VAGINE REGIME!

The following is a press release about Vagine Regime’s new film project, straight from GoGo! Donate, donate, donate! This is SUCH a great opportunity and endeavor for all the queer roller derby folks!
______________________________________________________________________

[Homespun Pictures]

Contact: Bernard Parham
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel: 423.505.8869
Email: bernardcasting@gmail.com

Contact: Erica Tremblay
Tel: 310.944.8519
Email: snippypete@gmail.com

ROLLER DERBY VETERANS BEGIN PRE-PRODUCTION ON DOCUMENTARY
ABOUT GAY, QUEER, AND TRANSGENDER SKATERS

Los Angeles, CA—Filmmaker and former roller derby coach Erica Tremblay (AKA Go-Go Gidget) has partnered with fellow skater and activist Tori Talavera (AKA Injure Rogers) on VAGINE REGIME: a feature-length documentary about gay, transgender, and queer athletes in the roller derby community.

VAGINE REGIME is not just the title of their documentary, it is also the name of a global collective of queer derby skaters. The Vagine Regime originated online in 2005, and it has since evolved into a real-world community with an express mission to celebrate and promote acceptance of queer athletes in the derby world.

VAGINE REGIME is currently in pre-production, and it has an estimated budget of $35,000. The producers are raising funds via the Kickstarter social media site, and contributions can be made at the following link:http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ericatrembay/the-vagine-regime-a-documentary-where-vaginas-coll.

This documentary is the second project produced by Homespun Pictures, the production company founded by Los Angeles-based Producer/Director(s) Bernard Parham and Erica Tremblay in 2011.

Their previous project, the feature-length documentary HEARTLAND, profiled survivors of last year’s tragic tornado strike in Joplin, MO. HEARTLAND was screened in Joplin last May and received rave reviews; it is currently on the festival circuit. 

Strong is the New Skinny

Suzie (start watching at 51 seconds) gave me an accidental compliment the other day in the gym.

She went to use the hip press after me and exclaimed "Shit, Melanie.. your legs are STRONG."

...I may or may not have giggled. :)

This is week two of working out 6 days a week.

I've upped my incline and speed on the treadmill, and upped the weights on the leg machines. (It'll be a while before I up the weight on the upper body machines... I'm such a girl when it comes to upper body!!)

I have noticed a significant difference in my speed and endurance on the track.

THIS I like. A lot.

I am working towards TryOuts/Drafts.

I will make a team.

I will kick ass.

I will keep improving in my skating ability.

And that's why working out is great. :)

I will say I'm drinking far more soda than I expected.. But it's still less than I was drinking.

So.. that's an improvement.

I dunno... Tonight when we did our 5 minute warm up, I reveled in the fact that I passed people more, and passed faster people.

It can only go up from here!

Although I'm being all rah-rah cheerleader tonight, I still get super frustrated.

I am still a rookie and I have yet to have that light bulb go off in my head so I understand the game and understand how to execute strategy on the track.

Tonight my team scrimmaged with the All Stars.

I love those ladies. They are all so classy and so lovely - but when I get on the track with them, I feel like it's my first time skating again.

Maybe it's my insecurities getting in the way... But every time I skate with them, I feel like I skate like slop.

The more I skate, the better I get, and the more I play/scrimmage, the better I'll get.

Patience has never been a virtue I possess well.

You can ask my mom.

Growing up, when I would get impatient/not want to wait for a response, she would say "Well. You always do what you want."

Meaning, regardless of the advice or suggestions I seek, I still do what I want to do.

Some would call that trait "obstinate".

Others might call it determination. ;)

I might just be one of the latter.. :D

So. I do what I want.

Apparently, that's been my motto since the beginning of time. (see also: the beginning of my life... lol)

And right now what I want is to be strong and fit and once I've gotten in better shape - perhaps train as a jammer.

Maybe I'll never jam in a game.

