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Tis the season ... no, not for Jingle Bells and wrapping paper. For getting sick.

Yes, I'm home sick today, which is a hell of a lot less fun that it was in elementary school. I'm mostly just laying on the couch, praying I feel better in time for a work trip I have to take tomorrow (which I actually really want to go on). I already caught up on Gossip Girl and Greek, finished the book I was reading (Crossing California by Adam Langer ... highly recommended), and made myself some mac n cheese for lunch. The dog isn't much fun ... she doesn't want her busy schedule of afternoon napping to be interrupted.

So I took to the Internet. Found some stuff to post on DerbyGirlBlog, watched some YouTube videos, played with some writing prompts (to prep for NaNoWriMo), and found some pretty fun websites.

Oh, you'd like to know some time-wasting, sick-day websites too?

OneWord.com

The Boston Derby Dames' regular season has only been over for a week, and already I'm over my free time. Sure, it's nice having my evenings free to veg, take hot baths, read for fun, watch bad TV ... but frankly, I need the excuse for a workout three times a week (I don't do the gym).

So yes, I need to fill my free time or fall victim to big glasses of Coke and Pinot Noir and Bravo marathons of Flipping Out, The Rachel Zoe Project, and Top Chef. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'll be taking part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It's my first time participating, and I'm a little scared.

I know myself well enough to know that I need some serious peer pressure if I intend to finish a novel of any length, much less 50,000 words. I'm definitely going to be attending some of the Boston-area Write-Ins and NaNoWriMo events. I also just found out that I'll be featured on the NaNoWriMo Daily Q&A. I just sent in a mini essay on how derby is a lot like noveling. I pretty much HAVE to finish after that feature goes live.

If there's anyone out there in Skirt! land who wants to participate in NaNoWriMo with me, feel free to "buddy" me!

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Two in one day? I know, I know. But it's Columbus Day, which means I have the day off to devote to nothing but my passions (roller derby and writing). And that's actually the point of this whole post!

I have a really fantastic job in the world of nonprofit education. It's one of those jobs where no matter how crazy/hectic/horrible your day gets, you can always go home with the satisfaction that you really made a difference to someone. I love my job for that, and having finally found it, I don't think I could work in any other industry that lacked that sense of worth.

The only other job I could have and feel good about it would be to work as a writer. I've talked a little bit about this before. Today I actually broke down the finances. If I could manage to make roughly $139 per day, I could balance out the finances to quit my job and write full-time. $139 seems like nothing, right?

It's nothing, until you start trying to find places to give it to you. Woof.

Saturday night I had the opportunity to play with New England Roller Derby (NERD), a regional expo team made up of skaters from Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. We played a 60-minute expo bout against Garden State (New Jersey) ... which we won by close to 30 points!

Since it's not my normal team, I had to get a uniform/boutfit together quickly. I figured I could take this opportunity to share with you the anatomy of a boutfit.

The Jersey: All the girls on the team were asked to wear a navy tank with a white undershirt. I decided to sacrifice this H&M button-up to the derby gods, since it's fairly see-through and thus unflattering for work.

Tights: a must for any boutfit. No matter how good you are, someone is going to knock you down, and when you skid across whatever surface you're playing on, you don't want to leave all your skin behind. This is also why, when I wear fishnets, I always wear a pair of tights underneath. You only need a horrible fishnet burn scar one time before you learn that lesson. I picked these blue and silver sparkly tights up from Target (my favorite spot for fun, cheap tights) for $5.00

I had an epiphany recently. It had to do with success and making things happen. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been interested in getting back into writing for quite a while, and derby has really inspired me to make that move. I'm already freelancing for derby magazines, and I started blogging for Skirt! Derby has raised my confidence not just on the track, but in my professional life as well. And if I want to continue, to get where I really dream I might go, then I need to get off the bench and make some moves.

I had an idea for a book a while ago, and I started doing research to try and make it a reality. After dipping my skates in the water, it's time to dive right.

I want to compile essays written by skaters and other derby folk for an anthology on the wild, wicked, wonderful world of roller derby. I've met some of the most incredible women (and men!) through my two years in this sport, and I want you to meet them too.

So if you are involved in any aspect of roller derby, I want to hear your story.

I’m looking for the experiences of skaters, refs, derby widows, announcers, and mascots.

I’m looking for flat track, bank track, old school, men’s derby, coed, and everything in between.

I’m looking for fresh meat, vets, retired skaters, all-stars, and no stars.