May 30, 2014

The County Fair! Lord it was HOT! Part 2

I had a blast at the Sacramento County Fair last weekend. 

But the real reason I went to the Fair was the Bull Riding event. It was only one night so it was Saturday or not at all.

After checking out the rest of the Fair and all the kiddos and their animals it was time to go to the Bull Riding. 

Now it was just Bull Riding. Not a full Rodeo. I actually like full Rodeos better. They have not only Bull Riding (ok the marquee event that it is) but also Bronc Riding, Barrel Racing and much more. The Bull Riding was really exciting too.


These were just as I was sitting down. Basically only half of the area is needed. 

It was HOT!!!! I mean really HOT!!!! 

Did you get the idea that it was hot?

No?

Well let me tell you straight out. It was HOT. There.

Now that we got that settled.



There was this little guy. He was adorable. He was having a great time all night. Dad was looking after him the whole time. It was so cute.

Of course there had to be a big truck somewhere.


There was a salute to our men and women serving our nation and memorial for all those who have given the ultimate price in that service. Very moving. I teared up. But I always do. I am mess at parades. I was saved that there wasn't a marching bank around. I would have been a total disaster.

There there was National Anthem sang by this cute young lady. She did a good job. But after she was finished and she started to walk back behind the shoot (or shute?) she was stopped. A nice young cowboy came out. She apparently knew him and waiting.

Then he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Awwwwweeeeee. Sniff. Sniff. She said "Yes". Of course.


I missed the actual proposal but I did get the good stuff. You can count on me to get the really important parts.

Then it came time to start all the bull riding. There were going to be 30 rides in the first go around (that is what they call first selection process) then a break, then the top six go for the top prize. Only the top six get any money. So alot of riders are going to need a ride home that night. 

So the first few all didn't last more than 3 seconds if that. 

Ouch!

Here we go!

Hunh?

That's gotta hurt.

 Where am I again? Oh yeah. Running!


Thank goodness the Bull Fighters (clowns) are there. They keep the bull occupied so the rider can get to safety. Wonder what their insurance rates are?


There there is this guy. He was a hoot. He was hilarious. He was funny. He was CRAZY!

It doesn't look like it here but he was all over this arena. Talking to the crowd and keeping everyone entertained in between the riders. It takes a while for the riders to get all situated on the bull. My guess it takes some talking oneself into even getting on the bull. Especially since they make that snort noise that is such a warning. Jeez.


For some reason the bulls just didn't want to go back into the pens. They had a heck of time getting them into the pens let alone to stay there. So as they were trying to get a bull that was just ridden in the pen two more escaped. I think they just wanted some more attention from the cowboys and the crowd. 

They must have know it was Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's wedding weekend so they wanted some of the limelight too. But that's just my theory. 

All in all there were only four bulls that were ridden. So they added two more that lasted the longest. These two almost got the 8 seconds. 

Speaking of 8 Seconds, has anyone seen that movie?  I loved it. But then Luke Perry is nice to look at.  But it is still a bit of tear jerker. If you get a chance, check it out. I was watching this movie with my mother and grandmother one night and they enjoyed it. Then it was at the end credits and they realized it was about a real person and they were mad at me. Why? Then they started really crying. So it is a real good movie.

At the break there was a bunch of kids that got an opportunity to ride a mechanical bull.


They were so cute!!! They got a water bottle as a prize and it could have been gold trophy. They held it up with pride they did. They ran all around and it was so cute. Did I tell you how adorable they were?  Well they were.
Now onto the final go-around. 


Let's just say that this picture is kind of what happened. The first five were all bucked off.

So it was left to only one rider. It was his to Win.


Well he did it. He stayed on the bull the full 8 seconds and he won the night. He was awarded $6,000 for his troubles. Not bad for 16 seconds (2 rides for 8 seconds, get it?) worth of work.

Oh and the rider that proposed earlier?  He was bucked off earlier. I guess he other things on his mind.

So there you go. It was a fun and exciting evening. I just might do it again.


     

May 29, 2014

The County Fair! Lord it was HOT!

Yep. I went to the Sacramento County Fair last Saturday. It was fun. I love seeing the all the little kiddos showing off their projects. Whether that be a cow or goat or horse or picture or horticulture. It is so cool to see what they can do. 

