Hemmingsen: Monday at the fair

Am I glad I'm not a TV meteorologist.

Until this week, I always had thought the job looked like fun - playing around with that green screen, moving storm fronts with your own two hands.

But after spending time with Kaj O'Mara at The Gazette Communications booth at the Johnson County Fair on Monday, I was reminded that weather is up there with politics and religion in terms of Iowan priorities. It's no fun and games.

“You guys told us it was going to lightly rain,” a woman chastised Kaj in passing, a half-dozen day care kids in tow. “Then it stormed!” One of her preschoolers pulled a pouty face.

I've made plenty of people mad in my career, but I've never been pouted at.

Remember, the nice folks over at KCRG-TV9 don't make the weather. Although, if they could, every day would be like the sunny, breezy opening day of the fair.

Gazette account executive Deb Owen and Gazette food/community writer Angie Holmes joined Kaj and me to make up the lunchtime shift.

We got some love, some story ideas and questions, some gossip and - speaking of job security - at least one new subscription.

Local Democrat and health care reform activist Sarah Swisher swung by. She was gathering signatures for her petition to get on this fall's ballot as a candidate for Iowa City school board.

Swisher's usually in the news for getting her hands dirty with statewide or national issues. She told me she's turning her focus closer to home, in part, because of enrollment disparities in the schools. More on that issue later.

We also saw Rep. Dave Loebsack's district representative, Dave Leshtz. He looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if he was there for work or for fun.

“Both,” he said, flashing a grin.

I guess I was in the same boat, helping myself to a pork burger and checking out Ugly Cake contestants. Scatological themes were popular in the latter, including a litter box cake that has put me off cake, and cats, for a long time.

I toured the barns and the exhibition halls, flipped through a county fair history from the Johnson County Historical Society, ate some Farm Bureau popcorn and even cruised the midway.

I'm telling you, this local columnist business is hard work.

So hard, in fact, that I'm headed home for my big annual staycation. I'll be back Aug. 12.

Until then, Kaj, could you conjure up some good weather for me?

Jennifer Hemmingsen's column appears on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Contact the writer at (319) 339-3154 or jennifer.hemmingsen@gazcomm.com