Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 10

It's going to be hard snapping back to reality starting tomorrow. These past 10 days have given me something to do with my evenings. It's been really exhausting, but I have enjoyed every minute of it. Quite a few booths were in tear-down mode. By around 5:00, some food booths had sold out, and were being shut down. I had decided that I was going to have a batch of fried veggies, but after looking at their black oil, I opted for something else. I walked the grounds for a while, trying to decide what to eat, considering the criteria I take in to account when I'm hungry. I finally decided on something I had years ago, and wanted to try again. The infamous "alligator on a stick." For $10, you get 4-5 chunks of fried alligator on a skewer. Considering how quickly they got it to me, it was obviously already made and sitting in a warmer. It was good, although it was kind of chewy. I'll give it a B. As I was walking while eating, one of the chunks fell off the stick and landed on the ground. Crisis. What to do? Leave it? Throw it away? 5-second rule? I was torn. I mean, that's like $2.50 worth of food on the ground. I picked it up and looked at it, also looking to see if anyone else saw me pick it up. I continued to walk down the street a while, considering my options. I finally took the plunge and ate the thing. It tasted fine, and there was no sand-and-gravel crunch as I ate it. Someone else might have made a different choice, but that's the choice I made.  When you pay that much for fair food, it would be tough to see it go into the trash. I guess it depends on the food, too. If it's a wet food, I would not have saved it.  A little bit later, I lost my sunglasses, the ones that clip to your regular glasses. I checked my front pocket where I usually keep them, and they weren't there. Did I lay them down at the alligator place? I really need those things! Luckily, I found them a few minutes later...I was wearing them. Maybe I'm ready for a break from the fair...?  Another food I was craving was the Caramel Cow Crunch (see Facebook pic). I didn't know about this treat until this morning, when my friend Jeff told me all about it. I was craving it, ready for it, anticipating it....and they were sold out. Agh! I understand that items run out, but I give the place a B due to the cashier being kind of cold and unkind about it. I guess I will have to wait until next year, and it will be one of the first things I buy. 

I had the opportunity to again see Bandaloni perform his one-man band act. He calls his act the "2017 reunion concert." While he was singing today, a young couple came into the area and started dancing to "Sweet Home Alabama." They were good! He applauded them at the end of his song, and gave them a trophy; a plastic gold cup-type trophy. I didn't see any of the other acts today, so no pics to show of them. I made my final pass through the buildings to see what I could get on this last day. I also walked the Midway a few times. During this time, there was an extremely loud truck and tractor pull going in nearby, and if I saw someone I knew walking on the Midway, they wouldn't be able to hear me even if I screamed "hello" to them. By the way, speaking of walking, I have walked 180,724 steps in the past 10 days! That's about 85 miles. Wow! This not just fair walking, it from rise-and-shine to bedtime. So, I averaged about 8 miles a day. Fair walking did make an impact. Normally in that time period, I average about 110,000 steps, or about 11,000 a day. I actually lost a few pounds during this 10-day stretch. In fact, it's been many years since my weight was at this point, and I know the walking did it. On another fun note, I took in the pig races today, and it was pretty entertaining. Every year is different in how they are set up. I enjoyed it, and posted a video to my Facebook page. Speaking of pictures, I ran into my friend Pam about 5 times, so she decided a selfie was in order. You can see the selfie on my Facebook page. No too many people get selfies with me, except for my friends Lorraine, Brenda, and their families. It was fun. I didn't see those friends at the fair this year (missed you all!), so only one selfie with Rob this year. 

My last official act at the fair this evening was to go to the Domestic Arts building and pick up my critique sheets. This gives me an idea as to why my cookies didn't make the cut. Too many chocolate chips, the curve of the plate curves my cookies, they weren't uniform, etc. They also stated that my cookies were too dry. Huh? I had my cookies stored in an airtight bag. I'm wondering if the bags got opened somehow, because my cookies should not have been dry. That one has me puzzled. It just something I'm going to have to think about between now and next year. 

At this point in time, the fair is being dis-assembled. The rides are coming down and being taken apart. Some of them will pull all-nighters, and by morning, most of them will be gone. I'm not sure where they will go next, but I've heard that they head for a fair in Texas. Wherever they go, I wish them Godspeed, and I have to admit that I'll be quite envious of the people that will be enjoying the Midway and festivities at the next fair. However, I know that if the fair was a permanent fixture here in town, it would lose its luster and charm. I'm thankful for these last 10 days to just enjoy this time. It's my staycation, my 10-day amusement park trip. Next year's state fair will be September 7-16, 2018, and I'm ready for it...after a good night's sleep. Thanks for reading my state fair ramblings. I blog all year long, with a special emphasis on the state fair. I hope you'll stick with me throughout the year. God bless you!

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 9

It's hard to believe there is only one day left! Tonight's edition is quite early, as I had to run a couple of errands, and pick up some meds before the pharmacy closed at 6pm. I missed it a few days ago, and I'm completely out! 

