indiana state fair day 5

Dad and I had a grand time at the fair.

We started off by looking at 4-H projects. Dad and his buddies worked at the state fair in the late 1950s. I've heard many stories that involve Dad's Corvette, a lap around the track and a case of beer. A lot of the stories involve the year that Dad's brother, Joe stayed at the Boys Dormitory.


It was General Motors day at the fair. We looked at every single GM product (don't tell my truck). I still like the idea of an HHR.

Our next stop was the Home and Family Arts Building. You might notice that I have not shown photographs of all of my ribbons. Because I didn't get any...for the first time in years. I'm trying not to be too big of a baby about it. And you get a packet of entry tickets when you enter things, so it is still worth it. Here are my snickerdoodles.

I don't want to say that the salt and pepper shaker judge had a type, but my way-cool 1950s plastic flower roses did not look like ceramic poultry.

Finally food! We went with the old favorite - Indiana Beef Producers steak sandwiches. Note the cow barn in the background.


Our next stop was the Agriculture and Horticulture Building. Dad and I have our favorite things to look at. Dad: beekeepers and honey. Nora: brewmasters competition. Is it bad that I know so many beer makers?

I've never been around for the watermelon spitting competition.

Here is the kid getting the seed.

Post spit. The poor guy only launched his seed a few feet. Some of those kids were hitting eleven or twelve feet.

I thought the coloring on this cow was unusual. He's all back except for his face.

Grand champion Herford. From Boone County!

This year's giant cheese sculpture is of the new covered bridge. The woman carving the cheese was telling the crowd how she came to be a cheese sculpture. She left her corporate marketing job to travel the country carving cheese. Just as I was thinking 'wow, how cool, I would love to to that,' I overheard a 20-something chick say, "What is wrong that that woman, who would ever want to do that?"

Suspiciously close to the cheese bridge was the cockroach race track.

I skipped the opportunity to pet the cockroach. I did have a nice chat with Professor Tom Turpin. He's a legend on the Purdue campus.

We arrived at Pioneer Village just in time to see the log sawing demonstration. It involves steam, belts and sweat.

Dad and I got seperated while we were in the Pioneer Village building. I wasn't too worried. I wandered around chatting and looking at old farm equiptment. I heard music and when I popped around the corner I saw that my friend, Robin Harrison was playing.

Robin announced over his microphone "ladies and gentleman, it's Nora Spitznogle, the one...the only...Nora Spitznogle!" There is something about my name that inspires musicians to say it through a PA. I'm guessing it might be the laugh it produces. A few minutes later dad ran up to the stage, shook Robin's hand and thanked him for finding his lost daughter. Too bad the band was mid-song when it happened. Dad is so charming that every one laughed and it was fine.

We were watching the tractor parade line up when we spied a tractor pulling a trailer with benches. We grinned and ran to catch up. Dad asked the driver if we could hitch a ride and next thing you know we were in the parade. Wooo Hoooo!


The fair was so crowded with the record attendance that it took a while to clear the path for the parade. While everything was at a stand still, farmers jumped off of their tractors and gathered to chat. One wound up in with us. It was fun to hear all about his John Deere A series tractor. Here he is going through the new covered bridge.

I had a blast and giggled the whole way.

We waved our hands off. Dad said that his feet hurt when he got on the trailer and his arm hurt when we got off.
All of that sitting made us hungry. Dad opted for the beef sundae -I'm not kidding. It was roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy and a cherry tomato. I had a pork chop sandwich - who thought that would be the sensible choice?


We stopped in the Depart of Natural Resources Building to look at fish. Dad wanted to know how old you need to be before you didn't need a fishing licence. I didn't know that Dad was a fisherman, but for the record, if you're born before 1943 you don't need one - in Indiana anyway. Also for the record, Dad does not need one.

Our last stop -Goat Mountain. Cute young goats frolicking on rocks.

We finally had enough fair - nine hours of fun was too much even for us.

indiana state fair day 4

I almost didn't make it to the fair today, but you know how I love having a theme to blog about.

After Scott and I got home from the fair last night (10:45-ish) I washed my face and drove to Broad Ripple for a Second Friday, Second Helpings concert. I didn't get home until after 2:00. 

I had to meet a repair man at Second Helpings at 6:30. I'm sure that you're not surprised that I threw on the same jeans and top I'd been wearing the night before to drive downtown. I got a lot of work done at my desk (including the previous post). I gave a tour to a group at 9:30 and got them started in the kitchen. 

From there I swung by a friend's yard sale, dumped off my recycling and deposited a check. I contemplated going home for a nap, but made myself go grocery shopping. This dieting crap requires healthy food, right? I promised myself that I could be sleeping with in the hour. 

