LOAD 2-5

More LOs for the LOAD challenge. Scrapped a couple of photos for Lizzy and my pictures from the fair.

I used the Men In Black DVD cover for inspiration here. Love this photo of the guys sitting on the log. The beads were a RAK from Missus Wookie.


Lizzy finds some silly things to photograph - like this little sign in the shop window. Used my new glitter Thickers here.


Someone mentioned something about printing photo collages at Costco so I tried it with my fair pictures. I kept the horse photos mostly intact, but cut the alligator photos all apart. It was fun having the odd sizes. Using ephemera finished this LO but I found a great transparency from a Peachy Cheap purchase and added some SU corduroy buttons and a small piece of ribbon.


The alligator pictures. Very simple. What more can I say?

Fun at the Fair

Saturday after dropping ice off at my booth, we decided to spend a day at the fair just for fun. We watched the Percheron draft horse show - very quick, about five minutes. They were such beautiful animals and oh, so huge! Nineteen hands or 6' 4" at the shoulder. The driver ran the horses through a series of maneuvers. He was able to turn the wagon in a full circle without moving the back wheel from its spot. Very tight and precise.








Next we watched the alligator show. These two guys are brothers from Florida. They travel around teaching people how to be safe around alligators. Just in case you ever run into an alligator in the wilds of Idaho. Surely the alligator was a little tame, but still, not something you would want to try at home. This rascal is eight feet long and weighs 200 pounds. The alligator that is.

From My Vantage Point in the Booth

People are amazing. I have been having a great time observing folks while working my booth at the state fair. I have narrowed things down to the following general categories of fair-goers:

1. Don't make eye-contact with anyone in a booth or remotely near a booth.
* These people are on a mission; have tunnel vision. They are here to have fun and no one is going to get in their way. They made a pact before leaving home – accept no handouts!

2. Keep your distance, look if you must, but look away if anyone looks at you. Under no circumstances take anything that is offered for free.
* These people are quite focused but can be distracted by sights and sounds all around. Once in a while they will see something that interests them but their personal code of ethics does not allow them to take something for nothing.

3. Yes, I want what you have, but not if I have to look at you or talk to you to get it.
* These people slow down, but do not stop. They look at what you have, they want one, but they don’t trust you to give it to them without some obligation on their part.

4. Yes, I want what you have, I'm shoring up my courage to slowly amble over and get it. Might even have to turn around and come back if I see that someone else survived getting one.
* These people slow down, almost stop, keep going, then come back and only get close enough to nab what you have to offer with outstretched hands.

5. Yes, I want what you have, but I would feel better about it if you would give it to my spouse/child/infant.
* These people don’t want to be seen taking anything for free but don’t feel any qualms about their spouses or children getting free stuff. “Do you want a free bag, Zeke?” Zeke is two months old and sleeping in the stroller.

6. Yes, I want what you have, and I promise to take up quite a bit of your time trying to be interested in your materials and talking to you because you gave me something for free.
* These people feel obligated to repay you for the free item. Payment comes via the privilege of their company for as long as they feel is necessary. They will also rummage through every brochure you have lying around; maybe even pick up a few.

7. Yes, I want what you have; by the way, what is it?
* These people want your free item even though they aren’t sure what it is. Gosh, it looks like a bag; is it a bag?

8. Yes, I want what you have; can I have two? or three?? Do you have anything else for free???
* These people came to the fair today to gather as much free stuff as is humanly possible.

Everyone has their own reasons for coming to the fair. They bring their own uniqueness with them, and that – the diversity of humankind – is part of what makes going to the fair so much fun.

At the Fair

I chair the Idaho Fraud Awareness Coalition. This week (ten days) we are doing outreach at the Western Idaho Fair. We have a CSI theme going on here with chalk outlines and silhouettes and jail bars. Our shirts say FAC on the back. Notice the giant magnifying glass.


Here we have a couple of volunteers working the booth. People are pretty funny. We are distributing free reusable bags with information about fraud and how to protect yourself from being a victim. We are also raffling off this bike. Some people want every free thing they can get their hands on. Others won't take anything if it's free.


And just for fun, we have this putting green (putting pink actually). Some folks want to play just for fun. Some won't play at all because we don't have prizes. Being at the fair is a great study in human behavior.