The grounds were quite busy today, as I expected it would be. It was not a wristband day, but the lines to ride the rides were pretty busy, as they were last night. The buildings were crowded as well. The vendors are not keen on taking back all the stuff they brought out to the fair, because the tables were pretty full of goodies. I stopped at one table to pick up a notepad, and the guy grabbed about 5 of them in a stack and handed them to me. It was on this day that I was hoping to catch Bandaloni out and about. This talented man is a one-man band. He has drums and cymbals strapped to his back, uses a tambourine, plays the electric guitar, and sings. I found out that he performs at 1, 3, and 5 by the Channel 12 building. I got a few of his sings on video and posted them. If you get a chance to hear him, you will be entertained. I was about to catch his 1:00 and 3:00 show, and stayed for the whole thing. He knows how to work and charm an audience. He will approach you and sing directly to you, as well as come right up to your camera phone and sing right into it. He will invite you to dance to his music, and you will often see kids dancing around as he plays. I hope the fair continues to have him back. Seeing his shows was a high-point for me today. Also out and about was the Rockin' Robot, who will dance, sing, and perform. He's about 8 feet tall, and he draws a crowd. Also very tall is Richard Renner, who is a favorite at every Kansas state fair. His costumer vary from day to day. Today, he was a goofy fisherman. There are videos of the robot and Richard Renner on my Facebook page.  I tried to do some Facebook live shots there, but Wi-Fi is pretty shaky out there.  I couldn't go live. With thousands of people using their phones at the same time, it's understandable why getting a signal can be so hard. So many people are using the Wi-Fi.  I also tried to take video of the acrobat show, but my iPhone would not allow me to post it, because the background music was copyrighted. Technology, the necessary evil! Lol. 

All the walking I did  today worked up an appetite. Today, I opted for a Tacone at Rotten Rodney's booth. Take a flour tortilla, fry it into the shape of a cone, and then fill it up with taco meat, lettuce, tomato, seasonings, and optional sour cream. They give you a fork, and you'll need it! If I remember correctly, they are $5.50 (give or take a dollar). They are great, and they've always gotten an A from me. For the 2nd time this week, I ran into my friend Larry, and he asked me what was good today. I told him about the Tacone. He told me that in the food court, there is a booth that sells breaded fish. I have never ordered here, but Larry said that for $10, you get 2 strips of breaded fish, and it's really good. My friends Steve and JoAnn were big fans of the fried pickle spears. Like me, they are careful to check out what the oil looks like before they order. The darker the oil, the longer it has been used, and it will absolutely affect the taste of your food. Some vendors are good about changing the oil regularly, while some are not so good about that.   

Tomorrow is the final day of the Kansas State Fair. In some ways it seems like the fair just started, and in other ways, it seems like it started a long time ago. The buildings will close at 7pm, and the Midway rides will wrap up at 8pm. The food vendors will also close down, but I can't give you a definite time on closing time for them.  It varies from vendor to vendor. Best bet: If you want to eat something, get it done early. Some places run out before closing time. Trust me, I have been sadly disappointed. Tomorrow is last chance day, your last opportunity to do what you haven't been able to do in the days before. Feel free to hit me up if you're looking for something and can't find it. If I don't know, I'll find out for you. There is a very tall cement structure by a big rocket. That is the information booth. That can be a resource to you as well. 

Tomorrow, I'll be heading out after church to take my final trip around the grounds and through the buildings. Provided that the oil looks good, I'll probably opt for the fried veggies. I know that I could make them at home, but getting them there is convenient. These past 9 days have been a joy, and I hope to make the most of tomorrow's visit. Is there anything you want me to look at, report on, or give info about? Let me know!

Thanks for reading, and may God bless you!

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 8

Day 8!

On this final Friday, I saw a lot of people I haven't seen in quite some time! That's what I love the most about the fair. I was also very busy giving directions and offering recommendations on eating establishments around the fairgrounds. First, I helped Lynette find the stuffed cucumber stand. I never heard back on that. Did you try it, and was it good, Lynette (If you're reading this)? About the same time, I got a message from Bev asking about where the best biscuits and gravy were served. I've had the biscuits and gravy, but it's been quite a while. I got mine at the Pride of Kansas building's café, and they were pretty doggone good! As far as where I ate this evening, I got myself a double cheeseburger at the Hoof & Horn. This is in the atrium in the Oz Building. I've seen the Hoof & Horn for many years, and the owners are friends with my mom and I. The cheeseburger was juicy and tender. Wonderful! They serve it plain, and there is a fixings bar there, complete with ketchup, mustard, diced onions, and pickles. The double cheeseburger is $5, and I grabbed a big chocolate chip cookie for $1. The big cookie was very, very good, but no chocolate chip cookie can be better than mine, Lol, but it was pretty close. The Hoof & Horn café has been sold, and will be under new management next year. I chatted with the current owner as I ate, and he assured me that the café will remain the Hoof & Horn, will keep the same vendors, and will be identical to how it has always been run. So, for those of you who like Hoof & Horn, nothing will change, except for the owners. It was while I was there that I saw Brandon & Keta, and we caught up on how our kiddos were doing. When I met Keta, her kids were little bitty, and now they are on their own. Makes me feel old!  Later in the evening, I ran into Eric & Tonya, who I haven't seen in quite a while. Tonya and I used to work together. We enjoyed laughing about the good old days, and catching each other up. I helped direct them to the Cow Patty booth. A bit later, as I was walking down that way, I saw that they were closing up for the night. I hope Eric & Tonya got there in time, before it closed! 

