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It was wonderful seeing our newest team members enjoy their first bout and hearing about their perception of it afterward. We’re lucky to have new and great talent.
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I almost forgot… A close second was watching Cherry chase BeAtch through streets in front of the Old Point because she was smoking a cigarette. Good times!
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It also meant a lot when Hambone came up to me and told me that I had really cleaned up my game, hardly getting any penalties. Ah, the hard work pays off!
I LOVED having Ginger Snap and Hambone back! They add so much.
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During halftime we were strategizing in the back and I thought something was on fire because I could see smoke. It took me a minute to realize that it was steam!
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One little girl, named Beatrix, was looking for a picture of her favorite referee in the program and was very disappointed not to find her in the ref photos, until she discovered that Beatrix sKiddo has joined a team and would be skating as a Sleigher!
Two other girls were running and chasing each other after the bout, and as one passed the other, she shouted triumphantly shouted, “I’m Cherry Pi!”
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It is also a proud moment when you can land a good hit and knock someone down right in front of your mom. A nice little mommy present for Christmas.
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One moment especially sticks in my mind. We were lining up on the track some time in the second half and I hear, for probably about the 3rd time, “Beatrix… Penalty Box!” I must have slumped my shoulders and hung my head as I went to the box because when I got there I got the most sympathetic look from The Countess! I miss you Zebras, but it’s so much fun being a rollergirl!
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Bout setup is getting faster so it was mellower morning than the usual and it permitted us time to gab at Pho Tau Bay before getting ready.
The outfit reveal is my favorite time… Scabby always has the best costumes!
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Working with Lionel and our newbie refs was a great time. Lionel has entered his role as a Jammer Ref seamlessly. He’s a total badass.
Seeing Power Snatch being rolled on a dolly cart to her car and her caring more about showing off the new bag she was given than whatever had happened to her ankle! That’s spirit!
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Teaching new Zebras!
All the TOUGH ladies we have the honor of refereeing! The whole bout, no one gave in, no one stayed down after a slamming fall, no one stopped working strategy, no one slowed up, no one hesitated to lie on a block… NO ONE can beat MY rollergirls. Vegas beware--- hell and high water have nothing on these women!!!
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I anticipated a tough game. I knew The Sleighers would take The Tannenbombers to the mat, and I was not disappointed. It was rough stuff. I was proud of my league.
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Finding out that I can push myself farther to do better and go faster than I ever thought possible.
Buck & Scabby’s jammer race. It was an incredible display of derby strategy. Way to go, Buck!
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Hearing people yell, “BRUUUUUUUISE!!! during my intro.
Being told afterward that I yelled, “F@*k you!” at BeAtch during a jam. Oops!
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My two proudest moments were when Bruise asked me to sub for her and Wit told me after the bout that I was impossible to get around.
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It was a really good bout all around (although I hate seeing our ladies get hurt!) and it’s really satisfying to see how much the league improves every time they play. Skaters on both teams were hitting hard and skating better than ever. Look out, Vegas!
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Bruise, Kelkat & Marquee fought through some bad knee falls to keep pushing for their teams. The defense of this bout was amazing, and the jammers ability to work through it was inspiring.
The ultimate favorites—
1. Finding the strength to crawl off the track when I was injured so the jam could keep going. We needed every second of playing time to try for the victory.
2. Seeing Blonde in the second period just put on her most serious determined face and skate the hell out of the track.
3. Skating with Ibeatya and Beatrix in their first bout and seeing them ROCK it, especially when they had to double time and skate their own positions and sub for me.
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4. Hearing Ginger Snap tell us that she can’t believe we were the same league she saw in September because everything had improved so much! And her agreement that we have more than a chance to beat the socks off Sin City! Yeah, baby….
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This was a terrific game and I had fun all night. Favorite game moment for me: Coming up behind Bessie who was sharking as a three or four blocker and doing a GREAT job of looking behind her. I couldn’t help grinning at her as we headed into a match of wits and timing, and I thought how much I love this game.
