Wow. I can't believe I haven't written anything since Feb. Roller derby is going well. There is still always something wrong with me, constant bad legs, and it's really hard. There were some issues in the league, so some of us broke off and started our own league now. Same venue and we took a lot of the skaters with us, so there's some bad blood. Other than that, I think things are going great so far. We have a couple of new skaters, are starting fundraising, have everybody on committees, working hard. It feels good.
D is really struggling with 7th grade. He is in a new school this year, since his old school closed. I don't know if it's because there's a new principal, or if it has to do with combining the two middle schools into one, but I have been really unhappy with this whole year. I don't feel like he's gotten the support he needs, academically. He's in band, and never got to play once in a public show during the whole year! There is no way for parents to go online and follow how their child is doing, which I think is pretty standard stuff nowadays. It is just an overall feeling of him not being important or maybe getting lost in the whole thing. Our district, like most others in the state, is in serious money trouble and is in a state of turmoil and change right now. I have to look out for my kid, though, and wish it would seem like there was some effort on the school's part. Only a couple of more weeks to go, though. Maybe if he felt like somebody there cared, he would try working a little bit, at least.
Since I work in the same district, and there is so much money wrangling going on, it was inevitable that I was going to be laid off. Iam not at all sure what I am going to do yet. I'm pretty worried about it.
Our neighbors are having a yard sale this weekend, and D and his friend bought a croquet set. I can hear the clunk of their mallets on the balls as I sit here typing. So cute - playing croquet and talking about the girls that were at the skating rink last night.

Our first bout is on Saturday. I'm very nervous and excited. So many of us are completely new to the sport, and some of us have never even been to a live bout (me). It will be an experience for sure. I've been working at it, but it seems like every practice there is something holding me down. Leg cramps, forgot my skates and have to go get 'em, D being an out of control jerk. I'm starting to think it is my lazy nature shining through. Any excuse to slink away and get out of doing 1 more suicide drill. I have come light years further than where I was at the beginning. Still a long way to go, but better.

In Sept, I joined a roller derby league. It is insanely hard for this obese, out-of-shape wreck of a woman. I'm still working at it, though. The problem, of course, is that I need to work more than just the 2 practices a week that we have as a team.
Despite the grueling task of lugging my ass around a rink, I LOVE it. Being with a group of cool woman, who all bring something unique to the team. They amaze me with their talents on and off wheels.
It is fairly hard to work everything out as far as balancing my fun with being a mom. I feel like I'm taking advantage of my parents if I leave him there too much. It feels really good, though, to have something of my very own to do/be a part of.