Rodeo Time!
If you have read any of the past updates, then you will know how much I was looking forward to seeing Reba at the Rodeo. Good news! I made it and it was awesome! For real though...it was tough. Samantha and I arrived around 3:00 and met up with Marc, Hannah, and Anthony. We set off at a fast and furious pace...probably my first mistake! My plan was to try and cram all of my Rodeo into one day. We made it through the parking lot and into the carnival entrance. About the time that I made it to the street between the Astrodome and NRG, it hit me. I wanted to take it all in. I was really there. It was a struggle not to cry, because I really wanted to. I slowed my pace a little. We headed to the Center to see all of the things and eat all of the samples. We had to tell Marc he was not allowed to wander off, because we had a system. There was a certain way that we walk through the center and any deviations result in missed things and mass confusion. Have I mentioned that I like control and order? Samantha is the same way. We have a plan and will stick to it!
I bought Grunt a new bandana. We also got some things from the Pecan Praline place. I am trying to NOT eat my whole extra large sampler container, but it is all so good! We headed toward the Agventure area. Hannah ran past the rabbit area. I don't understand, but she is afraid of rabbits. We got to see a new calf, baby piglets, and some cute lambs that were born that day. Sam looked at all of the boot shops in the hopes of finding a white pair of boots she could use at her wedding. We found lots, but they cost lots! So, not white boots. We also always stop at the dip samples. There are like 30 dips, 10 cheese balls, some dessert dips, gumbo, and a cobbler to try. We always love it. Hannah always asks me to buy some and I never do. This year, I let her pick some out..buy 5 get 1 free. At some point in the center doing all of the fun things, everything started to hurt. I slowed down and feel like I was even limping. Eventually, we headed out to the food tents. Marc wandered off. He was there, then he wasn't. We just kept going. Samantha wanted to get a cinnamon roll for her and Anthony. We did that hoping Marc would appear...he did not. Then we headed over to where Trill Burger used to be. It was not there. I pulled up the map on the app and found it, but figured we should wait for Marc. Y'all know that I do not wait well. Samantha was making fun of me because she thought I looked like a toddler throwing a fit. I had one foot up on the curb and my arms crossed. I think in my head, I may have felt like he could be ruining my last rodeo by following his stomach and not following the rest of us. At this point, I was also really hurting and that was amplifying all of my feelings. I called him and told him to hurry up and get to us. I could see him and may have loudly told him to walk faster. Samantha quickly told me to quit throwing my fit. He figured out he could use his phone to find us. He was "today years old" when he figured out he was the blue dot and the blue dot moved when he walked. His "today years old" is 54. Hopefully, all of my readers know that they are the blue dot in the app! We did decide to go to Trill Burger. It is one of those places that you go to on the first few days of rodeo. If you don't, then you will be waiting in long lines. I can say that I was unimpressed this year. It could be in part because my taste buds are jacked, but there was only 1 pickle, not a lot of trill sauce, and hardly any grilled onions. Maybe Bun B's partnership with Trae tha Truth put too many things on the menu. I just want the OG Trill Burger. It was there while waiting that I got dizzy and had to sit for a while. One we all ate, we were on the move again. We had to go see all of the Ford Trucks! The King Ranch trucks are so beautiful! I swear, it I had an abundance of money, I would have one of those trucks. I sat in the King Ranch Super Duty for a while just wishing I could own it. We moved on again to check out the Bucking Horses and wandered more while waiting for the gates to open. Once they opened we headed in. I was wishing for the escalator, but that line is always so long and we were separated by a gate. I was not about to backtrack, so slowly up the ramp we went. Thankfully, we were on level 1. Our first stop was to the Club where we can see the star busses (we saw Blake Shelton get out one year) and the Grand Entry get ready to go in. We also like to take photos there. The problem is that Hannah can't go in and the others can't go in without me. Problem solved! There is a shirt that I really really wanted and a merch stand was right there. I gave Hannah my card and told her to also buy herself something. The line was really really long, but I told her I would be back after the photos. So, into the club we went.
You will never guess....
That right there is Reba's bus! It had the big R on it, but I didn't want to put my phone that far off over the rail to get the photo of the whole thing!
I watched the Grand Entry folks get ready for a while.
Samantha and I took our photo and then I headed back out to meet Hannah in the merch line. She was still pretty far back. Back to the shirt that I wanted...I will show you a photo in a minute. I never buy current year merch. I usually hit up the shop that has leftovers from the previous year. All of that stuff is discounted and I love discounts. I am thinking that I paid $10 for one t-shirt. I have gotten previous years line up shirts and other year specific things that I won't pay full price for. I joined Hannah in line. I swear...every person seemed to be buying this particular shirt. I was getting worried! It looked like the mediums and larges were dwindling down. As we inched closer, it looked like there were 1 or 2 of each of those sizes. I looked at the ladies in front of me and felt like I was safe, none of them could...or should wear a medium, so as long as they weren't buying for others, I would get my shirt. Sure enough, I got one of the last 2 medium shirts. So, since you are dying to know...the shirt celebrates Reba's 20th Rodeo performance. I have been to at least 10 of them.
By the time we made it through the line, the others were out. We were headed to our seats to watch the Grand Entry. However, we stumbled upon Leon Coffee! He is a legend! How could I not stop to get his autograph??? The bad part is that we got stuck there for the moment of silence, prayer, pledge, and National Anthem. All activity stops during those things...as it should. I love watching the anthem and am sad to have missed seeing it...even though I could hear it.
