Frontier Days finale

Today is the official last day of Frontier Days, but my last day was after the rodeo on Wednesday. That's because Jonna and I left Thursday morning for Lamar, Colo., for Linds H.'s little sister's wedding.

On my last day at CFD I was assigned to the photo pit, which is literally a cement bunker in the middle of the arena. It's a cool place for photographer's to go because they get awesome close up shots they couldn't get elsewhere. I took advantage of a few shots myself.

Here are my last shots of this year's Frontier Days rodeo:

Inside the pit...


I absolutely love this photo. It turned out way more cool than I thought it was going to! Click on it to check it out. Doesn't it kind of look like the horse and rider are getting beamed up by aliens...?


Getting close...!


Galloping close by the pit...


Click on this photo and check out the arch on the horse's neck. I think it's cool...


He's looking right at us! haha...


A dramatic fly-off...


I am really happy with this photo and recommend clicking on it to get all the detail. I love the horse arched over the fallen cowboy...


You can get some great shots of the timed events because they many times skid to a halt right in front of you. A steer wrestler...


Check out the vertical on this guy!


The Wild Horse Race is the last event each day. First one up on a wild horse who can go around the track once, wins...

And there you have it. Frontier Days 2009!

Frontier Days round-up

Last year, I was assigned to one camera crew that does filming for Frontier Days each year and consequently spent every, single day behind the chutes.

I watched a lot of rodeo, and it was awesome!

This year, for the first couple of days I've had a different assignment: Channel 4 news out of Denver. It's been super fun, but I've watched precious little rodeo.

Instead, I've spent the last two days setting up sit-down interviews, helping their cameraman get video, suggesting locations and interviews for live shots, showing up at 4 a.m. at the Depot to tell them where to park their satellite truck for the free pancake breakfast...etc.

I haven't had much of a chance to take photos, but I've squeezed in a few. Here's some of what I've been up to minus the pancake breakfast. There will be photos of that up soon...

A bull rider!


This bull was so stubborn! It took the pick-up men (all the guys in blue who help the riders and keep the animals in check) FOREVER to get that thing rounded up! He really dug in...


And this is what becomes of stubborn bulls...Rocky Mountain Oysters. Just kidding. I didn't take this photo of that bull's balls on purpose. I just happened to notice the incredible size of his package later! (I'm getting pretty crass!)


I took Eddie, the cameraman, right behind the chutes so he could get some cool shots above the cowboys as they were getting ready to ride.

These are the HEELS. Frontier Days is pretty much put on by all volunteers. You are eligible to make a HEEL after about 10 years of service. There are about 480 registered HEELS, the oldest of which has been serving for around 50 years! They did a big photo to get ready for next year's 75th anniversary celebration of the organization...

This is Dan Taylor, the Chute 9 chute boss. Chute 9 is where all the timed events like team roping, steer wrestling, etc. come out of. He's been doing this since '61 or '62. He is such a character!


This is Michelle Griego, the reporter I was with. I got her "written in" to the Cheyenne Gunslingers's skit. She had never held a gun before, but by the time she left Cheyenne she'd handled three...


Michelle demonstrating gun safety by shooting (with a blank) a pop can...



This is Richard, the sat truck driver. I was sitting up front chillin' while we waited for a live shot...

And me in my cowgirl garb by the truck...

Frontier Days Revisited

One of the photographers who's been attending Frontier Days for several years is a guy named Alwyn Spence.

Alwyn is from Ireland and is just cool. He has a cool accent, a cool personality, and of course is a really, really cool photog.

We spent more time with him than we did some of the other photographers. He's just a super nice guy who really enjoys capturing the "spirit of the West."

His rodeo gallery can be found at http://www.alwynspence.com, and you should pretty easily see the ones for Frontier Days 2008.

I'm in one of the photos... See how quickly you can find me too!

Frontier Days ramp up

It's starting.

That time of year when the entire city of Cheyenne shuts down for 10 days of rodeo rambunctiousness.

But July 17 isn't the beginning...

For me and my coworkers Rachel and Matt, the CFD (Cheyenne Frontier Days) fun has already started.

Last night we did a staff run of a Behind the Chutes tour. I saw these tours shuffle by the PR House last year, but didn't really have a concept of what they were about.

Turns out - they're pretty darn worth it. First of all they're free. Secondly, tour-goers get a good, in depth look at what goes on at CFD and how it happens.

These tours can have 300-500 people on them. (Crazy!) They go by the animal pens, through the arena, into the Western Museum, and get history tidbits along the way. They've been going on for about 13 years, and Bill, the guy that's been heading them up for the last 10, knows what he's about.

