There's no crying in derby!

That doesn't change the fact that it is excruciating to watch the other girls during practice. It wasn't so much a big deal at first, but as I set up my exercise mat and hit the core exercise I felt the pain of being unable to strap on my skates and pads and sweat it out with the league.

Now I understand why most injured skaters opt to not attend practices at all.

What's worse was I looked over and saw Greasy O'Guts (head ref and my loving partner) participating in drills. It was salt in the wound that my boyfriend was participating in what I wanted more than anything - to skate my face off.

It's pathetic, I know, but I allowed the tears to fall freely as I pounded through sit-ups on my stupid yoga mat. It seems kind of silly to write that, because I'm not much of crier. But I felt overwhelmingly jealous AND sorry for myself.

There was only one solution. While those girls are doing what I wanted most but couldn't I thought about what is was that I could do that they couldn't.

Drink beer. And do it right in front of them. (It's in our by-laws that you cannot drink before or during skating.)

Yep. I went straight to the store, bought a six pack and headed right back to practice. I sat down with my team and chugged my beers during scrimmaging. I know it's immature and petty, but I felt so much better to see them suddenly jealous of me.

They were all sweaty and some out of breath, longingly staring at my Blue Moon. It didn't hurt so much that they were skating and I wasn't.

However, I'd give all the beer in the world just to skate in a circle again...