The Punching Pandas, The Donald, and the Iowa State Fair

CaDiva and I got up and out by 8:30 (kind of impressive when you think it through) and she even decided to take the freeway to the fairgrounds. We were a little worried about the electronic sign telling us the exit to E University was closed. We saw cars in that exit, so we took the exit anyway. Well, we we sort of took it, in that we exited the freeway and couldn't get back on.

We didn't exit it in the way we actually advanced towards the Fairgrounds. The traffic was backed all the way from the Fairgrounds on E 30th to the freeway at E 19th. Ok, so you aren't impressed but that is significant in Des Moines. Anyway, we rode along, discussing how this wasn't in the least bit annoying and how we were going to enjoy the fair anyway.

We did decide to get breakfast at the fair rather than pull out of the traffic to find some sort of food. Although, I did point out to CaDiva that I could probably get across the street and back with DD coffee and bagels before she moved to the next block. She didn't seem to find this amusing.

We found the parking lot entrance we normally use, except they were full. (The parking attendants didn't know they were full, they only knew we couldn't use it. I have no malice in my heart for the parking attendants. The fair doesn't pay them nearly enough to stand out in the sun and wait for little old ladies to try and get into a primo parking spot on the basis of being old and gimped up.)The one we needed to go to was all the way back where the traffic jam we escaped was waiting for us. The old parking lot was much closer, more efficiently managed, and just so convenient. But, the Shriner's showed up every time we needed to be golf carted somewhere.

Then we got to the place that rents us the little old lady scooters so I can ride around the fairgrounds wearing a fanny pack and increasing my self-esteem each time I accidentally hit the reverse lever by mistake. They couldn't find our reservation. They did everything necessary to take care of us. And I knew we were on our way because a young man of about 10-years asked me for a high-five. I figured he had a plan to high five anyone sitting in a scooter who reminded him of his great grandmother.

We started out finding a fruit smoothie and chocolate ice cream cone and the Cultural Center. In addition to the fascinating folk and creative art it was indoors and air conditioned.

It also included the only vendor of a salad on a stick.

 We headed back out past the Mid-American Energy mascot on to the wine and art park at the top of the Fairgrounds. Not only did we have a nice wood-fired pizza, we got to watch the grape stomping contest while gaze at the best view of the city while catching several cool breezes.

As always, we had as much fun interacting and watching people as we did anything else. We visited with two women who watched me chase CaDiva up the hill on our matching scooters as I threatened to get a water pistol. One woman said to the other, "There we go in a few years." LOL CaDiva and I are now officially a goal.

This is CaDiva's "would you please find something else to point that camera at" face.

We headed down the hill into the sea of humanity waiting for a pork chop on a stick.We found another shady spot and enjoyed the most luscious pork chops you could imagine while we listened to The Punching Pandas.

Thanks to You-Tube I actually understood the remarks about something called the Whip and NeNe after watching two young women dance to Downtown Funk. I suppose you all know it repeats the line "Funk you up" several times. 

This is Iowa, you sit where there is shade.

I had two encounters with Donald Trump. His helicopter overhead during the concert and his body guards demanding I get out of his way while he wooed my vote. Yeah, I'm a fat, old woman in a scooter. Move me. That would really sell on CNN. On the other hand, nothing else he has done had gotten him off my television set. But still... 

The concert was followed by a group of adult ed ballroom dancers giving it their all in the heat of an August day. I didn't go for the Swing in 4 x 4 time, but the group Tango and the synchronized  Foxtrot were pretty cool.

CaDiva started to feel a little punk, we figured from the heat, so we headed to find another breezy, shady spot.

So we cooled down watching kids dance in the sprinklers while CaDiva sipped on iced tea and I dreamed of lemonade and corn dogs. CaDiva didn't really perk up, so we picked up some dinner at the giant turkey leg and rice crispy treat on a stick place.

We were getting ready to return the scooters when she agreed to wait in a little garden beside the Department of Natural Resources building. Well that did the trick. While I munched on my corn dog and we shared the lemonade in the shade and cool, she really lightened up. She even took a flyer on a corn dog. Of course, she had to when we saw some deranged woman peel the corn bread coating off her corn dog and dip it in ketchup. SHUDDER.

 We sat in the garden watched people allow someone strap them into a wire globe and fling them into the air with giant rubber bands.

Well, CaDiva is out like a light on the couch, and HRH took The Mom to Missouri for Ice Cream today. So I'm going to wrap this up with pictures of the tiny ponies we spotted around the Fairgrounds. I will probably rewrite this tomorrow, because I think I may be a bit disjointed and sort of rambling on. Maybe I am more tired than I thought.