I came to something over the last few days, and I want to talk through it here.
I've decided not to enter my pepper jelly in the State Fair this year.
No, I'm not dying, it's not a cry for help, either.
It's just gotten to be a huge pain in the ass, and I've decided life is too short to waste time on things that are so fundamentally irritating and unrewarding.
I have some ribbons. One of each color, to be exact - and in some cases, more than one. It would be great to have a final blue ribbon to close out my fair years in true OCD style, but to quote my sister, "The juice ain't worth the squeeze."
I still plan to make quite a bit of pepper jelly, because I enjoy the process, I like the output, and I have friends who enjoy receiving it. And I have lots of peppers, mad skillz and a sense of pride in my accomplishment.
So why do I give a flying f*** what some frustrated old biddies in the Ag Extension office think about how it LOOKS? Not tastes, mind you, but looks.
Because, let's be real - it tastes amazing. People offer to buy it. They crave it - they ask for it by name. I am known for my sense of humor, my massive vocabulary (and boobs) and my pepper jelly. Not necessarily in that order.
So I refuse to pin my worth on what these judges think. And now that you have to pay to enter, and to get in, and you have a four hour drop off window, and a four hour pick up window...
I'm tired of it. Frankly, I'm just tired. And I'm done. And it's not like I'll really miss the fair. I have access to goats in other venues, and I don't need to win a large stuffed banana with dreadlocks because some dude incorrectly guessed my age.
It was a good run. I had a lot of fun and I had some success. It was worth doing.
But it's not worth it any more.
I may come back and do it again next year, I may not.
But for right here, right now... this is the right thing.
Thanks!
ae
PS - N & O Chambers of Cumberland Furnace, TN. This is not an admission of defeat. Y'all can take your jelly and shove it ... in a display case in the exhibit hall. Ultimately, I win, even if you have a ribbon.
I've decided not to enter my pepper jelly in the State Fair this year.
 |
| This hurts me more than it hurts you. |
No, I'm not dying, it's not a cry for help, either.
It's just gotten to be a huge pain in the ass, and I've decided life is too short to waste time on things that are so fundamentally irritating and unrewarding.
I have some ribbons. One of each color, to be exact - and in some cases, more than one. It would be great to have a final blue ribbon to close out my fair years in true OCD style, but to quote my sister, "The juice ain't worth the squeeze."
I still plan to make quite a bit of pepper jelly, because I enjoy the process, I like the output, and I have friends who enjoy receiving it. And I have lots of peppers, mad skillz and a sense of pride in my accomplishment.
So why do I give a flying f*** what some frustrated old biddies in the Ag Extension office think about how it LOOKS? Not tastes, mind you, but looks.
Because, let's be real - it tastes amazing. People offer to buy it. They crave it - they ask for it by name. I am known for my sense of humor, my massive vocabulary (and boobs) and my pepper jelly. Not necessarily in that order.
So I refuse to pin my worth on what these judges think. And now that you have to pay to enter, and to get in, and you have a four hour drop off window, and a four hour pick up window...
I'm tired of it. Frankly, I'm just tired. And I'm done. And it's not like I'll really miss the fair. I have access to goats in other venues, and I don't need to win a large stuffed banana with dreadlocks because some dude incorrectly guessed my age.
 |
| Carnie Not Included |
It was a good run. I had a lot of fun and I had some success. It was worth doing.
But it's not worth it any more.
I may come back and do it again next year, I may not.
But for right here, right now... this is the right thing.
Thanks!
ae
PS - N & O Chambers of Cumberland Furnace, TN. This is not an admission of defeat. Y'all can take your jelly and shove it ... in a display case in the exhibit hall. Ultimately, I win, even if you have a ribbon.
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