4 Things: 2021 in review

 It's hard to believe that here we are again, ready to end the year and ring in a new one. It always seems that the year just started. A lot of things happened this past year in my life. I'd like to share 4 of those things with you. These are things that had signifigance to me. 2 of these events were great and fun, and 2 things were not-so-fun/scary. I'll take it chronologically.

In February, the evil hand of Covid got me in its grasp. Funny, it was a routine doctor's appointment. He was concerned about what he was hearing in my lungs, and sent me to the clinic for a rapid response Covid test. After the uncomfortable stick up my nose, the Doc diagnosed me with Covid. Great. 😞 Since I am diabetic, I was considered high-risk for complications, so I was given an infusion, which is an IV that gives you a generous dose of antibodies to help keep you on a healthier level of Covid. The worst parts of having Covid were the loss of taste and smell, the extreme exhaustion, and the isolation. For 10 days I couldn't see my school or BGC kiddos, my church kiddos, or even go to the store. There were several times that friends or family would leave groceries on my front porch, so God was taking care of me. After my quarantine was over, I got the worse inner-ear infection, which affected my balance so much that I had to walk with a cane for about a week. By the end of February, I was pretty much back to my old self, but that was a miserable time for me. For those of you who checked in on me by phone, text, messenger, etc, please know that you were God's messengers who blessed me beyond words. 

In July, I had the joy of putting on my camp counselor hat for a week. A sister church that my sister attends were sending some kiddos to camp, and were lacking a male counselor for the boys. Who could they find? My sister spoke up, and visited with some other church members who knew me, and I was asked to take the position. Wow! For those of you who know me, you will know how gung-ho I am about camp ministry. When you get the kids away from the mainstream fast-pace of the world, and get them into a quiet atmosphere where they can meet with God, great things can happen. I was charged with two neat boys, one of them was my great-nephew, and the other was a boy I know from school/BGC. The two boys did not know each other previously, but they instantly became good friends. It rained every day, it was not the best weather, but God was definitely working. I saw my great-nephew begin to read his Bible, pretty much for the first time, and he began with Genesis. He was fascinated. God's word was clearly presented, and I enjoyed our group devotions before lights-out. They asked some great questions, and we had some good discussions. I had not taken kids to camp in a few years, and it was a good feeling to step back into that role, and I'm thankful to the people of the church for giving me this opportunity. Some of you said that I was and answer to prayer and a blessing, but I was the one who was truly blessed. Camp ministry is my heart. 

Another high note for me was the return of the State Fair. I am a fair nut! After the cancellation of the 2020 fair, the 2021 state fair was extra special to me. If you were reading my blog posts from September, you will know how much I love the fair. It's my stay-cation. I love seeing the people, eating unhealthy fair food, lol, finding great deals, getting free stuff from exhibitor tables, and it goes on and on. If you look to the sidebar, you'll see past blog posts. Look under September and you can read/re-read the state fair blog posts. I was excited to receive 2 red ribbons (2nd place) on my snickerdoodle and oatmeal-raisin cookies. I could go on and on, but I would just be re-hashing my State Fair blog posts. Be watching for the State Fair 2022 blog posts next September! 

In this final segment, it's been a situation that been evolving over the course of time. It's the downward spiral of watching Alzheimer's take my father away. It really came to a head these past few weeks, when both my parents contracted Covid. They took dad to the hospital for a few days, but released him to home when they determined he was stable enough to go home. He was clearly not ready to be home. My mom was home with Covid, she was weak, and had a severely messed-up knee from a fall several days earlier. My dad was clearly not able to take care of himself, and my mom was not able to take care of him either, as she could barely walk. There were no facilities that would take my father in, due to his Covid. My sister and I had no choice but to go into the home and do what we could to help them in the shortest amount of time. We gloved and masked up best we could, and changed and showered when we came home, and thankfully, I did not re-contract Covid, probably because I still had the antibodies in me. We had a few angels in the medical field who came into my parents home to take vitals and help out where they could. After my folks' quarantine ended, we were able to get my dad into a nursing-care home. As of today, my mom is recovering slowly but surely, and dad is back in the care home after a short spell in the hospital with pneumonia. What is next for my dad? Chances are that his time is short. We are making efforts to see him when we can, although he is not very coherent. At least he knows that we are there. Your prayers are appreciated, and we will need your prayers and support when he passed, because although we know he will be completely healed, we will be heartbroken in his absence. 

 We will gather tomorrow to say good-bye to the old year, and pray for a great new year, hopefully a year which will see an end to Covid and all all of its variants. I pray for a special new year for you and your familes as well. If you are lonely on New Years Eve, and need some people to laugh and play games with, come join us. Send me a message via messenger, so I can know how many to plan for and give you the specs. We'll have a great time. My door is always open to those who need a friend. God bless you. Thanks for reading. Happy 2022!

Rob's Post-State Fair Ramblings. That's a wrap!

 People ask me, "Why do you like the fair so much? What's your favorite part?" My answer is "people." I love to watch people. I enjoy seeing people laugh, have fun, enjoy themselves. I enjoy seeing my kiddos and families out there. I see people that I haven't seen in a while, sometimes several years. 

I guess second would be "the food." The state fair is the culmination of all things fried. Foods out of the ordinary, like a Krispy Kreme cheeseburger. Pickle lemonade. Bacon-wrapped deep fried oreos with carmel moonshine sauce. Fried butter. Fried PB & J. Fried alligator. Fried lemonade. It seems anything can be fried. My favorites remain the same as before: In no particular order: BBQ parfait, Pronto Pup, and the Tacone. I tried a few new things this year, such as toasted ravioli, that I probably will buy again next year. I probably won't go back to the Oreo thing, or Dippin' Dots. Before the fair began, I did my usual tradition and weighed myself. I then weighed myself at the end of the fair. In a 10-day period, I am down by 6 pounds! I attribute that to all of the walking after consuming fair food. 

Is there anything about the fair I don't like? I don't like seeing parents scream at their kids. I understand that parents get tired and cranky, but so do the kids. The only fault that these little kids have is that they are not fully mature yet and don't know how to appropriately deal with their crankiness. I understand that parents will occasionally yell at their kids, but I saw parents downright screaming, and people were watching in disbelief. I also had a problem with people who were smoking in non-designated areas. I saw plenty of people light up. Now, I know that they have the right to smoke, but the smoke of the cigarettes was blowing into the faces of people (mostly kids) waiting in line for the rides or playing games. There are designated smoking areas around the fairgrounds.  I'm not trying to be a hater, but I hope you understand. We were also told that traffic in the buildings would flow one way. I was happy about that, as I feel it would move things along more quickly and efficiently. It was ideal for people with strollers and motorized scooters, not having to fight against the flow of people coming the other direction. Well, that didn't happen. It wasn't enforced. It doesn't even look like they even tried to make it work. I would have put large adhesive arrows on the floor to indicate which direction to walk in. I don't know what your thoughts are on one-way traffic, I'd be interested in your take on this. 

