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I am notoriously fond of free time.  I enjoy having things to look forward to, but am far less enthusiastic about having such limited down time, as is my current condition.

Nevertheless, I must take a moment to congratulate the Gainesville Roller Rebels on an important milestone.  Yesterday, before a crowd of several hundred, GRR held their first intra-league bout in the sweltering heat of the Alachua County Fairgrounds.  The amount of planning and preparation for this event–the first ever roller derby exhibition in Gainesville–was phenomenal.  Let’s just say it rivaled the 2008 Olympics.  It’s not true, but let’s say it.

The team was split between “Sinners” and “Saints”, and they faced off against each other for three 20 minute periods, augmented by a few Jacksonville Roller Girls to make up for the GRR girls on the disabled list.  The costumes were adorable, the makeup fantastic, the energy was infectious, and the crowd was enormous.  It must be considered an unqualified success, even if the score was rather lopsided in the Sinners’ favor.

I took hundreds of photographs, of course, but those will have to wait until my many papers and reading assignments are behind me.  In the meantime, check out the Gainesville Sun’s article on the exhibition.  They had reporters and photographers there, as did TV-20, whose report aired on the 11 o’clock news last night.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the Alligator had an article tomorrow.

This is a great time for GRR.  I just wish I had more of a chance to enjoy it.