1422 – Ray Recaps the Great New York State Fair
Scooter’s neighbor Ray is here to tell you all about the llama costume contest, microscopic balloons, and the backside of the butter sculpture.
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Episode 1422 – Ray Recaps the Great New York State Fair
Scooter: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time to get cozy and get comfortable as I try to put you to sleep. It’s time for Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do…whoops, I’m totally distracted. I’ll tell you why I’m distracted. This is…so, I’m recording in a temporary location, in an extra bedroom, but right in front of me, for the first time ever, Koa, my dog, who Episode 1400 featured, she just…while I was saying ‘get cozy, get comfortable’, she was getting comfortable and cozy in…right in front of me. Well, to my left, in front of me to my left, 'cause I’m in a spare bedroom with two beds, two twin beds, one of which is on the floor — or, it’s a twin mattress on the floor — to fit more people like family. I say, Koa, why don't you come in while I record and get comfortable and cozy?
I’ve invited her…this is my third recording here, fourth day…fourth time recording. The other three times she said, nah, I prefer not. But now she’s cozy and comfortable. So, this is a really unique experience for me because I know I’m supposed to be starting a sleep podcast, but normally Koa, my dog…so, she’s a seventeen-year-old dog. In all the history of the podcast, all the locations, she’s never been in front of me. When I first started the show, I was in a closet where I couldn't even see out of, and every once in a while she’d check on me, but then she’d leave. The same with the last closet. If she poked her head in, it was behind me, 'cause I was looking forward. Both…the last one I did was under a set of half stairs or three-quarter stairs, and the first place I recorded most episodes was in another closet. Oh, by the way, welcome to Sleep With Me. It’s a podcast that’s here to keep you company, take your mind off of stuff, and put you to sleep. If you're new, welcome.
This is the kind of tangents I go on. Very…a friendly show about…that’s also pet-friendly. Koa’s…oh, she’s breathing deep. She took a big, deep breath, almost a sigh. It looks like she was taking a breath to sigh and say, oh boy, this podcaster. But oh, now she’s turning her head, and she’s not looking directly at me. She could if she wanted to, but she’s not. This is like a live-commentary episode. So, welcome to Sleep With Me. It’s a podcast to put you to sleep, take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep, and yeah, I’m really glad you're here. If you're new to the show, this is supposed to be a very quick welcome to the show, but it’s turned into a extended version. That’s fine. But I’m really here to take your mind off of stuff, not to put you to sleep, to keep you company, to be your friend in the deep, dark night, and then you just fall asleep. So, see how it goes.
What we got coming up is support just like every other podcast, and that’s so the podcast can be out there in the world for free, benefits the most amount of people possible, then there’s a long, meandering intro totally separate from the support that’s meant to ease you into bedtime, then later on will be our bedtime story. Not sure what it’s gonna be about yet. But I’m glad you're here. If this podcast changes your life on a regular basis…like, you fall asleep so fast it’s changed your life or you listen to ten episodes a night, you're the person we need to support the show. If it’s changed your life, you could think about…how am I gonna change the life of the podcast in a positive way that’s changing my life in a positive way? If you so choose, these are the ways you could do that.
Intro: Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. That could be thoughts on your mind, thoughts about past, the present, the future, thoughts about pets, things you're thinking about, it could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally. Maybe those topics bring up…you know, maybe you just had emotions that were there about past, the present, the future, emotions that are just making an appearance, it could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, you could be going through something or in the middle of something. Like, last night, Koa and I did not sleep at home.
I mean, we're still trying to define what home is, or our new home, and we didn't sleep at home last night. We slept somewhere else, and it was a place…well, it was a room…it was a place I had slept before. Koa never had. So…and I had never slept in the room I was sleeping in before, the bed I was sleeping in. So, there was a lot of tossing and turning and trouble staying asleep by both of us. Of course, we were out of sync, so then a couple times I had to get up by myself, and then a couple times I had to get up and help Koa. So, I’m a little bit tired, and that’s okay, 'cause I know how it feels. The only reason I go through the stuff that keeps people awake or just some of it…I’m just barely getting to the…scratching the surface…is that I just want you to know you're not alone. I realize it’s a podcast that’s pseudo whatever, but it is the truth.
There’s other people out there in the deep, dark night, people that have been listening one month or ten plus years that are rooting for you, and there’s enough people listening that there’s people out there that understand that whatever it is that’s keeping you awake, they’ve been through something similar. We all at least try to share the sensibility that we're in this together and that, yeah, that’s tough when you can't sleep, when you can't get the rest you need. That’s tough. I think the idea of being rooted for by strangers and having strangers root for you…you know, I guess in some sense, if I was a more…one of those more friendly characters, I’d say, well, that’s…we're not strangers here anymore, but it is true. It’s just not the first thought that comes to my head. It’s the fourth or fifth that, yeah, we aren't strangers here anymore, or we're okay. No, we're not strangers…we're at a distance but we're not strangers anymore. I don't know. But you say, well, I prefer to not…okay, yeah, you could be on the outskirts.
Sleep With Me podcast, the town where no one on the outskirts is a stranger. Even on the furthest outskirts of town, even if you're just passing through, nobody’s…you're not a stranger, but you don't have to act like…you could act like you're a stranger if that makes you more comfortable, by just saying, yeah, I’m not…didn’t do much talking to people, if that’s alright. So, okay…so, whatever it is that’s keeping you awake, the regular listeners want you to know they're pulling for you and that one day maybe you get that feeling of pulling for other listeners and saying, I can't believe I found this podcast. It’s not like anything else. I didn't know to look for something like this. It’s like a slightly interesting person telling some…talking about almost nothing but not quite nothing. I had no idea. I’m glad you're here because I know when…I looked so hard to try to find something to help me my whole life, and I know that each and every person that’s listening to the show, you deserve a good night's sleep.
You deserve a bedtime that doesn't have to be a rigmarole, where you could get the rest you need so your life is more manageable. The way it works is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. So, I go off topic, I get mixed up, I go on quite a few tangents, and it’s all to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff. This is a podcast that does take some getting used to. Now, there are people that listen and it clicks right away, but for most people it takes two or three tries to get used to the show and realize, oh, okay, this show is never getting…it’s always going nowhere, never getting…always never getting started, and he’s kinda serious about all this stuff. But it takes some getting used to. At first you may be skeptical, doubtful, frustrated, then on your second time you might just be unsure or curious, and then on your third time you wake up; you say, wait a second, I guess I fell asleep during that sleep podcast.
