Take a Trip to Oktoberfest 2012 at Barksdale Air Force Base

Oktoberfest 2012 is in the books and a grand time was had by all!

This was the fifth year Barksdale Air Force Base has put on an Oktoberfest celebration and each year gets better and better.  The first year was a valiant effort but it was a starting point; that year there weren't enough beer taps and the lines were insanely long and they ran out of beer very early in the evening.

This year there were sixteen beer taps with several types of beer from which to choose.  The food was inside the Club this year and was even better than last year.  They sold over 1,200 advance tickets and I have no idea how many people just walked up.

It's all for good cause - Operation Bright Holiday which sends Airmen home for the holidays.  The goal this year was to send 35 Airmen home.  All the proceeds and whatever was stuffed into the tip jars went to the cause.

As usual, Steve and I were among the first to arrive.  We staked out a good seat near the front at one of the long tables.  The band was AlpenMusikanten who returned for the fifth year in a row.

Steve is hard at work folding my new Oktoberfest t-shirt:

It wasn't long before lines began to form at the beer taps:

You had to have OktoberBucks to buy beer:

I walked around and looked at the shields for the decorated shield contest:

Here's another one:

As I said, the food was inside this year, spread out beautifully in the Club.  In the first year there was one long buffet table and two lines, one on each side.  You can see they've figured out a better way:

There were four tables this time and another one for the kids with hot dogs and such.  The menu for adults consisted of sliced cucumbers, German potato salad, bratwurst, schnitzel, and saurkraut with apples.  Various rolls and bread choices were offered as well as big, salty pretzels.  German chocolate cake was for dessert:

It's always interesting to see who turns out for these things; I love to people watch.  This couple was sitting near us and they seemed to be having a grand time all evening:

After dinner Steve and I had our annual Oktoberfest picture made...

...and then I saw my friend Rose who was giving out the Oktoberfest mugs to each ticket holder:

I took a couple of shots of the growing crowd before it got dark:

Another:

Each year they have a costume contest and call up everyone who dressed up to participate.  I won it for the last two years (wearing a skimpy Oktoberfest costume!) but this year I wanted to wear something more authentic.  Besides, at my age I started to feel sort of silly in a tiny costume meant for someone much thinner and younger!  So, I ordered a really pretty dirndl and was much more comfortable.  However, I lost this year.  To a keg.  The winner this year was a guy dressed up like a keg - and it really pumped beer!  Heck, even I voted for the keg; it was great!

AlpenMusikanten is very big on audience participation so I was drafted to participate in the Guacamole song:

However, I could not be persuaded to participate in the yard drinking contest:

There weren't any female entrants in that contest this year although a girl did win in last year.

There was a keg rolling contest in the parking lot but it was dark and I didn't get any pictures of that.

We did The Hand Jive:

and, of course, the Thriller dance:

There was a Conga line:

 

And before you knew it, it got late and people started to go home.  Steve and I always like to listen to DJ Larry Hill who keeps the fun going after the band shuts it down.

Larry gave us a shout out for being the first to come and the last to leave every year.

Proof:

I sure hate it, but Oktoberfest is over until next year.

On a related note, here is a cool time lapse video of a day in the Hofbrau tent at the Munich Oktoberfest:



Until next year...

The SIGIS Take a Trip Series:

Take a Picnic Trip to the Lock and Dam and a Detour to Lake Bistineau

Take a Dinner Ride Through East Texas

Take a Trip to an End of Summer Party and Listen to Soulfish Blues Band

Take a Summer Trip to Jefferson, Texas and Meet New Friends

Take a Trip to Dallas, Texas and The West End

Take a Stocking the Freezer Trip to Ed Lester Farms and Find a Cool Truck!

