FAIR 2016 – DAY 4

What a wonderfully relaxing day at The Fair. I tell you, not toting a computer around and writing for the newspaper is a game-changer.

I’m so much more relaxed this year. In fact, we’ve barely been consulting our Fan Fair daily schedule and I’m rarely aware of what time it is. Except when it’s time to eat (some things won’t ever change). I’m just happily wandering around the Fairgrounds without a plan or a list. It’s weird and wonderful!

Today we arrived during a small rain storm in time for lunch. I actually love being at the Fair in the rain. The crowds are down, the lines are short, and there’s a mellowness to the mood. Of course, I’m not trying to sell anything at the Fair. I suspect the vendors have a different attitude when the grey skies roll in.

We also kept it a relatively short day. Rob has a meeting tonight. In past years we drove separately on Meeting Nights and I just stayed at the Fair while Rob had to go be all responsible and stuff.

But today I decided I would try out being responsible, too, and come home and rest. I’m not quite sure where the "Charge Ahead and Pay the Price Later" version of myself went, but my knee is already grateful for her absence. (It's doing much better now that I'm not trying to make it walk 4 miles in a day. Yay latent wisdom!)



Most folks playing with the hearing exhibit had grey hair
We decided to check out this year’s Special Exhibit focused on science. Although it wasn’t a lot to look at visually, every display was interactive and had the potential of teaching something.

I was learning about positive and negative charges and
was trying to get a piece of tinsel to land on my face.
I'm not entirely positive why.

There were also lots of words to read, which I saw most kids ignoring. Who goes to the Fair to read?? Nevertheless, some information might have snuck in amongst the goofing around with magnets and sound waves and electricity and friction.

For instance, we learned that Rob has the hearing of a 55 year old. I apparently have the hearing of a 50 year old. This would be rather distressing for our 50 and 48 year old selves except that I saw a 10 year old girl register the hearing of a 75 year old. I tried to ask her about it but she didn’t hear me. Har.



Edison seemed sort of whiny and stuck-in-the-mud-y
We eagerly settled in for the “You’re Electric” puppet show put on by the same company that did a ridiculously silly show last year based on superheroes and a vague plea to end world hunger. We were already giggling at the expected chaos, non sequiturs, and undetectable plot lines like last year.

Instead, the science-based puppetry was very educational and filled with lots of historical facts about Edison and Tesla and Ben Franklin and the Current Wars between DC and AC. Blah blah blah. It felt a lot like school. I almost started taking notes.

We finally got to laugh when the Tesla puppet was flailing about excitedly and accidentally knocked his AC generator off the puppet stage. Without missing a beat, Tesla asked one of the Frozen Princesses in the audience to retrieve it for him. While historically unlikely, it was the best part of the show. Yawn.

Elsa had a great answer to an earlier question about how to
save someone who is being electrocuted from sticking their
finger in a socket.  She said we should freeze them.  That Elsa!

Those who can get a fancypants canner!
Heading over to the Big “It’s Not Raining In Here” Air Conditioned Building, my mind was blown when we happened to stop at a small booth featuring a canning exhibit.

If you’ve been a Woodhaven Ramblings reader from the early days, you know my wide(-mouthed) history with canning and the infamous Death Peaches story. For those new to my ramblings, suffice it to say I am mostly a disaster in all things involving the kitchen.

So I practically hugged the Master Canner Lady when she was telling me about this new hi-tech electric canning pot with a glass lid (to see the rolling boil) and a release spout (to drain the 2 tons of water those canners hold instead of summoning a husband or a forklift to get the dang thing off the stove and emptied).

And yes, I said electric which means the fancy canner contraption sits on a heating element and you can plug it in anywhere you want without using scary flame and half of your stovetop to heat it up.

My eyes were wide, my jaw was dropped. I started taking pictures. Rob asked with resignation, “So this is on your Christmas list now?”

But but but…canning season is about a month away! Christmas is too late! Christmas in August, Christmas in August! Please????

I LOVE THE FAIR!!!! It's so educational!!

(If you knew the proudly and fiercely undomesticated Toni who left suburban California 12 years ago, trust me…I’m as mystified as you are.)

Internet comparison shopping shall commence in 3..2...1...