As I was walking the Midway, I ran into so many school, BGC, and church kids! I got to shake hands with a lot of parents, and it's good to have those connections. I probably ran into 30 kids out there. I saw a lot of happy kids and a lot of tired, grumpy kids. Hence, a lot of tired parents as well. The vendors in the buildings who have been there all day, every day, since last Friday, have this insane look in their eyes, like they're ready to go nuts, Lol. As I spoke with one vendor, she was sooo ready for Sunday at 7pm, when they can close down and go home. Some of them are commuting long distances, and some are living in hotels. They are ready to go back to their lives.   

Did you know about all the stuff on the north side of the lake? The is the 4-H exhibition building, The Boy and Girl Scout buildings, the chainsaw sculptor is over in that area, and there's a neat cabin to tour. Dillons also has an ice cream station set up where you can get a free cup of ice cream throughout the day. Don't wait too long, supplies are limited, and they're usually gone by 5:00 or so. It was while I was down there that I stopped and listened to an amazing worship band called "Of The Rescue." They have an amazing sound, and I enjoyed the chance to rest my feet and have my heart blessed.  

I typically leave at around 8:45, as the vendors leave shortly after 9, and traffic is pretty crazy about that time. Earlier this week, I made the mistake of leaving at around 9:15, and I almost never got out of the area. I plan on going out tomorrow around 11, and we'll see how I feel after a few hours. My feet and legs are pretty tired, and I'll do my best to keep up with pics and other info for you. 

Please feel free to comment on what your favorite thing was, what you favorite food was, or any other etc. You can Facebook message me if you have a question about something.  I'm going to check out for the night, and be ready for a new day at the fair tomorrow. Thanks for reading, and God bless you! 

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 7

I began the 7th day of the state fair in the typical way, walking through the buildings looking for free stuff to add to my collection. Most years, the really good stuff  is gone by now, so they must have brought extra. Some vendors even gave me a bit extra, because they didn't want to have to cart it all home on Sunday when the fair is (gasp!) over. After I grew my collection, I decided to visit the Domestic Arts building to see my cookies again. To my surprise, my chocolate chip display cookie was gone. The cookies from the other chefs were there, but mine wasn't. I asked one of the domestic arts building lady what had happened, and she didn't know. Maybe the cookie was starting to get moldy, or somebody dropped it and broke it. I wasn't angry, but I was a bit bummed that people coming by to see my cookie will only see an empty plate. For a moment, I thought that maybe my cookie won the best of show, and was on display somewhere with a purple ribbon! Actually, I knew that wasn't true, but wouldn't that have been a hoot! The lady told me that when they give me my critique sheets on Sunday, there will be an explanation. 

About that time, I started to get a bit hungry. When I am hungry at the fair, I take several things into consideration: What am I in the mood for? How much does it cost? Does it sound appealing? Is it something I can/can't make at home? I decided to try the Jaffle (pronounced "Jaw-full")sandwich. They are just a stone's throw west of the big fountain by the Channel 12 building. I'd had a Jaffle years before, and I thought I'd give them another try. I hadn't been impressed, but I thought I owed it to myself to give it one more chance. I can't make one of these at home, and at $4.50, it seemed pretty reasonable. They have several different typed, so I chose one with BBQ pulled pork. As I paid for it, the lady took one out of the warmer. It looked kind of like a baked uncrustable. At the first bite, I knew right away that it had been in the warmer for way too long. The edges were crusty, and not in a good way. I also thought that the BBQ pulled pork filling lacked sufficient BBQ sauce. I was not impressed, and this Jaffle gets a C+ from me. I had been hoping for better, but know I know better, and won't be back for another Jaffle. Maybe your experience with a Jaffle was better than mine, but this was my experience. I posted a pic of the Jaffle on my Facebook page. 

While I was down by the barns, I noticed that the Texas longhorns were here. I just had to check them out. They don't call them Longhorns for nothing! I imagined what it would be like if I got trapped in a field with a herd of those guys coming toward me. We had to make a wide berth around them, because if they turned their heads, their long horns poked through the bars of their pens. I also wanted to walk down and look at the llamas. I really like llamas. I'm not sure why, but there's something about them that I like. There are pictures of the Longhorns and llamas on my Facebook page.