I decided I'm going to take the real tour at some point during CFD, and would highly recommend this to everyone.

Stay tuned for many for CFD posts. The fun has just begun!

"And They Call the Thang Rodeooooh..."

Garth Brooks says "it's bulls and blood, and it's dust and mud" - and that's exactly what today, the first big rodeo day at Frontier Days, was like.

I've mentioned how my job during the whole 10-day event is to help manage media. I am assigned primarily to a videography team that is doing a sort-of documentary on CFD (Cheyenne Frontier Days). He has to get in to all the nooks and crannies of every part of the event, which means I get to also.

Yesterday morning was the first big parade - which happens to go right in front of my house. As I walked back from the grocery store there were pioneer women, mountain men, cowboys and girls, old-time sheriffs, and all sorts of other characters shuffling past my place to get in position for the parade.

After a scattered morning trying to run down some photo release forms, I finally caught up with the crew at the historic Depot down town for the arrival of the Denver Post train.

The DP train ran from 1908 to 1970 bringing people up to Cheyenne for the "Daddy of 'em All." The round-trip ride includes food, drinks, and a day at the rodeo.

It was neat to see the hundreds of people streaming out of the yellow cars to be greeted by a band playing and the museum director telling each person, "Welcome to Cheyenne!"

After that it was up to Frontier Park for the rodeo. Our team was right down on the arena fence by the chutes, which made for some exciting rodeo, and some cool pictures.

One bronc buster got busted himself when his horse jumped straight up in the air, flipped on its side, and landed square on the cowboy. He was carried off on a stretcher.

I was down there all day, marking times for cool shots the cameraman wanted to remember and find easily.

Afterwards, it was back to the CFD Public Relations House for a beer (ok, two), and a snack because I hadn't eaten most of the day.

Tomorrow we do it all over again, but I have yet to find out my assignment.

Some pictures from the day:

The Denver Post train rolling in...

A barrel racer rounding one of three barrels she must fly around...

Our proximity to the chutes. The guy with the hat on the right is our cameraman...

Just some cowboys...

A horse in a chute giving me the evil eye...

Cowboys riding past "the pit" where still photographers can go to get those awesome action shots. Once you're in the pit, though, there's no coming out until the end of the rodeo. Don't drink too much coffee before going in!

This picture kind of cracked me up:

Good eye

I aspire to take wonderful, artistic photos and maybe one day I will. But I know I don't have a God-given gift to take photos like this artist.

Her name is Jennifer Alnwick and she's one of the photogs that comes to Frontier Days.

I also believe she is a true artist and wish I could buy one of everything she's got!

Some of my favorites?

Under portfolios then people I LOVE numbers: 2, 4 (he's a pick-up man at Frontier Days - and one of my favorites too!), and 32 (I freaking LOVE this one!)

Under ranch and rodeo: 6 (oh man...), 12 (love, LOVE), 15, 16 (so cool), 27 (just look at the detail of the dirt flying!), 30, 31, 33, and 35 (love the movement here)

Under equine: 2 (look at that light), 6, 15, 28 (you can nearly see emotion in the horse's eye)

Under on the road: 3 (beautiful), 11, 12, 16 (I love old Western murals painted on the sides of buildings), 21 and 31

People who have this kind of talent blow me away!

Flapjack fantasy

One of my favorite things about Frontier Days is the free pancake breakfast downtown at the Depot.

My goal is to eat pancakes three times during Frontier Days, that is, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday when they have the feeds.

Monday is the busy breakfast for me because I get assigned to a Denver news crew and am helping them get set up and get interviews. But I still find time to make it through the line for some flapjacks!

This photo reminds me of John Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" song..."When the suns comin' up I got cakes on the griddle..." I think I've mentioned on here before how much I love the word griddle...


The flapjack cookers flip the "cakes" to Boy Scouts who act as catchers...








One of our Chey-town Grizzlies, which is our baseball team...


There's always live entertainment on the plaza during the feed. This country group was pretty good...

Following Frontier Days

Aside from the awesome Frontier Days coverage you will get on my blog I would recommend checking out another one by Wyoming Travel and Tourism: The Rodeo Hand.

They will be posting feature stories and video throughout the week, and will be Twittering from the park as the action happen (as will I).

Between the two of us you shouldn't be short on CFD highlights!

Imposter

The moment I laid eyes on a squash blossom necklace it was the beginning of the end for me - I simply HAD to have one.

This epiphany occurred during my first Frontier Days a couple years ago in the Indian Village.  Everywhere you turn there is amazing Western jewelry and hanging everywhere are squash blossom necklaces.

