Using Your Head

I saw an amazing thing yesterday. I saw a motorcyclist actually wearing a helmet! Ever since PA lifted it's helmet law, I've been amazed at how many people ride motorcycles without helmets.

Nick grew up on a motorcycle. Motorcycles are a big part of our lives. I can truly say that anytime we get on a bike, we wear a helmet. It just makes sense.

This dude was really using his head today. About two minutes after I snapped this photo, the white car in front of him decided that he no longer wanted to exit and cut the biker off, while making his way back onto the highway. The biker was going slow enough that he was able to let the jackass in front of him. BUT, had there been an accident, he would have had a greater chance of surviving because he chose to wear a helmet.

Oh, and the biker had a sticker on his helmet that said "Rehab is for Quitters" Hmmmmmmmm

Summertime

It's been hot and hazy, just the way I like it. I took the boys for a walk the other day and decided to take some photos. Riley and Travis always inspire me. They love life to it's fullest.

Riley reminds me to run freely in the grass! Enjoy the way it feels on your bare feet and to take some time to just roll in it, looking up at the clouds, deciding what shapes they form.

Travis reminds me to stop and smell the flowers. Even if they are weeds, you have to appreciate their beauty.

We live near the river and there is a family of swans that has been there for years. I look for them everyday on my way home.

I call this the "Love Shack". It's a bird house that I bought my mother for Mother's Day one year. It was one of her favorites. When I closed up her apartment last year, I brought it home with me. I was overjoyed this spring when I realized that there was a nest of birds in the Love Shack!

Derby Foot and Skin Care

Playing roller derby creates problems for those of us who like to look and feel feminine in our time off skates. Regular skating creates calluses on our feet and regular wearing of elbow pads, leaves our upper arms bumpy and pimply looking. Regular maintenance of our feet and arms will leave them looking as good as new.

Calluses are formed for a reason. They are there to protect the body. It is never a good idea to cut them off or remove them, they will only grow back and when they do, they will be thicker. Your best defense is to regularly reduce and smooth them, making them look better.

Every derby girl should have a foot file in their shower. After you are finished showering, the last thing you should do is use the file on your heels and then use it on your calluses. Most of us have the big ones on our right feet on the inner ball of the foot and the big toe.

You should never file too much. If it hurts, stop. Less is best. By filing after you shower, the callus has been softened by the warm water and this is the most optimal time to do your filing. Be sure to wash your file off before you hang it up to dry. And for goodness sakes, don't use a Ped-Egg, it's like using a cheese grater on your feet and your callus will GROW.

While you are in the shower, use a sugar or pumice scrub on your arms. You can find these anywhere, just go for a scent and texture that you like. These pimply looking areas on your arms are ingrown hairs that are caused by the constant friction of your pads rubbing against your arm. By exfoliating regularly, you will free the hairs and the bumps will go away. Always moisturize after exfoliating, so when you get out of the shower and dry off, use a good body butter or lotion on your arms.

When you get out of the shower, be sure to dry your feet, including between your toes. Most people never dry their feet or toes. This is a great way to keep from getting a toenail fungus.

Now is the time to moisturize your feet, right after you've exfoliated them. The best product that I have found for use on feet is Mary Kay's Extra Emollient Night Cream. It is really thick and greasy,, a little pricey, but it works and one tube goes a long way. It also works best on moist skin. Take a dime-sized amount and rub it into the entire bottoms of your feet, making sure to get the sides, heels and really work it into those calluses.

Start regularly exfoliating and moisturizing your feet and arms and you will see a difference. No more need to hide those feet in shame!

Privacy, please!

I have absolutely no privacy in my house, thanks to the four legged members of the household. Every day, when I am showering, usually when I have shampoo in my eyes, I clear them to see this. It's Travis trying to get into the shower with me. I tell him to get out.
Then I see this. Travis tries to come in the shower from the other end. Again, I tell him to get out. He then tries in the middle. I don't have a photo of that one and can I tell you how hard it is to take photos while showering? You have to wipe the steam from the lens right before you snap!

So, finally, he gives up and when I get out of the shower, this is what I see, Travis taking a nap, waiting for me to get out. He then tries to lick my legs dry and gets scolded. Then, he tries to lick all of the lotion I put on my legs off of them.

What's that? Why don't I just close the door? Well, I do. The problem is, my cat doesn't like it so she knows how to open doors and she lets him in. I really need to get some good locks!

Crochet Project

I've crocheted since I was about five years old. I started out making dresses for my Barbies. I then moved on to baby afghans, pot holders, etc. While reading The Burgh Blog last night, I found a new project that I can now crochet. These are NOT cat toys, people, they are reusable TAMPONS! I am not kidding.

