Tuesday, October 14, 2014

State Fair of the Great State of Texas

Texas is having its State Fair as I type.  It is a great Fair, certainly not a fair Fair.  Some might put it in the category of a Great Fair.  I do.  Still, we don't have horse races.
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Thursday at the fair is free for seniors; I am a senior.  This is a bit like a 12-step program admitting  your problem.  I like being a senior when (1) I get free stuff & (2) I realize that I do not have to go teach today or take a band to marching contest.  Today is the day many Texas bands attend marching contest - it rained yesterday messing with rehearsals - the temperature dropped messing with their brains (kids) - and the wind is pretty tough today messing with sound and lines and brains (kids).
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My daughter Christine has an older car.  It wasn't working right, & she was talking a new car.  I suggested we go to the Fair so she could look at all the car models.  Good idea; we planned it for yesterday, Monday the 13th  (Yes, Friday the 13th was on a Monday this month).  We planned and planned.
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Then, as it will happen, my brother Jim and his wife Earline gave us a call.  You may remember she had a heart transplant this past year.  She was feeling chipper and wanting to get out into the world.  They wanted us to go to the Fair with them.  Good idea!! but, wait, what about our plans.  Earline said the magic words: "We will go on Thursday and it is free for seniors."   More plans were made.
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Adding to our trip with them, Jim & E had to go by Baylor hospital.  She gives blood samples so the docs can watch the rejection factors.  The plan:  meet at Baylor hospital at 10 a.m. Thursday.  Parking is $5 there  ($15 at the Fair).  We catch the Dart train from Baylor over to Fair Park.  The spouser and I had not ridden the Dart in Dallas before - so an adventure was had.  Adding to the mix, I had a band rehearsal with the Corsicana Swing Orch on Thursday night.  Had to hurry.
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First thing in the Fair, Jim&E plopped down inside one of those picture taking booths. I would include a copy of that photo - but it is on Facebook and that is way too much trouble.  Instead, how about this photo:

It was a good time had by all.  We saw some cars, quilts, pigs, goats, camels, Big Tex, and the food court. Go to the Fair and you will be able to write what we did.  Skip the rides and the game though, we did.
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Going on - I made it back for rehearsal with 5 minutes to spare.  It was nice to spend a day with Jim & Earline.   (They had another couple with them from up north - I am neglecting to mention them in case they do not want to be brought up in a blog.  The other couple had a good time too.)  My wife's favorite time was when we bought a Fried Bluebonnet to eat.  .  .  primarily a blueberry muffin filled with goop, fried, covered with whipped cream and chocolate.  Apparently it was worth the trip.
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A few days later Christine showed up on our doorstep.  We made the hour trip to the Fair and had a really good time.  On this trip we spent more time in the quilt room and the arts & crafts.   Lunch was pretty much the same.  Our visit to the car show was informative.  The weather was cooler.  We saw the animals and squirrels.   Our plan was a bit poor because it was Columbus Day and many parents brought their children to clutter the hallways.
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If another of my children want to go to the Fair, I am ready and willing.  My biggest complaints include other people's children - high prices - noise and walking/walking/walking.  Did I mention the Butter sculpture?  This lady created running horses, big horses, running.  They were made from butter. The room was below zero.  I have to marvel at the ability of anyone to sculpt. At least if she is unhappy with the result, she can eat it.  That's a lot of butter.
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Closing now until my next adventure or worthless thought.
mtz  - no wait, just had one.
When I was in high school - don't remember what year or ?  Our band director Wilburn Wheeler took the Levelland HS band to the Texas State Fair.  For the life of me I cannot remember if we had a competition or not.  I think we did. At the end of the competition a few selected brass players from all the bands climbed to the top of the cotton bowl.  We were spread out all over the stadium.  I'm guessing we had an audience.
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Anyhoooo, somebody directed us as we played a fanfare - a long fanfare - in the stadium.  It was supposed to be a big deal at the time.  The fanfare was really high for this trumpet.   I blew and blew as hard and loud as I could.
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I cannot remember anything else about that trip.  We rode in yellow school buses - we did not travel on chartered buses in those times.  I guess we had a fun time on the rides.  I just can't remember.  I wonder if my wife was on that trip?  She was a year behind me in school.  Brother Jim was a year ahead.  I'll have to ask them.
I am worrying too much about this.  It was not my Freshman year, cause we went to San Antonio that year  - Another year, my Junior or Senior year, we made a trip to Corpus for Buccaneer Days.  We played a contest and marched in their 5 mile long parade.  It was tough.
now, I am through.
See Ya.

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