It's Fair Time Again

After the summer of rain and ick we've had, I think it's pretty fortunate that the Howard County Fair fell during an actual nice week! Ryan and I went Wednesday evening...and I think it may have been one of the nicest, most laid-back evenings I've enjoyed at the fair!

We started out with our progressive dinner. LOL!! The first time Ryan ever took me to the fair, he introduced me to fried mushrooms. I'd never had them before, and now they're first on my list every time we go. {I shared with Ryan, which I felt showed the depth of my love for him. No, seriously!!} And he took his trusty lemon shakeup cup...because that is always first on his list!

After that stop, we walked around for a bit, talking to old friends. {Old as in long-time, not as in OLD.}

And then it was time for the next stop: kettle cooked taters. I'd never had those before, but Ryan had, and he thought I'd like them. They're thin and shaped like chips but warm and slightly soft like fries.

We shared those while we sat at a table with one of Ryan's co-workers. {I'm not kidding you - he knew EVERYONE at the fair.}

We walked around some more, talked to more people Ryan knew {I heard the infamous story of my birth THREE TIMES in less than an hour} and caught the tail end {ha ha!, get it?} of the tiger show.

One of my high school friends, Amber, was in the area, so she met up with us and walked with us for the rest of the night, which I LOVED. I have to say {again} how thankful I am for the friends I made in high school and the number of them I still have as an active part of my life. It's a blessing!

Another of my favorite once-a-year treats is the almond booth. You know what I mean. The sugar and cinnamon coated almonds? I know they're not healthy, but I only get them once a year, and I treasure every single one of those warm, sugary treats.

That concluded our progressive dinner and then...it was time to brave the midway. It was 99 cent ride night, which meant the entire population of North America was squeezed into eight square feet of space. Ahhh the stench of fried foods, smoke, and sweat. Ryan, Amber and I sort of made a little train and pushed through the masses, ignoring the carnies who wanted us to win life-sized stuffed animals. We ran into Ryan's brother and his family and then met up with our friend Shawn and his two boys.

They were in line for the Tornado. {May I pause here to remind you the only ride I can semi-handle is the Ferris Wheel?} Amber and I talked while all the guys talked...and right as we got to the front of the line, Shawn said, "Soooooooooo, Ryan, I think YOU should ride this with the boys, and I'll sit this one out." And with that, he handed Ryan a ticket and got out of line.

Keep in mind we'd just had our progressive dinner. Ryan isn't big on motion immediately after eating, but he LOVES rides, and he married a scaredy cat, so any chance he gets to have company on a ride...he takes.

Hanging out in line together, waiting to get through the gate.

If you're NOT familiar with this ride {and in my opinion - why WOULD you be if you didn't have to??} - it spins, and then if you like, you can also grab that little black disc in the middle and spin IT, causing your particular car to spin as the ride spins. Yeah. I'm dizzy just writing that. Well these three, with ringleader Ryan at the helm, were "practicing" their spinning while the ride loaded. I could hear the carnie shouting "STOP SPINNING!" but they were laughing so hard, they couldn't hear him. So I'm yelling from parents' row, "RYAN!!! STOP!! YOU'RE IN TROUBLE!!!!" Amber and Shawn were laughing at me...in trouble??? Hey! If the carnie's mad, then yes. You're in trouble!

Ready to go!!!

And away they went!

And they were still smiling when it stopped. AND all dinners stayed put.

That was the end of the eating AND the riding for that night - but it really was fun!! Not sure if we'll get back there again before it concludes, but even if we don't, this year's visit is already a success!