I am all for going green, but this is ridiculous! There are people out there that are making their own REUSABLE toilet wipes, menstrual pads and tampons. REUSABLE!!!! OMG! I think this is just too much.

However, they insert catnip in cat toys. I think I may write to the creater of these beauties and suggest that she introduce a potpourri scented crocheted tampon line. So that you are potpourri fresh!

Kennywood

As a kid, we would trek to Kennywood every July for the Ford City Community Day Picnic. It seemed like everyone in town would be there.

As I got older, I wasn't able to go on Community Day. Nick and I would go when we could. It's been a few years since we've made it there together, so I was excited to go on Monday. Both of us are off on Mondays and I usually have team practice that night, but we don't have practice the week after we bout. So, plans were made to go.

Kennywood has great rides, especially roller coasters. It is a great park that is set along the river. Kennywood encourages picnickng. People come in with coolers and pick their spot at the many pavilions in the park.


While in line for The Exterminator, we encountered this family. We felt like we were in the security line at The Pittsburgh International Airport with all the luggage this family was towing. They periodically, pulled snacks from their cooler while in line. I guess they didn't realize that there are pavilions or better yet, lockers, so that you don't have to lug all that stuff. The best part was the "feminine products" that were in the mesh area on the side of the cooler.

My biggest pet peeve about Kennywood is the people who run around in wet clothes from the water rides. I don't ride these rides, because I don't like walking around in wet clothes. Nothing pisses me off more than having to sit in a seat that was previously occupied by one of these assholes.

Don't even get me started on the ones that run around the park in their swimming suits. It's KENNYWOOD, not SAND CASTLE. I mean, sure, wear the top, but put some shorts on for goodness sakes! Yoy!

The Bitch Doctors win

Despite a valiant effort by The Hellions, The Bitch Doctors won on Saturday, securing their spot in the Championship in September. The Hellions season, is officially over.

The Bitch Doctors deserved the win. They played much better as a team. They worked together the entire night.

I think the reason that The Bitch Doctors are so successful comes down to one thing. They like each other. They are friends, they respect each other and they just stick together. I envy that.

Congrats to the rookies who played their first bout. McShovin', Fraulein Funbags, Red Alert and Uma Hurt'em all rocked it for the Hellions. J-Bomb and Whip Smart rounded it out for The Bitch Doctors.

Sounds like there are a lot of changes in the future for our league. I'm not sure where that will take me, but I am looking forward to change.

Photo courtesy of Cameosteph

You gotta have friends!

So much that's wrong in the world today is caused by the fact that most people don't respect each other and just aren't friends anymore. What happened to the days, when we were young and you were friends with everyone!

I know someone who follows the mantra that she isn't friends with someone until they give her a reason to be. That is just crazy. It's supposed to be, you are friends with everyone until someone gives you a reason NOT to be.

I can honestly say I am a friend to almost everyone. A few people in my life, have given me reason to not be friendly with them. I just avoid them. I am the kind of person that would do anything to help anyone.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. If people would follow those two simple rules, the world would be a much better place. Think about it.

One Year Later

I can't believe that it's been a year since we lost her. I was at roller derby practice when the call came in. I got the message about an hour later. I drove from Glenshaw to Kittanning in like 20 minutes. I was too late. Nick's mom was already gone.

We've muddled through all the special days and holidays. Mother's Day was rough. This photo was taken in 2001. We took Nick's parents to a Pirate Game for Mother and Father's Day. We were all excited to see the new ball park. We were on the Gateway Clipper when I snapped this.

I still miss her terribly. So much has changed since she's been gone and most is not for the better. I've been the family matriarch for one year now. They have been awfully big shoes to fill.

Nancy never forgot my birthday. She always sent me flowers and got me a nice gift. In return, I always made sure that she had flowers and that she got a cake. It's funny how sometimes people try to do things for people after they are gone, like they are trying to make up for things. I made sure she got her flowers from me. This is something I totally would have done if she was still with us. She loved pink flowers and loved roosters.

I know she knew how much I love her son. I hope that she is looking down upon us all, helping to guide us in our lives.

A Derby-tastic Week!

In preparation for Flat Track Fever, I've been skating like crazy this week. This is going to a great bout on Saturday. I've played The Bitch Doctors as a Hellion twice now, and we lost both times. This time will be different.

Monday, we had team practice, then we scrimmaged The Wrecking Dolls. Tuesday morning, I headed to Bladerunners and had the ENTIRE rink to myself for two hours. In the evening, I headed to league practice. Last night, we scrimmaged The Slashers. Tonight, will be another league practice, but it is scrimmage night.

Lots of skating this week. Lots of scrimmaging this week. We are ready for Saturday, we are going to, as Pittgirl would say, "Choke a Bitch!"

If you come out on Saturday, first, wear your GREEN and bring a donation for the two animal shelters that we are collecting for!!