I'm guessing some of you have seen my last three posts that I did live from the Living On Burrowed Time gala. It was a really fun thing to do, even though they were really short.
So first I think I need to explain why the gala did
not happen a really long time ago. I'm
guessing most of you heard about the 100-500 year flood that happened in
Colorado recently. Well the flood reached the place that the gala was going to
be so it had to be canceled. Also most
of the prairie dog coalition that runs it lived in Boulder and were busy either
getting the water out of their own house or saving prairie dogs from being
drowned in the water. So it was
rescheduled to Saturday.
I know I was going
to interview as many people as I could but everything was really busy and no
one looked like they really wanted to be interviewed (shorthand for me being
too shy to ask anyone). Now that I a
thinking about it afterward I feel really bad for not interviewing anyone, and
not asking permission to blog what anyone said...
So I'm just going to do a quick overview of
what happened two days ago:
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| My earings hanging on a glass |
I arrived a few
minutes after reception started in my fancy dress and my handmade (by me)
prairie dog angel earrings and my (also handmade by me) angel prairie dog
necklace. I had my mobile blogging unit
(smartphone) in my moms old fancy purse
because my phone carrier was sort of dirty… The whole drive there I was
terrified that I would be over/under dressed or that I would be "the
little kid" in the crowd (you know what I am talking about fellow
children!) You see, I never go to fancy things so I have very little experience
in this subject.
I walked in the
front door my fears being amplified 20x from all the people in completely
casual clothing. I felt really out of place, worried that no one would talk to
me because I was dressed oddly. Then we
walked up to the gala check in desk, my mom and I got our name tags and bidding
numbers. As soon as we turned the corner over to the gala and away from the
people staying at the hotel, my fears completely disappeared, every single
person was dressed wonderfully fancy and super nice.My mom and I walked around looking at all
the things and looking for Lindsey Sterling Krank, the director of the prairie
dog coalition. We found her and gave her
another prairie dog angel necklace/Christmas ornament/thingy. She was very
happy!
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| My necklace on a silver chain |
 |
| Dr. Slobodchikoff and me |
We searched around
the silent auction that was going on before the dinner started. I checked out the VIP lounge that apparently
I had been on the list of, (I wish I hadn't forgot, it would have been fun to
get there for the VIP reception that started an hour early). Inside was Con Slobodchikoff who it was just
amazing to be in the same room as, his work is legendary and amazing. I got to tell him I was a big fan and take a
picture with him! It was so cool!!!
After that my mom
and I bid on some things we wanted, she really wanted a juicer and was the top
bid until just before the auction ended, when someone else out bid her. I bid
on a prairie quilt, and the two books by Dr. Con Slobodchikoff, both were signed. My mom also decided to go half and half on a
wonderful set of hand blown Christmas ornaments (a present for my dad).
After that I got to
talk to a few interesting people throughout the crowd. I got a stuffed prairie dog (like a toy, not
an actual dead prairie dog that was stuffed so it could be decoration , I hate
those, yuck) I'm still working on a name for her.
 |
| Nameless the Prairie Dog |
Now this is cool: I
was walking to check if I was still on the top bid for my books when someone
dropped a stuffed prairie dog that was like mine. I quickly picked it up and
gave it to her, saying that she had dropped it (actually I picked it up and
looked around, then someone pointed to her and took it form me and gave it to
her then pointed me out). She was very grateful and we started talking. She
turned out to be Lisa Morzel mayor pro-tem of Boulder!! (a city council member that is mayor when there is an
election going on or something similar that means that the mayor is
unavailable). I got her card!
After all that the
dinner started (well actually it started a little while later, but that time
was just full of me standing around occasionally chatting with people. A lot of
people complemented my earrings/necklace and said I should make them for the silent
auction next year).
There were some cool
people at the table that I was sitting at. I forgot to ask any of them if I
could put them in my blog so I'm not going to give any details! After we ate for a little while people
started getting up on stage and talking about prairie dogs and people who
helped them. They gave out some awards and then Dr Slobodchikoff started
talking about his research, it is really amazing!
Then the live
auction started, the speed that the guy
was talking was truly amazing, and headache inducing!
After watching for a
little while someone else at the table went to get their silent auction
winnings. Being reminded by that my mom
and I went to get our things. It turns out that the only thing that we won were
the signed books (chasing doctor Doolittle and Prairie Dogs)
Around that time the
thing ended. People started leaving the building and getting ready to go.
I'm so happy that I was not over dressed. I am also so
happy that so many people are so passionate about prairie dogs!!! Thank you all
Live long planet
earth and the prairie dogs
---Cymbre Arwen
Smith