I got the chance to see and visit with some of the kids I work with. I also saw quite a few friends. My friend Larry asked what was good to eat tonight, and I had to tell him that I wasn't impressed with the Jaffle. One of my school kiddos had a new big red rubber ball, and he just had to play a game of catch with me. A little guy had a chocolate-covered cheesecake, but he would have rather had chocolate-dipped ice cream. If you ask me, I think he had the better of the two.

I've already decided what I'm going to select next for my food. You'll have to wait and see what it is....    Here's a helpful hint you might like to know, and you may know it already, but here it is: If you're getting something fried, see if you can catch a glimpse of the grease vat. If the oil is dark, it hasn't been changed in a while, and it will affect the taste of your food. You are going to want to see light-brown/tan oil. I have changed my mind about certain food booths after seeing their vats of grease.     If you are still looking for something good to eat, here are some items that have garnered an "A" from me: The giant bierock, BBQ parfait, Pronto Pup, mini donuts, Westmoreland Funnel cakes....now I'm hungry! It will be hard to get to sleep tonight. Speaking of sleep, that is something I need to get right now. I have to work in the morning. If you see any typos, just chalk that up to my tiredness. Thanks for reading, and God bless. I'll see you tomorrow night! 

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 6

Today's trip to the state fair was similar to last night's trip, in that it was rather short. I didn't do too much, because I was taking in the TobyMac concert! (For the most part). Let's back up.... At AWANA this evening, we were 4 leaders short. I had considered getting through most of the evening, and then leaving early to go hear TobyMac, but I was needed this evening. However, as soon as AWANA was over, I dashed to my car and took off. I found a parking space within a few blocks of the fair, and sped down the sidewalk. I didn't care what I might have looked like (awkward chicken?), I wanted to see if I'd be able to catch at least the last part of his concert. Once on the grounds, I dashed in front of an oncoming car (scared the poor lady to death), and headed toward the grandstand. At this point, I could hear the faintest strains of  "Lose My Soul," my favorite TobyMac song. By the time I got to the grandstand, the song was over. However, the concert was not. TobyMac was in full swing. The wooden fence around the area had a plank missing, so I had a full side view of the stage and big screen. TobyMac looked like a small dot on the stage, but he was fully visible on the big screen. I took advantage of the opportunity and took a video of one of his songs. While I was at the fence, I heard about 5 or 6 of his songs. Although it was through a gap in the fence, and it wasn't the best view, I guess I can say I've officially seen a TobyMac concert. While I would have preferred to have seen it from the grandstand, this was the next best thing. I really enjoyed the time I spent listening to the music from the stage of the grandstand, hearing a concert that has been on my bucket list for quite a number of years. I would still like to one day be a part of the paying audience and hear one of his concerts. Then, this item on my bucket list can be 100% fulfilled.

By the end of the concert, the buildings were closed and I didn't get any free stuff, but I was OK. I got to see TobyMac! I decided to walk the Midway and see the rides and see who I could see. Like every other night, I heard cries of "Mr. Rue, Mr. Rue!" I got to meet some parents of my school and BGC kiddos, and that's always good. I ran into my friend Pat (former neighbor), and watched her master the "Sweeper" game. The Sweeper game costs a quarter per play, and the objective is to get the mechanical arm to knock cylinders off of the turnstile. The cylinders are worth different points values. It can be very addictive. I know, because a number of years ago, I dumped a lot of money into this game. I was tempted to play a few rounds, but I resisted, knowing that I could get myself into a lot of trouble. On the way out, I ran into my friends the Hoffmans, and we chatted for a while. They have been friends for years, and we always enjoy catching up when we have the chance.

There is no school the next 2 days, but the BGC is open all day both days. I had the option of not working those days, and spending both days at the fair, but that is not practical. I don't get paid from the school when it's out, so it's important that I get all the hours I can, so that I don't have a financial crisis. So, I'll be putting in 2 full days at BGC, and will slip off to the fair when I get off.  I apologize that this post is not the longest, but at the time of this posting, it's 11:30, and I have to get up and go to work tomorrow. Thanks for understanding. Thanks for reading, and God bless!  

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 5

Today's trip to the fair was not a very long one. I had a meeting after work that lasted awhile, then I had to be to the pharmacy by 9pm to pick up some meds. I didn't meander through the buildings like I usually do, due mostly in part to seeing some of the same people at the tables full of free stuff, and I didn't want to tick them off by taking more. Yes, they recognize me! I headed toward to my favorite booths that I wanted to see again, and where the best free stuff is (Union Booth, Sunflower North). I stopped by to visit my friend Brandon at the "Jim's Water & Woods" booth. Brandon is the new owner of this store that can provide you with hot tubs, pools, BBQ grills, all the accessories you need for these things, and much more. I'm plugging him this evening, because Brandon has a good reputation for treating his customers right. My folks bought a hot tub from him several years ago, and he was there at every turn of the sale, delivery, and after the sale. He's never done us wrong. If you're looking for something in the pool, hot tub, or grill department, I'd encourage you to head to his booth in the Meadowlark Building. He's in the center at the back. After the fair, you can find him at 2nd & Monroe here in town.

