Hi-ho Rodeo

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Interesting fact: I have lived in Houston for over 25 years, but the last time I went to the Houston Rodeo, I was in elementary school. I vaguely remember a barrel race, and a caterpillar roller coaster.
Another interesting fact: Mark has lived in Houston for 3 years, and no rodeo.
Also, we live less than 15 minutes from where the rodeo is held.
Clearly we're missing out on opportunities here.
And so, finally, we went.

We didn't see any of the actual rodeo events (barrel racing, steer wrestling, calf roping, bull riding, and my favorite: mutton busting), but we did see lots of livestock, so I think that counts. And we did watch part of a horsemanship show, but then wandered off to pet horses' noses because they are super soft.
I got to pet this little lambie. Which act startled it.

This cow was part of a "mini livestock" exhibit. The mini horses were cuter, but had more people blocking the view.

It's a pig pile

A longhorn cattle. Very iconic
Also, I persuaded Mark to follow me into the Petting Zoo. There were alpacas, goats, sheep, wallabies (?!), a duck (?!), and a couple of chickens.
The wallabies were super soft. And when I crouched down to pet them, this goat jumped into my lap.

 I think he thought I had food (there was an option to buy food to feed the animals, but we didn't do that), and then just stuck around to chew on my hat strap and slobber on my sunglasses. [for more pics of this particular event, check out my Instagram] 
Getting a little personal here

The Houston Rodeo is much much more than animals, though. It is definitely in the entertainment and shopping businesses. Mark and I enjoyed wandering around looking at the often-heavily-cowboyesque wares and sampling various treats.
This is a night light. Yes indeed. And then on the right is a Willy-Wonka-style hat that I look good in.
 Examples of stuff available:
hot tubs
Texas trucks (you know, the really big ones)
caramel
ring cleaning solution
leather furniture
animal skins
blingy clothes
cowboy boots (of course!!)
hats (including cowboy hats)
mattresses
colored sand

And all of that (the Rodeo events, the livestock, the shopping) was indoors. [It's a huge complex, obviously]

Outdoors, they had Rides. Yes, camel rides and pony rides, but I actually meant roller-coaster rides.
After careful observation to determine the best ride for the lowest price with the shortest line, we chose to ride something that resembled a kitchen blender in movement. There were 3 arms which rotated, and then the entire ride rotated. Fast. I could feel the blood spinning down to my feet. And I was certain that if I fell out, I would fly for a good distance before 'landing.'
Mark loved it.

And the great thing is that we walked several miles doing all of these activities, so it counted as exercise.
yay!
This ride to me looks like a giant sombrero

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