Oregon Country Fair

I finally made it to the Oregon Country Fair. It was the 40th one so it was about time, and I found out a favorite performer of mine was going to be there so I had to go. The main reason I think I never tried too hard to make the fair is because the medieval war I've been going to for the past 18 years falls on the weekend before the fair and I spend the fair weekend resting. Not this year! I "hippied" up and hit the road. Didn't take the bus since this was my first time and knew I'd just be out in the parking lot with no real reason to have it there. I left kinda late as I look back since I had to score a ticket on the way, and there was a delay a few miles from the fair with fire trucks but no fire.

My parking spot had to be over a mile from the fair entrance it seemed, and it was mostly just cars between my truck and there. My front license plate vanished there which was lame, but I'm over it. So, I get my hand stamp and enter the fair after my trek from the lot. There are constant city buses coming and dropping and picking up people by the gate so its a pretty busy spot, but nothing compared to inside the fair. The best I can describe the fair location is like a forest groves with a track through it. It has a nice big creek you cross over on bridges a few spots inside the fair, and has spots where they hold the performances along the way. The main stage has some room in front of it for a crowd, but most of the spots are small and maybe 200 people can get a good view of them. I missed all but the last song of the artist I wanted to see, but at least I made it for the one song.

Getting around inside the fair is interesting, but don't try to get anywhere fast. There are basically 2 lanes of people traffic going either way, and the pace is slow. Like baby step slow, and you are surrounded by people going every which way since the track is lined with booths selling all sorts of items and foodstuffs, and people will see something that catches their eye and cross in front of you to get to it. Musicians also litter the landscape along the track, and you'll hear a washboard band or piano man playing some good jams.

The merchants sell some really nice things, from stone blade knives to kiddie superhero capes. The selection was good, and I was compelled to buy a wooden comb from a 20 year fair vet who claims to be the only wooden comb maker in the US that he is aware of. Its a great comb I use it every day now, combmaker.com if you want one. I also sampled some of the food, it was all good, I really like the organic ice cream sandwich dipped in the fresh melted chocolate. I also ate an egg roll that stands out, and kabobs I had were also excellent. The fair kind of had theme to some sections, there is a gypsy caravan, and a primitive zone, that stood out for me, and there was a guy at one of the primitive displays doing a demonstration on stone age fire making, and was really good and I had to catch it twice.

The headliners on Saturday were the Gourds who I didn't even know were playing until I walked by the main stage and heard them jamming out some hillbilly bluegrass jams. They are best know for the country fried version of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice" they are a fun time, and the crowd was really into it. A 15 foot tall puppet manned by 3 people was even out in the thick of the crowd getting down. The band really seemed to get a kick out of the Eugene hippie types, and promised not to speak of this back in Texas. They even brought out Baby Gramps to jam with them on the last song, so I got to see him rock out for another song after all. The show was great, but ended kind of early it seemed, but I guess they want to kick the masses out and start the partying for real. At least that is what I hear, the best times are when the public is gone and the fair workers can let loose.

All in all, a good time, but kind of crowded for my liking.

The Bus Has Landed

I went to Eugene to pick up the bus about 180 miles or so from my house. Had to meet a guy up there and get the title and go to the bus site and get it started. Starting it was not a big deal it just took a new battery, and it fired right up. So I get on the road. The bus is doing good, and I'm heading home. Its evening time and darkness falls on the way home, but I turn the lights on and keep the bus rolling. The trip was fine for most of the way, but after going through the wide spot in the road called Wonder the bus engine stalled out and I had to pull over. It starts again and I get about a mile down the road and it stalls out again from not getting gas. I was told about this issue before I bought it, but had hoped I'd make it home and deal with it, but no such luck. It died on the road about 11:00pm. I was half on the road and off in a spot where there was no long view of me so cars were coming up on me quick. Fortunately, I had someone following me, so they parked a ways down the road with flashers on as an early warning.

