"DA QAPTAIN" IN ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI

Saturday, April 7th - As planned, QQ, CP and I walked about 4.5 miles to start the day in the healthy direction. QQ remembered seeing Borders bookstore near an intersection near my house when he visited in 2005. Currently there is a big sign, "Store Closing", above the building. After the walk, I made breakfast that included eggs, sausage links and onion bagels with cream cheese. (QQ with Captain Meriwether Lewis, explorer William Clark and the dog Seaman.) After breakfast, we packed up to check into the hotel after a visit to St. Charles. The hotel is at Market & Broadway in downtown St. Louis and that would be much easier for QQ to walk from the hotel to the starting line at Market & 15th Street.

It was a nice suprise when we saw that it was Missouri Tartan Day Festival, a celebration of Scottish heritage, taken place along Frontier Park. We saw a lot of "real men" in traditional kilts.

We had a nice lunch at Mother-in-Law restaurant. It was the first time I ate at this restaurant because we usually visited St. Charles on Sundays and the restaurant was closed on this day. We even spoke to "Mom" the one and only owner!

QQ was a very respectful and well-behaved son-in-law!

Before going to the hotel, we had to search for a store that carried compression running shorts for QQ because he did not prepare for the much warmer weather in St. Louis compared to NYC.

ST. LOUIS WELCOMES "DA QAPTAIN"

Whew! The last two weeks have been so exciting and I could hardly wait to share what happened with all my adoring fans. I will try to post frequently to update you all the wonderful activities, especially about Qaptain Qwerty's visit to St. Louis. Go to QQ's blog at www.qaptainqwerty.com if you wish to read all about QQ's preparation for running the St. Louis Marathon on Sunday, April 10th. Let's catch-up on what have taken place since Friday, April 8th. Friday, April 8th - "Da Qaptain" was scheduled to arrive at St. Louis Airport around 1:50 p.m. and I was ready to greet him with the above sign. I told many people in the waiting area for arriving passengers that "my brother is coming to visit me and to run the Marathon on Sunday." QQ was tired and hungry when he arrived. I brought along a bag of goodies that included a banana, a tuna sandwich and a few cookies. We decided to take our time, got drinks, shared the sandwich and an onion bagel with cream cheese for QQ, at a coffee shop at the airport.

As I drove QQ from the airport to Chaifetz Arena at Saint Louis University to pick up his bib number, I thought of the letter QQ wrote to me in 1989. In the letter, QQ reminded me of the time when we zigzag thru the streets in Woodhaven, Queens so I could practice driving before moving to Michigan. QQ encouraged me to be steady and not be intimidated as other drivers zooming by.

After picking up the bib number and registration packet, we spent time walking around the exhibit area. My husband left work early and we had time to relax before going out to dinner. We planned to get up early the next morning to go for a walk.

QQ with his running shirt and bib #2574 - ready for the Marathon!

OUR SINS HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS

ELEVENTH STATION - Jesus is nailed to the Cross. (Luke 23:33-34)

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (John 19:18)

TWELFTH STATION - Jesus dies on the Cross. (Luke 23:44-46)

Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, "It is finished, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Then bowing his head, he died. (John 19:30)

THIRTEENTH STATION - The body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross. (John 19:33-34, 38a)

LET THERE BE PEACE

I was very pleased to find the statue of St. Francis of Assisi right outside the Jewel Box. With so much turmoil in this world (and at times in my personal life), I thought the prayer below is so fitting. Let There Be Peace On Earth - The prayer of St. Francis of Assisi Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me; Let there be peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be; With God as creator, family all are we; Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me -- let this be the moment now; With every breath I take, let this be my joyous vow: To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally; Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.

Peace in the world, peace in the our homes and peace in our hearts!

OUR SORROW, OUR PAINS THE CROSS HE CARRIED

EIGHTH STATION - Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. (Luke 23:27-28)

NINTH STATION - Jesus falls a third time. (Psalm 118:25-28)

Jesus fell again in weakness; Stumbling as we do, to lead us; Through our sorrow and our pain.

TENTH STATION - Jesus is stripped of his clothes. (Matthew 27:34-35)

"They divided my clothes among them, and upon my garments they cast lots."

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME - CARDINAL'S EXPERIENCE

The St. Louis Cardinals' home opening game is Thursday, March 31st. Posting photos of this butterfly sculpture is fitting for the start of 2011 baseball season. Summer will be here soon along with the hot and humid temperature! The NHL playoffs will begin in less than 10 days, so I am not really ready for the baseball season (I was never into this slow-pace American pastime activity anyway).

