Smokin'

This weekend was the exposition bout between the Rat City Roller Girls and the Rose City Rollers (Portland). It was the first "bout"(click here) for all of my pals who made the teams last November and a "rematch" from last year. It was absolutely thrilling to be down in Portland and be a part of this experience with them. Glitter Chicken, Lara and I drove down together Saturday morning after a delicious good-luck breakfast at the Blue Star. It was the second sunny weekend in a row. We arrived at a very fun and funky Jupiter Hotel where the gals were checking in, gathering before their bout, etc. We had lunch (food is obviously important) before they got ready. I drove Moe YaDown, Maude Elletee and Dee Troit to the Expo Center and grabbed a car full of "derby widows" to window shop and kill a few hours before the event.

Derby is a drug and there were about 3,000 people addicted to it on Saturday night, including myself, Weedy, Kelly, John, Jenn, and many other people who sat along the edge to be spectators and #1 fans for many of the gals out there. It was exciting to see our friends out there - playing so well - having come so far even in just two months of practice. The pride on all of our faces was only out matched by the cheer of our voices.

The after party following the bout was another great gathering of gals not only those who played in the bout but other from supporting leagues such as the Jet City (my league), Oly Rollers, Dock Yard Derby Dames... they came from Canada and California. There were $2 PBRs and a stripper on the second floor (that's Portland for you) as well as a DJ, lives bands and enough cigarette smoke to make you remember, all crammed into a bar appropriately called the Outlaws.

Isn't life just so damn much fun sometimes?

*photos posted on this page are by Jules Doyle