It was also 95 degrees!  Have I told you I don't do well in the heat? Well I DON'T! Seriously, I don't do well in the heat. 

I remember one time when it was a hot summer day and my mother and me were sitting out at the pool at our apartment (yes we were roomies back then.) We spent the entire day out there. Periodically dipping into the pool to get cool (me more often than my Mom for sure.) 

At the end of the day, we went in and were discussing what to eat for dinner. She was all hyped up and ready to conquer the world. The sun had really given her energy and she even wanted to go shopping. Now my mother HATES shopping. I can't tell you how much she hates it and she wanted to go shopping. Wow. How could I pass this opportunity up? But, here's the thing. The sun ZAPS me of all my energy. It was everything I could do to making on two feet to the bed for a nap. All I wanted was sleep. So off she went to the grocery store for food and off I went to the bed for sleep. 

Well it wasn't quite that bad that day at the fair. But I did  have one of the ladies manning a booth ask me how I handle the heat. I said you just make a decision that you are going to handle it. Look for cool areas and shade and take advantage when you can and just deal with the heat when you had too. 

So with that in mind I made a B-line straight the the air-conditioned tents where the vendors hawking their wares were. Yep I know how to beat the heat.

Also, the other air-conditioned tent had the exhibits.    

This was a cool Exhibit. All about camping in the 1940's and 1950's. They had those chairs that rocked and really cool vintage tables clothes and aprons. It was really interesting. With cooking demonstrations too. 

There were projects by kids with planting vegetables in wheelbarrows and then painting them. They were cute.

There was really cool photographs too. 

Then I went to the kiddos showing their horses in western handling. That was interesting. Some handled their horses really well. I loved seeing the sequin blouses and tops with black jeans and matching chaps. Also had to have the matching saddle blankets. But it was all about the horsemanship. Usually it's mostly girls but there were some boys this years too. Looking studly. 

Then I made my way over the barn area. I just made up my mind that I was going to deal with the heat. (And take advantage of each and every fan I could find. Sorry Mr. Pig but you have mud, I need the fan for a bit. Move over Ms. Cow. I NEED this cool air from your fan right now.)

I saw some cool judging with all the 4-H'ers. They look so cute in their white and green uniforms. 

I got to see some cute goats being judged. 

This kiddo had a bit of a time wrangling her goat.

Then I looked over and saw the turkeys. They were soooooooo cute. 

Then I saw this. Sorry it's blurry but it so surprised me. They leaned over and picked their turkeys up by their feet and held them there. What?! The girl at the end was having a hard time and couldn't hold her turkey poor thing

Finally she just put her turkey down and said I just can't hold him. But it was one of the more ... shall we say .... unusual things I had seen. 

Then it was over the cows. I like the dairy cows. They are big and pretty. Always seem to be calm. Must be something about being a mom I guess. 

Around and around they went. These were mostly teenagers. They were my size and had to be to handle the largess of these cows. But it was so cool to see how they handle them.

So after the judging they tied them up for a bit. I was up close and personal with little lady. She was trying to get me to milk her as she was pretty full but I resisted. I was mountain of strength and I said that it would soon be time. She just needed to wait a bit. There I told her. But isn't she just so cute?!!!!!

Ok I need to eat now. 

Yep. I found the corndog stand. Off I went to get as many calories as possible. 

There were the usual attractions. Like a really cool band was playing and I love to watch the hypnotist. I hope I didn't get hypnotized. Why am I screeching like an owl every time the phone rings? Nope. I wasn't hypnotized.

Then there was this attraction that I had a hard time with. Morally speaking. It was called Walk on the Wild Side. They had a several exotic species of cats. A tiger, and several others. 


So beautiful.

And this little guy/gal.

And this one too.

The issue I had was one of exploitation. Should these animals be put on display like this was my thinking. I finally came to the conclusion that they were there for teaching purposes. Some of the folks there had never seen these animals in any other setting than either a zoo or in a book or on National Geographic channel. It appeared they were taken care of so I went with the educational angle. Made me feel a little better anyway.

Then it was off to what I really wanted to see.

Bull Riding!!!!!!

Next time.




May 18, 2014

What summer means for my baby.

