Actually, in a normal year Rob and I would have been quietly whining about how hot it was. Instead we were grateful for the relief of just 92 degrees…even if it did seem to still keep attendance a bit light. While I don’t love large crowds, in the interest of my Favorite Fair in the World sticking around for another 149 years (or at least 50), I wouldn’t mind several hundred more people walking about.
Slathered in sunscreen and toting our refillable water bottles, Rob and I had another blissfully wandery Fair day. No real “appointments” of shows to see or things to do other than a favorite 9-year-old’s debut piano performance at 3:30pm (see below). We will have more of a schedule of fun in the days ahead so I am embracing and relishing the lack of Fair plans for now.
The royal treatment
Dedicated readers might remember the elation, celebration, and told-you-so-ing that happened last year when our teen friend Maddie was crowned Queen of the 2017 Fair Court. YAY MADDIE!!
She and her horsey and two other equally dedicated Princesses have had a VERY busy year getting up early, curling hair, hauling horses, being in parades, attending rodeos, cutting ribbons, signing autographs, posing for pictures, doing television and radio interviews…all to represent and advertise The Best Fair on the Planet. Thank you, Maddie, Emily, and Laura!
The Fair is the culmination of all their hard work over the past year. The Fair is the final ten days of their reign before they pass their crowns and curling irons to the next set of fluffy haired young women a week from tomorrow. Sad face.
But until then, believe you me, these young ladies are not just standing around eating elephant ears and petting goats. These gals are BUSY working it. They are all over the Fairgrounds judging contests, attending animal events, meeting and greeting and schmoozing sponsors, introducing stage acts, shaking hands, waving, smiling. And yet yesterday, in four miles of walking the Fairgrounds, I never saw them. Boo!
If you’ve Faired with me before, you know I am a rather experienced Fair Court Stalker. But I’m a stalker in the most friendly and benign sense. Really. I’m not scary. I’m just enthusiastic. And my camera’s lens really isn’t that zoomy, I promise. But still, four miles and no Fair Court? I was obviously off my game yesterday. I blame the heat.
Determined to see the Fair Court today, I took drastic measures. This is the only year I will ever be able pull this card, but I actually ditched my stalking and simply texted the Queen Mum this morning asked what the Fair Court’s plan was for the day. I know, I know.
While this shameless use of connections totally eliminated any and all challenge of the sport of wandering the Fairgrounds in search of glitter, fringe, and hairspray, it did allow for some great photo ops and autographs and such. Can you blame me?
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| Gotta admit, I felt rather old and short-haired standing next to these young beauties! At least my shirt coordinated with their outfits. |
I haven’t decided yet if I will send a daily text to the Queen Mum or...
...if old habits die hard and I instead resume my much more familiar and honed stalking:
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| Oops. Any guesses which option is my happy place? |
Sweet Karoline
We learned yesterday, while waiting for those ridiculous camouflage pants to be awarded a blue ribbon, that our adorable 9-year-old neighbor recently started playing the piano.
Karoline has been playing for about four months and has taken twelve lessons. In that time, she has already advanced to needing a full keyboard of notes and octaves, plays at every opportunity because she loves it so, and has found it easier just to memorize pieces than futz with turning pages.
Um, wow?
With this newfound musical passion, Karoline told her parents she wanted to enter the 4H Performing Arts Talent Show. Dad didn’t know such a thing existed. Until last night, neither did we.
Karoline’s performance today – in a pretty dress she insisted on wearing despite the tight schedule to change into it – was the first time she had ever played the piano for an audience. She confidently introduced herself and the brief pieces she played. She sat at the piano with presence and posture and was not the least bit flustered when her music pages fluttered wildly in the glorious breeze. The pages were really just there for show anyway.
Totally not surprising, Karoline took home the large orange and purple Champion ribbon for the Junior Division. WAY TO GO, KAROLINE!! I fully expect to applauding her performances and awards for years to come.
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| One of the few times she was looking up. I think she was getting ready to start playing. And isn't she ADORABLE?!? |
It’s really a blessing to all that we don’t have kids
The other aspect of watching Karoline’s piano performance was the opportunity to get a glimpse into what it’s like being a parent with a kid in a talent show.
In other words, learning how to endure untamed and sometimes questionable talent with a smile and encouragement while waiting for your kid to unbiasedly shine on stage. How do you parents do it? At least without bursting out laughing or slipping in ear plugs?
Rob and I shot each other soooo many sideways looks and wide eyes of disbelief as other kids took the stage. Some of the performances were frankly painful yet none of the other adults (presumably all related to performers and well versed in youth talent shows) seemed to notice. Instead those grown-ups sat quietly, smiled a bit, clapped politely. Unlike this supposed grown-up who really hopes nobody noticed her spirited facial expressions (I’m a lousy poker player).
But as…undeveloped…as some of the performances were, they were also absolutely adorable in their authenticity.
I loved the little girl who knew her dance steps but looked like Cindy Brady when the red light went on on the TV camera and she froze even though she knew the answer was Baton Rouge.