Also this year, I became more aware of my age. It was a bit more exhausting than before. The last day was the toughest for me, I did a lot of resting. Except for the days that I was spending time with someone, I was answering calls and texts from people who needed info on something, and there was a lot of footwork involved. Due to so many changes this year, things were quite different, I actually had to come to you, my readers, for info. Thanks for that. Now that the fair is over, I'd like to say something quite uncharacteristic for me. I have to admit that...I'm glad the fair is over. WHAT? Rob just said that!!?? Now, let me go a bit further and expound on that statement. I'm sure that in a week or maybe even a month, I'll be ready for the fair again. I just need a rest. There, I've said it. I had so much fun being your fair answer man, your go-to for all things fair-related. I hope I was able to help you find what you were looking for.

So now, I'm going to enjoy some time off of my feet and enjoy the memories. If you enjoyed the blog, I need to get some likes and comments on this post. It will help me determine how many people appreciated and enjoyed the blog. I'll base the future of next year's state fair blog on the reactions and feedback. Also keep in mind that I blog often throughout the year, and feel free to jump in and see any post. All of my posts can be accessed by clicking on one of the blog links on the right-hand side of this page. Go back and revisit a post, or whatever. You can also stalk my FB page if you'd like to see some pics again. You are welcome anytime!

Thanks for a great 2021 Kansas State Fair! Thanks for reading, and God bless!    

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 10

 The finale of MASH was entitled "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen." That seems like a fitting title to today's blog post. As sad as I am to see the fair leave, my body will appreciate the rest. Today's farewell is a little more bittersweet, as we waited 2 years for this fair to come. 

As I approached the gate today, there was a couple that was leaving. They had en envelope with about 7 unused gate tickets. They offered them to me, but I told them that I was already set with tickets. Since the gate we were at was not typically a walk-in ticket gate, there were no people to give the tickets to. I offered to run the tickets down to the Plum Street gate and bless some people. They handed me the envelope, and I trucked them down to the gate on Plum Street. I walked up to some people who were standing in line waiting to buy tickets. I asked them if they wanted some free tickets. They looked surprised. They handed me some money, and I pushed it back to them. I told them to have a good time at the fair. I was able to bless 7 people with free tickets, and it was a good feeling to see the expressions on the faces of these people as they realized they were going to save some money. (Adult tickets at the gate are $10). Now they would have more opportunity to enjoy a funnel cake, Pronto Pup, or buy something special. It's a good feeling when you do something nice for others.  

Today's lunch was a bierock, suggested by my friend Lynette.  In comparison to the bierock in the Pride of Kansas building, the taste was about the same. However, the one I had today was smaller, about half the size of the one in Pride of Kansas. I give it an A all around, for service and taste. This bierock was $6.00. From there, I went down toward the lake to check out a nearby booth that was selling "Bacon Wrapped Deep Fried Oreos with Salted Carmel Moonshine Sauce." My sister, as well as my friend Jeff from church, were telling me about this.  It's really hard to describe the taste, there's really nothing to compare it to. As far as service is concerned, I give it an A. The lady was very friendly. As far as taste, I give it a B. It wasn't nasty, it was OK, but not something I plan to buy again. As far as value, I give it a C. $8 for three Oreos. Hmmm?? They also sell "Pickle Lemonade." Yep, a glass of lemonade infused with pickle juice, complete with pickle spears in the drink. I would have tried it, but there was not a sugar-free option. Sugary snacks are one thing, but sugary drinks quickly shoot my blood sugar up to dangerous levels. 

Not long after, I ran into my niece Teighlor. She had her 2 youngest kiddos with her, and they were headed for some Dippin' Dots. Dippin' Dots is an ice cream created by flash-freezing ice cream in liquid nitrogen. The result is a ice cream resembling ice cream that looks like colored, flavored BB's. When I told her that I had never had Dippin' Dots (it's true, are you shocked?), she was surprised. I got a small cup for $6, cotton candy flavored. I give it a B for value (small cup for $6?) and a B for taste. It was OK, just not very flavorful. I hung out with Teighlor for a while, it was nice to spend some time with her. One of my BGC kiddos walked by and wondered if Teighlor was my wife. Awkward, Lol. I'll have to visit with her about that, Lol. 

After we parted ways, I just basically walked around the fairgrounds and walked through buildings collecting free stuff. It was a good day for freebies, as the vendors were putting it all out there, trying to get rid of it. Less stuff to pack away, they said. In between all of the walking, I did a lot of sitting. My feet were tired. While sitting, I had the chance to catch up with Valerie. I met her and her family through theater a number of years ago, and she filled me in on how everybody was doing. I also...again...saw my friends Earl and Irene. I think they win the prize for being the ones I have seen the most, Lol. We had a very nice conversation while we enjoyed the cool breeze and the break for our feet. I also have to mention that I ran into the Lee family. I mention this because I see them everywhere I go! It's crazy. We accuse each other of stalking, because it doesn't matter where we go, we always run into each other, Lol. I also had the chance to visit with my former neighbor, Pat, while she waited for her Bloomin' Onion to be ready. 

Afterwards, it was close to 6pm, time to go pick up my cookie ribbon and then head for home. I was in for a shock. The envelope contained 2 red ribbons. I told the lady that they had given me 1 red ribbon too many. Not the case. It turns out that my Oatmeal Raisin ALSO placed, it just hadn't been labeled and ribboned. They double-checked their records, and it's true! They can't figure out why my Oatmeal Raisin wasn't labeled and ribboned in the display case. Wow! What a surprise! So, this has been a year of firsts. First win with my snickerdoodles, first red ribbon, first red with my Oatmeal Raisin, and first year with more than one ribbon. What a pleasant surprise! 

Following picking up my ribbon, I decided to take a walk around the midway one more time, and visit the streets again. I happened upon my friend Maria, who was working at the Quesedilla and Stuffed Cucumber booth. She is also my supervisor at the Alley. Maria and the Alley have always been good about letting me off during the fair so that I can do my thing. Maria was busy stuffing a cucumber, and I snapped a pic of her stuffin' that cuke. 

(Heavy sigh) And now, I am home. My head is still full of things that I would like to reflect on, but it's getting late, and my body needs to sleep. I'm going to make one more post tomorrow night with some final reflections about my 10-day adventure at the Kansas State Fair. Would that be OK with you? One more post? I want to thank you for reading tonight. Or morning, which is what a lot of you tell me. That you read it in the morning. Thanks for reading, and God bless you!    

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 9

 I can't believe there's only one day left of the fair! What am I going to do when Monday comes? 

Today was Mother's Day, which has become a fair tradition. This was the day I took my mom to the fair and it's her day to choose whatever she wants. When we got to the fairgrounds, I offered to rent her a scooter, but she opted to use her walker. We started by walking through the buildings, collecting free stuff. My mom likes to stop at different booths to try different things like back massagers and healthy living info. She asked me if I'd like to buy her a hot tub. Unfortunately, I didn't have the money on me at the time. Maybe next year, Lol. 

