Regionals Update

Regionals was a blast!... and I was only there one day. I arrived a little late and missed the Bout between Omaha Roller Girls & No Coast Derby Girls (Lincoln, NE). Their final score was Omaha 45 - No Coast 159. I got there during the break before the bout of Green County (Tulsa, OK) and Gold Coast (Ft Lauderdale, FL). This was an excellent bout! One that went back and forth up until the very last jam. The final score ended up being Green County 127 - Gold Coast 137.   Then the girls and I went and ate at Nara, a sushi place... and it was happy hour for food & drinks, SCORE! Once we returned we finished up the next bout, Atlanta Rollergirls  vs Houston Roller Derby with a final score of Atl 133 - Hstn 117. Bout 4 consisted of the Nashville Rollergirls taking on the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins with a final score of Nash 122 - TB 102. At 6pm the Texas Rollergirls (aka: The Texacutioners - Love it!) took on No Coast Derby Girls. Unfortunately for No Coast the score was TX 274-No Coast 64. For the last bout of the day... it was our home team! The Kansas City Roller Warriors taking on Gold Coast Derby Girls. They also rolled over Gold Coast with a 274 to 36 victory.
Unfortunately, I couldn't make it back Saturday or Sunday. I did catch the final 2011 WFTDA Southcentral title taking game online! It was an excellent game as well and only wish I could have been there! 
Here are the scores from the rest of the weekend:

Saturday, October 1st
10am – Bout 7: Omaha Roller Girls 103 vs Houston Roller Derby 170
12pm – Bout 8: Green Country Derby Girls 130 vs Tampa Bay Derby Darlins 117
2pm – Bout 10: Nashville Rollergirls 75 vs Texas Rollergirls 218
4pm – Bout 9: Atlanta Rollergirls 96 vs Kansas City Roller Warriors 220
6pm – Bout 11: Houston Roller Derby 138 vs Gold Coast Derby Girls 106
8pm – Bout 12: Green Country Derby Girls 41 vs No Coast Derby Girls 163

Sunday, October 2nd
10am – Bout 13: Omaha Roller Girls 73 vs Tampa Bay Derby Darlins 176 (9th Place)
12pm – Bout 14: Gold coast Derby Girls 97 (8th Place) vs Green Country Roller Girls 144 (7th Place)
2pm – Bout 15: Houston Roller Derby 173 (5th Place) vs No Coast Derby Girls 157 (6th Place)
4pm – JR Derby Showcase
4:30pm – Bout 16: Atlanta Rollergirls 38 (4th Place) vs Nashville Rollergrils 213 (3rd Place)
6:30pm – Bout 17: Kansas City Roller Warriors 92 (2nd Place) vs Texas Rollergirls 132 (Champions)

Congratulations to all the ladies who participated!!!

Now, a few ladies and myself will be off to Broomfield, CO for Nationals in November to watch our regional ladies The Texacutioners, The KC Warriors, and The Nashville Rollergirls take on ladies from the East, the West, and the North Central.

Derby Day!



I LOVE this pic!!!



Roller Derby that is!!!

heck yes! Derby Band aides

Today's post ALL derby... why? Because I am excited! Last night I strapped on my skates for the first time since the end of may! I was a little wobbly at first but then I picked it right back up & it was GRRREAT! Oh how I missed it. Plus, today I am headed to Kansas City to meet up with some of my fellow crushers to watch the 2011 WFTDA Southwest Regional Playoffs, where we are going to watch our #1 KC Warriors take on some other great teams in our region (Nebr, Tenn, TX, Atl, etc). I also LOVE their logo this year... a COW and I love cows! The tournament will start out today, go through tomorrow, and play off on Sunday. Unfortunately, I have to work on Sunday & will miss the final title taking game.

