Saturday afternoon

Stayed home for the morning, blogged and soaked.  Headed to the fair around 12:30, got ~to~ the fair about 40 minutes later.  Traffic lights out at at Lexington and Hwy 94, took a self detour around Victoria. Got back to Lexington only to be backed up by traffic and shuttle buses under the railroad bridge...I detoured again and luckily the road construction through the Como lake neighborhood was finished, so crossed at Horton in a perpendicular fashion.  I looked left as I crossed Lexington, and the bus trying to get under the bridge was still there.  I made a wise choice.

Once I got to Simpson area, parking, again, was at a premium.  $40/car at Frankson & Pascal....really!?!?

Mom & I walked over together.  Two and a half days remaining and there is much Mom has not seen!  As we were about to cross the street, we stopped at the sidewalk to allow the A Line rapid transit Snelling Ave Super bus, drive past us.....ON ARONA!  

There were police officers standing at the rain garden at Frankson and Asbury.  We figured something was going down on Snelling.  

My water guy is still hanging in there! Stella says it is not OK that I don't know his real name.  It's Ronnie.  I asked him!

We were right, protesters were peacefully marching down Snelling on this, the day, Philandro Castille was being laid to rest in St. Louis.

We got across Snelling and into the gates as all the calm, awesome  security and police forces closed the gates and created a safety barrier.

Mom & I had lots to do so we did not wait to see the people marching.  Apparently the gates were closed for about 45 minutes and traffic was backed up and rerouted for a bit, but all in all, peaceful and to the point.

Karla, Steve & family were saving a bench on the parade route.

This would be the first day I sat and watched the entire thing!

I won't bore you with all the parade pics, but when Fairchild & Fairbourne arrived, I wanted a pic of the two of them together.  I shouted out to Fairbourne,

whose back was to us, and he spun for a picture.  He then proceeded to try and outdo Fairchild!

I shouted to Fairchild that we loved him too, and got a reaction!

After the parade, Karla showed me the new plastic bucket at Fresh French Fries.  They put a coffee filter in the bottom, because Karla thinks the hot grease on the fries was melting the bucket!  It was kinda nice!  I tried to think of all the State Fair uses! 

Mom and the Rachac clan headed into Ag/Hort to see the Kaleidoscopes, and I headed for pie!

I picked one up for Dan, the man in the Forest and tried a couple times to stop for lunch, only to find block long and longer lines for OofDa Tacos, Foot Long hotdogs and even Pizza at Green Mill.  I snagged another cereal bowl sample.  I think I have over ten now for Stella to take to St. Olaf.  Cereal, but no lunch.  Good thing mom & I made a stop at Bailey House on the way to the parade and I picked up some salty snacks again!  I promptly forgot I had them, when I got to the forest a bit early, but was asked to jump in as it was super busy!  These two ladies take good care of the a Forest all during the day.  Day ten, long, busy day! But still smiling!  

I manned the photo booth again this afternoon.  I only had one coworker friend, Katherine, stop by and she stayed for just a minute.  It was so busy the time flew by.  Either my tolerance was getting lower for kid and adult antics today...or my blood sugar, but there seemed to be lots of crabby kids and tired parents today, insisting on getting the "perfect picture", of the ~whole~ family, despite the screaming three year old protestations!
As I was packing up to leave the Forest, these two sharp dressers caught my eye!  They were ringing the bell for their blue ribbons!

It's faces like these that keep me coming back every day! 

I made it through the shift and headed to help David, Cindy and Brekkens hold seats for the County Talent Finals.

We were a bit spread out,

but succeeded in saving seats for almost 20 people!

I was starving so I downed an airline sized peanut snack!

Once the friends started filling in the seats, Cindy & I went in search of food...and beverage.  The lines at Midways Men's club were long too, even at the back. I tried to order a large beer and a cheeseburger, but was told there would be a 25 minute for a burger....Cindy looked over and saw the oldest female crew member manning the grill and trying to direct all the "supervisors", aka, the guys all standing around.  Without protein, Cindy and I left with cold beers in hand.  Crisscrossing the Kidway, we spied a booth with no line.  Either they were out of food, or not the greatest....but we chanced it.  I got a 10pc BBQ wing basket and Cindy got a corn dog.

They weren't the best, but they were well done and, well, food.  

We got back to the seats in time for the first act, when I got a phone call telling me that a family stopped up to say "Hi!"  Luckily, the talent show is a stones throw from the Alphabet Forest.  I ran over to say "Hi!" back.

I got another running hug from Luke! Little sister Madison, in my class currently,  had not seen me in over three weeks and was quite shy!

We watched the Talent Show to the end, Mom has kept track of most all the talent leading up to tonight and has highlighted her picks.

 That's dedication!  

We'll see how she does tomorrow at the Grandstand Finals.

Mom & I stayed to see a bit of the Laser Light show up on Cosgrove.

And them walked down to see The Spinners.  They were still dancing and singing all dressed up in yellow suits!  I wish I could have gotten a better picture, but it was a packed house.  

Our tired feet took us home.  Waiting for the Snelling crossing, Mom & I don't think we've seen quite that many people coming & going at 10:00 pm!  Possibly another record day!