It's out of control - kind of like my longing for one.  Every time I pass a display case with them in it I stop in my tracks and just want to die with desperation for it.  I lovingly run my fingers over them.  I try them on.  And ultimately, at generally upwards of $700 a pop, I put them back...walking sadly away.

Todd has even said he thinks he might have to give me an engagement squash blossom versus a ring.

The thought gave me pause.

Then one day, a month or so back, Todd and I went to the Eclectic Elephant, an antiques place in town.  And there in the display case lay a beautiful turquoise squash blossom - and a sign saying all jewelry 50 percent off.

O - M - G.

I knew I still couldn't justify the price, but I had the sales lady pull it out just the same.  I just HAD to see what the discount would knock the price down to...

$3.75

$3.75???!!!

I was momentarily stunned - could I have some crazy, CRAZY find on my hands?? - before my good sense came back and I knew, with great disappointment, it wasn't real.

But did I care?  I had to ask myself if I could in good conscience wear an IMPOSTER.  Wouldn't I be a poser?  A total wanna-be?  Yes.

But I told myself I wouldn't wear it around town.  I'd only wear it in states outside the Western ones. Nobody would know then...

I bought it.  I just couldn't help it.  How in the gol-darn world could I pass it up??  I put it on in the car and wore it ALL night long.  Todd told me I was like a kid who couldn't wait to play with a new toy.  I'm ok with that.

And one day...not being able to take it staring at me from my dresser any more...I wore it to work!

I was apprehensive.  What would I say when people inevitably ask me where I got my squash blossom - because people always do.  And they did.  So, I came clean. But nobody judged.  Instead, they cooed over it!  One coworker even told me I should have it examined to see if it's worth more because, she said, she would never guessed it to be a FAKE.

What does it look like...?  Take a gander... The flash lighting is really annoying, but you can still see it.

 

  

I still don't think I'll have the guts to pull it out during Frontier Days, but who knows?  I'm so crazy happy about it I'm becoming almost brazen about wearing it.

Who'll know?

Frontier Days booty

Cheyenne Frontier Days just isn't complete for me unless I find a special jewelry purchase or two at the Indian Village.

My goal is to get at least one thing each year I volunteer to mark my time at CFD.  I've been doing pretty well, but sadly, I lost a ring I bought a couple years ago.  It just disappeared - and oddly so has the post where I'm SURE I had a picture of it.  Cue the Twilight Zone music...

This year, I attempted to make up for my broken heart over the cool lost ring and purchased three things.  I couldn't help it!  There were some irresistible deals I just couldn't pass up!

There are so many stunning pieces in the Village, but I have never spent over $100 on any one thing.  One day, I will.  I have plans to save a little each month so when CFD rolls around one year I can buy, say, a Squash Blossom.  Or a turquoise and silver belt...  Or a truly dramatic turquoise and/or coral cuff - one that makes you look like a superhero!  Oh...the wish list goes on.

My purchases this year:

The double strand necklace was my first purchase.  I was very attracted to the more rough cut turquoise this year and while I've always eyed pieces like the necklace and ring below I ultimately have chosen jewelry that was a little more symmetrical.  The second purchase was the ring.  After staring at my friend Rachel's finger all week with a similar ring on it I decided to see what I could find.  I found this little gem and declared I was done.

But...then I decided to go back one last time to find Todd a hat band.  He has a cowboy hat as part of his work uniform and I thought he'd enjoy something for it.  The beaded band is what I ultimately found, but only after another irresistible find... That pendant.

The pendant on the left was a super steal!  If you hit up the Village toward  the end of the week the vendors are more likely to deal.  The vendor at that booth gave Rachel and I 50 percent off anything we wanted plus an additional discount for being volunteers. I wasn't even intending to shop for myself that day!  I just wanted a hat band!  But with that kind of deal I wasn't about to just walk away.

Then there were the three turquoise drop necklaces I got for my sisters and mom.  They were too good of a price!  And were really pretty.

So, everyone got a little piece of CFD.  And since I didn't buy it all for me I'm hoping for some awesome shopping karma next year...  and a Squash Blossom...

"Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On"

One of the perks of a Cheyenne job is a more casual dress code, which means I can wear jeans to work and still look professional.

Today, I am wearing a pair of jeans I love from a big-name retailer:

Wal-Mart.

That's right.

We do have shopping options in Cheyenne, being blessed with a Dillard's that carries several nice labels, and many other stores. But when I learned I would be working Frontier Days, spending hours in dirt and dung, I decided to find something other than my nice brand jeans to get the job done.

So, with 10 days of rodeo before me and five months of unemployment behind, I took myself to Wal-Mart to see what I could find.