Then the winner will head to Broomfield, CO for the Continental Divide & Conquer 2011 WFTDA Championships. I would love to go & had plans to fully attend & show my family this wonderful sport that I am involved in, only I don't think I am going to be able to make that drive this time. SO... any of you Colorado peeps should take a trip to the rink & cheer on your local gals & have a great time for me!



me at the 2011 St.Patricks parade



love pin-ups



Now, in these titles you may notice 'WFTDA' that stands for Women's Flat Track Derby Association. If you check out this site it has all the teams rankings, roller derby association rules, the community, a store, any sponsor information, a 'MVP,' & updating scores of Bouts being played all over. If you're looking for a team in your area this would also be a good starting place to find one. Just a note though, there are other teams that aren't listed WFTDA, as there are more recreational teams (for instance the Capital City Crushers are more rec than competitive - don't get me wrong we love to whoop a girls ass but we have a lot of mom's, full workers, & busy ladies that just want to play) and there are also 'outlaw derby' which are teams that play without minors (there are penalty calls: major & minor). Dead Girl Derby in KC is our 'local' outlaw team. I haven't been to one of their Bouts yet, but hopefully I'll make it to one & check it out.



gotta love a good T-shirt



The crazy thing about derby is that we are girls of all different colors. If you join a team you should be an open minded person culturally... I mean we have ladies that are teachers, nurses, animal care techs, students, government workers. We have country girls, moms, hard rockers, grandmamas, tattooed up ladies, afraid to tattoo ladies, lesbians, straights, older girls, young girls, the list is really endless but no matter what once everyone gets on their eight wheels & rolls onto that rink we are ALL roller girls & got each others back no matter what! I love all the different people I meat & I learn a lot & I wouldn't change a thing.



Embroidery pattern, I would change it to my name



I have also found with all these different fabulous ladies, comes tons of 'derby garb'... Socks, jewelry, tutus, tights, make-up, and a new name. Mine, I am Bruisin' Bourbon, number 125. Why you ask the name change? It's our derby persona, that's our alter ego. I love a good bruise, giving a good bruise, & a good glass of whiskey & the highest percent alcohol in a whiskey I have seen is 125proof. Oh & I better mention there are NO two names alike... we have a database where when you join & pick a name you can see if your taking someones or if you are truly original.

Also, here are some picks of just derby stuff I love & you can check out my derby board on Pinterest.

Well, I better get a rollin' to the big KC in the big Blue ... I had to barrow Paul's lovely ford b/c I don't think Black Betty will do good on an hour hwy drive & in the big city.

P.S. Please go check out your local roller girls & hell slap on some skates, get a name, and learn the game... trust me nobody knows the rules when they first start. :)

~ Cheers,

Brusin' Bourbon #125



necklace I found on Etsy





Luggage tag













Blue, Purple, Black, ... yellow

(note: I've had this one written for a while just never post until now)

Hematomas. Blemishes. Boo boos. Contusions. Injuries. Marks. Spots..... BRUISES.

Medically they are defined as an injury transmitted through unbroken skin to underlying tissue causing rupture of small blood vessels & escape of blood into the tissue with resulting discoloration. Basically, a colorful spot on the skin that changes as the days go by.
These glorious spots come in all shapes & sizes too! Being a girl in agriculture, a recreational softball lady, a KSU rugger alum, a Topeka Capital City Crusher rollergirl, & an overall klutz, I have had my fare share of bruises. Ones ranging from triangles, to hooves, to softballs, to cleats, & even to skates... yes, you could point out the two different sets of wheels! No picture proof of that beauty though...its location was a little too far up the skirt if you know what I mean.


Thursday, May 12th floor slam



Now, there are some people who it takes a real good hit for any color change at all, while others may bump into a corner & have a black spot the next day. Me, it depends on location... Arms: kind of easy; finger/upper palm: hard; Lower palm: easy; butt &amp back: hard; thighs: easy; & calves/shins: mixed.

My most recent beaut is on my palm... I have another on my tailbone bit it's hiding (no color showed up). The palmer started changing by the end of practice & got some real good purple & blue hues by the next afternoon. Some just change over time, even turn a stailish yellow too! With these rough sports come bragging rights, if you walked through the changing area before or after practice I'm sure you could hear at least one girl saying, "hey! check this one out!!!" Posting pictures of them isn't out of the norm either. I know of rugby bloggers & derby facebookers that have injury sections where you send in your best colors.

Yeah, I bet you thought you'd never read a blog about bruises but I was bored & checking out my hand ...

I'll tie it up with...

