HURRY UP OR SLOW DOWN?

Unlike Da Qaptain who just randomly put together a collage of the license plates, I make an effort to post plates that match in a "meaningful" way. (Actually, not only I am not as tall and good looking as Qap, I am not as smart and very technical challenge. I admit I don't know how to paste the photos together to make a collage.)

What do you think the message from the above license plate? Don't rush me, I am NOT-SLO? Or I refuse to SLO down because I have too much to do? I am smart, so don't say I am SLO? Hey Qap, your suggestion "If you don't have anything to say, say nothing. If you don't have anything to post, post nothing." did not work out too good for a blogger who took your suggestion to heart that he has nothing to wear and he wore nothing to work- haaaaaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!!!! (He is currently in St. Louis County jail for indecent exposure in public.)

WINTER PROJECT

My husband has been busy working on his winter project. CP is making two stained glass of the Polish eagles to be given to his brother, JB and sister, AG, as an appreciation for taking care of their mother after Pa passed away and also for all the time they spent managing the estate after Ma died. CP is one of seven kids in his family. The oldest brother is in North Carolina, another brother is in Denver (his daughter got married last September in Vail) and we are here in St. Louis. One brother, JB and three sisters all live in Michigan. Somehow most of the duties of taking care of Ma fell on JB and AG shoulders. I hope I don't sound like as if I am saying that taking care of your parents is a burden. I am just saying that JB and AG did most of the heavy loads. In most cultures, particularly the Asian culture, it used to be that parents could expect to be well taken care of in their old age by their children. It is not that simple anymore considering the current economy and how families are scattering all over the country/world. In some cases, the grandparents had to take care of the grandkids because the parents could not provide for the kids.

Stained glass is not an inexpensive hobby. The glass, materials (foil, lead) and tools (carbide glass cutter, soldering iron, just to name a few) are pretty costly. The work is definitely tedious. For each small piece of the pattern (see above photo), you have to score the glass surface, break the glass (that requires a steady hand and precision) using the running pliers. Then you have to wrap the pieces with adhesive backed foil tape. Next you solder all the pieces. The process takes time and patient. The top photo shows the left wing and the body of the eagles were soldered together while pieces of glasses have been cut for the head and part of the right wing but not yet been wrapped with foil tape. Putting together all the pieces and create a final product require a lot more work than I could explain. You could read all the other steps by searching on the web on how to create a stained glass.

CP made the above eagle a few years ago and we proudly display his masterpiece from the window in our dining room. We took a class to learn how to make stained glass about 10 years ago. For class project, I chose to make a tulip and CP made a boat sailing under the bright sun. Later CP also made a panda for me as birthday present. For some reason I never did another project. It could be because I don't have steady hands and don't enjoy tedious work. Do you have any winter projects?

FRIDAY SKY - THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE

This week the Butterfly House closed for a few days for maintenance and clean-up of the conservatory. The trees are overgrown, covering the glass ceiling, blocking sunlight and most of the plants needed to be replaced.

There are approximately 1,500 to 2,000 butterflies in free flight inside the conservatory. All the butterflies arrive in the chrysalis stage from different farms in Ecuador, Suriname, Costa Rica, Malaysia and the Philippines. I was surprised to learn that the chrysalis are shipped in FedEx packages. They must have special materials for this kind of transporting. Once the butterflies emerge from the chrysalis and ready to fly, they are released inside the conservatory. I often wonder whether these butterflies know that there is a much bigger world out there beyond the glass ceiling. Do they see the cloud and wish they could fly up high in the open sky?

I am very thankful that I turned 51 years old this month. I don't mind getting older because the other option is not very desirable. Being 51 years old is a gift from God because there were many times in my life it could have been differently. I was 18 years old when my family escaped from Viet Nam, I did not know we would survived the horrid journey and living in America for my 20th birthday. I did not know that I would see my 30th birthday when I drove next to the 18-wheeler on the icy road during those years living in Michigan. It was a painful year when turned 40 because I lost my father that year. I am grateful that I am getting older and I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays.

THURSDAY RAMBLINGS - A GROUCHY LOOKING FACE!

