Little Milestones

I graduated from "formal physical therapy" today. Can I get WOOT WOOT!!
It has been 6 months since the dreaded injury of the knee.  I am four and a half months post surgery.  I am counting down the days until May when I am clear to don my beautiful Quads again and remember what the wind in my helmet feels like.  Baby stepping.
It seems like so long ago.  But I am cleared to continue my PT on my own.  No more supervised visits.  Clear to do all that is within my comfort level at a slow and gradual pace.  Slow and steady, I promise. 

OCCRG is in full swing preparing for our "jam packed" 2011 season.  Our first bout March 12th at home.  It will be a season full of growth and excitement.  I cannot wait to see how things develop over the next year.

Little Gifts

Sometimes you meet someone who touches your heart.  I am lucky to have several friends that I can say this about.  Ironically, many of them are women I have met through derby!  I feel very blessed to have such strong, wonderful women in my life.  Women who believe in me.  Women who push me to be my best.  Women who count on me to push them to be their best. 
I have looked at derby from both sides now.  The side where you look out from the track as you skate your ass off.  Pushing through practice drills, or bouting a tough team, as well as the side where you stand in the middle of the track or along the side lines and cheer for your sisters, wishing you could be at their side.  Being on the outside of the track is difficult place to be.  Emotion eats at your insides.  You know in your heart you are a part of the team, however the gut punching truth is that you are in fact "looking in from the outside."  It sucks.  It hurts.  Since the beginning I have have the mindset that I am committed to my team.  Good or bad.  Easy or difficult.  Win or lose.  Skater or not.  I am committed.  It is a feeling that is difficult to describe to someone who has never been a part of this type of sisterhood.  How you can love an activity that much.  But any derby girl knows that feeling.
I was reminded tonight, from a woman who has been very special to me since day one of my derby conquest. 
Long story short, during practice tonight, we were running an endurance drill.  It was a tough drill.  Lots of sprinting and lots and lots of laps.  She told me afterward that I was her inspiration to continue.  That she couldn't quit or complain because she looked at me and knew that I would trade places any day to be able to be working my ass off completing that drill.  Thanks Bang!  I needed that.  You are my inspiration too!  I cannot wait to get back into my skates...and kick some ass...on the track.  I'm sick of looking in from the outside.

Five more months

I am officially 4 months past knee surgery. 
Things are coming along very well. 
I am getting that itch to say the least. 
I met with my surgeon today and he said everything is looking and more importantly, feeling great!
Mobility (bending) is far ahead of schedule back to full range of motion in the bending department.  Lots of tough work, but yeah me!  Stability is great.  PCL Graft is tight.  MCL is tight.  Strengthening is going great.  I've been doing my PT as directed. I am actually able to cut down to just one a week in office now, doing all the rest on my own at home.  My surgeon was so pleased with my progress.  So pleased in fact, I dropped the question today...da-da-dannnnn...When can I get back on skates?
He said..."Well, eventually you will be there, but you are not there yet.  Still baby stepping.  Taking care and precaution to not strain and stretch the graft.  No pivoting/cutting motion yet.  Too much risk in re-injury this soon.  It is my recommendation that you are nine months past surgery before putting on your skates."  I can do it.  Five more months...seems actually pretty soon.  I could not be more happy with the report of progress.  Not to mention, it feels really good!  I am free to do pretty much anything low impact which is great because I feel like a big fat toad. 
I know the next few months will fly by.  I count on it flying by.  Soon...I will be back on skates with my OCCRG sisters!

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.