After I visited with Brandon for a while, I headed to the Pride of Kansas building to see if any of my four-legged furry friends might be hanging out there. They were not. I did make a beeline to the Liberal, KS booth to grab one of their spatulas. I love mine, and use it all the time.

From there, I was on the hunt for $2 food. Today was $2 Tuesday, and it was advertised that many food booths would be offering $2 portions of their products. Sadly, there was only a small handful of vendors offering $2 portions. Very few vendors advertised it, and when I asked, I was told they weren't doing it. I finally stopped asking. However, as I was walking down by the barns, I saw the "Cow Patty," sponsored by Jackson Meats, a locally owned business. A Cow Patty consists of a base layer of French fries, topped with smoked beef, melted cheese, BBQ sauce, and sour cream. I'd been wanting to try it, and here it was, being offered in a $2 portion! They were quite friendly, and the cow patty was really yummy! Normally, the cow patty is $8, and is obviously much bigger than the photo on Facebook. I give them an A. I've been pretty generous with A's this year, so I guess I've been lucky.

Tomorrow, the 2nd half of the fair begins. The big feature tomorrow night is TobyMac at the grandstand. I would love, love, love to see that show, but I will not be able to attend. Reason #1 is financial. I cannot afford to buy a ticket. However, even if I could buy a ticket, I have AWANA tomorrow night (Reason #2). We are beginning with club full-force tomorrow night, and I don't feel right about leaving them so I can go to a concert. I just wish that the Christian acts weren't on Wednesdays, but I guess they plan it that way so that church groups can attend. After AWANA, I'll wander over to the fairgrounds, and maybe he'll still be singing. I can listen over the fence and maybe he'll sing my favorite song, "Lose My Soul." We'll see. I've missed multiple opportunities to see him. Something comes up every time.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my short day at the fair. PS: I was able to make it to the Pharmacy by 9! Only to find out they closed at 8. Argh! smh,  Lol.  

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 4

Today was Dollar Day! Admission was only $1, or if you had a Dillons card, you got in free. All rides on the Midway were only 1 ticket, and tickets were $1.25. My friend Christy and I continued our yearly tradition of hanging out on this Monday. We have a lot of similar interests, as well as very differing interests at the same time, so we get along pretty well. Since rides were only 1 ticket, we like to ride the big Ferris wheel. We enjoyed the view, and took quite a few pictures. We had some heart-stopping moments on this ride, as the kids in the seat next to our were rough-housing and acting as though they were going to jump out. At one point, they tossed a full bottle of water from the top. Despite their behavior, we enjoyed the pretty lights on the Midway. It was dark enough for the lights to be on, but not too dark so that we couldn't take pictures. After our ride, we were ready to eat, so we headed for the most popular food on the fairgrounds. Can you guess what that was? If you guessed the Pronto Pup, you would be correct! I always have high marks for these guys. The Pronto Pup is $3.50. The lady working the window was visibly hot and tired, but she still had a smile on her face as she handed us our Pup. Also on our agenda was a trip through the Pride of Kansas building, where I had a chance to reunite with Marco, the golden retriever I had a chance to bond with last night. He is so gentle and loving. There was another dog last night named Kora, but today was her day off. I will have to make a point to go in again and say hello to them. I would love to take that dog home with me.  We had the opportunity to go into the Domestic Arts building to view the quilts. I might add that all during the night, kids from school and Boys & Girls club were constantly running up to us and saying hello (Christy and I work together and know many of the same kiddos).  While looking at the quilts, she was able to tell me what kinds of stitching was implemented, and how the pieces were assembled. She knows a lot about quilts, loves quilts, and we enjoyed the many varieties, colors, and patterns on display. After quilt-viewing, were both pretty tired, and decided to call it a night. Another fun night with my friend at the fair.

Tomorrow is $2 Tuesday. Admission is regular price, but many of the food vendors will have $2 portions of their products available. At this point in time, I do not know which vendors will be running this special. It just depends on who decides to participate. I'm guessing they will have some sort of sign up if they are participating. I am making plans to be there (of course), and I'll bring you all the details in tomorrow night's blog. Yikes, tomorrow is the half-way mark! It's all going too fast! Thanks for reading, and good night!

