[ SHOWGSD-L ] National List Cycle
- From: "Lee Smith" <ladyaramis1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:08:35 -0400
Another year, another cycle. For those of you new to the List, we go through
the same cycle every year. Shortly before entries close, people start
slamming the site. It doesn't matter what site. Let's face it, every site
has good and bad points.
Perry County, GA, was too far from the airport, had fire ants that were
going to eat every man, woman, child and dog. The food was terrible and
there were no good restaurants around. I never had a problem with the fire
ants; I just made sure to pay attention and not sit my ass or my dogs on an
ant hill. The site had some of the best peach cobbler I've ever eaten,
hotels were reasonable, and there was a great, world-reknowed BBQ restaurant
just down the street. And, we had every venue within walking distance.
I'm not sure what location it was in CA that herding was too far away and
instead of fire ants, we had to contend with cockleburrs and no sod. The sod
issue resulted in some people getting death threats -- I'm not kidding.
Besides, it was in CA, so there plenty of people trashing talking California
because it was too far away. I remember sitting next to Teddy Beckhart and
judging specials by their ear sets, because it was the only thing I could
see. Then again, I also remember going to the San Diego Zoo and trying yummy
fish tacos for the first time. I also have a memory from that year I feel
truly blessed to have -- Gail, myself, Sam (my partner), a photographer and
a bunch of German Shepherds playing on a dog beach and taking photographs
with Gail trying her darnest to get us to be serious. There were others
there, too. One photo ended up on the cover of the Review.
Daytona, FL was also trashed very soundly and, in my opinion, I've never had
a better time. Once again, the trash talking kept people away that were
scared of hurricanes, no grass and other stuff. OK, Gail did find a rat in
her room, but there was plenty of grass and dozens of inexpensive hotels
only a few minutes from convention center. There was IHOP in the morning and
a fantastic BBQ restaurant across the street from the convention center. I
remember Buba Gump's and Buckets of Trash and walking home along the beach,
taking our shoes off so we the waves could lap at our toes. Our hotel was
right on the beach and, at night, no one seemed to mind that Gail and her
niece, Gary and Joe, and Sam and I sat around the pool with a bottle of wine
and my dog, Kona, laying on a lounge right beside me. That's where we all
met after the show. The weather couldn't have been better.
So, stay home if you want or can't go, but don't be put off by the trashing
of a national site. It happens every year and most of us know to ignore it.
BYW, it will get worse. After the national, every one will be posting about
how wonderful it was. Then we can begin trashing the judging.
Stuff happens, but in the future it is the "stuff" that makes for good
memories and shared times. If anyone doubts it, just bring up the Lexington
National and you will hear stories of bathroom heaters, etc. We'll tell you
how cold it was, of tornado warnings and snow. But, if you didn't go, you'll
never be part of that National's history and you won't have the memories to
share.
Lee Smith
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