Afterwards, we wanted to take in the "Ninja Experience" show. Sitting on the bleachers waiting for the show to start, we saw the grandkids on the next set of bleachers. My granddaughter came over to say hello and wanted to sit with us. We were sitting behind some taller people and she was having some trouble seeing, so she wanted to go back and sit with her mom, where she had a better view. I always love running into them. 💜 If you have not seen The Ninja Experience, it's a great show. In years past, I have seen the show earlier in the week, not liked it, and have to endure it again with my mom. Not the case this time. Although it was an exact carbon copy of the show I saw last Saturday, I still enjoyed it thoroughly. There are pics on my Facebook page of this act.  

Afterwards, we were hungry, so we revisited one of our long-standing traditions (not sure how it got started), eating Chinese at the food court. It was really good. Mom's stomach had been bothering her, but eating Chinese food helped it. From there, mom decided she wanted to get a hat. She was getting hot, and wanted to get something to keep the sun out of her eyes and off of her head. She found one she liked, and we went in to explore the Pride Of Kansas building while waiting to see Ron Diamond, comic hypnotist. 

The arena where Ron performs was busy with an auction of the chainsaw sculptures that the chainsaw artist had made during the week. Following the auction, we were informed that Ron Diamond had been cancelled so that staff could set up the arena for a big concert that evening. What a bummer! After a trip through the Domestic Arts building, we got a pineapple ice cream waffle cone. Yum! The only bummer was that my cone had a hole in the bottom, and I was creating a small ice cream lake on the sidewalk by my feet. It was a fun day.

It was great to run into our friend Charlotte, who I see every year, and get a photo op. We actually ran into a lot of people that my mom knows, because my mom knows a LOT of people. Anytime that I go anywhere with my mom, I am just in awe of how many people stop and talk with her. We stopped to visit with friends John & Lynette, which I believe was a God-appointed meeting. My mom has been dealing with my dad who is in failing health and has Alzheimers. Lynette works for the VA, and gave my mom tons of info and resources she could draw on to help my dad out. This is info that my mom needed to hear, and we ended our visit encouraged by what we had heard. Thanks, Lynette! I chatted with my friend Paul, and later we got to visit with our friend Kim, who had run to grab extra napkins to help staunch the drip from the bottom of my ice cream cone. 

Overall, we had a good time. Sadly, there will not be a father's day at the fair this week. My dad is so unsteady on his feet and his health is not good. In fact, he mentioned that if I had asked him to go, he would have declined. He always enjoyed looking at the farm animals and liked to ride the Sky Ride. He enjoyed getting magnetic clips for the fridge. He loved the BBQ in the food court. It will be the first time in many years that my dad and I will not attend the fair, and I will miss it. 

And tomorrow, we're going to put the period at the end of the Kansas State Fair. I already have an idea of what I'm I'm going to do and eat tomorrow, but I'll let you wait until tomorrow to find out what that is. Thanks for reading, and God bless!      

 

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 8

 Well, the mystery is solved. My friend Kristin did some digging, and the Korean Hot Dog booth is not there this year. The picture that the fair used was from 2019. I guess she asked the right people. Everyone I asked had no clue. I got really excited when a friend of mine told me it was right around the corner. Not sure what he thought he saw, but it was not the Korean Hot Dog. Evidently, Covid kept the Korean Hot Dog booth away this year. Hopefully they'll come back next year, and I'll see if it was worth the wait. Thanks again, Kristin, for solving this mystery for us!

The food of choice was Gator Tators. My friends Earl & Irene were there again, enjoying another gator tator. I had the pleasure of visiting with them. This was the Chubbs & Spuds booth, where I got my mac n cheese bites the other night. Again, service and taste receive an A. However, this was a lot for one person. It was a good-sized portion, and I could only eat half of it. I forgot to take a picture of it, though. I didn't take any pics at the fair this evening.

We had a bit of rain today. I was afraid that they heavens would open up (bad flashback to 2013), so I felt it would be a good time to go indoors to check out the poultry and rabbits. There were some beautiful birds and rabbits in there. I went up to the geese and began to talk to them. They geese quit honking and looked right at me. This happened with several birds. A nearby kid asked if I was a bird whisperer, LOL. Then I went over to the rabbits, and the same thing happened. They quit hopping, put their cute faces right up to the cage and looked at me. I could see that kid peeking around the corner, amazed. That kid probably thinks I'm sort of a saint, Lol. Despite the raindrops, it did not start to pour, but rather, a beautiful half-rainbow formed over the fair. A lot of the kiddos were pointing and oohing and aahing. Even the fair can't dim the beauty of God's promise in the sky. 

It was good to meet up with Camille and Emma today, enjoying their funnel cake. It looked good! I also saw scads of my school/BGC/church kids and their families.  A lot of the kids I saw have grown up, and still remember me. They are now teenagers who want to come and visit with Mr. Rue, and are not embarrassed to introduce me to the friends they are with. Evidently, I have made an impression on them. That made me feel good. It goes to show that you never know who is watching and learning from you. I try to remember that daily. While I'm not perfect, I try to live my life as a role model for those little eyes that are watching. 

I've been asked about healthy options at the fair. I have suggested roasted corn and stuffed cucumbers. The fair is the mecca of all things fried, and while there are some healthy choices out there, you'll really have to check the menu boards. Some booths, I have been told, will offer vegan, vegetarian, keto options if you ask. A taco or taco salad without the chips or meat is also a good way to go.  It's just a matter of looking and asking. 

Since most of my evening was spent in a futile search for the elusive Korean Hot Dog, I had little time to do much else. Now that I know what's going on, I can enjoy the last 2 days without going crazy stewing about that Korean Hot Dog! 

Tomorrow is mother's day, the day I bring mom out to the fair and let her choose what she wants to do. It's a tradition we do every year. She wasn't feeling well today, so I'm praying that she'll be OK to go to the fair tomorrow. If anything, we have Sunday available if tomorrow doesn't work. Praying she gets back to normal soon.   Thanks for reading, and God bless!

  

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 7

Today's trip to the fair almost didn't happen. I was driving down Main Street, when a lady that was angle parked along the street began backing up...quickly. It was obvious that she didn't see me coming. Thankfully, there was no one to my left, so I quickly swerved and missed her by mere inches. Heart attack moment! Then she had the audacity to sound her horn at me. Lady, I had the right of way. 

I arrived on a quest to find the Korean Hot Dog, suggested by my friend Ryan. My goal was to purchase and grade it. This evening, I left without a Korean Hot Dog. I searched everywhere for that thing. I walked for an hour and a half down every street, to no avail. There is a picture of the bottom half of the booth that I posted on my Facebook page, hoping that someone might have some info. I now have a few leads, and I plan to find it tomorrow. Now it's personal! That Korean Hot Dog will be found! Lol. This has been a most unusual fair. There are new things, things that have moved, and things that aren't here this year. It's totally thrown me off of my game. I have appreciated my readers who are helping me locate things. I'm the guru, and I don't have all of the answers. What's become of me?? ((Wailing)) Just kidding, Lol. Thanks for all you have done to help me this week. 

I finally gave up the search, because I was starving by now! I decided to go with a new item, one that I have wondered about. The toasted ravioli. I saw a friend of mine working in there, so I decided to give it a go. You get 9 pieces of deep-fried raviolis with a side of marinara for $8. This was another winner for me, getting an A in all categories. I really enjoyed this new treat. You can find them across from the Channel 12 booth and a bit north. It's a yellow/orange booth. 

