First off, let me apologize for not posting in a couple weeks. My boss doesn't like me doing this at work, and I haven't really had time any time else, what with work and rehearsal and stuff. Blah blah blah, apologies aside...
The Marin County Fair, July 2-5: 4 Fun-filled days of overpriced goods, long lines for nauseating rides, carnies, and food guaranteed to cause the runs as soon as you stick your fork in. All that and I got in for free to boot! Now, I don't go to the fair every year. I think most of the reason for this is now that I make enough money to actually afford going to the fair, none of the stuff that in my youth I wanted to spend that money on holds any interest for me. All the games with giant stuffed animal prizes, all the poorly made, gimmicky toys - like that foam lizard on a wire that looks like you're taking it for a walk - that pink brick of popcorn (which I have never fully understood), all of it: one colossal waste of money.
But hey, sometimes it's fun to blow a little cash.
The 3rd was a friend's birthday who wanted to to the fair with his wife and her parents and nephew. I also conveniently had the day off from work. Coincidentally, my shop had made most of the signage for the fair, and they were nice enough to give us some comp tickets. Now, having an 8-year-old kid with you is an unmitigated excuse to go on all those rides that you are really too old for, but secretly want to go on anyway, like that big slide or the "haunted house" which is about as scary melba toast. But you have to go because you don't know what's in there!
However, I think the real reason I wanted to go was for the fair food. Corn dogs, chili cheese fries, funnel cake, ice cream floats...a gastrointestinal nightmare and I enjoyed every bite. Now paying $7 for a 12 ounce beer is pretty much highway robbery, but on a hot sunny day it's almost worth it. So I only got two.
All told I spent around $40 for about $8 worth of food and drink. That's why I'm not a big fan of the fair. But it was fun. Sometimes it's neat to follow the curiosity of a child around for an afternoon, just to remember what it was like. And there was a pleasant side effect to the day: while standing in line my friends and I developed plans to put on some guerrilla Shakespeare under the overpass near my house. We want to call it "Shakespeare in the Park and Ride". The first production will be 12th Night. Good times.
Happy Jenday!