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 3

Happy Mother's Day! No, do not check your calendars, it was my mom's day at the fair. Yesterday I took my dad out, and today was my mom's turn. We headed out after church, and our first activity was to watch the acrobat show, "Flippin'." This troop of acrobats are very talented, and many of the acts they performed showed tremendous arm, leg, and ab strength. I posted a video of one of their acts, where they were on a spinning pendulum with a circular cage on each end. upon which they were walking, jumping rope, and even walking blindfolded. They performed rope and trapeze acts, balancing acts, and balancing on a precarious-looking high stack of chairs. We enjoyed the show, despite some of the heart-stopping acts they did.  From there, we decided to walk through the buildings. We collected quite a cache of free stuff, as well as sample some things that were made available to us. One such sample was a health drink that was supposed to make us feel sooo much better within the hour. After an hour, we felt nothing different, and we were glad we didn't purchase anything past the sample. We also got to sample the many dips in the Meadowlark Building. Get a pretzel stick and dip! There was also an area that sells coffee and bread, and there were many varieties of sweet coffee to sample, such as snickerdoodle, hot fudge sundae, and black forest. The sample breads and dipping sauce were amazing! This booth is in Sunflower North.  We walked outside to the north side of Sunflower North, and found a Veterans booth. We got some good info concerning veteran health care, and how my dad could benefit. They were very nice to us, and they seemed to really care about how my dad was getting the benefits he was entitled to. From there, we were hungry, so we headed over to Cottonwood Court, the food court building in the center of the fairgrounds. Our tradition is to eat at ChinaGo Chinese restaurant. We figured that this is our 21st year of coming out here and eating at ChinaGo.  They always get an A from me. Afterwards, we decided we wanted to hang around the Channel 12 building to see if Bandaloni would show up. He must have been done for the day, because he didn't show.  We went up and chatted with weatherman Ross Janssen, who is very friendly in person. Sadly, due to her age, Millie the weatherdog will not be returning to the fair. Ross has noticed that lately, she does not do well around people. Sad, but understandable. 😡 So, we thought we'd go check out the museum, which is housed in the Lair White House. It was closed. We know the Wienermobile was there yesterday, perhaps it was still there? Nope. At least there was a chance that Dillons would be giving away free ice cream. Not this time. Bummer! We thought we may as well walk down the midway and check out the rides. It was getting close to dark, so the lights on the rides were on. It was pretty. We met up with our friend Pat, who was my former neighbor when I lived on Main Street. We chatted for a while, and decided that we'd pool our money to get a funnel cake, and split it 3 ways. We stopped at Westmoreland's funnel cake stand across the street from Channel 12. We ordered a carrot cake funnel cake for $7.00. It was warm, with cream cheese icing drizzle on top. Yummo!! The lady who took our order was friendly and nice, and I'm awarding an A to them.  Pat wanted to look for something in the Pride of Kansas building. While there, I met 2 wonderful dogs at the therapy/service dog booth. One dog was Marco, a golden, and Kora, a chocolate. I asked if they were on duty, and I was told they were on break. I knelt down, and Marco just melted into me and let me pet him. Then when I turned my attention to Kora, Marco laid his head on my lap and looked at me, as if to say, "Hey, get back here!" Lol. I was ready to take them both home right then and there, but I think they would have frowned on that, Lol. Mom was ready to go by then, so I got the car and we headed home. Mom said that she really enjoyed herself, as did I. My mom and I share many common interests, so when we go to the fair, we like to see and look at the same things.  We're just kind of sad that some of the things we wanted to see were closed or unavailable. At least we enjoyed our time together.

Tomorrow is Dollar Day at the fair. Admission is only $1, but if you have a Dillons card, you get in free! All rides on the midway are only 1 ticket, and I believe that the tickets run around $1.25. My friend Christy and I will have a friend day there, and we like to ride the big Ferris Wheel. We always have a good time. I'll blog all about it tomorrow. As of right now, it's past 11:00, so I need to stop blogging and sleep, so I'll be ready for school in the morning. Thanks for reading! Have a good one! (If I made any typos, please forgive me. I'm too tired to check, Lol.)

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 2

                                                   

