So you’re making up your mind to compete because all you hear about is
the fun stuff, right?  Lots of work, yadda yadda yadda, sure, but FUN!

Ok, they are fun, or people generally wouldn’t keep it up.  I
know you can win money, but compared to what it takes, I don’t know if
the money is that big of a deal.  There are a lot of other things I
could do part time to make more money… and I have to win something to
even be in the money, which I don’t expect any time soon.  But I keep
going because, overall, it is fun.

Here are the things I don’t like about competitions, though (some specific to my circumstances)

1. The
   heat.  In Madison, IN, in late August, it was MISERABLE.  So bad that I
   have to have a better plan before going through that again.  I’m hoping
   to come up with an A/C set up that will work somehow.  It really was
   hot! hot! hot!
2. Having a blowout on the trailer on I-75 in the heat… Ok, this hopefully will never happen again!
3. The
   worst of all, though it’s inevitable… the cleanup and breakdown.
   When you get to your spot, you can’t wait to get set up, get all your
   banners up, your EZ-Up going, the smokers set up just right, your work
   area planned out, etc.  Then the work comes, which is fun… but then
   everything is turned in… Now what?  You have to tear down the same
   stuff you just put up, but you’re sleep deprived and bone tired.  With
   the help of everyone around, it gets done, and you’re relieved.  So
   far, we have gone home on Saturday, but I’m starting to rethink this.
   In Madison, it was threatening to storm, and it started, which really
   got our butts in gear to get things torn down!  I think each time you
   do it, you have a better method, and you’re more organized.  I hope to
   soon have a trailer that we can load up as we go, instead of having to
   tear down and pack onto a landscape trailer. 
4. The drive home can be LOOONNNGGG, but what a great feeling when you there… except, now you have to unpack the trailer!!! 

Nothing
too horrible, but don’t think everything about a competition is all
fun… there’s a lot of hard work.  I have dear, patient people around
me that fortunately love me for who I am, because, once turn ins start,
I’m not as nice as I should be!  We’re working on that, as each time we
have a better time table.  I refuse to worry about chicken next
time!!!!!!

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