V is for Victory

I think back to a year and a half ago, June 2009, when we first faced off with the women of CRRG, I remember being so nervous, so fresh, so new.  It was our second bout ever and we didn't have much of a chance against the seasoned CRRG.  We were still wet behind the ears at the game of derby, still trying to figure out the game. 
Last night, we came with our game face on.  Adrenaline pumped strong as we took the track.  We came in strong and continued strong through the entire bout.  We were ready to play hard and ready to prove ourselves in the corridor as a force to be reckoned with.
Old Capitol City Roller Girls took the track in Cedar Rapids against the Helldorados last night and came out with our eighth win of the 2010 season.  (We stand at 8-2 with one bout to go in 2010.)
It was a night of high emotion, hard hits and amazing strategy from OCCRG.  We have been working hard at playing smart, keeping our eyes open and staying focused, which showed in every aspect of the bout last night.  We had solid walls, protected our line, and made sure we were quick to react when CRRG made their moves on the track.
Our ladies in the star panties all made jamming look easy as they weaved in, through and past the pack scoring point after point.  Our defense was amazing.  Accurate, well timed blocks held CRRG jammers back and assisted OCCRG jammers quickly through the pack.  We knew where we needed to be and we executed.
The score at the half was 39 to 107 OCCRG.  As we huddled in the locker room, we knew CRRG would bring it strong in the second half with a vengeance, and they proved us right.  They came out hard hitting and ready, but OCCRG continued to dominate the track.  Sticking faithfully to our strategy, playing smart and uniting as a team.

In the end, OCCRG took the win at 182 to 91.
A very proud victory for all of the Old Capitol City Roller Girls.

Great Customer Service

Here's the set to the scene...
I am on crutches, still.  I needed to attempt a quick errand alone, as we needed a few household staples.  I am getting pretty talented carrying one or two things and still managing to get from point a to b with said crutches.  After physical therapy, I headed to the always wonderful Kmart.
I entered and headed to the customer service counter.  I was greeted by a lovely woman (who looked like she smokes 4 packs a day and uses the tanning bed at least twice everyday.)  I politely asked if I could please have a plastic bag to put a few items in.  She could clearly see, that I was "walking" with crutches and that obviously I was unable to push a cart or carry one of the plastic handled baskets.  As she stood there looking at me as if it was the most outrageous question she had ever been asked, I explained to her that I needed a few things, and could not carry them all and maneuver the crutches at the same time.  She replied with "I'm sorry, we don't "give" these bags away."  Okay great!  I'm not asking you to "give" it away.  I'm asking if I may please have one, to place my items in and then pay for them and then my items can be placed back into "that" bag when I check out.  She continued to stare at me, and then repeated, "I'm sorry we cannot give these bags away."  Really?  Really?  I'm sorry, how big of a moron are you?  I think the tanning bed has fried your brain cells.
I crutched through the store grabbing my toothpaste and deodorant, carrying mascara in my teeth.  As I approached another woman she said, is there anything I can help you find?  "Actually, yes there is.  When I came in I asked for a bag"...long story above.  I then noticed that she was a manager.  She asked if she could "assist me with gathering the rest of my things?"  Nope, a bag to carry them in would have been great, but obviously, your customer service employee ogre would not give me one, so these three items will do, I will continue said item shopping at another store.
More than likely, they will NOT see my face in that shit-hole again.  Why can't Target be closer to home?  Oh right...because I live in the fricking ghetto.
Assholes.

OCCRG talks with Yale Cohn

I'm a "covergirl"

Thanks Iowa Roller Derby Diaries!  

IRDD Cover Girl for October/November: Toxic Sugar of the Old Capital City Roller Girls

Real name: Kimberly
Derby name: Toxic Sugar
Team: Old Capitol City Roller Girls OCCRG
Position: Pivot (mostly) but I play all blocking positions
Age: 34
Current Town: Iowa City
Hometown: Iowa City
College: Kirkwood Community College
Family: Husband is a police officer. 4 daughters: the "little Sugars" Chloe 6 yrs old. Jocelyn, Farrah and Silvie 3 yr old triplets.

Were you athletic growing up? I was a bit athletic growing up. Played softball from age 5 until my freshman year of high school, but no sports other than that.

How did you get involved in Roller Derby? I became involved in derby when OCCRG first began in October 2008. A friend of mine, called and asked me to go with her to check it out. (Fonda Cuffs-retired OCCRG)I had been at home "playing Mommy" since the triplets were born (03/07) It was time for me to find an activity that was "just for me" I went to my first practice and fell in love with everything about Roller Derby!

How has derby impacted your life? Derby has impacted my life in so many ways! Being a mom has been the MOST challenging and most rewarding aspect of my life. My daughters and my husband mean more to me than anything in the world. When I found Derby, I was at a point in my life that I felt I had lost a piece of myself. I was so focused on being a Mommy, that I forgot about myself. A happy Mommy=a happy family. I needed some time away, out of the house, doing all those everyday things, to regain that part of myself. I regained my personal confidence, my athleticism, my courage to take on a new challenge. I became part of something that is so much more than putting on skates and working up a sweat. I found my place within a group of women who are strong, confident, athletic, spontaneous, creative and hardworking. All the things that I am. A group of women, each so different, yet share a common bond, the love of the game. Derby has given me an outlet to express myself. To feel like a strong, beautiful and confident woman. A woman that can kick ass athletically and take part in all the fantastic things that come along with belonging to a team.


