KIELBASA & MORE

The Polish Falcons of America Nest #45 celebrated the 36th Annual Polish Festival on September 10 and 11. The building (below photo) and surrounding property is on St. Louis Avenue, downtown St. Louis. We usually went to get the authentic polish food, pastries and then walked around the gardens watching people danced the polka. We spent about 20 dollars on the pull-tabs and 50-50 chances.

Our typical selection was "Bits of Poland" that included one cheese piergori, a golabki, a kielbasa, sauerkraut, green beans, mash potato and bread. It seemed that the piergori was getting smaller than previous years. With my husband being the 3rd generation Polish-American, it is our family tradition that at Christmas time we make pierogi with two different kind of fillings, mash potato and sauerkraut with mushroom. Our piergori are much bigger and the dough has more texture.

These photos were taken after the Run to Remember 5K Race on Saturday, September 11th. The race was over when we got there. Next year I will try to remember to get there earlier. Perhaps I could even participate in the race!

FRIDAY CARDINALS SKY (MY ACHING TOOTH, PART II)

I don’t know whether it was the wonderful pain pills or the “great” baseball game, that helped me feeling good all evening. It was comfortable but no breeze. We left at the end of the 6th inning when the Cardinals was down 1-5.

Actually on the way to the game, I told my husband that with my luck the manager or someone from my office would see me at the ballgame. My face would be on the jumbotron with cheese all over my face eating nachos. Or being on national television when I opened my mouth real big to chow down the jumbo hotdog while yelling “Kill the Umpire”!

I would be called into the boss’ office to explain how I could take a sick day earlier because of a root canal treatment and then chow down nachos and hotdog later that evening.

It did not look like the Cardinals would make it to the playoffs this year. Of course, I am happy that football started and could not wait for the hockey season to begin again. Life is good, even with a root canal!

HEY TOTA, WHAT'S HAPPENING LATELY? (MY ACHING TOOTH, PART I)

The last 2 weeks, there were some exciting activities in my otherwise boring life. I will try to recap what has happened from that day when “all hell broke loose”.

It started on Thursday, September 9th, late afternoon. The pains continued on Friday. I thought it was probably a minor toothache. (I don’t remember the last time I had a toothache.) I just had a 6-month check-up and Doc DW told me everything was fine. I thought perhaps I was a bit rough when I tried to give the back teeth a good flossing. By Saturday afternoon, the aching has gotten worse. I avoided chewing on the left (the aching side) and tried to chew slowly on the other side. The regular over-the-counter pills helped and I was able to go to the Run to Remember 5K Race (top photo) on Saturday morning. We went to the 36th Annual Polish Festival (below photo) in the afternoon. Of course the pains started again late Saturday evening.

On Sunday, I continued to tolerate the increasingly painful tooth. We went to the Classic Cars Show in Hermann, Missouri (photo below). My husband suggested that I should call DW for an emergency appointment. I thought a toothache was not life-threatening and I should not bother the good doctor on Sunday. The pains kept me up all night and I was never so happy seeing the sun came up on Monday morning.

I drove to DW office and walked right in when the door was opened at 9:30 a.m. DW reviewed the X-ray and informed me that I needed a root canal procedure. I was referred to an endodontic for a 10:45 appointment. After what seemed to be an “eternal hell” of the drilling, smell of flesh burning and the grinding noise while the good doctor removing the inflamed pulp tissue and “irrigating” the inside of tooth #18, the procedure was completed at 12:45 p.m. (At one point, I was panicked when I thought someone nearby was saying, "Is it safe?" - haa haa) I felt an instant relief, thanks in part to the good doses of local anesthesia. However when my cell phone rang, with half of my face frozen, I was not able to tell my husband that I was on my way to the drug store to fill the “prescriptions” or to pick up the “medication”. I used the word “pills” instead!

I got home around 1:40, completely exhausted after a sleepless night and the whole morning sitting in one dental chair to another, after taking the medication, I went straight to bed. I woke up at 4:30 p.m. when the cell phone rang. My husband asked if I felt good enough to go to a Cardinals v. Cubs game. His boss just gave him two tickets behind the home plate. Just to be sure, I took another pain pill and off we went to the baseball game. It sure was an exciting day :)

UNITED WE STAND (WINSLOW, ARIZONA)

The 9-11 Remembrance Garden is located at the east end of Winslow, Arizona. The two steel beams are from the World Trade Center terrorist attack and the U.S. flag was flown at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

"Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts.

These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.

America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.

America was target for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining."

President George W. Bush's address to the nation on Tuesday night, September 11, 2001.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

FRIDAY "CAPITOL" SKY - JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI

Here is Jefferson City, the state capital of Missouri since the 1820s.

