Recipe for Friends

For Rachel and Aaron,

Remember the shrimp tacos we use to make with the soy, ginger, lime, and cilantro? I turned that into a fancy ramen noodle dish that I make when Kevin is away. I made it today using your favorite chicken death sauce. Et schmakalik!

Boil 3 cups chicken stock and 1 cup water
Add 2 packs of noodles boil 3 minutes then add about a quarter cup soy, juice of 2 limes and grate a finger length of ginger. (I have added the chicken flavor packs but I've done it without too.) Then, put a table spoon, or more, of chicken death sauce.
In your bowls put chopped green onions, thin sliced mushrooms and diced silken tofu with chopped cilantro.
Ladle noodles and broth in bowl.

I miss cooking with you guys!

Down But Not Out

I have a terrible head cold complete with greenish grey gunk, and a stuffy nose that runs (how is that even possible?) a throat that feels ripped in two every time I cough, sneeze or hack (which is all I've been doing the passed 3 days), and through it all I've jeopardized hundreds of Montanans by not staying at home or wearing one of those hospital masks Michael Jackson made famous.

I woke up Monday with razor blades in my throat, and went down hill from there.  We had parent teacher conferences on Tuesday, but luckily I only had two couples to contaminate.  Yesterday, I helped spread my virus to hundreds of high school students by chaperoning our Quiz Bowl team.  I was sent home at noon by my fellow co-workers.  Did I follow their advice and go to the clinic? NOPE.

In my stubborn attempt to keep up with my fitness routine, I made Kevin take my grumpy wheezy ebola infected self out on a bike ride.  I would have used profanity the entire time had I been able to breathe, but instead I worked through it.  I think snails were going faster than me.  I am pretty sure I was passed up by an old man with a cane and a two legged dog (could have been a hallucination).  Did I mention I had to take an hour nap before we rode?  Then I rested for 45 minutes (maybe I was unconscious) before going to my first roller derby practice.

 I really had to suck it up there, not only did I have to skate for the first time since my 1996 debut as a roller derby dance queen for Vernon Regional Junior College, but I had to try and not fall down while actually attempting to fall down properly.  Oh and there were push-ups and crunches with deep knee bends, and  spandex. It was lovely.  I managed to keep the hacking and thick green fluids to minimum, and I think I did pretty good.  They invited me back for next weeks practice so it couldn't have been too bad.

If I made it through day 1 of derby feeling like a zombie think of how well I'll do when I am well.  I just hope I don't get Typhoid Mary as my nick name.  After all the shenanigans of the week, I did decide to do my rundown system a favor and stay home today.  I also needed to file my taxes, clean before company arrives and walk around with a tissue shoved up my nose and an ice pack on my derby bruises.

Speed Wobbles

I got a new Revel MTB Giant today. (That's a mountain bike)Kev and I took a ride this afternoon. We started easy just on the path by the house,but then we ended up below the rims on some trails that had a few ups and downs, and at one point I got the speed wobbles and scared myself. I had to hit the breaks to feel in control; then, I didn't have enough speed to make it back up the hill and almost fell over when I stalled out.

I have never owned any sort of bike with gears so I was on a learning curve too. When we got back to the house, I was beat and may have thrown up in my mouth a little bit. My taint is really hurty, but McKay at the Billings Bike Shop insured me that would diminish after a time. I hope so, but I figure my new carreer as a Derby Dame may be a bit more painful than my new bruised taint.

Remember when I was Badass

When I was little I was tough, I beat up some kids, knocked a few older boys down, kicked some ass pretty much, but lately I've been lame.  I haven't even fallen down or had a Spanish-speaking washing machine to contend with, but that all is about to change.

I'm joining the Billings Roller Derby Dames.  I need material for my blog, and to fit into my size 6 jeans again.  I decided to combine my workouts, effort to meet new people, and have a chance to knock someone down into one dynamic derby experience.

My first practice is next Wednesday.  I've got to order some skates (I'll start with the basic "New Girl" rookie package for now but maybe one day I can upgrade to the "I got a Sugar Daddy" package) study the rules, and decide between pig tails, braids or one bitchin' pony tail.

I'm hoping for one bad ass nickname like: "Ambruiser", or Amber "Dawn of the Dead" Isaacs, or maybe "Ambufoo fighter".  My Fresh Meat coordinator is called the "A-cup Annihilator"  that's pretty awesome.

I guess I'm getting ahead of myself though.  I have to pass the rules test before I can be assigned to a team within the BRDD.

So this weekend I'll be watching Kansas City Bomber and Whip It for inspiration, skating around my kitchen and studying my Women's Flat Track Derby Association rules.