What is your favorite aspect of Derby? I have so many favorites about Derby. I love being hands on with so many aspects of the team. Mostly I love the game. What it stands for. Strong, Beautiful, Athletic Women kicking ass and taking names. I love the way I feel when I lace up my skates and play hard. I am proud to be a part of something so WONDERFUL. The friendships I have made will last a lifetime! Another thing that goes into the things I love about derby...the fact that we are a team of women that give so much back to the community! You can always find your OCCRG's doing positive things in the community.

Least favorite Being out injured right now. Very difficult emotionally and physically for me. I hate that injury has to be a part of something so damn awesome!

Best moments on the track:  Again, so many great moments, it's difficult to pin point one moment. I always love it when we have a tight wall and are able to contain the opposing teams jammer, while ours is racking up the points, all the while holding that line and working together as a team. And of course having a spectacular block executed at the perfect time is always a proud moment. Moment that made me laugh the most...we were playing MIR and I went down with several of their skaters...I was sent to the sin bin and had lost my skate in the pile up. I had to skate on one foot all the way around the track to the box, I was almost there when I literally fell flat on my face into the suicide seats...difficult and embarrassing, I laughed the entire way there!

How long have you been away from the track? Too long already!
I blew my knee at practice on July 21st. We were working on hitting drills and I took a bad fall. It happened in slow motion I swear. I fell directly on the knee. I heard the tell-tale "pop pop pop crack crunch" and was instantly in horrifying pain. I completely ruptured my PCL and my MCL strained the ACL and dislocated my patella. I have an extremely high pain tolerance and I can say it has been awful. I went through 6+ weeks of physical therapy with no change in the ligaments. I had surgery on Sept 9th. I had the MCL reconstructed ("put back together") and the PCL replaced with a cadaver ligament, screws holding it into place (gross and kind of cool at the same time.) I am 10 days post op today. I can easily say, it has been the most difficult 10 days of my life (Blogger's Note: This conversation took place mid-September). Even more difficult than being on bed rest for 10 weeks in the hospital with my triplets! The pain is crazy. I have to remain straight legged for 3-4 weeks and cannot place any weight on it. Crutches suck! I will begin my PT this week. Very extensive from what I understand. I will not be on skates for a minimum of six months, I am told it will more than likely be closer to eight or nine for full recovery. Everyone is different, so I promise myself I will take it one day at a time.

Will you be back on the track for OCCRG? Of course I WILL! I love roller derby! It is a part of me now! It's in my blood, under my skin. Besides, I could die tomorrow...sure the risk of injury is there, but if I'm going down, I'm going down with a fight, doing something I LOVE TO DO! Besides, my daughters love TOXIC SUGAR too much...can't disappoint my biggest fans! Don't worry Sugar will be knockin' em down again soon.

As you can see, Old Capitol City's Toxic Sugar has experienced almost the entire panorama of what Derby has to offer, from the elation of a regained self-confidence and a feeling of strength to a vicious injury that has interrupted her time on the track doing the sport that she loves. She shows the dedication and the sacrifice that derby girls are willing to go through to play their game. 

As a player, Toxic Sugar is one of the major bullwarks of the lethal OCCRG defense and is one of the big reasons why they are in a position to break the single season win record in the state (Currently held by the undefeated 2010 Mid Iowa Rollers at 8). Off the track, Toxic Sugar continues to have her hands on the teams day-to-day operations, serving as league coordinator, doing numerous behind the scenes activities to ensure the smooth running of the OCCRG Team. 

As a veteran of Old Capitol City since the beginning, as a stellar pivot, as a woman who is bound and determined to return to her sport, and as a wonderful ambassador for the spot, it gives me great pleasure to introduce Toxic Sugar as the Iowa Roller Derby Diaries Cover Girl for October/November 2010.

To read more about Toxic Sugar's experiences with OCCRG and the derby world in general, read her blog.

Photo Credit: Emily Sherman Photography 

Monster's Brawl 2010

We are getting ready for our final home bout of 2010.  I still cannot believe we are at the end of our first full season.  It is amazing how quickly the year has gone by.  We have grown so much as a team.  As individual skaters.  We have made huge contributions to our community.  We have establish a concrete base for our team to continue to grow and expand successfully.  We have made life long friendships, and die-hard fans.  It has been a year packed full of derby and the memories that come along side.  We have had wins, and a few loses.  We have had some amazing road trips, after the 2nd annual Monster's Brawl, we will have hosted 6 very successful homes bouts, 1 home mixer and 6 travel bouts in 2010.  It makes my head spin just thinking about all of the blood, sweat and tears (literally) that went into it.  We have had injuries of many kinds, from bumps to bruises, sprained ankles, banged up tailbones to broken bones and blown knees (all different levels of severity.)  But we keep rolling.  Lacing up the courage filled skates and pushing ourselves farther than we ever imagined possible.  Old Capitol City Roller Girls are strong and here to stay.

