An escape to the State Fair

In an alternate reality, I would be living in New York City, near a certain school not named Darden. I wonder, sometimes, what that life would have been like. Who would my friends be? Would I be lonely? Busy beyond belief? How often would I go swing dancing? What would I be learning about the media world? Would I be happier? More stressed?

I would, doubtless, be wondering about the life I'm currently living.

But enough with the wondering. I'm in beautiful Charlottesville. An hour's drive from the state's capital. A bit longer to the State Fair. And that's a world away from New York City.

My friend Tina had the awesome idea to check out the fair earlier this month. Let's start with the food: fried everything and everything on a stick. Or, as with corn dogs, fried AND on a stick. I thought I'd seen it all, but no:

Try cucumbers on a stick.

Maybe even the State Fair is starting to watch its waistline....

Here's more edible fun, but this is in the crafty, ribbon-winning section. A baseball stadium made out of pretzels. Awesome. I can't make this stuff up.

Or how about squash painted like bowling pins?

Who can't admire a giant watermelon? I mean, really. That's talent.

On to the animals... we saw many races, including ...

... duck races, with absurdly silly names (along the lines of, say, Princess Waddle vs. Ducky Charms). Audience members get called up to hold a flapping duck tight, until the announced says "Go!" Then the racer lets the duck go into the pool lane, and it (he? she?) paddles furiously to the end. It's quite thrilling.

And then there are the less active in the animal kingdom:

And those just getting started in life:

It was a world away from Excel and tornado charts. I recommend everyone take such a detour every so often.