Day 1 was behind me. After a great night’s sleep I woke up in the funnest city in America well rested and ready to hit the strip. I was still faced with trying to figure out where to go and when to be there. This was my first full day in Las Vegas. I started the “Where in Las Vegas is Anastasia” and #huntingcSc with my friends at Rustic Nation Outfitters and Cowboy Coffee Chew. I added a twist with a ‘Guess What Boots I Would Be Wearing’ contest as well. I donned my Vegas pink rodeo shirt and headed to Starbucks to plot out my day.
Twitter and Facebook are probably the most dynamic sources for signings and activities. Usually contestants post where they will be that day. Sponsors are interacting with the fans by keeping them up to date with all kinds of fun activities and signing information. Because I was still running on east coast time it was a little early so I decided to head out for a walk on Las Vegas Blvd. The first contest winner guessed that I was having breakfast in Paris. It was the best chocolate croissant I have ever had. After going through what I thought was all of the signing info I headed to Cowboy Christmas. The mecca of all shopping experiences.
I ‘Ubered’ over to the convention center in record time. One of the things I really enjoyed about my Uber experiences is that I got to really talk to the drivers. I told them about how they should really take the time and check out the festivities. We discussed how they came to drive for Uber. I recommended that they take a trip back east and check out my neck of the woods.
Once I got to the Las Vegas Convention Center that feeling of excitement hit me all over again. Because I knew that my Fan Favorite was going to be there. I walked through the main exhibition floor looking at the plethora of vendors selling everything from cowboy hats and boots to horse trailers to rifles. I am pretty sure that anything you wanted having to do with the Western lifestyle could be found in that hall.
On my walk I found a signing going on and it was one of my wish listers, Luke Branquihno. I waited patiently in the line chatting with other Booty Shake fans. Then it was my turn. I am actually an introvert and try not to draw attention to myself (imagine that). He was very friendly and I asked him to make the autograph out to my Lil Cowboy. I told him I followed him on Twitter and he said that he thought that was me and gave me a hug. HE KNEW WHO I WAS! Swoon
I continued to the Bloomer Trailers exhibit. I love Bloomer Trailers. They are pretty cool. I like to walk through them and imagine what life would be like on the road. Alas the time had come and he was here! It was time for Jade Corkill’s signing session. I am proudly a superfan, but still pride myself on remaining calm and not going fan girl crazy. As always Jade was super nice. We took pictures and chatted for a bit about the PRCA/ERA situation. We both agreed it was out of hand. I thought this was the highlight of my NFR15. I was wrong. I told him that I actually had never met Clay. He said Clay was at the Sands Convention center watching his son rope. By the time I left the table I was going to be headed over to the Sands later to meet Clay with Jade after their appearance on Anthony Lucia’s show.
There is this man that shapes hats. He shaped my hat 3 years ago. I wanted to tweek the shape a bit and I only trust him to do it. So I stood in line and watched him shape and reshape a hat for a young cowboy. I have to admit that when he was done the hat was perfect for that young man. My tweeks took way less time. But were no less impressive.
Back in my Uber ride to the Sands I went. I had not been to the Sands Convention Center before. I was surprised at the number of vendors. It was packed full of merchandise. Unfortunately I was on a super tight deadline. It was almost 1pm and I was there to meet up with Jade and Clay and the Boyd’s Chute out started at 2pm. I made way to the set of Live with Lucia. I will admit I had never seen it before. Anthony Lucia had as his guest the musical duo Lo Cash. Jade and Clay were also guest of his show. Somewhere along the way there was a pretend bullriding and barrel racing contest for tickets to the Boyd’s Chute Final day. Yours truly got up in front of the audience and pretended to barrel race. So unessthat show is actually broadcast there is no photographic proof of my shamelessness. But I did win!
After the show I finally met Clay Tryan. What a nice guy. We took pictures and chatted a bit. What happened next made my whole trip. Jade gave me a ticket to Round 9 of the NFR!
I had to rush from the Sands and get to The Orleans Arena for the Chute out. My Uber car was an Escalade. How great was that? I made it in time to see the whole performance. I was in the 2nd row. I felt like the stars were all aligned. Besides watching PRCA rodeo stars I also got to see some PBR Bull Riders too like Nathan Schafer, Tyler Harr, Stetson Lawrence.
During my busy day I also chatted with a couple of people who recognized me from Twitter. That is always fun. I gave away lots of Coffee Chew too. I also got to meet with my Tweep Brent McCurdy of CL Country Life.
Always on the go, next stop was my hotel to get ready for the NFR Round 9. When I say get ready I meant changing my boots to the ones that were selected by the Rustic Nation contest. I was getting tired. I had been going non stop all day and had not had anything to eat since that most memorable chocolate croissant. My travel partner had finally arrived after a cancelled flight. She arrived with a plane load of Irishmen. I thought they were all here already. She told me how they ran out of alcohol 40 minutes into the 5 hour flight and how they sang the entire plane ride into Vegas. With no time to spare I hightailed it to the MGM to get on the shuttle to the Thomas and Mack.
My seats were amazing. My first year at the NFR I had tickets in the 4th row Plaza level and these were just a few rows higher. Again I am pretty quiet. I was sitting between folks minding my business and taking pictures when the woman next to me just had to ask “Where’d you get your ticket?” With a bright smile I turned and said my friend Jade gave it to me. And with that she started explaining why she felt the need to ask me. I didn’t really care. I was a bit put off by the way she asked. But nothing was going to ruin my most perfect day. Except the matter that Team Tryan and Corkill got a no score.
After a very exciting night as I was making my through the Fan Zone headed to my shuttle bus, there were cowboys sitting at the autograph table. It was kind of dark but I went over anyway. And to my great surprise it was Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith. They won round 9. Trevor and Patrick were on my wish list of autographs to get. Because there wasn’t a line I not only got autographs and pictures but had the chance to talk to them a bit. My inner fan girl fainted!
There is still so much to tell about my trip to Vegas I hope that you come back and see the rest of the story.
cowgirl19114 
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