Much Thanks to Dale Strother for hosting the annual Gooberfest at his beautiful home!  As always, there was plenty to eat and a number of libations to sample in honor of our snow deity, Uller.  Even though the weather was warmer than a snow skier's delight, it seems the Northern winds and frigid air is coming closer.  So far, we've all experienced a little bit of "Jack Frost" in the early morning.  All I can say is keep thinking SNOW!  However, just a note of fair warning, since I'm a native "Buffalonian" (Buffalo, NY--Snow capital USA) I couldn't help but ask Uller to send us 2 feet of snow...Why should Buffalo have all the fun?                                         

Barb Lang.

    October the 14^th was a fine day weather wise and a great day at Sugar Mountain’s Oktoberfest. Shuttle buses were running all the way from the lower parking lots. This was my first time for this event and the turnout was most impressive. I would guess 4-5,000 people. The Mountain was alive with Austrian Oomph Music, folks in festive attire, and local crafts.

            Refreshing adult Austrian beverages were flowing and Brats mitt Kraut was available to all for a modest price. One could not truly appreciate this fine beverage, made at the oldest establishment of its kind in Bavaria, by drinking from a plastic cup…so an appropriate 1 liter glass mug was acquired….AHhhh…Prosit!...much better.  Or so I thought.  When I returned from a necessary distraction, I found that our past president had bartered away my mug in return for a promise from two potential new members to join ETMM. It’s good to take one for the team, and now we have a new incentive for new members.

            Later on, the real “Gemütlichkeit” took place at Dale Strother’s Gooberfest, not nearly as many revelers, but more ETMMer’s. Good people, good food and, yes, a modest amount of good refreshing local adult beverages.

            The traditional sacrificial bonfire was most successful in appeasing Uhlr and eliciting promises of early and plentiful piles of snow. Many thanks to Dale for all the preparations and being a very gracious host for this event, over the years.

Jim Maerder