It's All FAIR!........

There is something just wrong about living in Texas for 50 years and only attending the State Fair once in that time period.  Guilty!  The family goes yearly...and I sit quietly at home savoring the peace and quiet that is a rarity in our living quarters.  But, today I stepped up to the plate and joined in on the fun. The afternoon did not disappoint.  Texans are a proud bunch and if they are going to hold a fair it is going to be done right....and it was!

Big Tex....the famous Big Texas...is rebuilt and back to work after last years tragic fire.

The man spends many hours standing on the Fair grounds greeting everyone that enters the gates.  That is a lot of time on your feet.  I am sure that he will be more than glad to remove those boots and pack up that huge hat until this time next year.  Thanks big guy for all the 2013 memories.  No wonder no one comes to the fair without stopping by to say HI.  You are indeed a Texas treasure!

Off to the midway and wow....everyone that could not make it due to the deluge of rain that fell in the past week chose to make an appearance today.  

I was informed upon arrival that fair fun starts by fighting the crowds and standing in line for a chance to buy the famous Fletcher's corny dog for a mere 10 tickets ($5.00 in cold harsh cash).
Worth every penny!  I think it was the crust that sold me.  It is a crunch that only hot vats of peanut oil can produce.  No microwave can compete. Have we given up true flavor in our foods just to save our arteries?  

Not at our state fair....because we are the home of the equally famous fried Twinkie, fried butter, fried turkey dinner, fried ice cream and oreos.  The list is endless as are the calories.  The lines at every food vendor's booth are proof that along with the fact that we are proud of our fair, we are also proud of the fact that we openly stand in public and boast about how much grease we can stuff into our mouths in one short afternoon.
In Texas we are all about "go big, or go home"!

So how was my return trip to the fair after about 30 years of absence...I say it was a great experience.  

It was CLEAN...and that is something that always made me fear the fair in the first place.  

It was packed with people that were all polite and courteous. 

The exhibits were great and the food was a win!

I am not sure that I will need to make a return trip again next year, but I will be back someday...if only to slather ketchup all over another corn dog and say hi to Big Tex.  It was a fun afternoon, and a great fair, done the way only Texans know how, all under incredibly clear blue skies!