Untethered (like my right elbow)

Man, that Roller Derby stuff... I think, looking back at it now, it was a good thing. Learning experience? Some of that. Met some interesting people? No question. Resume-filler? It's probably gotten me some jobs and attention I wouldn't normally have. But I don't think I'd do it again. Posted Wednesday, January 24, 2007

I am at last out from under. For the moment, at least. The soccer thing should be kicking in (hah!) any day now, and already I'm working on getting a new gig similar (falls under the sub-heading "dream job – short term," so I won't jinx it with discussion). But, to the point, I wrapped up the Alamo City Rollergirls DVD at the end of last week, just in time for them to sell some at the bout Sunday. No telling how they're moving yet. I hope to know more soon. Including some payment, unlikely as it seems.

But honestly, for right now, just being finished is enough for me. This thing seriously beat my ass down. It took a lot longer than expected, and not just because I didn't get much-needed support. It kept expanding before my eyes. It sort of started out as a slightly extended music video, local bands under a few shots of high-speed women knocking all hell out of each other in sexy outfits, sounded like fun to me. From there, it grew and grew, like one of those pretty weeds that grows a lot until it takes over everything around it. Morning Glory? Too tired to be clever. Shooting, watching and then capturing dozens of hours of video tape, then cutting it together to music from some incredible local bands (that's the fun part), the color-correcting (not the fun part), the graphics, the rendering, the burning. I don't like to think about the hours put into this thing, hours I should've been pursuing more practical income, hours taken off the life of my cameras and computer, hours not spent caring for my family. My wife loves to think about them, though, and to talk about them. She uses terms a gentleman of my chivalrous nature dare not repeat. She's ready to join the ACRG herself, if only to put the Aztec Smackdown on some of them by way of reparations.

Many lessons learned. Some color-correction shortcuts. The importance of more and better cameras. Spend time and effort capturing only the best, not every shot I might possibly need. Trust your camera operators. Artistic doesn't necessarily mean good. (Seriously, I could've just run Russ or Laurie's footage uncut and it would've been beautiful, but it wouldn't have been the job I was supposed to be doing…) Most important lesson: the line between "doing a job right" and "doing it well enough" is one seen only by me about half the time. This isn't a movie, it's sports video. All they really want is to see pretty girls fall on their heads. (Which they get in great numbers.)

My back seized up Sunday, doubtless in delayed reaction to the months spent bent over my keyboard and mouse. Vicodin and a clutch of Shiner's finest took a bit of the edge off, but not so much that I'd call it back to its usual limber stature (which was never that limber to begin with). I've become left-handed, as I lost use of my right elbow weeks ago. I've somehow managed to both lose weight and become even more gelatinous. I got to gets me peepers inside some specs that don't have decades-old lenses (paging Dr. Don!).

So if I've neglected you of late (can't tell you how many phone conversations I've had in the past few days that have begun with "hey, where have you been?"), my apologies. Happy Christmas, Kwaanza, Muharaam, MLK Day, New Years, birthday, anniversary, Pearl Harbor Day... I dunno, whatever else I wasn't around for. End of year through beginning of the next.

But it'll be a day or two before I meet you for lunch. I'm spending the rest of the day on the couch with a heating pad, a mug of cocoa, a couple Pop-Tarts, and the second season DVD of "Veronica Mars." Ooh, girl, don't bother me durin' my stories!

In the meantime, contact a derbygirl or two at www.alamocityrollergirls.com and tell her you want -- nay, need -- nay again, will simply die without a DVD of the 2006 season! It's worth the effort. Believe me.