Skate, Play, and Walk safe out there!!! :)



Rugby fall of 2009



March 2011 Skate Scrape



Project 365

PHOTO #52/365  Tuesday, May 3rd
Dallas' first day visiting McRite Retirement Plaza for pet therapy

PHOTO #53/365  Wednesday, May 4th
Found this on ebay.... love derby & pin ups

PHOTO #55/365  Thursday, May 5th
For the first time I potted some flowers.... here's to hoping they survive

PHOTO #55/365  Friday, May 6th
Got up to go to work and here's the field accross the street

PHOTO #56/365 Saturday, May 7th
One of my good friends got hitched! Congrats & it was a fabulous time!!!

PHOTO #57/365 Sunday, May 8th
After work I was cruisin' the net and came accross this Derby motivational poster.. :D

Project 365...

 PHOTO #20/ 365 
Dallas & I just finished a 4mile outdoor skate! With some gnarly hills & with my dog dallas! WOOHOO!!! I also would like to say thank you to those people who move over while driving. My neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks so I skate/walk in the road & common curtosy is always nice.

 PHOTO #21/365
Paul & I took a trip to Kansas City Saturday night. We enjoyed dinner at Cheesecake Factory (it was his 1st time!) & it was AMAZING! Then we headed downtown to enjoy some KC Roller derby. Their bouts are usually a good time... and these were even better! First the Knock Outs played the Black Eyed Susans, which it came down to the second to who won... AWESOME! Then the Dorothys played the Vixons... another great match!

PHOTO #22/365
Some derby girls (& extras) headed out to Shunga park Sunday afternoon for an outside skate. We ended up cruisin 8 miles... it was a little hairy for me in the end. But, all-in-all it was an excellent skate!

Capital City Crushers!

Here's some photos from our article in Kansas Living Magazine and our schedule flyer!!!

The Team!

Raia Effin Sunshine

Roll On

My new thing.... Roller Derby! (As I introduced in my last post). I have been now to "official" practice where I was on skates, 4 times! and one unofficial skate night. I am beginning to LOVE sport! Every year around this time Derby girls everywhere have to pass MSTs, which are the minimal skill requirements in order to play in any bout (aka: game). These would include: skating in derby stance, stopping 3 different ways, falling 3 different ways (MY FAV!), giving whips, taking whips, giving hits, taking hits, weaving through people, etc, oh AND skating 25 laps in 5 minutes!!! The first time I attempted this.... I was with the whole "pack" and everybody was able to help out everybody.... in other words I was behind (being new & out of shape), girls were pushing & whipping me left & right. Everyone finished ahead of me, but I didn't get down because on the sidelines were the ladies whooping & hollering & cheering me on! Some even jumped back in and skated with me until I crossed that 25 lap line! My time: 5min 54seconds, apparently not too bad for my first time. My Second attempt.... different practice, was with everybody, hadn't skated for a while (over xmas), had help.... not really sure what my time was that time. Third attempt.... same practice as 2nd, legs went numb around lap 13ish, lap 17 I wanted to throw in the towel, the girls kept up the encouragement, I took a whip around one curve & straight into the ground I went, (OUCH! that one hurt!). I got up as fast as I could and rolled on. My thighs were burning, I was breathing hard, sweat was rolling down my face, it was all I could do to stay on those eight wheels, and there I was going around the corner on my 24th lap & exactly at halfway I just biff it. Not thought needed I hopped right back up and finished that damn set of 25!!! Time = unknown, I didn't care either, I was just glad to be finished. Then is when I realized I needed to get another inhaler. Fourth attempt.... this one was a "mock MST" test, so every girl for herself, split into smaller groups, someone counting laps for you. I started & I sang "Black Betty" to myself basically the whole time. Didn't have as much trouble as before. Crossed that line.... last again...but with an improved time of 5:38!!! I was supper excited. Now, last night the real MSTs began. We also had a reporter there from the Kansas Living Magazine doing an article on the team so we were all "Roller Derbied" out with fishnets, mini skirts, boy shorts, makeup, etc. Took our picks then took the track for the official 25/5! Of course I drew the first group to be in, I was cold and not really ready but that whistle still blew anyway. I just felt slow, I tried singing and everything. I gave it all I could at the time, I now have that feeling though where you just know you could have done better. I finished about 3-4 laps behind the other 4 in my group with a time of 5min & 27 sec.... Yes, it was better, but I REALLY wanted that 5 minute time. I will get it eventually!!! I didn't start any of my other tests.... I guess they only do 6 girls a night. I am just going to pass what I am able to and work on the rest as I go. I am the newest girl on the team (that has not played before) so I'm going solo into all this.

