700

This is my 700th post, but I'm afraid it won't be a happy one. I'm sad today. A friend of mine has died. I mourn his loss, but I am also mourning the loss of my husband.

See, my husband has a moral high horse about people who commit suicide and he's been riding it all over the place. He feels people who commit suicide do not deserve sympathy. If anything, they deserve scorn. The thing is I am not asking my husband to have sympathy for my friend, I am asking him to have sympathy for me. His answer is no. If anything, not only am I not getting the sympathy, I am getting the scorn.

In a marriage your spouse is the one person you should be able to rely on during hard times, they have the shoulder you get to cry on. I think having no shoulder would be better than the cold shoulder I am getting now. I am sad today, and my husband doesn't care. No, this is not a happy post.

Sad News for ARRG

The Arch Rival Roller Girls have suffered a terrible loss. Our ref and friend Sir Psycho Skinny died yesterday morning. He was 27. He will be greatly missed. I saw him Saturday night and we had a great time. We're all shocked and very sad. This Saturday's bout will be dedicated to him.

Batman - Not For Kids

I read a report where parents are angry that the newest Batman movie is "too dark" for their children. All I have to say is - who fucking cares!

How many kids movies are out there now? Ever heard of Wall-E or the future block buster Space Chimps? If you're too stupid to surmise from the movie trailers that this might be a kid-unfriendly movie than that's YOUR fault. Just because the movie has the word Batman in it does not mean it is the cuddly, laughable Batman as portrayed by Adam West. Do a little research.

Oh, wait, I'm sorry, is Batman: Dark Knight rated G or PG? NO! You retards! Those two globe things sunk into your face are called EYES, use them. Read a freaking paper. Look it up on the internet. If you're too lazy of a parent to know what kind of movie you're taking your kids to than Batman being "too dark" is the least of your problems.

If you want kid-friendly, go to Disneyland.

A Moment of Quiet

This morning I woke up early and went to lay on the couch while hubby watched the news. Our pooch curled up beside me. His little body relaxed against me and shared it's warmth. The soft fur of his ear tickled my lips. He lay his little head on my arm and closed his eyes. Such total trust and devotion. We lay there for maybe four minutes before I had to get up and start my day.

Such a simple thing, this gift of love. Just his fur under my arm and steady breathing, the epitome of relaxation. I am privileged to have had that moment.

Back in the Saddle Again

We had a wonderful vacation. J & A, as always, were supreme hosts. The trip down was uneventful until we hit Hwy 16. Now, if you are not familiar with that particular southern highway it is a study in motorized torture. It is flat, straight, long, and surrounded by trees. For 160+ miles the view does not change. The only good thing about it is you can set the cruise control at 95 and get through it as quickly as possible.

However, when we hit 16 the world’s first and only monsoon hurricane hit our car. It rained so hard we could do at max, and including possible injury, 40mph. To tease us the monsoon/hurricane would slack from time to time, then come back with a vengeance. The lightening was so bright I felt we needed a welding mask in order to keep driving. We finally made it to Savannah and after swimming through downtown showed up soggy and tired at J & A’s house.

Let the drinking commence!

Sat. morning we woke and I tried to call my old boss S. She wanted to spend the day floating and drinking on the river. Sounded good to me. Waiting for her call A told me we had to get ready for the party. The night before they’d told us they had a party Sat. night. I thought it was one they were working. Duh! They were having a party for us! They had to get a few things from the “Kitchen” (the new super-structure they built a few years ago). So hubby and I help load two pans of thick, juicy steaks, a pan of big ol’ fat shrimp, and a huge box of the largest King crab legs I have ever seen. We hoofed it all back to the house. Still no call from S. So A and I decided to go shopping.

A had varicose vein surgery on her leg the day before so our trip was short. When we got back to the house J and hubby were there to meet us. We went to lunch at this wonderful place and I introduced J to Corona. He likey. I ordered the club sandwich and was brought this behemoth platter of bread and meat cut into four quarters. I could only stuff two halves of this monster into my face before I threw in the towel. When we got home it was nap time, then I got ready for the party.

There is something about seeing a lot of old friends in one place after a long absence that makes a person feel so wonderful. I laughed all night. It was with a warm, loved, and slightly drunk (ok, more than slightly) feeling that I went to bed. That came crashing to the ground at 8am Sunday when J started yelling up the stairs about steak and eggs. Why? Why would someone do that! It wasn’t near as horrible as J calling all of his employees who were at the party waking them up. One of them hadn’t gotten home until 4am. After 45 minutes of calls only one showed up, Sh. Poor Sh. He and J proceeded to spend the next 16 hours watching TV and drinking. When hubby and I got back from Hilton Head they were belligerent and slurry. And they had eaten the rest of my monster club. When we went to bed they were still at it! Sh left about 4am. When A called him at 7am he was at work. Seems he drove his car into the fence on the way out that morning. It was a long, horrible day for Sh. All together now, “Awwwwwwww.”

I slept most of the day on Sunday (after J’s rude interruption). I’m not ashamed to say it. It felt damn good. Then I went shopping. God bless Cato. I always find the best stuff! By the time we went to Hilton Head to see our friends I was about caught up. We had a nice time on Hilton Head. The only thing I don’t like about that island is it has no character. All the buildings look the same, all the same colors and shape. For being one of the most expensive places in the country you’d think they would use a little more imagination.