I walked out with a watermelon, asparagus, yogurt and bananas. I set my bag in the back of my truck and fumbled for my keys. The keys that were still dangling from the ignition. F dash dash dash. I was hot, exhausted and pissed off. And I had my sound system in the back of the truck. I'd stuck the PA, the box of cords and the microphones on the drivers seat while I was in the store. The speakers, speaker stands and mic stands were in the back. With the recycling bins and a watermelon rolling around. 

Once I calmed down I realized that I could walk to the Hostel (1.5 miles) and get my spare keys, and then ride my bike back. I called John to ask if he had the keys (from the basement project). He had them . In his hands. In Nashville, TN. I must confess to being a bit crabby to John. 

F-DASH-DASH-DASH!!! 

The sound system I was hauling around was for a band that was playing at the Hostel. John would not be back until 6:00-ish. I had be at work at the Red Key at 5:00. 

I called Heck of a Gal for a ride, thinking that we could drop off the speakers and my groceries and I could nap in the hammock or break in to my house. 

As I was pouting and beating myself up I realized that the drivers side window was down a few inches. I could stick my skinny little wrist through it, but no way could I turn my arm enough to lift up the lock. 

I put my MacGyver hat on, ran in to the deli and asked to borrow at stainless steel ladle. I had to do a lot of convincing and even offered to buy it. It worked. I was able to stick the bowl part and twist the handle though the opening. I was able to pull up the lock. Wheeeeee!

I was so relieved that I went home and loaded 30 chairs in to the truck and unloaded them and the sound system at the Hostel. In the heat. I did some serious debating with myself and headed to the fair anyway. 

The fair contracts with the Deaf School to used their grounds for parking. I like parking there, it is easy to get out and its on the close to home side of the grounds. 

I also like making the occasional trip to the fair by myself. The FFA kids run a store that is stocked with Indiana products. I love poking around there. I bought some Ball Jar products and my very favorite caramels. 

I checked out the fiddle contest and found a bevy of fair queens. 

I don't think they're counting Weight Watchers points. 

Here are the winners from the annual fiddle contest.

I walked over the brand spankin' new covered bridge. 

We like our corn in Indiana. 

The sky looked like it might rain, but it never did. So far the fair weather has been perfect.

Todays fair food: Grilled cheese sandwich from the Dairy Barn. They have a sandwich this year. It sure was Gouda!

I walked out of the fair grounds toward the Deaf School. I veered off of the sidewalk and walked toward where the truck was. I came to a 3 foot chain link fence and realized that I should have stayed on the sidewalk. Crap. I walked along the fence row and saw that I'd have to back track quite a way. A young couple had done the same thing. They suggested that we jump the fence. I was frustrated enough to do it. Ha! 

You know what happened next. My truck was actually in the fenced in part. I'd walked by it. I had to jump the damn thing again. 

I finally made it home and took a big fat nap. 

I was late to work because I sliced my little finger on the cellophane wrap box packing a healthy dinner and I was out of whack all night. I broke a glass - only the second in the five years I've worked there. I brought the wrong drinks and had to keep confirming what food people ordered - and since I'm the waitress and the cook, timing is everything. 

A friend came in and I was telling her how off kilter I was. I tapped my forehead with the end of my pen as I was talking. As it turned out, the ink end of the pen. I'd written on my forehead. I guess I'm lucky that I didn't poke my eye. 

Tomorrow is another [state fair] day. 

indiana state fair day 3

My friend Scott and I walked to the fair from my house. I live a little over a mile from the fairgrounds. I love that our state fair is in midtown Indianapolis.

I was so busy talking that I didn't take many photographs.

Pioneer Village is my favorite corner of the fair. The building houses a log cabin, quilters, wood carvers, candle makers, old farm equipment and music.

These folks are singing hymns.

This Boone County bluegrass band, Cornfields and Crossroads was excellent.

The village has hundreds of old tractors, a working threshing ring, lumber mill, grist mill and syrup making. I'll remember to take photographs next time, I promise.

We stopped by to visit Harley, the World's Largest Boar (1121 pounds). This is the first time in my 40-ish years of attending the fair that I've ever seen the largest boar standing up.

Tonight's dinner: I revisited the ribeye sandwich - well worth the points.

We walked through the Hooks Pharmacy Museum. I was too busy looking at old bottles, buying postcards of vintage fair photographs and admiring the beautiful wood cases to take pictures.

The last time Scott and I went to the fair I took a spin on the Ferris Wheel. Which might be the last time I'll ever be on one. When I was young, Dad and I rode the Ferris Wheel at the county fair, I was so panicked and screamed so loud that Dad convince the guy running the ride to stop and let us off after one revolution. I convince myself to try it again every decade or so and it doesn't get any better, except that I've learned to suck it up and not scream.

