I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Fair Today, Grill Tomorrow

Today we went to the Great Geauga County Fair. We usually don't go on Saturdays, waiting for Monday and the plant auction (mums for $2, as many as you can carry, and beautiful hanging baskets of foxtails for $4). But Bette likes to watch the ponies run in the races. So we hitched up and went today.

We know a few backways into the fair, and normally are parked behind the carnies and animal people. This year we parked all the way around the other side of the fair and went in a gate we normally don't. Now, this was good news and bad news. We were pretty close to the gate, and right inside this gate is the Friends of the Library booksale. So, good books, bad because we are spending a few thousand dollars this year to turn a couple of walls into library units. It's not like we don't already have lots of books. But good news, because if we buy books that means we have to haul them all day (incentive to NOT buy them).

Then, while we're looking at the books, who do I run into? My boss. First day of Labor Day Weekend, and the first face I see that I know (other than the people here in town as we left, and my wife) is my Boss. Fortunately I have a pretty cool boss (no, I don't think he reads this). So I joke around with him a little.

Then Bette and I go sit and watch the races. The announcer was a little off his game today. We were a little off (I could pick to show, but to place or win I was right out). Fortuantely I only bet my life, never my money, as they say. So we watch the races up to the first two Amish races (no betting on the Amish) and have some lunch of corn dogs and soft pretzles. Afterward we go get milkshakes (made with whole milk right from the cow) wander through the craft barns and horse barns. We listen to the pie auction (one went for $350, for an apple pie). We get dinner at the Grange Counter and get treated to a Nick and Nora show by the older people doing the serving (one of the reasons I like the fair). Wander a little more and then leave sunburnt and tired.

Tomorrow we'll grill out before it's too late. Just like wearing white pants and rootbear floats, after Labor Day it's against the law to cook out. So I'll get the last one in while I can.

7 comments:

Serena said...

Sounds like an excellent way to spend the last official weekend of summer.

Steve Buchheit said...

It most certainly is. Did the grilling tonight. My wife like a big "foom" as I start the coals. Unfortunately that creates a fast/hot fire. But everything came out okay (I'm really good with meat over fire, if I do say so myself). We cooked up extra stuff to have leftovers. And I was cooking so much and so fast some of those chicken breasts in the fridge maybe barb-b-qued chickadees (those brave little birdies).

Just joking.

Camille Alexa said...

Mmmmm. Library book sales.

Steve Buchheit said...

Library book sales are excellent, Camille. I'm glad we got out of there with all our fingers intact.

Jim Wright said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jim Wright said...

That must have been a heck of a pie!

I love fairs. We made a last visit to the Alaska State Fair this weekend too. Mostly for the food and the giant cabbage.

*note. I removed the first version of this comment because during the the posting a bunch of spelling and syntax errors generated spontaneously. Must have been one of them "interweeb" things - or, I may not have had enough coffee yet this morning.

Steve Buchheit said...

Jim, I think it was a combination of it being #2 and whom made it. The auctioneer was having a good time playing it up. But there were several pies that went over $200. For one pie. As I said to my wife, "Bet they bought the damn thing in a store and are buying it back to hide the evidence."

And yeah, all my typos and bad grammer are also the result of this interweebie things.