“The real character of a man is found out by his amusements.”

- Joshua Reynolds

In the classic movie “The Wizard Of Oz,” when Dorothy bumped her head, she dreamed she went over the rainbow. But for me, my journey this week will soon take me only a few miles away to the great New York State Fair. And just like that fairy tale land, I will meet strange people, eat exotic foods, and maybe, just maybe, I'll ride the Cyclone.

The fair brings all that is great about our state into one big jumble and for at least one day out of the year we get to enjoy everything that New York has to offer. It's also a time when I pretty much forget everything that my doctor has told me about sticking to my diet and throw it out the window because I'm just not strong enough when it comes to walk away sundaes, fried dough, homemade fudge, or those plates of blooming onions. Sure I might gain a few pounds and my cholesterol will increase, but the way I see it, my heart can use the workout.

And if you doubt the innovative nature that is the fair then let me ask you this: where else can you go to get award winning wine, pureed into a slushy, and then poured into a container shaped like a space alien? See, now that's creativity in its most pristine state.

And when you walk around you'll see that this state has so much to offer to catch your eye. There's a new butter sculpture as well as a lady that's going to carve cheese, and if you're lactose intolerant they even have a sculpture made out of sand. So, like I said, there's something for everybody.

Let's not forget the many exciting attractions. And when I say attractions, of course, I am talking about livestock. I mean, seriously, where else in central New York can you see hundreds of cows on display all at one time? It's like the Miss America pageant for bovines only with less lipstick and real teats. I hear that they are even rumors of adding a swimsuit competition this year.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, they are going to be having a Masters of the Chain saw demonstration shown daily in the youth activity center. Now this is one event that that I won't want to miss because nothing says “family entertainment” more than the mixing youthful innocence with the raw power of chain saws Sure, it might seem odd that the Red Cross is doing a first aid demo right next door but, I'm sure that's just a coincidence.

All in all it's a great way to wrap up your summer. So gather the family, take the drive to Syracuse and I guarantee that by the end of the day even you will be saying “I love New York.”

Auburn native Bradley Molloy's column appears here, each

Sunday. He can be reached at lovonian@hotmail.com