Today was Father's Day at the fair. This is the day I take my dad out to the fair and let him do whatever he wants. While we had a really good time, I can tell that the walking is a real struggle for him. The fairgrounds are not a small area, and getting from here to there was difficult for him. We started by walking through the buildings in pursuit of the magnetic clips that can clip to the fridge. We found one apiece. He liked picking up free stuff from off of the tables, and some things that were not free, Lol. "Put that back dad, that's not free, they are selling this." By the way, the best free stuff at the fair is in the Sunflower North building at the Union booth. They always have neat stuff to give away. From there, we took a trip on the Skyride. If you're not sure what that is, think ski lift. That's our yearly tradition. My dad enjoys the view, while I wonder if one of those seats has ever broken loose from the cable. I look up and consider that the bar that holds the seat to the cable does not look strong enough. :-o      I posted pics and videos from the skyride on my Facebook page. By then were pretty hungry, so we headed to the food court for our other tradition: Lunch at Bernard's BBQ. It's in the northeast corner of the food court. For $8.00, we got a pulled pork sandwich with onion rings. Normally, it's served with french fries, but for a small upcharge, we could opt for the rings. The lady taking orders was very bubbly and friendly. She rung up our order and didn't upcharge us for the rings. I offered to pay the difference, but she just smiled and thanked us. The sandwich was very good, as well as the rings. The cost was a little high, but thanks to the nice clerk, I'm giving Bernards an overall A.  From there, my dad wanted to see the livestock in the barns. He enjoys seeing the horses and cows, and likes to walk through the barns and see what competitions are taking place in the arena. During this time, horses were pulling sleds, and the person on the back of the sled was placing bales of hay on the sled, trying to be the fastest to load and unload the bales, while the teams weaved between cones.  We watched this for about 30 minutes, and I actually dozed off, Lol. After seeing the animals, my dad wanted to go see Ron Diamond, the very popular comic hypnotist. On the way to the arena where Ron does his show, I stopped at Allen's P-Nut stand (cheapest drinks at the fair: $1.50 bottles) to get a drink. I told my dad to wait for me...and the unthinkable happened. My dad wandered away. I was gone for about 5 minutes getting my drink, and when I came back to where I asked him to wait...he wasn't there. I got really panicked. I searched for him for almost 30 minutes. I finally walked to the arena and saw my mom there. Scared, I told her what had happened. He had made it to the arena and she was with him. I really got on his case for walking away and leaving me. My dad's sense of direction isn't very good, and that's why I got scared.  After Ron's show, dad was ready to go home. I brought him home and then came back out for a couple more hours.

What's different: Check out the Dairy Bar in the Grandstand. It has a new and modern look. I wasn't used to the look, and forgot where I was in the Grandstand. That doesn't happen to me very often. The campers and RV's are in a new location. They used to be in the field on the west side of the 4-H building, but now they are along the Main Street fence behind the Sunflower buildings. I like to explore the RV's and imagine living in one. Then I see the price tags, and it's back to reality, Lol. I do the same thing with storage barns, and wonder if I could live in one of those. I really could do the tiny house living, but I doubt a storage shed would be the answer. It would cost a pretty penny to wire, plumb, and insulate a shed. Missing from the fair this year is the manufactured house they bring in to demo for the public. It usually is just west of the Do Art building, but it's not there. Touring that house is something I really enjoyed doing. Also absent is the little monkey that would do tricks for a quarter, and pose for pictures for a cost. Another booth I looked for and did not find was "Fungal Fusion," who makes mushroom-themed meals. I was going to try it this year, but no dice. 

Things that make you go Hmmm? The Carousel Café, famous for the Krispy Kreme burger, has rolled out the "Funnel Cake Burger." I did not have the chance to check out the prices, but I know that they are not cheap. I am intrigued, but not willing to part with my money on a thing that may or may not be any good. I took a chance on the Krispy Kreme burger a few years ago, and liked it, but I'm not willing to take the dive on the Funnel Cake burger. I like funnel cakes, but on a burger? Hmmm....

The People! It was good to run into my friends the Slacks, who I was able to direct to the petting zoo, and I made sure my buddy Zach knew the way to the fried cookie dough stand. He actually said he was looking for something fried, and I told him he was in the right place. The State Fair is everything fried! In fact, the Lair White House, which is the museum, is featuring fair food and it's history. 2 days in a row I saw my friends (family) the Wuthnows.  There were many others, but I know I'd forget someone if I tried to name them all. I love running into friends and chatting for a few minutes.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I'll be taking my mom out to the fair to let her do whatever she would like. This is another day that I enjoy. My mom and I have many of the same interests, so it's sure to be a great time. Thanks for taking the time to read this evening, or mornings, or whenever you get the time. God bless, and I'll see you tomorrow for Day 3!

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 1

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 1

It was definitely good to be back at the State Fair this evening. This week has moved very slowly, waiting for opening day. My first order of business was to make my way to the Domestic Arts building to check on my cookies to see if they placed. Sadly, there were no ribbons attached to my entries. I thought I had done a pretty good job with them, but evidently, someone was better. I'll just have to try again next year, and hope for the best.

I ran into a lot of people, mostly kiddos from school or Boys & Girls Club. I'd see a kid come running up to me, with a quite frantic parent running after them. I would then walk up to the parent and introduce myself as a teacher at their school or BGC. All the parents I spoke with were relieved and were pleasant to talk with.  Even better is when I cross paths with someone I haven't seen in a long time. It's great to take a minute to catch up.

The "Low of the Day:" If I could choose a low of the day, it would be the topic I covered first: No ribbons.  I'll try again next year, and see what I can do and tweak to make them even better. Thanks to Lorraine, Peggy, Kelby, and Mom for encouraging me, saying that my cookies are always blue ribbons in their books. You guys are great! What also encouraged me was to see that my mom won a 3rd Place ribbon on her woodcarving project, which was a chain she carved out of a solid block of wood. This was a challenging piece, and I'm glad that her hard work was recognized.