Take a Trip to Coushatta Down Louisiana Backroads

Take a Sunday Drive in North Caddo Parish

Take a Trip to Minden's First Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival

Take a Trip to the 2012 Defenders of Liberty Air Show at BAFB
Take a Springtime Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden, LA
Take a Trip to Logansport, Louisiana
Take a Trip to the Lock and Dam on Red River
Take a Trip to the 2012 Barkus and Meoux Parade
Take a Christmas Shopping Trip to Second Hand Rose in Minden
Take a Trip to the Fourth Annual Barksdale AFB Oktoberfest
Take a Trip to Grand Cane's Fifth Annual Pioneer Trade Day
Take a Trip to the 2011 Highland Jazz & Blues Festival
Take an Autumn Trip to Jefferson, Texas
Take a Fall Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base
Take a Summertime Trip to Grand Cane
Take a Trip to Desoto Parish
Take a Summer Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Melrose Plantation 
Take a Trip to Ed Lester Farms and a Random Antique Stop
Take a Trip to the Norton Art Gallery and the Masters of Cuban Art Exhibit
Take a Trip to Natchitoches to See the Christmas Lights
Take a Trip to the Third Annual BAFB Oktoberfest
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Oakland Plantation
Take a Trip to Jefferson, Texas
Oktoberfest at BAFB

The First Debate: Live Blog

Debate time!

8:01 - Anyone here?  I'm listening to the debate live-stream on the internet because Mr. SIGIS can't bear to listen to it. 

Here we go.

8:04:  No boo's, hisses, or noisy distractions.  What fun is this?

Romney looks a little nervous.  Is that just me?  Obama opens by noting his anniversary and ... wait for it... blaming the mess he inherited.  Sigh.

"Embrace a new economic patriotism?"  What the hell does that mean?  Obama seemed all over the board on his first response to the difference between the two of them while Mitt jumps right on his five point plan.

8:10:  Obama is speaking about improving the education system and "race to the top"; he's referring to Common Core.  I'm not a fan of Common Core; I think education is a states rights issue.

Obama suggests that he and Romney agree on energy but I don't think they do.

Obama links closing the deficit to the tax code.  This is a problem.

Romney has a strong response pointing out that under this president food costs are up, energy costs are up, health care costs are up...middle class families are getting hammered.

Ah - Obama smirks when Romney points out that energy production is up but not by Obama's policies.

8:20:   My lie-meter just went off when Obama said middle class families are doing better under him.  Families can buy a new car or a new computer, he said.  Bullshit.

8:25:   Obama said he and Romney both encourage small business growth?  Really?  Everything Obama has done is killing small business.

Obama:  "Trump is a small business man although Trump doesn't think he is a small anything."  Where did that come from?

Romney is killing Obama on the economic session, I think.  Obama:  "Jim, you may want to move on to another topic."

8:30:   Romney:  "The problem with raising taxes is that is slows down the rate of growth."

Oh lord.  The blame Bush card, again - he inherited all this.  No comment on how he made it worse.

Just on appearances - Obama seems to be struggling and rambling.  Romney seems more focused and confident.  Romney:  "We still show trillion dollar deficits every year.  That's not the way to get the job done...when you're in a recession you don't raise the taxes on anyone!"

Romney schools Obama on how raising taxes kills jobs and small business.  Obama's comeback?  "We've had this discussion before."

Romney explains that getting more people working, building the tax base, raises revenue.  Raising taxes on the rich is not the answer.  Romney:  "I don't want to go down the path of Spain."

Romney seems very smart, very business savvy, very informed.  Obama struggles.

8:36:  LMAO!  Here come the corporate jets!

8:40:   Romney is cleaning Obama's clock.  He's taking Obama methodically back through points.  Best line so far from Romney points out that there is no tax break he knows of for relocating a business overseas as Obama suggests.  "I've been in business for 15 years," Romney said.  "I have no idea what you're talking about.  Maybe I need a new accountant."

Obama is now babbling about his grandparents.  Hunh?

8:45:   Romney wears a painful looking, patronizing smile all the time.  He needs a little coaching on that.

Obama is invoking his AARP support.  #FAIL

8:50:  Obama proclaims his fondness for the term "Obamacare."  Bleh.