But having it in my arsenal - the agility, the quick feet, the sprinting abilities, the ability to get off the ground everytime some giant MoMo knocks me on my ass...

I want those abilities in my arsenal.

Someday I'd love to be able to jump the apex and get through a pack the way my ridiculous and amazing roommate does.

Until then... I'm excited to skate faster and harder each practice. :)

And for now, I will revel in the fact that I can go harder, better, faster, stronger.. And I will keep working out and getting stronger. :)

And speaking of strong.... let's for one second, talk about how amazing my teammates are.

They are so strong- seriously. Some of the strongest ladies I know, both on and off the track...

They are so positive and perfect.

I love skating with them, heckling them, being heckled...

They are just extremely quality ladies.

I couldn't ask for a better group to learn and grow with.

I'm so tremendously proud to be a Battle Broad this season.

PS - I CAN DO TOMAHAWK STOPS NOWWWWWWWW!!!!! on both sides :)

Bout Production

I don't know if anyone else knows this.. it might be a secret... but planning bouts is hard.

I don't care who you are.
It's hard.
And stressful (especially if you're skating in the bout you're planning...).
It involves long hours.
It involves hounding your committee (and everyone else in the league) for progress/information/to volunteer for NSOing/anything.
It involves contingency plans and thinking on your feet and wishing to the Roller Derby Gods that someone would volunteer for the Bout Production Day-Of MFIC (mufuckahincharge) job...

It involves failing and forgetting things and hoping you're not going to be punched in the face because you fail sometimes...

I know I'm not the only Bout Production kid out there who feels this way.

The season is dwindling down, and I am super glad.

But, as most derby girls are - I am a masochist, and yes, I will volunteer/run for this position next year.... because bouts are awesome.
Pulling off well-executed day-ofs is awesome.
Having the visiting team say that your league runs a great/smooth bout is awesome.

I think we get bogged down and we forget the awesome shit derby has to offer.

On that note, goodnight - I must sleep before the bout tomorrow.

Derby Hurts.

I've taken 3 hard falls on my tush since I've started derby.
Yes. I remember them.

1. The first night I got moved up to the All-Stars track so we could make room for the brand new newbies. We were doing the push drill - the choo-choo train as we sometimes call it. I was the last person in line, which means I stay in skater's position and am pushed the whole time, until the last lap. Keep in mind, I was still fairly new and my sprinting/cross-over skills - and let's face it - my form = were not good. I ATE SHIT. I actually think I took one of my skate wheels up my ass now that I think about it... There's a really lovely photo on the FB, which I think I'll share with you now. (I'm a roller girl - I've jumped in a pool fully clothed, posted ridiculous youtube video responses to My Drunk Kitchen... I've fallen asleep with a trash can in my hands because I had the liquor room spins... I have no shame left.)


No, no.. Don't worry about calling me pretty - I know I am ;D
After I fell that first time, my tailbone has never been the same. I can't sit for too long, my squats/lunges are atrocious... Sandra Day O'Slaughter, the derby big sis, simply said "I bet you'll always lean forward from now on, huh?" I said, "I know... Nipples over knees..."
I am 80% certain I broke my tailbone during that fall.


2. Scrimmaging last week. I tripped on my own geedee feet, and fell on my ass... I tried to catch myself with my hand... and ended up with a sweet bruise on my palm.. and sitting out the rest of the scrimmage. This is a moment when Seven Deadly Shins would physically abuse me and say "ROOKIES OF THE YEAR DON'T NOTICE PAIN".



3. Tonight. We were doing re-assessments for Charter purposes.. to see if anyone needs to be moved up or down. On a drill where we sprint a quarter of the track, then come to a complete stop, then sprint... over and over.. I snow plowed into my second stop line.... and proceeded to not just fall on my left cheek, but also fall into the splits. This was a very FML moment. (The only time I mess up big is when the All Stars are watching!!) They cheered for me to get up, even though I was sure I was leaving a whole butt cheek on the floor...
I have NEVER fall on my tush while snow plowing. WTF.
Anyway. It feels like.. well, it feels like death. Sitting hurts. Standing hurts. Walking hurts...



