Can you smell that? It's the wafting odor of corndogs, popcorn, cotton candy, livestock, diesel, and a hint of vomit. Where in the world would you find this sort of delectable odor other than...dun, dun, duhhhhhhh.....the Redwood Acres Fair!

Fair time is a great way to spend some time with family, friends, and your favorite carnie person. It's also a great way to get rid of money - and fast. Here's what my paycheck is going towards:

Two Adults Admission: 2 X $10 = $20
Three Kids Admission: 3 X $5 = $15
Truck Pull Admission: 5 X $5 = $25
Two Carnival Ride Passes: $50
Food (5 corndogs - $3 a piece, 2 sodas and 3 waters - $2 a piece, 2 cotton candy - $3 a piece, 1 candy apple for Grandma D - $3): $34

Grand Total: $144 - for one fantabulous night!

Yes, I'm bitching and yes, I don't have to go, but to me, fair time is a tradition for my family and once we're there, we thoroughly enjoy ourselves. Plus, due to conflicting work schedules and life in general, it's really nice when we can all get together as a family and do something - even if it's sharing our time with 1,000 other fairgoers and a handful of toothless carnies.

Personally, my favorite thing at the fair is the food. Nothing tastes as good as a coupla corndogs from one of those brightly lit food trailers. I'm sure the sophisticated flavor comes from the 100 year old grease combined with a little grime from the person serving it (no - not all the food trailers are grimy - only about 99% of them), but whatever the case, it just tastes like summer.

I don't count calories during fair time because honestly, you're doing so much walking and people watching that you're actually burning calories so those little corndogs will actually benefit you. Add in an icy cold soda and the amount of energy it takes to heat your body back might find you loosing ounces off the scale. I know that Grandma D swears to have lost a pound and a half last year due to her consumption of two candy apples during fair week. The hard work required to break through that tough outer candy shell is phenomenonal - especially if the apple underneath is appropriately crispy. And don't forget, it's a fruit. Weight Watchers, eat your heart out.

While I do partake amongst the gourmet offerings of the fair, I do not participate in the carnival rides. I had a terrible experience with the Tilt 'O Whirl when I was 10 years old...corn dogs, cotton candy, five giggly friends, and an insanely spinning piece of metal guaranteed a vomit comet to be had by all. I learned two things that day; (1) why you shouldn't cuff your jeans if you anticipate throwing up and (2) a guaranteed way to lose the respect of your friends and innocent bystanders who saw you wretching at your finest.

One last thing I love to do at the fair is take a gander at the exhibits. I once saw a chicken lay an egg at the fair, and I was so impressed that I've now become a chicken connoisseur. I tend to stay away from the area of the fruits and dressed veggies (I have issues with Mr. Potato Head), but I do love me some livestock. The smell of manure and the exercise you get from dodging cow patties in the dairy barn, is all too inviting. But, my favorite livestock exhibit is the sheep. I once had a ewe (that's a female sheep) named Dorito because she loved Cool Ranch Doritos. Her live-in boyfriend (a ram - or a male sheep) was named Budweiser because of his fondness of water, hops and barley. Don't ask me how we discovered this...

Enough about me...What's your favorite fair time memory? Are you going to the fair? Most importantly, tell me about a fair experience (primarily food) that I need to try. And don't forget, Redwood Acres Fair...