On May 19, 2012, I had my very first Roller Derby bout.
I also suffered a Trimalleolar fracture during that first Bout. You can read the post in its entirety here.
I just saw my surgeon on Thursday and he said that everything looks great: my X-ray, my ankle, me! Lol!
I wish that I could say I’m getting ready to go to my team’s Sunday practice. Alas, I am not. Instead, I’m home in the bed nursing a horrible cold made worse thanks to my lupus.
Lights out…
There is a memorial put together every year to honor our fallen Roller Derby sisters and brothers. A special thank you goes out to “Oscar The Roach” of Bakersfield Roller Girls and JRD, who has the painstaking task of compiling the list. Although I don’t personally know any of the skaters who passed away in 2010 and 2011, roller derby is a family and as such we all feel the pain when we lose one of our own. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those who we lost all too soon.
With much love and respect, here are the memorials for 2010 and 2011:
Following, a message from Oscar:
Hello derby sisters and brothers..
It’s that time, the final jam, where we honor and pay our respects to our fallen derby sisters & brothers..
5on5 will publish a memorial on their December/Winter 2012 issue..
Every year I hope and pray that this list will be empty..
Every year I hope and pray that this task will be less painfull..
But this year, in Bakersfield, California
we lost a friend, coach and skater.
I worked side by side with her with our JRs…
and yes there are tears running down my face.
PLEASE PLEASE!!
If you know of any derby sisters or brothers that have passed away.
please contact me directly at:
please include:
1- one or two high res photos.
2- derby name & #.
3- real name.
4- list of leagues w/dates.
5- DOB & date of loss
thank you everyone
many huggz and prayers and love to all of you..
oscar the roach
HR bakersfield roller girls
HR bakersfield junior roller derby
Posted in DEATH, Roller Derby, Uncategorized
Tagged Final Jam, FiveOnFive, Lost ones, Magazine, Memorial, Never Forgotten, Oscar The Roach, Rest in Peace, Roller Derby
Check em’ out. Junior Roller Derby* is just as tough as it’s adult counterparts. Click on the pic to go to the gallery.
*Players as young as 6 are allowed to play in some JRD Leagues, the cut off age is 17. You must be 18 to play adult roller derby.
I am in a world of pain right now. Like, I seriously wanna cry. I was on my feet for waaaaay too long today cooking… I haven’t “cooked” since before my injury and now I see why. OMG! I couldn’t really take pain meds as I’m not stable on my feet and I was using knives. I always think back to the Final Destination” movies when it comes to things like that. Funny, I never thought about those movies while on the track doing roller derby. I can’t explain that.
That’s neither here nor there. Again, I am in a world of pain right now. Feels like someone is sticking scalpels (yes, plural), into the medial malleolus of my right tibia. I have a very high threshold for pain, as I am in pain almost everyday of my life thanks to my lupus and RA, so I normally don’t complain about pain; I push through it. No pain, no gain. But imagine, if you will, how easy it would be for someone with my pain threshold to overdo it, and perhaps injure myself even more.
Which is precisely why I’m done for the night! I will NOT be doing anything else that requires me to be on my feet; I’m horizontal from here on out. I just thought I’d share. Oh, and please do forgive me if I’m talking in present, past and future tense… I simply cannot bear to correct myself right now.
Posted in Derby Hurts, Lupus, My Broken Ankle, Roller Derby
Tagged broken ankle, cry, derby hurts, Injury, Lupus, medial malleolus, pain, rheumatoid arthritis, Roller Derby, sharp, shooting, stabbing, tibia, Trimalleolar fracture
You’ve got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing.
Posted in LIFE, Quote of the Day, Roller Derby, Work - Career
Tagged Arthur Ashe, Go For It, Quote of the Day
I started this post a couple of weeks ago and had planned on inserting all of the pics at a later date. Well, as I was inserting the pics into the post today, I deleted the whole thing! ARGH! So, this will not be that wordy, as I am totally worn out from therapy today and grocery shopping.
Where I last left off, I was waiting for the ambulance. Once the new EMTs arrived, one of them told my husband not to take any pics. Um, excuse you? We take pics, that’s just what we do! I’m sorry Mr. EMT man, but I will not allow you to deny me the right to document this very important and life-changing event. This is MY life! That being said, my husband kept snapping away. Although he did not take pics of that EMT, fair enough, right?
