"That Is Disgusting." An Evening With Charlotte Dujardin. Part One.

It appears that basically anyone who is anyone in Texas knew about the CD clinic this past Friday in Magnolia.  It was held at Haras Hacienda and since it's about an hour from the house and unlikely to happen again, we had it on our calendars since it was announced back in May I believe.  I applied to be a rider and waited the LONG LONG wait for announced riders in October.  I was a little disappointed to not be chosen at the time, but alas, sometimes it's best to not be chosen lol.

Friday snuck up on us as we'd been working all week recovering from the Haras USDF show the PRIOR weekend, plus prepping for our Barn Hunt weekend the same weekend as the CD clinic on Friday.  I knew it was going to be a shit show when I scheduled it, but yolo, right?  Thursday evening had me teaching dog training and then we were trying to prep the farm last minute for the trial late into the night.  I was up again early on Friday to grab Sarah and head to Houston to get a dog neutered and another one OFAed with Alex.  Because... do all the things, right?

I started out the morning in my normal exhausted state and stumbled through trying to figure out to wear.  As I pulled on my breeches and riding top, it occurred to me that I'd look like the biggest dork at the event.  I'd look ready to hop on anything though at a moments notice and began debating what to wear.  If it falls outside of riding wear, work wear, or dog showing wear, I'm always at an awkward loss.  I opted for skinny jeans, a riding top (I seriously have no nice shirts and it was going to be pretty warm), and my river boots.  There, that was going to have to do.  But wait, what was Sarah wearing?  Aghh... so I called her and she was going through the same struggle and had settled on a complimentary outfit to mine without us even discussing it prior.  Cool.  

One other thing I realized late Thursday night was that there was an autograph signing on the schedule rather than "meet and greet" like I had in my head.  I messaged Sarah about it and wondered "what do we take to sign?"  She had no words of wisdom and I began to debate.  Do I take my double bridle and have her sign it?  Then I'd have CD riding with me each ride until sweat and gunk wore off the signature?  I doubted she'd have a white paint pen to sign it too, so I'd have to bring that?  Geez, that wasn't a good idea.  What about a hat?  I have several TSG hats?  But they don't sponsor her and she'd probably think I was extra weird immediately for doing that...  The next morning I had an epiphany and realized I'd ordered the Carl Hester and Valegro books and BOOM!  Perfect thing to sign!

Except written by Carl? #commencederping

I grabbed the dogs we needed, threw everything except my camera that I'd planned on taking but then wondered if they'd not allow photography (they didn't so whew), and headed to get Sarah.  We then headed to Starbucks so Sarah could fuel up and I decided to get something too.  The barista messed up BOTH our orders (poor lamb) and we got that sorted out.  At this time we were running pretty far behind our expected time table so I was like eff it and we headed to Chik Fil A for some food too.  Why not?

We FINALLY headed to Houston and the vet clinic.  Dogs were Xrayed and dropped off for testicle removal and we wished Alex well.  I began heading towards Tomball (since I recalled that the Charlottes on I-10 was closed) and the Charlotte's there since we were somehow BACK on schedule and needed to kill some time.  While going up 290 I was talking to Sarah and somehow "2920" looked like "352" and therefore I took the exit at Buccees and not Love's and we headed happily towards Magnolia before I realized we had to go back down to Tomball.  I dun care.  We make it to Charlotte's, pawed through all their things and then we ate some gourmet Burger King before heading to Haras for the "meet and greet/autographing."

About this time I realize I'm going to look like an awkward 8 year old girl no matter how I go about offering CD something to sign and I'm debating not bothering her.  Sarah is having little to none of that so I'm like ugh.  Going to be so awkward.

Peopling, I don't do it well sometimes.

We get to Haras, they're charging for parking and I'm secretly happy that I didn't have time to go to the bank so I have some cash.  They have us park on the far side of the parking lot, we get out and start walking like robots.  The weekend before we had been in this approximate area so we just went on autopilot and walked up towards the stables and into the arena.  There was a vendor and then BOOM CD sitting there.  Sarah was talking about why we bothered to buy tickets when you could just walk in.  I'm like unno, hold on, I need to get a sneaky shot of CD. 

I'm so sneaky. Not really ><

The line for CD is stupid long and I'm like UGHHH peopling is hard.  And poor CD having to fake smile, sign, and move on to the next person.  I said I felt bad for her so many times I'm not sure why Sarah didn't hit me.  JK, it's probably all the riding advice and ponies I torture her with.  Sarah makes us wait in line and I realize that the people have programs for her to sign and that's about when we realize we came in the wrong way and they were checking tickets on the other side.  Meh.  We waited in line anyhow and Sarah grabbed a few programs.  I decide that I'm going to get my Valegro book when I see someone else with theirs and I realize I'm going to lose this program at some point anyhow.  I begin the trek back to the car and remember to put makeup on too.

When I get back (trying to not clutch my Valegro book like a weirdo), Sarah is near(er) to the front and  we wait.  I see more Valegro books and I'm like woot.  Wait, they have specific pages they want signed?  UGHHH.  I begin flipping through it and getting awkward again.  I seriously hate winging ti people...  We are getting closer and closer and I'm about to just throw the book at her and as her to sign wherever when we find a good two page pic and settle on that.  I hop in front of her, thrust the book, and awkwardly swing around the table to slid in the seat next to her.  I gesture at the picture to sign and say something like "well, I thought this was more appropriate than signing over Carl's face" and she breaks her autopilot face, we laugh together, and awkward pictures of us laughing were taken.

I made CD laugh y'all.  #missionaccomplished

Derpin' yo

Sarah got a side view of the giggling. I like this one better :D

With that awkwardness FINALLY over, we head to find somewhere to sit.  Next post I promise will have something about the clinic aside from me being awkwardly out of place.  #justputmeonahorseandImfine

Our view. I was just riding in there a week ago!

Sarah trying to be good and selfie us. Me being me.