August 31, 2001

11:43pm

Day 9: Everybody is a star day...

Well,the guys at the bike corral know me by name now, which means I am probably coming over to often. They never really ask what I do at the fair. It's kind of like the Wiley E. Coyote bit where they have the two sheepdogs--Ralph and Sam--who take shifts guarding their flock of sheep. "Mornin', Sam..." "Mornin', Ralph..." and then they just punch in and go about their business. That's the way it is with me and the bike corral guys. When I get there each day it's "Hiya, Brian..." As I leave each day, they say, "See ya tomorra..."

Is it me, or does Linus look a little freaky? I think he suffers from OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), what with the whole blankie thing and all...

I'm taking this picture while these two kids are appearing on LIVE TV (I'm right behind the cameraman for KSTP-5)...

Bumper boats.

Although it's a bit hard to tell from the picture, the "game" they're playing is Mr. Muscle, a simulated arm wrestling game. These two thugs decided to gang up on old Mr. Muscle.

Inside the food building.

Man with Dr. Evil T-shirt and Pig hat.

Grandpa.

This was a hard shot. You have to move the camera "with" the girl in the foreground, which has to remain in focus, and then you get the nice blurring of the background... I've tried this several times, but this is one of the few that actually turned out.

Midway blue.

Mega-Drop! This is a smaller version of the Tower of Power that they have at Valleyfair.

More midway lights.

(When I take pictures like this, I use a telescoping portable monopod to help steady the camera. Anyway, as I'm standing there among the sea of people, some 14-year-old punk walks past and says to his friend in a really smart-alecky southern accent... "He's gaht a camra onna stick... huh-yup...")

Teddy Roosevelt and a one-eyed gopher eating a pronto pup.

Alright, sis, one more time... WHERE did you put my LEGOS???...

Assignment: table with the most empty cups in the beer garden.

My favorite for the day. What was really good is that the girl in the center saw me and just broke into a big smile. She nudged her boyfriend and whispered something, and then he looked over and got embarrassed. She kept smiling for me, though...

Tip 'o the day: Right in front of the Grandstand is the new Sky-Glider ride. Wait at the entrance until the first few blasts of fireworks go off. Now, hop on the Sky Glider. You ride right next to the grandstand, so you get an awesome view of the fireworks.

Updated 08/31/01, bjl