Iowa State Fair 2014: "Still Sticking Our Heads In There" Edition

Let's end the summer with a bang. It's time to head down to the fairgrounds!

We like to use the Center Street Park & Ride bus. The lines are short, and its' parking garage is usually half full. We were the second family on the bus, and Char wanted to sit "all the waaaay in the back!"

Our first stop was for a potty break (the bus ride was pretty bumpy), and our second stop was for a Fair Square.

Across the way they were selling bacon-wrapped little smokies on-a-stick, and that was a great first step on my Fair meat journey.

Up next was the tilt-a-strawberries! Char doesn't know that the circle handle in the middle of the car controls how much your berry spins, "Ours didn't turn very much did it Mom?"

The Bumper Boats were next door. Anytime your child wants to get on a ride that spins, but they have to ride solo, let them!

Time for the pork chop on-a-stick. I'm looking forward to the day when Char can eat one of these by herself. Then I won't have to share mine.

Stand-in time. Char-boy:

Char-girl:

I prefer Char-girl, but I don't want to judge.

Although Char was all over the Applelicious cookies that they sell at the Cultural Center...

... she wanted nothing to do with the Caprese salad on-a-stick. That's my girl!

She ordered a PB&J sandwich-on-a-stick instead. These are a steal at $2 (at the ISF anyway).

The have goofy mirrors in the State Fair Museum.

There is also a large, spinning display that highlights notable concert performers who have appeared on the Fair's Grandstand.

I saw the Johnny Cash concert in '76 when I was seven. I remember Johnny singing "One Piece at a Time", and when June Carter Cash walked on stage with her ankle-length hair, a guy behind us said, "I bet she washes it every time she uses the toilet." Classy.

Time to stick our head into more stuff.

Barely there.

Can't... quite... make... it.

Char drew on animals.

And got to pet them, too.

Here are two of her dad's favorite words that do not refer to meat: Cheese Curds!

Dang! I have to share these, too?

We munched fried cheese, and we watched waltzing tigers.

And a tiger who could do a high wire act.

My favorite part of the tiger show was when a boy behind us noticed Char eating. He turned to his grandpa and asked, "Hey, they have cheese curds. Could we get some, too?"
His grandpa replied, "Maybe later."
"Sweet!" The boy grinned at his sister, but the world-wise, nine-year-old shot him down, "'Maybe later' means 'no', Caleb."
"It does?"
"Yeah, it does."
The boy turned his head and asked, "Grandpa Bill, does 'maybe later' really mean 'no'?"
His grandpa awkwardly laughed, and then looked away.

Here are some more head shots:

I hate the Fair's Midway. It's just a long loop of bitter disappointment. Char wants the cheap, inflatable prizes, but there's no way she can win one. She wants to ride the big rides, like the Double Ferris wheel, but she's too small to get on. I think she broke into tears at least four times. At every turn she'd be told, "No." And I know how that feels. I used to go to dance bars when I was single.

Luckily, they sell cotton candy at the Midway. Sugar can be magic (for about five minutes).

And there are a few rides that are Char's speed.

She really likes the obstacle "rides" she can run through.

After all that exhausting Midway drama, I had to grab a loose meat sandwich. I love these things, and I hadn't had one at the fair before (it was really good). My meat odyssey continues!



But, there is one thing on-a-stick I won't be eating anytime soon.

Brrr.

That ends our first day at the fair, but we have one more day planned...

Last year's link.