I've been asked, nay, commanded, by the powers that be to work a shift at my employer's information booth at the Minnesota State Fair this year, on a Saturday nonetheless.
I could not imagine an assignment less befitting to my personality. Spending eight hours in the hot sun dispensing information to perfect strangers is not my idea of a good day spent working. I would much rather do my consulting long distance, as I have done recently with Pablo.
What bothers me is that I told my boss I might be able to do it, if no one else was available. I never said flat out, Oh yes! I would LOVE to do it! That was my mistake, I should have been less agreeable and invented an unavailability. Or I should have told him flat out no, I'm not the person cut out for the job! I hate cities, I hate crowds, I hate talking to people, I hate answering stupid questions, it just reminds me too much how the general public is out of touch with the way things are.
Oh well. My kids have never seen the state fair, and every kid's gotta see it, right? The Hermit can take them around while I'm doing my best to exchange pleasantries with the general public. I think one of the benefits is my family gets free tickets. I think.
They better have Summit on tap at the beer garden when my shift's over. And there better be some good music at one of the free stages. Grrrrr...
12 comments:
You and I have a lot in common. If I would have been in your shoes, you would have taken the words right out of my mouth! If anything, this will make going home afterwards all the better. Good Luck!
OUCH!!! Sorry you got roped into that. Hopefully it won't be too hot, but there is nothing you can do about the crowds. I totally agree with you about them. I will send you what little patience I have, and maybe it will be enough to get you through the day. Good Luck!
Deb, doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but I'm sure you'll do just fine. And I have never met a kid who didn't enjoy a trip to the fair.
Let me know what day you'll be there, maybe I can swing by and we can finally meet!
My condolences, from one recluse to another. Too bad you're not Catholic, you could view it as knocking time off purgatory. ;-)
prairie chick- going home from the cities is always the best part of the the trip for me!
barefoot gardener- at least this will give me an excuse to not walk around in the crowds with the kids!
dharma bum- it's the 26th; that would be cool if you stopped by! I checked the schedule for the free stages and the Front Porch Swinging Liquor Pigs are playing that day--have you heard them?
madcap- Or I could view it as sending out good karma. Actually, I've been thinking, there are a few good things about this. Who knows, I might run into an old friend, I might actually learn something from the others I'll be working with, and there's always the morbid pleasure I get sometimes from people watching. ;) That is, if I can stand the smell of mini donuts and corn dogs for 8 hours.
It'll be "fun" and you'll get a good post out of it!
Floridacracker has the right idea - think of the blogging possibilities and the chance to make fun of how clueless people are!
I love going to the fair, but don't so much like working at it. I work for the county social service agency and they're always looking for *volunteers* to sit at the table - absolutely not! - imagine spending hours in the heat extolling the virtues of welfare and food stamps. ;-(
As a master gardener I get to stand in a booth under a sign that reads, "Something bugging your plants? Ask me!" - imagine the fun of that!
Hope you'll at least get free tix for the kids.
Hehe!! But sorry to hear it, if it's not your cup of tea.
I actually end up doing that sort of work fairly often, and have developed really good "smile and nod" skills, always being slightly detached (I was a really shy kid).
Now I find that it can be a good chance of pace from the all-day computer office routine...
Consider it an opportunity for an anthropological study of the bizarre habits of the Standard American- ieeee!
We need to know our neighboring species at least somewhat, right?
I must admit, I have a weird fascination with the MN State Fair. Spouse and I go about once every 2 years, which is just the right amount. Go with the expectation that the crowds will be huge and annoying, that it will be hard to get around, that it will be loud and hot and sticky. If you go with those expectations, they'll either be met or it will be better than you thought.
We like what used to be called the "Women's Building" - I think it's "Creative Arts" now - where all the jams, food, quilts, and crafts are. While you're there, make sure to look at the seed "paintings." I like the horticulture building with the vegetable and flower displays.
Get ice cream at the diary barn (if you can wait through the lines). Get corn on the cob at the big corn place somewhere near the grandstand (it's huge - you'll find it). Sit and watch people - the bored 4H teens in the various barns, the families from every culture, the couples just getting to know each other. Ride the ferris wheel at dusk for great views of both cities.
And don't worry, you'll find Summit at more than one place!
FC- Oh, I'll get a post out of it all right!
LauraH- Now there's something I wouldn't believe in; I can tell people about how to maintain a natural shoreline, but food stamps? But maybe you can tell me why all my cauliflower rotted!
gtr- yes, I see it as a day away from the office with mileage and expenses, and as Floridacracker said I will probably come away with a multitude of blog posts about the state of our inferior species. :)
Tracy- The last time I was there I enjoyed the home canned stuff and the crafts, and the Horticulture building. My secretary at work has won championships for her canned goods. I think that's what the heart and soul of a state fair is, the home-scale craftsmanship. I'll try to celebrate that.
And it's good to hear that the best local brew is available!!!
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