2nd Star to the Right :: Neverland. I think I want to live there.

On Saturday, I found out an old friend is dying. I'm still having a bit of trouble finding the right words to express myself, so please, be patient.

8:53 AM | allison | # |

I've had a bit of a block lately where the things I want to say just aren't coming out right.

I'll be back when they are.

12:40 PM | allison | # |

I've got a lot to say, but nothing is coming out.

Maybe it's because I've been playing too much of this.

Maybe not.

3:58 PM | allison | # |

Just to be clear, I am only posting this here because I want to delete the email out of my inbox and I don't want to kill any more trees by printing it out. This is for posterity. Or some crap like that.

Loyal Fan

Five Chicago sports fans were climbing a mountain one day. Each was a fan of a different Chicago sports team and each proclaimed to be the most loyal of all fans to their team. As they climbed higher, they argued as to which of them was the most loyal of all. They continued to argue all the way up the mountain.
Finally they reached the top.

The Blackhawks fan hurled himself off the mountain, shouting, "This is for the Hawks!" as he fell to his doom.

Not wanting to be outdone, the Bulls fan threw himself off the mountain, proclaiming, "This is for the greatest team of the 90's!"

Seeing this, the Bears fan shouted "This is for DA COACH!!!" as he leapt to his death.

The two remaining fans looked at each other in stunned silence. After a minute, the Sox fan bellowed, "This is for everyone on the South Side!" And then he pushed the Cub fan off the mountain.

10:28 AM | allison | # |

Hi. Yeah. I'm going to be quiet for a little while, so don't freak out or anything. I just don't feel much like talking right now.

9:29 AM | allison | # |

I've posted it once and I'll post it again.

We come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this ground -- The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.

It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth. --Gettysburg Address, November 1863

9:41 AM | allison | # |

It's been a rough day at work. A team meeting turned into a finger-pointing, tissue-filled, red-eyed bitch session.

I'm pretty sure nothing constructive was accomplished.

And damnit, I was stress eating at lunch.

But, oh holy crap, my McFlurry was good.

3:18 PM | allison | # |

Yesterday, the fair ended. The shows were fantastic, the food exceptional and the people-watching unbeatable. It always makes me a little sad to see it come to an end; it's bittersweet. I'm excited to have my nights and weekends back to myself but I'll miss the friends and family I got to see on a regular basis.

Last night, on my way out of town, the finality of it really hit me. I could see the sun setting in my mirrors and the moon rising ahead of me. The corn is turning and the days aren't as long.

The summer will be ending soon.

This summer has been everything I wanted it to be. It was my first summer home in nearly eight years and I made the most of it. I traveled. I made new friends. I spent time with my family. I had new adventures. I created a new routine.

Moving back to the midwest was the right thing to do. It feels right here. It feels like home.

9:30 AM | allison | # |

Last night was opening night. We were smashing, baby. Smashing!

We were so smashing that I'm having trouble forming a coherent thought or a complete sentence. Therefore, you get a list.

- Performances: 2
- Money spent buying refreshments to sell at the back of the tent: approximately $79
- Money we made selling refreshments at the back of the tent: $14
- Stands visited selling hot dogs, lemonade and cotton candy: 4
- Stands visited selling deep fried candy bars: 1
- Times I was grossed out by scary-looking carnies: 2
- Number of cowboy hat wearing, tight-jean sporting, country music fans singing along with Neal McCoy: thousands.
- Buffalo Chips consumed: 1
- Pronto Pups consumed: 1
- Diet Cokes consumed: 3
- Air-conditioned tool shed/ATM machines visited: 1

I love the fair.

10:21 AM | allison | # |

Tomorrow begins the one-hundredth and something annual Sandwich Fair. I've been going for as long as I can remember and have only missed the five-day festival twice in my twenty-five years.

The fair has rides, food, games, food, animals, food, theatre, food, tractor pulls, food and country music. Did I mention food? It's where the 4-Hers bring their livestock and animals to be judged, where families bring prized pumpkins and squashes and where women enter pie, fudge and other baking contests. I wonder how you get to be a judge for that?

You can hear the tractor pull and the demolition derby from my parent's house miles away and you can smell the livestock before you even enter the fairgrounds. The lights from the big ferris wheel make it hard to see the stars and the dinging bells and yelling carnies make it hard to carry on a conversation with someone standing right next to you.

The fair is one of my favorite times of the year. For me, it's like looking forward to a birthday or Christmas. The people, the smells, the sights and the sounds. That's what makes the fair the fair. It's a celebration of the people and families that built the small community.

And what a celebration it is. So, don't mind me. I'll be away for a few days, caught up in the celebration and eating my heart out. Did I mention the food?

9:06 AM | allison | # |