little bit inside.

As previously explained, I took a brief break from reality this past weekend. I claimed to be “helping out” my Brawlers as they played one of the best roller derby teams in Texas. Once I saw the proof of it, I realized what I really did was stand around and make funny faces as well as be distracted by my reality. Yes, I’m waving to The Kitten, and yes, there seem to be a million pics of me standing around. Sometimes I prayed (see the blurry score behind me..the number not in double digits is ours). Sometimes I did look a bit like my old self (you can see my butt that sent that jammer flying). Mostly I had fun even though I felt (and still feel) pain.

I was reminded of some of the reasons I quit. My husband having to drag my daughter away from me, kicking and screaming because she wanted to stay and have fun. Being put in the penalty box for two things that I know I didn’t do and not even getting a minor for blatantly (although not purposely) tripping the jammer. (Don’t get me wrong on this…I respect the refs, but I think we’ve made their job next to impossible.) Knowing that no matter how hard I try, it’s not going to be enough for somebody, anybody.

What really brought me back to reality though is seeing for sure that all the weight I lost while on the cardio program is back. I can’t wait to get in that leopard-print tankini I ordered! Meow!

That’s right! The big purple cat will be making an appearance on the flat track (if I don’t kill myself trying to get ready for the bout next weekend). With some skaters out with injuries and some skaters just returning from injuries, my team needs a little bit of help in dealing with a bad-ass team from Austin.

Soooo…if you sat around for three years talking about how you were going to see me skate one of these days, now is your chance…probably your last chance. I can’t guarantee it will be pretty, but who really wants derby to be pretty anyway?