Thursday, June 22, 2006

San Diego County Fair

After work yesterday ( I left early), I packed up a handful of teenagers and headed down to the San Diego County Fair in the city of Del Mar.

This years theme, “Ride the Tide to Fun at the 2006 San Diego County Fair” features the world’s most renowned environmentalist, Wyland. The Fair and Wyland first began working together during the 1985 Fair, when he painted Whaling Wall No. 7 on the side of the Gems & Minerals building. A life-sized depiction of California Gray Whales, the wall unfortunately was taken down when the Fairgrounds Grandstand was rebuilt in 1992.

Wyland long ago set a goal to paint 100 life-sized Whaling Walls, depicting various species of whales and other marine life, and has completed 93 of them on four continents. This year, he painted the "new" Whaling Wall No. 7 on the east wall of a new Fairgrounds building, the Expo Center.


While the kids enjoyed the Fun Zone, I had the opportunity to visit the Paul Ecke Jr. Flower & Garden Show that featured gardens that use water (ponds, waterfalls, fountains) or use little water (xeriscape gardens designed for maximum beauty with minimal water). I found some wonderful new resources for planning my own xeriscape backyard garden.


After attempting to find something healthy to eat (not an easy feat) we headed to the Grandstand for Tracy Lawrence in concert.


Tracy Lawrence has built a respected country-music career during the past 15 years, hitting the national spotlight at the age of 23, the product of a rough-and-tumble childhood in Foreman, Arkansas. He was playing at music jamborees at 15 and in honky-tonks at 17, learning, he says, "what it takes to keep them on the dance floor through four or five sets."A live appearance on a Kentucky radio station and a showcase at Nashville's famed Bluebird Café led to his 1991 signing to Atlantic Records. His hits include "Can't Break It To My Heart," "My Second Home," "If The Good Die Young," "If The World Had A Front Porch," "Texas Tornado," "Time Marches On," and "Better Man, Better Off."

After the concert we had just enough time for the kids to indulge in junk food heaven. I was so tempted by the cream puffs, frozen bananas and caramel apples. I am happy to say I stayed strong and did not give in to temptation! =0}

After everyone purchased what they wanted we continued to our next destination to see Foghat in concert.


In the late ‘60s, musicians that would later form Foghat first toured the United States as members of the seminal British band “Savoy Brown.” That musical core, combined with some key additions, began a quest on the cutting edge of the emerging British blues-rock music scene that began to influence countless musicians, American and British alike. In 1971, Foghat was formed to give the band a more rock ‘n’ roll flavor to the blues-boogie music they were already playing. After being signed to Bearsville Records in 1971, the band began touring relentlessly for the next 14 years. Their talent was rewarded with seven Gold records, one platinum album, “Fool For The City,” and one double platinum album, “Foghat Live.”


Needless to say we had a great time, and I am glad that I have today off so I can recover. Have a great evening everyone!


N Posted by Rain at 6/22/2006 02:55:00 PM

3 Comments

  • Anonymous Anonymous posted at 4:36 PM  
    Foghat! Talk about a blast from my past.

    It sounds like you had a great time!

  • Blogger Rain posted at 11:47 PM  
    brian, We sure did! I have had the opportunity to see Foghat four times in my teenage years however I had more fun at this one because it was Rainmans first rock concert! Afterward he told me that he never knew I was a rock 'n' roll babe! snicker&grins

  • Anonymous Anonymous posted at 6:52 AM  
    Sounds like an awesome time.

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