Saturday, December 31, 2005

The day is finally here!!! Going to the PBR. For those not in the know this is the Professional Bull Riders riding big bulls. My favorite Justin McBride did not attend. I knew this a few days out after checking the roster and his website - DAMN IT! I so wanted to meet him face to face. Hopefully they will put Mpls on their schedule each year. It was pretty full so perhaps they will.

Our seats were pretty sweet. As we were driving, following a pick up with cowboy hats inside, we see one of the riders, Tony Mendez, on his cell phone outside. Of course, L and I scream . . . E asked if we could PLEASE wait until we were out of the vehicle.

We got some grub and beer and checked out the chutes area. Inhale deeply the aroma of bulls . . . ahhhhh.

The excitement begins with USA in blazing fire on the arena floor and explosions and fire shooting into the air. Next comes the introductions of the cowboys and bul fighters. All the riders stood on platforms for the entire crowd to see. I was smart and brought my new binoculars (five year work anniversary). These came in handy for checking out what was going on (behinds) behind the scenes - cowboys stretching and joking around.

Something that horsey people willl find interesting is the first pickup pony used no headstall and had the reins tied inside the jaw just like the Indians use to do. He behaved much better than the second half cowpony. Both wore pompoms which did seem to help. I know PJ would have been fifty feet tall and frozen with all that was going on.

The PBR guys are wonderful! After the event they went around and signed autographs. As we were leaving we saw Lee Aiken. I swear he said Hey, baby (he had a cell phone but he was looking directly into my eye!!!!) to me.

It was pretty action packed. I would definitely do it again.