I don't know, but it was pretty damn good.
I mean, any weekend that starts off with a holiday from work on a FRIDAY is set to be pretty darn good, right?
So, instead of going to work, we went to the Alameda County Fair. I would have to say that's like looking at an 8 hour plane flight in coach, but then they bump you up to first class and then just as you are about to get on the plane they bump you up to teleportation and BAM! you're already there.
Then we get to the fair and kids are free on Fridays! Ok, that's pretty sweet. So we do all the fair things that you have to do: we watch the miniature dog races, the kids go on some rides, we pay money to throw darts at balloons to "win" prizes we could have gotten at Target for about 1/3 the price, we watch the horse racing (just caught the last race of the day), we eat food on a stick: chicken for me, beef for Alice and Shrimp for Cameron. Henry declares that he is not hungry, but he polishes off 1/2 a brick of fries. (Yes, a "brick" of fries, literally a brick shaped mass of fries, only this would have been the biggest brick I'd ever seen in my life). Next, of course, is dessert. But there are WAY too many choices. Cameron goes with the classic: vanilla soft serve in a cone. Henry and Alice split, but fail to finish, a funnel cake. I can't resist the idea of a fried Oreo. Four for $4. And a bargain at that price. I ate two. Alice ate a half and Henry had a little bite. Cameron was too stuffed from his soft serve to try either the funnel cake or the Oreos and he officially wins the "smartest person in the family" award for the day.
In the background we can just barely hear Night Ranger playing their 6pm set. Anybody remember Night Ranger? I do, but can't remember any of their songs. Maybe I'll Google it...nah.
So then, when we can move again, it's off to see the animals! Cows and pigs and goats and sheep as far as the eye can see. We even found our neighborhood 4-H club and their pigs. Man, pigs stink. Seriously. Sheep and goats not so much, but pigs? Whoo-weee. Stink.
Then the kids, who've waited patiently for their "souvenirs" can wait no longer. So we stop by a little row of shops and they pick out some junk that under normal circumstances I wouldn't let them have at any cost, but it's the fair. You go for it, right?
By this time, the kids are exhausted. Time for one more thing. The Ferris wheel of course. What a wonderful way to finish the day. Whizzing through the gathering dusk, looking out over the midway and the entire fair!
Have Ferris wheels always been so fast? Seemed to be whipping around at a pretty good clip. Anyway...
That was the fair. 7 hours of overpriced fun that you just gotta have once a year. Just once. Too much time at the fair the polish begins to fade, reality creeps in a little too close and it could get ugly.
But one day? Perfect!
Almost forgot one of the best parts: got up early and went for an hour long run! Great way to start the weekend. Plus, I knew there would be some hefty calories coming...
Wow, this post is getting long.
More later.