So, that’s what…how it works for most people, and there’s…there are people that never acquire the taste for the show or a taste for the show, and I have a website set up for you, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. I’m pretty proud to say that we’ve delivered tens and thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of listeners to other sleep podcasts and sleepy stuff, and that’s pretty cool to help other people out in the deep, dark night, right? So, yeah, if the show doesn't work for you or you say, I don't know if I like you, that’s totally cool. Check out sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. What else do you need to know? This is a podcast you kinda just barely listen to. It’s like background noise, a TV on in the other room, a show streaming under your pillow, an out-of-focus picture, or like a boring friend. You say…you call or you say, hey, tell…or a roommate. You say, hey, tell me a story. I’m not gonna pay attention to you, but I’m having trouble sleeping.
They say, oh yeah, no problem. I’ll tell you about…my dog’s lying here. Her eyes are open and she’s blinking, but I think she might be asleep or maybe going to sleep. I wonder if she knows I’m talking about her or not. She must know how much I love her so much. She’s such a great dog…that she just moved her head again. If you know I love you so much, you will do whatever you're gonna do next. Blink. Exactly. So, what was I saying? This is a podcast you just barely listen to, just like that. If your roommate was telling you that all night…oh, and then she’ll…she sometimes…she breathes through her nose. Maybe all the time. I don't know. She likes to lie there. Sometimes her ears move. You say, okay, great, keep talking like that…maybe slightly more interesting. So, it’s a podcast you don't…you can't…you don't totally listen to, but you could listen to it. It’s also a sleep podcast that’s been around since 2013, but I’m not here to put you to sleep. There’s no pressure to fall asleep with this show.
I’m gonna be here over an hour so you don't even have to worry about falling asleep. There’s people listening who can't sleep at all or who need a break during the day or something to listen to during the day, or wake up in the middle of the night. I’m here to the very end to keep you company whether you're awake or asleep, to take your mind off of stuff whether you're…yeah, whatever shape you're in, 'cause my job is to be your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bud, your neigh-bore, your bore-bie, your boreman, your Boris Borelaf, your chairman of the boreds, your bore-sib, your bore-bruh, your best bore-friend f’eva just to hang out while you fall asleep or while you're comforted in the deep, dark night. It’s a job so you don't have to worry about falling asleep. You say, I got that sleep podcaster here to keep me company. So, that’s my job. What else do you need to know? Oh, structure of the show is another thing I like to run through really quick just to meet you where you are if you're new and, yeah, so you get a understanding of why we structure the show the way we do.
The reason why is to benefit the maximum amount of people we can. The cool thing not just about Sleep With Me but most sleep podcasts or most podcasts in general, is your podcast app, you can make…podcasts are a little bit more flexible, right? So, the show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, then there’s support so that paying for the show is optional, right? ‘Cause there’s people that are new to the show. There’s people that are going through a tough time. There’s people who only listen once in a while. There’s people who can't support the show. But the people that do support the show bring it to everybody, and most of the people that support the show are people whose lives have been greatly improved by the podcast. That’s just the main touchstone. Has my life been greatly improved by the podcast? No, or I’m new, or nah, I listen once in a while; it’s pretty good. No, if your life’s been greatly improved by the podcast, those are the people who support the show.
So, the support lets us bring the show…the listener support and the sponsor support to everybody instead of being just a paid service or whatever. Okay, then after the support is a long, meandering intro. It’s like fifteen to twenty minutes long, and the intro serves a purpose of kinda introducing the podcast inefficiently. You say, what…but I do a new intro for every episode. The reason I do that is because the intro is not supposed to…it’s supposed to be familiar but it’s supposed to be different every time so that whatever’s keeping you awake can't quite adjust, right? It says, well, I don't know what he’s gonna talk about. I can't believe his dog is sleeping through this, even though dogs sleep all the time. So, yeah, I guess that’s part of the intro, right? Oh, she just turned her head. She’s not looking at me, but she’s facing my direction. What is…what was I saying? Oh, structure…oh, so the intro, the reason it goes on and on and on for fifteen minutes is 'cause this is the time of the show where everybody hangs out.
While there is a small percentage of people that fall asleep fast…and if you do fall asleep fast and you're hearing me, please support the show, because we're always trying to get…you're one of the key groups, right? But most people, when they listen to the intro, are winding down, they're getting ready for bed, they're in bed getting comfortable, they're turning out the lights, they're puffing their pillows, they're petting their pets, they're doing a chill wind-down activity, they're getting…so, the intro is here to ease you into bedtime, to be a buffer between the day and the night or the evening as a part of a wind-down routine. That’s what works for me personally and that’s just what’s been shown to work out there for the most part, and it’s nice. I think the key thing about a bedtime routine is that it’s nice, right? It’s better than not having one. It gives you something to look forward to, even if it’s this podcast. You say, well, at least I got that semi…he’s just a semi-podcast.
It’s kinda like the new…he keeps trying to invent the new mid even though mid’s gone now. Yeah, he’s semi. Oh, like a semi truck? No. Like semisweet? If semi…I feel like semisweet morsels are inaccurate, but if…you could consider him semisweet if you didn't…if semisweet morsels and chocolate chip cookies didn't exist. He’s more just semi. Are you sure he’s not semi? No, you could say that. He’s semi…Semi Semi. That may be…and maybe he’ll start checking into…if there ever comes a time where you could check into hotels under imaginary names again — those glory days were gone before he made up imaginary names — he would go by…he could go by Semi Semi. Semi Semi here. Yeah, Semi Semi. No, Semi Semi. Yeah, no, Semi Semi. Semi Semi. No, no, no, that’s…Semi Semi. No, it’s with C. There’s a C in there. Yes, there is. So, a lot of people don't know that’s what CS in CS Lewis may have not stood for. But it just popped in my head. Oh yeah, Semi Semi. Yeah, Semi Semi.
Anyway, he is semi, and…who is he…? Most people don't like the show. Oh, most people don't…oh yeah, but most people are just listening to be…oh no, structure of the show. So, the intro goes on and on and on to ease you into bedtime. Then after the intro will be support, and then there will be a bedtime story. All told, we’ll be here over an hour for you to help you out if we can, because I’ve been there and tons of other people that are listening have been there, and we're all rooting for you in the deep, dark night. Whatever it is that’s keeping you up or…yeah, we also hope you get the rest you need. So, that’s it. If this podcast has changed your life for the better, and if the podcast has changed your life greatly for the better, if you could listen to this part of the show and think about one of the ways you could support the show back, it would be huge and I would be really appreciative of it. So, yeah, if the podcast has changed your life for the better, this is…this message is for you. Thanks.