Above - Cardinal's Experience by Artist Daniel McCarthy. From www.wingsinthecity.org, "Painting has allowed Daniel to continue the creative path that he embarked on at a young age. His work is inspired by images from his life, subjects of his mind, love, death, and creation. Strong composition and complex color are his artistic foundation. Dan is a Senior Graphic Designer at CFX, Inc."

"This butterfly, “Cardinals Experience,” creates a visual interpretation of a Cardinals game. On the base of the butterfly, four different scenes reflect the experience of going to a game at Busch Stadium. As the viewer walks past the sculpture, the front of the butterfly conveys the excitement of Cardinals baseball. This creation is one of a kind because it has also been signed by players on the 2010 Cardinals major league roster."

TREE OF LIFE - THE JEWEL BOX IN FOREST PARK

This sculpture is named "Tree of Life" by artist Victoria Whiting. It is located inside the Jewel Box at Forest Park. If we were not looking for this sculpture, we would probably still not seeing the inside of the Jewel Box.

From www.wingsinthecity.org, "Victoria enjoys working in a variety of media to create pieces that combine strong drawing bases with global influences infused with both ancient and modern symbols and designs."

"Trees have always been some of my favorite things in life and in artwork. I have always enjoyed seeing light filtered through the leaves of a tree during the day and especially at sunsets. I remember the feeling as a child of running home as the sun went down while the trees turned to silhouettes. The transformation of the trees at twilight and the colors of the sky made the experience almost mystical. That feeling inspired the colors of my butterfly. As an adult studying art, I learned the symbolic meaning of the Tree of Life, an important symbol in many cultures. These trees often have images of fruit, flowers and winged creatures and symbolize protection, growth and strength. It seemed natural to fill the butterfly with this Tree of Life, full of offerings, hope and strength."

THE LITTLE CHURCH MOUSE IN THE JEWEL BOX

One of the 56 butterfly sculptures, part of the Wings in the City exhibit www.wingsinthecity.org, is on display at the Jewel Box in Forest Park. We have been living in St. Louis since 1995. We visited Forest Park on many occasions such as going to the annual hot air balloons race, to the museums or just driving around the park. Yet, last weekend was the first time we went inside the Jewel Box at Forest Park. From the outside, it has an appearance of a neglected greenhouse. Once inside, it is so beautiful and inviting. The place was set up ready for a wedding. We did not know that the Jewel Box was available for rental for special events.Ok, TOTA, what about the title "The little church mouse in the Jewel Box"? During the week of March 21 – 25, I went to Mass in the morning, then to work and then back to church with my husband for the Parish Mission. I just thought the title, “The little church mouse in the Jewel Box” was sort-of perfect for this post!My husband started calling me “a little church mouse” when I began going to 8:00 Mass on Wednesday and Friday mornings. Last week two Vincentian priests, twin brothers, visited our parish and presented a week long Parish Mission entitled “I Could Have Done More”. Starting Monday, March 21st thru Thursday, March 24th, at 7:00 p.m. each evening, the priests celebrated Mass with a homily focused on different theme for each night.The theme on Monday was our trust in God when we pray. The priest told a story about the people in a small town gathered to pray for rain during a drought. Almost all the town people came to the church, including a 10 years old boy named Billy. After an hour of praying, the Lord answered their prayers and the heavy rain began pouring. Little 10-year old Billy was the one person carried an umbrella. No one trusted in God like little Billy. They prayed but in their heart and mind, they were not true believers!On Tuesday, the theme was learning to rely on God’s wisdom and power. We are a “quick fix” people, always expecting instant relief. We need to remember that God acted in His own time, not according to our schedule. Forgiveness was the theme on Wednesday. Forgive those who offended us was sort-of easy, the hardest part was forgiving our own mistakes. We often are too harsh on ourselves to the point where we could not move on. The sacrament of reconciliation was offered after the Wednesday Mass. (On Wednesday evening, when the priest started reading the Gospel, I began to question whether he was reading the same Gospel from yesterday. Then I realized that I heard the same reading from the morning Mass. And I thought the priest was confused because of his old age. It was I that was confused!) Thursday was the last day of the Parish Mission. The theme was to have a peaceful mind and heart. To achieve a peaceful mind and heart, we must not only forgive those offended us but also pray for them. We also must not be vengeful (like saying, “I forgive you but I hope God will get you!”) This is the hardest part and I don’t know if I could ever achieve a peaceful mind and heart!

SPRING HAS ARRIVED - NOT !!!!!!!!!