Of course, I saw a lot of my BGC kiddos out there. My favorite was the 2 little girls who screamed my name across the park from the train. Their mom looked totally mortified, but I told her it was OK, I'm used to it. I got to chat with Rob & Debbie, Stephanie, Kristen & Travis, Scott & Shanda, Paul, and more! The best part of the fair is getting to see and talk to friends! 

My "big" win of the day came from spinning the wheel at the Dillons' booth. I saw the person in front of me and the person behind me win 1,000 fuel points. I won a handy little tool that is a screwdriver, mini level, and a flashlight. It's not 1,000 fuel points, but I'm sure it will last longer, and I'm sure I will be able to use it in the near future. 

Tomorrow is Day 8! It's coming to an end too quickly! My plan tomorrow is to find and conquer the Korean Hot Dog! I've got your back, Ryan! I will persevere and overcome! OK, I'm getting loopy and tired, so I need to close this out. Thanks for reading, and God bless!

    

 

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 6

 If yesterday was a great day to have a Midway wristband, today was a good day for fans of building-walking. The Midway was quite busy, but the buildings were quite empty, and there was talk of them closing at 8:30 rather than 9:00. I'm not sure if that happened, I left the buildings before 8:30

Today's food picks were based on suggestions. Led by a tip given to me by my pastor (a tip from your pastor has got to be a good one), I headed down to the Silver Spur, which is across from the livestock barns. I ordered the recommended Philly Cheese Hamburger. Food and service receive an A, and this burger runs for $9.00. This is NOT a walk-as-you-eat food. It's not really a pick-up-with-your-hands food either. I actually ate most of it with a fork. It's pretty messy, but that's the best thing, right? All the fixings of a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich and a hamburger. It was really good! I  actually was not planning on eating again, but after a visit with Nancy and Sierra, I decided on an order of fried mac n cheese, based on their suggestion. At first I had pause, because I have had fried Mac n cheese at the Alley (when we had it), and I was not a fan. But I decided that I would try the state fair version. Maybe this would be different. As I was standing in line, I had a conversation with a couple from our church who I have known for most of my life. She told me she enjoyed reading the daily blog. Then she told me she wanted to buy my food, and she stuffed some money into my pocket. I tried to resist, but she insisted. I hope she sees this and know what a blessing they were to me. I pray God's special blessing for them. I would give this booth (Chubbs & Spuds, by the big yellow slide) a B for service, as it took a while for the guy to process the order in front of me. When I finally got to the front, he apologized and said that the guy in front of me had wanted to pay with a credit card, and Wifi was very weak. That booth looked really hot as well. I give grace and the benefit of the doubt, and give service an A. It did not take long for my food to be ready, and the they served it with Ranch dressing for dipping. Tip: If you can stand it, try to wait a good 5-10 minutes before biting into it. They were hot! But....that first hot bite was a good one! These were not the bites that the Alley had served, these were something totally different, totally good! I'm glad I went ahead and ordered. The mac n cheese bites are $7.00

It was so good to see dear friends and family. I got to see my beautiful granddaughter, who was wearing facepaint that made her look like a unicorn. I also got to see my cousins on the Rue side, which is always fun. Also got to see Ron & Julie from mom's side. It was fun to chat with Leslie and Sabrina and Ethan, and my long-lost good buddy, Tim. Earl and Irene, I enjoyed our chat, and I hope you enjoyed your snack! Dalton & Dafne, it was great getting to talk with you as well. I got to see plenty of my kiddos from school and the club, and I like this, because it gives me a good chance to meet the parents. 

As I left for the evening, I could hear the voices of the Newsboys rocking out to God's glory. I didn't attend. The Newsboys are good, but a grandstand act needs to be especially earth-shaking for me to buy a ticket. Tomorrow is 4 after 4, where you can get in for $4 after 4:00. If you're out and about tomorrow night, I hope I have a chance to see you. You just might make the blog page! 

Please drop questions. comments, suggestions, likes, etc so that I can know that you are reading, and to let me know what you'd like to see! Thanks for reading, and God bless!  

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 5

 I can't believe that the fair is officially at the half-way mark!

Tonight's trip was a short one due to stuff that needed to be done at home, and the threat of incoming thunderstorms. I like to eat right away because then I can use the remainder of the time walking it off. I opted for the "Calf Patty." This is sold by Jackson Meats across from the livestock barns. A Calf Patty is actually a smaller version of the "Cow Patty." I only required the smaller version. The Patty consists of a bed of shoestring fries topped with hot beef, BBQ sauce, nacho cheese, and sour cream. Yum! The calf patty runs for $6, while the full runs for $8 or $9. Can't remember. I give them an A all around because this was delicious, and they were very friendly.

In walking the Midway, this was a perfect night for those who bought a wristband. The lines for the rides were very short. The Midway simply wasn't busy. I talked with several kiddos and their parents who were very grateful that they had chosen this night to come to the fair. 

From there, I decided that since it was such a slow night, and since the buildings were not well-traveled, I made my way to the booth in the large Meadowlark Building for my annual caricature drawing. I know that I can be a character without a drawing, but that's beside the point. For $25, I got an excellent caricature of my teacher self. Afterwards, I went to see my friends Andrea and Adria at the Alley booth. Yes, even one of my jobs comes to see me at the fair! Did you know that there are 3 Alleys? In addition to our Alley here in Hutchinson, there is also one in Wichita and one in Salina.   

I was planning on walking around more, but I felt a couple of raindrops. I checked with one of the exhibitors, and he said that the heavens were getting ready to open up any minute. I didn't want to get rained on, or have the rain ruin my caricature, so I decided to call it a night. Now, nearing 9:30, it still hasn't rained yet, so could have stayed out a bit longer. Oh, well. I still have 5 more days. I still would like to know what weather app that exhibitor was using, LOL

Before I close, I have a correction. In my last post, I described the Pulled Pork Parfait as having a layer of green beans on the bottom. It is, in fact, PORK and beans. I should never blog when I am tired, but then that makes it so much more entertaining! Speaking of tired, please excuse today's typos, thanks for reading, and God bless!

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 4

Wow, the people were out in full-force today. Today was Dollar Day with $1 admission and all rides only requiring one ticket. Usually, I'll post who I saw and etc, but there were just so many, and I'd be typing all night! If you remember from last night's blog, I was invited to ride the Sky Ride by one of my Church kiddos. This evening, we took that ride. We had a good time, despite the seat occasionally wiggling or bouncing slightly, and that was a little nerve-wracking. 

From there, I went in search of some food. The item I wanted had a very long line, so I did what other people might do. I grabbed a spot in line! This was a Pulled Pork Parfait. This is in my top 3 favorite fair foods. (I neglected to mention yesterday that the Pronto Pup is also in my top 3.) The Pulled Pork Parfait is served in a clear cup and is layered with green beans, mashed potatoes, BBQ pulled pork, and topped with BBQ sauce on top of a scoop of mashed potatoes (real mashed potatoes in this parfait, folks!). The cost was $9. I give it an A for taste and an A for service. As I walked around the fairgrounds with it, I had several people ask me what I was eating. You see people walking around the fair with all types of weird foods. 