OH!!! for those of you that don't know what Roller Derby is all about... I would YouTube it or watch whip it... that will give you somewhat of an idea. Basically, there are 5 girls from each team on a round flat track (they do have inclined tracks too). 4 are in the "pack," one of those girls is the "pivot" (the pace setter). 10 feet behind them is the other girl, the jammer (she has a star on her helmet). Whistle blows, the pack takes off together. Another whistle blows, the jammers take off, make their way through the pack. If you fall down you have 2 seconds to get up before a penalty. You can hit each other but no elbows & only between the shoulder & hip. After the jammers get through the pack they hurry & skate around the track and make their way through the pack a second time. This time for every pack member of the opposing team they pass is 1 point. If they pass the jammer of the opposite team that's 5 points. This is what I know of the game.... I probably really won't get it until I play one!

Some Time...

I am currently home in Colorado for the holidays! The past 4 days have been great, although I do wish that there was some Colorado snow on the ground. Christmas was a whopping 53 degrees! The family is good, just trying to stay busy. Today everybody else is either at work or judging practice (Tess received a chance to go to the Arizona Stock Show for a livestock judging contest:) so I have a few minutes to update you all on how everything has been going.
I moved to Topeka at the end of September, which brought my 125 mile round trip daily commute down to a huge 3 mile round trip jaunt! My ole jetta is loving me now. It has also improved some of my friendships with my Topekan friends.... it's nice being able to just drive over for dinner if someones having a bad day or just has extra food. Work is going good.
My personal life.... well, it was hitting a bumpy road for a while but I think I am figuring everything out. It's the first time I have lived alone since living in the dorms...even then I had a roomie. Now, I just have my crazy mutts keeping me busy! Oh, and I do have a new fellow in my life!!! I met him back in Colorado a while back, he works with my brother at a diesel shop. After my break-up, Paul and I began talking on Facebook (of course ;) then once a week turned into three times a week, turned into every day, then twice a day. We finally decided to call it what it was.... A Relationship!!! a long distance one at that! We met up in Colby, KS one weekend and he flew me out to Colorado another weekend, and now he's staying with me at my parents house for the time that I'm here. He's a great guy and could see something more out of this.... hmmm today is our 2 month anniversary!!! ;)
Enough gushy. Another big activity that I have started in.... yes, can't you tell I like to start random activities/projects/etc .... is Roller Derby!!! One day I was window shopping at wolf's camera & they had out some example products. Most were advertising some club or person. One just happened to be the Capital City Crushers! I checked out their web page, emailed their go-to person, went to the rink & checked out a practice. I enjoyed watching these girls skate around, hitting one another, & learning the aspects of the game. I came back the following Tuesday, strapped on some skates, & got myself out onto the rink. Whew! It has been at least 14 years since I had been on 8 wheels! I started picking it up better than I thought I would. So, I signed the paperwork and joined the team! Now, comes the fun part... practicing, making friends, working hard, and testing myself (watching those tendons of mine). Once you join the team you can go to any open skate night for free and get some practice. I went Saturday and skated for about 3 hours. Still need to relax & work on my balance. That next Tuesday, I got out there with the girls, warmed up, stretched and attempted the 25 in 5 drill. See you have to meet your MSTs to play in a bout (game). These MSTs would include, skating 25 laps in 5 minutes, different stops, slides, hits, jumps, and skating styles. I attempted my first 25-5, when doing so everyone has to try and stay together as a pack & help each other. One girl really helped me out, pushing me, giving me confidence and I finished my 25 laps in a time of 5min 54sec, which was apparently pretty good for a first time. My leg was burning!!! The rest of the practice some of the other players & refs worked with me on some of the other MSTs. I fell, missed turns, did things wrong, but you know I am determined and will eventually get it! Ha! as I was doing some weaving through cones I lost my balance & wham! ooo it was a good fall, it took me a little longer to get up from that one! I love it though and can't wait to learn more and improve my skills!
Other than that.... life is getting back to normal. I better get going.... since I am home I have chores to do!
I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday and wish you all the best new year!!!