Our Trip to the Zoo and the OC Fair

Okay, so we didn't actually go a zoo like most of you are thinking. We went to the County Clerk/Recorder/Registrar's Office in Norwalk to get our marriage license - and while not a zoo in the traditional sense, it was crazy in there!

When we pulled up and got out, we saw two HUGE lines coming out of two different entrances into the building. My first thought was, "we're going to be here for HOURS." Once we got out of the car, we were practically attacked by people yelling across the parking lot asking us if we were filing a DBA or registering a business. Ummm...no, and I'll be sure to MAIL it if I ever do in the future so I don't have to deal with you!

We walked past all of the people in lines up to the main entrance to find out if we did actually have to wait in one of those lines. Turns, out, we were lucky and there only one couple in front of us at the window to get our license. Since I had filled it out online (HIGHLY recommend doing this), John just paid the fee, we waited at another window for about 5 minutes, raised our right hands and swore everything on there was true and off we went.

Now, before we get to the fair, I wanted to comment on those who were getting married "at the courthouse" that day. It was a rather interesting sight - the bride in her dress, hair done, holding a bouquet, the groom in a suit/tux...and the 18 wedding party members who thought it was necessary to accompany them IN the line! Oh, and don't forget the two photographers who were walking all around us (they were in line just behind us) snapping 50 million photos of them standing in line! While I have no problem with other people who chose to get married this way, my idea of wedding photos is not standing in line at the courthouse with yet another bride in my photos behind me. Oh, and if you do this, PLEASE have your wedding party wait in the lobby or outside. It's already crowded enough!

Now, on to the OC Fair...I think the last time I went to the fair was in 2002 when I saw the Supertones in concert there. I'm the type that goes to the fair to see all the cute animals, particularly the babies (see exhibit A)...

Exhibit A

a piglet only a few weeks old

...the YUMMY food (though we kept it pretty low-key since we're trying to not GAIN any weight for the wedding)...see Exhibit B

Exhibit B

One of those turkey legs was my dinner

...the arts and crafts competitions they have...we saw some beautiful quilts, amazing photographs and I was very intrigued by the table setting displays that included judges comments, most of which seemed pretty obvious if one had read the rules...(sorry, no exhibits here)

...the shopping, though I never have actually bought anything since most of the stuff they sell, they do so in a very high pressure manner...I don't like being pressured to buy things I don't need, I do that well enough on my own! :) Please see exhibit C for a product that would fit well on my mom's doorstep...

Exhibit C

If only it said "She"

...and the just plain weird things that pop up when you're wandering around (see Exhibits D, E, F and G).

Exhibit D

I have NO clue!

It might have fit their pink theme a few years ago...

I think they had a pink theme recently

Exhibit E

Strange man who thinks he's a bee...

Oh wait, that's just John! :)

Exhibit F

(as in Favello...for a few more months anyway)

Yep, I visited Centennial Farms, even if the sign is cut off

Exhibit G

John and a big ox - there were actually two of them

just walking around (led by a human of course)

As you can probably tell, I'm not such a fan of the rides anymore, even though John kept trying to convince me to go on the super high ferris wheel (I'm afraid of heights) or the ride the spins you around like a hand-held mixer (Uhhh, you really want to see what I ate the past week???).

Thank you for sharing with us our visit to the "Zoo" and the OC Fair! We hope to see you again next year (minus the zoo)!