We know you single folks are busy. iList Paducah's Mary Thorsby goes on that first date so you don't have to!

June 10, 2009

Jaleesa Rhoads

As the Radioactive City Roller Girls’ Valanthe Nai’lo, Jaleesa Rhoads may be hell on wheels. But at home? She’s just mom. Watch her roll at the Roller Girls’ first home bout, June 13, at the Paducah Regional SportsPlex!

Jaleesa Rhoads, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it. And next month is your big birthday!
I’m turning the big 21 in July. I’m sure it’s going to be a week I’ll never remember.

Woo-Hoo! Are you from this area? Where did you grow up?
I’m from Golconda, Ill. I went to the same school from preschool until I graduated. It’s pretty much in the middle of nowhere and not many people have heard of it. Although we are famous for our annual Deer Festival.

Jaleesa, I hear you’re applying to be a firefighter in Paducah!
Yes! I really want to help people, and I feel saving people from burning buildings is one of the best ways I can do that. Being a firefighter would be my dream job.

That’s so cool! Oh, I mean HOT! What are you doing for work now?
I work two jobs. My daytime job is working down at Kirchhoff’s Bakery and Deli. During the week, I scoop cookie dough with ice cream scoopers. On Saturdays I work in the deli. I take orders and run the register. So if you’re ever hungry on a Saturday afternoon and don’t know where to go, come see us. The food is amazing there.

I love Kirchhoff’s! We publish their weekly menu on iList Paducah. What’s your other job?
I work at Cinemark at night. I just recently started working there, but I love it. I’m mostly an usher, but they’re starting me out on concession, as well.

How did you get involved with the Radioactive City Roller Girls’?      
Well I grew up with Blitzkrieg Betty. I’m talking I remember her from preschool. A few years back she shot me the suggestion of starting up a team and I was all for it. When it finally got up and running I was pregnant at the time. About a month after I had my daughter Katherine, I started. I didn’t know how to skate or anything, but look at me now. I’ve actually had people tell me they’re sorta scared of me.

How fun! Do you just love it?
I do. The speed, the competition, the girls, but most of all the hitting. I love blocking people. It lets me get out some aggression.

What’s your Roller Girl name?
Valanthe Nai’lo. It means Valerie Nightbreeze in Elvin. I’m sort of a dork and played D&D once before. Only once I swear! Anyway, Valanthe Nai’lo was my first and only character. She was an Elvin Cleric.

Aren’t you scared of getting hurt?
Scared? No way. When you’re out there on that track, the only thing you think about is not letting the other team’s jammer get past you and making sure to get their blockers out of the way for your jammer.

And your first home bout is coming up!
Yes, it’s Saturday, June 13, at the SportsPlex at 6 p.m. It’s located about 1.5 miles past Kohl’s. This event is going to be so amazing, and you definitely don’t want to miss it.

iList Paducah is proud to be a team sponsor!
We love iList Paducah! You should skate with us!

Yeah, uh, no. I’d never make the team! I don’t have any tattoos!
I only have a few!

What all do you have?
I’ve got my zodiac sign (Leo) on my left shoulder, a smiley face on my toe, a dragonfly on my left calf and my most recent is my daughter’s handprints on the left side of my chest. I have many, many more planned out though.

What about piercings and fishnets?
I’ve got a few piercings. And fishnets I’ve got. I have a couple pairs that are torn all to hell. I need to get some new ones. I also have my awesome polka dotted tights.

Right on! Jaleesa, you are DAR-LING! So you are our first bisexual female iDate of the Week! That’s so convenient — you can date ANYBODY!
I could say it’s convenient, but I don’t really know. I don’t know many bisexual or lesbian girls around here. I would love to meet some because it’s been a while since I’ve dated a girl.

What kind of guy or girl are you looking for?
Someone who’s cute (I’m kind of shallow), stable in life and not into drugs, of course, because I have my daughter. Someone who can skate, and someone who’s hilarious and random.

I also tend to date guys that are kind of dorky. I don’t mean that in a condescending way either. I’m totally a dork myself. I just feel like people who have someone to work for to get will stay longer than those who just get whoever they want.

Is it super hard to find cute folks in this area?
To find a guy? Not really. Although, I have to say I’ve dated most of the ones I know. I’ve been dating a lot this past year. A little over a year ago I split up with the father of my child. Ever since then, I’ve just been casually dating, trying to find that one great person.

What’s your idea of a great date?
A great date to me would be probably seeing a movie early in the night and then grabbing a bite to eat. I really like Applebees!

Then I’d like to go out and do something. I wish there were more places to go dancing around here (that I could get in to). I would also love to go skating around Downtown because I just love to skate.

To finish off the night, I’d like to get milkshakes and just take some time to talk and get to know each other. I’m all about talking and finding new things out about people.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I like to just spend time with my daughter. My friend Julie and I take Katherine to the park quite regularly. She loves to swing and go down the slide, but most of all just loves to wander around. She can be quite the handful, but she’s so amazing.

She’ll probably grow up to be a Roller Girl!
I hope so!

Tell us about your good work for the American Red Cross.
I’m all about the Red Cross. I donate blood as often as I can, and I’ve recently gotten into donating platelets. I’m a type O negative which is sorta rare and I can donate to anyone, so I really feel accomplished when I can help save people’s lives.

I think that everyone should donate at least once in their life. It’s believed that donating one pint of blood, which takes maybe an hour for the whole process, can save up to three lives. It’s amazing.

Well, Mz Valanthe Nai’lo, I think you’re pretty amazing! Be careful out there! Roll on, Jaleesa Rhoads, roll on!