Yesterday, during a fun-filled staff lunch at Barnacle Bud's, Andy (Tarnoff) and I had a conversation about drunk shopping. I hope he doesn't mind that I'm sharing this with the entire OnMilwaukee.com audience, but he confessed to buying a $200 CD box set of '80s hits after seeing a commercial on television at 3 a.m.

The next morning, he called back the "operator standing by" and sheepishly asked if he could retract his order -- even though he probably lost his sole opportunity to have Sheena Easton and Joey Ramone in one collection. Luckily, she said yes.

This reminded me of a drunk shopping experience I had last summer, at the State Fair. I find this particularly scary because, in a sober state, the only things I am willing to spend money on at the fair are deep fried or ice cold.

However, last year, while trying to exit the fairgrounds, I ended up lost and inside a tent full of cowboy hats.

At first, I was all chuckles. I tried on the black, suede "Vince Condella," the wicker-y "Paris Hilton," the lesbian-lovin' "Lucinda Williams" and a few others that were way too "yee-haw" for this East Sider. But on my way out, I saw one that changed my perception of cowboy hats forever.

Propped atop a styrofoam display head was the cutest cowboy -- no, cowGIRL -- hat I had ever seen. Light brown with a dark brown leather star in the middle, it had a hispter/sheriff look to it and was unlike any other I had ever seen. Impulsively I tried it on and -- lo and behold -- it was a perfect fit. Despite the $50 price tag, this state fair beer soak bought it.

The most amazing part is that I did not regret it. In fact, it inspired me to buy another cowboy lid at a rummage sale and even a pair of cowboy boots last winter. However, I am gong to be careful about drunk shopping this year at the fair. I probably wouldn't get so lucky a second time around, and would end up buying something with fringe in all the wrong places.