The Great Minnesota Get-Together

Once again it was time for the Great Minnesota Get-Together State Fair. We planned on going twice again this year, opening day and then four days later. Both days were cooler than normal but opening day was sunny so lots of people came; Day two was cloudy with a chance of rain and people stayed away. I had a list of several foods that I needed to buy this year. Usually I just buy what is in front of me until I am full. This year I was more careful. It took two days to complete my list. Now there are several things that I don't need to ever buy again (nothing was bad, but bad for you - too sweet or fattening). But also several things that I will continue to buy. We took the bus to the fair and walked right to the grandstands. In the grandstand courtyard were tent after tent of educational science stuff from weather to robots. This is a home-made hovercraft that you can ride, made out of plywood, plastic bags and your dad's leaf blower. Works great. Might make one - they are supposed to email me the plans.

In the grandstands is the place to buy too much junk. For example, this is a bank. There were several kinds but all had a long neck that coins follow and drop into a plastic sphere. Only way to get your money out is to take it all apart.

This was taken just before noon on our second day. Look! The streets are virtually empty.

This is the all you can drink milk booth on the second day. Again no waiting. Usually the lines are 20 deep and there are at lease ten lines.

This is the most frivolous thing I waisted money on. This is a fire fishing pole for fire fishing, or roasting hot dogs or marshmallows. Demonstration demo video at the end. I also got some tile cutting tools, since I have one bathroom and two kitchens to tile.

We always try to take in the free entertainment while we rest. These guys play some mean guitar and mandolin.

This guy was entertaining the kids but was still fun to watch. Parents, you don't need to spend a lot of money on musical instruments for school. Just look in the kitchen. You can be spoonman or fork man, or butter knife man or even a pie server man.

These South Americans from Ecuador have been at the fair every year for as long as I can remember. We had lunch (Giant Juicy Turkey Sandwich) while listening to them.

In the educational area by the grandstands (only there for a day) were several robots, showing what they can do. Schools build these every year for competition at the fair and every year the rules change so the robots are built to do those tasks, like pick up and stack inflatable tubes or kick a soccer ball or to pick up a big ball and drop it into a basket.

This was my favorite robot - a talking robot driving a car. Notice the girl in the background - she is operating the robot and speaking for it.

You already know that I have an accordion. I have learned several months ago that at noon on channel 6 they had a locally produced program called Polka Time, or something like that. They would have a polka band come and play while the geriatric department from town danced. Honestly some of the dancers could hardly move and then there were this couple. They always wear identical clothing, which are always T-shirt, zubas, and suspenders. There was an accordion playing at Heritage Sq and then all of a sudden the Zuba dancers (that is what I call them) got up and started to dance. They might be in sync with each other but they dance like two dead fish - expressionless.

Here is how to fire fish. Load your lure with hot dogs or marshmallows and hold it over the fire. As with all fishing you need to jig your line to attract your fish. Here you jig it to turn over your hot fogs or marshmallows so that the other side gets done. We really went over the top on these. Maybe the grand kids will enjoy them, but they better not wreck them. But I will need to try them first.