Fair Day
When I was a kid growing up in MD, one big event we always looked forward to in the fall was the county fair. Now, this area is hugely agricultural, despite being less than an hour from DC and Baltimore, so the fair is still a really big deal around here. The schools are all closed one day during fair week so the kids can attend, and lots of kids miss the entire week of school because they’re living in the barns showing their animals!
Last year, hubby and I went with my two younger daughters and had a complete ball. We spent a lot of time in the animal barns, especially with the baby animals who’d been born during fair week, and the alpacas because they’re so darn cute and fuzzy! And the whole time, we were calling my oldest on her cell phone and holding it up leaving her messages with nothing but mooing, oinking, squealing, and this odd little sad cry the alpacas make. She was so jealous that I had to promise we’d bring her up for the event this year. So, yes, I this year, I flew my 19 year old totally liberal peace-love-hippie-city girl here from Florida so she could attend the Great Frederick Fair. 
Unfortunately, this fall is a whole lot warmer than last year. The fair just loses something if you go when it’s too hot. I have such strong childhood memories of walking the midway, smelling the sizzling sausage sandwiches, funnel cake, cotton candy, corn dogs, candy apples 
and popcorn, listening to the barkers shout at you, hearing the ding of the games, watching the brilliant colors of the ferris wheel reflected on the ground, agonizing over how to spend your limited number of tickets on the various rides, all in cold, crisp autumn weather. Just wonderful sense memories.
But this past week it was about 85, hot, crowded, and not nearly as fun as it was last year. Oh, believe me, I sampled all the food…I mean ALL the food! 
But I only did one ride and just felt like leaving an hour after we got there.
I was very disappointed for my oldest daughter. What also made it too bad for her was that when we were on the Volcano ride, being spun wildly in a little car while this huge platform went up to a 75 degree angle two stories into the air, her cell phone slipped out of her pocket and flew to the ground. I happened to be glancing that way and saw this red/pink little thing go flying down, nearly hitting some poor guy by the fence and landing in three pieces just a couple of feet away from Bruce.
You want to hear something shocking? He picked the pieces up, put it back together, and the thing still works! Go Motorola Razr!
So while the fair wasn’t quite the magical experience I’d promised her–or even the great time we’d had last year when the weather cooperated and the crowds did, too–I’m glad my kids got to experience it. We just never did that kind of thing in Florida, but something about being back up here makes me love sharing my childhood experiences with my girls. (Um…I even told them about the time my two friends and I accidentally on purpose knocked down the hoochie koochie girl tent, sending nearly naked women and fully dressed men running out onto the midway as the whole back of the thing collapsed. But don’t tell anyone! Note: They no longer have the hoochie koochie girl tents that were a fair staple when I was a kid. Bummer.)
I’ve done the Disney parks ad nauseum, as well as Universal and Busch Gardens and Sea World. So you’d think a local county fair would hold absolutely no appeal. But I’m already planning for next year, when we will NOT go on the hottest day of the week, we’ll go on a cold, autumn night, and I’ll smell those smells and hear those sounds.
And if next September is as hot as this one…well, we’ll just have to skip a year. Better that than to lose the magic.
PS: Don’t forget–this is the last week to enter to win a $50 Amazon g.c. in Janelle & Leslie’s “super secret scene” contest! Find the overlapping scene in Leslie’s OVEREXPOSED and Janelle’s BORN TO BE WILDE and send an email to plotmonkeyscontest@gmail.com with the details and you’re eligible to win! Must be received by 9/30/07!
I don’t have the strong memories you do, but I remember carnivals and those were always so much fun. I hate when something doesn’t live up to a memory even if it’s a recent one. Still you went as a family and created NEW memories and when the girls look back, that’s what they’ll remember!
Comment by Carly — September 25, 2007 @ 6:22 am
hey leslie, I definitely know what you’re talking about. I love that time of the year, too. But where I live, the fair takes place in spring so I have quiet another experiences. But it really is great: the first gleams of the sun and you’re walking around with candies in your hand. Simply
it. but I think the more you expect it to be great, the bigger are the chances that it’ll be a flop (that’s at least how I’ve experienced it) maybe you’ve had another experience.
The salesperson at the bookstore didn’t tell me any certain date. So who knows… Maybe it’ll arrive much earlier ( hope my positive thoughts have an impact 
)
Carly, I hope SWAK will arrive soon.