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Hardest hit of the night came from Mace, who sent me flying into Tom, Jaw’s boyfriend, who was volunteering on the sidelines. He graciously offered me a hand up. Hey, is that allowed? ☺
I love the fact that we don’t have enough chairs for all our teammates to sit down. Yay, Ibeatya and Beatirx! It was wonderful looking over and seeing you guys in our pack!
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Fav moments… doing yoga before the bout with Bessie. Stretching, breathing, laughing our butts off at people would get quiet as they’d pass by us. Also, all the genuine compliments from my peers! I heart all of you soooo much!!!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
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Having Hambone around – he’s one of the best dam refs in the country, a great mentor and a super guy all around- it’s always an honor and a pleasure to work (and play) with him and ginger Snap.
Seeing Bruise and Snatch pull themselves off the track despite their injuries so that we didn’t have to stop the jam. Proud to work with you tough ladies.
Watching our former referees, Lt. Dan and Beatrix, kick ass for both teams, where they belong – as rollergirls. Don’t look back, y’all!
Watching the best derby playing I’ve seen out of our teams yet! There packs were faster and tighter than ever, and the hardest, most stinging hits I saw all night were 100% legal. You guys rock!
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Sophie Nuke ‘Em: Finding out that Ginger Snap and Hambone were going to be at the bout.
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My son, Alex getting on one of the announcer microphones, and cheering for The Sleighers. Now the other derby kids (Liam, Cassidy, Riley, Sean, Robyn, Jake, who am I forgetting?) need a turn!
Seeing how well the new skaters did—Dan, Ibeatya and Beatrix are, to quote Scabby, “the r0x0rz. Eleven!”
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Then came the after party: Frida Pancakes and her new Christmas tradition (Spank the Believer) SmasHer and her camera, Bessie and her mad hot dancing, and the shot of Jameson with some of my favorite derby people (No Irish Carbombs this time!)
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Jammer race.
Talking to one of the security guards and hearing how much his little son enjoyed all of this. Adorable!
Having such support both on and off the track.
My very minor “battle scars”… I feel so hardcore…though not nearly as hardcore as Snatch, Bruise, and Marquee… damn, ladies, y’all are tough!
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Not that the bout was rough, but you always want a beer the most when you’re not supposed to have one.
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Seeing the skirt Dynamite Dwalin’ made for me. She’s the best and is always so good to me.
Flashing my “Get Shay” underwear at Shay for the first time and hear her exclaim, “No way!” Although I would have much rather preferred, “Golly, no fricking way. My goodness!” Maybe next time…
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Setting up the track with Alex, Sophie Nuke ‘Em’s son, and have him constantly interrupt me to tell me how his mom was basically the best roller derby player in the world and how lucky we are to have her. It was very school yard, “My mom is better than your mom.” Also how he said that his mom said that I REALLY wanted him to speak on the microphone (Sophie, of course, was oblivious to all of this conversation) and as a favor to me he would consent to do it. So it was great to set it up with the announcers and hear him yell out, “Go Sleighers!” I also enjoyed listening to his roller derby conspiracy theories. He makes bout setup go much quicker.
Eating at Pho Tau Bay with about a dozen of us before the bout (I swear, Henry Roll-ins secretly digs his “guy only” status at many of these gatherings).
Watching Glenn’s face when we sang, “Happy Birthday” to him.
Having people from my work get up and scream my name when I skated by, although, I was slightly embarrassed because I still can’t compete yet. Wait until March!
My least favorite moments were:
The injuries from our BERG ladies.
Discovering that one of my dearest and oldest friends, Frida Pancakes, made up the new after-bout tradition game, “Spank the Believer” and I wasn’t even there to participate. That’s what I get for leaving early (?) AND for accidentally forgetting to drive Frida home. Sorry!
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