Hello, hello, hello everybody. This is your friend Ray. In case we never met before, my name is Ray Perkins. I’m Scooter’s neighbor thrice, so thrice being Scooter’s neighbor’s been so nice. Thrice…I guess I should have rehearsed that before. I’ve been Scooter’s neighbor…being Scooter’s neighbor’s so nice, I chose to do it thrice. What does that mean? I’ve been Scooter’s neighbor on the West End of Alameda, on the East End of Alameda…Alameda…and then here in New York State, in the middle of New York State here. Quite exciting. But what I’m here to do is talk to something about before we moved, 'cause Scooter will talk about that, and you may have heard about it in Episode 1400. Originally we had discussed me doing that, but then Scooter thought about Koa and Koa’s perspective, and I think that ended up being a pretty nice episode there. It was interesting 'cause it was gonna be a travel back in time. But I’m Ray Perkins.
Now, if you're new or you've only been listening a while, maybe we never even met before. So, it’s nice to be here in your ears, I like to say. I became friends with Scooter…he was…Scooter, the reluctant friend. I don't know if we’ve ever talked about that before, but that’s…Scooter, The Reluctant Neighbor, Book 1: Reluctant. Book 2: The Reluctant Neighbor. Book 3: The Reluctant Acquaintance. I don't know which one of those would become first. Then Book 4 would be Reluctant Again. That would be the title. I guess these should be published. Then Book 5….I don't know if we could get there in Book 5: The Reluctant Friend. Then we’d…there would have to be some sort of punchy subtitle, but…Reluctant No More: Just Kidding. I guess we could come out with them for years. Once Again Reluctant, Return to Reluctance…I guess that would be Reluctant No More. Return Again to Reluctance. Reluctant? Question mark.
So, plenty of novels we could never publish on Gingerbread Press. But what I’m saying is I’m a very friendly, outgoing person here, and I try to become Scooter’s friend or just to be pleasant to him. Not that he’s a unpleasant person. He’s just not…he’s just in his own world most of the time. That’s why he’s suited to make a sleep podcast. But I come on from time to time a few times a year to share things, and I had the distinct pleasure of going to the New York State Fair for the first time, multiple times, and I know Scooter did a episode about it wondering before we went, and I will tell you, we did not…we always were with other people. So, we were kinda like guests, in a sense. Very rarely were we alone. So, a lot of the things we wanted to do…we did a few of them, but not many. So, the first thing I’m gonna do is check Scooter’s notes here, if I could find them, about the fair. Okay, so he does have a lot highlighted here, so I’m gonna go through the highlights and see…okay, Wednesday, August 20th, we did not make it to the fair.
So, that didn't matter. But Thursday, August 21st, I believe we did go to the fair that day. We did not see or hear about the Goat Knowledge Olympic Contest or the Island Hopper…oh, we were here though, because…oh, Taylor Dayne was playing the same time as the Island Hoppers Steel Drum Band. We must have arrived right before 1:00 p.m. because…oh, I guess we did. I think we arrived at 12:10. We do have other sets of notes, but I thought we’d progress slowly. But so, Taylor Dayne was a star in 1990s, and I think she had shared that she had not been at the New York…in Syracuse, New York in quite some time. But oh boy, was it exciting, because we had no idea…we knew that Taylor Dayne had hit a couple…Taylor Dayne, not a one-hit wonder. Taylor Dayne, not a two-hit wonder. Oh, Koa’s coming in to listen to me record. This is a whole new world. Go ahead, Koa. Lie down on this bed in front of your friend Ray and listen to me record. So nice to have you and to be in your ears as well.
Koa’s not so sure. She says, well, I don't know if I’m gonna lie down and watch you, Ray. You know Scooter. Okay, Koa left. So, Taylor Dayne has multiple…four, five, six hits that we had forgotten about. So, I guess not apologies to Taylor Dayne, but we risked becoming an…assuming that Taylor Dayne only had one or two hits. What a show Taylor Dayne put on. We had lunch alfresco while listening, and Scooter would run over and watch Taylor Dayne and take pictures on the…there was a lot of big screens. So, what a way to start out our visit to the fair. Now, anything else that was highlighted that we saw that day? Oh, Cheap Trick; we did not make it that long. We did try to go to the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, but it was so full that we couldn't even see…we couldn't even…there was no standing room. Oh, maybe there was a little bit, but it was in the direct sun, and it did seem very high energy and well done, and a fan favorite. So, those are the things that were highlighted.
We did see Taylor Dayne, so that’s good. Oh, so here…Scooter did ask; I want to give Scooter a lot of credit here. He never checked these notes, unfortunately, but that day, on Thursday, Scooter could not find the Llama Costume Contest, and he had been telling everybody about it. He went to a booth, an information booth, and said, where’s the…when’s the Llama Costume Contest? The person said, what? He said, Llama Costume Contest. I saw it in the app there, but I can't find it anymore. The person looked up in binders, could not locate a Llama Costume Contest at all. So, we don't know if that happened or not. Now, we did go…I believe that was this day, on Thursday. Well, the Llama Costume Contest was on Friday. I guess I should still talk about…'cause this was on Scooter’s list, to see the Living Zoltar. This was a performance piece. Very…I would say it more…if there was five-star ratings, it would be more than five stars. If you've ever seen one of these in the movie Big or at an amusement park, even in Disneyland and Disney World, where you put a quarter in, you make a wish, or you get…well, in this one you made a wish and you could get a card with your…what to expect. But this was a real person pretending, and they were quite funny and quite…and they adjusted their performance for children and adults.
Okay, it’s Ray again. Koa was not…she’s still not sure about listening to me record. Scooter tried petting her. She did lie down. She sat down for a minute and then she said, no thanks, and then she went and she said, I think I’d rather eat now and go outside now, though it’s a little early for that and it’s raining outside, and she doesn't like the rain. So, there’s…so, I’ll get back to the Zoltar. So, it was…it looked exactly like the booth you would see at…so, this is a thing from the penny arcade era, maybe? I don't know. Or old-fashioned arcades, you would say. You know, Ray…I’m an experienced adult, so that doesn't bother me. There’s other versions of this, but this one is called the Living Zoltar. Well, the only issue was it was not in the place we thought it was. But then Scooter spotted it. He said, I think that’s it down there. Now, this isn't for everybody if you don't have a degree of self-flex…like appreciation for strong humor. But this does remind me of Epic Universe and Dark Universe and Epic Universe.
Like, where you could have some humor at your expense. Scooter knew this because we watched it, and Zoltar was nice to the kids, and he would…I don't know what he was doing, but I think he was somehow…he may have had…we don't…I can't confirm this, but he may have had the ability to do balloon sculpting with micro…not microscopic, but almost microscopic balloons. Because based on what a child wished for, he would give them something that looked like some sort of carved figure. But we were like, well, that’s impossible 'cause a child said this, and then he gave them a little toy that was that; like, I wish I had a pony. I wish I had a unicorn. He would normally say something funny. A lot of times he was saying he couldn't hear. We didn't know if that was to buy time, or he couldn't hear, or part of his act. But when it came time…Scooter was a little over-rehearsed 'cause he was…he didn't want to…he was like, I wonder if I could avoid him having any humor at my expense by buttering him up.