As we prepare for our final bout of the season, we are excited as always.  We take on some of our most beloved derby sisters, The Quad City Rollers.  These girls have been a great support to us ever since the beginning.  We played so many firsts with them.  Our first bout ever (remember, the one we thought we won...oops) our first formal scrimmage and of course our first home bout -Monster's Brawl 2009- It's true, QCR has taken a lot of OCCRG cherries...

We loves skating with these girls.  Win or lose...we all have a great time...every time.  No matter how many time we have gone head to head, it is always new and exciting.  We all OCCRG and QCR bring the A game. 

Cannot wait to close the season with this event that will become a staple in the OCCRG season. 

There will be a halftime costume contest for all ages with prizes of course.

Our charity organization donation will be going to the Susan Komen Foundation, in the name of one of our skaters, "Killer Baker" and my Bestie "Betty Draper" both breast cancer survivors.  They are both very close to this team and close to my heart.  

Tickets available now...Come check us out.  You be glad you did.

Think you have what it takes?

Have I told You Lately?

Eight Years!
Happy Anniversary to my Matty!
What a ride it has been the last eight years.
You have been everything and more to me than I ever could have imagined.
I am more in love with you everyday that passes.
Your heart holds the key to every happiness in my life.  In our life together. 
You are an amazing father.  The love that you give to our four beauties cannot even be put into words.  You give them so much and it all comes from your huge heart.
I cherish our marriage.  Everything that it stands for.  Love, trust, friendship, courage, passion, family, every single part of it no matter how big or small.  I even hold tight the tough times we have endured together.  The loss of pregnancies.  Weeks of hospital bed rest.  New careers.  Learning how to become parents together, and sometimes questioning the decisions we make, praying that we are raising our children the right way.  The difficulties all couples go through in the quest to be good parents, better parents.  Not to mention, throwing the triplet card in there, which has been a huge challenge we never anticipated.  I think we are doing an incredible job.  The constant financial strain of raising four children on one income.  The willingness you have to provide; never complaining about overtime shifts, doing anything and everything within your power to make sure that your family is taken care of.
For the last many weeks and those to come, since my knee surgery.  Being the constant caregiver to the beauties as well as to me, on top of working long hours.
All of the support you give to me in every facet of our lives together.

You are my emotional strength, my rock.  You are so much more to me than my husband.  You are my best friend, my love, my partner in this crazy world.  My Soul.


Have I told you lately...that I love you?  Because "I do"  Happy Anniversary Matt.

Oh yes...we did.

OCCRG has made the next leap!  We have been accepted into the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) Apprentice Program.  We are so excited, so pumped, ecstatic beyond what words can express.

We are so proud and excited to take it to the next level.

Congratulations to all the teams accepted into the apprentice program, including two of our sister teams the Des Moines Derby Dames and the Mid Iowa Rollers.  Go Iowa! 

OCCRG 2010 Posters

 Cirque De Slam-August 21st, 2010 vs the La Crosse Skating Sirens.

 Our first scrimmage September 26th, 2009
vs the Quad City Rollers.

 Malice in Derbyland April 3rd, 2010 vs the Des Moines Derby Dames.  (Poster 1 of 2)

 Full Metal Derby June 5th, 2010 vs the Stateline Derby Divas

 Malice in Derbyland
(poster 2 of 2)

 First Annual Monster's Brawl, October 30th, 2009 vs. Quad City Rollers.
Our very first home bout.

 2nd Annual Monster's Brawl to be held October 30th, 2010 vs The Quad City Rollers

 2010 OCCRG Recruitment!
Wednesday November 10th and Sunday November 21st, 2010.  Think you have what it takes?  Come check it out.  Also recruiting support staff, volunteers and referees.

 Rather be Knocked Down than Knocked Up May 8th vs the Cedar Rapids Rollers.

Four Leaf Clobber.  Our 2010 season opener.
Saturday March 13th, 2010 vs the Paper Valley Flying Squirrels.

Looking Better

Looking better, although still looking gnarly.  The incision is almost completely healed.  

It has been the LONGEST 4 weeks of my entire life.  I have 4 more long weeks before I can walk/put weight on/bend it, but I am getting there.

I begin physical therapy tomorrow morning.  Looking forward to it, but also very nervous about it.  It will also be a difficult journey so I am told by my surgeon.  But everyday down is one closer to getting back to my normal life.  Back to my normal activity.  Back to my children, my husband, work, my home, and also...back on my skates.  I miss them, and they miss me too.

BIG NEWS

Big Big News for the Old Capitol City Roller Girls today!

We have been accepted into the Women's Flat Track Derby Association / WFTDA apprentice program!


What a HUGE step we have taken as a team to be accepted!  We have been working so hard.
What an amazing chapter that we have just opened.  There are so many wonderful emotions going through my mind.
Also a huge congrats to the other 9 teams that were accepted into the apprentice program.  Including two other teams in Iowa the Des Moines Derby Dames and the Mid Iowa Rollers.
What a Fantastic Reward for all of our hard work!