The Fair is coming, the Fair is coming!

A little while ago I opened my Fair Drawer for the first time in just about a year. (Every Fair Fan has a Fair Drawer. Right, Shannon?) I really should sprinkle some cinnamon in there so it smells like an elephant ear. Hmmm….

I’ve been bouncing with anticipation all week about OPENING DAY tomorrow. But seeing my Fair Swag Bag Backpack and my Fair t-shirts and my Shave Ice Flavor Score Sheet (will this year be the year I am finally brave enough to try Birthday Cake shave ice??) made my heart and stomach leap just a little bit more. Just a few more hours ‘til FAIR 2017!!!

I think I’m as ready as I can be.

Laundry is done, house is clean, bills are paid, church duties are covered, fridge is cleared of leftovers, cats have plenty of food, water, and litter. I did my nails with just a clear top coat because I don’t want any fancy colors detracting from the photos of the deep fried gooey deliciousness that I am about to subject my taste buds, stomach, and your eyes to. Three camera batteries are charged, sunglasses are clean, tickets and parking passes assembled.

Have I forgotten anything??

Oh! Right! I scanned through my Fair Food Feast Parades from last year to remind myself of some favorite discoveries (Poutines! Strawberry Mango Smasher drink! Deep fried red velvet cake!). And a few warnings (adios Supreme Taco, arrivederci Italian Cheese Sandwich). I took notes on my notes and then snapped a picture so I can have my reminders with me on my phone at all times. I am very serious about my Fair Food Feasting. You know this. Or at least you will very soon.

My handwriting is a lot better if I think someone
else might need to read it.  In other news, I left
The Big Oil Company almost 20 years ago and I STILL
have sticky pads?  Oopsy.

Once again, I won’t be writing for the newspaper this year. Between you and me, I’m doubtful I ever will again. I just had too much fun last year not carrying around a mini laptop and not feeling like I had "A Job" and not staying up until 3:30am doing extra writing and posting extra photos over my breakneck DSL connection currently clocking in at 1.17Mbps. Yes, you read that right and yes, the decimal point is in the correct place. Yay living in the boonies!

However, I will be posting a few pictures each day in real time on Instagram. I played with the photo-based social media thingy last year. It provided me just the right release of I NEED TO SHARE THIS RIGHT NOW without getting in the way of I NEED TO EXPERIENCE THIS RIGHT NOW.

If you want to follow along, you can find me on Instagram @ its_the_fair. (Click here) And yes, I will be changing the profile pic to a silver haired one as soon as I eat something Fair Feasty. In other words, by noon tomorrow.

If I’m honest – and I do strive to be, especially when we’re talking Fair – I am a little bit nervous. Excited and eager and filled with anticipation, of course…but also a little trepidatious and edgy.

I absolutely adore the Fair and sharing screens and screens of highs and the occasional lows here on my blog. Clearly. 10 years (10 years?!? 10 years.) and counting. Thank you in advance for coming along for as much of the ride as you and your stomach can bear.

But I also know that exhaustion and probably some indigestion and at least two chin zits are in my immediate future, too. Gratefully, though, experience reminds me that once I walk through the Yellow Gate tomorrow and get that first whiff of the old steam engines mixed with the cinnamony sugariness of deep fried dough mixed with fresh hay and not-as-fresh livestock, my nervousness will be smushed by pure delight and glee. WHOO HOO!!!!!

So I think that’s it! Just a few more hours and an attempt at sleeping until I get to leave real life behind and immerse myself for 10 blissful days in my most favorite alternate universe.

Better get some sleep while I can.

THE FAIR IS COMING!! THE FAIR IS COMING!!