Oktoberfest

This past weekend was the famed Oktoberfest hosted by the German's at the military base. Buzz has gone for the past four years now, and this year was my second year. Friday, Dr. Rod flew into town to join us for his third year.

Saturday, we met a few friends at the Pizza Pub across the street from our apartment. We joined a few of Buzz's coworkers for lunch and waited for the bus to pick us up. At three the first bus stopped right in front of the apartment (talk about convenient ) and we were off to Oktoberfest!

We were among the first to arrive. Around 5 p.m. the parade kicked off the beginning of Oktoberfest's celebrations. A band marched around the hanger and then the first keg to be opened. And a tidbit about the band, they were flown in from Germany for just this event and played in the hanger the rest of the evening.

We spent the evening drinking the German beer (well, those of us who enjoy beer), dancing to YMCA, playing Testy Tennis (hitting a kousy around the table), and chatting with friends. Sometime after 8 we caught our bus back to the apartment and finished the evening watching the Purdue game.

Lunch at the Pizza Pub.

Goofing off just after arriving at the base.

The first keg is about to be opened!

The Germans...I have no idea why they are all wearing a Wendy's wig.

And look whose smiling? It's Dr. Rod.

Kitty in the drawer

Yesterday while we were putting laundry away, Kitty decided to check out the dresser drawers. She has taken to sitting on top of the TV, but she's never actually climbed into an open drawer before.

Bonding time...how cute!

The Balloon Festival

This past weekend was the annual Hot Air Balloon festival. The festival is held over two days and features 60 hot air balloons lifting off from various locations. The balloons launch from in town as well as the dessert sands outside of town. On Saturday, half of the balloons launch in town and the rest launch in the sands. On Sunday, the balloons switch places; those that launched out of town are now in town.

Saturday morning, Buzz and I joined a friend at the local coffee shop to watch the balloons launch. We were a bit far to see the balloons at the dessert sands, but on Sunday Buzz went back to the coffee shop to catch any balloons that we didn't see on Saturday.

Can you see the lady in the mountain?

Labor Day Weekend

Over our long labor day weekend, Buzz and I decided to mark off a few items on our fun-to-do-list.

The weekend started early for us on Friday. So Friday at lunch we decided to eat at a local restaurant that we’ve wanted to try for some time now. The restaurant is located in a Victorian style house that is 100 years old. Ten years ago "Memories", the restaurant, opened in the house. Buzz and I enjoyed sandwiches and soup…both were very good.



On Saturday, we decided to drive into the mountains and hike. There’s been a trail that we’ve wanted to hike for some time now. It follows part of the railroad that use to wrap itself through the mountains. We were able to hike down into the valley and see some of the remains of the old wood railroad. After we finished our hike, we stopped at a local pizza pub that we hadn’t tried and walked around down town. Being Labor Day weekend, the stoes and sidewalks were packed with people enoying the weekend.

Sunday we stayed in town and went to the Cottonwood Festival. The festival is held annually around Labor Day at a park near the Zoo. The park was filled with carnival food, crafts, music, and kids games. We walked around for about an hour looking at crafts and listening to local singers.

We ended the weekend going to the local coffee shop on Monday. While we enjoyed our coffee and tea on their patio, we were able to see entire Tularosa basin surrounded by the mountains. It was a great way to end our fun filled weekend.