I was very pleasantly surprised! Wal-Mart's No Boundaries brand beat Corral West in fit and, not surprisingly price. I picked up two pairs for less than half of what I could get for one at the cowboy store.

I thought I was choosing something expendable, something that was cheap and would get me through 10 dirty days of rodeo. Instead, my Wal-Mart brand jeans are keepers! Who knew? Certainly not me, who hasn't purchased Wal-Mart clothing in several years. Not so much because I'm a clothing snob, but more because in D.C., Wal-Marts are darn hard to find.

Now, when I'm choosing which pair of jeans to wear to work, I know that along with my city slicker Gap's and Joe's, my cute and comfy NoBo's will be more than fine.

Back

I'm back!

July was a killer on my schedule! - and my ability to keep my little blog updated.

After trips to Vail, Dubois, Wyo., Lamar, Colo., and Vegas, and several days of cowgirling it up at Frontier Days I am ready for a quiet August.

However, if you know me that just means a little more time doing stuff closer to home - not a kabash on doing stuff in general.

So, I'm back and will be much more consistent in my updating.

Ahhh...August!

Crazy serenity

I love having a schedule full of events. Even if I don't end up doing something on my calendar, I like to have it there just in case.

This is one of those weekends where I have a million things planned. And I want to do them all. It was a jam-packed day today and I'm tired, but I can't miss the fun things going on tomorrow, so I'm going to do it all again.

Today was the first "work day" for Frontier Days. They have several of these work days scheduled for all the volunteers to help get the park ready for the big event. I spent four hours cleaning, raking a million pounds of pine needles, helping a man I saw fall off a ladder at the PR committee house, and enjoying the BBQ they fed us all after. The man who fell was lucky. I think his shoulder's pretty jacked, and his face was scraped up, but at least he was conscious and kicking. The paramedics hauled him away...

After that, Molly and I hit up a disappointing garden festival at the depot, took a neat (but a little over the top) Cheyenne trolley tour since it's Laramie County appreciation weekend for residents, went antiquing, got more potting soil at Home Depot, did a whirlwind cleaning of the back patio for a building BBQ I organized, then got showered and had the BBQ with my neighbors.

Whew!

I took pictures of a lot of it, but at this point I just want to focus on this peaceful scene: From my walk downtown first thing this a.m. to get my bike. It's JUST like the pics you see of the cherry blossoms in D.C.

Compare:

D.C. ... (I'm too tired to search for my own pic so I found one online...)


Cheyenne...the Wyoming State Capitol... (This one IS mine.)

Get Along Lil' Doggies

This morning was the Cheyenne Frontier Days cattle drive. This is an important part of CFD, since it's when the cattle that will be used for the rodeos are moved from their happy little pasture to Frontier Park.

I didn't want to miss this, so I got up early, threw on my boots and headed out.

The majority of the drive follows a frontage road along I-25.

Me and two other cars staked out a pretty good spot on a dirt road off the frontage, only to be told moments later by a CFD official that we'd need to move back - the cattle were going to come straight through the field on our right, and we'd be smack in the middle of them.

Here's a fun little slide show of the event:

**Putting your cursor on the photo will give you the option in the bottom right to stop the slideshow for a longer look. It's going pretty fast as it is, and I didn't see a way to set it at a different speed.**

Head 'em up and move 'em out!

The Frontier Days cattle drive was early yesterday morning and this year, instead of being just a spectator, I got a chance to take part!

My assignment was to help any media there, which meant riding in a buckboard at the end of a wagon train with reporters and photographers, and 500 head of cattle behind us.

I wanted to post these yesterday after the event, but my Internet was soooooo slow! I would suggest clicking on some of the photos so you can see the real detail in them...

The day started out with an authentic chuckwagon breakfast on the prairie for participants. Everything's made in cast iron skillets and pots. The three pots in front all have biscuits baking in them. You can see the hot coals on top the lids to get them warm...

Here's the cook for the chuckwagon. They're from the Texas Panhandle and have competed in the Chuckwagon Cook-off for the past several years...

This is Miss Frontier, the CFD queen, and her Lady in Waiting...

I just liked this shot of these two little girls in the field...

Here come the cattle...!

Still coming...

Here they are...

An appropriately named road for this occasion...


This is a good one to click on. Those are the CFD Dandies riding down the Interstate so they can get positioned in front of us and keep the cattle from getting into the crowds...


The wagons in front of us...


I love the contrast of the old and new ways of life here...


Definitely click on this one...


The cattle finally in the arena...


This makes me imagine a big ol' bull on a stretcher with bandages on him...haha...