Eventing at WEG is finally here! Being the perpetual procrastinator I am (which makes John crazy), I’m scrambling at the last minute to be sure I have all the necessary items packed…camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards, laptop…oh and I guess I should pack clothes…and apparently rain gear. Do you know how hard it is to find a poncho? You’d think they’d be near the umbrellas but nooo, I have to get a decorated poncho from the Alabama/Auburn paraphernalia section. And since I donated my last pair of Wellies to a student construction crew who covered them in cement and let it dry, plan B in case it starts raining (because I’m not carrying extra shoes around) is to wrap my feet in grocery bags. So much for being discreet. Jimmy Wofford suggested also packing a fleece. A fleece? At first I wasn’t even sure where mine was (this being the Deep South and all). I finally found it at the bottom of the pile in the laundry room, right where I’d thrown it when I cleaned out my car last spring.
I’m feeling a range of emotions right now. I’m super excited because, I mean, it’s WEG. On the other hand, I’m totally nervous, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be feeling any better until I have my press pass in hand, my photographer’s vest on, and locate the media tents at the park. This is the biggest event I’ve ever been to as a spectator and especially as a member of the media (unless you count AEC this year, which had over 700 horses. This time I’m only responsible for keeping up with 85). Plus, I’m hoping my little camera and I can produce some decent photos. I hear long lenses are coming in handy. The best I’ve got is 300mm and no teleconverter to help me out (what I’m poor).
It’s been chaos leading up to now, and it’s only going to get crazier. There are so many cool things I want to see and do besides the event itself! I’ll kill two birds with one stone when I do a cross-country preview. Not only will you get to see the jumps up close, but I’ll have a chance to scope out the best spots for photos. I also hope to catch Jimmy Wofford’s course walk, and there’s no way I’m missing the Bourbon tasting! My bank account is already echoing pitifully, so I won’t be doing much shopping, but I do like perusing through the vendor areas just to see what there is to see besides all the usual stuff we expect. (I say that, but last time I was at the park I came back with a new saddle.)
I’m hitting the road in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, I’m going to miss jogs. I’ll probably be driving through the most barren and boring area of Tennessee by then, singing obnoxiously and gulping coffee. But assuming all goes well (like my car doesn’t break down and there actually is a photo pass with my name on it), the game is on when I reach the park! I know our mantra is usually “Go Eventing” but because I’m feeling as giddy as a school girl, we’ll go with my nerdy phrase from childhood that can be found doodled in just about every grade school notebook I have (I’m wondering why I still have them too)…
HORSES RULE!
