Virginia State Fair

Last week my friend Charlie and I went to the state fair just outside of Richmond. I hadn't been in over five years.

Nothing says coronary distress 
carnival food like a healthy dose of deep-fried dough.

There was plenty of deep fried food, rides, farm animals, silly signs, racing pigs, diving dogs, interesting exhibits, and perhaps some of the best people watching this side of the Gloucester Walmart the Mathews equivalent of a county fair, Market Days.  

Now here's an interesting repurposing of a roller skate.
(Remember roller skates? It's been a while since I've mentioned how much
I'd still like to be on a roller derby team, in case any scouts are reading.)

141 pounds of prize-winning watermelon.
The winning pumpkin was over 700 pounds.
Now that's a lot of pie.

Chainsaw art. 
(Oxymoron?)

I love the attitude projected by the dancing raccoon.
(Only the state fair could bring you that sentence.)

RACING PIGS! One of the highlights of the day.

True story:  My cheering was responsible for one pig's victory.
I'm absolutely convinced.  
The people standing behind me thought I was crazy.
Hey, when in Rome.

Warning: The problems of anyone who needs this sign 
are much bigger than they will ever know.

Caution: State fair signs are full of errors.
"Differance " must be pronounced with a French accent.

Krispy Kreme bacon cheeseburgers?
Where's the sign that says, "Warning:  State fair food might include
deep-fried fingers, but you'll never know, because we'll
sandwich them between two doughnuts.  Enjoy!"

In hindsight I  should have tried the baked sweet potato 
with marshmallows.  Next time.

This is some sort of canine farm fowl
evidently from the Chewbacca line of chicken.

The best way to negate end a day of 
deep fried everything, racing pigs, farm animals and giraffes
is by visiting the hand sanitizing station.

The End

p.s. All these images were taken with my iPhone.

Three Things

The months weeks are just zipping right by.  Although I thought I just typed these same words yesterday, evidently it's Thursday all over again. That means it's time to share three things, whatever happens to be on your mind.

Here are mine.

1.  I am officially out of work until the government reopens.  Although I ought to be concerned, oddly I am not.  Back in the Dark Ages of college when I worked at Busch Gardens during the summers, there were days when park attendance was lower than projected.  To save money, my supervisor would ask for volunteers to cut their shifts early. I was always the first to volunteer.  No, I didn't get paid for those forfeited hours, but I never viewed it that way.  Instead, I focused on the fact that I had the afternoon off!  An unexpected gift of free time!  There must be something wrong with me, I've always been this way.

2.  Baby Sis's birthday was yesterday, and my present to her was registration in the April 2014 Nashville Half Marathon.  It's just as much a gift to myself, because a trip with Baby Sis--anywhere--is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.  (For the time being we will ignore the fact that a half marathon can hardly be confused with fun and birthday gifts, but see #1.  My brain clearly is malfunctioning wired differently.)

3.  Today I am attending the state fair for the first time since 2008. Now this will be fun.  Click here and here for blog posts about my previous adventures there.

Now it's your turn to share three things. Or two things. Or more things.  Whatever floats your boat.