Originally posted @ “The Diary of a Roller Girl” on tumblr.com – 8/2007
Where do I begin? I can start with my story, I guess, but the edited version. Not the one that makes you want to pull your eyes out of your head, or bury yourself under your blankets and sleep, but the one that may actually inspire you. Sort of like the story that inspired me a few years ago, but I won’t get into that now…
I am a 35 year-old chick living in NYC for pretty much my entire life, give or take short stints in Idaho, California, Arizona, Illinois, Hawaii, and Florida, I’ve always managed to come back to where I originally hail from – the insane and over-crowded metropolis of “Gotham City.” I can’t really say what constantly draws me back here, besides the amazing pizza, as NYC and I have come to the agreement that we are in a love/hate relationship. While her concrete sidewalks has provided me with immeasurable amounts of street smarts and more than my fair share of career luck, I have grown tired of her tourists, filth, cold winters and panicked lifestyles and long for a more serene, beautiful and warmer environment. I am proud of my city, however, and am in awe of it’s sheer madness on a daily basis.
I digress…
In my circle of friends, I have been known as the “party girl.” The one who gets everyone together, makes the plans, stays out all night, throws crazy parties, loves to throw back a cocktail or 7 and never, ever wants to settle down. While all of my friends started having children the thought of growing a child of my own makes my ovaries shrivel in fear. I’m just not ready. I’ll never be “ready.”
I prefer to travel, drink delicious sangria on a Tuesday night, dance until my legs fall off, buy gorgeous outfits, change my hair color on a constant basis, indulge in many adult like activities, and get tattoo’ed more often than I should. There is just no room for a child in a lifestyle like that, and the fact that I can admit that I do not posses that “baby gene” makes me a rarity in this world.
I had always been on the slender side, and never really worked out much. I was blessed in that regard, never weighing more than 115 lb. at 5’4”. I was also blessed with more than half of a brain and the gift of gab which can get me out of any situation I can find myself in, for the most part. On the other side of that, I was cursed with a raging temper and a fierce sense of loyalty to the people that I love the most. I will gouge your eyes out if you even attempt to screw with me or anyone in my circle, for that matter.
As I have grown a bit older, I have managed to control that rage of mine and have also noticed that being naturally slender is no longer in the cards for me. All of my years of drinking wine, sitting on the couch, partying all night long, and eating whatever I wanted are long gone. I now find myself a 35 year-old chick with a 135 lb body and a slew of health issues due to the aforementioned activities.
Years ago, while nursing a hangover, I came across a documentary about the Texas Roller Girls and literally fell in LOVE. I had a fire in me so hot that I could barely contain myself. I researched derby all over google and decided that I wanted to start my own league in Staten Island, NY. Needless to say, after some drama and lack of participation, it didn’t happen and the old habits got their way with me once again. I let a few more years slip by me and a few hundred more drinks slide down my throat and a few more pounds find their way to my ass.
When 2010 rolled around, and the big “3-5” was lurking nearby, I started to become antsy again. I had this need in me to do something with myself. I wanted to do something that not only challenged me physically, but was also beyond fun and a great outlet for my aggression, so I once again came upon Roller Derby.
I started skating in my old boot style “Chicago” skates at the local roller rink with some friends on Saturday nights. When I realized I was not as bad as I thought, I joined the Gotham Girls Roller Derby forums and yahoo training group and started reading about other girls and their experiences. At first, I did not post anything, as I was curious if girls my age were actually doing this, or if I were some kind of freak going through early-onset midlife crisis… Then the posts started pouring in and girls of all walks of life were setting up “skate dates” with each other. I was beyond excited and ran out and got myself a pair of Riedell R3 speed skates and protective gear and then…. I started posting.
I signed up for a class that met every Saturday morning in a playground in Brooklyn and the day it started I was so nervous I thought I would vomit. I got through it though, and not only was it amazing, it was quite possibly the best feeling I had ever had in my life. For the first time I was meeting girls who were a lot like me… tatted up party girls, misfits, girls who never really got along with other chicks and had mostly guy friends, girls my age, some even older… It was a sisterhood and a cool, bad ass one at that! Bonus – I was not only acquiring a skill, getting in shape, I was forming unbelievable friendships along the way.
This blog is going to be about my experiences with changing my lifestyle, getting off of my ass, getting into sick shape, quitting drinking so much, putting a hold on the insane partying, and training so hard that I feel like I am going to drop dead – all for the love of Roller Derby!
I am aiming high – not only am I starting this at 35, with minimal athletic experience, but I am training for and trying out for the most competitive league in the US – “Gotham Girls” of NYC.
I started training in April, but am now just getting around to the hardcore stuff like the gym and skating more often than I walk and plan on documenting every step along the way. Tryouts are November 20th and while I doubt I will make it this year, I will not quit and will keep going until I do make it. Wish me luck with that.
Besides, the bright-side is – I will have a killer set of stems and an awesome apple ass pretty soon. Right on!
Don’t mess with me! lol
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