Fair!

Yesterday I took my new hip to the fair and oh, what a different a new joint makes!  I walked for 11 1/2 hours and was still going strong when we left.  Here is a photo of a tree on the fairgrounds that is trying desperately to survive by spreading it's roots around.  The tree looked healthy so I guess the root system is working for it.  The weather was cool and cloudy which was perfect for a day at the Minnesota State fair. 

Offspring #2 and I like to volunteer to be Smokey the Bear.  Normally we choose a Sunday but all the Sundays were taken so we chose Friday instead.  Turns out the day we chose was Fire Prevention Day.  Lots of firefighters came and wanted their photo taken with Smokey which was very gratifying.  We had 3 shifts to cover instead of the usual 2 so I was Smokey for the first and final shift.  Offspring #2 was Smokey for the middle shift which included an appearance on the DNR main stage.  Here is Smokey clapping along to bluegrass music.  Oh, Smokey - you got the moves.  Shake it you big bear!

Smokey helped the DNR forest supervisor (whose first name of course is Forest) hand out a retirement plaque to Art who has fought forest fires for over 40 years.  Art has also chosen the Governor's Christmas tree for the past 30 years by scouting the state for the best one.With Smokey in presenting the plaque is the lieutenant Governor Tina Smith.  Smokey the Bear is WAY MORE popular than any politician and it was amusing to see the reaction of the crowds as the politician followed Smokey around trying to horn in on the glory and the fame. Being Smokey the Bear is great fun.  In my bear costume I received more than 100 hugs.  I high-fived 50 people (including one kid who had just pulled his finger out of his nose but what did I care?  I was wearing a bear paw).  I shook hands with 75 people (including one little tyke who's hand was covered in melted ice cream.  That didn't bother me at all because with the costume on I had no idea the kid's hand was dirty).  One three year old future bully greeting Smokey the Bear with a hard slug to Smokey's abdomen just below the belt.  The kid's father laughed when he saw it.  Who can explain this?  As usual, inside the costume, my normal reserved personality disappears and I become vivacious and provoking.  I walked up behind one white haired lady and laid my paw on her shoulder.  She scolded me something fierce.  Then she took me aside to a bench and proceeded to tell me the most pornographic story about a bear and a hunter that I have ever heard.  She told the story well and with much flair.  She took her time about it too.  If kids approached she shooed them away because the story was too filthy for young ears.  While entertaining, this was not my typical Smokey experience.  Generally Smokey the Bear is about hugging children and adults, waving, and having your photo taken.  Smokey means a lot to people and it's really an honor to play the role. . 

After three shifts of being Smokey we were ready to regain our normal personas and enjoy the fair.  We ate crepes, a burrito, coffee, my favorite Egyptian food-koshairi and a chocolate shake.  We posed with the Downton Abbey figures at the TPT booth, enjoyed seeing the blue and red ribbon winners, perused the art exhibits, bought some raw honey and a leather wallet, rode a boat through Ye Old Mill, saw friends and family, enjoyed an Eco experience and people watched to our heart's content. We had a good day at the fair..