why i hate the local fair

I don't know if anyone remembers, but last year on my old blog I complained about this annual fair being held literally in front of my apartment. Well, it's back, and this time they've gone even farther in messing with me.

It's called the Kudzu Festival (kudzu is this terrible plant that originated in China and was brought over here to help stop erosion. It didn't, but instead took over other plants and trees and looks ugly). I hate it. When I was a kid, I loved the festival. You could ride all the rides and they looked, sounded, and felt like they would break at any second...which of course made it more exciting! But the festival soon soured itself to me not one, not two, but three times.

The first time actually started off nice. I was a kid, probably about 10 or 11 years old, and just starting to like girls. This one girl in particular seemed to like me, too. It was great...we played that game where you pop balloons and we both won these cool drawings framed in glass. I was so proud...mine was of Taz (my uncle loved Taz...therefore I loved Taz) and hers was a bunny or something. It was really girly. Anyway, we decided to ride this one thing that would jerk us around for a bit. I put our framed pictures beside me and we began. One sharp turn later and I smashed into the pictures...glass went all in my leg and cut my arm. I cried.

Second time was also with a girl. I was in high school now, and was skipping work that night to take my girlfriend out to the fair. I know, I'm so romantic. We were having fun until my boss saw me and made a very snarky comment to me. He then proceeded to make my life hell until I finally quit that job.

And so here we are. Third time. They say it's the charm...I say it breaks the camel's back. Last year the Kudzu Festival moved to the courthouse lawn/parking spaces. I live right across from the courthouse and park in those spaces! I was a little upset. My landlord gave me a pass to park beside the building but I still got hassled by police every night. And then the carnies. The carnies would walk along the square at all hours, howling and drinking and being...carnies. They really are a different breed.

This year it's all back, but with a twist. I can't have a parking pass! So now I have to park a block or two down and walk home. And the festival is staying open later, which means the loud music and flashing lights go on all night. I have to sleep on my couch (in the room furthest away from the insanity). Awesome!

So I hate it. And I think I have good reasons.