Wednesday NC State Fair Roundup

The Whac-A-Mole operator wanted a shoutout so here you go: SHOUTOUT TO THE WHAC-A-MOLE OPERATOR! He still has some green pigs left but he's running out of red birds.

Speaking of Angry Birds, I got to try the midway game. It takes a little getting used to (mostly to get a sense of how far back you need to pull the slingshot without pulling it TOO far) but it's true; there's something viscerially satisfying about a giant slingshot. (And the "WHAM!" of an Angry Bird hitting the metal at the back of the booth.)

For my efforts (and not my skill) I received a little stuffed dog. Sadly it was not nearly as cool (or weird) as the Garfield covered in green flames that I saw elsewhere on the midway. That same booth sported Scooby Doo covered in what looked like buffalo checks, and another Scooby Doo in pink polka dots. Very 1960s.

Also speaking of Angry Birds, I found a couple more for my list: two cakes in the cake exhibit. Thanks to the kid who pointed one of them out; it was way in the back of the exhibit and I had completely missed it.

More birds: pink flamingos in the water behind the garden area!

More midway: there's an attraction on the new midway where you can buy paintballs and shoot at a very well armored guy with a shield who jumps out from behind barrels. It gets expensive (all the way up to $20 for 150 shots) but you can take all the time you like. Once I was reassured by the operator that the guy wouldn't get hurt, plunking a few paintballs at a dodging target was a great way to blow off some steam.

A thunderstorm at the Fair does not sound like fun but thank goodness it's cooling off a bit! Tomorrow will be a great day for some warm apple cider to wash down some warm mini-donuts.