Saturday, March 26th – The flurries began around 8:15 when I got up in the morning. After breakfast, approximately 10:20 a.m., I decided to go out. I needed a new ink cartridge and also to Borders bookstore to see whether there are any good books left from their out-of-business sales. I stopped by the community center where a book fair (and home-made bakery goods) was being held. Proceeds from the fair benefits the Historical Society and also fund the renovation of the old school building. I looked around but realized that I had enough reading materials (especially those self-help books), I bought two banana nut muffins and a small jar of strawberry jam. This was what greeted me when I walked back to my car after the book fair! The heavy snow, strong wind and below 30 degrees temperature, almost blizzard condition, caught me (and others) by surprise. I decided to go home where it is warm and safe. After lunch, we took a long nap and spent the evening watching a documentary on Mark Twain. You could hardly tell the words on the banner (above photo), “Spring has arrived”, I say NOT!!!!!

It sure is ironic that the sign reads “Spring Break” while the snow is falling!

Watching the little bird seeking shelter, waiting for the storm to pass, reminded me that sometimes in life we have to take a step back and not react to whatever comes at us. We need to wait for the right opportunity and plan accordingly.

By the time we got home from noon Mass on Sunday, March 27th, the sun was out and most of the snow was gone. After lunch, we again spent the day taking a nap. Must be the cold weather that made me so sleepy or it could be old age!

OUR WEAKNESSES THE HOLY CROSS HE CARRIED

Photos taken during our Westward adventure on Route 66 in July 2010. The structure, "the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ", built in 1995, south of I-40 Exit 112 on Highway 295 was the newest religious monument located in Groom, Texas. The complex also includes 14 statutes of the “Stations of the Cross”.

FIFTH STATION - Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His cross (Mark 15:20-22)

SIXTH STATION - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus (Matthew 25:37-40)

SEVENTH STATION - Jesus falls the second time (Isaiah 53:4-6)

504FLY, HOUSKA DOODLE & LUMINESSA

Above - Houska Doodle Wings by Charles Houska (who else?)

From www.wingsinthecity.org, "Colorful, bold, intense art that commands attention and triggers a smile is the essence of Houska’s work. He has his own pop-art style, using a whimsical cast of characters and bright color. “I paint for light-hearted, happy people of all ages, he says.”

"Inspiration: I have done a lot of work in the past for St. Louis Children’s Hospital and nothing to me is more amazing than to see the bright smiles of children around art. I decided to fill every possible space on the butterfly with a collage of my characters painted in bright happy colors. My hope is to bring instant attention, fun and happy thoughts, if even briefly, to an uncertain world."

Hey Qaptain Qwerty, the sculpture below was probably made just for you! Read on and you will agree that the artist's inspiration is similar to one of your causes. Actually, in two weeks, you will be able to see these scupltures "up close and personal"! Can't wait :)

Above - 504fly by artist Rob Corley.
"While attending Tulane University Medical School and living in New Orleans, Rob began to ponder a use for the colorful beads remaining once the Mardi Gras festivities ended. When away from his work as Executive Director of St. Joseph Health Center Emergency Room, he is encrusting artwork and furniture with beads creating a more permanent way to enjoy the fun. "

Here is an excellent inspiration for Reuse, Reduce and Recycle.

"When I lived in New Orleans, I was always fascinated with the vibrant shimmering beads that were so prized during Mardis Gras, but lay discarded when the festivities were over. It seemed to me that there was no reason for the fun to stop, so I started developing my own art with these beads – a perfect reflection of the folk art soul of the New Orleans I loved.
For my butterfly, the brilliantly colored beads became my medium. The colors and details began to follow wherever my mind led them. Each day I’d add new colors and styles into the mix, and I was excited to see the design unfold on a large, three-dimensional scale. It was even more rewarding to roll it out at the end of the day to allow it to sparkle in the sun.

The name “504fly” is a nod to New Orleans using its area code…504."

Artist Joy Christensen created the above sculpture, Luminessa.
"Joy’s artistic works have been featured on QVC, HGTV, and KTVI, as well as in many national publications (including Victorian Home, Home Companion, and Romantic Homes to name a few.) She painted a 360 degree Art Deco Mural at her restaurant, The Fountain on Locust, and can be heard on the national comedic radio segment, “JOY GRDNIC IN THE STUDIO”.

"I named my butterfly “Luminessa,” because the paint I used absorbs sunlight in the day, and then glows in the dark at night. The process itself was illuminating for me too, as I recently discovered that luciferin, the chemical that produces light in fireflies and fish, was recently used by scientists to develop the first bioluminescent butterfly. And here I thought that I had beaten them to it! Now I’M glowing too!"