The new EMT, I’ll call him Mark, was in a pretty bad mood. He was scheduled for two (2), twelve-hour shifts back-to-back. How do I know this, you ask? Well, as I was being loaded into the ambulance, I told Mark and his partner that they could attend our after-party at the Detroit Pub in downtown Mt. Clemens. The other EMT said, “we don’t get off til 7 (am), the party will probably be over by then, right?” I nodded yes. Mark said, “I don’t get off at 7 (am). I’m working a double”. Mark went on to say that he had accidentally, by accident, signed up for back-to-back shifts. Apparently he wasn’t paying attention and their supervisor really didn’t care. Poor guy. I tried to cheer him up as he was getting ready to start my I.V. and I didn’t want him taking his frustrations out on me. But some people can’t be helped. Misery loves company and I’m a loner.
It was kinda scary when they closed those doors… the resounding thud shook me.
So I wasn’t exactly out of it when these pics were taken, I was however, getting a little loopy and I was very talkative… lol
Just a lil loopy… lol!
I was just snapping away the whole ride to the hospital, all I had was my iphone and nothing else, not even shoes! LOL! No one rode with me, as all of my friends and family had driven themselves (we need to carpool more often). My oldest son Eric had to drive my car home and my children and husband were responsible for collecting ALL of my belongings. I had a lot of things with me that day, which included two pair of shoes (platform mules and Chuck Taylors), three boutifts, my camera, my huge Derby Bag, my Reidell’s, my M.A.B., two sets of knee and elbow pads, 4 rolls of duct tape, my tool bag and a lot of incidentals. I didn’t even get my Chuck Taylors till weeks later and I just realized that I don’t have my Triple Eight wrist guards. Hopefully they’ll turn up at our practice/bout facility.
The EMT took this one… I call it my “Ring” photo… Lol
My POV… Look up… Emergency Room sign above entrance to McLaren Macomb’s ER… Such a good hospital!!
They’re rolling me into the ER…
Yay! My family was waiting for me when I got to the hospital. Here’s my youngest child, Elijah, keeping me company.
We’re pretending to pout…
I was in pretty good spirits considering the injury I had just sustained. I made a conscious effort to deal with this crazy turn my life just took, with as much positive energy and grace as I could muster. Grace under fire? Yup, that’s me. I truly believe that everything we put out into the universe comes back to us. This whole ordeal, the bout, the injury, the surgery, my hospital stay… I approached all of it with a smile on my face and no fear. That’s right, I said “No fear”. I was nervous on my way to the bout, but I calmed down once I saw my family. From that point on, I was good. I had already won. I was rewarded with an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and warmth. So that’s why I’m giving the thumbs up in all of this pics. I knew God was going to take care of everything. He’s never given me anything I couldn’t handle.
Thumbs up! I’m alive!
I only took like, 5 or 6 or 10 thumbs up pics! lol
Last one…
The doctor wanted to cut my fishnets and sock off… I said, “no no no… let me take my sock off… no biggie…” I still have my socks. The fishnets are minus a leg, which came in handy when I wore them with my cast just the other day (I’ll show those pics in a different post).
Check it out! Owwww…chee…
A different angle of my mangled ankle… try to say that three times, real fast… lol!
My I.V. right next to my lines and positions… Lines 1 & 4, Inside Blocker for both…
Here’s my temporary wrap before I get my first x-ray…
One leg up, One leg up… Lol! Dontcha’ just love my Hello Kitty duct tape? It’s so awesome!
Time to go get an x-ray… One of my favorite watches: Invicta Sub Aqua Noma III
My first X-Ray
Here’s the side view x-ray…. ugh
Can you see the fractures? Oucheeee….
The diagnosis: fractured ankle in three places, Trimalleolar Fracture is the term the doctor used. Treatment: Surgery. Prognosis: I’ll walk again.
The doctor is getting ready to stick me with a huge needle to numb me up before he popped my ankle back in place… aye yai yai!
I do NOT have a pic of him popping my ankle back in place as I was way too nervous for that. Elijah tried to video it, I don’t think he was successful.
All popped into place, now I’m getting a temporary cast to hold me until my surgery in a few hours….
By now, my family had gone home and I was taken to my first room, 483 on the fourth floor.
My vitals… it was a long night.. awaiting surgery, doped up and hungry as heck!
