Minnesota State Fair 2025

Offered without comment:

The First Time…

20 years ago on FITK

Image: The Tallest Man

... I met an Icelander.

Not in books, not on TV, but in the flesh. My juvenile mind had already been primed by the outlandish Journey to the Center of the Earth (both the book and the movie) and exotic scenes depicted on Ísland postage stamps. It was in the early sixties, at the Minnesota State Fair and, for some reason, my parents thought I was old enough to have some money and be allowed to experience the Midway area by myself. There were rides and games of ‘skill’ but the things that most intrigued me there were the sideshows: motorcycle racers going around in a giant wooden barrel, Lash LaRue and his amazing whip, Harlem In Havana, with its attractive ‘ebony’ dancers, and the freaks: Siamese twins, boys younger than me, conjoined at the waist, in their sad little trailer with a collection of toys and a TV tuned to afternoon soap operas; the “fattest family alive” which nowadays could be reproduced in almost any city; and the odd animals- some embryonic, others walking around with an extra limb or two.

But the headliner, the act with the biggest painting on the canvas in front of the tent, was ‘The Viking Giant’, from the land of fire and ice - Iceland. Of course I had to see him. He did not disappoint. Billed as 8 feet 8 inches (probably somewhat shorter in real life, but somewhat taller in his high boots and tall cap) he was the biggest man I have ever seen. I shook his hand, I bought a souvenir ring, (a prized possession for many years) and was generally awestruck. His movements were slow, deliberate, so as not to squish any of us little imps who swarmed around him. I was impressed, even then, by his reserved demeanor in such a strange setting. His anglicized name was Johann Petursson and he was also known as Jóhann Svarfdælingur. He was active in the U.S. until the 1980s (including a cameo in the movie Carny) and then returned to Iceland where he died in 1984.

An indelible first impression and, perhaps, the seed of a life-long fascination with ‘The Rock’ and its people.


Mary Rawls, Johann, circa 1956

UPDATE: More on Johann… Comments:

Blogger lab munkay said...

You need to read "Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn. Wonderful fiction about carny life. Also if you use the Oseola bridge landing on the St. Croix, you can paddle your new craft through less inhabited land.

Anonymous said...

Wow, you actually met Jóhann Svarfdælingur in the flesh? That is so cool. He lead a rather interesting life. There is a museum in his name somewhere here in Iceland.

Not connected, but Jóhann Pétursson was also the name of my grandfather, which is why one of my sons carries the name Jóhann Pétur.

Blogger Iceland Eyes said...

...I've been to the Jóhann museum where a collection of his personal belongings as well as his furniture is housed. His size is hard to grasp...his ring is big enough for my to put my whole arm through, his chair I'd have to literally climb into. It's a small, intimate museum just north of Akureyri in Dalvík and it's definitely worth the trip!

Verðbólga*

*Inflation.

I've been lucky in the past with my Icelandic excursions.

I’m a frugal traveler and while Iceland has always been expensive in the last couple of years prices there have jumped. Part of this is due to Covid’s depressing effects in 2021 and 2022, the other part is general inflation world-wide.

One constant throughout has been Icelandair’s erratic flight pricing. I’m sure they have their own rationale; the day of the week of departures and returns matters a lot—a difference up to $500 dollars for basically the same flight!

My travel dates are pretty well set beforehand in that I want to have a full weekend before Iceland Airwaves begins (thankfully, Airwaves has not gone up in price) to catch some theatre productions. This time I did manage to snag a round trip which was somewhat higher than what I’ve paid in the past, but not as bad as a day or two later.

Getting from the airport to the city via Flybus is another thing. The price jumped from about $17 to $32 in a couple of years! There are other options but none are as practical—you need at least 4 people to make a taxi cheaper, and the Stræto bus is slow and erratic.

The first thing I always do when arriving in Reykjavik is head for Vesturbærjarlaug, my favorite swimming pool. When I turned 67 admission was free but the cash-strapped city figured out that doddering old tourists using the facilities should be paying something. Single admissions are about $8 but seniors can get a year pass for about $32. Since I’ll be using the pool at least 10 times, it’s still a great bargain:

The biggest price jump is in lodging. The last time I stayed at The Castle House it was just at the end of the Covid shutdown and a one bedroom apartment was $114 a night. Now a studio is double that:

Even the cheap eats have gone up. A hotdog at Bæjarins now over $5 (but still cheaper than  the Minnesota State Fair):

After my $440 meal (now $600) the last time I was here, I’m guessing that this trip will be a good time to go on a diet.

Rollerblade Girls

20 years ago on FITK

Usually when I visit the feral cats I’m by myself.

The cats don’t like crowds; they barely tolerate me.

Although on one occasion, as I getting ready to leave, a pair of girls on rollerblades zipped over from the paved foot-path. They saw me with Buster (the one feral who does like to get his head scratched) and started a conversation. They asked about the cats, if they were pets (no, not really), if I fed them (some times, not all the time), how often I came here (oh, whenever), and if I had accepted the Lord Jesus as my personal savior.

Oh my. I try not to get involved in conversations like this, I have had quite enough of them for a lifetime (starting when I was about their age, by some coincidence.) I mentioned that Jesus was OK by me, but Christianity was really founded and defined by Paul. I opined to them that Paul was really not a very good man. I don’t think they were up to a session of comparative early Christian beliefs, but I did indulge them. We talked some more, and then I mentioned that Jesus had never married and that I think anyone who had not been involved in a complete, committed relationship may be somewhat deficient in his or her life experience. One of the girls was getting a little nervous at the direction the conversation was taking. The other girl, who was emerging as the leader, reiterated her faith.