We wandered through the goat barn where I found my spirit animal

More signs of aging body parts
We also peeked into the Horse Arena to see if any dirt was flying in there. What I saw nearly brought me to tears. Look at this!!!

What, you don’t see it? Those bleachers! Look at them!!

The steps are at normal height! And the back rest at the top is solid! And there’s a railing! OMG!!!

The old wooden been-there-forever bleachers in the Horse Arena are notoriously awful. The steps are steep, there’s nothing to hold onto, and the backrest at the top is made out of chain-link fencing that is all pushed out of shape.

Last year, when I was in physical therapy for what we thought was just a sprained knee, my therapist and I spent most of an appointment discussing how to safely navigate the horse arena bleachers with a bum knee. The old bleachers are that well-known and that awful.

To discover I now have a safe, comfortable option to watch all the horsies gallop and trot?!? Grateful, grateful, grateful. THANK YOU, Fine Fair Folks, whomever you are!!! You made my Fair even better!!! I would bow and curtsy in thanks but my back and knee won't let me.



While I was busy trying to set my mouth on fire at yesterday’s Hot Sauce Expo, this happened!!

If I had a kid, I would want her to be Allara.
OMG the adorableness!!
And she comes with a fluffy alpaca!

Yes, that’s Allara again – our favorite alpaca handler! She and Jean-Pierre apparently had quite a day yesterday filled with obstacles.

They competed in two events. The first one didn’t go as well as planned, with understandable nerves confusing things a bit. But our favorite duo put the past behind them and rallied in their next event and pulled out a FIRST PLACE for Public Relations Obstacles!!

This is what 4H is all about. Learning those important life skills. Like handling disappointment and not giving up and learning from your mistakes and figuring out how to make your alpaca walk through a kiddie pool full of water. All critical to adulting successfully. Especially the last one.


STATS:

Walked 5,404 steps or 2.2 miles. Happy knee, happy knee!

Re-entry animal: horsey on the top of the left hand

Tums = none!



FAIR FOOD FEAST PARADE:
I finally did it! I finally approached the Deep Fried Heaven Truck! I'm very proud of myself for easing into things this year and not attacking Eric and his deep fried wares on Day 1.

I'm also relieved to report that yesterday's consumption of unwisely hot peppers and sauces did not compromise my eating today. After a few gurgles last night, all was well this morning. My tummy and GI tract are champs!

My first free sample of the Fair!  A strawberry coconut
slushy that was quite good.  I shall be ordering one on a
warmer day soon.

Historically one of my favorites -- soft taco supreme from the booth next
to the Dairy Wives.  This year, though, it was disappointing.  Way too
small and they forgot to add the jalapenos I paid extra for.
I like this cuz it tastes like Taco Bell.  Rob suggested
perhaps I should just go to The Bell instead and save the $7.
Smart man, he.

Deep Fried Twix!  I tried to order the mysterious
Deep Fried Tim Tam on the menu but was told
they don't have it?  The Twix was a new one to me.
I liked it!  The cookie stayed crunchy and the
chocolate and caramel were melty.  Recommended.

But the Deep Fried Twix wasn't nearly as delectable as
Rob's Deep Fried Oreos that he shared with me.  OMG!
I don't typically like Oreos but deep fry them and
you have my attention.  SO GOOD!

The Pineapple Smasher.  EXCELLENT!  I liked it better than
the mixed berry one...but then I like pineapple better than
berries. I was also confused when The Smasher Guy asked
me about my knee and then called me by name. It later
occurred to me that he's read my blog here or the one that I
posted for the newspaper explaining I wasn't writing
there this year. So, if you're reading this, Smasher Guy, HI!
And thanks for the great beverages!

Just can't get enough corn.  It's good for the digestion, too.

Given my outfit today, I figured a Hawaiian Shave Ice was
in order.  Today's blend:  Lime and Cinnamon.
Highly recommended!

Dinner before heading home:  Yakisoba noodles from Patrick's
Hawaiian Cafe drenched in Sriracha and sweet chili sauces.
After I ate the top layer, I went back for more condiments.
YUM!  I've remembered from prior testing that
Patrick's noodles are my favorite at the Fair.