So, Scooter tried buttering him up. At first he couldn't hear Scooter, and then he said, well, what do you wish for? Scooter said, that the weather’s good for you tomorrow. He said, what? I don't under…he was…and he surprised Scooter two or three times. Like, when you're watching a movie and something happens and you're surprised. It’s like, oh boy, my…I moved my rear end on my seat there I was so surprised. It was very much like a Robin Williams bit if Robin Williams was doing this and Scooter was the…and, you know, these characters, they do appreciate a foil. So, Scooter was the foil for everyone to laugh at. But it wasn't just Scooter. So, that was excellent, I just wanted to say, and we saw it more than once. You know, it was…we gotta…have you seen that? Okay, but we did not see the Llama Costume Contest. We did check out some of these New York State science stuff. We didn't see the Science Fair, the Digital Eyes Project. We did not see any cloggers. We missed Kidz Bop. So, we missed the Erie Canal Cloggers and Edelweiss Schuhplatters, even though we saw the place where they were performing; we just…the time was off. So, I guess that’s it for the highlights there.
Hello, hello, hello everybody. This is your friend Ray, and I’m back again. I was never gone. But we did take Koa out for a walk, and a day has passed. But now we're gonna look at…so, we have the voice notes we took and also the photographs. So, my job here, I believe — and Scooter could correct me if I’m wrong — is to just run through both of these things here and then see what we have. So, let’s…let me load up…Scooter’s saying, load up the photos, Ray. Now, most of these are private photos, so we're unable to share them, but…oh, and there’s Koa again. She came right in to listen to me record. We’ll see if she lies down or she says, Ray, I’m not lying down on the job; I’m lying down…I’m not lying down while you're on the job, either. Okay, Scooter, this is not looking like it has all the photos which we're gonna need here. Oh, because…okay, you're right, Scooter; I was on the wrong day. You're correct. Now, let’s see, so we got a lot of pictures here of the fair. Okay, this…what is the first…?
Let’s see what the first official picture is. That’s…okay, it’s of the Center of Progress, I believe. So, we have a few pictures of the Center of Progress, and we have the sand sculpture which was celebrating the Erie Canal. Sal says…this was when…hashtag sal says…sails on the Erie Canal, and then there’s a beautiful sculpture of people kayaking on the…presumably the…and biking. Oh yeah, biking. There’s a [inaudible] that says New York State Canals. It does not…it looks like a sculpture. DeWitt Clinton…I believe the Erie Canal was called Clinton’s Ditch. 200 years of New York State Canal. So, not just the Erie Canal. Oh no, 200 years of Erie Canal. Let’s go. Then something that says ‘The Fair’. Then Taylor Dayne and Scooter saying Taylor Dayne, then more Taylor Dayne performing, 'cause Scooter…every time he saw the video he would say, oh, Taylor Dayne’s performing. Then lunch — we’ll run through all this — then a guitar solo. I think…was that after Scooter ate lunch? Okay, let’s cover that first.
Okay, August 17th, 12:00 to 1:00…yeah, we arrived at the fair. People were ordering lunch, walking through the food areas and lines. County fairs versus state fairs…oh, cash only. There was a lot…Scooter’s…has been very thrown off by the fact that you have to have cash at a lot of places. We're just not used to it. It’s not a part of our way of doing things, to have cash all the time, or to have cash on hand. Scooter actually doesn't even have a wallet that can hold cash. But it may be time for a change, you know? New York State Parks app; Scooter wanted to remember that. Key chains and swag…this is not a lot of good details. I thought we had more details here.
Okay, this is Ray. I’m back here now. We petted Koa ‘til she fell asleep, but we’ll see if she stays asleep. So, unfortunately, however we did our voice notes, it does not seem very relevant. So, I’ll just go by pictures. So, we got there; we went to the Center of Progress Building, which at some point Scooter will take pictures of one day, and…because…and what was interesting about that is that that’s appeared in at least two episodes of Sleep With Me. This building is where…even if you go to a county fair, there’s…you do have these buildings full of vendors. Now, the nice thing about the New York State Fair, though, that I think is different from a county fair, is that mixed in with the for-profit vendors…which are always interesting; selling things like shammy [inaudible], magic pans, the broom…the ultra-broom, a lot of mattresses and hot tubs. But there’s also state agencies, a lot of different state agencies, saying, hey, this is what our agency does for the state and how it benefits the state.
It’s the New York State Fair. Most of those agencies have swag, and some of the great…and some of it you have to spin a wheel. Some of it you have to engage with the people. Some of the good…well, the best thing we found was…I can't remember what it was, but one or two had sunscreen, just little packets of sunscreen, which we ended up needing later. Chip clips, the refrigerator clips Scooter gave to his daughter to use in college, handheld fans…two of them had handheld fans, which we tried to use on a drive cross-country, but it didn't work 'cause you have to hold the button instead of switch…'cause we said, oh, we could hang that for Koa, and we’ll see how long the battery lasts. But it just wouldn't stay on.
Alright everybody, this is your friend Ray, and last we left off…because…now, we’ve taken Koa for a walk and she seems to be resting now. So, we're gonna return to the New York State Fair even though we haven't…we’ve been gone for a little while, but you have not. We're in the Center…the carousel…Center of Progress Building, and then we had moved on to lunch, where Scooter did not have cash. So, he was unable to…he had to compromise on his lunch. This has been an adjustment for him. Now, it isn't…this isn't a debate. It’s just…we had lived in a place for a long time where you did not ever carry cash. It was just…except if you went to the taco truck, but even then, in the last two years, taco trucks have started taking cards. But other than the taco truck…and in fact, most food trucks a lot of times were giving discounts depending…so, it’s just a adjustment to carry cash, and it’s caused a couple conundrums for Scooter, including at the fair, where he could not eat.
Oh, now, I guess…I wonder if he took pictures of this. Scooter also did manage to find the best places to buy Coke Zero or Pepsi Zero, not that this is an endorsement of either one. But he did find…there was one place that had dollar cans of soda, and then there was another place; I think it was $3 for a paper cup of soda, and then $1 to refill that paper cup that day. So, yeah, that was his two sources of things. Now, he did find this beautiful building, the Horticulture Building, which was erected in 1937, and it’s quite the building. Very…it’s dedicated to the advancement of the floral, fruit, and vegetable industries of the empire state. Just the outside has…let’s see, it has these two fish fountains. I don't know if one of them were operating or not, but…sculpted in tile, and there’s blue and turquoise colors. It seems like they've been restored. But then definitely restored is the facade of the building, also in tile or painted. It has birds and flowers and cornucopias, and it’s just beautiful.