Monday rolled around and I finally heard from my old boss S. I had her work number and it never occurred to her to check it’s voicemail. We went to visit her and her family. They’re great, other than recovering from a tornado that took out half their trees and scared the living shit out of their 5-year-old. Now every time she hears thunder she runs to the bathroom and locks herself in. Poor thing, I can’t blame her. S has a new office. I’m so jealous! Every time I visit the south I get the urge to move back, but this was a huge push in that direction. I could see what improvements I could make, how well S and I would work together. Boo-hoo, I miss her! Now some bitch I don’t even know is sitting in my office doing my job.

Leaving early Tuesday morning was bittersweet. I was anxious to get home but I was loath to leave. I love Savannah. I miss her. I miss my friends. I love where I am now. I don’t think I’ll ever be happy in one place. We made great time on the way home and picked up our dog before heading home and crashing in a big pile. I’ve been detoxing for the last two days. I gained about 5 pounds. I have practice tonight and I am going to be a wreck.

Woo-ha!

I just got off the phone with my old boss in Savannah. I'll call her The Bitch. Now, that's not a negative moniker at all. When I started working for The Bitch I was a soft, docile little thing when it came to business. A year later I was a formidable task-master who got what she wanted. All because of The Bitch. The day I had to tell The Bitch I was leaving was very hard. Not only was she my boss but one of my closest friends.

The Bitch is one of the only people who can put it to me straight and I don't get insulted. When I'm acting like a ninny she calls me on it. She values my opinion and she always listens to what I have to say before giving me her reply/opinion. She is also one of the only people I know, without a doubt, would have my back in any situation. From bail money to rescuing incriminating photographs, she's my girl.

So when I go back to Savannah I HAVE to see The Bitch. Being around her I laugh constantly. She and I just click, you know? Even though it's been over a year since I've seen her we get along like it's been a few days. There are few people who make me feel as comfortable and loved as she does. We have a date to float on the small creek (next to her gorgeous house) drinking vodka and lemonade. Now that's a vacation.

Going on Vacation!

Woo-ha! Woo-ha! Me and the man need some time alone - no video games, no derby, no work. I am so excited about going back to Savannah and seeing my friends. It's going to be hot down there but I don't care, that's what the beach is for.

There's something about going home that soothes the soul. Everything is familiar yet I can notice the small changes that have taken place since I've been gone. The familiar food on the tongue, the familiar smells in the air - all right where I left them. But my evenings will be spent laughing over new stories. I can't WAIT!

I just wish we could take the dog with us. He, the cat, and the house will be taken care of while we're gone, but I really wish he could go with us. It would be hell for us and the dog if we trapped him in a car for 12 hours. I did it once with two cats and trust, once is enough.

I need a break from St. Louis. The flooding, the Im Bev hostile take-over, the friends with issues I can't solve, all of it is getting left behind. No more MetroLink, no more dumb-ass South county driving, no more fucking fireworks! July 4th is over, enough already!

So Ta, y'all. See you in a week.

M80s - 99, Stunt Devils - 53

We kicked ass!  I played in 6 jams.  Ok, yeah, I got knocked down some but I also knocked a couple of girls on their ass.  All in all it was a fantastic bout.  At one point my girls Ana Warpath and Shanghai Lily were all by themselves but they still managed to hold four blockers and a jammer back.  Bad asses!

I served one minute in the box.  We kept our penalties down this bout.  The Stunts were playing a solid game and we could have gotten a lot more penalties, but we kept our cool and adjusted our offense.  Man, I love derby!

Our next bout is Aug. 2nd.  I will get to play more in this bout.  I'm sooooooo looking forward to it.

Feelin' Good

I had some time to think on my way into work this morning so I started thinking about my life.

I'm in a good place. I have a wonderful husband, a good job, I'm involved in a sport I love (and I'm becoming a leader in as well). I have a great family and I couldn't ask for better friends. I'm healthy and I look great. I don't think there is one thing I would change right now.

There was a time long ago when all I could think about was surviving. My living situation sucked, I didn't have hope of a good future, and I was sick physically and mentally. I've come a long way. All the hardships and disappointments have brought me peace. Who knew?

The Link

I refuse to pay for parking anymore at my job. They want $400 a year to park in a garage they take away from us whenever they damn well feel like it. The business school having a special event? Take away the parking. Summer school? Take away the parking.

As if that's not enough, the red parking passes ($1000+ a year) which are NEVER full keep taking over the yellow parking passes. Because 70+ empty spaces isn't enough, let's make it 90. Meanwhile we yellow pass people circle the parking lot again and again waiting for someone to leave.

So fuck it, I turned in my yellow pass and will be taking the Metrolink from now on. It will save some $$ on gas as well. This morning I learned I need to be there before 7:30 because the next train doesn't leave until 7:45. Besides, the cardio I get hoofing up the hill to my office is good for me. I just hope my car doesn't get broken into. Not that there is anything to take, but replacing a window is expensive.