Day 2 started out the same as Day One. Cold, overcast, breezy, and no Jeff Kramer at work. This time, the sun never shone and by 6:30 p.m. it was drizzling and by 9:30 p.m., it was raining. But, the clouds kept temps down and made being outside nice and comfortable. Though a bit humid, it made for a nice and relaxing day. Starting with the same $2.50 for the Post Standard “best coffee at the Fair” and a peruse of the morning tabloid.
Oh, and while I was reading the paper, I did notice that there was no column from Jeff Kramer. Whats the matter, Jeffie … no interns interested in the job? That is what you get when you take folks like me for granted. I appreciate playing telephone tag with Jeff today and perhaps tomorrow when he is feeling better, he will be back at work … at least he might show up once in a while.
Overall, until about 3:00 p.m., the Fair was a great place for Fairgoers and a lousy day for business. Crowds were small until mid afternoon and then there was an explosion. Wall to wall people. When the parade came at 6:00, the crowds were thick as maple syrup.
Of course being Law Enforcement Day, the parade had it usual Police and Fire Band followed by a police cruiser from a near dozen local agencies. It was wonderful to finally get a handjob from my favorite blow job person and I got a great smile from the guy in the back banging his thingamabobs together. But while most of the police cruisers would run their sirens or horns for a second or two, the Liverpool PD unit just get blasting their sirens non stop. The folks standing next to me said I should be tolerant … Liverpool cops don’t get to run their sirens very often and we should be patient and understanding.
I got to play a game of cat and mouse today with a couple local news folks. They were out in full force this morning shooting wrap around footage of Fair crowds. Twice I was spotted and I could see that my tshirt became an item of interest. First, Dan Cummings and his driver followed me around the midway on a golf cart … and every time I would stop, they would try and get me to turn around. Every time I would turn, so did they. This also happened with the news guy from channel 10 … tall, blond, mustache … don’t recall his name. Boy did he and his cameraman try and be sneaky, but I saw them waiting for me, and I went the other way. Neener neener neeener. Remember boys, the chase is almost as much fun as the capture.
Make no mistake, the Fair is a true collection of every weirdo and human creation under the sun. Before you rush to judgment or mockery, remember that each of them has a life, a family, and loves, and dreams, and pains, and sorrows, and bills, … just like the rest of us. When you look at someone for the first time, you should see yourself first – a mirror image of a fellow human being. That being said … damn they are some funky looking folks at the Fair. One of my favorites today is the Strates worker who apparently has shaved his head and then tattooed cheetah spots all over his head. From a distance, it looks like a shaved head. Up close, the man has clearly gunna have some explaining to do to his grandchildren. “I was drunk one night, and this guy said … HAY, I GOTTA GREAT IDEA.”
Speaking of great ideas … my best idea today was to hear the group Tesla play at Miller Court. I have never heard of the band before in my life but for some reason, I knew the lyrics to four of their songs. Typical head banging, guitar screeching, metal … a la the kind I grew up with. Whatever you may think of the genre, these cats put on a helluva show and I thank the Fair for that rare treat.
I also wanted to thank 93Q for the squeezy football. Though I missed the initial toss, I can honestly say that the football was in my hand nearly all 13 hours I was at the Fair today. I squeezed it and held it and never put it down. One can only imagine how many cigarettes I did not smoke because I was squeezing a ball. (Not that there is anything wrong with that).
During one of my siestas in my truck, I was listening to that idiot Jim Reith whine about the Fair. He was complaining he had to walk down the midway to get to his destination. Someone should quickly call him a waaaaaaambulance. Someone needs to tell Jim that the Fair itself IS the destination. The Midway, the dirt, the slime, the cheesy food, and the cheesy merchandise, along with the people that consume all of it IS the Fair and IS what it is all about. It is a slice of New York. While not everything is pretty, Mr. Reith, you should take into account that the Midway is the lifeblood and beating heart of the Fairgrounds. Next time, ya lazy old coot, take the Tram.
As for me, a quick shower, a long night’s sleep, and then its back to the Fair for something all together different.
