Man Bag
So we spent the afternoon at the Oktoberfest Wies'n with Bob and Mardi today. "Wies'n" means meadow, but it's actually a good old fairground or carnival. A really big one! We went to the Paulaner tent around 10:30 am, and ordered beer and sausages. Well, Kris ordered a Coke, but she promised to drink with us in the wine tent. I drank a full liter "Mass", and Bob and Mardi shared one (wimps!). Our tablemates were a nice couple from Edmonton, Canada.
Kris and Michael...not drunk yet.
Mardi and Bob...cheating a little bit - they were sharing one!
Bob acting French. Lots of scowling and Merde!
Back outside we admired the good food at the Kaefer tent, but there was nowhere to sit, so we went to the wine tent. Upstairs there were plenty of seats so we grabbed a table. Bob, Mardi and I each had a 1/2 liter Weissbier, and Kris had a Merlot, but dang it wasn't very good. Kind of vinegery? We ordered Dampfnudeln, which is like a piece of hot cake in vanilla sauce, and also homemade chocolate ice cream.
Now Kris, Bob and Mardi rode the famous Tobaggan ride, where drunk people are hefted up a conveyer belt to hilarious effect. Everyone tries to stand up in a dignified way, but watching people roll, bob, weave, dance and experience pratfalls has become a spectater sport. The actual slide to ride down from the tower is just an aftereffect. Mardi started to fall and got some help from one of the burly men supervising the belt. Bob turned in a marvelous athletic performance, and when I say marvelous I mean boring! Kris refused all offers of help from the burly attendants and immediately slipped and fell, laughing (or crying?) as the belt carted her up on her back! She did get the loudest crowd reaction though and that's what it's all about I think!
Next we rode a water roller coaster, where I alone got pretty soaked. The drops were really fun, and we laughed a lot. Before we could lose our buzz we had to repair back into a tent. First a stop off to the Kaefer tent for Kris to have a big shot of vodka, then into the Loewenbraeu tent, a really rowdy place. We found a seat next to some guys from Birmingham, England. Another Mass of beer for me, which Kris tried to drink from. Bob and Mardi shared another one. Bob bought some cigars, so pretty soon he and I were quaffing beer from our enormous glasses, smoking up the place with our cigars. And caught up in the excitement of it all, the English guys even got me and Mardi to try snuff tobacco. Seems like a good thing if you have a cold and your sinuses are blocked up.
I don't know everything that happened from there, but there was lots of shouting and laughing. I remember the guy next to me was Welsh and he spilled beer all over my leg. I said at least now I can piss my own pants without fear of embarrassment. For some reason that was really funny (to me). At some point Mardi quietly revealed that I have a sort of "man purse" to carry my jacket, wallet and other things. Word got out quickly, and soon the whole table was chanting "MAN BAG!" and pointing at me. "He has a MAN BAG!" I tried unsuccessfully to stem the tide by pointing out that my satchel was, properly termed, a "European Carryall (TM)". Hoo boy, that just made it worse. Finally I decided it's better to go down with the ship, so I raised my man-purse high and proclaimed to one and all that yes! I have a Man-bag, and I'm proud! Also it's a very nice green.
Somewhere after all this, and after competing with Bob to blow smoke rings we started singing. Just whatever. But it has to be delivered in the loudest, hoarsest shout you can conjure up. I thought, "what do I know of Britain?" and started a chorus of "Our House" by Madness. It died out quickly because nobody knew the words beyond the first part. Finally Kris and I looked at our watches, realizing we'd turn into adults again in less than an hour when the babysitter had to go home, and took our leave with a mixture of reluctance and relief!
Kris took the train but Mardi, Bob and I walked to clear our heads. It was useful! But on the walk home we couldn't help but get a big sandwich and another beer. What a Sunday!
Kris and Michael...not drunk yet.
Mardi and Bob...cheating a little bit - they were sharing one!
Bob acting French. Lots of scowling and Merde!
Back outside we admired the good food at the Kaefer tent, but there was nowhere to sit, so we went to the wine tent. Upstairs there were plenty of seats so we grabbed a table. Bob, Mardi and I each had a 1/2 liter Weissbier, and Kris had a Merlot, but dang it wasn't very good. Kind of vinegery? We ordered Dampfnudeln, which is like a piece of hot cake in vanilla sauce, and also homemade chocolate ice cream.
Now Kris, Bob and Mardi rode the famous Tobaggan ride, where drunk people are hefted up a conveyer belt to hilarious effect. Everyone tries to stand up in a dignified way, but watching people roll, bob, weave, dance and experience pratfalls has become a spectater sport. The actual slide to ride down from the tower is just an aftereffect. Mardi started to fall and got some help from one of the burly men supervising the belt. Bob turned in a marvelous athletic performance, and when I say marvelous I mean boring! Kris refused all offers of help from the burly attendants and immediately slipped and fell, laughing (or crying?) as the belt carted her up on her back! She did get the loudest crowd reaction though and that's what it's all about I think!
Next we rode a water roller coaster, where I alone got pretty soaked. The drops were really fun, and we laughed a lot. Before we could lose our buzz we had to repair back into a tent. First a stop off to the Kaefer tent for Kris to have a big shot of vodka, then into the Loewenbraeu tent, a really rowdy place. We found a seat next to some guys from Birmingham, England. Another Mass of beer for me, which Kris tried to drink from. Bob and Mardi shared another one. Bob bought some cigars, so pretty soon he and I were quaffing beer from our enormous glasses, smoking up the place with our cigars. And caught up in the excitement of it all, the English guys even got me and Mardi to try snuff tobacco. Seems like a good thing if you have a cold and your sinuses are blocked up.
I don't know everything that happened from there, but there was lots of shouting and laughing. I remember the guy next to me was Welsh and he spilled beer all over my leg. I said at least now I can piss my own pants without fear of embarrassment. For some reason that was really funny (to me). At some point Mardi quietly revealed that I have a sort of "man purse" to carry my jacket, wallet and other things. Word got out quickly, and soon the whole table was chanting "MAN BAG!" and pointing at me. "He has a MAN BAG!" I tried unsuccessfully to stem the tide by pointing out that my satchel was, properly termed, a "European Carryall (TM)". Hoo boy, that just made it worse. Finally I decided it's better to go down with the ship, so I raised my man-purse high and proclaimed to one and all that yes! I have a Man-bag, and I'm proud! Also it's a very nice green.
Somewhere after all this, and after competing with Bob to blow smoke rings we started singing. Just whatever. But it has to be delivered in the loudest, hoarsest shout you can conjure up. I thought, "what do I know of Britain?" and started a chorus of "Our House" by Madness. It died out quickly because nobody knew the words beyond the first part. Finally Kris and I looked at our watches, realizing we'd turn into adults again in less than an hour when the babysitter had to go home, and took our leave with a mixture of reluctance and relief!
Kris took the train but Mardi, Bob and I walked to clear our heads. It was useful! But on the walk home we couldn't help but get a big sandwich and another beer. What a Sunday!
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