Saturday, April 30, 2011

Bout Night, All Over the World...

All the photos here tonight are from my friend DJDayZ, and I am so glad she was there, (for lots of reasons, not just because I now have three great photos of my very first Bout Night) but here you have them!

It was my first Bout Night as part of a league. Not, mind you Bouting, but very much a part of it. And I really, really wish I could tell you what that means.

In a word: Everything.

Here's me in the middle of the pack during our Derby 101 Demo. Loved that. Right after I got surprise NSO (Non-skating Official) duties, which put me in the middle of the track. Hadn't thought I was going to do that, but they were short one, and there I was, doing nothing but security. (which I admit, I wasn't stellar at, the only people I carded were older than I was) Learned it quickly and did right fine.

You can see a lot from the middle of the track, even watching for outside white board ref penalties.

You can see A LOT. And I did.

I watched the women I've been practicing with for a month now skate on a whole new level. I was inspired by them before, now I am somewhat MORE. I love them, all of them. I know them. And the thought of being able to do what they do, to pull that kind of determination out, that kind of skill, that, Gods, I'll lapse into music here: To play that kind of gig.

Yeah, I want that gig. I want that gig really bad.

I woke up this morning hearing about a Bout in Australia, from some skaters, and people who had been there. Coming home tonight, and reading on FB, and on Twitter, I heard more about Bouts that happened tonight. We all had the same experience. One skater pretty much summed it up:

"I can't even begin to put into words how I feel about my team! It's def moving, and DEF brings me to tears...LITERALLY!! FOEVER!"

Uh-huh. I nearly cried too. THAT is Derby.

That kind of love, that kind of "I have your back", that kind of skill, that kind of putting everything in your body and soul out there on the track...

I've never seen anything that ever comes close.

Sometimes, especially after watching skating like I saw tonight, I am not sure I can be that good. Just in my secret heart, just between us, I really don't know. No, really. The bar is very, very high. I can work very hard, and give everything that is in me, and I do plan to, but to everyone who skated tonight, wherever in the world you were skating, whether you won or lost:

You are my Rock Stars.

And I want that Gig.

Love and Derby,
Lorraine

49 Comments:

At 00:00 Blogger spacedlaw said...

I am so happy you had such a great inspiring time!

At 00:01 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Beyooond....And you are the only one up with me!

At 00:11 Blogger Chantrelle said...

So amazing. Ben's teacher has 'talked about that amazing feeling and of the family on the track and how much she's missing it now (post injuries).

Derby 101 is just the beginning baby!!

At 00:25 Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's wonderful, Lorraine!

I'm happy for you.
:)
I look forward to reading about more firsts as you continue! And eventually your first bout!

xxo
V

At 00:29 Blogger Ani said...

So great! Watching from the pit is a great way to see derby. I coach for the local league, co-coaching the new skaters. Never in my life did I think I'd be sending emails to women I've only known for two months, and signing them,

Hot, sweaty derby love,
Coach Ani Up

At 00:36 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Ani, thank you, coming from a coach, that means a LOT..

At 01:17 Blogger Dragonsally said...

Great photos - you are glowing with happiness.
I'm really hoping to go and see my first bout next Saturday. Looking forward to experiencing what you and others have been raving about!

At 02:30 Blogger Marjorie said...

It sounds as though you had an absolutely fabulous time! So happy that you've found derby, and that it rocks your world!

At 08:31 Blogger Jess said...

Yay! I love that you are loving this. You look great, and you look happy. Therefore Stalker Wife is happy. :)

In other news, the next Night Garden challenge has begun. Billy Bones FTW! \o/

At 08:37 Blogger spacedlaw said...

\o/

At 08:56 Anonymous Anonymous said...

