Yesterday I finally attended the amazing wonder of wonderment that is the Minnesota State Fair. I anticipated that I would be enjoying it ironically, but I also enjoyed a lot of things pretty sincerely. I ate cotton candy, a caramel apple, shaved ice, a snow cone, pizza, cheese curds, and a deep-fried candy bar. I said “This is America” a lot. I discovered that I’ve officially outgrown rides that go upside down.

Along the way I experienced games of skill, gondola rides, a visit to the top of the Space Needle, animals having babies, all the milk you can drink for a dollar, games requiring skill, a lot of overweight people, seed-art, skill-assessment games, a disappointing freak show, several cover bands, the Republican and Democratic headquarters, a relaxing soujourn in the Senior Center, and games of skill AT WHICH I TOTALLY WON A CURIOUS GEORGE PLUSH DOLL. YES.

At the entrance to the lion’s den.

The Minneapolis skyline.

Kate and the aforementioned plush doll that I gallantly won while playing a game of skill involving the throwing of darts using skill and gallantry.

More photos here.