The Maryland State Fair

We spent pretty much all day at the Maryland State Fair on Sunday. Donna, Chelsea, and Annie Ann came with Savanah and I and we met up with NTS (Mel for those of you who don't understand NTS) and her friends there as well. All in all a fun day, but good lord my calves hurt now. After a full day at the Renaissance Festival on Saturday, spending 6 hours walking around the State Fair was brutal. Savanah and Chelsea had a blast though.

I was rather impressed with Savanah's daring and willingness and utter enjoyment with some of the rides. She loved the ferris wheel and the Carousel which I knew she would, but she also loved the Zero Gravity, which is one of those spinning rides that stick you to the wall. Her and Chelsea also spent a good portion of the day at Tiki Town (The Fun House) and The Monkey Maze (The Hall of Mirrors).

There was only one problem that I encountered with the Fair and this year was worse than I remember previous years. Why don't parents teach their kids manners anymore? These parents bring their kids to the Fair and let them run wild. I know they are excited and I know there are lots of things to do and see, but really people, cutting in line, pushing other kids out of the way and other such antisocial behavior is unacceptable. The fact that I had to tell two 14 year old boys that the two little children in front of them were in line is rediculous. I shouldn't have to do that! They were slowly pushing past Savanah and Chelsea to the point where they were forcing them out of the line and at 5 and 9, they aren't going to stand up for themselves against two large 14 year old boys. I can't blame it all on the kids though. I watched a mother with her child cut in line as well. They just walk right up, oblivious to the fact that there are other people who have been waiting to get on the ride. And later in the day when we went to see the livestock I watched people walk up to the animals acting like it's a petting zoo. We are fortunate enough to know people who show cows at the Fair, but even knowning them as well as I do, I would never presume that it's ok to just walk up and start petting them without asking first. First off, it's just downright rude and secondly, it's dangerous. If you have a cow step on you it's gonna at least hurt and at worst break something. Don't just tell your 6 year old to run up and touch the cow while you wait safely on the other side of the hay bed. Where the horses are concerned, if one steps on you, or happens to kick cause you ran up behind it and spooked it you are going to get seriously injured and just because their owners ride them, it doesn't mean that they don't bite! These people need to use a bit of common sense and a bit more respect.

Anyway, even with all that, Savanah is looking forward to going back next weekend and I am too.