It snowed last night and left the above interesting pattern on the hood of my car. It looked like a face of a weather-beaten grouchy old man. For a few years, probably the last three years, I started a sort-of "tradition" of posting everyday during the month of February. It is the shortest month so it would be an easy task to accomplish. Well, not really. I often mentioned that I admire bloggers who post each day, whether just photos only (professional photos not cheesy like mine) or with well-written essays and evoke interesting discussions (comments) from other bloggers. We all know that I have a boring life and a boring blog. So cheesy photos and ramblings would have to be! I don't regularly post comments on blogs that I follow. A blogger wrote that if he does not have anything interesting to write, he would not post for weeks. Well, in my case I would not post at all because I have nothing interesting to write! Another blogger wrote that if you don't have anything nice to comment, then don't post unkind/negative comments. I completely agree. People often write nasty stuff because there are "nooks and caves" in cyberspace (i.e. anonymous) they could hide. I am not sure if you have the same experience but I am not comfortable posting comments at a blog that I really enjoy reading because whenever a person whether intentionally or just an honest mistake of using the wrong choice of words, posted a comment that was considered "not nice" by other followers, the person would be attacked and "torn to pieces". Faithful followers of this particular blog (one blogger who would act like a bodyguard or the town sheriff) would jump on the "guilty" person like a pack of wolves - that scared the heck out of me! I will continue to post regularly, with cheesy photos and un-interesting, boring ramblings. Thank you for reading and a very special thanks to the wonderful Followers and regular readers.

ARE YOU HAVING FUN?

Hey QQ, this license plate is for you because you always having fun with technical gadgets. Based on the plate holder, the owner must be either a graduate of Virginia Tech or a proud but poor parent(s) making loan payments since the kid could not get a job after graduation and now moving back into his/her room.

TUESDAY TWO - A DUO AND ONLY ONE STANDING

The above was one of the painted hardboards with cut-out "faces" on displayed along Delmar Boulevard during the Ice Carnival at the Loop last month. The young people seemed to enjoy this feature the most and had a good time placing their faces behind the openings. A young man got everyone laughing when he purposely placed his face where the female body was and singing in a real high pitch voice. There were a few little kids that needed help from their parents since the openings were too high for them. I always enjoyed seeing parents/grandparents engaging in fun loving activities with their kids/grandkids.

When we first walked pass the above ice sculpture, there was a line of people waiting to take photos with their faces behind the openings. So we kept walking. By the time we came back later, one of the figures was knocked down, perhaps because someone got up close and personal. I decided to include the "broken ice sculpture" image in this Tuesday Two post as it is fitting to what happened after the Superbowl on Sunday. The one standing is Eli and the Giants while Brady and my beloved Patriots fell apart on the ground. Enough about football, I am moving on giving full attention to hockey. Currently, the New York Rangers is leading in the Eastern Conference with 71 points while the #1 team in the Western Conference is my beloved Detroit Red Wings with 72 points. If the playoffs took place today between #1 seeds, these two teams would play against each other. I am not sure if I could take another "my heart is torn" game between my American hometown team and my beloved team!

SWIM OR SINK ( IS THERE A THIRD OPTION?)

When I saw the drawing/invention of the flotation device (below photo), I thought of QQ and his son swimming together and the frustration QQ feels by JL inability to let go of the aid of the flotation device. I must admit that if I was not forced (or threaten) by my swimming instructor (a high school kid), I would probably never let go of the floating board, the noodle and the life vest either. I could swim the entire length of the pool as long as I could see where the instructor was. That is my security blanket knowing that she would save me if I got a "charlie horse" and started sinking. Most of the time I swim with my eyes closed and since I could not see without glasses and I don't wear contact lenses while swimming, I could only identify my instructor by where I last saw her. One time she wanted me to follow her around the pool, since I was unable to see her face, at the turn around the corner, I got mixed up and followed someone else!

"I wish our boat was built this way when we left Viet Nam" I commented to my husband when we saw Leonardo's invention of the double hull system. The method was designed to prevent boat from sinking when the outer hull were breached. Leonardo invented the system to be used in maritime warfare. In recent legislation, this system has been widely promoted as a solution to the problem of oil spills by replacing all single hull oil tankers with double hull vessels.

If only our boat from Viet Nam was built with double hulls, we could have sailed all the way from My Tho, to South China Sea, crossed the Pacific Ocean and arrived safely in California, without having to make a 7-month stop in the refugee camp!