GIIIRRRRRRRLLLLLLL, You're doin great! As long as you're having fun! That's what it's all about. Think of how much progress you have made already...and progress IS SUCCESS in derby (or so I've heard). This "derby" brings out the best in us. Besides loving the sport, I love my team even more. From the bottom to the top. Watching everyone work, sweat, hurt, laugh together...kind of makes me proud to be a lady...that likes to hit! I am constantly humbled and so grateful that I have found this amazing group of people that accepted me with no questions. That is derby love. And WE LOVE YOU LORRAINE!
LOVE, PITBULL

At 09:56 Blogger Beez said...

Wow. Absolute joy just radiating from you.

You'll get that gig. You know you will!

At 10:49 Anonymous Amy Petersen said...

Yes yes yes!! You summed it up beautifully, thank you. So very glad you are part of my/our team...
Derby love,
Raven

At 12:53 Blogger Kitty Cat said...

look at how far you have come already, QuicheMeDeadly!
am so so very proud.
I am bringing my Pretty Vicious tee with me on Zombie tour, and showing the world my pride.

At 13:48 Blogger Phiala said...

Hooray! You've worked so hard for this, glad to see it happening.

At 16:04 Blogger Becca said...

I am so glad you have fouund this rock-on, tight family. Your journey has been awesome and inspiring and I know you'll continue to great new heights of MeDeadly greatness.

At 16:32 Blogger Jess said...

Hey peeps. Siri's story is up.

At 17:06 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Hmmph. Had PLANNED a lovely day pretending I was a Slug. Now Madame Slug is going skating.

Tain't right.

At 17:44 Blogger Chantrelle said...

Ben got a new bike helmet and said, "I want to get a star sticker for it so I can be a bike-jammer!" :)

At 21:26 Blogger dabbler said...

Love Siri's story...and Nathalie's bedtime one

At 21:26 Blogger dabbler said...

Tick...

At 21:50 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Madame Slug fell on her NICE ASS. Hard.

Dammit.

At 00:34 Blogger ariandalen said...

But your BITCHIN' ARMS picked you up, and you kept skating!

:)

At 08:03 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Madame has done herself a mischief.

My nice ass is either severely bruised or er, cracked, as it were. Going to seriously slow me down this week, but according to Joan, happens to every Roller Girl at least once.

Ice, pillow, trying not to sit...Pretty sure I'm out of the horse show next week, dammit. At least it wasn't my ankle, that would have taken me out 6 weeks...

At 08:23 Blogger spacedlaw said...

Could be your tailbone. In which case riding is going to be severely curtailed in the weeks to come.
Hugs.

At 08:52 Blogger spacedlaw said...

Only now had the time to read Siri's story. It's a great and sweet tale! Don't miss it!

At 09:10 Anonymous Anonymous said...

So, so awesome! Love your passion for this sport -- and your dedication to it and your team. That's great stuff, Q. LOVE the pics, too!!!

In short: YAY!

At 09:12 Blogger Chantrelle said...

Oh no! Sorry you broke your nice ass!!!

At 09:17 Blogger One Sock Short said...

Shamble-by tick...

At 09:27 Blogger dabbler said...

Ouch!! Seriously, Quiche, get some arnica cream...it won't cure a cracked tailbone, but it will help enormously with the bruising and soreness. Or look for something called traumeel, also a great ointment for impact damage!

You didn't really want to sit down anyway, did you? {{{hugs}}}

At 09:43 Blogger DataGoddess said...

But if you bruised your tailbone, who's going to help apply the arnica? I suppose one of the bengals could, but it would probably get all over everything if they tried....

And I forgot to ask on FB, but when you split your pants, were you, um, wearing something under them??

At 09:45 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Jinx just brought me arnica. Will help, to be sure.

It's very frustrating, a bunch of us start this sports training tonight, and the horse show is now out.

At 10:31 Blogger Siri said...

Thanks for the writing encouragment. It's funny how the right words in the right order matter.

At 19:05 Blogger Dragonsally said...

Have you got a ring cushion Lorraine? Will help you to sit a little more comfortably.