See you
Vero
Comment by Vero — September 25, 2007 @ 6:57 am
just wanted to add: I’ve just been on the other blogs where Carly is guestblogging today ( had to check it out) but now I have to say there’s no blog quite like the plotmonkeys’. So a huge praise to you. Now I know that you really put a lot of effort into that blog. Comparing the lenght of the comments
definitely the PLOTMONKEYS. But not only the lenght, it’s also the content : You always write about extremely interesting stuff.
your blog.
I simply had to say that.
I
Wish you all out there a great and safe week
See you
Comment by Vero — September 25, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Thanks for the memories, Leslie.
I grew up in a really, really small town and our fair wasn’t on such a grand scale but to a little girl it seemed huge and exciting. The highlight was the garden club show–who had the best flower arrangement. My mother entered every year. I can remember watching her slather butter and sprinkle cocoa on a ceramic bull one year that was part of her arrangement–shiny surfaces weren’t allowed and would count against you.
And of course, the local merchants and two rival bank presidents participated in a charity event where people would pay to have the local sheriff lock them up in a “mock” jail. It was fun for kids to see the adults they looked up to behind “bars.”
I entered the baton twirling contest and even one a medal with a twirler on it one year. I still have it. We always went at night when there was some chill in the air and a little kid from Georgia could dream that maybe this year it would be super cold by Christmas and we might even get a flake or two of snow or at the very least a little sleet. For a while amid the lights, the sounds, the bright colors and whirling rides, I escaped from the strife at home.
Now I live in Colorado–never knew I could be this happy.
Have a great day all,
Cher
Comment by Cher — September 25, 2007 @ 7:31 am
Our local fair is over Labor Day weekend, so we either have the fall crisp weather or the hot summer weather. It is different year to year. I just love going and seeing all the colors and of course the food too!! We go every year and I start to look forward to it the spring.
Thanks for the great topic
Comment by Shelley — September 25, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Oh, I loved the fair!! My parents were divorced and I’d spend the week with my dad and we’d go every night. Sounds much like yours. We’d eat dinner at a diffferent church booth every night. And Monday night was the demolition derby!! Get there early if you want a seat! God, I’m such a redneck!
We’d do all the agricultural barns and get lucky to get through one a night. It’s a very rural area and my dad knows everyone so by the time he stopped to visit at each and every booth and table the night would be about over. I’d go during the day with my girlfriends to ride the rides and then hang out with Dad at night.
The fair where I am now is nothing but scary and I won’t even let my kids go!
I’ve actually conidered going home for the week of the fair, just so my kids could experience it.
As for the tent collapse. There’s a few things I did in my teen/college years that I held my breath until the statute of limitations ran out on. Nothing major…we were just really, really good at changing marquis to say things very different than they were supposed to!
One was at a restaurant where I worked and the manager was so mad she wanted to press charges but thankfully, no one squeeled on us!!!
Thanks for bringing back such great memories!!!
Comment by Jodie — September 25, 2007 @ 8:02 am
Oh, the fair, a great time of year. Ours is also over Labor Day weekend and it runs for 6 days and nights. The sights, sounds, smells, people, shows, animals and best of all, seeing all of your friends you haven’t seen all year. I absolutely LOVE to go to the fair. My sister and I will go out early one day and stay all day and all night. You especially have to make sure you go into the barn where the roosters are, they are interesting and they always make us laugh our asses off. Some years it’s hot, some it’s cold, just dress for the weather, and always, always take a sweatshirt for the evening.
Speaking of weather, it is supposed to get to 88 here today, which is very warm for this time of year in Northeast Ohio, but not complaining, I’d prefer 88 to 18 anytime.
Take Care All and Have a Great Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Kathy — September 25, 2007 @ 8:18 am
Off topic - Don’t know why, but I’ve got this nagging feeling to post this so I’m going with the gut. I know there’s a bunch of aspiring writers here but I don’t know how many belong to RWA or an RWA Chapter. The closest one to me is 2 hours away so I joined an online chapter. If there’s anyone who doesn’t have a chapter nearby, I would definitely recommend joining one online.
Anyway, getting on with it…in October Chapter #136 does a writing marathon. It’s called the KIA, in honor of a late member, and everyone participating groups together into teams and writes as much as they can, trying to earn as many writing points as they can (based on page count).
This is my first year participating, but from what I hear it is a great way to get motivated and get writing. Several writers have talked about the KIA propelling them to finish their WIP and even have gotten published based on those finished works. Just thought I’d throw that out there for anyone who might be interested and looking for something to get them jumpstarted.