I don't…I mean, I don't know if it’s glazed tile or painted ceramic, but very, very, very beautiful. Beautiful. Then we looked at the maple syrup that won the awards. You don't get to taste it, but there was champions of different maple syrups, like blue ribbons…I think purple ribbon is the top ribbon. Let’s see, blue ribbon, first place. Second place, you get a red ribbon. They had different rankings; premium…what else do we got that Scooter took a picture of? Oh, the overall champion…it also got the blue ribbon. Now, unfortunately the ribbons covered up the syrup. Then there was a maple display. Scooter got the maple soft serve, which was…he said it was excellent. Then we left again. Taylor Dayne’s still playing. Scooter thought it was the end of the show, but then Taylor Dayne was still doing the thing. If we have time, I’ll try to look up Taylor Dayne’s thing. Then we went to see people doing, I don't know, equestrian competitions, and this was younger people on horses, and that was very nice.
That’s in…I think they call it the Colosseum. That was one of Scooter’s mom’s favorite things. She loved horses. She loved going to see horses. Not going to seahorses, 'cause I guess you'd go…if you were going to seahorses, you'd either go to the sea or you'd go to an aquarium. But she likes going to see horses with her eyes. Then Scooter, on the…I don't know if that’s a colonnade, but the thing between the Dairy Products Building and some other building had Corinthian columns. Then it was time to go to the Dairy Products Building and see the butter sculpture. ‘Dairy; wickedly good for you’ is the name of the thing of the butter sculpture. It’s the 57th annual butter sculpture, and it’s the American Dairy Association Northeast. This was sculpted by Merl and Jim or Marie. I can't quite read it. We’ll try to look again. I think Jim and Marie. We do have multiple pictures. So, there’s a balloon…so, I think it’s themed somewhat after the popular musical, but also the book Wizard of Oz, which was written in Chittenango, New York, I believe.
Or that’s where L. Frank Baum is from. Oh yeah, there’s a yellow brick road. It says Thrive, and there’s a version of Dorothy and Toto, and then a boy with a baby lion, and then a cow in a hot-air balloon. I’m trying to see what angle Scooter has pictures of. We may…he may have got…oh, there’s even milk jugs to weigh down the thing. Oh yeah, there’s one of the good…at least on one side is one of the good…Glinda or somebody. Then we tasted milk and we…Scooter only got chocolate milk. Scooter’s father tried to order vanilla milk, but they said, sir, we have regular milk and chocolate milk. One day they announce they’ll have…what do you call it? Strawberry milk. In a few years, though. Then this is when we saw Zoltar. Zoltar says, make your wish. He had great makeup on, as well, to make himself look sculpted. His beard and moustache and everything really…and the booth design was excellent, as well. Then we went to a new building, which I’m not sure what it was called.
I’m sure…but they had animatronics there from the ice age. Now, not animatronics from the movie Ice Age. Like animatronics themed around the ice age. But this was kind of unprecedented. This was a large building I think for future use, maybe for sporting competitions or indoor concerts. But what was amazing about this building was that it was air-conditioned, so that was a big deal. It was shady, so it’s out of the sun. Those are two important things. But then the animatronics were not behind anything. So, if, for example, there was a possibility of many unsupervised children or children with Scooter’s generation of watching…saying, oh yeah, go ahead. The animatronics…if no one…if there’s not a fence around it, do whatever you wish. So, these poor animatronics, I hope the company made them…most of them were functioning even though the children were really interacting with non-interactive animatronics.
They also had snowballs which were like the wool balls you put in your dryer, and people were putting them…throwing them and putting…which was fine, but also putting them in the mouths of the animatronics. There was quite a few of them. I mean, holy ice age. Then they got a pizza fritte, which is a fried dough, a long piece of fried dough, versus a round, flat piece of fried…like a pan…normally if you make fried dough at home, you make it like a round piece of dough, at least in my experience, and you put cinnamon sugar on there. I don't know if that’s a worldwide thing, but you could do it at home. It’s a treat you could make at home. You do have to fry it and somewhat deep-fry it. But pizza fritte is a longer kinda braided piece of fried dough over two feet long. Very delicious. Oh, cash only there as well. So, only cash at pizza fritte. It has a distinctive purple A-frame building that it’s served out of. Oh, also in the same building as the…we didn't have any pictures of this, but this was…there was I Love New York State tourism boards.
Like, they had…what do you want to call it there? An interactive booth where you could win swag. I don't think we won very good swag. But that was fun. It was a bit of a backup. So, it was like a treasure hunt through different regions…tourist regions. Now, I should back up 'cause I don't think I finished the swag…because we’ve been jumping around a bit. Oh, here’s Koa for another visit. So, one of the pieces…the best piece of swag…potential piece of swag we got is a ice-scraper. Now, we did have to answer a question and spin a wheel to win that ice-scraper. I’m not sure which part of the New York State Department of whatever was in charge of that ice-scraper, but they were in charge. But Scooter’s like, well, I don't have a ice-scraper, so that’s good. I won a ice-scraper. So, when I need to scrape ice in the future, I’ll be able to. So, that was fun. Then there’s a conservation area about conserving rain. Scooter was trying to find out more. There was a thing, Ronny Raindrop.
Then another day we went, and we met a couple other families that Scooter’s related to, and we had lunch with them. Scooter ate a lot…because he didn't have cash and because he was…he didn't really know the layout…because he was never alone — I mean, just me and Scooter — he was never able to have his own adventures. That’s why he missed out on a lot of things. But, you know, next…he just didn't have time, or I don't think he had a vehicle at all, either. He definitely didn't have a vehicle. He did borrow his father’s vehicle once or twice, but that was to go meet his friends at the fair. Friends at the fair…but this fair does definitely feature a lot of New York State things and say, hey, New York State is pretty great. Okay, so, Scooter…Koa’s lying down now. So, we went to this room which was full of models of carnivals and theme parks that are like people’s hobbies. So, a bit like a train set without trains that just has carnivals and models. I’m trying to see if we could see the label of this one.
I don't think I could read it. It’s by Brian. It is a huge one. Holy cow. It has a Ferris wheel, it has the ship…Lady Witchbeard’s ship, it has a midway. I guess that’s what we have the pictures of there. Wow, look at these details. As I zoom in, there’s a hot-dog cart, there’s a sky diver, there’s even the truck with the power for…there’s a C ray, there’s a ice-cream truck, there’s people, there’s port-o-potties. What is that one called? Oh, that’s…I think it’s called the Polar Express. It’s one of those rides that goes in a circle, then goes the other way, that you sit down in. Then there’s a little miniature carousel, and I think even deep-fried Oreos. Interesting. Then a rainbow…I don't know what it’s called, but some sort of rainbow ride. There’s a booth, sweet and salty, there’s swings. Wow, wowee, Scrambler…what’s that in the background there, Scooter? The…oh, that’s like a fun house. I Got It, which is a bit like Fascination.
