My most favorite time of year! ~ Day 1

Oh, glorious glorious!! Not only is it once again my most favorite time of year, but I also get to share it with one of my most favorite people on the planet. Yes, much to my delight, my dear college friend Zeke flew all the way from Manhattan last night so that he could experience County Fair Week with me and Rob. Yippee!!

I have known Zeke for years and therefore had a pretty good idea that he would embrace all the gooey, farmy, hokeyness that is my beloved county fair. But, he is also waaaaay more urban than I am and therefore I was a touch nervous that after one day at the fair he would wonder why he put so much effort in to making sure he was here for both the bull riding AND the demolition derby. My fears were somewhat assuaged when he asked after the first round of feeding, “So, where do we purge?” And then I clapped with glee and relief when I later posed the option of only attending the fair one of the next three days and Zeke said, “I could come every day.” He even bought a county fair t-shirt and plans to wear it tomorrow. Hallelujah!!

It was a fantastically exhausting day that started off with maple bacon bars from Portland’s famed Voodoo Donuts for breakfast (we made a donut run last night after picking Zeke up at the airport) and ended with a nightcap elephant ear. In between we ate all sorts of wonderfulness on sticks, dirtied many napkins, and took in lots of the Big! Wild! Fun! that my fair truthfully advertizes. Before I slip into an artery clogged coma, here are today’s highlights:


Skateboarding Pig – Apparently Nellie the Pig is quite the TV star, having launched her career with a $10,000 prize from "America’s Funniest Home Videos" back when that snarky Bob Saget was the host. She is now a very old, weathered, leathery swine who looks like she needs a vodka tonic and a cigarette while sunning herself at a pool in Miami. But, she can ride a skateboard and jump through a hoop on command so, as pigs go, she’s still got it going on.



Dock Dogs – Always a favorite. Watching doggies get all excited and run and jump in a big pool and splash kids on the sidelines is always great fun.

Mutton Bustin’ – I was THRILLED when I asked Zeke if he had any idea what we were about to watch and he replied with a shake of his head, “I don’t even know what mutton is.” Surreal and verging on the edge of child abuse, watching little kids ride and then fall off wooly sheep is a hoot and a half. Zeke seemed excited to find out we got to watch another round later in the day at the bull riding. Prior to the afternoon mutton bustin', we also got to watch the Fair Queen fall off her horse, turquoise lamé and Aqua Netted hair tumbling all around the show ring. Although she was driven away in an ambulance, she proudly carried the colors (the American flag) in the evening show without any sign of injury.

Juggler Guy – He was just a sideshow juggler but so funny! Having spent many many many hours one summer in junior high teaching myself to juggle three bean bags, I have great appreciation for anyone who can juggle three or more of anything. This guy threw the requisite machetes, bowling balls, flaming torches, rings, pins, and balls in the air but it was really his humor and occasionally high-brow one-liners that kept us lingering on our way to yet another snack. It also provided this breathtakingly spectacular picture snapped by Rob. Yes, that man is using his cane to hold up his belly. I feel incredibly svelt here, even with my annual deep fried binges.



Bull Riding – Some of the best bull riding to date! Long rides and crazy bulls. Two times a bull fell and rolled over with the rider still attached. And one bull charged the clown and another charged and made contact with a horse. No injuries in any instance, so it was quite exciting. The guy who won looked like he might be old enough to vote, and his thick dark hair seemed to have lost a fight with a bottle of bleach. From a distance he looked more surfer than bull rider but I’m sure the big belt buckle prize will erase any doubt of his vocation.

Hypnotist – Rob and I discovered this guy last year and decided he was worth checking out again. He’s professional and respectful but also fun and knows how to get hysterical reactions from his submissive contestants. He has lots of material so we plan to catch his show nightly. About 20 minutes after the show ended, we passed one of the teenage contestants staring blankly at her friends as they told her all the silly stuff she did and why she had a stack of paper napkins stuffed in her shorts.

With the sugar high fading and the crash looming, here’s the picture parade from today:



First up: my daily corn slathered in butter.












Paired with a corn dog.

Followed by yet more fun on a stick ~ deep fried cookie dough! Mmmmm.

Free sample of peanut butter fudge PLUS toothpick for better corn removal.

Delicatable rhubarb pie homemade by some local church ladies.

Time for a beverage: frozen strawberry lemonade.

It's just a Food-On-A-Stick day. Most delicious chocolate covered strawberries kabob. They were gone last year due to a sudden booth-operator illness. SO happy to seem them back again today!

Needing something a little salty. Opted for nachos with a triple helping of jalapenos.

Still needing some salt. The french fries did the trick. Good thing I have really low blood pressure.

Pre-hypnosis corn dogs. For future reference, the corn dogs from the Lions booth are best so far. And "future reference" might be 9 hours from now.

Day 1's Fair Food Frenzy comes to an end with a sugar-high-capping elephant ear. Note to self: all the good vendors close at 10pm.

BONUS PIC:




I promise, I won't eat any BBQ chicken!!! Now stop giving me the evil rooster eye!