I was sooooo hungry and just wore out…
Time to go to sleep. I will continue the hospital stay in a different post or I may just add on to this one. Haven’t decided yet. Until then…
Posted in Derby Hurts, My Broken Ankle, Roller Derby
Tagged ace bandage, Bath City Roller Girls, broken ankle, broken bones, cast, derby hurts, Dislocated, duct tape, fractured ankle, Hello Kitty, Hospital, I.V., lenette graham, LucyLovesBetty, Macomb McLaren, Roller Derby, Sheba O'Baby, sleepy, soft cast, surgery, Trimalleolar fracture, vitals, X-ray
We were told as Fresh Meat to write our Bios for the League’s website and submit them, along with a pic to the webmaster. I wrote and submitted my bio with one pic, a few weeks ago. However, the website has not been updated yet. Whaddayagonnado? I’ll tell you what I’m gonna do… Being the narcissist that I am, I’m gonna publish it myself. LMFAO! Following, please find the pics I took of myself, along with the bio I wrote. And let me just say that it was very difficult for me to write about myself in the third person. Without further adieu:
Sheba O’Baby #1972
Some people may consider her to be a little off… some… While others understand that it’s that quirkiness, that “can’t quite put your finger on it” quality, that they find so endearing. While she hasn’t been diagnosed with schizophrenia, she embraces all of her alters… Sybil comes to mind.
Sheba’s idea of fun: hiding in dark shadows for 60 seconds or more, waiting patiently with bated breath for her prey to walk past so that she can pounce on them as they grab their chest is sheer horror…
Sheba’s idea of work: work? what work? Professionally known as LucyLovesBetty, her photography is more of a passionate understanding of people and their need to document those fleeting moments of happiness and sometimes sorrow. The camera never lies… Ahhh… but photoshop does.
Please don’t let the sweet name fool you, this Grrrl has a very dark side. Much like her favorite tv character, Dexter; she’s not afraid of blood… your blood… splattered on her pretty little striped leg warmers. Oh yes, she wears lots of bright colors… the better to fool you with.
So now you get that she likes blood, here are some other things that she likes:
The taste of blood (tastes like pennies from heaven)
The look of blood (red is one of her absolute favorite colors next to green)
The feel of blood (only when it’s super fresh and not clotted)
And now to that list of things she really doesn’t like:
Closed minded people with big mouths who don’t know how to edit themselves. Keep it cute or keep it mute, unless you want to swallow those words along with your teeth!
BO/BD as in body odor and bad breath… Please stay out of her face if you have either cause she will let you know.
People with no concept of personal space. If you’re not on the track with her, please keep your distance or you might get an elbow and guess what? No game expulsion because you’re not on the track!
Oh yes, and you were probably wondering where, oh where, did she get that sweet name. That would be from none other than the fabulous Pam Grier and her 1975 blaxploitation flick “Sheba, Baby” whose promo poster read “HOTTER’N “COFFY” MEANER’N “FOXY BROWN”… Pam Grier is Sheba, Baby”. But as far as roller derby is concerned, LucyLovesBetty is Sheba O’Baby!
Posted in Roller Derby
Tagged Bio, Corset, fishnets, gallery, hair flowers, LucyLovesBetty, patent leather, Reidell, Roller Derby, Rollerskates, Sheba O'Baby, Skater Bio, slideshow, thigh-high socks, Tim Burton-esque
My first bout, which was a “Fresh Meat” bout and also our Season Closer, was scheduled for May 19th, 2012. We had a few scrimmages leading up to the bout and aside from first time jitters, I think we were all ready for our debut. I was so excited! I hadn’t really figured out what I was going to wear, but that didn’t seem like it would be difficult. I have tons of derby boutfits, I just had to figure out which combination would go well with my jersey. I decided on a Hello Kitty theme.
Me before the bout…
Back of my jersey… Sheba O’Baby #1972
Check out my Day of The Dead Hello Kitty helmet!
I arrived at our skate facility at 6pm, which is an hour before doors open and a full two hours before the bout starts. I used the first hour to chat with my teammates, get geared up and find out which lines I’d be on and at what positions. I also did some stretching and warmed up out on the track.
My most handsome husband of 21 years and my biggest supporter. To his right, our son Eric and his girlfriend Katelyn. I stopped to chat with them quite often.
The second hour was a lot of the same, by this time my family and friends had arrived, so I would skate over to them every so often to chat. After a few last minute adjustments here and there, we lined up for gear inspection. I was told my left toe stop was loose, so I had to go and adjust that and get back in line. And then there were the introductions. It was so awesome to hear “Wearing number 1972, it’s Sheba O’Baby” over the sound system and to hear my family and friends screaming “Go Baby!” or “Go Sheba!”