Obama seems unsure of his own Obamacare policy but that's not a surprise because he didn't actually write it.  Can someone call Nancy Pelosi to the stage, please?

Romney makes the case for a free market and choice.

On regulations, Romney concurs that some regulations are necessary but should not be excessive.  Now, he says, there are many excessive regulations that hurt the economy, like Dodd-Frank.    Obama shakes his head as Romney speaks.

8:55:   Blame Bush, again.  Drink.

What?  Obama adocating living wills so "we can know how you're going to wind things down."  #deathpanels.  Not that there's anything wrong with a living will, just his phraseology is terrible.

9:00:  Best Twitter comment so far:  Dennis Miller:  "Obama is taking on water in all front four compartments.  He's listing...Bruce Ismay is dressing up like a woman."  LMAO!

Obama smirks when Mitt points out that he spent two years fighting for ObamaCare rather than fixing jobs.  He looks arrogant and condescending at the same time.

Obama:  "Millions of families had a pre-existing condition."  English teacher, please.

Lie meter:  Oh god.  On Obamacare - "You can keep your own insurance."  Bullshit!

He's going back and citing Obamacare talking points.  That tells you all you need to know.  #FAIL

9:00:  Obama defending death panels now.  He's getting killed in this debate.  Unconfident, stammering, reaching, nervous laughter, old talking points.  Hot mess.

9:10:   Obama:  Yes insurance rates are going up, but slowly!  LMAO!  It's almost funny.

Not quite.

Now Obama says people will lose health insurance if Obamacare is repealed yet fails to note that many more will lose insurance if it isn't repealed as their current insurers will fold and shut down because of Obamacare thus forcing you onto the government dole.  #socialism.

9:10:   Romney:  The federal government taking over healthcare is not the way to go.  Private market is best.  Obama is still defending death panels.

Next segment:  the role of government.  This ought to be fun.

9:15:   The most golfing president in history touts the importance of keeping America safe two weeks after the latest terrorist attack on an American embassy.

9:20:   Romney on the role of government:  Education is a states issue.  Government should protect the Constitution - life and liberty.  "I do not believe in cutting our military."  Romney is very strong here.  Very strong.

9:20:   On education:  Romney - it's a state and local level.  He's pro-choice for schools.  Obama - the federal government "has a significant role to play in education."  Bah.   Then he drifts into the weeds on tax cuts for the rich.  WTH?    Now babbling about community colleges partnering with business.  Would that be the same businesses that he is putting OUT of business with Obamacare and his excessive taxes and regulations? 

9:25:   Closing.  Obama got whipped.  That is all.  Whipped.  Romney was strong, confident and informed.  But, it will be interesting to see how the legacy media tries to make the case that Obama won. 

I'm almost embarrassed for Obama.  But not quite.

Debate Night Distractions

There is much to blog about in the political realm this week; I hardly know where to begin.

I'm stunned by this report from The Hill:

Had the Navy SEALs captured Osama bin Laden, the United States would have tried him in federal court, President Obama said in an interview published by Vanity Fair.

“We worked through the legal and political issues that would have been involved, and Congress and the desire to send him to Guantánamo, and to not try him, and Article III,” Obama said, referring to the federal courts.

“I mean, we had worked through a whole bunch of those scenarios. But, frankly, my belief was if we had captured him, that I would be in a pretty strong position, politically, here, to argue that displaying due process and rule of law would be our best weapon against al-Qaeda, in preventing him from appearing as a martyr,” he said.

Holy crap, Batman!  I'm just speechless by that.  Federal court?  Seriously? 

Allahpundit isn't buying it for one second:

 Self-serving nonsense, presumably being pushed by O as a bit of election-season candy for the Gitmo critics in his base. See, he still believes in due process, the drone strikes and “kill list” and indefinite detentions notwithstanding.