Who knows. Maybe I didn't break my tail bone the first time.. maybe I did it this time. But it's not a bone hurt. It's a muscle hurt. Which is the most geedee bizarre feeling evar.
I honestly have no idea if this is a strain or a tear or a giant deep bruise...

So I, of course, googled that shit.. and common sense is all I found...
Oh, cool, Livestrong.. something a derby girl would never think of! RICE. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.. plus a heating pad.

Who wants to rest because their ass hurts? Not this girl! SIGH. But alas, I think I may have to take Thursday night off. My butt HURTS. We'll see what happens tomorrow.


Morals of the story:
1. Tuesday sucked
2. Derby hurts.
3. I cannot be the only person in derby who has an ouchie ass.

Avoiding the Burnout (through the eyes of a rookie)

We all know the feeling when we first start skating.
You're filled with glee, excitement, new ideas - you absolutely cannot wait to put your skates on your feet and get on the track with all your rookie teammates... your new drafted team...

There's a buzz. A high when you first start derby.
It's all you think about, all you talk about.
Your non-derby friends get tired of hearing you talk about derby. Your (biological) family tires of hearing you talk about derby.
Maybe the fresh excitement and busy schedule causes your boyfriend/girlfriend to tire of you...

But no one gets it unless they skate, too.
No one understand the adrenaline, the speed, the sweat, the determination.
No one understands the lessons we learn practice after practice, getting knocked down, getting back up (whether it's immediately, or crawling to our feet... or off the track so the practice can keep going while we nurse whatever chronically-injured part of our body hurts the most that day)....

No one gets it quite like derby kids.

2, 3, 4, 5 days of practice a week - plus additionals.
7 weekends in a row of derby games.
Committee meetings.
Board meetings.
Fundraisers.
Benefits.
Event planning meetings.
Email after email after email.
Not being able to hang out with skaters without the conversation turning to Derby.
Bout day.
Not getting rostered.
Getting rostered.
Injuries.
Not being able to pay dues.
Selling tickets... or not selling tickets.
Buying bout-day supplies, and keeping track of said expenditures.
Needing a bandaid because your non-skate bout shoes gave you a big ugly blister...


You get the point.
We pride ourselves on being skater owned and operated, and we pride ourselves in doing it as a league, as a team - but we get so bogged down with all the things we have to do, and we forget to enjoy what derby is about.

Last night after practice, I was feeling a bit crab-ass and overwhelmed.
Half of roller derby is not taking things personally - but I took something silly personally; it hurt my feelings and got me all worked up.
It was nothing. NOTHING. But I took it personally.
I was feeling super crabby and down about it.

So, I twittered about my stress/anxiety/stupid hurt feelings.
A derby sister/BB teammate texted me.
"Hey. I saw your tweet. Come over."

So I did.
At midnight, I drove to her apartment because I needed a proverbial ass-kicking/slap-in-the-face for being ridiculous... and maybe some coddling.

We sat on her balcony, had a few crappy beers and talked for 3 hours.
I think that what I loved best was that we both chatted our our stresses, our anxieties, our hurt feelings.. and then we moved on to real life topics.. like family, and jobs and dating.

Although we are grown up women... we're still a group of women.
We still have disagreements, we still have concerns and lots of things to bitch about..

And yeah, cutting the shit - I get a little wah-wah sometimes. I'm a girl! I have hormones! It happens!
It usually passes, and when it doesn't, I talk to a teammate.
Which brings me back to my original point - avoiding the burnout.

