Done is done is done is done. The fair is over for this year, for me. This morning I drove to the fairgrounds – the Orange Gate was closed. I went down the Purple Trail Gate and wove my way around until I came to the Orange Gate Parking area.

I stopped on the way there and thanked Dan and his crew who were packing up the horse area paraphernalia onto a large red truck. I talked with Dan and a fellow who mainly spoke Spanish. I told them both about the alligator story time and showed them pictures. Not to be outdone, the fellow who spoke Spanish showed me his photos of his wrestling alligators. He was then young and strong. He looked like Mohammed Ali.

The crew is now heading south, to Ellensburg Washington.

I asked where the horses were and was told they were in the second row of horse stalls. I went over to see them. The horses were relatively content – one was a weaver, a bit disturbing to see. But you know, they appeared to be relatively content. They were massive animals, tall and stocky. I wished them all well before going back and continuing my conversation with Dan.

This second visit was a reminder of the first – and that the best thing I did was get out those last two days and interact with people. Previously I had waited in the barn for others to come to me. If we do this next year, I will again pull a cart and take friends with me so that we can make more friends.

Oh, I just had an idea – I will take photos of other people, wearing one of the hats that Sharon made.

I continued on and got most of what I had left in the barn into the back of my car. Pete appeared with a few of the Latter Day Saints fellows – they had picked up the newspaper boxes and were on their way to put them in the shed. They will be there until Saturday when Pete and Robert will put them back in place around town.

I have to say that the newspaper boxes at the fair was a success. Funny, how we began this with just two boxes then went to eight, then to twelve boxes. We gave ourselves permission to do this.

Which reminds me – I will need to have enough boxes of books on hand for them to put into the newspaper boxes. Hmm, I might do this on Friday.

Our inventory seems low. A good thing – right now better than too high.

Pete and I went to Anchorage and picked up eight boxes of books at Title Wave. We returned to the hotel, and he went to the gym, and I unpacked them. I also did some general clean up type stuff.

I am hoping to take the entire weekend off. Those who get paid do this. Maybe those who do not do not. My horses need me. I need my horses.

Next: 239. 9/4/25: Rain