And on a related note, congressional approval be damned, Obama has ordered the Justice Dept. to move ahead with the acquisition of Thomson son prison in Illinois.  We've been through this.  Andrew McCarthy:

The move is drawing irate responses from key members of Congress, such as Representatives Frank Wolf and Hal Rogers of the House Appropriations Committee, and Pete King, who chairs the Homeland Security Committee. But the question, of course, is whether they will do anything about it. Congress is not without remedies here; it can start slashing money from the Justice Department’s budget and other areas where the administration will feel it. To this point, though, despite serial provocations, they’ve shown no indication of a willingness to do that.

More on that at Memeorandum.

And then, of course, there is the now infamous "race video" which is just disgusting.  Has there ever been a more divisive, race-baiting, class-warfare mongering, pandering president EVER?  Can't think of one.

Oh, and let's not forget about the stonewalling this administration is doing on the Libya investigation.

That's a lot of bad mojo coming out of this administration.  As I said, much to blog about. 

But wait!  There's a debate tonight. 

Yes, I'll be blogging, as will Legal Insurrection (and probably countless others).  I'm not sure why I'm going to subject myself to it, but I intend to try.  Time to dust off my political blogging hat.

The Thugocracy Is Alive and Well In Washington

I know now why I have subconsciously backed off political blogging and have focused on things like estate sales and Oktoberfest.  I just thought it was my mom's illness taking up my concerns, but now I have figured out that it is also the fact that I have given up trying to figure out liberals or save them from themselves.  For a while I thought I could reach a few of them but I can't go up against the legacy media who are complicit in abetting Obama's destruction of America.

Consider the new Fast and Furious bombshell from Univision (link to see video).  

Please take the time to watch that and share it where ever you can.

ABC News is the only one in the mainstream media covering this as far as I can tell:

On January 30, 2010, a commando of at least 20 hit men parked themselves outside a birthday party of high school and college students in Villas de Salvarcar, Ciudad Juarez. Near midnight, the assassins, later identified as hired guns for the Mexican cartel La Linea, broke into a one-story house and opened fire on a gathering of nearly 60 teenagers. Outside, lookouts gunned down a screaming neighbor and several students who had managed to escape. Fourteen young men and women were killed, and 12 more were wounded before the hit men finally fled.

Indirectly, the United States government played a role in the massacre by supplying some of the firearms used by the cartel murderers. Three of the high caliber weapons fired that night in Villas de Salvarcar were linked to a gun tracing operation run by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to a Mexican army document obtained exclusively by Univision News.

Yet remember how quickly everyone was to jump on the Trayvon Martin shooting.  Even Obama weighed in on that one.  Pundette:

I guess none of those 14 kids killed or 12 injured looked enough like Obama's hypothetical sons to matter? 

Mark Steyn asks, "How many dead Mexican teenagers does it take to change a light news day?"

One more time.  Eric Holder was complicit in Fast and Furious.  Obama is invoking Executive Privilege and stonewalling the investigation.  What else does he not want us to discover?  And why would anyone vote to keep this thugocracy in office?

Estate Sale Treasures

It's been a while since I posted much of anything some estate sale treasures, but I hit a cool one today.  I was on my way to the hospital to sit with mom when I stopped by a sale in an older home in one of the nicer neighborhoods in town.

I love looking at these old, fine homes when I go to estate sales.  This particular home had a built in gate at the top of the stairs, a built in telephone nook with recessed lighting, a huge, spooky basement, and off the dining room there was a cool, almost round sun room on the side of the house with louvered windows, and beautiful crystal chandeliers in the living and dining areas.  What kills me is that in these old, fine homes where the wealthiest first citizens of Shreveport lived, the kitchens are incredibly tiny.  What's up with THAT?!  The living and dining rooms are grand but I don't get the tiny kitchens.

This home hadn't been renovated or updated ever, I don't think.  It was wonderful.

The first thing I found that I couldn't leave behind was these adorable individual jelly bowls.  How cute!

I haven't pulled out my guides yet to identify the pattern but I love them.  

