This weekend I crossed #53 off my Life List. My friend Mykal Burns, who is a referee for the Los Angeles Derby Dolls, was giving away a pair of tickets and I won! (He pulled my name out of a hat, but there are rumors that the hat was playing favorites.) This is the second item on my Life List that Burns has helped me cross off, the first being #1 Fire a gun–he provided the guns that time.

My Life List: sponsored in part by Burns!

Anyway, the roller derby. HOLY CATS THAT WAS THE BEST TIME WILL AND I HAVE HAD IN AGES. We rode the Vespa over, and were waived through the parking lot to a little alley area with other scooters and motorcycles. Then we walked through the parking lot, past the port-o-johns and the food vendors (I believe there was pizza and hot dogs on a stick), into the Doll Factory. We got our wristbands and went in! There’s a vendor area inside, with assorted stuff–seriously everything from t-shirts to jewelry to homemade cookies–and BEER. We got some Newcastles (in a can!) and then I spotted Burns, who advised us to find a seat early. And good advice it was, since it is not actually seating but standing on three sides of the oval skating track (there are bleachers on the fourth side but I think those are for VIP ticket holders). We found a good spot and settled in for the evening. My feet were pretty mad since we’d spent ALL DAY at the County Fair, but luckily I’d thought to change my shoes so I survived.

Before the bout started, the Silver Lake Chorus sang the National Anthem, and let me tell you: that was AWESOME. I seriously love The Star Spangled Banner and it was really a lovely rendition. Then the game started and OMG I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT. (Quick run-down of the rules.) The best move of the night was when the Sirens Jammer grabbed hands with their Pivot and the Pivot literally threw her (not in the air, but on her skates) past the entire pack. That must be one of those moves that all the teams practice, but I bet it’s hardly ever executed that perfectly.

Will and I almost immediately favored a few of the girls (though they were all incredible). I liked Judy Gloom’s name from the start, but Will fell in love with her as soon as she started skating. It’s impossible not to like watching Chargin’ Tina, who is easily half a head taller than all the other girls, is all legs, and can skate around the track in about three strides. And I think Will is in looooove with Broadzilla, who was ejected from the game for penalties and did a victory lap on her way out.

I seriously doubt that we’ll be able to afford $20 tickets and $7 beers (dude, we drank a $42 + tip 6-pack) very often, but we are DEFINITELY going again.

And in the meantime, we’re renting Whip It. I don’t care if it sucks.