Not only do I not like heights, but I worry about the safety of those things. Is it better that they are taken apart and hauled across the country often? At least the parts are checked regularly, but then are there new people in every town putting them together? Does our midway fate rest on a cotter pin? Ugggh-

This ride is much more my speed - as you can see from last year's spin through the midway.

I was fun to hear a little bit of Carrie Underwood's set as we walked and see the grandstand full of her fans.

We took another lap around the grounds and walked home on the trail. I feel better about riding my bike in the dark than I do walking. When ever I walk at night I stick to the streets, where I can run up to someones house if I feel hinky. My block of the trail is very dark from all of the trees, in fact I didn't recognize my own back yard when we got there. As it turned out the biggest danger was the police car driving fast down the trail.

Another great day at the fair. Wheeee!

indiana state fair day 2

I didn't get home from work until 8:00. I threw on jeans and jumped on my bike and was looking at rabbits and roosters by 8:15.




Tonight's dinner:  steak sandwich. Yummy. 

I love the King Tater potato chips. They spiral cut a potato with a blade attached to a drill. The whole thing is brilliant. I was lurking around the stand trying to talk myself out of ordering a plate of the greasy salty goodness. 

Then I saw this: 

Talked myself right out of it. 

I ran to see the world's largest boar before I changed my mind. 

There was a pretty cute guy chatting me up in front of Harley (1121 pounds). The conversation was going well until the guy started talking about the pig's, um, rocky mountain oysters. I fled. 

I was looking forward to the Indiana's Got Game display. There were a few cool things and some artifacts, but not nearly as exciting as I thought it would be. 

I walked through the midway on the way home. 

. 

It was a gorgeous night. 

r.i.p twizzlers

Hello lovelies,

I've missed you! I had a lull in blogging. Partly because I was swamped, but mostly because I believe in the 'if you don't have anything nice to say, don't blog it' credo.

I realized that I was in a funk a couple of months ago when I was trying to finish my 47 things about me post and re-read #2. I always wake up happy -- no matter how angry I was when I went to sleep or how I wake up. I always worry that if I heard a burglar in the house my first thought would be "Ooooh, fun! I have company!"

Whoa! That was not true for a couple of months. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong, but I sure was crabby and out of sorts. I really realized it about six weeks ago when I was hanging out with an old friend, that I was happy to see and all I could do was complain. I didn't even like being with me. Sheesh.

Ironically, that same friend told me that he woke up one day a few months ago and felt good for the first time in a long time. I told him that I was feeling like crap to keep the universe balanced. Well, I'm feeling better punk - I hope you still are too.

Long ago I decided this blog was not going to be about cats (have one, his name is Felix and he looks like a bat), hot flashes (been there, done that) or my weight. Well, you're just going to have to hear about my weight for a minute.

In order to feel better I started addressing the things that were bogging me down. The basement project was one. I stopped staying at work until 11:00 pm. I dusted off my bike. I reacquainted myself with the library - and thanks to Erin Brown I have a small display of my PEZ dispensers in the Glendale library. And I joined Weight Watchers.

I know that my activity level has declined over the years. I went from an active job at the coffeehouse to a mostly desk job. I started blogging and writing which requires hours on my bohunkus.

In the beginning I'd eat potato chips and other crunchy-saltys when I was writing. A year or so ago I switched to Twizzlers. They were 'fat free' and didn't leave trails of salt between the computer keys. I was feeling pretty damn good about myself.

The first time I typed my Twizzler intake in to the Weight Watchers program I almost fainted. One serving of Twizzlers is worth 5 points! The same as a cup of chicken and dumplings! So eating a bag of Twizzlers (not out of the realm of possibility in a three hour writing stint) was like eating four cups of chicken and dumplings! Or drinking 10 Miller Lites. Or eating two whole French baguettes. Or a one and a half Peanut Buster Parfaits.

So, the Twizzler jar is gone. And now that I'm paying attention to what I eat and am consciously exercising. I've lost six pounds in the last two weeks. Only twenty more to go.

And the State Fair started yesterday. How many points is a steak sandwich?

indiana state fair day 1

I am a State Fair junkie. The fair opened today. The fairgrounds are just a mile down the Monon Trail from my backyard.


I jumped on my bike- still in my work skirt and met up with Tammy on the trail. Note my fancy basket and horn .


We were looking forward to touring the giant colon, but it closed at 6:00 [Crabbydad insert joke here].

We saw cows.

And more cows.

And rode the tram.

And ran in to friends.

The weather was just perfect.
The pork chop sandwich rocked also.


I loved the shadows on the trail on the way home.

Taking that photograph is a testament to my balancing skills. And my grabbing the camera out of my basket by the strap. And my taking the lens cap off with my teeth. And not getting kicked off the trail by the 5-0 since it was after dark and the trail was technically closed.