When the Blastoff show debuted a couple of years ago, I remember many Coloradoans being rather skeptical (me included). A show in January in the Midwest? Surely that was tempting the snowstorm fates that seem to have a particular attraction for holidays, weekends, and pretty much any other day between October and May – at least in Colorado. And if you can’t get out of Colorado, not much point where the show is held.
Now here we are and I’m leaving tomorrow for my first participation in this event. The weather is great, just as it was the last times it was held. Ironically, it’s the first time I’ve headed that way in the past year when the weather has actually cooperated – both Mopaca and Mid-America in 2009 began with snow, sleet, ice or some combination of the three. I’ve heard (through the grapevine) that attendance at the show this weekend is high and from Colorado in particular. Perhaps the show has found contrarian success by holding a show during a time people traditionally would call crazy. It is, to be sure, clear of any conflicts with any other alpaca events.
To add to its attraction, the halter show is being judged by two of Colorado’s finest: Sara Jane MacLennan and Diana Timmerman.
So today I’m gathering up my supplies, packing my bags, cleaning up my animals. Meanwhile, chaos has broken loose in my house. The HVAC guys are on day two of installing new utilities -furnace, AC, humidifier, tankless water heater – and there are dropclothes and duct parts strewn all over the place. In retrospect, it probably was not the wisest choice for me to schedule it this way. They’re hustling to get everything done as any unfinished business will have to wait until Monday when I’m back. They don’t want that and neither do I.
So I suspect that tonight we’ll all be packing up/ cleaning up/ finishing up long after it’s dark.