For tours of the Missouri State Capitol building and other attractions, www.visitjeffersoncity.com.

It was a beautiful sunny and comfortable Sunday when we took these photos. Could you guess whose statue in front of the Capitol building?

HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH

I received this Happy Rosh Hashanah card from the Metropolitan Jewish Health System in New York. Inside it reads, “Wishing you a year of health and happiness”, signed by the president and executive director of MJHS Foundation.

I don’t remember if this is the first year that I received a Happy Rosh Hashanah card from the Foundation. Perhaps someone at the Foundation noticed my regular contributions the last 9 years.

I greatly appreciated the compassionate end-of-life care Metropolitan provided when my Dad was under hospice care in early 2001. After my Dad passed away, I started to send memorial contributions on a regular schedule such as on his birthday, my parents’ anniversary, in January the anniversary when my family came to America, July 4th to show appreciation to America, at Thanksgiving, at Christmas, and Lunar New Year.

My Dad taught us to always remember kindness and to show gratitude by helping others and paying forward whenever possible. My sister also contributed to the Tree of Life Memorial Wall with the words engraved below my Dad’s name “For the Life he Lived”. And for the memory we shared, will forever be in our hearts.

ANOTHER LONG WEEKEND HAD GONE BY!

Another long weekend had gone by! Originally we had planned a road trip to Grand Haven this Labor Day. We even took vacation day on Friday with the plans to start driving from St. Louis to Bloomington/Normal (Illinois) on Thursday evening. That would take off half of the 7.5 hours driving time and on to Grand Haven early Friday morning for breakfast at a place we called “Potato Joint”. The restaurant has changed to another name under new ownership but we still remembered the giant potato in front of the building. We thought we would drive to Traverse City on Saturday. We used to go camping there. If we were up to the challenge, we might even went to Mackinac Island on Sunday.
We decided to stay home instead, still took Friday off, after reading the Grand Haven local news website that it called for rains and temperature in the 60s. It was a good decision since the entire weekend was sunny, beautiful weather in the mid-80s here in St. Louis. I saw the reports of the high waves crashing on to the broad walk and along the pier to the lighthouse. It would not be much fun at all if we were there in Grand Haven. These photos were taken last year with a different kind of weather!

I spent the entire Friday re-organized all the boxes that were full of photos we accumulated the last 20+ years. I found the negatives of our trip to London and Paris in July 1999. It was our 10th wedding anniversary celebration. I also found a tin can full of Kodak Advantix developed films, some marked and some would be mystery for many years to come! It would cost $7.99 each roll to transfer the images onto a CD. I shredded all the duplicates and images from events or people I no longer care about.

Saturday I enjoyed a nice sunny and comfortable morning in the patio, reading and relaxing. In the afternoon we spent a few hours visiting a friend at St. Clair Hospital.

We attended noon Mass on Sunday and then took the T-bird to Jefferson City. It was a glorious day driving in the convertible with the wind gently blowing our hair and the sun warmed our faces.

Monday was another relaxing day - just a short drive around town after brunch. We had a nice steak dinner out in the patio. That completed our Labor Day weekend - goodbye summer and hello football season :)

TUESDAY TWO - ANY GOOD NEWS?

Wednesday, June 30th at 3:36 p.m., we were driving along Santa Monica Fwy when I looked over to my right and saw the news van. Good thing I was holding my camera, ready for action and able to capture this photo of Channel 2 Eyewitness News KCBS-TV Los Angeles. It is perfect for the first Tuesday Two post in September.

2010 LABOR DAY - MEN AT WORK

I like taking photos of men (and women) at work when we passed by construction sites. These photos were taken when we were approaching Hoover Dam on the Arizona side.

I usually don't mention the name of businesses, especially casinos, because I don't want to be accused of personal endorsement. In this case, I thought it is appropriate to mention that the above sculpture of a man shifting a large pan for any gold flakes or if he was really lucky, a nugget of gold, is at the entrance into Gold Strike Casino in Nevada. How clever!

I SAW A LITTLE OLD LADY FROM PASADENA

We arrived in Pasadena at 3:23 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29th after passing a little old lady driving a little Nash Rambler! The Feynes Mansion, a Beaux-Arts style built in 1905, currently houses the Pasadena Museum of History.

Come January 1, 2011, when we watch the 97th Rose Bowl game, we would be able to say "We were there!" - well, we were just outside the stadium - haa haa

Back in 1890, instead of the modern well-known Tournament of Roses or the televised Rose Bowl parade, foot races, tugs of war and even burro races were held along this famous route (above photo) in Pasadena.