It's easy to get burnt out, we all know this.
It's far easier to let league business, and grievances and whatever drama there may be and derby crushes and... everything.. get you down, make you pissy and crabby and threaten to quit.
(And PS, if you don't know how that feels A, you're damn lucky and B, maybe you should get more involved in your league lol)


So. How do we avoid the burnout?
Here's, in my infinite rookie wisdom, how I think we can avoid the burnout...

-Have someone on your team be a trusted friend.. not a teammate, not a league sister.. but a trusted friend that you can bitch to, and she won't judge you.

-Talk about what's bothering you. Maybe you're being irhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrational or ridiculous... but maybe you're not. And maybe your concern is actually valid. An objective opinion could help you decide.

-Take a break. Have a derby free day. Or..

-Go skating just for the hell of it and remember why you love it. Strap on your skates and your Sonics or Sugars or whatever you're rolling on.. and go skating. Feel the wind, enjoy the sunshine, take a friend.. I used to take my old roomie, Ellie, skating with me. She'd be on her inlines, and I'd be rocking my quads, and we'd just enjhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifoying the path or the weather or laugh a lot when one or the other fell down...

-Do something physical that isn't derby. Again, Ellie used to make me go running.. I loved it, because it made me feel good, and all I had to think about was my stride and my breathing.

-Look forward to things. This month my league was accepted into full WFTDA status, something we've been working towards for a long, long time. It is a HUGE deal - we can be ranked, perhaps attend Regionals, maybe someday Nationals... SO EXCITING. SOOOOOO, I'm excited for our WE'RE LEGIT party tomorrow. It's a time to hang out with the team outside of practice/bouts/meetings. And as excited as I am for the Legit party, I am equally as excited to to street clean-up tomorrow! I love the volunteering/community development side of Derby. LOVE. I love volunteering. love love love!

-Consider the place you want to be in the league. For me, it's Rookie of the Year.. it's a spot on the All-Stars.. it's being a hard, hard hitter... Which makes me work all that much harder.


Basically... talk it out, look forward to things, and work harder...
Although the latter seems a bit ironic, it's not.

Oh, and also?
Don't take things so damn personal.. which is what I need to work on the most.
:)

Big Girl Decisions

After much delay and fighting to avoid it, I've finally reached the Big Girl portion of my life.
I interviewed for a full time position at a music store in town. Of course my 5-10 year goal is opening a bakery, but I have to have a way to pay the bills.

However, I had an interview with a music business in town today, their immediate response to my interview went as follows:

Hi Melanie,

You made quite an impression on Rachel & Kate - they came back to my office and told me to just hire you! :D

But first, you have to make the same impression on me. So, do you have time this week to meet with me? I was thinking we could meet for breakfast, either tomorrow or Friday...


D******
Vice President - Springfield Music


So, I had breakfast with the VP this morning.
They also thought I was hilarious, so that's definitely a plus! They asked me what my strengths are.. I said, and I quote "My sparkling personality and dazzling wit" (thank you, Sandra Day O'Slaughter for such a lovely quote to use!) They were impressed with my summer of studying abroad, even if it wasn't for music. The boys in the office love that I'm a "band person", and made jokes about how french horn players never know what to do with their hand when you kiss them. heh...
However. He made it sound as if I have to chose between playing derby and working.
Which sucks SO much because I need roller derby. NEED!
But I also need a job.
The job is amazing - I'd be making good money, working with good people, in a field that I will have a degree in! (Not a lot of people can say they're working in their desired field. And while yes, I am a performance major and I'd prefer a job in a major symphony- that's not going to happen unless someone dies or quits. And neither happen in orchestras! haha)
In about 6 months, I'd have the opportunity for promotion, possibly obtaining the Education Coordinator spot, or something similar - which would possibly change my schedule to not working on Saturdays, and working daytime hours.
AMAZING. I'd be working with the education side of things and I could tell my old MusEd advisor to suck it, because even without his help, I still got a job in education without my teaching certificate.


Getting a job as a roller girl is a catch-22 - You can't play derby without a job/money/income, but you can't play derby WITH a job...

