The 2022 Bier Immersion onslaught and Oktoberfest visit are in the history books. What will 2023 bring for our intrepid band of bier connoisseurs? Here's the countdown to the start of Oktoberfest 2023...

Visit Dave Finlay's Oktoberfest Resources site to learn more about our past visits, some history and interesting anecdotes.


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Friday, May 29, 2009

Maastricht or Cannes?

't Bassin. Porte de Plaisance ! Zon, terassen, lekker eten. Zo komen wij de pinksterdagen wel door.
For our US friends: we will stay here till Monday. First week gave us everything; hot wheather, thunderstorms, rain, sun etc. Monday we will be heading for Belgium.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

High School Graduation

I don't remember this much activity surrounding high school graduation. Last week was Michele's last day of school. Tonight, we attended an awards ceremony where honors were conferred, scholarships awarded, and valedictorian announced. Saturday is baccalaureate, Sunday the actual graduation. Company coming in, family and friends. I'm glad the painting is (mostly) done and the house is back together.

Montreal's Old Town reports strong consumption

Clipped from the Montreal Gazette, Tuesday, May 26, 2009:
.... the gang, dubbed, "yankee buveurs," raided at least 12 establishments in three days leaving the entire Old Town neighborhood running low on beer, white and red wine, bourbon, and Irish whisky. Witnesses agreed that the two female gang members were, "darling," but accounts varied widely regarding the men who were described as both tall and short but dashingly handsome. Regarding the vast quantities the gang consumed, one proprietor noted, "it was as if they were training for something ...."

Monday, May 25, 2009

Hertog Jan in Cuijk

Lekker zeg. Na 45 km verder de Maas op is een biertje verdiend. Twee grote sluizen; een mini bootje naast de grote zandschepen.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Bonjour !

No pictures to share, but Guten Tag, BonJour from Montreal. Here for the weekend with Rod and Debbie.

Mass quantities of alcohol will be consumed.

Au Revoir

Keith..
Sent from My BlackBerry (excuzz any spelling missteaks)

A Desert Flower


Some like the forest, some the beaches, others river trips, still others mountains. For myself, deserts. No, not desserts - although you might think so given my girth - deserts. The clear skies, the quiet, the raw shapes of the earth, rocks and sand all combine to make the desert both visually stunning and deeply moving. Many think there is not much life in the desert other than rattlesnakes, lizards and scorpions. Not true - the picture is a flower on a cactus. They quickly bloom after the briefest of rains and disappear as quickly. By the way, my weight is down 40 lbs!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Pieces are falling into place...

First class cabin, with private shower and toilet has been reserved and paid for to transport Barleyman and Paulaner Girl to the Holy Land in time to meet everyone early Friday at the Hauptbahnhof.

Final prep is being made in paris, then we'll officially be on autopilot.

Alles gepakt !

Woensdag 20 mei
Alles zit er in. Dus nu even een biertje. Morgenochtend gaan we dan.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Just for Paulaner Girl and Her Friends

Hello from Paulaner girl


Just spent an evening drinking with my belly dancing friends. I realize this has nothing to do with Oktoberfest, but neither does Chia Obama.

This is a picture of my friend Helen and I at our annual belly dance production last Saturday.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen...


I proudly present….. Chia Obama…


Ein Prosit from Mobile Blogger Barbus

Guys,
Only 8 more days and I will send you a Prosit like this one (this time it is an Italian Forst Beer) every week (and maybe more) during 2-3 months :)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Thanks for the update Chugger

Chugger,

Thanks for the valuable info on posting! Now if we can get Paulaner Girl to get her act together.

Barleyman

Sent from HTC FUZE™

Minutes of May 2009 Board Meeting

This documents the May 2009 Board Meeting of the 2009 Oktoberfest Organizing Committee. Pursuant to Article II, Section 2 of the by-laws, there were the required minimum number of member States present (2 is the minimum, United States and The Netherlands were represented).

Old Business:
Minutes from the April meeting were summarized and approved.

Treasurer's Report:
- Starting Balance for April: $0 US
- Expenditures for April: $0 US
- Ending Balance: $0 US

New Business:
Discussion of H1N1 virus and how it might affect attendance and the health of attendees.
Should the committee pay for masks or immunizations when available? The decision was tabled until further study, but most thought drinking enough bier would kill any virus. In addition, consuming the local Pork products could also build up one's immunity.

Discussion on how to encourage Blog postings, or punish non-posters.
The Dutch representative, Barbus, brought a motion to the floor to punish members who do not post at least once a week. The American representative, Chugger, seconded the motion, and discussion continued. After further discussion of alternatives, the following requirements were agreed to by unanimous vote of the attending member states and entered into the bylaws:
  • Beginning the 1st full week of June, all Oktoberfest attendees must post a minimum of one new Blog topic per week (Comments to topics do not count)
  • Multiple postings in one week cannot be "carried over" to any subsequent week; each week starts a new requirement for posting
  • A husband and wife team must meet the weekly posting requirement, but no one member of the team can make all posts for a given month
  • Posts can be made through the traditional Web interface, or via email. Please contact Chugger if you need to know how to use email
  • A weekly tally will be maintained at the top of the Oktoberfest Visits Blog detailing each attendee's contributions
  • For every week that an attendee does not post, that attendee will be required to buy a round of bier for the team
  • Waivers and exceptions for non-posting must be brought to the attention of the full committee, with a super majority of 2/3 of the attending members agreeing before a waiver can be approved
The meeting ended with a rousing rendition of Take Me Home, Country Roads, and a joyful Gemutlikeit to All !

OK Already!


A Post: Today, WSJ had an article about EuRail passes being discounted to some earlier historic price. I emailed it to our travellers. One of which immediately checked and found the discounted price to be sold out.

IMG00015-20090512-1842.jpg

Tuesday May 12; not sure what you are doing at te moment, but I am drinking a glass good S-A redwine In te sun and thinking within 9 days from now we are on our boat trip.
Of course I will keep posting when it has to with Beer. Next to this visit my journey blog Barbusmmr2009.blogspot.com when you are interested in Wine.

New Way to Post

That's right. Not at your PC, but want to share some Oktoberfest thoughts? Or maybe your BlackBerry just doesn't render the blog properly. Now you can post via email, just like I'm doing now.

Send me an email if you want to know how.

Ein Prosit !


Keith..
+1.937.545.4841 (C)
+1.937.436.2779 (H)
Sent from My BlackBerry (excuzz any spelling missteaks)

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Of People, Families, and friends

It never ceases to amaze me how different every person is. yet in all this confusion we call life, we cull out our friends from the herd, we adapt to our families, and manage the people around us.

Sitting in the backyard of Casa Finlay, listening to Jimmy Buffet, and sipping, nay drinking, a nice Claret, anticipating a bacon wrapped filet, I ponder the world. I whistle a jaunty tune. And I yearn for the buzz of the tents, the rush of the train, the scent of the sausage, and the spirit of Bavaria.

Peace to all and cheers!

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Something we have missed...

Is there really something pertaining to bier in the Land of Oz that we have missed?

Check it out...

Friday, May 01, 2009

Happy May Day !

Seems like an appropriate way to start off the morning and month.

Now, what did that Scare Crow in The Wizard of Oz sing...

Ah, I know, "If I only had a bier".