The Mystery Spot

October 15th

Friends of ours watched Ta while we were in Germany for almost three weeks.  In exchange, we watched their three daughters for a week.  I can feel your raised eyebrows and concerns that this isn't a fair trade.  Don't be too concerned, they're good kids, AND I only promised their parents that I was 95% sure they'd all still be alive at the end of the week.  I set really low standards.

As something to do for one of the days, we took E and J to the Mystery Spot.  G was off at a friend's house, so she missed the mystery.  Our friends Josh and Nicole met us there with their two kids.  Josh is photo-bombing our photo.

In this mysterious spot E is taller than J - which is normal.  They're standing on a level so you know the ground is even.But, if they switch spots, E and J are the same height! (I....didn't take a picture, so you'll just have to believe me)

Why is the Mystery Spot so mysterious?

Sunlight, illuminating the mystery shack.

E is a bit of a ham.

Oh my goodness!  Look at that reverse Michael Jackson lean!

SO much leaning.  It's mysterious!

J and E getting ready to be superheros.

I can stand on walls!

E can also stand on walls.

Hey, there's Nicole.  Hiding behind her camera.  

J practicing her Ninja Warrior skills.

M is being a super hero as well.  L is sort of waiting his turn.  Josh is doing the reverse MJ lean.

Here, when everyone stands on this perfectly normal level board, they're all about the same height.

But when the ends swap, look at the difference!  MAGIC!

Maybe the house is leaning, maybe it's E. 

And here's the three shell game only with kids and mystery:

First up is J, L, and random kid.

Next is different M, random kid, and E. 

All in all it was a very mysterious place, but more importantly, we had fun.  

And we got souvenirs.

This concludes our adventures for today.

OktO4fest

September 30th

While we were in Germany our tomato plants produced about 10 lbs of tomatoes.  

This was on top of the roughly 20 lbs of tomatoes they had previously produced.  

Anyway, Dan promoted to O-4 which is very exciting.  In the Navy when you promote you have a Wetting Down.  Usually this is a big party where you spend the difference in the paychecks on the party.  Since we'd just come from Oktoberfest and were still in the Oktoberfest season, we decided to have OktO4fest.

I really love that so many people came to celebrate Dan's promotion.  This was also JD's last night (or close to last) in Monterey, so we tried to give him a good send off as well.

A few surprise attendees: Dave and his boyfriend Yev came down from Berkely, Matt and Emily and kids came down from Freemont, and Dan's parents came out from Iowa.  It was really good to see them and have them here.

 Ryan, John, and Christian (an actual German, which adds some authenticity to our party 😉) seemed to have a good time.

 At some point we had two games of baseball and one game of beer pong going on in the garage.  Only one grumpy distant neighbor came to yell at us - the immediate neighbors were at the party.

All in all I think it was a really great night.  We have a great group of friends here and I really appreciated them all coming out to celebrate Dan .  I wish I had taken more photos, but I was having too much fun and forgot.

 This concludes our adventures for tonight.

Alpine Wanderings - Day 15 Munich, Germany

September 19th

After a late morning, we wandered back to the fairgrounds to enjoy more Oktoberfest.

Some rowdy, but nice, Australians let us cram into their table.

Country Roads.  No one knows the words other than the refrain.  

Also, not a song you'd expect at Oktoberfest.

That's my forehead in the corner.  I was very concerned about this noise behind me.  

Sometimes people fall down.

We found out other friends from California made it to Oktoberfest and we went in search of them.  Despite really terrible cell service, we actually managed to find them.  Which is an Oktoberfest miracle.  Seriously.  The tents are so packed you could walk past your own mother and not realize she was there.  So the fact that we found them, and fairly quickly is nothing short of miraculous. 

A photo with someone who's not Dan.  This is Veronica.

Group selfie!!

The beer was trying to be a part of the photo.  Dan, Veronica, Nick, Chelsea, and me.  We were many beers in.  It was delightful.  As we had to fly out the early the next day, we figured we should call it a night and left our friends and the tent behind.

Heading home I found a bagpiper.  I was super excited (and a bit drunk) and was yelling "I found my people!"  I made Dan take a photo.  I'm about half German and half Scottish by heritage, so finding a Scottish piper at Oktoberfest was really exciting.  

We flew back to California in the morning. 

This concludes our adventures for today.

Alpine Wanderings - Day 14 Munich, Germany

September 19th

 Today we're drinking.  It's Oktoberfest!

 First beer!
Also, I got this necklace in Garmisch.  I saw it in a perfume store window one day and really liked it but the store was closed.  I wasn't going to go back for it, but Jee convinced me to go.  I'm so glad I did.  I love it. 

It's important to eat well before fulling diving into Oktoberfest.

We were here between the early birds, who are now taking a nap/break and the evening folks.

But the band was fun and people were dancing.

I liked their use of antlers for decorations.

Specials for Oktoberfest.  The food was delicious.  I really need to learn to make knodel.

Everyone taking their photo in front of Bavaria Statue.

We went to the Paulaner tent to get Paulaner beer.

We ran through Cafe Kaiserschmarm because it looks like a cake castle.  

We didn't stay, but we got crowns!

I found this episode's pineapple!!!

It'sa me!  Bavario!

We went in search of the toboggan ride that we went on last time we were here.

And the terrifying Moses/Jesus/Miner statue and ride.

And then we went on the ride, since last time all I remember is spinning and trying not to puke.

Turns out it's very giggly ride.

So many gnomes!

I really want knodel, but I'm so full.

I might end up looking like this if I do learn to make knodel.

This lion might be auditioning out for RuPaul's Drag Race.

Oh, here it is again, but not in drag.

Oktoberfest!

Hacker-Pschorr horses.  I like their little hats.

They're no Clydesdales, but they still look fancy.

Artsy Augustiner. 

Regular Augustiner.

I was amused that as you went away from us, the gingham check shirt grids got larger.

After having a bit to drink and some lovely food we headed back to our hotel.

This concludes our adventures for today.