Ridiculous

I realize that it's been absolutely ridiculous that I haven't blogged for almost 3 months! So, I'm sorry for that, I didn't mean to miss most of autumn! The weather is finally starting to cool off here, it actually got into the 40s last night! Cooler weather means windows open and nights underneath the warming blanket--I love it!!! Of course, cooler weather also means that we'll finally get to use our new (well, new to us) fireplace...once we get it fixed. *sigh* everything has a price. Autumn also means it's Fair time!! Techincally, the Fair ended last weekend (with perfect weather!), but I'm going to be lazy and copy a comment onto my blog that I hope you'll enjoy. I was commenting on another blog (Homesick Texan) who was maing corny dogs and since we were going to the Fair that very same day, I felt compelled to comment. Plus, if you know me even in the slightest, you know my feelings about the Fair. Without further ado:

"First of all, I'll admit it: I'm not a native Texan. I grew up in St. Louis but I met my husband at TCU right before freshman year began, we married 5 years after we met and I've considered myself a Texan since then (2003). Thing is, I had NO idea what a state fair really was until I went to TCU. I think my husband-to-be (Michael) and I went almost every year we were in school. After we got married, we moved to Austin so he could go to UT Law but we still managed to make the drive and come to the Fair once a year. Now we live in Dallas and we buy season passes for the Fair at Kroger (it pays for itself if you go 2 times, plus you get a free AMC movie ticket AND a ticket to Holiday in the Park--that's when our Six Flags is open during our not-too-cool "winters"). We're actually going today for the last time this year, as the Fair closes again tomorrow. This year I've had the CFB (chicken friend bacon) which made me nauseous when I first heard about it but didn't taste too bad, fried grilled cheese (delicious!) and a Fletcher's corny dog smothered in mustard. Today I think I'll have some or all of the following: fried pickles with spicy ranch dipping sauce (can only be found over by the Cotton Bowl, alllll the way over on the right side, next to the entrance to the CB on the Midway side--look for Ruth's Tamales and keep heading back), fried s'mores, fried truffles, funnel cake and another ubiquitous corny dog. Don't worry, I'll be sharing with my husband. When August rolls around, I go to www.bigtex.com to see how many days are left on the countdown! Then my sister-in-law (who also lives in Dallas) and I squeal with delight and get excited that another Fair adventure is right around the corner.

I should also mention that the Fair holds a special place in my heart: it's where Michael asked my dad for permission to marry me. In the car pavillion. We still tease him about it to this day. He claims it was the only time he had to get my dad alone to ask him. And it was my parent's first trip to the Fair. How much more of a Fair lover could I be?"

P.S. I have to add to this that we did NOT end up eating all those foods! We had: corny dogs (regular for me, jalapeno/cheese for Michael, both smothered in mustard), fried s'mores (delicious!!), fried pickles with spicy ranch and fried waffle balls (which, in essence, is a fried chocolate covered strawbery). And then we had some caramel-nut covered apple wedges. You know, to break up the monotony of the fried stuff. :)

P.P.S. AND The Killdares were at the Fair this year!!! We discovered them at the Fair many, many moons ago but, sadly, they've been absent from the Fair these past few years (which is a shame and I expressed my disapproval to the State Fair higher ups via a letter). Thank goodness they're back! The Killdares are a Dallas based celtic rock group and they're amazing! Michael, Steph and I saw them at a St. Patrick's Day concert this year and we all had so much fun! If you live in the Dallas are and get a chance to hear them, take it!

P.P.P.S. I swear, this is my last postscript of the night: we're leaving for vacation on Sunday! We're going on a (much needed) week-long Caribbean cruise and I probably won't be blogging during that time period. The lovely Stephanie will be staying at our house, taking care of things and watching all the sweet puppies (both hers and ours). Hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween!