Thursday evening I went to a rodeo.
How did I get to a rodeo? A company that I am a customer of, always treats their clients to a roast beef dinner. So there we are once a year at a fine dinner and with tokens in our pockets for drinks. They also gave us rodeo tickets so that's how I got to the rodeo.
We have the Canadian Finals Rodeo here so it shows off the best talent on the rodeo circuit. Only the top ten in each category get to enter and compete in this rodeo. These performers have competed for the last year at rodeos and these were the best.
At this time of year rodeos are in arenas.
Now I don't go to rodeos anymore. I used to go once in a while but they were to summer events. I prefer the summer outdoor rodeo. I also like the chuck wagon races and you can't have those in an arena.
Now I got to the rodeo a little late. The lights in the stands were dim. I couldn't find my seat. You just couldn't see the signage. Oh yes, you needed an magnifying glass to read the info on the ticket stub. Finally I ran into an usher. I had seats in the wheelchair section and she had to get us chairs.
Okay, my second gripe is that they have the sound system turned up to about a 1000 decibels. With hearing aids, I hear very little. Just noise!
After all that I had fun although I didn't stay for the whole show .
What an adventure! Yep, outside is better. I hate it when the sound is so loud that even turning down our hearing devices doesn't make the words any more understandable. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteLoud arenas are not a pleasant place to go to.
DeleteNo chuck wagons, so you chucked it in early.
ReplyDeleteYep half time was enough.
DeleteDoesn't sound like much fun at all, Red. Give the tickets to a friend next time. :)
ReplyDeleteWe won't get anymore tickets as this rodeo is going to another venue.
DeleteI find that things I used to enjoy are not as much fun...such as things being so loud in a restaurant or at an event. Sigh!
ReplyDeleteYes, restaurants are too loud.
DeleteGlad you had a chance to get out there. Outdoor rodeos are rodeos.
ReplyDeleteThe last rodeo I went to in Texas was so small (in those days), they didn't need a loud speaker system. :)
The sound systems ruin things.
DeleteOh, the inconveniences of being elderly. :-( I know.
ReplyDeleteI grew up near a rodeo town, the Molalla Buckaroo, in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, USA. We went almost every 4th of July, which was a good time to have a rodeo. Then fireworks!
Being elderly is better than other options unless you can find some pills to make you younger.
DeleteGood for you getting out and about! Did you see the half time show...pretty gal trick riders on horseback? That i what I would like to see!
ReplyDeleteThey don't have trick riders here but the barrel racers put on a great show.
DeleteNever been to a rodeo. The loudness would be very annoying to me so I would pass on going.
ReplyDeleteWell, since they bought tickets I felt I should go.
DeleteNot my cup of tea. I wish there was some way to turn off my hearing aids that actually work to keep the sound down!
ReplyDeletethere definitely are issues with rodeos and it's not the sound system.
DeleteMy farmer always fancied going to one but we were never in the right place at the right time. Once in the US we were taken to The Alamo where the highlight was the cows being walked through the street - you can imagine how the farmer 'enjoyed' that having left his milking herd ! The only difference was the cows at the Alamo had longer horns but they did look extremely bored.
ReplyDeleteLong horns are not my choice.
DeleteI have never see a rodeo in person! Sad!
ReplyDeleteThere are issues with rodeos and safety and treatment of animals.
DeleteThat doesn't sound like so much fun! I've never been to a rodeo.
ReplyDeleteOut of my experience.
ReplyDeleteLots of complaints there, it seems. I don't think I could stand any kind of event, whether in an arena or not, these days because of many of the things you mention.
ReplyDeleteNever been to a rodeo, maybe I waited too long, loud is not me!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had fun. I have never been to one and I think I would not like the crowds. Sadly I get claustrophobic and panicky with a lot of people around, so miss out on these events. I enjoy reading about them though.
ReplyDeleteI've only been to one rodeo in New Mexico when my son lived there. What a shame your experience wasn't very fun.
ReplyDeleteWell, like you said, it wasn't your first rodeo ... I hope you enjoyed it. I probably would have just turned the hearing aid off ... would that have helped?
ReplyDeleteI don't go to movies at the theater because they are too loud. Live music: too loud. I keep telling myself I'm going to invest in a good set of ear plugs. The noise makes my inner ear vibrate and that can last until the next day.
ReplyDeleteEar plugs don't help much and then you will miss things that are at less decibels.
DeleteIf there is back ground noise, I can't hear the quieter things anyway.
DeleteAnymore, I always carry a set of noise reducing earplugs when going to inside performances of any kind. A 25db reduction can prevent ears from ringing after the performance.
ReplyDeleteI find rodeo equal parts exciting and appalling. I don't think I'd ever go voluntarily, it's not really humane and of course the access would probably be across a paddock somewhere difficult for someone like me
ReplyDelete