Chicks N Chaps

Since mid-April, I've been volunteering on the planning committee for an event called Chicks N Chaps at our local Rodeo de Santa Fe.  The event was last Friday to coincide with Pink Night at our PRCA rodeo.  You can read about Chicks N Chaps here.  It was a really fun day and I hope it happens again next year because it's definitely something I'd like to be part of again.

Not only does the event raise awareness about breast cancer and raise funds for a local organization (our recipient organization was Breast Wishes), but also educates women about the rodeo.  There are many misconception about the treatment of animals at rodeos and also a lack of education about the events themselves.  We provided a 'Behind the Chutes' tour, roping lessons, & education on barrel racing(w/ a barrel race on stick ponies).  Although I didn't rope the stationary hay bale with a cow head on it, I got close.  :)

If you're interested in looking at pictures of the event, you can see them here.  I'm in pictures 67, 149, 150, 151, 167, 168, 169, 170, 184.

It was a great experience and I met a lot of great people on the planning committee and at the event.  There was also a videographer at the event so once the video is published, I'll share that as well.

a Mumford & Sons experience

On Thursday evening, Mike and I went to, what I would venture to guess, the biggest event in Taos, NM history...Mumford & Sons!!
The concert was sponsored by the Taos Solar Music Festival and it was in Kit Carson Park across from the Taos plaza.  Taos has a population of about 5,700 people and they sold 8,000 tickets to the concert. Taos is about 1.5-2 hrs from Santa Fe and Mike's field office is located in Taos so I met him in Taos at a friend's house after I got off work.  I arrived around 5pm, we went to dinner, enjoyed a cocktail at a friend's house, & then our friend dropped us off at the end of the line to get in around 7pm.  There was a rain/lightening storm at the same time the "doors" were to open at the park(6pm) so everyone that was in the park got kicked out because there were concerns about lightening.  It took us about an 1.5 hrs to actually make it through the line and into the venue.  By the time we got in, one of the opening bands was already playing.  Mumford & Sons came on around 10:30 and were done around midnight.  The concert was SOOOOO good and I was quite impressed with how organized everything was for such a small town.  We had to stand in line for a while but that seemed appropriate and expected due to the weather.

 Yes, I realize my head looks gigantic in this picture.

We gradually made our way closer to the stage.  My only wish is that I had been about 6 inches taller for the evening.  :)  Or that all the tall people in Taos weren't standing in front of me.  

I subsequently went to iTunes the next day and downloaded Mumford & Sons most recent album.

Here's a few songs that I'm loving right now: