Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Packing with fearcitement.

It is one of my favorite things to marry two words together to create a portmanteau this has lead to my one word description of my feelings about leaving for this trip: fearcitement.  You won't find this word in any disctionary but it lives inside of me!

I am truly grateful to Scratcher for arranging this trip.  She has put in so much hard work emailing leagues, researching routes, and planning our travel.  I truly admire her ability to be so damned organized.  It wasn't a surprise to me after watching her take the reigns on The Wheels Of Justice for two consecutive seasons as my captain.  I trust her to make importnant decisions. I also trust her to have a good time.


The most challenging parts of my preparation have been tri-fold; packing 2.5 months into one backpack (with derby gear), figuring out what to do with my humble little cleaning business while I'm gone, and preparing my home for my abscence.  I know that the packing seems like a no brainer but judging on how I have been procrastinating on a 'test pack' it's the part that I least want to confront.  I have said it, friends, travellers, have said it "pack layers".  The next person that tells me to "pack lots of layers"  I may punch in the face.  I don't wear layers...well if I do they aare hugely bulky layers.  What I really want is all 3 pairs of my favorite jeans and all 75 roller derby tees I own, all my underwear and all my socks, about 5 different pairs of workout pants and shorts, my gold heels, my cowboy boots, my hiking boots, my water shoes, my sundresses, my flipflops, my endless amounts of facial scrubs and body lotions.  But the reality is I can probably take only 1/100th of everything I want.  I need to face facts:  I am packing for necessity and that means nothing I own is practical.  I went to REI the other day and almost had a meltdown when I saw a full-body mosquito net suit for $60 and wanted nothing more than to have it to protect against all the crazy bugs I read about.  In regards to my business I am forntunate enough to have clients that seem to really value not only my services, but seem to value my life experience as well.  It's a hard thing to ask someone to hold your spot for nearly 3 months of travel, but somehow it's working out.  I am so fortunate.  My home will be here wating for me too, with Danni Precious, Eagle, and Scout all happy for my adventure but eager for my return.  I have stocked them with food and hopefully they can live on sanwiches and cereal while the chef is out.  I am not ready at all but also so ready to go. 
I hope that I get better at blogging.
xoxo - mel

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Amazing adventure ahead!


This my first blog on my first blog. For those of you who don't know me I'm "Scratcher In the Eye" of the Rose City Rollers. I've been playing with the rose city rollers for 6 years now. First with the Heartless Heathers later with our travel team the Wheels of Justice. For the last 2 years I've dedicated my life to the Wheels of Justice as a captain and a player. I have also dedicated myself to obtaining my masters degree in oriental medicine. After 4 years of grad school and 6 years of dedication to derby I'm taking a 4 month break from the Rose City Rollers. Oh but I won't stop skating.

After years of planning I'm going on tour to New Zealand and Australia coaching boot camps and talking at movie showings for Brutal Beauty Tales of the Rose City Rollers. 2 years ago I called Chip Mabry the director and asked what he thought about me taking Brutal Beauty on tour and hosting boot camps along side. He thought is was great idea. All I needed was a buddy to travel and coach with. Having so many amazing people on the Wheels of Justice it was hard to decide who to ask. Knowing that we would be over seas for multiple months I knew most people wouldn't be able to take the time off work. I also knew I had to bring and amazing skater coach and friend. One day I mentioned it to Mel Mangles her eye lit up and we knew we were going to have an amazing adventure.

I leave Portland Or on December 26th in my car on a road trip, with my sweetheart, to LA. We will stop along the way visiting friends. Then on January 3rd Mel Mangles and I fly to New Zealand. If your interested in hearing about our travels keep posted here and on my Brutal Beauty's facebook page.

Here are our tour dates.
New Zealand
Christechurch Jan 7, 8 Boot Camp Only - hosted by Otautahi Rollers
Auckland Jan 14, 15 -boot camp hosted by Pirate Bay  Movie showing on the 15th hosted by Auckland Roller Derby League
Mount Mongaui - 17th and 18th - hosted by Auckland Roller Derby League

Australia
Perth Jan.  21, 22  Movie showing and boot camp - Hosted by WARD
Melbourne Feb. 4, 5 Only Boot camp -  Hosted by Northside Rollers
Hobart, Tasmania Feb. 11, 12 - Boot camp only - hosted by South Island Sirens
Geelong Feb. 18, 19 Boot camp and movie - hosted by Geelong Roller Girls
Tweed Valley Feb  25, 26 movie and camp - hosted by TVR
Brisbane March 3, 4  Boot Camp - Hosted by BCR