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Thursday evening, relaxing and resting comfortably at the casa, in the dark, listening to the ball game. I do so hope that the Astros win and then close out the bronx bums. That would be so sweet to rub it in to the COUNTLESS clueless yankee fans I bump into.

Safely settled where I belong after another grueling day at the Great State Fair of Texas.

I was telling FB in a quick exchange of text messages that I reached the saturation limit and should be good until next year OR 49 weeks whichever comes first.

SO A TROOPER SUCH AS YOURSELF DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS OR TRADITIONS THAT YOU OBSERVE?

Funny you should ask and short answer is yes.

When I first get there, I head for one of the dwindling number of popcorn stands and pass over six (6) coupons. With the box of pc, I make my way over to the Bud light stage as the first concert set starts at 12:30.

HEY!! I DID’T ASK TO HEAR EVERY ONE OF THEM AND WHAT THEY WERE ...

I’m now rolling so put up AND shut up.

The first major disappointment of day was the Red beer barn was closed. Mother of pearl and hijo di puta. I find another stand with six (6) coupon beer but listen to the choices: Coors light, Miller Lite and some kind of Bud which wasn’t even a serious option. That’s like pee, urine and piss. ALL warm.

The Red Barn had Modelo Especial when all was good.

So I am standing in line and I ax another camper and he told me that the Red Barn got busted for serving and under-age patron. Ruins it for ALL of us.

All I am thinking is it will be a short beer drinking day.

‘Craft beer’ was running high from 12-16 tickies which for me I don’t need it THAT bad.

In lieu of the outrageous turkey leg again I opted for the Calypso shrimp bowl which was 24 coupons much more than I was thinking and telling other people. But it was still good and a better choice.

Next month I get two (2 … dos) drumsticks for less than the 28 tickets (coupons = $14) AND the whole turkey.

I next wandered thru the Gateway Shopping Pavilion and looked up the pin guy for a couple of pins I had in mind none of which he had. He was doing a brisk business but his selection was pretty well picked over. A mild disappointment but I saved myself some discretionary funds.

I make my way to a new-found fav the hidden ice cream stand and got the large, single dip strawberry cone. As I walked back to the flow of the midway I heard a number of people say ‘I want an ice cream…’.

I made a quick pass thru the Creative Arts building and counted my coupons. I had 14 and felt like a slice of oily pizza but they were running 16/slice & I was not about to purchase ANY more tickets let alone a part of a sheet.

Wandering aimlessly I spied pretzels for 10 so I got one and gnawed on that doughy mess heading towards the gate as I had had enough. I see a stand that has a tee-shirt I saw last week and was considering buying.

I recall it saying ‘Tacos Matter’ but this time it actually said ‘All Tacos Matter’ which suddenly was less appealing.

I also stopped to see Burt the chainsaw carver and we talked a bit more about him coming to McK and doing some rough outs but we were too far apart. It wasn’t going to be worth his time to drive up and not make $500. I turned my head and gave a little cough. Just as well.

He is an astute business man and an entertainer and he doesn’t or isn’t going to do anything for free or as a ‘courtesy’.

I get it. He floats down the stream.

We did leave it open for next year. Sort of.

That’s about it.

Coffee and a drop-off tomorrow morning at 0800 and at 1000 Donnie, Poor Richard & I head up to the tree farm to look at the wood and machines.

OK. Bill over/out.