Evolution of a Black Eye.

Hi guys!

On Friday Adam, Francis and I drove to Tucson for the dust devil roller derby tournament. When we stopped to get gas and ran into the bathroom I got a few funny looks that totally confused me.

Then I remembered that I have a black eye.

The only other time I remember having a black eye was when I broke my nose when I was four. Stupid highway underpasses and patent leather dress shoes.

I am completely fascinated by the daily changes in color and even shape. Here are a few new pictures:




This one is from Saturday. It turned VERY DARK PURPLE on my eyelid. It was actually a very beautiful color, deep and reddish, like a plum.

This one is from Sunday. Yes. I am wearing the same stinky shirt that I wore on Saturday. WE wore black jerseys for all three games this weekend. The color became a little yellowish in some areas and now it is dark underneath my eye, not just on the eyelid.





And this was today. We were headed home from Tucson which is most of the reason I look so grumpy.




Last but not least, here is an adorable picture of autumn and I that was taken at the venue between out two games on Sunday.

I am hoping there will be pictures available for the bouts tomorrow, and I will tell you more about the weekend very soon.

Xoxo
-Erica

Shiner!

One thing you may know about playing roller derby, is that it is a very bad idea to hit your own jammer. If you did not know that here is the basic structure of flat track derby:

There are two thirty minute periods that are comprised of "jams" that can last up to two minutes each.

Each team has 5 players on the track, 4 blockers and 1 jammer. After the first pass, which only establishes lead jammer (the lead jammer has an advantage because she can call off the jam when it is most advantageous for her.) the jammer scores points by passing each opposing blocker. The blockers are trying to prevent the opposing jammer from scoring points by hitting her and blocking her. They are also trying to help their own jammer by giving whips and creating "clears" (or moving opposing players out of the way).

Knowing this, it is pretty obvious that when one is playing roller derby she does not want to HIT HER TEAMS JAMMER.

It is an even worse idea if your jammer is about a foot taller than you and her teeth are level with your eyebrows when you are both in derby stance.

Things like this can happen:

It may be hard to see, but after my brow collided head on with my teammates teeth at scrimmage last night I had a lump on my brow about the size of a golf ball(thank goodness for both of us she was wearing proper protective gear, including a mouth guard)


This is what it looked like this morning:


These are two pictures are very rare photo's of me as I am usually wearing make-up and I think I have only had one other REAL black eye in my life. That was when I was about five and I broke my nose- great story, for another day.



It will be kinda cool to have a black eye for the tournament this weekend, but I am not looking forward to going to work like this. Even though I work for my dad and outside traffic is minimal it is a little embarrassing to have people wonder how it happened. My dad and co-worker both know I play roller derby but many of our customers do not.

I started a post yesterday, should be able to put it up tomorrow. I am sorry I have not been as diligent with my blogging lately, but I am sure you all understand that life happens.

Xoxo,

Erica

Unpacking is hard.

We have been in our new house for a little over a month now- and there is still SO MUCH unpacking to do. All of the important things are done so it is really easy to push off what is left for another day... the problem is that the things that are not unpacked yet are all of the good things... art needs to be hung, and my sewing/art/craft room needs to be organized desperately.

This is the current state of my art room. The worst part is that since I have needed to get things from there it is an even bigger disaster!

Adam has started to make some progess in his shop though! this weekend he made and organized this work bench!



Saddly, it is pretty unlikely that I will get my room more organized before the close of august. Fortunately that is because I will be doing something I love-playing roller derby!

I have already been fortunate enough to play in three bouts since I have been here. On monday I returned to Albuquerque from Tucson, where my team- The Munecas Muertas- played the Saddle Tramps. The Tucson Saddle Tramps have long been a personal favorite team, but it still nice to win a game! I felt really good about this game. It was the first time since Autumns birtrh that I have felt like I was playing effectively. It made me sad to see some dramma about strategy conflicts unfold on the bench. Also, I had to walk away from some critisism, because in the middle of a game it was not going to help.

I hope to get some pictures soon.

Next weekend I will be in Taos for a home game, and then we will be in portland to play the Wheels of Justice.

Busy Weekend

We had quite a weekend around here! My mom came in to Albuquerque last Wednesday and my brother drove up this weekend from las cruses. Duke City Derby also had an art show go up at the Blackbird Buvette -all proceeds to benefit duke city derby. Between derby and family this weekend it felt like I was going nonstop! It was so much fun to spend time with my mom and my brothers.

I also decided that I could make it to the tucson game next weekend. We would save a little money if I would make these decision sooner- but this means that the next three weekends will all be devoted to roller derby. WE have a game with the Tucson Saddle Tramps next weekend, a "home" game in Taos the following weekend, and the weekend after that we play Portlands Wheels of Justice. I would really like to beat portland, but I know no matter what happens we will play our best in portland.

I would like to post some pictures of the art I donated to the art show, but blogger isn't letting me upload any pictures right now so I will have to try again later.