Introductions
On the track. You can see more of my Day of the Dead Hello Kitty Helmet!
I was scheduled as an inside blocker on lines 1 and 4 and played that position for most of the bout. I had one minor penalty and one major penalty, for which I was sent to the box.
Me getting back into position from the penalty box. Keeping my head on a swivel. Rose Madder to my right and my grrrl HeleNBack to my left. Too bad HeleN’s head is cut off. Unfortunately, since I wasn’t taking pics, I don’t have any good pics of her.
We had a couple of serious injuries during this bout. The first injury was to my teammate Penny Slane. She has already suffered two broken tailbones in the past and to see her laid out on the track really saddened me. Penny is a trooper and was able to walk back to the bench, albeit very slowly and with help. My thoughts and prayers are with Penny as she heals. She is an awesome teacher, of whom I have learned a lot. Derby ❤
Penny Slane being helped off the track by Bratty Foo Foo and Deadly Sweet.
Near the end, as the bout was very close, our coaches decided we would do “Hockey Lines”, which was explained to me as going out and playing whichever position your heart desires. I really wanted to be a jammer so I lined up to be a jammer for the next jam. Just so you know, I have jammed in scrimmages and jamming is very difficult, but I thought I would give it the old college try.
Getting ready to Jam
Everything was going well, I was so happy to be jamming! I really wanted to score some points for my team although I knew the opposing jammer was sooooo much better than me. Even as she passed me and got lead jammer status, I gave it my all! Coming around a corner, doing a crossover, I was hit by a member of the opposing team. It just so happened that I had one skate off the ground at the time, so I went down with little effort and rolled my ankle. I don’t want the girl that hit me to think I have any animosity towards her. It was a clean, legal hit, my husband has assured me of this. I tried to immediately get up and go after her, but my leg wouldn’t move. I looked down and my right foot was dangling from my leg. Wow! I didn’t feel any pain. I think I was just in a state of shock or something.
Here I am, down but not out, still smiling… with that Jammer star on my head and my foot hanging precariously from my leg
Deadly Sweet, Sprinklesaurus Rex and Rapwna Flowers rush to my side
The amazing thing about roller derby is it’s a family. The girls rushed to my side to comfort me and try to distract me from my injury. It was all so surreal. I cracked jokes and tried to make them more comfortable. There were children in the audience, including my own, and I didn’t want them traumatized. I just wanted everyone to have a positive experience.
EMT on the scene along with Deadly Sweet, Sprinklesaurus Rex and Rapwna Flowers
Gotta ice it
I didn’t think I was thirsty but Noelle Bows thought I might be… whaddyaknow? I was. Sometimes, you have to listen to others. You can’t be a know-it-all.
Thanx to my bench coach Deadly Sweet for taking such good care of me and thanx to my husband for taking all of these awesome pics!
These ladies are so Awesome! Thanx so much to Deadly Sweet, Sprinklesaurus Rex, Rapwna Flowers and Noelle Bows!
I don’t know what that look is on my face, but I do know that I didn’t cry. I tried to stay upbeat during all of this craziness.
Oh boy, they’re about to lift this thing up. Hold on!
Before they wheeled me off the track, I made sure to shout out to some kids that wanted to take a pic with me after the bout. I said “if you still want a pic, you’ll have to come to the hospital!” Lol!
SillyGrrrl Making Faces Always! Me being silly with the EMT and teammate Rapwna Flowers!
Trying to make the EMT, Rapwna Flowers and Dusty Muffin laugh and not think about my mangled ankle!
Waiting for the ambulance. There’s my dear friend April and her boyfriend Jason to my left. Thanks for coming to my bout! I was really happy to see them there!
Strapped down to the stretcher…. My POV
I am in the ambulance as this pic was taken by my husband. The EMT was starting an I.V. and of course he pushed some pain meds through the line. I wasn’t feeling too loopy just yet, but I remember being very talkative. Lol!
Shout-outs/Special Thanks:
Before I bring this post to an end, I just wanted to say thank you to my family and friends that came to see my debut. I don’t really have any pics of them at the bout because I was planning on taking pics with all of them once it was over. Thank you to my husband Eric, daughter Loren, son Eric, son Elijah, Eric’s girlfriend Katelyn, Kim and her boyfriend, April and her boyfriend Jason, and last but not least Keith and his large family. I really appreciate all of you taking time out of your busy schedules to support me at my first bout!