*sending soothing vibes to your nice ass*

Siri, I loved your story too.

At 13:02 Blogger Na said...

harking back a post: Chantrelle, I really appreciate what you wrote about your discussions with Ben about religion and race. we've been having similar discussions with our monsters. some days my mind is weary from the exercise of figuring how to phrase things and define things at a level they'll understand.

Fablor, glad to read your bum's just bruised, not busted. and the insights into derby are amazing! i can appreciate the joy and inspiration, even tho' i'll not likely be following suit.

and Siri! yay!

At 14:13 Blogger Pi R Squared said...

Quiche! Sorry about the bang up job on your nice ass! Sally is right, those ring pillows are a big help! Hope it all feels better soon.

Siri- I absolutely loved your story. It is both beautiful and wise. Thank you!

At 16:39 Blogger LihuaEmily said...

I can only imagine what it's like on the track! So awesome, and I am happy for you! :D

At 11:12 Blogger Cecily said...

Late to the post. You will have THAT GIG! If there is one thing I have learned about you over the years, when you want something that bad, you damn well get it.

At 11:45 Blogger Rubius said...

Love these Derby posts. I am so happy that you are having such a great time, bruises be damned. I love the smile on your face in the first one.

Happy Star Wars Day Fiendlings. May the fourth be with you.

(can't help the cheese, love it too much)

At 13:43 Blogger ariandalen said...

Ms. Fabulous, really glad to hear that your Nice Ass is only bruised and -not- broken. I hope that you are all nicely healed and ready to ride in the next horse show. :)

I have been remiss in my welcoming duties, so... Linda, knitcrazybooknut,KateF, Joypeg, Kat, Melissa P, Clara, h, Sarah Benwell, hatgirl, Morgawse, Sylvia, Jmarie, Bill Peschel, Heidi, Martina, Dee, curiousheathen, Colleen, CarolAnn, Holly Abbie, Grey Walker, LauraJ, MJ, stacy, Pitbull, and Amy Petersen (Raven) Welcome to Fiendom! You are now Fiends, and as such you receive a lovely white, buckled jacket. On the table over there you will find supplies to personalize your jacket; it need not remain white, though the buckles need to stay in place. ;)

At 13:50 Blogger Arwenn said...

Hands and feet should remain within the jacket at all times...

At 16:05 Blogger Chantrelle said...

Paperwork finally went through and I started on my new job today. It'll be sporadic work but it's kinda fun to be back at a technical-ish job again :)

I talked to Ben's teacher about derby lite again. She doesn't want to coach but I'm going to set up a Facebook group and invite all the local ladies i think would want to do it and then she'll do the same and hopefully we'll find someone who wants to help us out. People have to be serious because we still have to buy all the gear!

Hope your ass is healing quickly Q!!

At 04:15 Blogger Dragonsally said...

Okay - where is everyone?

At 04:22 Blogger spacedlaw said...

At work. In a meeting.

At 04:27 Blogger Dragonsally said...

Hope its not too boring Nathalie. (Don't do what I did once and fall off a chair because I nodded off)

At 05:37 Blogger spacedlaw said...

No, it's qute intersting and I am taking three type of records at the same time, which makes it a bit circus-like...

At 08:35 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

I'm here! And contemplating a new post...

At 08:52 Blogger Na said...

Sally, at 3 a.m. my time i was sleeping!

and have woken to my first morning without a deadline to mind since about mid-December. which is not to say i don't have things to DO, of course. and happily one of those things is depositing pay check/cheque. \o/

but first must get monsters to school, as always. the fun thing there these days is i have to ask them to put their books down and come have breakfast, which i think is a lovely challenge to have, parentingwise.

weird is the supposedly satellite-reading clock we have that was 10 minutes behind for a while, was two hours behind yesterday, and is now three hours behind. so it's reading that we live out in the middle of the Pacific ocean, i guess.

At 09:31 Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

New post is UP!!!!!

With Bengal Vid!

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