Comment by Jodie — September 25, 2007 @ 8:50 am
Our county fair was always Labor Day week. The schools would let out for Labor Day(we always started about Aug 18 in TN when I was growing up) and you paid $5.00 for an armband and got to ride any ride as many times as you wanted. The biggest attraction (food wise) at our fair was the “Fair Burger” at the band booster’s tent, of course the locals call it the “fire burger”. I still think it was one of the best thing about the fair. My parents took my brother , sister and I every year. Always went to the barns first and then would go on as many rides as possible. We got to eat junk food until we ran out of our spending money. I’ve only been to 1 fair as an adult that was that fun. There is a county fair not too far from where I live now that is rated the best fair in the state.
Comment by Liza — September 25, 2007 @ 9:03 am
The fair is a big deal here, too! In fact, this week the kids are out of school on Friday. All the schools (a whopping three) participate in the parade and I’ve been fantasizing about funnel cake for the past three days. I can’t wait for the carnival on Friday! I’ve been looking forward to that even more than my new book, YOUR COFFIN OR MINE?, which is out today. Usually I stress over a book, but because of the fair I haven’t been obsessing over it (thankfully). Anyhow, thanks for bringing back memories and gearing me up for Friday. The kids had rodeo day at school today (they dress western and have hay rides and an animal petting zoo) and it was so cute to see my 6 year old daughter wearing a cowboy hat. She participates in EVERYTHING.
Comment by Kimberly Raye — September 25, 2007 @ 9:07 am
There was a fair that a group I was in had an ice cream booth. I have fond memories of that time (we used to always goof around, but depending on who the adult chaperone was, you had to be a little serious). I remember eating the scones. I never rode the rides as they always seemed a little unstable to me (I am a worry wart!).
Comment by katie — September 25, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Kimberly
I was at B&N last night and didn’t even think to look for your new book. And I’ve been waiting for it, but I thought the release date was October. Well, back to B&N today! Thanks for the heads up on that!
And the rodeo was another memory. The last week of Feb. is rodeo week in Tucson and when we lived there we would always go to the parade to celebrate my oldest son’s birthday. The schools were out for 2 days for rodeo and my friends and I would take vacation days and play. That was the equivelant to the county fair for me when I lived there and it was so much fun. Thanks for that reminder as well!
Comment by Jodie — September 25, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Oh I am SO glad I’m not the only one who had that childhood fair experience!!
And too funny on the demolition derby…we DID go to that last Wednesday because my nephew was driving in it. A total hoot–my first time, and I loved it, even though I held my breath every time somebody came near his car!
By the way, speaking of flower arranging, my daughter is taking this horticulture/decorating class, in which she’s been making corsages & flower arrangements, and their teacher told them they’d get extra credit if they entered them in the fair, so she did! She won a blue ribbon, a red one, and a white one, and got a week’s pass to the fair and the eternal ribbing from her older sister about what a farm girl she is for winnin’ a blue ribbon in the county faaaar!”
Comment by Leslie — September 25, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Jodie, that sounds like a great idea. I’ve heard a lot of people do the “book in a month” contest type thing, which I’ve tried to do on a private scale with friends but have never really pulled off. Maybe a bigger group where there’s more accountability would make the difference.
Kim–the rodeo sounds like such fun! I was just watching one of my favorite movies (The Cowboy Way) and got such a kick out of the scenes with them as little boys in the beginning, in the “kids rodeo.” Hope the book release is a huge success!!
Comment by Leslie — September 25, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Vero…THANK YOU!
We’re so glad you all enjoy coming here every day!
Comment by Leslie — September 25, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Jodie you are so sweet!!! Thanks for being so supportive. I love this blog. Everyone here is so wonderful. No wonder it’s on my must-visit list every morning.
Comment by Kimberly Raye — September 25, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Vero, WOW. THANK YOU! We appreciate the sentiment. Honestly I’d like to say we work hard to make the blog the way it is, but it’s truly a labor of love that fell into place from day one and in no small part thanks to people like YOU!
Kim, good luck with the book today. I’m right there with you!
Comment by Carly — September 25, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Our state fair here in Virginia is in October. I never had a chance to go when I was growing up but that doesn’t mean I can’t make newe memories now. I feel like a kid again when I go and that’s a feeling I cherise.
Comment by Carol R — September 25, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Thank you, Vero! We love our blog, too — but especially all the people who come by and read and post! You all are the ones who have made Plotmonkeys the huge success it is!
Comment by Janelle — September 25, 2007 @ 10:45 am
The fair here in Southern California is the month of September, which is, of course, the HOTTEST month of the year here! So, while the fair is a lot of fun, it’s also very draining, too, because you’re in 100 degree temps all day. UGH.
