Saturday, January 24, 2009

Rose City Rollers season opener bout today at the Expo Center!



Please come see the RCR kick off our season today! While there, drop by the merch table and buy some cool RCR stuff. Sign up for the Wreckers mailing list if you are interested in skating with us, or come find me and I'll give you more info. I will be on skates, wearing a bright yellow t-shirt that says VOLUNTEER on it. Look for me skating around the outside of the track telling people NOT to drink beer on the floor! haha! See you there!!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Rose City Rollers need your help!

We need 20-30 volunteers for this weekends season opener bout at the Expo Center. Here is a copy of the email that I received about volunteering:

" Dear Rose City Rollers Fans,
Welcome to 2009 – get ready for a rowdy year!

The coming year will be filled with all the hard-hitting roller derby action you've come to expect from Portland's toughest athletes, and will feature some exciting new twists you won't want to miss! All home league games will be played at RCR's Hangar at Oaks Park and four extra-special matches will be played at the Expo Center. RCR fans will revel in the contrasting intimate feel of Hangar matches and big production Expo bouts – you'll be getting all the best of derby in one season!

"Fresh from having hosted the Northwest Knockdown where we showed the country what 'the KISS show of roller derby' looks like, we are very excited to bring our fans roller derby with an entirely different feel where beers are cheap and you sit close enough to smell the girls on the track," exclaims RCR President BarFly.


We are having a few bouts at the Expo Center this season, including our 1st bout on Saturday, January, 24th. The rest of the bouts will take place at our hangar at Oaks Park (near the skating rink). This venue allows the audience to be much closer to the action, and give the league more control over the food and beverages served at the bouts.

We would love to have you join us as a volunteer.

If you would like to volunteer for this bout, please RSVP by responding to this email. Make sure you include your full name in RSVP email. We will send out detailed instructions a few days before the bout. If you RSVP, please show up - we're counting on you.

Arrive at the Expo with the parking pass code (this is emailed to you before the bout) between 2:30 and 3. When you arrive at the hall, come to the security office at the back of the Hall. Sign in, and get a shirt, name tag, and wristband. Read posters/instructions, and sign up for a position.
Orientation is at 3:45 (for new and returning volunteers). If you are not signed in by orientation, we may not be able to use you as a volunteer that night.
We provide free food and drink. No alcohol before or during shift.
You will be able to see the bout for at least half of the night. Your shift will be over by 9:30. You get free entrance to the after party, and free beer there while supplies last.


We will need 50-60 volunteers for each bout at the Expo, but only 12 or so for bouts at the hangar. In order to acknowledge the hard work of our volunteers, those who volunteer regularly for Expo bouts will be invited to work and attend the hangar bouts.

We couldn't do what we do without you. Please let us know whenever you have ideas or suggestions. Feel free to talk to us at bouts, or send us emails through the rosecityrollers.com website, using the volunteer button.
January 24th season opener scramble at the Expo Center! No one will know the night's match-up until 6:15pm that evening, when we will draw names to find out which teams face off first.


We will send you specific details about the upcoming bouts in future emails. Again, thank you for all you do. The volunteer team is an important part of the league!


Jewcy, Volunteer Coordinator

Butch Crassidy and Club-her, Volunteer Co-Coordinators

Tennessee, Steve, and Matt, Security Managers

Kirsten, VIP/Rockstar Bleachers Manager

Slim Sheety and Tyger Bomb, VIP Entrance Managers"


If anyone is interested and sees this post, feel free to send me a message and I will forward your info on to the right people. Volunteering for RCR at a bout is a lot of fun and a great way to see a bout for free and help out RCR. I will be there!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Best dish ever? Really?


So dinner tonight consisted of lentils, rice, and coconut greens. The rice was just rice. The lentils, boiled in water with a glob of margarine and salt until the water is all absorbed. But the greens were the show stopper. I was surprised that everyone gobbled them up to the point where there were no left overs and people were pissed! Here it is, my recipe for coconut greens.

1 bunch of kale torn
1 bunch chard chopped
1 cup diced carrots
1 can of coconut milk
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 a medium onion chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic minced
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp red chili flakes
2 tsp salt

Boil kale and carrots in a big pot of water for about 6 minutes. While it's boiling, saute the garlic and onion in oil in a skillet. add chili flakes and tumeric to the onion and garlic. Saute for about 1 minute. Add can of coconut milk and simmer. Now add the chard to the kale and carrots. Boil for about 3 minutes more. Drain the carrots, kale and chard and return to the pot. Add the coconut milk mixture to the kale mixture and stir it all together. That's it folks. Enjoy!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Dear Facebook - I hate you!

So i wanted to follow some blogs that looked interesting. I finally figured out that they are somehow facebook related. In order for me to follow these blogs, I need to create a facebook acct. No big deal right? facebook is just like myspace, right? UGH! Not the case! I tried to sign up, I really did. but facebook doesn't like my name apparently. And once I did get signed up, by claiming to be a celebrity, facebook would not let me add any friends! I seriously dont get it and have had similar wonky experiences with trying to use it in the past. Why facebook? Whay did I ever do to you? Why can't you be easy to use and intuative? If anyone reading this feels pity for me and wants to help me get started on facebook, I'd be eternally grateful! But I've just wasted an hour of my life and I have to get ready for roller derby practice. Peace out!

Recipe of the day: Vegan Shepherds Pie

Shepherds Pie, a traditional English heart attack. Quick to make and great for chilly nights. If you are pressed for time, use vegan instant mashed potatoes instead of mashing your own. And you can sub 1 cup of ketchup for the tomato paste mixture. This recipe is super kid friendly. Enjoy!

FILLING
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1 package Smart Ground by Light Life (my fav, any other brand will work too, in a pinch, you can even use thawed veggie burgers that are chopped up fine. 4 is a good amount.)
1 onion chopped
1 Tbs minced garlic
2 Tbs cooking oil
2 Tbs tomato paste
1 Tbs white vinegar
1 tsp sugar
3/4 cup water
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce (there are vegan ones out there!)
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
3/4 cup corn (fresh, frozen or canned)
3/4 cup carrots (fresh, frozen or canned)
3/4 cup sweet green peas (fresh, frozen or canned)

TOPPING
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5-6 big russet potatoes peeled and chopped
soy creamer
margarine
salt to taste

Boil potatoes in big stock pot for about 8 minutes. While they are boiling, saute the onion and garlic in the oil for about 3 minutes. Then add the Smart Ground, mix in well. In a bowl, blend the tomato paste, vinegar, sugar and water until mixed. Pour over mixture in pan, stir to mix well. Now stir in remaining filling ingredients. Cover and simmer over med-low heat for about 10 minutes. Add water if filling gets too thick.

Now start on your mashed potato topping. Drain potatoes in a strainer, return to pot. Add about 2-3 Tbs of margarine and a bit of salt to the potatoes and start mashing with a wooden spoon. Add a splash of soy creamer at a time just until you get the right consistency. By adding small amounts of creamer at a time, you can avoid having soupy potatoes. By now, the filling should be ready. Spread it into a well greased casserole dish. Now the mashed potato gets spread on top. Place casserole dish into a 350 degree oven and bake for about 45 minutes. You can add your favorite chz alternative on top before baking if you like.