SUPERBOWL XLVI

Congratulations to my American hometown team the New York Giants for winning the Superbowl Championships. While I am happy for Eli and the Giants, I must admit that I feel real bad for Brady and the Patriots. (Image how much worse the entire Patriots team must feel.) If the Giants lost the game it would not be as bad as the Patriots not winning. Why, because the Giants being the Wild Card and made it to the Superbowl - that was an accomplishment, compared to the Patriots with a winning season, they were expected to win the Superbowl. It hurts deeply when you could not deliver what everyone wanted. 2nd time was not a charm for my beloved Patriots. Hey Qap, you just won a milk shake at Crown Candy, but you have to come to St. Louis to collect it - haa haa! (Above photo was taken at last month Ice Carnival in the Loop.)

BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A WOODEN BALL BEARING?

My husband was pretty excited when he saw the displays of Leonardo's experiment of freely-rotating balls to reduce friction and heat between two plates. (Please don't ask me to explain further, I am just copying from the brochure.) After graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree, CP got a job with a company in Muskegon (hometown of Justin Abdelkader, left winger/center of the Detroit Red Wings). The company is a major manufacturer of ball bearings in all sizes ranging from those used in flashlights to the really big one installed in space shuttle.

CP started out as a tool designer then moving on to production/quality control. After 10+ years with that company, an opportunity presented with a promotion to be plant manager brought us to St. Louis. It was the right move and St. Louis has been a good place to live. A few more years later, CP could no longer put up with all the "b.s." from management and a vp of operation who threw tantrum whenever things didn't go his way, CP moved on with another company.

CP has been much happier as a pre-production quality control manager. His focus is more on making sure all the specifications and requirements are met. Even though CP gave up the income and the corner office, he no longer had to work long hours and weekends, dealing with shipping schedule or worst, unhappy customers and their unreasonable demands.

I am not sure if I believe the saying "Do what you love and the money will follow". I do believe that you need to find work that make you feel proud of yourself, make your decision based on what's most important to you and the people in your life, a workplace where you are respected and appreciated, where you are happy spending 8 hours each day putting your heart and soul into the work, and most of all, it is your precious life that is being wasted at a job you hate.

FRIDAY "LEONARDO DA VINCI" SKY

Last Saturday, January 28th, after breakfast and before the Welcome Home Parade scheduled at noon, we went to see The Da Vinci Machines Exhibition. The exhibit has limited engagement and luckly for us it was extended thru February 28, 2012. The building is across from the City Garden in downtown St. Louis. The advertisement reads "Explore the mind of the greatest genius of all time at The Da Vinci Machines Exhibition. Over 60 machines on display, many of which are interactive, the collection features replicas of the major and most striking inventions of the original Renaissance Man."

For someone who is very mechanical challenge and has very limited knowledge when it comes to engineering or how things work, I really enjoyed the exhibit. I am not saying that I had better understanding of these machines. I was simply fascinated by the incredible mind of the man whom I thought became famous just for his paintings of Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. I never knew that he had so many inventions and how he was interested in so many complex subjects. "Approximately 1/3 of his original output has survived. Today, these manuscripts, known as 'Codices of Leonardo da Vinci' are amongst the most valuable books in the world" .

I was never interested in the movie Da Vinci Code but now I might have to watch to movie just to learn more the artist and the man.

Many of the inventions proved that Da Vinci was ahead of the time, many centuries in advance when it came to flying, exploring and building machines to improve working and living conditions.

I thought "de Qaptain" being an engineer would have enjoyed this exhibit. Too bad it was not here last April (2011) and only on display until the end of February this year. Who do you think could be compared to Leonardo de Vinci or modern Leonardo of the 21st century?

ST. LOUIS SUPPORTS OUR TROOPS

Here are a few more photos from the Welcome Home Parade last Saturday, January 28th in downtown St. Louis. The parade was organized to welcome Iraq veterans and veterans from other wars also participated in the march along Market Street.

By the time we got to the parade, all the space in front by the fence on the street close to the floats was taken. I captured most images by zooming in with my cheesy camera but being a "shortie" I had to ask the people who stood in front to let me sneak in to take a few photos. Most of the people were nice and agreed to move back temporarily to give me some room. I took the photos, thanked these kind souls and move way back to the sidewalk. It was really cold and windy so we kept walking along the route with the parade instead of standing in one spot.

Everyone had fun when the bikers came around with their fancy decorated bikes. The kids especially enjoyed seeing performance (spinning in circle on the pavement) by the Shriners in their iconic miniture cars.

To all the servicemen and women, our thanks and appreciation for the sacrifice you and your family have made for the freedom and liberty we enjoy. God Bless you - we pray that you soon will be safely home.