Maybe this is the Danville Fair from Danville, Virginia, 'cause there’s a post that says, America’s finest midway, the James E. Strates Shows. This is from 1974, this poster, even though it looks brand new. The Greater Danville Fair. The wonder world of family entertainment. Okay, this one is by Carl. This is a Boonville, Oneida County Fair model, also very large. What’s brilliant about this is it seems to be taking place on the town green. So, there’s houses and the street and the cars parked on the street, and then a fence, and then the fair’s on the inside of the fence. What do we got? We got some tents. Can we read anything? Okay, this is Ray again. We were looking at the Boonville Oneida County Fair. There’s a lot of tents, there’s some freestanding buildings, there’s a fun house, an Apple Betty’s Clam Chowder…let’s see, do we have any other pictures of that one? Oh wow, is that the same one? So, Scooter got a corner…oh wow, there’s a house with corn, like a farm. Oh, there’s a farm.
There’s where some of the RVs are parked. There’s…then we have Jeff’s version of the Jefferson County Fair in Watertown. I’m gonna have to put these on a…this is the midway. We’ll have to put some of these on our thing. Jeff has a huge handmade…what’s that thing called? Ferris wheel. But one thing about Jeff’s sculpture is that it’s all paper — but maybe some match sticks, too? — versus other ones which may have been purchased models or handmade models. Jeff’s was all paper. Okay, now we got another one. I think this is the other side of the Boonville one, and it has the stadium, and it has Mr. Kineval, or…who was…? Dave. Was that…Dave, right? I’m thinking of the actor. He was also on Curb Your Enthusiasm. But he would have a show on…Super Dave. Yeah, Super Dave Osborne. There we go. We got it. It only took a few seconds for Scooter to help me there. So, Super Dave Osborne is performing, and there’s a crowd there in the grandstands, watching.
It even says, yeah, Boonville Oneida County Fair. Summer tradition. WBRV Radio. So, that’s cool. Then there’s the 20th…there’s the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey, night at Kenneth Field. Does this have a year? It was the metro’s 10th anniversary of service, and there’s a person and a unicorn. There’s some stars. Q107 hit radio WDCA. So, this is DC, Los…not Los Angeles. DC. Oh, so this is ten years after the metro has been running, 'cause you could take the metro to the stadium. How exciting. So, if you knew when the metro started, you would have an idea of what year this was. Seeing is believing. Seeing a living unicorn is believing. Okay…oh, then there was a cool thing. This we’d like to do next year, 'cause adults and children and teams can do it; the Bucket of Junk Competition. Contestants are all given a bucket containing the same items. They had three weeks to complete the unique exhibit using only the items in the bucket. These can be done as a individual or a team.
Oh, then Scooter took a picture of the Wurlitzer. So, the Syracuse Wurlitzer is having its centennial celebration. Oh wait, that says 1923…no, 1925. But we missed it. Oh no, October 19th. Scooter, you should go…we should go to this. It’s at 2:00 p.m. Doors are at 1:30. A movie about Notre Dame with Lon Chaney, and someone’s gonna be playing the live Wurlitzer. So, we’ll have to go to that. Then the next picture I’m seeing is meeting with the New York State Parks Department, then another band which I believe was Rose…Lily Rose was playing. Then there was a bird show where the birds perform, then Scooter returned to the milk bar, where somebody actually photo-jumped on his selfie. Very subtly, I might add, so that’s a nice job there. Then another viewing of the back…the back…Scooter and his father are looking at the back side of the butter sculpture. Ladies and gentlemen, the twelfth Wonder of the World, the back side of a butter sculpture.
I think it rotates, though, so everybody sees the butter sculpture’s back side. But actually, what we're seeing is there were two characters, maybe an adult and a child. Who was the star of the Wizard of Oz? Ruby? No, Dorothy. Dorothy, Scooter. Then the butter sculpture blocked…oh, here’s…okay, there’s someone…oh, nourish…so, there’s someone…oh, one of the characters is with child, and she’s holding a big cup of milk and holding her belly and saying, nourish. Okay, then we had…let’s see, more…oh, then Scooter went and briefly saw the last two songs of Neon Trees. That was the night show. Then they played I Got It. Yeah, so this is the game where you try to put five red balls in a straight line, and when you do that, you get…you say ‘I got it’. So, a bit like Fascination, but it’s not…it’s all wood. So, it doesn't…it’s not automated. No one won that. Also, you needed cash for that. I think it was only fifty cents or a quarter, but Scooter had to borrow money from one of his friends.
Then they walked the midway, then Scooter went to…one of his cousins was having a baby shower…stopped at Lake Terry…but this point, Scooter was unable to go in Lake Terry. I don't think he said this on the show yet, but his first swim of 2025 in Lake Terry took place in the fall. The first or second day of autumn was when Scooter got his first swim in Lake Terry. ‘Cause during the time where his hand was getting better, he was not allowed to swim in there. Oh, also when he walked to the fair by himself, he passed a sign that said, Schoolhouse #2: Located here, CA.1849 on the property of Robert G. It was later the site of a firehouse. Schoolhouse #2…I don't know…located here, CA….I don't know what that means. There’s also a solar salt. So, these are like historical…New York State historical signs. This is where the Western and…Island Western coarse salt companies established here by the Erie Canal CA, 1850. So, solar salt. Then another viewing of the…what do you call that thing?
The sand sculpture. That’s what you call it, right? A sand castle, sand sculpture. The person there is working, Sandman Steve or something. He’s working hard. What else do we got here? Oh, then Scooter checked out the water-logged area near where the concerts were, the big concerts at night. Then his friends practiced with archery, his brother and some of his friends. They did archery while…Scooter’s hand…he was not archery-ready. I don't know if that’s his last visit to the fair. We’ll have to see here. Yeah, that’s it. So, that was it for the fair. So, I hope you enjoyed this trip, and we’ll see you. But it was great…the New York State Fair was great. It was a really great time had by all. I believe so. I mean, I think we had a really nice time, Scooter and I and his brother and his father, some of his friends. But yeah, it’d be nice next year when we're residents, 'cause we were just visiting.
We had come to bring Scooter’s daughter to college, to drop some things off where we were moving, and then Scooter still had to go home and move out. So did I. But it was a little bit easier for me because I’m…I don't make a sleep podcast. I’m just a guest on there. But hopefully we’ll be able to do more of this. I know Scooter had done episodes about the New York State…or the Syracuse Winterfest. So, it would be nice for him to do a episode about that, as well. So, hopefully this is goodnight everybody from your friend Ray. Goodnight.