But I love reading about everyone else’s fair memories!
Comment by Janelle — September 25, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Leslie, you’re right about the accountability. Apparently we’re placed on teams based on the genre we write and whether it’s full or part-time. It’s 1 point for every page written, 1/2 point for every page edited. The team that accumulates the most points wins, so if I get lazy for a day then I’m letting the whole team down, not just me.
They even start a thread for crock-pot recipes to make cooking easier. And even I can handle crock-pot recipes!!
I’m excited about it and maybe I can even carry it over into NANOWRIMO and make that happen this year. Maybe…
Comment by Jodie — September 25, 2007 @ 10:52 am
Leslie,
I went to the Maryland State Fair a few weeks ago, I got to see INXS perform afterwards. I love seeing the lambs (I still have my security blanket toy which is a lamb but his head and legs have been sewn on several times.) and bunnies. So cute. I love fair food from cotton candy to funnel cake. Yummy.
Comment by Elisa V — September 25, 2007 @ 11:02 am
Our state fair is in August and it is the biggest joke. They charge an outrageous amount of money to park in the dirt and then they hit you again at the main gate. Once you are inside you have food and rides to pay for. For the price of admission you will almost be guaranteed to see a fight or two during your visit. For me, I would must rather stay at home. I wish that our state fair was more like the sceen from “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Comment by Ardie — September 25, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
They are great I plan to attend at least the Fryeburg fair next week.
This is quite a week
Got my copy of Sealed with a Kiss on my way in to work today.
The last days of the Overexposed and Born to be wilde contest
And I start vacation.
Comment by jeannie and Zoey — September 25, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
It has been years since I attended any of the fairs in my area & there are several that take place. When my daughters were little & growing up we lived in a small town that has a Citrus Fair every year. It is the first fair in the state each year as it is held in February over Presidents Day weekend. It is a really big deal & it was always a lot of fun & very much a small town big event! My youngest daughter was born during fair time on February 22 & that is a whole story itself! The day before she was born I rode on one of the carnival rides, now they tell you that is not a wise thing to do & it had nothing to do with her being born the next day. My labor was induced by the doctor. Both of my daughter’s participated in different fair activities and the parade. I’ve even been in the parade a few times! Thanks for the memories Leslie.
Comment by Donna M — September 25, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
I tried to get SWAK on the way to work, but the store hadn’t unloaded the boxes yet. Going to the bookstore right after work.
Comment by Liza — September 25, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Our county fair is the first part of August and it is almost always hot.
Comment by Estella — September 25, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
Vero…
Right back atcha!
Fairs: not my speed. I like the theme parks. I’ve never been a big fair person, but around here, the Florida State Fair is big business. Daughter loves it, so we go.
Me, I like little church carnivals. That reminds me of my childhood. We had one every year at my school and at Halloween, another Catholic school had their carnival at the park a block from my house. That was the best because we’d go every night and all day Saturday. And everything was home made except the rides. Great stuff.
LOL on the blue ribbon, Les…I hope you took pictures! I am so useless when it comes to arranging flowers…I wish I would have had a chance to take a class like that!
Comment by Julie Leto — September 25, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Ah yes, The Great New York State Fair. This is the first year since 1965 that I did not attend. leading up the the week before Labor Day, and now the 12 days before, were all the local fireman’s carnivals. We went to everyone of them.
Dad would drag us to the fair the day before it opened so we could get in free and see the animals. Usually, they have babies on the way, and you could get close to them that day. We would go many times over the week.
When I was older I started working there every year and had a blast, and made lots of money. I would spend my nights visiting with my cousin who was a State Trooper and always had the night shift. The place is so different after hours.
If anyone has a chance, at least once, go the the NY State Fair. It has everything. I have seen some of the best concerts of my life there- and, although the prices aren’t as good as they once were (what is?), it is still a blast. And on Labor Day it’s the Demolition Derby and the races.
Last year I sat in the front row for Toby Keith. They get some of the biggest names there.
And the food…. Suffice to say you would have to go everyday to try it all!!
Comment by ev — September 25, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
And yes, Carly and Kimberly, I got my books today. Had them set aside from when I unpacked the suckers!!
Comment by ev — September 25, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Ev, thanks so much! The support everyone gives me means the world to me! And Carly, best of luck on the book. I ordered my copy on Amazon today!!!
Comment by Kimberly Raye — September 25, 2007 @ 10:34 pm