razor55red

They should print a picture of our family vacations in the 60's: station wagon windows up, AC blasting, parents in front chain-smoking (Pall Mall filterless, Salems), kids in the back. They didn't drink though.

Or, maybe just walk in the German pharmacy and order it and pay for it without having to describe any symptoms, like I do here in Germany (provided no prescription is required)?

It looks like you're describing how it was when I first moved here in 1988. I live in a town of around 30,000 and it's changed considerably since I got here. But even then we had Norma, Gubi, Penny, and a couple of others I can't remember. Now we have Aldi, Rewe, Edeka, Lidl, Netto, Kaufland, and the organic grocery stores Landsmann and Alnatura. Edeka and Rewe are the upscale supermarkets; the others are on different scales of "thrift supermarkets", with Netto being on the bottom. That's where the poors, the dweebs, the alcoholics, and the weirdos go. I have run into a dwarf, but it was in this wild bar in Berlin, so that's another story.

Fortunately we live in the city center, so I can do most shopping on foot. I've been buying produce from the same family for 30 years. There are 3 bakeries within 5 minutes of here, but unfortunately my favorite butcher moved to a new location on the edge of town, so I have to go to another one down the street.

As for Aldi, it is what it is, and it's great for what it is.

Just a heads up: beware of the Deutsche Bundesbahn at the moment. They're having a lot of problems with infrastructure and are doing lots of construction. Routes - especially in the south - have been closed, some trains are running slower due to increased traffic, and it's a general mess right now and won't change soon. I'd concentrate on Austria, Italy, or Switzerland... Good luck!

It's my experience (I live near Munich and worked there - used to go often before the crowds and prices got out of hand) that Sunday is the best time to go. Get there before they open the tents and enjoy a more relaxed Oktoberfest. You can get around better and more locals will there.

Check out the Oide Wiesen ("Old Meadows" Oktoberfest is called "Die Wiesen"). It's the historical Oktoberfest, where they play traditional Bavarian folkmusic and show how Oktoberfest was celebrated in the past. They set up in an adjoining area and have tents and old-fashioned rides and games. You pay a small entrance fee, and the prices there are much lower. Lots of locals go there, especially on Sunday.

To top off your Oktoberfest experience, go to the Bavaria statue on the Kotzhügel ("Puke Hill") before you leave. There you can observe humanity in its most disgusting form, performing unspeakable acts of debauchery and generally behaving like animals.

And if you're adventurous and really want to experience the "real thing", go to Munich Central Station and get on any train heading toward Füssen or Oberstdorf. It will be packed with those people described above, holding each other up - the seats will all be full - and trying, sometimes successfully, not to puke. There will be singing, and maybe some fights. That was my commute home every evening during Oktoberfest for 26 years. Try to stand near the doors, because you want to get off at the first stop in Munich Pasing and return downtown. You won't even need a ticket, because no conductors will fight their way through the train checking.

Enjoy your stay in Munich!

A book that helped me before I went to rehab was "Trocken" ("Dry" or "Sober") by Daniel Wagner, but it's in German and I doubt it's been translated into English. It's his autobiography as an alcoholic, and I saw myself so much and so often in it...

Thich Nhat Hanh rocks. He was truly a giant in the Buddhist world.

Like you, meditation works for me; it was the only thing that helped me overcome depression. And boredom is definitely a potential pitfall.

Oh, they do: 2007 demonstrations in Burma, monks were killed, tortured, and imprisoned because of peacefully demonstrating against the junta. Thich Nhat Hahn and his fellow monks and lay followers provided natural disaster aid under threat of attack by government forces, had their temple destroyed 3 times, and he was finally banished from Vietnam by the communists. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. There are plenty of other examples. No serious Buddhist monk believes something like this will "achieve world peace". These guys (and Aloka the dog) are the real deal, and they're reaching/supported by a lot of people in this endeavor, showing by example how people - regardless of religion - can develope more peace and happiness in their lives and the lives of others. One step at a time.

I think that's a good thing.

Real Buddhist monks aren't allowed to touch money. Tell them to frick off.

It's my favorite movie, ever. So many great characters and performances.

Man, if Big O had just had some self-control... Great passer.

I've never addressed you personally, and I don't post very often here, but you're one of my favorites on this board. I try to keep my faith in humanity, but in the midst of everything going on in the world and how people are inundated with the worst news, it's a wonder how much peace we enjoy. I wish I could answer your last question, but I can only struggle on and try to do some good in the world on my small journey. You'd think mankind would learn from their mistakes, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Anyway, this incident so long ago could and should be an inspiration, and it moves me every year. In the end, we can only do our part and hope for the best. Merry Christmas to all of you, and I hope every one of you can appreciate and enjoy what we have, and I wish all of you the very best for you and your families. Maybe a small part of this story will stick and our world will be a little better. God bless all.