The Advanced hockey class last night kicked ass! Not because I learned a lot (I did learn a few things) but because those guys were fucking fast and I was able to keep up! Not only was I not the last person in line for drills, I only was passed once and I even passed somebody else once!

I was getting all proud of myself and still am. Sept 23, 2000, a little over 18 months ago, I started this journey, not knowing a damn thing about skating, faced with sheer terror when a coach mentioned the word scrimmage. Today, I don't suck, I've even moved up a division in my women's league. Hell, I'm even in the women's league! I'm a pretty scrappy defenseman and skate almost as fast as some people who seem like Wayne Gretzky to me. I'm still not skinny like Kate Moss, will never be, but in so many great ways, hockey has given me a whole new life.

So woo hoo! And please join me in welcoming myself to the Advanced class.