As I said before, people were out in droves this evening. I ran into people from church, kids from school and BGC, they were everywhere. Not sure how many times I heard "Hey, Mr Rue!" Good times. I didn't even do much walking through the buildings, I just enjoyed walking around and seeing people. I was recognized by adults who knew me as kiddos, and I enjoyed catching up with them for a bit. The fair is a great place to reconnect with people, especially with those who you haven't seen in a long time.

I need your help. I have been asked by several people about the stuffed cucumbers. I can't find them anywhere. If you see them, could you please drop a comment and let us know where they are? I was also asked about the chocolate-dipped cheesecake. I told a reader where it was, and found this evening that the particular booth no longer carries it. If you know where they sell chocolate-dipped cheesecake, again, please drop a comment. I know a LOT about the fair, but there are those little things that have me stumped, and you have the opportunity to help ME out. Thanks so much!

Tomorrow is Tasty Tuesday, and some local vendors will be selling $2 portions of their product. You will have to check the signage in the booth's windows to see if they are participating. This way, if you are unsure about a product, you can give it a try, and if you don't care for it, you're only out $2. 

I'm going to close out and get some sleep. I have to be up early for school tomorrow. Thanks for reading. As always, I am a comment or message away. God bless you. (Please excuse any typos. I'm too tired to check for any, LOL) 

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 3

 Today was friend day! My friend Christy and I took on the fair for our annual escapades. Our first order of business was to walk through the buildings and collect all of the free stuff we could find. One thing that we looked for and could not find (maybe one of you readers might know) were the orange or yellow hard plastic spatulas. If you know what booth is giving these out and where they are, could you let me know? These spatulas are amazing and I use them all the time in my baking. They are sturdy, and I use them for mixing and scraping the bowl. I use one when I make prize-winning cookies. 

Following our adventures through the buildings, we were ready to eat, so we opted for the famous Pronto Pup, aka banquet on a stick! Don't dare call it a corn dog! Christy smeared mustard all over hers, and I applied my staple stripe of ketchup, and a stripe of mustard. They had Grannie's mustard available, so I went for that. Everyone has their own way of doctoring their Pronto Pup, so I put it out there on a Facebook post. I loved seeing the different options. If you hit up my Facebook page, you can find that post and add your 2 cents on the subject. Following our Pronto Pups, we went into the Domestic Arts building so Christy could see the quilts. She knows her quilts, and tells me (the quilt illiterate) about the stitching and how the quilt is made. She about freaked when she saw a quilt with an elephant design. She loves elephants. 

From there, we headed to the Ferris Wheel for our annual big ride. (I'm using the word "annual" a lot, because we like to do the same fun things every year). It's a big Ferris Wheel, and I like getting pictures from the top. Be careful as you go up the ramp to get in line. There is a poorly positioned sign that will smack you in the head if you're not careful. We both got smacked in the head. The sign needs to be re-adjusted. The Ferris Wheel seemed to be moving quicker than it used to. We were really booking it as we went around. 

After our ride, our legs were tired, so we jumped onto a tram to take us to the other end of the fairgrounds. The tram driver was totally hilarious! He joked around with the riders, and talked to the people outside of tram using his intercom. At the tram stop on the other side of the fairgrounds, we made our way to a stand that sells hats. I like to get a new hat when I go to the fair, and I bought a couple. A light-colored one for the rest of the hot/warm season, and a dark one for the winter/cold season. We opted to take the tram back to near where Christy had parked, and we got the same tram driver! We were seated in front of the pedal pull champion, and she was holding a huge trophy. The tram driver made his way down the street, telling passerbys to make way for the pedal pull champion. He had everybody on the tram in stitches. He was definitely making an otherwise dull tram ride into a funfest! Christy and I said goodbye as she walked out to her car. I hung out for just a while later to check on some things before I left. I was asked if the Kansas Lottery was open this year. It is closed. The sign on the door noted that it was due to Covid-19, but that they'd be back next year. Also closed was the cabin by the lake that is usually open for tours. But right next to it they were giving out ice cream! They give out ice cream cups throughout the day. I think I posted that yesterday, but I think that it doesn't hurt to be reminded of free ice cream! 

As I left for the day, I decided to walk to my car by using the route that takes me in front of the home of one my church kiddos. He and his family are usually sitting out front, as they open their yard for parking. As I approached, he ran up to me and asked if I'd ride the Sky Ride with him tomorrow evening. They had some tickets, and his folks were not eager about going up on it, and he asked me so nicely, so tomorrow I'll be riding the Sky Ride. I used to do this every year with my dad, but his health is so bad, I'm not sure he's going to make it out this year. 

Tomorrow is Dollar Day, sponsored by Dillons, You can get into the gates for $1, or free with your Dillons Plus Card. All midway rides are 1 ticket, and those tickets are $1.25 or $1.50, I can't remember which it is. This was always a good deal for my boys when they were younger. I would give them both a strip of 10 tickets, or 10 rides. Tuesday through Friday are wristband days, where you can ride all of the rides for a $35 wristband. They first started doing this when I was in high school, and the wristband was $9. Wow, times have changed

Thanks for taking the time to read today. As always, please drop comments, likes, questions, etc. so that I can be sure that I'm bringing you the best blog posts that I can. Your input helps! Thanks for reading, and God bless! 

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 2

 It was a hot one today. I arrived around 10:30, and by around 4:00, I was spent. This certainly get a little harder every year. I started off by eating at the Wheatland Cafe, located in the Pride of Kansas building. I chose the bierock $7.50. Their bierocks are always good-sized and the staff is friendly. I give them an A all around. Why not A+? My bierock was just a tad overcooked. It didn't affect the taste, and it was still good, but visually, just a little more brown than I would have liked. I walked as I ate. I always try to eat early in my trip, so that I can walk it off during the day. 

I visited the Lair White House, aka the State Fair Museum today. This year's showcase was Grandstand acts over the years. I had never known so many big names had graced the stage of the Grandstand. Also showcased was the racing activities at the track in front of the Grandstand. There was a video playing with the sound down low, but I wasn't able to catch most of it over the loud conversations of the museum staff. There is a sign posted "masks required" for the museum, but it's not being enforced. There were several people walking around the room without masks.  Also not being enforced is the one-way building traffic that was being promoted. People are traveling both ways, and I heard several people complaining about it, namely people using scooters. One-way traffic is ideal for people who need to use a scooter, and they were not happy about the lack of enforcing the one-way traffic rule. I'm not happy about it, either. 

I attended the "Ninja Experience," which is this year's act for Gottschalk Park. In the past, I've always thought that some of those acts were so-so, but I really enjoyed this act. The host was energetic and funny, and the performers were talented and very agile. No, they did not come out in black robes and masks, they simply performed acrobatic acts that dazzled. The show was interactive with the audience, and the show was well-received. To me, it seemed that there were less bleachers than in years past, so you might want to get there early. I showed up about 15 minutes before showtime, and had trouble finding a seat. I ended up pushing an old lady out of her seat. "I'm a blogger," I said. NO, just kidding! Overall, I really enjoyed the show. 