How does a mature man talk theology to a 16 year-old girl in short-shorts wearing rollerblades? She must be old enough to know of the lies and lusts and deceits of men, of the inequality and repression inherent in the sex roles of most cultures? How the largest Christian faith has absolutely no place of power in its hierarchy for women? She may have been naive, but who was I to shatter her faith? I knew that faith was really a great comfort to her.

They finally did say goodbye, and as they skated off I was left with a feeling of incompleteness. There was a clash of idea systems there that afternoon. Nothing was resolved, no one had a change of heart.

The cats, perhaps wiser than me, said nothing.

Commenting…

Blogger lab munkay said...

I was always under the impression that during that time and social climate, it was the Christians who treated the women as partners and not objects. I wonder what Ruth, Ester, Deborah, and Martha, and even Jezabel would say on the power issue? Think I'll put on my daisey dukes, and find some unsuspecting guy to discuss this with.

Blogger Professor Batty said...

...yes, I sense that also, and the old testament women you mentioned had more of an impact than those in the new- poor Martha, gets rebuked from JC just for asking for a little help with the dishes! Something happened between then and now...

Blogger Dondi said...

I totally loved this entry... but I must say that I do not think that 16 year old girls are "old enough to know of the lies and lusts and deceits of men..." having been a 16 year old girl in a past life and a 16 year old big city urban dweller at that. It took a few more years before I had the experiences with the lies and lusts and deceits of men...especially old men. I could tell you a few stories some time.

Reposted

Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Preview 2025

Once again, the Minnesota State Fair is almost upon us. The fair's harbinger is the Fine Art Preview night, where hungry culture vultures congregate in hope of finding artistic sustenance:

When I finally got in I was encouraged by the second image I saw:

The Crane Wife, a charcoal and pastel drawing by Jennifer Soriano was elegant and evocative. Alas, the same could not be said for most of the rest of the exhibition. Clichés and formality were the order of the night and after a while I found myself distracted by people-watching:

For the very first time, I left the preview early—too much of not enough. See the whole exhibition here. The most memorable sight of my evening was on the way back to the car:

I’ll return to the fair next Friday with new images.

For music previews read my friend Mark’s annual wrap-up.

Dolly Mania

Recent celebrity sighting in my hometown riverside park:

Not to be outdone, this troubador performing just down the street for the patrons of the wine bar, sang Jolene:

Brickwork

Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, 2011

Three more from Ely:

International Wolf Center employees:

Tree roots on Cedar Lake:

Vintage signage on Sheridan Street:

The Autoblogomatic™

20 years ago on FITK

From Flippist Industries comes a new product, guaranteed to make your life more fulfilling, rewarding and moister! The Autoblogomatic™ is now available (in a variety of designer colors), ready to enable you to compose your blog entries with only a few keystrokes, instead of laboring with hours of soul-searching and mental gymnastics. Here's how it works:

Type in a routine blog entry like this:

When I was young I had a dog named Daisy. She was a good dog, although she was not without her faults.

Not very interesting, is it? But let's push the IRONY button and we get:

When I was young, I had this dog who was my whole life, and then she ran away and was hit by a car. Life's a bitch and then she dies.

Too grim? How about a little CUTE from the Autoblogomatic™:

My childhood bestest friend in the whole world was my puppy, Daisy-doodley-doo-kins. She had big brown puppy eyes, and she would be sad when she did a no-no.

The Autoblogomatic™ also works for political content, just press the
RUSH key:

There are those among us who masquerade as our best friends, but although they may act the part, let's call them for what they are - Liberals!

This compact machine (about the size of a small refrigerator) will look right at home in your den, garage or survivalist bomb-shelter. Won't you be the talk of the Blogosphere when you fire up the Autoblogomatic© and turn your mundane drivel into award-winning, power-packed, I-lit! Send no money now! If you are not completely satisfied with your Autoblogomatic™, just return it personally to the home office in Nome Alaska, and our crack team of service professionals will be happy to beat you senseless.

Commenting:

Blogger lab munkay said…
You had me at moist.

Blogger Dondi said...
sign me up for purple and lime green with SERENDIPITY and DESTINY

Blogger Professor Batty said...
...lab munkay- you had me at "Bittersweet"

Blogger RS said...
Hey, nice :)

Image: AI Image Generator

UPDATE: When I wrote this 20 years ago I was being fanciful and sarcastic. Now, with AI chat programs, this is a reality, and it’s on your phone!

Reposted

Cedar Lake Sunset

Near Ely, Minnesota:

The Big Dig

“Com’on down to the big dig” ~ Captain Beefheart

Four images from the Hull Rust Mine View, Hibbing, Minnesota:

Barflies

New Ulm Minnesota, circa 1915, Schell Brewery museum.

In the 1860s New Ulm, Minnesota, was home to two breweries, August Schell’s and Haunenstein’s. Both reflected the city of New Ulm’s German heritage: Schell’s is currently thriving, but Hauenstein folded in 1969.

From the appearance of the attire of these gentlemen it would seem that this photograph was taken in winter.

Perhaps some warming spirits were the order of the day.

Dance Party

20 years ago on FITK



the party house on north fifth be there on saturday music
food and tunes and dancing things got wild and jr. walker
and the all stars are playing on the box then hard boiled
eggs appear and are gently made part of the dance rolling
from foot to foot caressed so as not to break them and so
then Barb hops on top and squats and clucks like the wild
hen the egg dance created and everyone who was there will
never ever forget the crazy dance with egg the its memory
of crazy barb's egg dance is still hot thirty years later

Image: Tim Rummelhoff

Reposted

Bijou Lake

Idyllic summer scene, Lake Park, Minnesota. 

Orange Crush

Workers at The Mouth Trap (deep-fried cheese curds stand) Minnesota State Fair, 2024