Episode 7- Rollin' in to Work with Dirty Marty

On my ride in to work via MARC train Tues morning, I met the Charm City Roller Girls' announcer, 'Dirty Marty.'

This is the name with which he introduced himself, without a touch of irony. He was easy to spot, in his 'Roller Girls' jacket actually.

He seemed genuinely puzzled when I asked for a name that was a bit less 'stagey.' Only with some reluctance did he allow that I might call him 'just Marty.'

This is something I rather love about Baltimore actually. Here it is nothing unsual for our performers and 'non-performing civilians' alike, to identify themselves both 'on' and 'off set' with names such as 'Trixie' and 'Sahffi' and 'JAR Horseman' and 'Teporah/ 'Tepi' and 'Woody' and, yes, 'Dirty Marty.'

These are not necessarily all names given at birth, but they are not quite 'stage names' either.... They are names worn as comfortably about Btown by their owners as a favorite pair of jeans, and every bit as casually.

Actually I pondered this interesting & peculiar 'Baltimorean naming' custom while at the Roller Derby two Sundays ago, at the 5th Regiment Armory with my cousin Lori. I was watching the Roller Derby gals skimming across the rink, when I felt a touch of jealousy.

Who could blame me for envying them? They were so visibly enthusiastic and carefree--plus so wonderfully absorbed in their 'body-slamming' activities.

And those names, printed in the Roller Girls' brochure and announced by 'Dirty Marty,' struck me particularly: 'Rosie the Rioter' and 'Pixie Rocket;' 'Cheeta Torpeda' and 'Harly Go Hardly.' The names said it all, they so vividly & perfectly announced the Roller Girls' identities.

"Can't I have an alter-ego?" I complained to my cousin. "Why shouldn't I have my own cool, body-slamming name, and identity?"

True to form, Lori just laughed, and rolled her eyes at me. "You don't need an alter-ego," she said. "You're already a character. There's only one Lois. ...Thank goodness."

I tried to hold on to my delusions a while longer, but it was no good. Had to admit, there's really no point--my character, I guess, is pretty well-formed already, and my name kind of 'fused' onto it too. Trying to separate them at this point would seem a rather fruitless endeavor.

I suppose, all is not lost--I do feel, these days, that special 'Bawlmorean' magic clinging to my name, as it seems to be also infecting my life and, indeed, my Blog-life-stories.

So maybe I really have no need for a more quirky, Bawlmorean-sounding moniker. Perhaps there is enough of the 'quirky Baltimorean' in me, without it--so adding on would be simply even more silly.

The woman in the pic is "Linda" in real life, "Virtual Linda" in her website & Blog. I just met her Wed but can tell she must be as fun, creative & colorful as her glasses. Linda is the 3rd person I've blogged about who has seen or met John Waters recently as he strolled through Hampden.

The pic was taken in Ryan's Daughter, this wonderful Irish restaurant/ pub which is a great live music/ performance venue. Every Wed night it has an open mic at which performers of all stripes--musicians, comedians, poets--can come. It is mc'd by a musician named David Morreale, whose 'Missing Baltimore' song can be found in my 'LoisLife Baltimore Blogshow Player' at the top-right of this Blog (being one of my favorites).

Another of my favorite Blogshow musicians, Bobby Smith, is having a CD release party Thurs March 13th, 7-11 PM at Club 347. I call him my Blogshow 'theme song' musician actually, since his 'Full Moon in Baltimore song'--a very wacky, unique song--is first in my "LoisLife player," and meant to be listened to while reading my Blog.

My friend Woody's song 'Roses' is sandwiched between David's 'Missing Baltimore' and Bobby's 'Full Moon in Baltimore' in my LL Blog Player. 'Roses' will air tomorrow, March 1st, btwn 4-5 PM on WLOY (1620 AM or TV channel 50). You can stream the radio broadcast by clicking here.

The Charm City Roller Girls will be back at the 5th Regiment Armory on March 15th. Details can be found here. To see a recent WBAL TV spot on the CCRGs, go to the YouTube feature on the right-side of my Blog or click here. 'Blow-by-blow' Charm City Roller Girl action reports can be found at their Blog here.

Not sure who to "roll in" to the event with? The Charm City Social Club, a very new (and very cool) Baltimore social networking group (for singles & couples both) has organized a Meetup around it. Lots of great people in this group with lots of great events planned already. To sign up for the event & "roll in" with the CCSC, click here.

Copyright 2008 by Lois