rajafacesbothways

Going to the Dogs

The entertainment for the weekend was The Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival. Sounds boring? It was not. The International Finals Sheep Herding Competition was held on a huge hilly park grounds where Border Collies from all over competed in herding sheep. Sunday was the Double-Lift competition for the 20 finalists, where the dog had to locate a group of 10 hidden sheep over a hill, move them down, find another group of 10 hidden elsewhere, herd them all together, passing them though gates and collecting all 20 in front of us. The next task was to separate those that had orange bands around their neck from the others.

The dogs responded to the owner's whistles for direction and were totally focused on the job at hand; you could almost see their minds working. They were good, almost "make you cry" good.

"Star" a top competitor ponders how to separate those with orange neckbands from the others. His owner, Alasdair  MacRae is one of the top trainers in the country, having moved to Missouri from Scotland:

And some dogs were there just to be cuddled:

 

Sad Cats and Mad Men

The Cats lost 58-57 to UConn--a good game although the team looked tired. So all my attention now is directed to more important things--like preparing for the Carnegie Center exhibit in New Albany, IN. Scan. Print. Assemble frames. Putting together info from the 5 years of traveling and photographing along Route 20. And preparing for a website that Kathryn has been setting up.

For trash time, I've been watching Season 4 of Mad Men. Not as exciting as watching UKY Cats but almost as much "scoring" going on.

Got 'er Done

UKY basketball team moved on to the Final Four by whipping #2 seed North Carolina 76-69.  Wahoo!  I haven't watched sports on TV for several years but as a former fan of Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs I've been so accustomed to losers that being exposed to a winner is totally foreign to me.

Finally. I own a team sweatshirt that I don't have to wear inside out.

Go Cats!

Fortified by Favas frickles and an earlier banana split, I stayed up to watch UKY Cats play and upset number one seed Ohio State in the Sweet Sixteen NCAA tournament. A great 62-60 victory, moving "them Cats" into the Elite Eight.  Kentucky's Calipari is the highest paid coach in the country but he delivers great freshmen teams who usually drop out and turn pro after the season ends. New ones are recruited each year to a University  and state where it's all about being #1 in basketball.

And why not? Kentucky is near the top in the country in lung cancer, obesity, meth labs, high school dropouts, toothless smiles and other maladies. So its important to invest in a coach that gives it something to cheer about.

Cats Are on the Prowl

With all the calamitous events occurring across the world, especially in Japan, I'm happy to report a great  Kentucky disaster was averted today.   Against tough odds, the Kentucky Wildcats won their second SEC Championship, defeating Florida 70-54.

You gotta be here to experience the wild frenzy basketball creates in the area. And this is just the beginning--the NCAA is about to begin.

 

Let the Games Begin

The World Equestrian Games begin tomorrow. I'll get a close-up on the activities (as close as one can get without buying a ticket) when I volunteer at the Horse Park on Sunday and Tuesday. This week the park was closed for intensive completion. There are tents everywhere. Below are a few photos of Alltech Experience  area and some of the many tents scattered throughout the park. Huge outdoor and indoor arenas have also been built in the past 2 years.

The flags in Georgetown seem to have settled in a mediocre arrangement and here we can move on to the Festival of the Horse next week.

The World Equestrian Games will receive national TV coverage on NBC the next 3 Sundays. 

 

Some of the many tents:

 

And probably the most popular place in the Park.

Working the Rolex

Volunteering at the three-day Rolex competition (dressage, cross-country, stadium jumping) is a fun opportunity to see some of the most athletic and beautiful horses and meet visitors from all over the world.  I'm always amazed how many are obsessed with horses.

Moving people from parking to stadiums is like speed dating events where participants spend five minutes together and move on. Only this takes place in golf carts. I met people from Connecticut to Australia. Had a brief chat with a writer and a photographer from Southern Living magazine, here to do a story on the upcoming World Games and a couple from New Zealand who brought along three horses to compete.

I can't imagine speed dating being that interesting, unless you're focused on horsing around.

Never Bet on a Dead Horse

Went to Keenland Track and made a little money by betting across the board on a couple of races. A beautiful day at the track--unfortunately the last horse I bet on dropped dead near the finish line, a sad ending to a beautiful thoroughbred. I know this happens occasionally--but this is the first time I have ever bet on a dead horse.

They're at the post----

And they're off!!

Game's Over

UnivKY men's basketball team lost last night to West Virginia, a seasoned team that played a better game and made some incredible 3-point baskets. When the Cats became #1 team in the country, I was feeling some regret that I hadn't tried out for the cheer-leading squad, but now I'm glad I didn't. Those tight sweaters and short skirts just aren't me.

My closet holds enough dated clothing without cramming it with shiny blue tights and kick-pleat skirts, a reminder of the rewards of not always following one's impulses.

Two Floors

Excitement this weekend centers around two floors--the basketball floor where Kentucky meets Wake Forest in the NCAA tournament and the floor in Congress where a decision on health care could be made. I make no predictions on either outcome.

Nevertheless, if I had the power I would deem two restrictions on the floors: that all of the basketball players must attend college for at least two years and only members of Congress who have a uterus would be allowed to make comments or decisions on abortion.