The Rebel Yell - Official blog of The Long Island Roller Rebels
Thursday, April 19, 2012
For Your Island
The Roller Rebels are featured on the first 2012 spring episode of For Your Island. There are some really great interviews with Shadow BoxHer, Captain Morgan and Breakneck Brie. Be sure to check it out here!
Monday, April 16, 2012
New Terrain
Hello Dear Readers!
It's been a while, I know. I've been away from the derby world for a bit, but trust me, it's always on my mind and of course in my heart. Due to my absence, I thought I would check in with all of you and let you know what's been going on.
While the Roller Rebels have been working hard and skating their butts off, I've been up to some things myself. Work, which includes opening a new online vintage shop and exercise have kept me quite busy lately. A recent move has put me at a close distance to Eisenhower Park and I'm taking full advantage of that. I've moved my running routine from the local streets, to the paths at the park which are surrounded by lush green grass and trees. It's a nice change to get away from the chaos of the roads where I hear the sounds of honking horns and running engines. But enough about running, this is after all a roller derby blog.
While I've been benefiting from my runs there, I've also been enjoying skating there as well.
Once a week, Roller Papi and I skate in the park together. I highly recommend this for those of you who have never skated in the park before. Skating outside and up and down hills is a great challenge for your muscles. You will be putting in some extra effort, but enjoying the outdoor views and fresh air makes it all worth it! The park features both a fit trail and a (makeshift) outdoor rink. Both can be accessed through field 3. The fit trail is mapped out with white arrows which are painted on the pavement. The trail is approximately 1.5 -2 miles long (good to know if you're trying to fit in a certain amount of millage). The rink is close to the end of the parking lot (The Roller Rebels used to hold summer practices there - they were some of my favorites!). It's a good stop after you have made your lap(s) around the trail to cool down or work on crossovers. One downfall, the ground at the park is not the smoothest terrain, so just be sure to gear up!
I'm hoping to make it back to practice soon, but in the meantime, I'll be at the park!
Oh and be sure to stay tuned - I have a long overdue 25 Random Facts post that will be up on the blog in the near future.
- Etta
It's been a while, I know. I've been away from the derby world for a bit, but trust me, it's always on my mind and of course in my heart. Due to my absence, I thought I would check in with all of you and let you know what's been going on.
While the Roller Rebels have been working hard and skating their butts off, I've been up to some things myself. Work, which includes opening a new online vintage shop and exercise have kept me quite busy lately. A recent move has put me at a close distance to Eisenhower Park and I'm taking full advantage of that. I've moved my running routine from the local streets, to the paths at the park which are surrounded by lush green grass and trees. It's a nice change to get away from the chaos of the roads where I hear the sounds of honking horns and running engines. But enough about running, this is after all a roller derby blog.
While I've been benefiting from my runs there, I've also been enjoying skating there as well.
Once a week, Roller Papi and I skate in the park together. I highly recommend this for those of you who have never skated in the park before. Skating outside and up and down hills is a great challenge for your muscles. You will be putting in some extra effort, but enjoying the outdoor views and fresh air makes it all worth it! The park features both a fit trail and a (makeshift) outdoor rink. Both can be accessed through field 3. The fit trail is mapped out with white arrows which are painted on the pavement. The trail is approximately 1.5 -2 miles long (good to know if you're trying to fit in a certain amount of millage). The rink is close to the end of the parking lot (The Roller Rebels used to hold summer practices there - they were some of my favorites!). It's a good stop after you have made your lap(s) around the trail to cool down or work on crossovers. One downfall, the ground at the park is not the smoothest terrain, so just be sure to gear up!
I'm hoping to make it back to practice soon, but in the meantime, I'll be at the park!
Oh and be sure to stay tuned - I have a long overdue 25 Random Facts post that will be up on the blog in the near future.
