In my normal life, I have some self-imposed food rules. Mostly about carbs and sugar and caffeine and junk food. One of the blissful things about fairing is that I allow myself to abandon All the Rules.
Last night, I gleefully inhaled a Chocolate Cherry milkshake
in the 8:30-9:00pm timeframe. At about 1:30 this morning, I was reminded why I
have a rule about not having chocolate after 8:00pm. I have henceforth declared
the No Nighttime Chocolate as a permanent rule regardless of fairing activity.
Goodness, SO SLEEPY today.
We got ourselves to the Gazebo before the parking attendants showed up. This was helpful since they seem to be a bit…inexperienced…this year. As we were getting things set up, Abby and her parents were patiently waiting to get a Passport fan even though the Fair wasn’t open yet. Rob asked the (I’m guessing) 7-year-old if she wanted to help us open up the Gazebo. She was pretty excited AND pretty helpful! She credited her love of carrots and broccoli for her strength in helping me unlock the window panels. Go Abby!
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| Abby was adorable! Come see me in about 10 years, Abby! We are always looking for awesome volunteers! |
We had a great crew in the Gazebo all day, so Rob and I enjoyed
a leisurely day fairing about. I unfortunately chose poorly for my feedings
(see Fair Food Feast Parade below). Otherwise, it was a great day despite being
super duper tired and longing to take a nap on one of the display mattresses
inside the Big Air-Conditioned Building.
We caught a few shows including Adam the Great’s magic show. His awkward assistant from last year was nowhere to be found. I’m super curious but also super supportive of the change.
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| Not awkward and not an assistant. |
We clapped along to a breakdancing performance by 4 very
flexible guys in old-timey newsboy outfits. I had been angling for a better
view of the spinning and popping as we stood around their performance mat. Suddenly
found myself in front – score!
Then I realized some folks must have seen the show before and knew Da Boyz grabbed people out of the audience for a dance-off. The wise ones strategically slinked towards the back of the crowd. I’m thinking my “I work here” badge and lanyard saved me and my cranky back from being picked. Good Lord, that would have been HORRIBLE on soooo many levels. Yo.
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| Ouchy ouchy ouchy! He looks like a potato bug doing physical therapy exercises. Click here and here for a couple of fun videos! |
We stopped by the Cow Barn to chat with Katelyn, little Apollo’s human mom. I was just casually asking about any future events in the show ring when Katelyn said there weren’t any more, although there had been an impromptu one this morning. Pulling information like teeth, I eventually learned that modest Katelyn took GRAND CHAMPION in adult showmanship today!! Like, she won a big ol’ belt buckle and everything!! SOO COOL!! CONGRATULATIONS, KATELYN!! It’s the first belt buckle she’s won!
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| She plans to wear it tomorrow. |
Perhaps my favorite part of the day was hanging out on a
bench in the Llama Greenway for an hour or so. I was just looking for some
shade on a bench with a backrest. A 4-Her and a llama were in the showring, but
there wasn’t an announcer or anyone with a microphone, so I assumed it was just
practice. Nope, it was an un-narrated Llama Obstacles competition! And I happened
to be sitting next to a 4-H mom!
I sadly didn’t catch Julia’s mom’s name, but I SO enjoyed chatting with her. I learned 14-year-old Julia has been in 4-H for less than a year and has 3 alpacas with the best names ever: Dave, Kevin, and Fred. As a kid who had hamsters named Henry and George, Julia is my kind of people.
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| Side stepping tires with Dave! Julia describes Dave as friendly and sassy. |
Mom revealed that Julia has blossomed working with her trio of fluffy camelids. Her hard work showed. Julia maintained composure and calm when the animals refused to sidestep through tires or duck under a teepee of sticks or place their delicate little hooves in a kiddie pool. She encouraged her alpacas and treated them with respect and love. My cranky back demanded a walk so we weren’t able to hang around for the judge’s results. We stopped by the Llama Greenway later in the evening and discovered Julia ended up taking both first place (with Kevin) and second place (with Fred)! Go Julia!
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| Navigating the platform with Kevin! Julia says Kevin is a "chill dude." |
Chatting with Julia’s mom made me wistful about my days hanging out in the Llama Greenway, when Rob and I provided comic relief by competing in Open Class, and when we got to chat up fairgoers about our most favorite llama ever. Those days with Rojo and his people were so sweet, filled with friendship and excitement and laughter. I miss them. I deeply hope Julia is embarking on a similar season in her life. And I am stoked that I now have a new camelid kid to root for. Officially on Team Julia! Hopefully with just enough enthusiasm not to be creepy!
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| Up and over the steep hill with Fred! Fred is apparently the chattiest of the trio. |
After a disappointing dinner, we closed up the Gazebo and headed to the parking field before it was dark. I have sleep to catch up on. Plus, I suspect the next two days will be long ones since the boring concerts are over (Midland, anyone?? Yeah, here neither). The dirt arrives overnight, with bull riding tomorrow night, and rodeo the next night. YEE HAW!
FAIR FOOD FEAST PARADE!
Snack at church! Ruth's 7 Layer Bar
made from items she needed to use up
from her pantry. Sort of a fancy Rice
Krispy Treat with all sorts of goodies.
Fish and Chips from the Winston's Food
Truck. I've had Winston's before outside
of the fair and liked them, so I was excited!
But, this fair version was really disappointing.
The fish was really fishy - I couldn't eat it.
The fries were boring. Malt vinegar wasn't provided
and I didn't want to walk back to find some after
walking around trying to find ketchup for the fries.
Didn't try to cole slaw because I was annoyed.
BOO!
Also disappointed by the Poutines
from Winston's. The gravy on the
boring fries was fine but forgettable.
There wasn't much cheese, or if it
was there, it tasted like fries. I was
sort of over the Winston's experience
so I let Rob eat most of this. Not going
back.
The best part of my Winston's lunch
was a root beer Rob found at the Lion's
booth. I needed the sugar and the caffeine.
Barq's never disappoints.
Lemon-Cucumber-Basil water from Tosha's booth
with the Potato Smashers. It looks boring but it
was so refreshing! I shall have another soon!
Big chocolate chip cookie from the
Sunny Sips stand at the southeast end
of the Food Court. It was a little hard and
crunchy but it did the job.
Pineapple Smasher! A new flavor!
It was really tasty - had a hint of
coconut so it tasted like a pina colada.
Some rum would not have been bad...
Street tacos from the booth near the
Grandstands that also sells the fancy
desserts. They looked really good but
they were sadly boring. The salsas
weren't very memorable either. Just
not much flavor. Not going back.
Also disappointed with the booth's
Carne Asada Fries. The fries were
non-descript and the meat was pretty
gristly. We didn't finish it. I moped
around for a bit, declaring it a
Bad Eatin' Day. BOO!
Happy with this soft and chewy
chocolate chip cookie from a booth
selling Nathan's Hot Dogs in the middle
of the Food Court on the east side. They
also have brownies and cinnamon rolls!
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