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Last Edit July 2, 1999

I took my 17 year-old young man to the fair, in Del Mar, figuring it would, perhaps, be the last time Momma took him. Next time, he'll probably have a young thing in tow.
So We went to San Diego - by car. 9 hours. And checked on the tenants in the San Diego house.
My younger son wishes to live there while going to school - as soon as we navigate a driver's license, finish adult school and graduate from High School, and complete a semester at the local school while he racks up the hours driving.
The house is a mess - overpruned trees, missing trees, dead trees, broken sprinkler system, and they tell me I have mice and rats.
The house is on a canyon. Of course there is wild life.
It's why I pay Terminex to take care of things. However, you do have to tell them!
I was debating about another year on the lease. I decided not. Month to month and my son moves in by Feb.
That done, we drove to the hotel (same one we stayed at when we came down for Sea World) and then moseyed over to the mall. He loves to shop. Lately.
I found kush balls for my training toy box. He found huge spheres - three of them that open and close. He put his head in one back at the hotel. I have photos.
He looked at dragons. Franklin Mint. He has one. They now have four. I like the purple one.
He actually shops for shoes - and gets white sneakers! Complete with cleaner and waterproofing sprays.
Oh well.
He would have actually shopped for jeans if the mall hadn't closed.
I am shocked.
This kid never likes to make decisions in the mall!
He's having a life-style change!
The next day was the designated fair day. I have taken my sons to the Del Mar Fair for years. We did the Boy Scout/Cub Scout Fair patch one year. We have seen calves come into the world - on their own and assisted (with a stalwart young stud farm boy and a chain no less). We have milked cows. We have bleated at the sheep and goats. Ohed and ahed over litters of piglets. Watched the horses. Tractor pulls. And barrel racing.
We spent time roaming in the flower show, the two buildings that house gadgets from remodeling to taffy, from roofing to fudge, special coffee, mini donuts, water softener and sewing kits, and spent the last few hours with the kids selecting and then riding the chosen rides using the coupon sets I would give them. I would sit in a heap and just move from bench to bench as they traveled. Once in awhile I would ride too. Water bumper cars. I like those.
We hadn't been in three years.
Time to go back. Time to shop.
We chose preferred parking - but I was so early I didn't really need to do that. But I did. We, being wise, walked all the way to the other end to go in the less-used gate (shorter line) and started at the horse ground. My son stopped to watch the cutting horse competition. Shades of the rodeos and the dude ranch we had been to in the past.
We hit the barns and my son informed me that (as he was in the newly purchased white sneakers) he had seen enough cows born.
OK. The cow that was to give birth already had done so.
I wanted to see baby critters. The Lamas. The horses.
We ran through the goats and sheep. There were few critters in the small animal barns. Less than in previous visits.
We headed for the flower building - and found less landscaping and more stuff.
My son had it mapped out. Our route was established.
And he had learned to shop.
We acquired pruning shears large and small - ratchet type. (I love them. We have already pruned with them.) He chose these because the house in San Diego will need a lot of work. The house in Fremont does too. Amazing how I will be the one that actually does the work once the newness wears off.
We acquired drill bits that can cut through a hammerhead. I am not planning to do this and my older son has possession of my drill. (Upon hearing about this, he was motivated to return it.) A full set of drill bits. And a sharpening stone. And two blades for a hack saw. (This latter would prompt a trip to Sears to get a hacksaw whose blade he could replace.)
I got a flower arranging assembly - those little glass bulb florets holders that can take a candle or just mound flowers in. Pretty. For when I find my dining room table. And have time to arrange flowers.
I got a plant in plastic goop and packages of goop. The plant is in a vase and the plastic stuff (expands in water - shrinks as it dries) is colored (poster paint they told me) and I liked it. Maybe I won't kill this one. (Over-watering will cause the thing to spit up at me - which my son thinks is funny. Yep. I've already done this.) The little plastic things swell and shrink. Feel gooey.
We got fudge. A slab of chocolate. Actually, my son bought it while I was in the ladies room. He knew. Bless him. Three hours into hiking in the heat I need sugar. I was being good. I was in a wide-brimmed hat.