But here I was, people swarming all around and I'm trying to figure out how to grab all six of these and not break or damage them.  I dashed into the kitchen and found an old aluminum cake pan and put the jellies in that.  Then I was able to walk around and continue my search.

Soon I added these fabulous Fire King mugs to my stash:

Three are custard colored and one is white.  Love!  (Would love them more in jadeite but I'm still pleased.)

I fell in love with this white and navy enamelware pitcher:

I also added to my enamelware collection with these white and red bowls:

The one on the right is rather large and then left one is mid sized.  Both great for shelling peas!

I could not leave this cake plate behind:

It's in great condition - no scratches.

I found a box of old postcards and picked these three from Germany.  They're written on and addressed on the back and that makes them even better:

And finally, on the way out, I found this Vapo-Cresoline burner.  SO cool!

Read more about the Vapo-Cresoline lamp here.

What's even better is that I got all of it at 50% off its marked price!

I love a good estate sale!

Oktoberfest is Here!

So Oktoberfest is open in Munich as of last weekend so you know what that means.  It's Oktoberfest blogging at SIGIS!  It's a tradition.

What's not to love about Oktoberfest?!  A two week festival for beer?  OMG!  All in!

Don't these people look like they're having fun!?

More great pictures here.

My Oktoberfest dirndl for this year arrived today - it's perfect.  Fits perfect (always scary with mail order) and is adorable.  

AND it's not a "costume" like my ensemble from last year was.  Now, I DID win the costume contest last year (and the year before)...

but I suspect my more "modest" outfit this year won't draw top prize.  Besides, it didn't look quite that cute on me:

I don't really care about the costume contest.  It's about raising money to bring airmen home for the holidays and I'm all for that.  It's a good cause.

To get you going, check out this video from the Choctaw, Oklahoma Oktoberfest.  The same band will be at BAFB on Oktober  October 5.  A road trip might be in order next year!



Good times!

Take a Picnic Trip to the Lock and Dam and a Detour to Lake Bistineau

I'm here.  Blogging is on my back burner right now as I continue to sit with my mom in the hospital after school and on weekends.  She's been in the hospital just over four weeks now with a fractured neck.  She's still heavily medicated and not clear in her head about just about everything. It's grim but we are praying for a recovery and trying to make her as comfortable as possible.

Every now and then I just have to get out of there, though, for my own mental health.  Steve and I took the top off the Jeep today and drove down to Lock and Dam #5 on the Red River.  We like going down there and looking at the river and listening to the water.

It's a pretty spot and they've got it all fixed up with picnic tables and grills.  There are always people there fishing or just hanging out watching the water.  We've yet to catch it at a time when a boat is going through the locks but that would be very cool.  Maybe one day we'll hit it at the right time.  Steve likes watching the cranes and egrets (I guess that's what they are...).   It's just a relaxing spot.  Part of it is that I'm just drawn to water, I think.

Today there were several families out there and lots of people fishing.  And look down in the bottom right corner of this picture:  there's a person swimming in that gross, stagnant looking pool off to the side.

I'm not sure I'd have jumped in right there, ya know?  Looked dangerous to me, and all the algae and sticks drift off over there and just sit.  Gross.

I packed an Igloo with brats and potato salad, and some snacks, and we fired up one of the grills and fixed lunch.  I tried to remember everything, but you always forget something, I guess.  I forgot the paper plates.

But because we are so clever and resourceful, we made plates out of aluminum foil.  Guess which one is mine:

While we waited for the coals to get ready I walked down the rocks almost down to the river.  All these people fishing just stomp on down there like it's nothing, but I creep down the rocks slowly, searching tentatively for a sound foothold before taking each step.  One too many rolled ankles has made me less of a daredevil than I used to be.

Coming up was much faster for some reason.

Weeds or flowers?  I thought they were cheerful, either way:

And then it was time to cook.  In honor of Oktoberfest kicking off this weekend in Munich, we opted for brats:

I guess they look a mess here, but they were pretty darn good:

All doctored up and placed on my fine plate:

After we ate we doused the coals, cleaned out our grill, and climbed back in the Jeep to head toward Lake Bistineau.