- Etta
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Getting It Together
It’s been quite a while since I asked you all to challenge me. I have not forgotten about the challenge, trust me. It’s been on my mind everyday. On my mind as I sat eating leftover super bowl cupcakes. On my mind when I made runs to Moe’s, for super fat burritos and chips. On my mind as I used up free time that I should have spent at the food store buying healthy things. Since my post, I’ve signed up for daily diet tip emails, read each of your advice filled messages and emails to me and filed all of this information in the back of my head under “I’ll take care of this tomorrow”. As you can see, tomorrow turned into the next day and the next and the next. Needless to say, the challenge has now gone from trying to eat healthy to trying to eat healthy AND lose weight. I was screaming in my head on a daily basis, “Get it together Etta”!
A few weeks ago, I decided to start my first attempt of ‘getting it together'. I did this by taking a week to write down all of the things I was eating and drinking (not keeping track of my meals is one of my problems). With just 3 days in I can truly say that I was horrified! At first my eating habits could have used some improvement, but after realizing exactly what I was eating, I realized they needed a complete overhaul! YIKES!!
I’m about to share one of my worst days with you, but must preface it by saying, it was a fun filled day on which I was off from work. Ok, maybe that’s not an excuse, but it helps get rid of some of my embarrassment. Loosen your belts, here goes!
Breakfast
2 pancakes
2 egg omelet with spinach and cheese
2 pieces of toast
1 glass of pomegranate limeade
Lunch
Doritos – no, that is not a typo. This was my lunch.
1 glass of Low cal lemonade
Dinner
½ order of shrimp with broccoli and white rice
1 glass of Low cal lemonade
Dessert
1 homemade S’more
Exercise
3 mile speed walk
Are you as appalled as I was when I read this? I think my stomach must have been when I consumed it all. My insides must have been screaming. My outsides were too. My skin looked awful!
I figured a food diary would be a good start and, thankfully, it was. I've since taken a hold on my consumption. Replaced bad with good and fat with fruit. It's working out nicely and I feel a difference in my body. Are there days when I'm not so good, absolutely. But now I am ok with it as most of the days I am on course.
Thanks again to all of you who sent me your advice. I read it all and incorporated a lot of the ideas into my diet plan. I'll be back with a sample day while on my road to healthy eating.
-The Very Full Etta Jams
I figured a food diary would be a good start and, thankfully, it was. I've since taken a hold on my consumption. Replaced bad with good and fat with fruit. It's working out nicely and I feel a difference in my body. Are there days when I'm not so good, absolutely. But now I am ok with it as most of the days I am on course.
Thanks again to all of you who sent me your advice. I read it all and incorporated a lot of the ideas into my diet plan. I'll be back with a sample day while on my road to healthy eating.
-The Very Full Etta Jams
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day!
Roller girls, we all know who your true love is. Skate your hearts out!
And speaking of true love, congratulations to Cyanide Kisses & Dave, #2 & Pete and Butterscotch Cripple & Jesse on their recent engagements!
And speaking of true love, congratulations to Cyanide Kisses & Dave, #2 & Pete and Butterscotch Cripple & Jesse on their recent engagements!
Monday, February 13, 2012
25 Random Facts
It's time for our fans to start to get to know our new roller girls. No better way to do that then by reading 25 random facts about them. So today (on her birthday) I am happy to introduce one of our newest league members. Read on as this enthusiastic native New Yorker takes you through her life starting with the early years. Then get ready to see her on the track this season with determination and maybe some apple sauce on the side. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give to you Spork Chop!!
1. I totally rocked Barbie roller skates when I was 6.
2. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a fashion designer. While I didn't fulfill that career aspiration, I do own a sewing machine and hope to someday (soon) sew myself a pair of awesome derby booty shorts.
3. My second passion after roller derby is horseback riding. I was a competitive show jumper for over 15 years, taught riding lessons, and even owned a horse named Go-Go.
4. I am a total New Yorker at heart - born in NYC, grew up on LI, went to college in the Hudson Valley, and now have come full-circle, living back in NYC.
5. I'm a huge NY Jets & Yankees fan
6. I've always loved performing - acting, singing, dancing, you name it. In high school, I was in numerous theater productions and sang in an all-girls barbershop a cappella group.