[End of recording]
Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes
-
Ray
Dog Body Language
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-read-dog-body-language/
Taylor Dayne
https://www.limusichalloffame.org/inductees/taylor-dayne/
https://www.tnonline.com/20241108/taylor-dayne-to-tell-her-story-in-bethlehem/
https://www.taylordayne.com/bio.php
The push to a cashless society
https://studentreview.hks.harvard.edu/rethinking-the-push-towards-a-cash-free-society/
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/cashless-society-movement-initiatives-2025/
https://www.ncratleos.com/insights/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-cash-free-society
Super Dave Osborne
https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/8-death-defying-facts-about-super-dave-osborne
https://nerdist.com/article/bob-einstein-super-dave-osborne-so-funny/
DOWN TO BUSINESS
It’s time to get cozy
Whoops, I’m totally distracted
I’m recording in a temporary location
Right in front of me is my dog, Koa
She was getting comfortable just as I was imploring you to get comfortable
Wow, she just sighed and she’s looking directly at me now
PLUGS
Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline; Referral Program
SPONSORS
Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Coyuchi
INTRO
Maybe some of these topics I mentioned bring up emotions for you
Last night, Koa slept somewhere else
There was tossing and turning for both of us
Rooting for strangers
I guess we’re not strangers here anymore
At a distance, but not strangers
Sleep With Me Podcast: The Town where nobody is a stranger unless they want to be
Other listeners are pulling for you
Always never getting started
sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
A live Koa report
She must know I love her
Koa, blink if you love me, thank you
I’ll be your borefriend
Explaining the show structure
I do a new intro for every episode
Koa is not looking at me but facing my direction
Please support the show if you listen regularly
I’m just over here, trying to invent the new mid
The Semi-Podcast
You can say I’m semi
I’d be semi-sweet if semi-sweet chocolate didn’t exist
The glory days of checking into hotels with fake names
Semi Semi
CS Lewis stood for Cemi Semi Lewis
STORY
Ray introduces himself
Scooter’s neighbor thrice
Being Scooter’s neighbor is so nice, I chose to do it thrice
West Alameda, Alameda, and Central New York
But let’s talk about something from before we moved
It’s nice to be here in your ears
The Reluctant Scooter series
Scooter: The Reluctant
Scooter: The Reluctant Neighbor
Scooter: The Reluctant Acquaintance
Scooter: Reluctant Again
Scooter: The Reluctant Friend
Scooter: Reluctant No More, Just Kidding
Heading to the New York State Fair
We’ve been before with other people
Let’s review our notes
I think we went to the fair on Thursday, August 21
Taylor Dayne was playing the same time as Island Hoppers Steel Drum band
Taylor Dayne has many hits
Koa is coming in to watch Ray record
We dined al fresco and watched Taylor Dayne
We didn’t make it to Cheap Trick, but it seemed like a hit
Scooter could not find the Llama Costume Contest to save his life
And no one else could either…
The llama costume contest was on Friday, it turns out
Seeing the Living Zoltar
You made a wish and got a fortune card
But it was a real person!
Koa’s not interested in just lying down
A relic from the penny arcade
It wasn’t where we thought it was gonna be
You do need an appreciation for strong humor at your expense
Zoltar is nice to kids, of course
He may have the ability to do balloon sculpting with almost microscopic balloons
Scooter tried to butter him up, but that didn’t save him from ridicule
He surprised Scooter 2 or 3 times
It was very much like a Robin Williams bit
Scooter was the perfect foil
We missed the llama costume contest
We checked out some of the science fair stuff
We missed Kidz Bop
And the cloggers
Okay, Ray’s back but he was never gone
We took Koa out for a walk and now the day has passed
We have voice notes and photos to review
Most of these are private photos, naturally
A few pictures of the Center of Progress
A sand sculpture dedicated to the Erie Canal
#SalSays
Clinton’s Ditch
200 years of the Erie Canal
Lunch, then a guitar solo?
August 17, lunchtime
Scooter wasn’t used to so many people asking for cash
These aren’t great details, Scooter
Okay we just petted Koa until she fell asleep
I’ll just use the pictures
We started at the Center of Progress building
This building has appeared in at least 2 other episodes of SWM
Some state agencies have booths
They were giving out little packets of sunscreen
As well as chips clips
2 of them had handheld fans
Moving on to lunch
Scooter had to compromise on lunch because he didn’t have cash
Scooter used to live somewhere where people didn’t use cash
He did find the best place to buy Coke Zero and Pepsi Zero
His two sources of soda
The Horticulture Building is beautiful
Fruit and Vegetables of the Empire State
2 Amazing Fish Fountains
The facade has definitely been restored
Scooter said the maple soft serve was excellent
Taylor Dayne was still performing
Younger people were doing Equestrian competitions
Scooter’s move loved going to see horses, not going to seahorses
Seeing the butter sculpture
Dairy: Wickedly Good For You
Sculpted by either Merle or Marie and Jim
Dedicated to Central New York’s L. Frank Baum
Scooter only tasted chocolate milk
There was no vanilla milk for Scooter’s father
Strawberry milk is on the horizon
Zoltar had great makeup to make him look sculpted
Animatronics about the ice age (not the movie)
This building had AC which was huge
There was no barrier protecting the animatronics
A pizza frite, a long piece of fried dough
A treasure hunt through different regions
The best piece of swag was an ice scraper
We did have to answer a question and spin a wheel to win the ice scraper
Scooter really needed an ice scraper
Meeting up with some family
Scooter didn’t have much time for personal adventures
This room was full of models of carnivals and theme parks
Like train sets without trains
So many details
Maybe this is the Danville Fair? From 1974, I think
Boonville-Oneida County Fair model by Carl
Jeff’s sculpture is all paper!
