STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

Today was a fun day, but also a long and tiring one. We left this morning for Dallas to attend the State Fair of Texas. Two of Ashley's friends from school and 4H, and one of Ashley and Justin's cousins from the Austin area, were all showing pigs at the State Fair Livestock Show. Before we got out of town, Ashley got sick and threw up. (We always carry an emesis pan with us everywhere we go, for times such as this.) We went back to the house to clean up the mess, and then headed for Dallas.

Upon arrival at the State Fair, Susan and her Mom and Justin went to the livestock barn to find Brandi (the cousin) and Kaysi and Johnna (the friends). Ashley and I set out to find the booth where Dallas radio station WBAP was set up, to say "Hi" to Mark Davis. Mark hosts one of the most widely-listened-to radio talk shows in the metroplex, and also has a nationwide talk show on Sundays. (Four years ago, when Ashley was going through her first battle, Ashley made a brief appearance on Mark's talk show.) We walked into the WBAP pavilion and Mark recognized us immediately and even remembered our names. After his next on-air segment, he came down out of the broadcast booth and visited with us for a few minutes, and posed for a picture with Ashley.

Then we went and found the rest of the family and watched some of the pig show. Children's Medical Center had a large petting zoo set up with lots of baby animals, and Justin and I walked through it. Justin really enjoyed feeding the animals. After we were through watching the pig show, we walked through the Midway. Justin rode a "log flume" ride, and then Justin and Ashley rode a ride together. By then we were all tired and ready to go home ... so we did.