The Golden Spur and its Giant Boot still “kicking” after all these years! This Golden Spur Restaurant in Glendora is now an upscale establishment. It was far from its humble beginning in 1920’s when it was a “ride-up” hamburger stand serving customers who rode up to the counter on horses!

I love this photo of the American flags lining the main street in Azusa. I also like the story where the town got its name "Azusa" from a local general store which claimed that it had "everything from A to Z that made in the USA"!

The Edwards Azusa Foothill Drive-In Theatre provided entertainment from 1961 to 2000. The theatre was able to accommodate up to 1,600 automobiles. The Azusa Pacific University purchased the land and demolished all, including the screen, thankfully the entrance sign was saved.

FRIDAY PALM SKY ALONG FOOTHILL BOULEVARD - SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA

Looking at these palm trees lining along Foothill Boulevard, you would not know that it was once the heart of citrus country with orange groves and vineyards.

ARE WE THERE (SANTA MONICA PIER) YET?

Tuesday, June 29th at 12:05 p.m. we stopped at Emma Jean’s Holland Burger in Victorville for lunch. We took 2 corner seats at the counter, placed our order, cheese burgers with onion rings. In this vintage truck stop café, there was enough space only for four tables, lining against the wall. Each table could sit up to three people with the 3rd chair blocking the only walkway around the counter. The L shape counter could accommodate up to 8 customers. We watched the constant flow of people leaving and coming into the tight quarter. The servers, the cook and the customers greeted each other and the lively conversation made the place more like a family gathering than just a roadside café.

We did not have to wait long before the server brought us our food. The portion was generous and the burgers were done just right to our liking, well done for me and medium-well for my husband. The young lady asked if we would like ketchup for the onion rings. She then pointed the bottle at me and I jumped when a red string flying at me. I was being a good sport, and we all had a good laugh. Be sure to stop by Emma Jean’s if you are in Victorville to enjoy fine roadfood and you might get a new friend or two.

Our next stop was the California Route 66 Museum but it was closed on Tuesday. We took a few photos of the museum (above), the New Corral Motel (below) and got back to I-15 to continue toward Santa Monica.

There were signs “Runaway Truck Ramp” along the downgrade stretch in Cajon Summit. It was a bit scary watching the trucks careening downhill in the rear mirror. Of course, my husband had a great time with his ‘Stang and enjoyed the horse power tremendously when passing the trucks while they were crawling uphill, trying to get up the speed on the steep climb of 4,260 feet.

At around 2:03 p.m. we paid a visit to the Wig Wam Motel, located east of Rialto. These concrete Tee Pees are Route 66 icon and thanks to the new owner, all the units were renovated and restored in 2004 after many years of neglect. This Wig Wam Motel is only one of the three Wigwam Villages that were originally designed and built by Frank Redford in 1934. We were impressed with the space and how nice the unit was after the owner, a young man who could pass for a youthful Elvis, gave us a tour. We thanked him for his hospitality and for being so courteous. We promised to spend the night on our eastward trip.

TUESDAY TWO - JUST TAKING IT EASY AT THE ZOO (SLEEPING "BROWN" BEARS)

It has been awhile since we went to the zoo. Last night I saw the documentary about polar bears and then from the travel channel about the brown bears in Alaska. Suddenly, I wanted to go to the zoo and see the animals. It always brings back wonderful childhood memory in Viet Nam when my parents took us to the zoo. I would ride the bicycle (two front wheels, a back bucket seat and two rear wheels) with my little sister CH or little brother VL (aka Qaptain Qwerty) in the back seat. When was the last time you went to local zoo and really had a great time there?

1985 (BLUE SKY IN AUGUST 2010)

A new employee started on Monday of this week. Since I handled personnel/payroll, it was crude reminder of my status as senior citizen when I saw that she was born in December 1985. I don’t know whether it was the frequent pains and ache I have experienced lately or the fact that in a few months I will be turning 50, that made me more aware of other people’s age.

This week has been pleasant with sunny days in the high 80s during the day and comfortably cool in the evening. In the morning, when I drove to work, I had to wait for the school busses loading up the kids around the corner. I thought of my nephew and wonder whether he is excited about what he will be learning. I thought of my childhood in Viet Nam when shopping for school supplies meant knowing the right people in the black market. It is very different from the abundance of back-to-school sales in America.

During the day, while my husband worked in the yard finishing up his landscaping project, I reached part of my clutter-reduction goals. The last few months, I kept up with my weekly donations of clothes and stuff to St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and dropped off at least a bag of books to the library. I am down from five to three bookcases. It feels good to lighten the load of earthly possession.

Have a good week, a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend.