Oktoberfest in Hermann, MO

Yesterday Beth and I returned from a long weekend in Hermann, MO, along the banks of the Missouri River.

We left Thursday night for St. Louis with our friends Matt & Jane Hoffman. We arrived at the Trainwreck Saloon in Westmont just in time to watch the final few innings of the World Series, where the Cardinals won their 3rd game of the series!!!


On Friday, we headed out on Rt. 94 which runs along the Missouri River. There are several wineries along this route. Though the weather was a bit shitty, we managed to taste test several wines. In the mid-afternoon, we pulled into Hermann, checked into the Harbor Haus Bed & Breakfast and eventually stepped into the Concert Hall saloon (the oldest bar west of the Mississippi) and watched the St. Louis Cardinals win the '06 World Series (after watching a really bad guitarist/singer with several missing teeth).

Saturday we stopped at the Stone Creek Winery for more tasting (where this picture was taken). We then enjoyed 3 bottles of wine along with some fine cheese, crackers and sausage. We next stumbled (figuratively and almost literally) into the Hermannhof Winery. I think another 4 bottles were consumed, but my memory becomes really fuzzy from this point on. During this time, Beth and Jane provided some drunken life lessons to some chicks that were sitting next to us. I don't know how much of that valuable information was received. But they were very fun to hang out with and they appreciated the effort. There was also a series of "drunk dialing" going on.

Hermann, MO has an Oktoberfest each weekend in October. The biggest turnout is somewhere around the first couple of weekends. But the last weekend turned out to be a good time none the less.

End Of An Era

Earlier this past week, we officially put Aunt Jeanie & Uncle Gene's house on the market. You can view the listing here.

They were my great aunt and uncle, but were sort of my grandparents. The best way to describe them is to compare them to Edith & Archie Bunker on "All in the Family"... only Uncle Gene could be many times grouchier; and voted Democrat.

They moved into the house on the south end that we are now selling in the mid-1950's. It has a mini-apartment to the side and 2nd floor of the house. We actually lived there when I was a baby. There's been a lot of Sunday dinners and Thanksgivings over those 50 years. Aunt Jeanie made many pies and Uncle Gene did plenty of cussin' over those same years as well.

Aunt Jeanie passed away last November after staying for about a year and a half at Lutheran Home. Before that she was at an assisted living facility. Uncle Gene stayed at the house but moved into a nursing home shortly before Aunt Jeanie died as he was having knee replacement surgury. Uncle Gene passed away last April; just months after Aunt Jeanie passed. They were both 91 years old.