What a strange and surreal week I had. Â Fun, tragedy, excitement, sadness, gluttony, exhaustion. Â In other words, Fair Week.
MONDAY- We start setting up the booth for the Gregg County Fair. Â We are normally inside the exhibit hall but it has been commandered by FEMA for hurricane Katrina evacs. Â There are 4 people in the hall the first day, ZERO the rest of the week. Â
 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â Cold Shiner Bock in the camper made for an enjoyable evening. Â I ate the biggest turkey leg I had ever seen. Â 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. Â She wanted to be my swimsuit model. Â I told her that the pay is terrible, but you cannot beat the working conditions. Â She agreed.
Stopped by the HOHB contest on the way home. Â 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. Â I took her on the Ferris Wheel. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â The police confronted him and he put the 12-guage to his temple and pulled the trigger. Â He was eliminated.
Now, I feel sorry for his wife, his two children, the other contestants, and the car dealership. Â He made a selfish choice that affected a lot of people over a stupid pick-up truck. Â I have to wonder what his intentions would have been if the police hadn't been on scene so quickly. Â I guess we'll never know. Â Contest was cancelled and we picked up the spa.
Mamaw Dixie's funeral was very moving. Â I almost cried when one of her granddaughters read a poem she had written. Â 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. Â 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. Â I ate a bunch of roasted corn so that I could say I had my vegetables. Â Of course, I loaded them up with butter, lemon pepper, lime pepper, Tobasco sauce, Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Â 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. Â Can't wait!
How was your week?
Terminator
