European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Odds amp ends fest is something you cannot miss Cindy Chambers columnist a tic fall is just around the Comer and in Germany that could Only mean one thing its time to winterize your car Well maybe it could mean two things after All this column Isnit about Auto maintenance its about fests. Yes autumn Means fest time in Germany. To the uninitiated a fest is primarily a collection of carnival rides with wonderfully descriptive names like a Bat flier a break dance and a Gigantic spinning upchuck  but a fest is much More than rides decorated with primitive paintings of muscular women in bathing suits. It is also made up of massive quantities of Beer. I know this because i live just two blocks from a fes Platz and recently had the Chance to see a fest come to life before my very eyes. Within hours after the arrival of several big trucks an empty parking lot was transformed into a parking lot with big trucks All Over it. Moments later food stands offering traditional fare began emitting traditional doors. Concrete hearts painted to look like Gingerbread were Hung gaily Here and there and smoked sardines grinned up from Glass messages of Good will like a Nicht Rauchen and  later that evening in the colourful German Beer Trent a colourful oomph band serenaded about 45,000 colourful american soldiers. The soldiers stood and swayed to the rollicking strains of such classic fest songs As a in Minchen Steht Ein Hof Breuhaus a a vein profit Der  and a a papa a got a Brand new  caught in the spirit of the music Many of the Happy americans continued to Sway for hours after leaving the Beer tent. The Bright and noisy Midway was dotted with games of Chance and exhibits of All kinds. One very popular offering was the extremely dangerous shark show. The Entrance to the show was plastered with posters of a Brave and Busty blonde with Only a skimpy Bikini Between her and a tank full of menacing Sharks. As you can imagine this show was extremely popular with the gis due to their seemingly boundless interest in biology. Hie spirited strains of Happy music wafted up into the night Long after we left the fes Platz. And As walked Home smelling strongly of sardines we were truly grateful for the Chance to share this delightful Celebration with our Host country. Hopefully you too will have a Chance to experience a traditional Harvest festival this season. As the germans themselves say in their customary and Heartfelt Toast in a certain you la find it a aus fart Freihalter a Cindy Chambers la a military family member living in Schweyn Furt Veat Germany. Miss manners Judith Martin ear miss manners a my Mother in Law a widow and her Beau of several years plan to visit us this fall. Each of them owns a House and lives in it. We have no idea what sleeping arrangements they would prefer for themselves. Could you please Tell us whose responsibility it is if there is a Clear position on that to inform us should she Tell us or should we ask we feel it is their business and we Only want them to feel comfortable with the arrangement. If they arrive Here and we still done to know could you please suggest a polite Way to discover their preference gentle Reader a miss manners who admires your delicacy does not know what guest facilities exist in your House. But presumably your Mother in Law does. A where do you think you would be most comfortable a can equally Well elicit the reply a in the Blue room of course or a i suppose ill take the guest room As usual and in a sure Chester will be Fine on the  in the unlikely event that you have moved to larger quarters since she last visited the question could be a How Many rooms will you need a she can still say a Well lets see. I would dearly love to have a sitting room As Well As my bedroom in a sure Chester will be Fine on the  questioning is Best done in Advance but upon their arrival you could say a you know Horoscope for the week of sept. 23 Libra sept. 23-oct. 22 take the offensive in social and business affairs. Twiddling your thumbs won t bring Home the Bacon. Buy front Row tickets to a play or concert. The love boat enters your port. Scorpio oct. 23-nov. 21 it s a cosmic Ferris wheel kind of week. Ride it at your own risk. Up one minute Down the next. Reflect on changes in the past month. Stock up your emotional refrigerator. Sagittarius nov. 22-dec. 20 slow Down your Pace your gentle manner can work wonders. Strive for stability in Romance. Accept the status quo. And keep Busy with practical tasks. Capricorn dec. 21-Jan. 19 interpersonal Static is in the air. Replace harsh words with glad tidings. Slow Down in Romance. Concentrate on work. Rewards waiting to be reaped. Aquarius Jan. 20-feb. 18 take a break from the usual routines. Give yourself a rest from stress. Really experience the Earth Trees and the sky. Invite a love interest in your meanderings. Pisces feb. 19-March 20 mind Over matter is your keynote. Seize the Day before it seizes you. Your psychic Powers Are renewed. Move Forward on the spiritual path. But keep cards close to your Vest. Aries March 21-april 19 there Are no shortcuts to easy Street. Stop looking for Pat answers and Miracle cures. Focus on Concrete the House Mother. Where would you like to be a dear miss manners a i say that any greeting card should be signed by me and my wife separately. She says no a that one of us can sign for both and that it does no to matter. I feel that the recipient does Check the signatures and May feel slighted if both have not signed. Not important perhaps but you a be surprised at the friction this causes. Gentle Reader a miss manners is never surprised at friction Over Small Points. The smaller the Point in fact the More imaginatively it May be worked up into a crisis. In this Case you Are both right in that either solution is acceptable. But miss manners sides with your wife not Only because it is the More usual Way of signing cards from couples but because you falsely maintain that it is wrong. Dear miss manners a i am a Friend and business associate of a family whose elderly father recently committed suicide. He had been fighting a losing Battle with a debilitating disease but was still Able to live at Home. It seems generally acceptable that a suicide in a family is an Issue of some shame or disgrace. I think he died with dignity and i wish to communicate my feelings to the family in a sensitive manner. How would one word such condolences gentle Reader a miss manners must remind you that a letter of condolence should focus chiefly on what the life of the deceased has meant rather than on his death which is usually referred to As a Shock or a tragedy. In this Case miss manners suggests you substitute some such phrase As a the lived and died bravely Quot to supplement your account of his previously displayed Virtues. Reality and eliminate illusions. Record your dreams. Taurus april 20-May 20 Call old friends and schedule a reunion. Rekindle warm memories and smooth Over shaky relationships. Gambling with hard earned funds is off limits. Hide your credit cards. Gemini May 21-june 20 sitting behind a desk is taboo. Mobility is nobility in the business world. Clean up your Domestic scene from top to Bottom. Give worries and stifling habits the Boot. Cancer june 21-july 22 add color and Pizazz to your monetary picture. Buy a new Wallet to symbolize positive changes in your life. Consider taking new classes. Stay steady on the work front. Leo july 23-aug. 22 Don t lose Faith if challenges suddenly appear on your path. Keep up your valiant work efforts. Take an artistic safari. Visit museums or cultural exhibits. Virgo aug. 23-sept. 22 be on guard against Stormy emotions. Sensitivity is essential. Done to make matters worse by venting anger. Take time for yourself. Visit an area of town unseen for a while. Copley news service september 23,1990 sunday c _ Page 11