the State Fair, you are missing out. It is the largest state fair in the U.S. and it certainly does not disappoint. Just like everything else in Texas, it's big! Big Tex is your host and he greets you each day with a big, slow, "Howdy, Folks".

Yep, Born in Texas and Built by Texans. The beloved Tundra greets you at the entrance of the outdoor display:

Lots of rain=really wet sneakers. Those hand dryers come in really handy on the wet days.

The show! Trackside Tina is a great addition this year with some great prizes, a little NHRA and a whole lot of Kyle Busch from the Toyota Racing NASCAR team:

Perhaps my favorite edition to Toyota Live this year is the new intro: new music, new graphics, and myalong with a few anecdotes:

This was my very first apartment in Manhattan at 5 St. Mark's Place between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. I list the entire address because those who know NY will understand that this is probably the most chaotic block of St. Mark's Place. The apartment was cramped with two girls living in a one bedroom with a lofted bed. Ah, the joys of a NY apartment: no space, high rent, and lots of people living in one room. The building used to have a huge pop art mural on the West side of the building, but it is now painted an unsightly white. Check out the steamy Susan Sarandon/James Spader movie, White Palace, to see what it looked like.

I lived in NY so long ago