I know, and am well aware, that I will take this job, that I NEED to take this job. It's full time with benefits.
However, I'll have to miss one practice a week. (Dropping my attendance to 50%)
And I have to work on Saturdays, meaning I would miss a lot of bouts.
He explained that once in a while, it's fine to ask for a Saturday off, but once a month is difficult, as the people who could take my shift are the him, and two other high up people, who don't want to work Saturdays.

Granted I can make up practices to get that 70% I need to be roster-able, and I don't need to be at every bout forever.
But I'm worried about the schedule.

Derby has changed me and made me better.
It has done a lot for me.
I have met some of the most incredible and influential people by being involved.
And while I can't live without a job anymore (without starving or becoming the smelly kid in class), I can't live without derby.
I need income, but I need derby, too.

I am such a mess of emotion- I'm excited about the prospect of a job that I won't hate, with really wonderful people, but really depressed about the derby I'll miss.

This is not my first big girl decision while being a part of SRG.
My first included bowing out of my first big girl bout because I wasn't healed yet, and I was afraid to hurt myself and my teammates with my sloppy freshly-back-from-injury skating.

Derby makes me face life head on.
I hate it and I love it.
I've never been confrontational. In fact, I've been passive-aggressive my whole life.
I've always suffered in silence, and dealt with mistreatment and rude people without a word.
Then I ran away to the desert.
Then I joined derby.
Then I quit my job.
Then I started becoming who I want to be, who I've always wanted to be.

Clearly this is a common theme in my blogs.

However, instead of writing about quitting, I'm writing about possibly accepting a sweet gig...

I'm kind of in full panic attack mode even thinking about quitting derby.
I don't think I can live without it.
I've been a much happier, much more fulfilled person since I've started.

I wish I didn't have to choose...
And I'm hoping that I won't have to.
I explained I'm still a rookie, and I don't have to play, or go to, as many away games, but that, as Bout Planning committee head, I have to be at home bouts.
...But I guess if I'm not playing, and bouts aren't mandatory, I don't necessarily have to be there... I can delegate and pass off the clipboard to someone in my committee who is equally as capable of keeping our teams in line...

Okay, so looking at this logically: There's a chance I might not even get rostered for all the Battle Broads games...
So, my schedule with BB, if I AM rostered for them all looks like this:
May: 2 bouts - 1 home, 1 away (TARG - Sunday; CoMo - Sunday)
June: 2 bouts - 1 home, 1 away (Rt66 - Saturday; Green Country - Sunday)
July: 1 bout - home - (MoKan - Saturday)
*Rollercon... oops! :D
August: 2 bouts - 1 home, 1 away (Team Unicorn (all stars)- Sunday; Rt66- Saturday)
September: 1 bout - home (OKVD - All Stars - Sunday)
October: 1 bout - home (St Chux - Sunday)

So, really, I have 3 Saturdays, and 1 week that I'm unavailable (which might include some Friday nights for driving time.. But hey, I know other girls have to work, so maybe we can get a non-derby person to drive the car, and we can sleep through the night.)

This list made me feel infinitely better.

Sigh. Okay. This is do-able. This can work out.
Now I just wait for them to call back!


So. Maybe use roller girls can have our cake, and eat it too!
Because, honestly, who doesn't love cake???

Life after Injury

Tonight is my first practice back from being injured.

I've been off skates for a month.

I still haven't bought new knee pads. (Because I'm broke, duh. lol)

The plan of action for tonight is:
-duct tape my pads in place.
-Use the placebo effect in having Jailhouse Jenny wrap my knee.
-Skate hard, skate fast.
-Maybe vomit.. before or after is still to be determined.

I'm nervous.
I haven't been on skates... I'm afraid I'll be a hot mess, and my skills will have regressed.
I'm afraid I'll get hurt again.
I'm afraid if I get hurt again, I'll be out for a lot longer.