The walk through the buildings was about the same as yesterday, uneventful. The guy who was pushing me to buy his internet service last night was there, "Hey welcome back, let's get you set up!" I politely declined and walked on by. I jumped when I saw a mini-Nintendo equipped with 160+ games for $40. Growing up, I was a Nintendo geek! I went ahead and snatched one up. Since then, I have gotten reports of these units ceasing to work after a while, so I'll have to see what happens with mine. If it quits, I'm out $40, and I won't buy another one if they're back out there again next year. 

As I took a walk down the Midway, I was kind of surprised to how how short the lines were on a Saturday. I had to chuckle as a dad rushed his daughter off of the Storm (a crazy spinning ride) so that she could puke. I guess the ride was more than she could take, Lol. I don't think she was very good PR for the Storm. 

Things to know: The west side of the Oz Gallery is closed. Those exhibits have been relegated to other buildings. The east side of the Oz gallery is an interactive exhibit having to do with construction. Also, the birthing center is not open. I always enjoy seeing the baby animals , so I will miss that this year. On the north side of the lake, there is a stand sponsored by Dillons, and they hand out a lot of free ice cream cups. I got a funfetti ice cream cup. I suppose that if you went back several times a day, you could always score some more free ice cream. I also went across the street to see the 4-H exhibits and was doing fine until I saw the entomology displays and saw praying mantises pinned into cases. I had to walk away on that one. 

I was glad to run into old friends. I enjoyed chatting and catching up with Roxanna, who I'm pretty sure I run into her every year at the fair. It was also to see my good friends Brad and Angela and their sweet family. Tomorrow is friends day, and I'll be going to the fair with my friend Christy to take in the fair and food, and to ride the Ferris Wheel. I'll also get an education on quilting, Lol. We do this every year, and always have a good time. 

It's time to close this out. Are you enjoying the blog this year? Is there info you'd like to see, something you'd like to know about? Please comment and like, so I know how many people are reading. Thanks for reading! God bless you, and God Bless America!  

Rob's State Fair Ramblings, Day 1

 What an excitement it was to enter the fairgrounds after a 2-year wait! I typically share with you the first acquaintance I meet when I enter the grounds, and I saw one of my Sunday School kiddos as I was walking through the gates. He shouted my name (I'm used to it by now, LOL), and we chatted for a bit. His folks have a big yard for parking cars just a block away, so if you're looking for a shorter commute from your car to the gate, they can fix you up! A few years ago, the first acquaintance was my granddaughter, who was eager for me to film her dancing. That video clip was the most-viewed for my state fair photo collection for that year. 

Once I get inside, I'm on a mission. The first thing I always do is go check to see how my cookies fared in the judging. I entered chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and snickerdoodle. While my chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin didn't place at all (they have both been 1st and 3rd in years past), my snickerdoodle took 2nd! This is my first win with my snickerdoodle, and also my first red ribbon (2nd)! I was very excited to place. Now I have ribbons in all three colors. I decided to celebrate with a Tacone! A tacone is a flour tortilla shell fried into the shape of a waffle cone. It is then stuffed with all the goodness that comes in a taco. They top it with sour cream if you wish, and jalapenos are an extra .50. The Tacone always gets an A+ rating from me. At $7.00, you get a pretty full cone. They are always so polite to their customers as well. The Tacone is in my top 3 favorites. You'll find out about the other 2 in the days to come. I was disappointed that the Caramel Cow Crunch was unavailable. I'm hoping that it's just a temporary thing for a couple of days, and then they'll get it in. 

One thing that really stuck out to me was how few people there were. I personally know quite a few people who are avoiding the fair altogether due to the rise in the Covid-19 variant. There are also fewer vendors in the buildings. Quite a few empty spaces. Pride of Kansas is set up differently. Also, traffic in the buildings is supposed to be one way. No one was enforcing this, and I saw a lot of people "going against the grain." Masks are also being encouraged, but no one was at the door enforcing it. Rest assured, the cable, internet, and phone companies are out in full force, ready to jump in front of you and ask if you're happy with your current provider. I simply made a wide berth around them, and for Pete's sake, don't make eye contact! That's their invitation to jump in on you. Their were some other booths I stopped at intentionally,  specifically people that claim to help you with sore feet. I was pitched a wristband with a magnet that supposedly helps you for $60, and a pair of orthotics for $100 (lifetime warranty for around $400). Those products get a solid "no" from me. I did stop by Lori the Dip Lady's booth in the Meadowlark building. She will give you a small portion cup with pretzel sticks and let you sample the dips she has displayed. Don't double dip your pretzel stick! I ended up buying 5 packets of dip mix from her for $20. There are other dip businesses out there, but I like Lori's the best. Lori is also very friendly and personable. As I passed through the buildings, there was free stuff available, but not nearly as much. The cool find of the day was at the Oneok booth in the Pride of Kansas building. They were giving away keychains with whistles on them that people can blow in the event of an emergency. I could hear kids around me testing the whistles. Those parents might have a horrible trip home. How many whistles will we find by the side of the road, tossed out by a mom or dad who couldn't take it anymore? Hmmm.... As always, the coolest stuff is at the Union Booth in Sunflower North. They always have the neatest stuff...flyswatters, cups, frisbees, etc. Some of those guys can look pretty rough, but they're pretty friendly. 

I was glad to run into some people I knew, some I hadn't see for a while. I saw Nolen and Patty with their family. It was great seeing you! Larry and Angie, I enjoyed chatting with you! I stopped by LDI to visit with my friend Joe and his great family. He offered to sell me a HUGE tractor that I don't think would even fit in my yard! I asked him what I would do with a tractor that big, and his son said, "Drive it!" Hmmm, would it be street legal to drive that monster to and from work every day? Maybe not legal, but I might be pretty popular with all the kids I work with. LOL. I also saw my friend Becky. Stop by her boutique "Grand Staff" in Sunflower North and check her out. A majority of her earnings go to Swaziland to support orphans there. I also saw scads of school and BGC kiddos there. Some of them look for me as though it was "Where's Waldo." I love running into my kiddos. If you see me, I hope you'll come and say "hi." Some people even want to get their photo taken with the "State Fair guy." Fun times.

The clock on the wall is reading 10:30ish, and like the old man I am, it's time for me to turn in. I'm beat. Tomorrow is another full day, and I'm hoping to explore everything that I didn't get to see today. As always, drop comments, questions, and likes. This helps me gauge how many people are reading. 

I'll bring you the full report tomorrow night. Thanks for reading, and God bless!    

Rob's Pre-State Fair Ramblings

 On this Labor day, which happens to be an off day for me, I took the opportunity to bring my cookies up to the fairgrounds for judging. The deadline to bring baked goods is Wednesday, but with work obligations and doctor appointments, it is not possible to bring them in on Tuesday or Wednesday. The entry people provided a freezer for my cookies, where they will stay until the day of judging. Because of the new format for entries (all online), the lady said that entries were down this year. I guess that improves my chances. I just hope that freezing them until Wednesday will help them along. The people assured me that they will bring the cookies out to thaw in the morning, so that they will be ready for the afternoon judging. Cross your fingers and wish me luck!

