Hey Dimes -- I've been thinking a lot lately about mental preparation for bouts, and the power of attitude.  We spend hours a week training physically, but we don't focus much on how to augment that with our mental game.  Rather than blather on and on about this though, I'll point you to this blog post by Left 4 Deadwards of Old Capitol City.  She says it better than I ever could.

http://deadwards.blogspot.com/2011/12/no-excuses-mental-training.html

*I wrote this a few weeks back.  Its a rant on newbieness and confusion.*

At some basic level we are all moths happily enthralled by that pretty bug zapper over there.  And when I saw Atom's new side padded, Kevlar knee pads I was drawn in like a nerd to . . . Kevlar.  Seriously, Kevlar, seriously.  All-in-all Atom's Elite pads are about as shiny as knee pads get, and if you have drooled over them as I did no one can fault you.  I was ready to save up for them, since my knees are not in the best repair and I want to do all I can for them.

*I wrote this before our Derby Names were due*

Every Wednesday I drive my Fresh Meat sister, Mantis*, to practice.  We tend to talk non-stop on the 30 minute drive because she is awesome and excitable and young, so we can talk about anything.  Even with a world full of topics we always end up at the same place, Derby names.  It seems from the first day, wherever two or more Fresh Meat gather . . . Derby names will be discussed.  Turn around toe stops may still intimidate us, but from what I gather, picking out a name scares the crap out of us.