Actually, we kind of cocooned all weekend and didn't realize how bad it was elsewhere; I guess I'm close enough to the ocean that much of it was rain; wasn't much to shovel. Was surprised to hear what a whallop a lot of the province received, even in Burnside there are electricity towers bent over. Weird.

I think the people around the HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality) area are stuck with no power and will so for the next couple of days. Over here in Colchester, the major towns seem to have power, that is Truro / Bible Hill.

Good news though! "Fletcher's" reopened last afternoon, which is were we went for our hot meal when our power was out. Fletcher's saved the day once again.

Ahhh, Fletchers. My father's favorite spot for dinner when Mom was away for some reason. I have undone many a hot chicken sandwich there.

Ah snow. I remember snow. There's very little snow here in downtown Budapest. Even in the dead of winter we don't get much (at least not compared to the places I've lived in Canada).

Funny, there's also no snow on the ground in Winterpeg. Mid-November and it's 10 degrees Celsius here. Could this be global warming at work?!

Lisa, Can you do a little on-the-ground investigating in Budapest on the topic below? Thanks.

http://beerblog.genx40.com/archives/2004/november/beerlorehungary.

It's true that in Hungary it is considered rude to toast with a mug of beer. Wine is okay. Beer is Forbodten. I know that this has something to do with the Austrians but am unclear on specifics. I will ask.

Having conducted extensive interviews on the subject, my most reliable witness (a Hungarian who happens to work for the US Treasury) has told me that the reason people aren't supposed to toast with beer is this: In 1848/9 there was a Hungarian uprising which failed. A benevolent liberal government by and for Hungarians was declared, but then subsequently it was put down by the Austrian Monarchy. In 1848/9 the hapless Habsburgs foolishly decided to toast their victory over the failed Hungarian revolutionaries with beer. The Hungarians seeing this declared a ban on toasting with beer for 150 years (ending in 1998). Why 150 years was enough is not known. But some people still don't toast with beer out of habit.

I have cross-posted that over to A Good Beer Blog, Lisa. You are now the mid-Danube columnist.

Couldn't I post my column from the shore?

What shore? Oh...I get it now. Oh. So. Funny. Tape up me ribs.

Jokes are not my forte.

So consider yourself dubbed. Where is your email and I will give you the authoring rights on a beer blog you so richly deserve.

Oh No. Uh. I mean, just what I always wanted. I'll send you an e-mail.