7. I really enjoy crafting and am obsessed with ETSY.
8. I broke my jaw getting my wisdom teeth out and was on a liquid diet for 6 weeks.
9. I majored in Political Science and minored in economics in college.
10. After college, I chopped off all my hair and donated it to charity.
11. In my professional life, I work at an advertising agency. It's like Mad Men, but without all the smoking and drinking and gender inequalities.
12. Speaking of Mad Men, I was once in a bar with a number of the show's cast members... including Jon Hamm! I would say it was my best celebrity sighting. That, or the time I was in a yoga class with an Olsen twin (not sure which one).
13. I played several years of co-ed softball with my company team. I even went to the Advertising Softball World Championship!
14. I'm a compulsive list-maker and carry a Moleskin notebook with me wherever I go.
15. I don't care what people think - I love bad reality television, my Ugg boots, and Facebook.
16. My friends call me the "cruise director" because I'm always the one coordinating and organizing our plans together.
17. While I enjoy getting dressed-up, if it was socially acceptable, I would probably wear pajamas all the time.
18. I hate tuna fish
19. I love photobooths
20. Last year I went to Disney World - and it was just as awesome as when I went as a child (plus, now there is also the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!)
21. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Past costumes have included a Girl Scout, Barbie, a Unicorn, and Justin Bieber.
23. My favorite part of roller derby is hitting people!
24. I think the most difficult part of the fresh blood process wass choosing just the right derby name.
25. Sporks are the greatest utensils in the world!
1. I totally rocked Barbie roller skates when I was 6.
2. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a fashion designer. While I didn't fulfill that career aspiration, I do own a sewing machine and hope to someday (soon) sew myself a pair of awesome derby booty shorts.
3. My second passion after roller derby is horseback riding. I was a competitive show jumper for over 15 years, taught riding lessons, and even owned a horse named Go-Go.
4. I am a total New Yorker at heart - born in NYC, grew up on LI, went to college in the Hudson Valley, and now have come full-circle, living back in NYC.
5. I'm a huge NY Jets & Yankees fan
6. I've always loved performing - acting, singing, dancing, you name it. In high school, I was in numerous theater productions and sang in an all-girls barbershop a cappella group.
7. I really enjoy crafting and am obsessed with ETSY.
8. I broke my jaw getting my wisdom teeth out and was on a liquid diet for 6 weeks.
9. I majored in Political Science and minored in economics in college.
10. After college, I chopped off all my hair and donated it to charity.
11. In my professional life, I work at an advertising agency. It's like Mad Men, but without all the smoking and drinking and gender inequalities.
12. Speaking of Mad Men, I was once in a bar with a number of the show's cast members... including Jon Hamm! I would say it was my best celebrity sighting. That, or the time I was in a yoga class with an Olsen twin (not sure which one).
13. I played several years of co-ed softball with my company team. I even went to the Advertising Softball World Championship!
14. I'm a compulsive list-maker and carry a Moleskin notebook with me wherever I go.
15. I don't care what people think - I love bad reality television, my Ugg boots, and Facebook.
16. My friends call me the "cruise director" because I'm always the one coordinating and organizing our plans together.
17. While I enjoy getting dressed-up, if it was socially acceptable, I would probably wear pajamas all the time.
18. I hate tuna fish
19. I love photobooths
20. Last year I went to Disney World - and it was just as awesome as when I went as a child (plus, now there is also the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!)
21. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Past costumes have included a Girl Scout, Barbie, a Unicorn, and Justin Bieber.
22. I drive an hour, each-way, to and from derby practice. The drive (and the LIE traffic) would be unbearable if it wasn't for the carload of derby girls that carpool with me and keep me company!
24. I think the most difficult part of the fresh blood process wass choosing just the right derby name.
25. Sporks are the greatest utensils in the world!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Keep A Breast
Breast Cancer has unfortunately touched one too many people and The Roller Rebels are so happy to do their part by contributing to The Keep A Breast Foundation. This coming Saturday, February 4th, The Roller Rebels along with Long Ireland Brewery will be hosting a Keep A Breast Fundraiser. No cover charge and $1 of each growler sold goes towards the foundation. In addition, you will be able to check out the breast casts that some of your favorite roller girls made. The casts will be auctioned off at our February 11th bout. So come and take a look and pick out your favorite!
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