The ups and downs of my first fair
by Lindsay Hoeppner, Living Lindsay · July 28, 2010

After last week, it’s pretty apparent that I don’t get a long very well with fairs.

Especially after last week at the Muscatine County Fair.

Wednesday started off great, however.

I was up, albeit very early, and ready to tackle my first day of coverage. I was even more excited, because the first item on my agenda was the 4-H/FFA Dog Show. Although I would consider myself more of a cat person, I’m also very loving of the canine variety.

The show went off without a hitch, and I continued on with my day.

During the afternoon, I had a block of time to kill, so I decided to ride some of the Midway attractions with MarySue’s kids.

I shouldn’t have had an ice cream cone beforehand.

But, I learned that fact a little too late.

After going on six rides, MarySue’s oldest, Faith, took me on the spinning strawberries. My stomach didn’t handle it very well at all.

I’ve never gotten sick on a carnival ride before, but I guess there’s a first time for everything.

I vowed not to ride any more rides the rest of the week, but that didn’t stop me from getting sick yet again.

I blamed the heat for that one, though.

Despite my weak stomach, I had a blast at the fair, and was very impressed with the entertainment, animal shows and the amount of community members I saw each day.

No matter, I’m still a little nervous for next year’s festivities.

After all, the last fair I went to prior to a week ago was the Iowa State Fair three summers ago.

I didn’t experience severe dehydration or dizziness from carnival rides, but I did get a nasty blister from my flip-flops.

As I was carrying them, walking out of the gate to go home, I stepped on a shard of glass and cut the bottom of my foot open.

Oh, the irony.