Really, I'm being Melanie, I'm not being New Pound Glory.
Maybe my attitude will change when I put on my tights and Rollerbones shorts and strap on my skates...

I guess we'll see.
But I'm nervous.

This bitch is HILARIOUS. I LOVE this post. I especially like the part about excuses. LOVE. lovelovelovelove.

Favorite part?
I'm having an off day.
I'm having an "off" life. That's the reason I play derby. This is your time off from everything else. So whatever's on your mind, get over it and get in the game.


I would love to follow her blog.. but I must be internets-retarded, because I can't find the follow button... SO. Here's this. Enjoy!
**Correction - yay, hooray, found her follow button. :D


xxx

I had this dream where the world was about to end and this huge spaceship was filling up the horizon and it was the future so you can imagine all the buildings were sleek and tall. Everyone was about to die and then I saw this tiny little fish. Only it wasn't a fish since it was swimming in the sky, not water...anyway it was swimming and somehow I knew- This thing is the messenger. And somehow- I guess since it was my dream- I got to be all in charge of everything. The little fishy alien squished it's way right up to me and blurted out that the big thing in the sky about to kill everyone was it's mom. I hysterically screamed- "TELL HER TO STOP!!!" I pointed and commanded the thing to high-tail it back to the ship and make waves! It pouted and looked at the sky then back to me and shrugged saying, "No, I can't do that... I'm too small. " I was furious at the stupid alien fish thingy. How, I struggled to imagine, could you see the end of the world approaching and not even try to stop it?! I woke up still shaking my head. It bothered me all day. I thought of all the ways I should have killed the little bastard. I shook my head weeks later- even today- wondering what the hell that was supposed to mean.

Well that's interesting.

The first "specialist" I saw about my knee was pretty wimpy. The doctor and two of her interns crowded around my knees, frowning, pushing and pulling and talking code for "I don't know." I left with no idea what was wrong with me and a list of excersizes I was sure were actually meant to piss me off. They were inner leg lifts and a few stretches. How the fuck am I ever going to play roller derby again with this sorry excuse for rehab?? I was pissed. Ice. Elevate. Be pissed. Ice. Elevate... But I'm persistant.

I went to a fancy knee center- with a real gym inside it. They specialize in knees AND sports injuries. AND they took a bunch of x-rays. It was fancy. I waited in a little room on a little bed covered with a thin sheet of paper that stuck to my now atrophied thighs. I was trying to guess at what he might tell me. I tried to prepare myself not to burst into tears if he said my knees had taken all they could handle and derby was no longer an option. Is this the end? My shoulders sagged and I must have looked pathetic when he burst through the door.

A few minutes later, after my legs had been suffeciently man handled and he'd shared a few quizical looks with his accompanying therapist and a few gutteral grunts, the doctor spoke. And his first question wasn't about what I couldn't do. He wanted to know what I'd been doing to strengthen the muscles around my knee.

I was surprised. The other doctors had said to ice and elevate, do a few lame stretches (while watching House) but otherwise no "pushing it" was ordered. I told him I'd been biking to work a few days a week 13.5 miles each way. He shrugged. "Is that flat land then? Or are you really working hard?"he asked suspiciously. I smiled. I already liked him.

I took the stairs down to the parking lot sporting a seriously goofy grin. I sent my derby wife an all caps text with about ten exclamation points-for safe measure. And as I setteled in to my daily commute I started thinking of which gym I'd be going to, what machines to use, what my goals would be, and then... why hadn't I been doing these things months ago?! What had changed?

It's so wild that such a small thing- like a few good words from a doctor- can change everything. Well, that's fucking interesting...man.

You can change everything by changing your mind. If you believe it, it's already the truth. So go ahead and try it out. Next time you start to feel like you should just coast off to the side and maybe sit down for a second, maybe take a breather... check this Handy Index of Excuses and follow the prescription.