I desperately wanted to hug the little boy who truly looked like he was about to throw up from the terror of being on stage. I totally get it, Cody, trust me.
And then there was the little boy with glasses and allergies and itches who took care of all three while dancing with an umbrella.
So maybe that’s how you parents do it. Maybe you know it’s not really about talent…despite the signage…but instead it’s about having experiences and gaining confidence and building life skills and learning how to be on stage without actually dying.
Except if you’re Karoline. Then it’s really about talent. Because she does have a lot of it. And I’m not biased at all.
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| Not pictured: Kazoos. Oy. |
Nick is a pretty powerful piano player
We were enjoying the last song by one of my favorite musical discoveries a few years ago (Nick Superchi – look him up) when suddenly his electronic keyboard died. He tried to say a few words but his microphone was dead, too. As were a few carnival rides behind the stage and a couple of food trucks.
Turns out a big transformer at the Fairgrounds blew. Nobody was hurt or stuck on a ride, but there were still large utilities trucks, guys in hard hats, and streams of caution tape around the area when we left a few hours later.
Several vendors had to close up and leave for the night since electricity is sort of critical for making donuts and tacos and change. Given some info that was making its way around the Fairgrounds, Rob and I suspect our local utilities people have a long night ahead of them. But we also suspect all will be fixed and back to normal by the time we mosey in after church. Perhaps in search of donuts.
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| Interestingly, neither the trucks nor the power outage really seemed to get in anyone's way...except for the vendors. |
Poopy hats for everyone!
We were taking a lap through the midway just to walk a bit and because I love carnival lights when I saw two middle-aged women sitting in front of a game in hysterics. They were laughing so hard, their bodies were shaking. Another woman was trying to take their picture but they just couldn’t stay posed long enough through all their giggles.
As we got closer, I saw that they were wearing matching hats. I snagged a candid photo of them laughing (I eventually got their permission) because they were just so much fun!
I don’t know the story of the hats – if they had won them or purchased them – or why the women were laughing as hard as they were. But I do know that their joy was as infectious as their laughter. YAY FAIR!
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| I'm going to guess they were calling each other a new name that isn't fit for my self-imposed blogging rules. But dang, that would indeed be pretty funny! |
STATS
Number of miles walked: a paltry 2.5 miles or 6,052 steps. I need to step it up if I don't want to exceed my typical 2.6 lbs. weight gain for the Fair.
Re-entry stamp animal: a squirrel on the inside of my left wrist which is slowly wearing off on the ergonomic wrist rest for my keyboard.
Number of friends we saw: 27 including some we saw yesterday, too. I’m not counting Stan at the Smashers booth or Eric at the Deep Fried Heaven truck even though today was the first time I saw each of them this year. Maybe once we’re Facebook friends I will include them in the count.
Number of times we saw Dave and Linda: 2. I was worried we weren’t going to see them at all but then around 5:30 we found them watching the Dock Dogs. Their adult daughter has an award-winning dog and they are very supportive parents. The second time we saw them was shortly before we left.
FAIR FOOD FEAST PARADE
I realized this morning, as my stomach was grumbling, that despite all the eating I did yesterday I didn’t actually eat much food. As in sustenance. Like protein or other useful calories. So today’s goal was to give my body some actual food to fuel itself amongst the junk. Because I’m not giving up the junk. At least not for 9 more days.
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| Ms. Burger from the Burger Buggy = lots of protein! A hamburger patty PLUS a slice of ham. Soooo good. Why didn't I have one of these last year?? Oh! And it had mayonnaise on it! I never eat mayonnaise. |
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| My own Smashers blend: strawberry mango. VERY tasty! Smashers are my favorite Fair beverage since I gave up soft drinks. Stan the Smashers Man is also a cool guy who remembers me each year. He gave me a lead on whom to ask about the fate of the Grilled Cheese truck. Stay tuned! |
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| The fabulous chocolate cherry milkshake from the Dairy Wives! I kept getting cherry chucks stuck at the end of my straw. As it should be. Also, please note the referee cow to go with this year's Fair theme of "Game On!" |
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| Frozen pink lemonade from the corn and gourmet hot dog stand. It was tasty but too icy. Rob poured some water in it to help melt some ice towards the end but that still wasn't enough. I probably won't get this again...unless I want pink ice. |
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| Chicken strips from the Lions booth -- always a favorite. Sneaking Sriracha sauce to add to my ranch dressing dipping sauce is always a challenge. Some food vendors are rather territorial about their condiments. Rob actually ordered some mediocre yakisoba noodles from the stand with the mean lady and the full bottle just so I could legitimately use her hot sauce. Do I have a wonderful husband or what? |
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| OK, I decided to try it early! Here is the deep fried marshmallows. There were about 3 large ones in one large lump inside the dough. Verdict: eh. It tasted like warm marshmallow fluff. It was pretty messy and it was a lot of sugar without a lot of flavor. I'd rather get my sugar in the form of something involving chocolate. I ate about half of this and then tossed it. In other news, Eric from the Deep Fried Heaven Truck remembered me! |
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