GEM Fest Weekend

Every year in the third weekend of July, a small miracle transcends the quite town of Grey Eagle, MN; GEM Fest.  While some contend that GEM Fest is named after an acronym for the city and the state, I argue that it is named after the GEM of a small town that it is. 

I brought the girls up to the farm on Friday night.  Kayidance (the girls' cousin) was up at the farm from Friday afternoon until Saturday after lunch and I wanted Anya to get as much time with her as possible.  With Alicia in Vegas for the weekend, it was great to get the extra help from Grandpa and Grandma. GEM Fest activities include a volleyball tournament, a softball tournament, a tractor pull, an ice cream social, a parade and a free petting zoo.  Grandma agreed to watch the girls so Carrie, Aaron, and I could dominate the volleyball tourney.  We came in second and scored us $10 in prize money.  In the evening Hairball, a 1980s-90s hard rock cover band, performed on the small field next to downtown.  After I put the girls to bed, I went out with some of the Pohlmann's to take in the cultural event.  For a town of 285, Grey Eagle sure did draw in a good crowd for the rowdy band.  Almost 4000 fans were in attendance for the flamboyant performance.  The evening was a night of high energy rock music, testosterone fueled fights, and raging alcoholism.  Being sober, I felt like a black person in the state of North Dakota; I was all alone.  I think the city made more money off of the beer sales in one night than they do in property taxes for the year.  After a few hours I had had enough and made my way back to the car.  Just outside of the concert there was a man holding 4 empty beer pitchers wobbling down the middle of the street.  A police officer stopped the man and asked him to get out of the road.
Officer - "Where are you heading sir?"
Drunk Man - "I parked my car a few blocks away."
Classic

The next morning the girls and I went to the parade.  After gathering a full milk bucket full of candy, we visited the petting zoo and called it a day.  Grandma rode with us on the way home and noticed Anya was sitting very low in her car seat. 
Grandma - "Anya you should sit up, the buckle isn't going help."
Anya - "But it's comfortable."
Grandma - "If the police pull us over, they are going to yell at you for not sitting up."
Anya - "No they won't, they'll yell at daddy for not taking good care of us."
Bev and I couldn't help but laugh.

As usual we had a great time at the farm.  Aside from Caitlin 'helping' out Grandpa and Grandma in the barn and stepping squarely in a large pile of cow shit in her cute pink sandals and Reegan not wanting to go to bed until 11:00pm, the weekend was a success.  The girls sure do love their Grandparents.

Tip of the Day - If GEM Fest sounds like fun, go 'online' to the 'internet' with your 'computer' and go to a 'website' called 'Facebook' and 'like' GEM Fest. I know I know, it sounds like something out of Star Trek, but if it helps you remember to attend this amazing festival, it will be worth your while.