It was quietly busy out at the grounds today. The Bullet Train was in the early stages of construction, but no new rides have arrived. No doubt they are on the road, heading our way. A shout-out to my friend Laura who posted a short video clip of the "Ring Of Fire" ride rolling into town, headed for the fairgrounds. It's very interesting to see the rides in their unassembled form. Some are recognizable, and some you have no clue. Most of the food vendors were there, cleaning, organizing, setting things up. A lot of the familiar favorites were there. There are some I did not see, maybe because they have not arrived yet. I am hoping to make one more trip out there, maybe Wednesday, to hopefully get a good gauge on what is there. There is excitement in the air.

Do you have a food booth, business, or other venture that you'd like me to highlight in my daily blog posts and updates? I offer this every year. Simply message me with your request, and I'll stop by your booth to get pictures and have you tell me what you'd like me to say about your particular business. This is 100% free to you if you wish to use this service. My blog is read by hundreds of people, and will put your business in the eyes of my readers. 

There are several ways to save at the fair this year. Did you know that Monday is $1 Day, and you can get in for $1, or free with your Dillons card? Also, on Tuesday and Thursday, you can get into the fair for $4.00 after 4:00. After 9:00PM, the gates usually open for free, but no buildings are open to peruse. Tuesday is also "Tasty Tuesday", where some of the vendors offer $2.00 portions of their products. Participating in Tasty Tuesday is Connie's Funnel Cakes, Cooper Nut Kettle (cinnamon roasted nuts), Chubbs & Spuds (deep fried goodies), Leimon's Pizza, Creamy Rich Ice Cream, LH Ice Cream, Westmoreland Concessions, and others. I'm not entirely clear as to what these businesses will offer for $2.00, we'll just have to see when we get there. These are just a few ways to save a little $$, and we always like that, especially at the fair! 

Remember, if you have a question, I am always a comment or message away. If you're wondering about a particular vendor, or the location of something, hit me up, I'll do my best to answer your question.

We're just 4 days away! Can't wait! Thanks for reading, and God bless!

 

Rob's State Fair Ramblings

 This is an early state fair rambling to fill you in on some changes coming to the state fair, and some helpful hints to help enhance your fair experience. We're just a week away from the start! I don't think I can stand it. It's been two long years of waiting!

First of all, be aware that all commercial buildings will become one-way traffic. All aisles will move in one direction. It will be interesting to see how this works. I think it will be a good thing, as patrons can move from one side of the aisle to the other without having to avoid someone coming from the opposite direction. Also, I'd recommend bringing a mask. Although masks are not required but strongly encouraged, it might help to have one. There could be a business or two that may want you to wear a mask in their general area. I'll have mine with me...just in case. 

Interested in a tasty treat? We all know that the state fair is the conglomeration of all things deep-fried. If you're wanting something deep-fried, here's what I do: I like to try to catch a peek at the oil they're frying the food in. The oil should not be black! If the oil is too dark, that indicates that the oil hasn't been changed in a while, and it will affect the taste and quality of your food. The lighter the oil, the better your food will taste. I also make sure there's not a bunch of "floaties" in the oil. There have been a number of times I have denied myself a fried food I really wanted, but declined, because the oil looked gross. If you are in the mood for something healthy, the pickings are sparse, but they exist. Some booths will offer healthy choices like fruit bowls and etc. At this time, I'm not sure what food booths will be at the fair, so at fair time you'll just have to take a look at the menu boards. Pronto Pups are fairly low in carbs. Roasted corn can be good, considering what you slather on it. There are a few bierock booths around the fair, and some burgers can be good. Otherwise, if you are wanting healthy items, you might want to bring your own. As I make a few more pre-fair visits, I'll keep you updated on what food vendors will be there. 

Also plan on exhibits being in different buildings. They've kind of played fruitbasket-upset with exhibits, and expect to see things dispersed between Pride of Kansas, Domestic Arts, and the Oz Building. I myself will be checking out where things are during the first couple of days, and I'll let you know where to look. And from what I hear, only the prize-winning entries will be displayed. I'm hoping that's not the case, as I like to see everything. 

Above all, please stay safe! If you are feeling sick or ill, please stay away from the fair! You could be spreading it to hundreds of other people. As much as I love the fair, I'm going to follow my own advice and avoid the fair if I'm feeling sick. It's only right. The fair is 10 days long, and there's a good chance you can still catch a day or two of the fair after you are feeling better. Personally, I'm practicing good physical hygiene, washing my hands, drinking emergency, and I'm wearing a mask at work with the school district and the Club. For you fellow fair-lovers, I'm praying that you stay healthy so that you can enjoy the fullest extent of this celebration that has been 2 years in the waiting. 

I'm planning a few more trips before the fair, and will update you on what I'm seeing. Thanks for reading, and God bless!

A look back...

 You might be wondering why a post is being made at near 5am. Why am I up so early? The fact is, I haven't been to sleep yet. I started feeling a bit ill Sunday afternoon, I struggled through my work shift, got home around 10:30pm, took some meds for my stomach, and slept until around 2pm. Thus, my sleep schedule is totally screwed up, and I might need some melatonin tonight to get me back on track. Today is my last day of summer break. I guess that's another reason for my insomnia. I've been turning over in my mind the great experiences I've had this summer. 

First of all, I was able to work again at the local Boys & Girls Club with a fun group of upcoming 3rd graders. Yes, we had some challenging kids and some rough days, but that kind of comes with the territory when you're working with the kiddos. In those instances, we love them through it, and offer the kids some strategies in how to deal with these ever-changing emotions that come with growing up. We played games, did fun science experiments, made art projects, and went on field trips. It was a fun summer. My work shift was 12:00-5:30, so it gave my body a chance to sleep in, and have some time in the evening to run errands and get stuff done. Our summer program ended on July 23rd, so I've been off, and on "staycation" since then. I miss the kiddos, especially the ones who only come during the summertime, as I won't see them again until next June. 

I had the fun opportunity to be a camp counselor this summer. I took a week off from the club and took some kiddos to a Bible Camp near the state line. These kiddos attend another local church, and the boys needed a male sponsor to accompany them during the week. My name came up, the camp decision-makers asked me, and I jumped on it. I believe strongly in the camp ministry. When you get these kids  away from the city and busyness of daily life, they are better able to hear the voice of God. Many kids make life-changing decisions as camp, myself included. I still remember my fun days of attending Bible camp, and have served as a camp counselor for a number of camps over the past 30 years. Anyway, the boys and I knew each other, they are great kids, and we had a fun week. It rained every day, but through the raindrops we were able to have a great deal of fun. I'm hoping that they'll ask me again next year to attend camp. 

