What a strange and surreal week I had. Fun, tragedy, excitement, sadness, gluttony, exhaustion. In other words, Fair Week.
MONDAY- We start setting up the booth for the Gregg County Fair. We are normally inside the exhibit hall but it has been commandered by FEMA for hurricane Katrina evacs. There are 4 people in the hall the first day, ZERO the rest of the week.
Our tax dollars at work. My boss was kind enough to let me borrow his camper for the week.
Went from the fair and set up at the Hands on a Hardbody Contest. 30 contestants stand with their hands on a truck and the last person left wins the truck and a pop-up camper.
One of the contestants in the picture would be dead by Thursday.
TUESDAY- Received the news that my wife's Mamaw Dixie had passed away at home in her bed, just like she had prayed. She was a good woman who had a long life and was ready to go.
The fair starts and it's kind of slow the first night, as expected. Cold Shiner Bock in the camper made for an enjoyable evening. I ate the biggest turkey leg I had ever seen. It dang near killed me to death.
One of my customers whose family and friends have bought several spas from me showed up at the fair in her bathing suit. She wanted to be my swimsuit model. I told her that the pay is terrible, but you cannot beat the working conditions. She agreed.
Stopped by the HOHB contest on the way home. One contestant had been eliminated in the first hour for taking his hands off the truck while talking. (Must have been Italian
)
WEDNESDAY- My mom and dad brought my daughter Savanna to the fair. I took her on the Ferris Wheel. This was her before the ride started
and this is her at the top
"I want my momma!"
By the 3rd revolution, she was OK. Here's the view from the top
THURSDAY- While getting ready for Mamaw Dixie's funeral, I got a call saying to come pick up the spa at the Hardbody Contest. One of the contestants walked away at the 48-hour mark, went across the street to K-Mart, threw a trashcan through the window, stole a shotgun, and made his way back to the front of the store. The police confronted him and he put the 12-guage to his temple and pulled the trigger. He was eliminated.
Now, I feel sorry for his wife, his two children, the other contestants, and the car dealership. He made a selfish choice that affected a lot of people over a stupid pick-up truck. I have to wonder what his intentions would have been if the police hadn't been on scene so quickly. I guess we'll never know. Contest was cancelled and we picked up the spa.
Mamaw Dixie's funeral was very moving. I almost cried when one of her granddaughters read a poem she had written. She'll be missed but she's in a much better place than the rest of us, especially me, because I have to go back to the fair.
Kids are attracted to water like moths to a flame.
FRIDAY- One of our service techs brought his kids and their friends to the fair. They had a good time as kids usually do.
My wife and daughter came out to visit.
My wife just loves it when we "camp out".
SATURDAY- Long hot day. I ate a bunch of roasted corn so that I could say I had my vegetables. Of course, I loaded them up with butter, lemon pepper, lime pepper, Tobasco sauce, Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Glad I had some Shiner Bock in the fridge!
My daughter's little friends from White Oak Primary School showed up and posed for the camera.
A full moon came out that night and folks started getting weird with my Bella Fontana....
Went home and crashed, I was whooped!
Gonna be at the Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards Food and Wine Festival this weekend with a spa. Can't wait!
How was your week?
Terminator