Ok, maybe I will explain a little. A friend gave us some tickets. Samantha said on the way to the seats that this was the closest she had ever sat. In case you ever want to know a way to the heart of me and my girls...a close up of the rodeo action will make us love you forever! Marc wanted to see Reba too. Amazingly, there was exactly 1 single seat for sale two rows behind us. Single seats usually sell for a lot less than any of the other resale tickets.
If you are facebook friends with me, then you know that I love all things rodeo and I usually take a lot of photos and videos and share the experience with others. I did not do that this year. I enjoyed every single minute of every single thing. I did freak Hannah out though when I all of a sudden screamed before the calf scramble. Who on earth screamed before the calf scramble? This girl when Dennis Quaid is announced!
I stole this photo from Samantha, because she was smart enough to take one. I was too busy screaming. Then trying to explain to Hannah who he was...it took me showing her Jack Quaid! Then she go it AND understood why I was so happy! The calf scramble was entertaining as always, but the Mutton Bustin really took the cake on this night. Two sheep literally jumped the gate and ran loose on the stadium floor. It was funny to watch the people try and chase them toward the gate. The sheep did not cooperate. It was hilarious!
Next up...REBA! I feel like I sat there starstruck and in awe for the whole first 2 songs. I was so happy to be there. There really are no words. I don't think many outside of my high school friends could understand how much this particular show meant to me. While I plan on fighting for my life, the reality is that this could be my last rodeo (outside of my committee shifts). Again, I am stealing Samantha's photos...
Then, it was over. Reba left the stage in a red sports car. I saw Reba and I didn't see it through my phone. I saw it as the teenager from years ago that was present in the moment and soaked it all in. The only difference from those teen years??? The tour busses are in a secure area. At the dome, we could walk...or sneak down the ramp to get a glimpse of the stars. My friend and I caught a glimpse of Reba with her son once. We were too afraid to go around the corner. I don't know why, because I don't remember any security being around at that time. The tour busses were also just in the parking lot. We would regulartly hang around and wait for the performers to go to the bus. We got several autographs this way. I think the nicest artist we met was Marty Stewart. The rudest we ever met was Mark Chesnutt.
Ok, just so you know, I am now a little distracted. I started this update about an hour and half ago. I was hoping I would be done by now, but I am not. So...I am watching tonight's rodeo competition while finishing this update.
The exit out of the stadium was horrible. I should have known better, because there are some "secret" stairs that we could have used. I did not put my inner stadium knowledge to use... I feel like we waited to get out the door and onto the ramp for at least half an hour. I was done! Absolutely ready to go home...but the trip to the car was going to be really slow. However, that was not the case. Do you remember way back in the beginning of this post when I mentioned that Samantha and I like things done a certain way? Well, she had to go get photos in front of the ferris wheel. We headed over for photos. She was frustrating! LOL I
swear...I took 100 photos of her and Anthony before she was satisfied. I started to head out, but she stopped me. We had to get our photo too. I still stand by my previous comments that a little make up and clean hair do wonders, but if you look closely, you can probably see on my face, body, body language...all of the things...how I am feeling physically. At least, I can see it...
After this photo, we headed toward the exit. I would have loved to take the tram back to the parking lot. However, the line went past the exit. I can't explain that sentence, but the line was very very very long. Samantha looked at me, because she knew how I was feeling. I told her there was no way I was standing in that line. We would walk. I would be at Marc's normal pace, not mine... meaning SLOW. My slow pace is faster than his fast pace, but I was moving really really slow by this point. However, I knew we would still get to the car before a tram could get us there. I wasn't wrong. We were almost to the lot before the 1st tram every passed by. We were in 2 cars, so Samantha had to get stuff out of my car and Hannah had to get stuff out of Samantha's car (they drove her car so she could go back to her place after the rodeo and Samantha and I had carpooled to work). The most horrible thing about the rodeo is the first night issues that get worked out quickly. We were still waiting to get OUT of the parking lot at midnight. It was a long night!
So....my body hurt! When I say that it hurt...every muscle in my body hurt. My insides hurt. My body was so tired. I did not hurt this bad after I did a full marathon.
Is this what normal people feel like when they try to do all things rodeo? I was told, yes...they do! This was a first for me. I do not want to be normal people! I want to be me who could do all things rodeo every single day and keep going.
I was moving very slowly on Wednesday, but no rest for the weary. Hannah had a softball tournament on Thursday. First game...8:00 am...over an hour and a half away that time of day. We arrived at 8:06. Three game later, Hannah, her teammate, and I changed and headed to NRG. Caleb and his girlfriend also had tickets. I connected them together and then checked in for my first shift. My captain is aware of my cancer/chemo and made sure the area boss was aware, so I could take a break whenever I needed. Thankfully, I was able to keep going and took my scheduled break. It was hard, but so fun. The NRG staff people in my area were hoping I would be back today, because they thought I was fun and able to engage and take care of it all. Basically, I made their job easy. Upper management of my committee commented on how great I was with the guests and the children. I am hoping that Tuesday will be just as good. I know it will be much harder, because I will be connected to the pump, but I absolutely LOVE getting to do what I do.
Here is a picture from my first shift...before the gates opened. I am sure you can see how tired I am in this photo...if not, it is time for an eye exam.
Well, today is Friday. I was hoping to sleep in, because I am so physically exhausted. My brain woke me up at 7 this morning. It is frustrating! I have to get up and out early tomorrow for softball and Sunday is Sunday. I am praying for a restful night. While I love watching all things Rodeo Houston, I am secretly hoping I fall asleep early tonight.
I hope you enjoyed this update. I am about to hit "publish" and normally, I go back and read it to find and fix errors. I will not be doing that tonight...Rodeo is on the tv. So, if you find an update full of errors...ignore them. Hopefully, you know what I am trying to say.
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