Going, going, gone

Just getting back from the Wednesday morning performance, the last show of the first go-round. It's a warm one out there, too. Even at 10 a.m., I was perspiring quite profusely. Then again, I was drinking coffee, wearing jeans, a long sleeve T-shirt and work boots. Brilliant.

Maybe because of the heat, maybe not, but I felt the need to tuck a note on the windshield of a truck that took up four parking spaces. My note simply read "nice parking job." It was sarcastic. Really, four spaces? I don't care if you're driving a big pickup or a tank, those white lines aren't just suggestions. Meanwhile, I parked somewhere in Bloomfield. I also saw a truck, from Minnesota -- which killed me -- occupying three spaces. That's not Minnesota Nice. A T-shirt I noticed fits this situation: "You can't fix stupid."

Clay Elkins of Aztec had a very nice showing in steer wrestling. The performance results haven't yet come in, but Elkins was in the 4.5-second neighborhood. Also, Aztec's Katie Waybourn took her turn in cutting, and I think she checked in at about a 190.

Touching moment of the morning: Getting ready to leave, I spotted a family huddled around a horse that had some sort of injury to its right front leg. The young gal, who was visibly upset, was holding the leg in her lap while other family members tended to the horse. Being a journalist, I probably should have stuck around and tried to get some information and a few comments, but there was no way I was getting any closer. The lump in my throat was big enough as it was.

Well, it's about 1 p.m. Tonight's performance is billed "Tough enough to wear pink." Should be some cool photos in Thursday's paper. Also, a quick note about a story I'll be writing for Thursday's print edition. There's a young bull rider from California, Dylan Hice, who is also a motion picture stunt man. His credits include 3:10 to Yuma. Naturally, his dad is in the same business. So I'll be interviewing the two of them this evening.

Be sure to check back periodically for the final results from today's morning performance, as well as updated tallies for the complete first go.

I'm out.