After a year's absence due to Covid closings, our church was able to bring back VBS. I like to call it VBF, Vacation Bible FUN. I had the opportunity to portray Moses, complete with long gray beard and robes. Every day was a re-enactment of a certain scenario that the Israelites encountered during their wanderings in the wilderness. In our VBS, the kids don't just hear the Bible story, we live it! We get involved. We re-enact (to the best of our ability) the Bible adventures, and the kids remember it. That's the goal. Every adventure had a Bible application the kids can use in their everyday lives. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. However, seeing the kids get involved, laugh, and learn God's Word makes it all worth it. I'm already excited about next summer's VBS.   

 Now, it comes to an end. On Wednesday, we begin a week of inservice, meetings, and room set-up. Then, next Tuesday, it all begins. Ready or not, here they come! We'll welcome the kids back to another great school year. This will be my 20th year in the school district. After school, I'll kick off my 9th year working with the BGC. Tuesday will be a very busy, possibly chaotic day, we'll sleep well that night, but it will be so good to see the kids again. 

Am I ready to go back to school? Yes. Do I want summer to end? No. I can't have it both ways, can I? But time marches on. I will carry those summer memories with me for a very long time. What sweet days they were. Looking forward, we are a few short weeks away from the FAIR! That's a whole different ballgame. 

Thanks for hanging in with me while I walked down memory lane. Blogging has really helped me process how I'm feeling. What are your summer memories? I just hope they are as sweet as mine are. Have a great day. Thanks for reading, and God bless you! 

 

Looking ahead to the Kansas State Fair...

 It's crazy to think that in just one short month, the Kansas State Fair will take over our town by storm. Rumors were flying this past week that the fair would be cancelled again this year. The directors of the fair were on the radio this morning, and answered that rumor with a resounding "NO." In fact, they are predicting a record turnout this year. People missed it last year, and are going to make the extra effort to get to the fair this year.  I visited the fairgrounds this afternoon to finalize an issue with the cookies I am entering, and took the opportunity to take a walk around the grounds. I will be visiting weekly, posting pictures of things that you might find interesting, or info bits about things you might want to see. I plan to get you as much info as I can, and answer as many questions as I can. I can direct you to the cheapest soda, food, exhibits, and any question you might have. I have tried almost every food there is at the fair, and I can give you an honest review of the booth's service, value of food, and how it tastes. I can tell you what to look for in a food vendor to ensure you're getting a quality product. Please, if you have any questions relating to the KSF, please ask them in the comments or Messenger and I'll answer them as soon as I can. It's fun to be stopped at the fair by friends asking where something is. I've overheard conversations by fairgoers as they try to figure out where something is, and I'll tell them where it is. I sometime get weird stares, and sometimes a "Thank you."  

 This will be the 10th year of my State Fair blog. I can't believe it's been 10 years. In those 10 years, I may have missed 2 days of the fair, if even that. I just love the atmosphere of the fair, and seeing people. As we get closer and closer to the fair, I will create more blog posts with some of my favorites and info about the fair; more specifically, the fair in a Covid world, and how they will be doing things. 

 In years past, in the weeks leading up to the fair, I have posted "State Fair Flashbacks," pics and videos of activities in years past. I didn't do so much of that last year, as my heart wasn't really into it. Do you want some flashbacks this year? Let me know if this is something you want to see. 

Tickets this year are $10 at the gate. They considered raising it to $12, but then re-considered. The fair begins September 10. Up through September 9, you can get advance tickets for $7. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office or at Dillons stores. Also, if you go to the fair's official website, you can take a gander at the schedule of daily events, and where they are happening. 

That is all I have for today. More posts will be coming in the weeks to come. Also take a peek at my facebook page for my "Today at the Fairgrounds..." feature that comes out weekly. If you have no interest in the fair, just scroll on by.     Thanks for reading, and God bless!  

Nostalgia

It is common for one to experience nostalgia, or be nostalgic, but today I got totally lost in nostalgia. Let me take you back....

It's a crazy thought to think that 31 years ago, I graduated from high school. To some of my older  readers, that may seem like a short span of time, but to me, this is a long time. Your nostalgia is a different one than mine. This past weekend, our senior class gathered together for our 31-year class reunion. There was supposed to be a 30-year reunion last year, but as you can guess, 2020 was not a good year to have any type of gathering. So rather than scrap it and wait for the 40-year, we decided on a 31-year class reunion. We gathered at a local restaurant to eat, catch up, and reminisce. Since I spent only my senior year at BHS, I didn't have the memories and friendships that the other folks had. I had many friends to chat with, but the only memories I had to share were from only my senior year. I really did enjoy myself, and many of my former classmates reminded me of their names, and we chatted about life in general, and what we were doing during this period in our lives. Many of these former classmates have changed over the years, and while I couldn't remember many names, I could still recognize who they were, although many of them are now inches from turning 50.

The next day, our activities were located at BHS itself, for breakfast and a tour. I have to say, there is very little in that school that I recognized. There have been extensive renovations and building projects that have taken place over 31 years, and many of us had to stop and try to calculate where we exactly were. While it's fun and great to see progress, it's just a bit sad to not see the same building that we remembered. The school looks great, and it's very modern. Approximately 700 students will walk these halls next month, and they will have no idea of the history and memories that still float through those halls. As we toured, people were reminiscing about "Remember when.....?" Of course, I couldn't remember about 95% of what they were talking about. It really made me wish that I had spent all of my high school years with this group. I really enjoyed myself. A few classmates, remembering that I had only spent my senior year there, directed a few memories my way in order to help me feel included. That was nice. We also chatted about those classmates we have lost over the years, some that I didn't realize had passed.  As we get older, we will lose more, sadly. The folly of growing older. 

After our time at BHS was over, I took a drive around town, visiting the places I had often gone while I was growing up. I went to the playground of my grade school and was struck to see some  sets of monkey bars that I had played on as a kid. They were very weathered, and bore the marks of having been painted multiple times during the 40 years since I had been there. I walked over to these monkey bars and grabbed one of the bars, and a wave of memories washed over me. I could still see my classmates hanging upside-down from the top, and could almost hear the sounds that usually accompany a playground. I also remember that I often played alone. I was bullied and picked on as a kid, and only had a few kids whom I considered my friends. I remember spending time with Ryan, Donald, and David, and got a little misty-eyed as I stood there gripping those monkey bars. Nothing else on the entire playground was the same, just these monkey bars, and it was special to see that they had been preserved after all this time. 

I drove to the parks I had loved going to, and drove by the houses I had lived in, and went past the homes of my childhood friends. I drove down some back roads to see what was the same and what was different, and before I left town, I came to one realization: I really miss living here. It's such a quiet community, far different from the hustle and bustle of Hutchinson. However, I have built my life around Hutchinson: My family, work, church; and and as much of my life is centered in Hutchinson, it would not be practical to move back to the peacefulness of Buhler. 

When I got home, somehow it seemed as though I had been gone for years. Things seemed different. It was at that point that I realized that I had been hopelessly lost in the nostalgia of years gone by, and it was a nice trip. What a weekend. I will take this nostalgia and these memories with me for a very long time.  Have you ever gotten lost in nostalgia? I'd like to hear your story. And if you have known me for a very long time, maybe we could swap some memories and take that fun trip back to nostalgia. I like it there. 

Thanks for reading! God bless!