I would also like to send a shout out to my teammate Rapwna Flowers. She has a blog called the Fresh Meat Files where you can read all about her becoming a Roller Derby Grrrl. It’s a good read, especially if you’re into Roller Derby.
I will write a separate post about my experience in the hospital. Stay tuned.
Lenette aka Sheba O’Baby 😉
Posted in Derby Hurts, LIFE, My Broken Ankle, Roller Derby
Tagged Ambulance, Bath City Roller Girls, Bout, broken ankle, Day of The Dead, Deadly Sweet, Derby Girls, derby hurts, Dusty Muffin, EMTs, Flat Track, fractured ankle, Fresh Meat, Hello Kitty, Injury, Inside Blocker, Jammer, Noelle Bows, pack, Penny Slane, quads, Rapwna Flowers, Reidell, rolled ankle, Roller Derby, Rollerskates, Sheba O'Baby, Sprinklesaurus Rex, stretchers, Trimalleolar fracture
I suffered a Trimalleolar Fracture (ankle fractured in three places), on May 19th, 2012, during my first roller derby bout. I will write more about that day in a separate post. I did not cry when I broke my ankle nor have I cried since, that is until today. While I have been in pain since my surgery on May 20th, 2012, I have remained upbeat and have not allowed any self-pitying. FYI: I’m usually late to the pity party and sometimes I don’t even show up.
Fast forward to today. I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon today and after a look at my x-ray, the doctor says that my ankle is healing up nicely. So far, so good. That is until they removed my cast and revealed the nasty Frankenstein leg that has been a part of me for the last few weeks. Eew. I couldn’t see my ankle very well (bad angle), but I did take a few pics. This is what the thing looks like:
I was still doing relatively well. Smiling while talking to Dr. Balazsy and Dr. Kim. Only slightly grimacing as I had to hold my ankle at a 90 degree angle while Dr. Balazsy applied my hot pink cast. I hopped out of there with my new cast and Hello Kitty crutches with the help of my most handsome and capable son Eric. We don’t really get along (too much alike), but Eric has helped me tremendously! I don’t know what I would do without him.
I’m home now, and as I looked at these pics I couldn’t help but cry. When I mentioned to Dr. Balazsy that I had finalized plans to go to Miami for my 40th birthday in August, he told me that I probably won’t be able to do a lot of walking without my ankle swelling. I think that put me over the edge. I have finally realized that I really fucked my ankle up! I injured myself doing something that I love to do and I have no regrets. That being said, I can’t help but feel sad for all of the time that I’m about to lose in rehabilitating this ankle. I’ve already been on bedrest since my surgery on May 20th and I don’t forsee a whole lot of activity in the near future. So, here I lay, leg elevated, body medicated and mind reeling. I’ll be better tomorrow, but today I cried…
Posted in Derby Hurts, LIFE, Roller Derby, Surgery
Tagged broken ankle, cast, crying, derby hurts, fractured ankle, Injury, rehabilitation, Roller Derby, sad, Sheba O'Baby, surgery, swollen leg, Trimalleolar fracture
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
– Theodore Roosevelt
Posted in Derby Hurts, LIFE, Quote of the Day, Quotes, Roller Derby
Tagged Achievement, Criticism, Don't give up, Failure, Quote, Theodore Roosevelt
I took my prescribed dose of pain meds an hour ago, at 4am. Here it is 5am and I’m awakened by a very sharp, shooting pain in my big toe. According to my surgeon, I am on the highest dose of pain meds that I can take safely, coupled with my daily Lupus regimen. I am going to try to get some more shut-eye by mentally blocking out the pain transmitters. I’ll let you know how I do…
Posted in Derby Hurts, Lupus, Roller Derby, Surgery
Tagged derby hurts, Lupus, Meds, pain, post surgery, prescription, Sheba O'Baby
I will be playing in my first Roller Derby bout on Saturday, May 19th, 2012. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. If you like me, come out and see me bout. If you don’t like me, come out and see me get knocked down (possibly). At any rate, my derby name is Sheba O’Baby and I would love to have some of you there cheering me on.
Posted in Roller Derby
Tagged Bath City Roller Girls, Derby Girl, LucyLovesBetty, Roller Derby, Sheba O'Baby
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