I'm Tired
Play smarter. Take big deep breaths. And stop whining- Everyone is tired! This is Roller derby!

I Need Water
Yeah. And are you going to die of thirst before this drill is over? Think about kids in Haiti. Maybe they're thirsty too. But do they stop in the middle of drills to go get water?

I'm gonna PUKE!
Cool man. Remember to hydrate and get right back in, we need a jammer.

I need to stretch.
Ok. In fact, why don't we all just stretch. And we'll take off our skates and get mats. We can put on Moby and we'll call it Yoga. ...no, but really though. Stretch what you need to stretch. But do it with the quickness, we're down a man.

I'm having an off day.
I'm having an "off" life. That's the reason I play derby. This is your time off from everything else. So whatever's on your mind, get over it and get in the game.

I've got a hang-over.
Such is the life of a rollergirl. Roller girls all over the world got drunk last night. There, I said it. Now you can use that thought as a tiny consolment. and Hydrate.

I have a headache/ cold sore/ runny nose/ stomach virus/ diarrhea...yuk./ halitosis/ backache/ sore throat/etc.
So, are you in or out? Because if you're in, you're going to have to let that all fade into the nether regions of your gigantic brain. You can do anything you want. Even with diarrhea. and Hydrate.

I have the flu.
Fucking go home! NOW! Before you get us all sick! You fucking lunatic. ...but I dig the commitment, dude. Next time, call in.

My endurance sucks.
Wonder why. Here's a news flash- building your endurance actually! (Literally!) physcially! HURTS! But don't worry, it won't hurt as bad next time.

I'm out of shape. I'm too big. I'm too weak. I'm too slow. I'm too small....I'll never make a roster.
Not with that attitude. Decide not to give in to excuses. You should know by now there are no good ones. You either do, or you don't. So put your mouthguard in, and go knock someone down!

World Domination

The M.E.O. Podcast Network: The M.E.O. Podcast Episode 17 With The Springfield...: "Sandra Day O'Slaughter and Mary Lou Wretched of The Springfield Rollergirls sit down with Eric & Merr at The M.E.O. Command Center to disc..."


I'm currently listening to the MEO Podcast, featuring Sandra Day O'Slaughter and Mary Lou Wretched chat about our team(s) and their overall roller derby experience.

The lovely Ms Wretched definitely said something that struck a chord with me while talking about her job, and being unemployed.

"I am actually currently unemployed, *laughter* which, interestingly enough, there are a few of us on the team who are not working, and I think that what ends up happening is you kind of get to this place, and I think a lot of us have been this way with roller derby, where you're like, 'I'm not gonna deal with this shit anymore.'"

Abso-freakin-lutely.

I really felt the same way with my job.
All through college, I had the same retail job. I had seen managers come and go, co-workers come and go... And granted, the majority of my time there was not terrible. It was a solid job. I got hours, I worked with great people... But there came a time when the leadership changed, and I had to put up with a lot - A LOT - of grief about my life and who I am and roller derby...

And, cutting the shit, I got tired of being called a lesbian by people in leadership positions.

(Let's face it- It wasn't being called a lesbian that was offensive, because really? That's all the creativity that you have? You can't call me something that's actually offensive? It was because it was said multiple times, on the clock, by people who are supposed to exude an air of professionalism, and responsibility while in charge of an entire store.)

"I'm not gonna deal with this shit anymore."

So. I quit. And I'm jobless and poor, but to quote Jack's Mannequin "being poor was never better."

I wouldn't call derby girls... negative or rude or brash (although we can, indeed, be all those things).. I just think that there comes that point when roller derby creates in us this empowered, strong, raging woman, and we can't deal with things that hold us down, or keep us back from being who we are, achieving the things that we want.

Derby has done this for me.

Derby has changed the way I see the world, the way I view women and women-owned/operated organizations, men, jobs.. Everything.




Being poor was never better.