This sculpture has Super Dave Osborne
This sculpture features the DC Metro
The Bucket of Junk Competition
Everyone has the same bucket and has to make a different exhibit
The Syracuse Wurlitzer’s Centennial Celebration
Lily Rose was playing elsewhere
Scooter returned to the milk bar and got photo jumped in a selfie
The backside of a butter sculpture
A version of Bingo called I Got It
Scooter then went to his cousin’s Baby Shower
Scooter was unable to go to Lake Teri
His first Lake Teri swim happened in the fall this year
The history of Schoolhouse #2
His friends did some archery, but Scooter couldn’t because of his hand
That was it for the fair
I hope you enjoyed it
Hopefully I’ll be back with an episode about Syracuse Winterfest in the future
SUMMARY:
Episode: 1422
Title: Ray Recaps the Great New York State Fair
Plugs: Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline; Referral Program
Sponsors: Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Coyuchi
Notable Language:
- Always never getting started
- The Semi-Podcast
- Semi Semi
- Being Scooter’s neighbor is so nice, I chose to do it thrice
- Reluctant
- Llama Costume Contest
- Microscopic Balloons
- Fruit and Vegetables of the Empire State
- Seahorses / See Horses
- Dairy: Wickedly Good For You
- The Syracuse Wurlitzer’s Centennial Celebration
- The backside of a butter sculpture
Notable Culture:
-
- sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
- The Semi-Podcast
- CS Lewist
- The Reluctant Scooter series
- Scooter: The Reluctant
- Scooter: The Reluctant Neighbor
- Scooter: The Reluctant Acquaintance
- Scooter: Reluctant Again
- Scooter: The Reluctant Friend
- Scooter: Reluctant No More, Just Kidding
- Gingerbread Press
- Taylor Dayne
- Cheap Trick
- Robin Williams
- Erie Canal
- Coke
- Pepsi
- L. Frank Baum / The Wizard of Oz / Wicked
- Ice Age
-
- Super Dave Osborne
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- The Great New York State Fair
Notable Talking Points:
- Maybe some of these topics I mentioned bring up emotions for you
- Last night, Koa slept somewhere else
- There was tossing and turning for both of us
- Rooting for strangers
- I guess we’re not strangers here anymore
- At a distance, but not strangers
- Sleep With Me Podcast: The Town where nobody is a stranger unless they want to be
- Other listeners are pulling for you
- Always never getting started
- sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
- A live Koa report
- She must know I love her
- Koa, blink if you love me, thank you
- I’ll be your borefriend
- Explaining the show structure
- I do a new intro for every episode
- Koa is not looking at me but facing my direction
- Please support the show if you listen regularly
- I’m just over here, trying to invent the new mid
- The Semi-Podcast
- You can say I’m semi
- I’d be semi-sweet if semi-sweet chocolate didn’t exist
- The glory days of checking into hotels with fake names
- Semi Semi
- CS Lewis stood for Cemi Semi Lewis
- Ray introduces himself
- Scooter’s neighbor thrice
- Being Scooter’s neighbor is so nice, I chose to do it thrice
- West Alameda, Alameda, and Central New York
- But let’s talk about something from before we moved
- It’s nice to be hear in your ears
- The Reluctant Scooter series
- Scooter: The Reluctant
- Scooter: The Reluctant Neighbor
- Scooter: The Reluctant Acquaintance
- Scooter: Reluctant Again
- Scooter: The Reluctant Friend
- Scooter: Reluctant No More, Just Kidding
- Heading to the New York State Fair
- We’ve been before with other people
- Let’s review our notes
- I think we went to the fair on Thursday, August 21
- Taylor Dayne was playing the same time as Island Hoppers Steel Drum band
- Taylor Dayne has many hits
- Koa is coming in to watch Ray record
- We dined al fresco and watched Taylor Dayne
- We didn’t make it to Cheap Trick, but it seemed like a hit
- Scooter could not find the Llama Costume Contest to save his life
- And no one else could either…
- The llama costume contest was on Friday, it turns out
- Seeing the Living Zoltar
- You made a wish and got a fortune card
- But it was a real person!
- Koa’s not interested in just lying down
- A relic from the penny arcade
- It wasn’t where we thought it was gonna be
- You do need an appreciation for strong humor at your expense
- Zoltar is nice to kids, of course
- He may have the ability to do balloon sculpting with almost microscopic balloons
- Scooter tried to butter him up, but that didn’t save him from ridicule
- He surprised Scooter 2 or 3 times
- It was very much like a Robin Williams bit
- Scooter was the perfect foil
- We missed the llama costume contest
- We checked out some of the science fair stuff
- We missed Kidz Bop
- And the cloggers
- Okay, Ray’s back but he was never gone
- We took Koa out for a walk and now the day has passed
- We have voice notes and photos to review
- Most of these are private photos, naturally
- A few pictures of the Center of Progress
- A sand sculpture dedicated to the Erie Canal
- #SalSays
- Clinton’s Ditch
- 200 years of the Erie Canal
- Lunch, then a guitar solo?
- August 17, lunchtime
- Scooter wasn’t used to so many people asking for cash
- These aren’t great details, Scooter
- Okay we just petted Koa until she fell asleep
- I’ll just use the pictures
- We started at the Center of Progress building
- This building has appeared in at least 2 other episodes of SWM
- Some state agencies have booths
- They were giving out little packets of sunscreen
- As well as chips clips
- 2 of them had handheld fans
- Moving on to lunch
- Scooter had to compromise on lunch because he didn’t have cash
- Scooter used to live somewhere where people didn’t use cash
- He did find the best place to buy Coke Zero and Pepsi Zero
- His two sources of soda
- The Horticulture Building is beautiful
- Fruit and Vegetables of the Empire State
- 2 Amazing Fish Fountains
- The facade has definitely been restored
- Scooter said the maple soft serve was excellent
- Taylor Dayne was still performing
- Younger people were doing Equestrian competitions
- Scooter’s move loved going to see horses, not going to seahorses
- Seeing the butter sculpture
- Dairy: Wickedly Good For You
- Sculpted by either Merle or Marie and Jim
- Dedicated to Central New York’s L. Frank Baum
- Scooter only tasted chocolate milk
- There was no vanilla milk for Scooter’s father
- Strawberry milk is on the horizon
- Zoltar had great makeup to make him look sculpted
- Animatronics about the ice age (not the movie)
- This building had AC which was huge
- There was no barrier protecting the animatronics
- A pizza frite, a long piece of fried dough
- A treasure hunt through different regions
- The best piece of swag was an ice scraper
- We did have to answer a question and spin a wheel to win the ice scraper
- Scooter really needed an ice scraper
- Meeting up with some family
- Scooter didn’t have much time for personal adventures
- This room was full of models of carnivals and theme parks
- Like train sets without trains
- So many details
- Maybe this is the Danville Fair? From 1974, I think
- Boonville-Oneida County Fair model by Carl
- Jeff’s sculpture is all paper!
- This sculpture has Super Dave Osborne
- This sculpture features the DC Metro
- The Bucket of Junk Competition
- Everyone has the same bucket and has to make a different exhibit
- The Syracuse Wurlitzer’s Centennial Celebration
- Lily Rose was playing elsewhere
- Scooter returned to the milk bar and got photo jumped in a selfie
- The backside of a butter sculpture
- A version of Bingo called I Got It
- Scooter then went to his cousin’s Baby Shower
- Scooter was unable to go to Lake Teri
- His first Lake Teri swim happened in the fall this year
- The history of Schoolhouse #2
- His friends did some archery, but Scooter couldn’t because of his hand
- That was it for the fair
- I hope you enjoyed it
- Hopefully I’ll be back with an episode about Syracuse Winterfest in the future
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