Dream a little dream...

So, WFTDA testing did not go well. Oh well, time to invest more time & effort into my main dream - my own house in Nantucket. Trying to make some more money to get me and the fam our own little slice of heaven. It's not for everyone, and that's one of the reasons I like it so much. On an island 30 miles out to sea, you are on your own. I want to live off the land (and sea) respectfully, so that my children can do the same. Plus - I really miss the seafood. Home must be where your stomach is...  :D

Need some lovin'.....

  Our derby (WFTDA) skills test is coming up quickly (Feb 1st - YIKES!) and I'm getting ready to do the big dirty. Taking the test, that is. I'm super scared and losing confidence quickly - and having a horrible practice last night isn't helping. One of the minimum skills required is doing 25 laps in 5 min (or less) and although I'm close....I'm not close enough. I'm at around 23 - and hoping to get those 2 more on adrenaline on test day. Pray for me - I need it!  I think all my other skills are pretty good - at least good enough to pass the test. I'm still working on my endurance - but hitting the gym to skate (4-5 days a week) is definitely helping. Now if I could just lose about 30-75 lbs....  :) 
  I am very encouraged by my derby girls and strive to be a better - non-negative - person. Thank you Chelsea, Kara, Nikki, Jamie & Jamie, Tammy and Layne & Amber for really helping me get thru this - you guys ROCK. In a seriously hard derby sorta way.  These girls make it a point to keep my spirits up when I'm feeling like the shit that sticks to the bottom of your foot on a hot & sticky day. And they keep at it - yelling at me when I need it and being just plain awesome.
  My real goal for this year is to make a derby team - I don't really care which one - just make the stupid team. But I also want to be a better person - try to not be such a bitch and to be more forgiving and have less complaining come out of my (forever open) mouth. Hopefully I'll also not hurt myself again this year - that in itself is a major goal...  :D

When it rains - it pours....

Yup. 'Nuff said.  Getting ready to make some mittens for the girl - all she has are craptastic acrylic gloves that stretch to fit. Not warm. Making super easy 2 needle mittens in a lovely pink/reds combo from Malabrigo. YUM! I love Malabrigo yarns....they are super soft & squishy and for stupid, super-sensitive skin people like me can even wear it.  :D

Irritated....

Craptastic week. Really. Everything seems to be going wrong. Got my new Vixens in - the toe stop was jammed/frozen in there. Had to send them back. When I called to tell them I was returning my skates - they talked me into upgrading. Two weeks later - I get the Vixens back - fixed but not what I was expecting. I was charged for the custom pair and the Vixens, but only got the Vixens. And they "forgot" to order the custom pair. UGH!!!! Decided to keep the Vixens (which are still better than the old ones I have), but the boot is super hard to break in :(  Then my girl has to go get tubes put in her ears for constant reoccuring ear infections. No sleep for 3 days. On third day (day after surgery) the boy decides to crap all over himself in the bathroom. Poo everywhere. Credit card decides to not work when I take everyone out to lunch the next day. I'm going to find a padded room somewhere and just scream....

But on a good note - at least I can do my glides in my new skates! Yea for skates that fit!!! Now to find out how fast I'll be in skates that actually fit.....

Okay - I've decided to keep trudging thru and improving my skating skills so I can be a full blown WFTDA approved derby girl. I've been renting out our local (old) school gym and practicing honing my skating skills. It is really hard work. I also plan to drop at least 10 - 20 lbs by supplementing this with regular (forced) exercise. I will conquer. I will succeed.
I got some new skates coming - thanks to Bruised Boutique!!! They are so awesome. I decided to get the Riedell 165s Vixens because my Sure-Grip Rebels just weren't cutting it for me. Stupid narrow feet. I'm hoping these are loads better. I also got some new wrist guards, because - let's face it - the stink from my old ones could kill a fully grown man within 2 feet. Plus they are shredded to the point of no fixing...I think it's time to bury them. Maybe this will keep the squirrels out....
I also got some awesome Sure-Grip Fugitive wheels (blue) - hopefully they will work for my (ever improving) form. I also might be getting an upgrade on my knee pads as someone I know is selling theirs and I would love to have a better pair - especially for under cost (she wore them for a month). Now to get back to my bootie grinding...

Yea for Halloween! I love this time of year - the leaves start crisping up and turning wonderful colors, the air has a bit of a bite to it, and Thanksgiving & Christmas are right around the corner. Which means I better get my butt in gear and finish all my Christmas presents....

The rug monkeys were super happy - they got to go to their first school Halloween party. They went as a hippie & a hillbilly.....make me think of an 80's sitcom :)  Hope to post some more pics of finished products soon - enjoy the kiddos for now!

Ugh. Been so busy - working/knitting/crocheting up a storm. Taken some time off derby - we'll have to see if I can get fast enough to pass the WFTDA skillz test before I decide if I'm gonna come on back. Not too happy about the "rookie" team either....

Here's some pics of the new finished objects...

 

I am totally diggin' this weather though - I LOVE fall. Seriously. Dogs & kids get to run out in the yard and tire themselves out - garden's done & the tree rats (aka squirrels) are eating the leftovers.