We ignored the nail kits (have one) and soft water (we have one) and dishes (have enough).
We checked on the swings - my chains for mine got thrown out by the contractor - I need to replace a set. And they have a swing and self-standing frame and awning. Hmmm. I need to call them.
We check on hammocks. We have one. We have no place to hang it up - Except in San Diego.
I collect flyers and info sheets for awnings, sun rooms, concrete epoxy coating and check out air cleaners. These things will be needed. Just not yet.
By the second building, my one-strap body bag is too heavy. My arms are screaming. We take trips to the car, drink water, put our feet up and unload. Loose change is heavy. It's hot.
On the way back in, we find Not-a-seat and get two. Biggest fanny pack I ever saw. And it can be a seat - straps go around your knees and hold up your back. Wild. I need to try this at work.
outrageous price. But it makes walking much easier. I am happy. That's all that counts.
We get coffee at the same place we always get it - Cafe Odoro - mocha. Decaf. I vow once again to order some.
We skip the mini donuts - line too long. We do get a kitchen grater- mixer three bladed collection. My son has become a kitchen gadget freak. He has Juiceman. And a smaller version of the grater slicer mixer thing. This is a big box. Does not deter him. Whenever he gets heavily loaded, we go back to the car. Make that my truck.
We get Ginzu knives. Two sets because the guy out side got to us first while my son was eating a steak sandwich. Another because they had a big knife. And we had decided on the steak knives. We ended up with nine.
My son informed me that he had outgrown the rides.
He had come to shop.
We looked at furniture. And got spices. Stir-Fry. And Vanilla. Horseradish. And garlic.
My son got a hand-held vibrator and a toy space shuttle.
We got salt water taffy (have to) and more fudge (bad, bad).
But the badness had set in.
Spas. From the first building on. I was looking.
I've been looking. For three years. Ever since I blew the second motor out of the Jacuzzi.
And I found one.
Soft Tub. Big one. Weighs 90 lbs. when empty. Oh yes. Perfect for the woman on her own. Big enough for both of us.
Good deal. Comes in 10 days.
Having done that, How hard was it to go to the Indian Jewelry counter I've drooled over for years and years and spot the biggest hunk of Amethyst pendant I've ever seen close-up. I had already picked out earrings and necklace in a marbleized purple. Then I saw this thing.
$200.
Oh well.
I got earrings to match.
I resisted the $1100 silver necklace, bracelet, ring, earrings set - leave something for the future. My son has promised to come back and buy it for me. We didn't set a date. Nice thought.
They did not have a bolo tie in blue so we will need that later too. My son likes blue. He was actually shopping!
Now I knew I was in trouble.
My son acquired a steamer set for the microwave. (I LOVE these things. I use them daily)
We have cookbooks.
We have a won-ton maker. And directions for use.
We checked out everything - even if we already had it. We always brought something home so I have the faucet things and a wok and the odd spice set from previous years.
I have a demo on the embroidery Bernina - I have an old Bernina sewing machine I won't part with thank you. But, gads, these things have gotten fancy. Drop in a pattern and voila - no hand embroidery. All those hours as a little girl doing my stitches! No knitting machines. You see those back east. I have one.....
We skip the ladders. And the cleaners. And the brooms. And the car wash. We have them.
My son likes the 25 foot telescoping flagpole. With the RV stand (you back your RV wheel over it to hold the flag up.)
I like the Ti logs. Never could get them to grow.
Then, at the end, tired and loaded down, we get hooked on one more demo - the Salad Master and that expensive cookware. I settle in with another coffee mocha. I sit and watch.
I have never had expensive cookware. Ever.
But I do need to get to fat-free cooking.
So we watch. Bad move.
$1200.
Comes in a week.
Salesman says "I love it when people come to the fair to shop...."
Next time the credit cards stay home. I'm entirely too dangerous.
I'm having a life-style changing episode.
I know the signs. Too much stress at work. Need a change.
I always shop.
I have no idea what I am doing. Where I am going. Always happens this way.
Never fear. It will come to me.
Eventually.
Right now I am waiting for the spa. And have menus planned around the cookware. It comes with the Salad Master.