The "High of the Day:" My radio station, KJIL 88.1 has a booth out there this year! This is Christian radio. I found them a few years ago, when my regular station was off the air for a bit. I scanned the dial to 88.1, and they were playing Rich Mullins' "Awesome God." I was hooked! KJIL plays the current hits on the gospel music charts, but also reaches back through the years to play some of the older stuff that just isn't played anymore. It was a great thrill to thank them for what they do, and to put some faces to the voices I hear on the radio. Stopping by this booth was definitely the highlight of the day. 

The "Food of the Day:" The only thing I plan on eating this year are things I cannot make or find anywhere else. Today, I stopped in the big Meadowlark Building's snack bar and ordered a half-dozen mini donuts at $1.70. They offer dipping sauces for an additional .50, but they are good plain. I give them an A for great taste and value. Another A goes to the staff, who were in a good mood and made friendly chatter while the donuts were made and cooked right in front of me.

The "Plug of the Day:" On the north side of the fairgrounds, in front of the 4-H encampment building, is "The Room," an escape room experience. They have a trailer set up with a mini-escape room inside. It's air-conditioned, and if you can get through the puzzler in 30 minutes, you win a prize! If you enjoy puzzles, and enjoy using your skills and materials provided to solve a mystery, see my friends at this booth. "The Room" has a business in Hutchinson, and they can give you all the details there at their state fair location.  Do you have a booth at the fair that you'd like me to plug for you? Let me know, and I'll try to stop by to help you out.

Closing thoughts: I had to buy a new pair of shoes the other day, as I could feel every rock through the sole of my shoes. Now I can walk in comfort. I wear a pedometer every day to track my steps. 10,000 steps a day is good. I average about 11,000 steps every day, which is pretty good. Today, I am just over 23,000 steps! I've also weighed myself, to see if I lose any weight during the fair. I'll let you know at the end of the fair. Tomorrow is Father's Day, when I take my dad to enjoy the fair, and let him look at and do anything he wants. I enjoy this time. My dad is in his mid-70's, and who knows how many more years he'll be able to do this? Of course, I'll have a big update tomorrow night to let you know how it all went. Thanks for reading, and good night!! 

4 more days!

It was pretty quiet on the fairgrounds today. I popped in yesterday after church to take a few pics, and nothing much had changed since yesterday. I was there today to bring in my cookies for judging, which will take place on Wednesday. I would prefer to take them in on Wednesday morning, but since I work 3 jobs and was completely off today for Labor Day, this was the best I could do. The cookies were baked this morning, cooled, and then placed into an airtight freezer bag. This will ensure that they stay fresh until they are opened for the judging. The people at the registration table oohed and aahed at my cookies, and enjoyed the whiff of fresh-baked cookies when they opened the bag to place the registration tag inside. The cookies entered are chocolate chip (2015 blue ribbon winner), oatmeal raisin (2016 white ribbon winner), snickerdoodle, and peanut butter. I'll be a jangle of nerves when I go in Friday evening to check the standings. I did the best I could, and took extra care when I made these cookies, so I'm hoping that was enough.  If you want to see my cookies, you can find them in the Domestic Arts building. If you see them before I do, please DO NOT tell me if they placed or not. I'd like to see for myself. That's all the fun. My mom is also entering some things, such as some woodcarving projects, and an antique teddy bear that is 70+ years old! Her entries are going to be displayed in the Oz building. I have my fair bag ready to go. This is the bag I will carry with me to pick up all of my free stuff. It will be equipped with a bottle of water, protein bars, and my knee brace, just in case. I won't be eating much this time, except when I eat with my parents when I take them out. If there's anything that I'm just dying to try, I'll wait until $2 Tuesday to try it.

What are you planning to see? What are you looking for? Chances are, I can tell you where it's at. I'm your guy! If you have questions about anything fair-related, you can comment on this link, and I'll answer it there. If it's a question you don't want to post publicly, you can always FB message me. 

Last weekend, I slipped and fell at work. There was a puddle of water that I didn't see, and my foot found it. I fell on my right wrist, elbow, and hip. I went in for x-rays, as the pain was pretty severe. My wrist was injured, just short of breaking it. Everything else was just fine, but I was pretty sore. I am in an arm brace, and I'm hoping I can shed it before the fair starts. It's one less thing I want to worry about during the 10-day event. As I sat in the exam room, my whole worry was mainly about something interfering with the fair. We will see. If I still need the brace when the fair comes, I'll just have to deal with it.

This will be the final post before the fair starts on Friday. Crazy that my next post will be after my day at the fair on Friday. I'm going to pop in on Wednesday evening after church to snap some pics for my Facebook page so that you see how things are shaping up. 4 more days!!!