So here I am stuck on the side of the road. I crawled under the bus and wasn't able to determine the fuel line, so I get on the phone to tow truck companies. I get the closest one on the phone and have him come out. I must not have conveyed the immense size of the bus because he brought out a truck that was too small to tow it. There's another hour wait for him to go get the right truck. The bus ends up at my house close to 3am.

At least I was only 16 miles from home and not 160!

Banks

I went to the bank yesterday. I use a popular free checking bank, but the draw back is the 2 closest branches are 30 miles away. This really isn't an issue since I work in that town a few times a week on average or more. There are some banks in my hometown, but I never bothered to change since I was already set up. That is until yesterday. I had to make a simple deposit. I fill out my slip ahead of time so I don't have to watch people get ahead of me in line, so I walk in and get in line. I am the only person in line with 1 old lady filling out paperwork. (ha!) As I'm standing there, I survey the bank. I see one teller grabbing some paperwork and vanish into the back. There are 2 people sitting down, I hesitate to call them "bankers" since they were just sitting there talking to each other. Now the 2 "bankers" are no shock to be just sitting there. They'll never get up to help as a teller. The real kicker was the only teller station in operation was a guy helping a lady, but the fact the only other teller working was leaning on the counter with her back to the line(which had grown to about 4 or 5 people) talking in a casual way to the only customer getting helped in the bank. So, this goes on for a few minutes all the while I'm getting ticked, and looking to the "banker" who can see the line and should get up or say something. Not a word was said to waiting customers no "someone will be with you in a moment" nothing. I started to feel like I was at the DMV and not a business trying to make money. I reached my boiling point and did something obnoxious. It was raining, so on my way in, my feet got wet. This turned out to be my tool to be annoying. The footwear I was wearing squeaked as I walked on the smooth floor in the bank, so when I got so annoyed by the whole situation, I started twisting my foot back and forth producing a loud squeaking noise the whole bank could hear I'm sure since its a small branch inside a department store.
Well, the slacker teller finally got the hint and decided to stop ripping off her employer and got back to work. She tells me she can help me, so as I am walking to the counter I ask her if she was done with her personal conversation, she replies no, so I comment how service has gone down in both branches lately. She acted surprised at that. I had a smiler frustrating experience at the other branch a few weeks ago, so I spoke honestly. My transaction took a few seconds just a simple deposit, but its depressing knowing that there's really no one to complain about this to that would give me any satisfaction. So I decided to change to a local bank where they will most likely end up knowing my name and provide a much more personal feeling service. I know the massive corporate bank won't feel it, but I'll feel better about it.

Rocks

I've been slacking on posting, but been running around a lot and getting some work. Speaking of which I met a guy who owns the top of a mountain, and has tons of rock. We are going to do some trading, so now I can get busy on some landscaping in my yard. I have plans to do my whole yard in a Zen garden style of rocks and some bamboo staying away from live plants and the maintenance they require.

Zen tub

I brought a hot tub home the other day. Got it in a barter job. Its not a huge tub, but it will fit me and a few friends. I've recently became interested in Zen and how to incorporate some of its philosophy into my life. I'm also in the planning stage of doing my landscaping in a Japanese garden style. I don't have the biggest yard, so space saving techniques are a must. Bonsai!

Dropkick Bus

I took a trip to Eugene Sunday to look at a bus and see one of my favorite bands the Dropkick Murphys. The bus is great and I'm working a deal to buy it! It will be a big part of my adventures for years to come! Dropkick puts on a hell of a show, and I'll be making it a point to see them when they come back this way. I've not seen a band who treats their fans better. from the prices on the schwag they sell, or the fact they brought about 30 different fans on the stage during two songs to sing along. Once with the girls and once with the guys. Friggin awesome!

The Frogs Are Back

Every year I am assaulted by the sounds of frogs crying for love. Well, that is what I assume what they constantly "ribbbbit" for by the thousands all around me. I'm not sure how long they stay as I wasn't paying enough attention to the calender when they stopped. This year I will check to see. On the other side of my backyard fence there is a small pond, and there is a small creek nearby, so it is very tempting for a female frog with bachelor pads like that around!