HOW GREAT THOU ART

The guidebook states that the above image is the most photographed and a favorite for visitors and wedding photos while couples exchanging vows. The altar of the Chapel of the Transfiguration with the large window framing the majestic Teton Mountain Range makes an almost perfect view. The rustic log Chapel was built in 1925 and has been functioning as an Episcopal church.

The Chapel is accessible all year around but religious services and weddings are conducted only during the summer months from May to September. It was nice to see there were many people just quietly sat in the small chapel. You could tell that they were visitors passing thru while on vacation but recognized that they should slow down and took the time to simply meditate. We said prayers for our country, our Armed Forces, our family and ourselves.

I thought of these images when we sang "How Great Thou Art" at Mass this morning. The winter has been unseasonably mild. The temperature has been in the upper 60s since Monday. So far we only had one sort-of winter snow without much accumulation. Looking up at the blue sky while walking back to my car, I thought of the wonderful memories of our recent road trip to the Northwest (Wyoming and Montana).

"O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder. Consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee ; How great thou art, how great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; How great thou art, how great thou art!"

"When through the woods and forest glades I wander. And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze; Then sings my soul, my Savior God to theee; How great thou art, how great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; How great thou art, how great thou art!"

A SPECIAL TUESDAY TWO - 20,000+

During my regular "just checking" that my little boring blog did not disappear into the black hole of cyberspace, I was pleasantly surprised to find "20,008" on the Hit Counter. Thanks for all my adoring fans, especially Qaptain Qwerty, only with your kind support that TOTA reached this special milestone.

I know that blogging is about what I am doing in my little boring world. But I need to have a purpose, some kind of goals to keep blogging. To motivate myself with posting regularly I would decide how many posts each year and then try to break that record (i.e. in 2011, TOTA had 242 posts compared to 241 posts in 2010). I admired those who post every single day, some even post 2-3 times, with passion, well-written materials and intelligent information.

I did not wish to copy/paste an image of the television movie/film "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", so these photos taken when we were at the Grand Teton National Park last September (2011) would serve as a celebration for this milestone of my little boring blog received 20,000 hits.

My next milestones will be to reach 1,000th post and break the records with 243 post by the end of 2012. Or I could wish for another 10 followers as well as getting regular comments. (I appreciate all the bloggers who put up with my settings for posting comments - I am sorry to make you jump thru all the hoops. It is the only way I know so that I don't get any spam or "junk". Please know that your comments are appreciated and always made me very happy to "read" from you.) Thank you, thank you and thank you!

HERE WE GO AGAIN - 2ND TIME IS A CHARM - PATRIOTS V. GIANTS

Our activities during the last few weekends were arranged around the NFL playoffs schedule. For football fans, it was the most exciting time of the year. It was full of surprises starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers being eliminated by the Broncos - thanks to Tebow's last minute touchdown. Moving on to the Divisional Round, more surprises with the 49ers defeated the Saints (36-32) and the most shocking was the Giants being the Wild Card sent the Packers (with a winning season 15-1) home with a major victory (37-20). I was nervous watching the Patriots v. Broncos game because I could not decide which team should win since I like both Brady and Tebow. The Giants were the only Wildcard team to move on to the Conference Round, facing the 49ers. The AFC game between Patriots v. Ravens - Brady did not play too well and the Patriots were lucky to win that game. The Ravens missed the field goal, unable to tie the game to send it to overtime. Interestingly, the Giants won the game with a field goal in overtime after the 49ers tied at the end of the 4th.
The XLVI Superbowl will be on Sunday, Feb. 5th in Indianapolis, Indiana. Watching all the activities leading up to the Big Day reminded of the excitement when we attended the XL Superbowl in Detroit. The Steelers won that year and the Seahawks never regained from that defeat. I am a bit nervous since this is the 2nd time my beloved Patriots play against my American hometown team the Giants. Five years ago I made the comment, "May the better team win". Not sure if I should say that again! I might just pay attention to the snacks (mini tacos and chicken wings are my favorite) instead of watching the game!
Hey Qap and Lone Gunman, would you care to place bets? You both could take the Giants against my Patriots. What would be your predictions (winning team and final scores)? How about milk shakes at Crown Candy for the prize?

WELCOME HOME - THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

To ALL the men and women who served our country THANK YOU. We are thankful for the freedom you provided.

Let's never forget. Bring ALL of them home.