Happy Stampede Calgarians!

[Delphinus]

I dig the Stampede and go every just about every year. Although I probably haven't done midway in about 20 years or so. But that's OK, I love the exhibition, the demonstrations and looking at animals like miniature donkeys or whatever. My mom usually has a couple entries in the knitting competition () and she's damn good at knitting so usually wins something so I go look for her entry so I can say "yep I saw the thingamajig, nice job Mom!!".

I also get a kick out of people watching too on the grounds.

I miss the photo competition though. They pulled it a couple years ago, I don't know why ... it was one of my favourite things to see inside.

I go on Family Day, if you get into the grounds before 9 then admission is free. Kind of painful to get up that early maybe but it's a way to get in and keep the costs down. We just go for a couple of hours and get our fill.

Yeah, people get a little dumb about things so I can sort of understand wanting to flee the city.. but .. on the other hand, if it wasn't over this it'd be over something else. People gotta get the party out of their systems somehow..

[Delphinus]

Oh ... yeah, the kids love it too. My oldest kid is 4 and he's been looking forward to going for months. "When is Stampede again?" "Uh .. in about .. 60 sleeps or so."

Today as we got off the Ctrain (park at 39th Av station and ride in from there) he's all "STAMPEDE ... HERE WE COME!!!!" .. So yeah, I guess nowadays it's for the kids.

Let him go on the kid bungee jump thing. Looks like fun, kinda wish I could do it but I think I'll break it. Anyhow, he's all loose and just dangling there like a doofus while the other kids are all jumping and doing backflips or whatever ... but the grin on his face was worth the $10. Of course, part of it is the 13 year old GIRL who's helping him on the trampoline. The kid is FOUR and is a menace around "older women."

It starts early apparently. I swear he didn't get it from me!

[Pier Pressure]

I went to the Kid Rock concert last year and admission was included so we went early. I could not believe how expensive everything was! Not going this year. Decorations downtown are really lame this year, too, probably due to the economic conditions. Pretty sad what I have seen so far this year.