You've been counting down the days and it's here! IT'S FINALLY HERE! STAMPEDE WEEK!
And you know it's Stampede Week when:
1. Horses casually appear in the middle of downtown.
2. Your office's decor starts to feature bales of hay and wagon wheels.
3. You've walked through the mall and there's been a "Stampede Fashion" display.
Complete with more bales of hay.
4. You've eaten pancakes every day for a week.
And never paid for them once ;)
5. Because you're never far from a Stampede Breakfast.
6. You've sorted through your closet for anything remotely "western" looking.
10 year old denim vest? That'll do.
7. Or you've gone legit and treated yourself to some brand new cowboy boots.
Because they're an investment if you live in YYC.
8. Local morning shows have segments about how to wear flannel shirts.
Or rather, how to still have a cowboy-ish vibe without looking like a d-bag.
*Harder than it sounds to achieve.
9. Calgary businesses have gone all "western-themed".
And coffee beans wear cowboy hats because why not?
10. Stores play ONLY country music the entire week.
Sing it with me! ♫ I've got friends in low places ♫
11. This reminder is actually needed.
For some people.
*Don't be those people.
12. Howdy and Yaaahooo! are just part of the daily vernacular.
13. Your friends start dressing their babies like mini-cowboys because "you can't start them too young".
#FirstStampede
14. "It's Stampede week" is a completely legitimate reason as to why nothing's being done at work.
The city is on unofficial holiday.
15. Not only is it acceptable to wear jeans to work, you pretty much HAVE TO wear jeans to work.
And cowboy boots. A a cowboy hat. Get on it.
16. It's the only time of the year that it's okay to tuck your shirt into your jeans—but only if you have a sweet belt buckle.
17. The Midway is basically the same every year and you still feel a swoosh of excitement at the sight of it.
18. And you have a yearly goal to try to time it perfectly so that you're on the top of the ferris wheel when the fireworks start.
And it works at least once.
19. White tents are suddenly called "saloons".
20. You've tried to ride the mechanical bull after one-too-many shots of Jack Daniels.
21. Your Instagram feed looks like this:
22. You've eaten an undefinable amount of mini doughnuts.
23. AND you've eaten a turkey leg.
24. AND some delicious concoction you will ONLY find on the Midway.
What? This week—Stampede. Next week—P90X.
25. You've had some surprisingly deep conversations with random Calgarians after you leave the Cowboys tent.
26. You've been involved in some kind of line dance.
Or at least have been an uncomfortable witness to line dancing.
27. And you've tried to two-step...when you don't know how to two-step.
28. You've paid exorbitant amounts to get into Nashville North.
But it was worth it.
29. And finally, IT'S THE BEST FRIGGIN WEEK OF THE YEAR.
#Stampede2015
