So I mentioned my sock collection was getting a bit out of hand. So I thought Id share some pics.

These two hippy pairs were made at a friends tye dye night. yes the fun we have in little old Whakatane. But seriously unleashing your inner hippy is awesome. So easy and one thing of dye does lots of items. The exciting thing is you don't really know how they will turn out. I made these by folding the socks like a fan and then tying rows of rubber bands on. The top one was folded lengthways and the bottom one width ways. Oh no wait, maybe it was the other way around?! gaaaa. 

There were four of us all hunched over the buckets stirring away, well mostly me, cause I was obsessed with getting the dye even. The best part was the undoing of the elastic. It only took half an hour or so and interspersed with wine it didn't seem like we waited at all! and the excitement was epic. Squeals of delight as we took the elastic off. Seriously squeals and oohs and aahhs. We couldn't believe how well they turned out.

One friend of mine did this crazy thing that honestly looked like a dreadlocked voodoo doll/octopus. And it turned out...AMAZING. Like it was symmetrical and shit. freaky. Anywhoo these turned out way better than I thought. I actually wear them. Go on have a hoon!

Google has lots of handy tips for how to make certain shapes, but all you need is some dye, (make sure its for hand dying, not machine), rubber bands, a bucket, wooden spoon, super hot water, and gloves and of course something to dye, doesn't have to be white. These white socks were super cheap from good old kmart, but my friend did an old grey t shirt and it came out "classy" as my Scottish derby lass McFeerce termed it. Who knew tye dye could be classy!?

Anyway on the with the sock obsession...
Actually I just tried to take photos of my socks with me wearing them, a few of them have rad pics on the back. Photograhing the back of your leg is totally hard! and I discovered the back of my knee is pretty dam ugly in a photo, also changing socks constantly is a pain. So I will take a photo each time I actually wear them and store it up for sock photo bomb. oh yes.

After this weekend I will have a new pair to add to the mix. curvy juicy. these socks are meant to be for the curvy calf. Which I dont even think I have but the others feel quite snug so perhaps I do!

If you are sad you dont get to see the socks yet, never fear here are my skates...

Bat laces....!

My Riedell R'3's. Pretty much the cheapest skates you can get. If you call $300 cheap. Which it is. sigh. But they don't come with the nasty wheels anymore so they are a great starter (fresh meat) skate.  I upgraded to my amazing super sticky, slim heartless wheels anyway. na na na na na. Our floor is mad slippery so these are so good!

Is it possible to be in love with a wheel? after my original giant tuners, which made me feel like an elephant pounding the track, these are loveable. Every corner I went around and didn't slip anymore, I would actually say "I love you wheels"! weird, but true. strange, yes, but I love these wheels! slim and light! I get new bearings this weekend too, gear nerd. eeep cant wait! There is nothing like opening your door to a skate package on the door step, especially when you know what it is, but have never seen it in real life before, eeeeeeee.

"jam" hehe get it?!

Oh wait, here are some socks! I love these, red and white stripes are a good combo.

So when I keep saying I'm getting this and that this weekend, I'm talking about a 'skatenance partay' or a 'booze and bearings partay'. Basically the owners of Flat Track Derby are coming over to Amper's house and we will drink while they show us gear. I have figured out how to change wheels, bearings, loosen and tighten trucks. but I'm guessing there is a whole lot more to know. I love changing my wheels with my mighty powerdyne tool, its the shiz. funny how derby also makes me like tools!  Its going to be rad to understand our own gear and I have a feeling I will need to invest in a bearing cleaning unit,,,, yes gear nerd, cant wait!

It will also be nice to get to socialize with our crew more as at training you cant talk or you will miss shit, or the coach will tell you off and its just pretty dam rude. So only before or after can we chat but people have lives and children etc to get going for. Plus our hall is freeeezing! So yes socialise with our league. At the after drinks of our awesome coaching session with the infamous Fia Fasi Oe? she constantly imparted advice, one of these was that its important to get to know your team socially. So I feel I will listen to the advice of the master and get very drunk with my team! She also told me to get my ass back to physio, do my exercises for strengthening my calf everyday (long story, I'll tell when I can be bothered) and that its all about conditioning, basically get fit and strong you slackers! So back to the physio and the dentist. dentist? whaaat? off the track... well yes and no...

I have the most  hideous teeth, my fillings fall out far too often for my liking. Anyway a while back I had a filling re done at a cool $250 (gulp) and the other day I was eating and a chunk of my tooth and  filling came out grrrr. He said it might do this and I needed a crown or a bridge for my missing tooth and then they crown them anyway, $3000, pfffft yeah na, jerks. The dental system in this country is disgusting.

Anyway was at training a week ago and tried to hit someone (we are rather hilariously learning to hit) which I freaken love by the way! was so scared at first and thought "hmm I love skating but will I actually love hitting?" The answer is yes, yes I do.

Anyway, tried to hip check someone, I missed and hit the floor and landed on my face. and chest. got up quick smart and couldnt talk cause I was pretty winded and my jaw was a bit sore. No major damage done. But a week later at our awesome training with Fasi I crunched on a mint someone had given me and "eeeew that's not the mint, thats my tooth"! (this is the other side of my face to the other filling fall out by the way)

Needless to say I was already a tiny bit late for training (not cool) so I simply grabbed the mint, tooth and all and put it in my pocket and carried on. I do think the fall onto my face loosened the tooth for me. Lucky I'm getting a brand new mouth guard this weekend too. Better late then never I guess, or maybe not in my case.

As a gross side part to that story. At our after drinks, I was re-telling the story, and hello, there was the tooth in my pocket. And yes I showed it to everyone. And yes they thought it was awesome. gross but awesome. I think its still in the pocket actually now I come to think of it....dam this story just gets grosser.

So what side of my mouth do I eat on now?! dilemma.


I managed to book into a dentist in Rotorua who does a community service card scheme where you can get 2 visits in 12 months at only $35 each! amazing! pity nowhere else offers this. In Whaka and Tauranga they only pull them out for free. eek no thanks. Id have no teeth left. aaaargh me heartys! So if you have bung teeth and can wait for about 2 months and live near Rotorua it is still cheaper to drive there than it is to pay $250 per filling! grrrrrrrrrrr so give me a shout and Ill hook you up their number!


This is my aggressive cracker eating photo

probably cant eat them anymore might lose another tooth!

2 more sleeps till training. bring it!