It's time to shed. That's what summer means. 

My baby sheds since he is a long-haired cat. 

Boy does he shed.

I need to brush him every night when it first gets warm. I keep thinking that I will  take all his hair out soon. But there is always more.



My poor baby just sits there and meows. He loves his brushing each night.






I need to get everywhere when I brush him. He just purrrrrrrrrs. And I if I stop . . . let's just say he lets me know when he is displeased. 




"You better not stop."

"You are so in trouble if you do."

"That's right. You better keep brushing if you know what's good for you."

I get tons of hair off him. It's sort of like cleaning when you haven't in a while You can really see where you have cleaned With him I can see that all my hard work is worth it. And it's hard work alright. My arm gets a workout. It's actually a sore I can hardly lift it. Ok not quite that bad but still.


This is a full brush each time. 

Also, HE dictates which side I get to brush. There is no holding him otherwise. If he doesn't want his right side brushed, we don't brush it. At least not without a fight. Just like kids. That's another reason why IS my baby.




I will tell you that if I don't give him this . . . I WILL be sorry. I will find a present the next morning.

Thank goodness he loves it.


And am thankful I have him. My baby!







May 14, 2014

Bags!

Bags galore!

I love bags. 

I love purses. 

I am a pursaholic! 

Yes I am.

I watched ones of those make over shows for the home once that was helping a woman clean out her house. She had so many bags. She had rooms full of bags. The folks who were helping her had to discard most of her bags. I so felt for her. I was so in sympathy with her. I felt her pain when they tossed her bags. But it was a lesson for me. 

I then looked at all the bags I had strewn around my home. I was a little embarrassed. I had bags stuffed inside of other bags. 

So I decided right then I was not going to be this woman. I am better than that. I can control my . . . my . . . well my . . . habit! Yes I can!!!    

So ever since then I have really been keeping my bag collection in check. Well until a few months ago anyway. 

I fell off the wagon folks. I admit it. I looked at my collection and realized that it was time. I had Ikea bags (yes more than one), WalMart, Delta Dental (I received that on at a craft fair at my park), Rancho Cordova (same thing, different event),Michaels (craft store), not to mention all the grocery bags I have and miscellaneous bags I have been collecting. 

So I weeded them out and . . . and . . . really tried to throw them away. I really did folks. I did. I really did. But I kept thinking that I could use them for something someday. Then I realized that that kind of thinking is how I got here. If I didn't do something with them I would then be classified as a HOARDER! Nooooooooooo. That can't happen. No!!! 

So I did it. I put them in the trash bin. Then I took out the trash so I couldn't look at it and take them out again. Yes I did. I DID IT!!! 

Then I went to Target and I saw these. 


Oh my. I love this purse. 

This so me. 

I gotta have it. 

How much? Wait a minute. 

And then I saw these.



They are so cute! 

Love the colors. 

It's spring time, yeah.



And then I saw all these.




Oh No. Here I go again. 

 

May 12, 2014

My Baby!!! I love my baby!!!!

Yeah - "We know!" you are saying. But I really do. 

I don't have any children but I do have my two cats. I have one who is 25 lbs and the size of medium size dog. 


He is so dog-like that I can play fetch with him. He is my everything. I never thought I would feel this way about a cat but ... dang, I love him.  


Then I have an 8 lb cat that is the boss of the house. She even runs my Big Boy as I call him. She says whether or nor he can eat. If she wants the food first she makes sure he stays out of the kitchen until she is done. So funny. He actually stays on the carpet and not one paw hits the linoleum in the kitchen until she says it's ok.

They are not from the same mommy and daddy but they are so connected. Especially since they have been living together in sin (if he could do any hanky panky they would have but I fixed that. he he he) for 14 years now.

"Hey you. Get that camera out of my face!"

He's gotten so grouchy lately. So demanding. Sheesh!

"It's good to be the King!"


Jeez! How can I resist this face? 

"Mommy can you please get me some chicken and feed it to me?"

"Sure Baby!"

"Let me see if your sister wants any."

"Did someone say food?"

"Do you have to?"

"Yes, my son. It's the right thing to do."
 


"OKaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy"



But then they sleep together and I just can resist. Awwwwwweeeee.

Life is sure good, isn't it?