It Is December 23,

Do you have your Valentine's gift yet?

RiteAid can help. Valentine's gifts are now available.

Forget that Christmas has not yet past, start shopping for Valentine's Day now, before all the gifts are gone and replaced by Easter goods.

It reminds me of my favorite commercial line of the year, "Come on kids, go get on your Halloween costumes while Mom hides the Easter Eggs." (Capital One's "No Black Out Dates" credit card commercial) Like in the commercial, it seems that all the holidays are merging into one.

Seeing a Valentine's Day aisle, packed solid with pink, red and white goods before Christmas, is just wrong.

Whatever happen to the division of holidays? I protest the merger of holiday seasons with every holiday. I will not buy a single Halloween good before October 1st or anything for Christmas before Thanksgiving.

In order to really appreciate the holidays, there has to be some time without holidays. This year, in September, I saw Santa decorations. I was horrified. I remember clearly because it was before my birthday. Santa does not belong in September! I love Christmas and all, but its not very special if it spreads over three months of the year.

Anyway, care of RiteAid and various merchandisers, on this December 23, I would like to wish you...

a Happy Valentine's Day.

NFR

From the Wrangler NFR Photo Gallery

In a year of many firsts for me, if you had told me a few months ago I would be ‘covering’ a rodeo, I would have laughed boisterously.

My suburban parents decided the family vacation this year would be to the National Finals Rodeo.

I think this was greeted with silent stares from the kids, mouths slightly ajar and a background of chirping crickets.

They won tickets through an auction last year and said, “Why not?” and went.

This year they returned and dragged the kids, 23, 25, 29.

We went, rolling our eyes, embarrassed, asking what the hell we were doing at a rodeo. I was told that at very least, I would get good stupid cool material out of it. (So I went for your entertainment. See what I do for you guys!)

To jump to the conclusion of this entry, this is not a stupid cool entry, just a cool entry. The rodeo was absolutely unbelievable. It was a spectacle, a show, and perhaps most of all a sport. I would go again in a heartbeat.

National Finals Rodeo Basics for People Like Me:

The National Finals Rodeo, held annually in Las Vegas (of all places) brings together the top rodeo winners of the year in eight events: Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Steer Roping, Barrel Racing and the most popular of all, Bull Riding.

The events are either judged for points, such as Bull Riding, or timed, where the shortest time wins, such as Steer Roping.

The Rodeo is the ultimate ADD Generation sport. Bull Riding is an eight second event while Steer Wrestling (jump off a running horse, in a run, and tackle a steer to the ground) is a four second event!

(I don’t think I can jump of a stationary horse in four seconds, let alone jump off a moving one, catch a running steer and tackle it to the ground, looking sexy doing it.)

Each contestant of an event is brought up in quick secession, with very little downtime. When the event is over, the winner rides a victory lap about the arena floor escorted by a cowgirl. They are followed by a commercial, which in a rodeo, is a cowgirl riding a lap with a flag for Wrangler, or GoArmy, or Hooters.

Advertising in and of itself was fascinating. The advertising I am exposed to usually touts computer stuff, wi-fi providers, prescription drugs, practical cars and investment firms. (What I just learned is I watch and read some pretty droll stuff.)

At the rodeo though, the demographic was not dull computer geeks, but young guys and cowboys. The advertisers around the arena included, Wrangler (jeans), Justin Boots, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, Dodge, Wells Fargo, Coors, GoArmy, Jack Daniels, Resistol Hats, B&W Trailer Hitches and Montana SilverSmiths (the all important belt buckles). The goal demographic was clear from the advertisers and the advertising was fascinating. Outside the arena, were many large tent structures, including a Jack Daniels’ bar with hot cowgirls dancing on the bar.

In the interest of keeping with the short and sweet rodeo flavor, more to come in additional entries…