Back in the day, some thirty-five years ago I guess, I used to go skiing on Lake Bistineau.  I had a friend with a 15-1/2 foot Glastron ski boat and I had my own O'brien ski and oh did we have fun on the lake!  Long summer days skiing all day, drinking a little beer, listening to some music, laughing and being young.

Boy was it ever depressing to see the lake now.  Good golly almighty.

Lake Bistineau has been battling a salvinia problem and it's just about killed the lake from what I can see.  I'm sure there are still some pretty spots on the lake but this is at Green Park:

We saw one dilapidated, trashed out trailer after another on the roads around the lake and one dried up marina after another.

When my friends and I went skiing, we used to put in at Plum Orchard.  The pictures in my memory are very different from what is there now.  The road into the marina is still there; I remembered the big tree and the asphalt turn around, but the store was gone.  So was most of the water.  This is the boat ramp:

You can see where the water line used to be.  La. Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries is drawing the water down to help kill the salvinia:

 In an effort to control aquatic vegetation, the water control structure on Lake Bistineau near Minden, La., will be opened on August 8, 2012, for a lake drawdown.
As a result of mild winter temperatures, giant salvinia has expanded beyond the control capacity of herbicide applications and salvinia weevils.  Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries survey estimates show giant salvinia coverage to be in excess of 2,000 acres.
The lake will be lowered 7 feet below pool stage and will remain lowered until January 31, 2013. 

But from the looks of things, that marina died a long time ago.

I walked out on the pier and took this; this is the channel we took leading to the open lake (the sign says "No Wake"):

And this just made me sad:

Really depressing.  Here is a history of the Lake Bistineau drawdowns; it's been controversial from day one.

At any rate, it was starting to get late so we headed back to town.  What I love about driving with the top down is that you can feel the cold pockets when you're driving down the road, you can smell the pines or a burning trash pile.  You can stop and visit with a fellow on the side of the road who is watering his goat.  (No, we really did.  "That's a prize goat!" he told us!)  We waved at old timers sitting on their porch in Doyline, and at a motorcycle group driving down Highway 80.  At a stop light in town I took this picture of birds on a wire and I wouldn't have been able to do that with a roof on my car!

Sunset over Shreveport:

It was a nice, relaxing day.  Now on to the work week.

The SIGIS Take a Trip Series:

Take a Dinner Ride Through East Texas

Take a Trip to an End of Summer Party and Listen to Soulfish Blues Band

Take a Summer Trip to Jefferson, Texas and Meet New Friends

Take a Trip to Dallas, Texas and The West End

Take a Stocking the Freezer Trip to Ed Lester Farms and Find a Cool Truck!

Take a Trip to Coushatta Down Louisiana Backroads

Take a Sunday Drive in North Caddo Parish

Take a Trip to Minden's First Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival

Take a Trip to the 2012 Defenders of Liberty Air Show at BAFB
Take a Springtime Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden, LA
Take a Trip to Logansport, Louisiana
Take a Trip to the Lock and Dam on Red River
Take a Trip to the 2012 Barkus and Meoux Parade
Take a Christmas Shopping Trip to Second Hand Rose in Minden
Take a Trip to Grand Cane's Fifth Annual Pioneer Trade Day
Take a Trip to the 2011 Highland Jazz & Blues Festival
Take an Autumn Trip to Jefferson, Texas
Take a Fall Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to the 8th Air Force Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base
Take a Summertime Trip to Grand Cane
Take a Trip to Desoto Parish
Take a Summer Trip to Second Hand Rose Antiques in Minden
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Melrose Plantation 
Take a Trip to Ed Lester Farms and a Random Antique Stop
Take a Trip to the Norton Art Gallery and the Masters of Cuban Art Exhibit
Take a Trip to Natchitoches to See the Christmas Lights
Take a Trip to Natchitoches and Oakland Plantation
Take a Trip to Jefferson, Texas