TWO NEW YORK RANGERS

Well, look closely you will see there are two New York Rangers goalies in the above photo. That was Henrik Lindqvist in the front but I forgot who the other goalie was since this photo was taken when the Rangers visited St. Louis in 2009. I don't have any photos from the 2012 Winter Classic on Monday, January 2nd between my American hometown New York Rangers vs. the Philadelphia Flyers, so these photos would have to do. The Rangers won 3-2 after trailing 0-2 in the 2nd period. Life is good and I am very happy!

The title for the above photo would be "Two Flyers and a Blues", also taken from when the Flyers visited St. Louis in 2009. That was when I had a few extra dollars burning in my pocket and decided to get the 10-game pack. I am proud to say that all the games that I selected, all 10 teams plus St. Louis Blues got into the playoffs that year (well, the Blues got eliminated after the 1st round). (Breaking News: I am excited that the 2013 Winter Classic could be held at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and my beloved Detroit Red Wings would be the hosting team for the game. Life is really good and I am really happy!)

MY HOMETOWN NEW YORK RANGERS

I have been waiting for this game for so long and my hometown New York Rangers finally visited the St. Louis Blues on Monday, February 16th. Being that the teams are not in the same conference, the last time the Rangers (Eastern Conference) met the Blues (Western Conference) was in 2005. I left work early to make sure that I got to the arena to take photos of the players during warm-up. I usually take photos when the players coming out, onto the ice, with the back of their jerseys shown and when they coming back, off the ice, showing their "lovely" faces. (Take a cold shower, TOTA.) During the game I take photos of face-offs and when the players celebrated when a goal was scored. I also try to take photos of the fights and when players talking to each other during commercial breaks.

After the game, as soon as I got home I turned my computer on and started to upload the photos onto a CD. I did not want to take any chance that I might "accidentally" erase the memory stick again! (I am crying just thinking about how I erased the game Rangers v. Canadiens at Madison Square Garden in December 2007.) I double checked to make sure the photos were on the CD. I kept the photos on the stick until I uploaded the photos onto my blogs, just to be sure. An idea just came to my little head, when I go to New York this coming May, I plan to take a tour of the MSG (no, not the MSG in Chinese food), and take photos inside the arena, the rink and perhaps even the lockers room.

Scott Gomez #19 Center - Anchorage, Alaska, is my favorite player on the Rangers roster. I like him even more now that he is no longer playing for the New Jersey Devils.

What fun would be at a hockey game without a fight or two? New York Rangers v. St. Louis Blues - Monday, February 16, 2009.

ZUZU's PETALS - THE STORE

This Zuzu's Petals is a gift shop on Main Street in Washington, Missouri. There is another gift shop also named Zuzu's Petals in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York. The photos I took of the store in Brooklyn was in the memory stick which I accidentally deleted together with photos from the Rangers v. Canadiens game. (It was a year ago and I still feel the pains - just kidding). Please note that Zuzu's Petals restaurant in Kirkwood, Missouri has been closed for a couple of years. It would be terrible for somone from Florida to travel all the way to St. Louis only to find out that the restaurant was no longer in business. If that happens, I would be more than happy to offer that person a few Captain's Wafers!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The photos above were taken a few years ago during a drive through of Festival of Lights in Carthage, Missouri. We went to Carthage to visit Precious Moments headquarters and its famous chapel. There were about forty displays of lights, all coordinated and funded by a religious order of Vietnamese-American Catholics. We also learned that for more than 20 years, Marian Days, the week long religious celebration in August, attracts more than 40,000 Vietnamese-American Catholics and thousands other American Catholics to Carthage. Both Festival of Lights and Marian Days are listed as major events of Art & Culture in Carthage Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

The above photo shows the nativity which used to belong to my husband's parents. After Pa WP passed away in 2000 and when Ma JP finally had to be moved into a nursing home in 2004, the brothers and sisters decided that each person should take an item that has the most meaning as keepsakes of the parents. We asked for the nativity and a recliner which was Pa WP favorite chair. I would love to see the looks of the drivers driving behind CP on Interstate 94 with Mary, Joseph and three wise men in the back of his Ford Ranger. We spent the weekend putting on fresh paint and purchased a new baby Jesus. The last three years, we have carried on the tradition of displaying the nativity in front of our house.

Above photo was the re-enactment of the First Christmas from the performance of the Christmas Spectacular we saw last year at NYC Radio City. It was a nice surprise as I did not think my cheesy pocket camera would take such good photo considering we were way in the back of the theater. The nativity shown below was at Church of the Holy Family, the United Nations Parish.

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!

By now most of my adoring fans or faithful readers/followers know that when the word "happy" appears in my blog, the entries usually would be associated with hockey and the Detroit Red Wings. I have been singing "It's almost the most wonderful time of the year" all evening. The Red Wings began the 2008-2009 season tonight with an exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens. I don't have any photos from the Canadiens, so photo of the postcard I purchased from the Hockey Hall of Fame would have to do. It kind of bring back bad memory that I accidently erased the memory stick from the New York Rangers v. Canadiens game last December.
With all the negative stories in the world, the crumble of giant financial institutions, the up and down of the market, the oxygen draining & stealing individuals and smooth, dispensing promises to all, talking out of both sides of their mouth politicians, the only thing I know for sure is my passion and love of hockey. Here is to another great NHL season and my beloved Detroit Red Wings!

AND THEN, THERE IS ONE

At this writing, Saturday, May 17th Game 5 between the Red Wings v. Stars was over with Dallas scored the first goal, then the Wings tied the game but unable to respond to Lundqvist 2nd goal. No scoring in the 3rd and the series goes back to Dallas on Monday. I was so disappointed and puzzled at the level of plays by the Wings. Their passing, puck control and jamming Turco's net with rebounds were melting away. Being good sportmanship, I will extend congratulations to Turco on his first win ever at the Joe. Ok, now please go fishing or golfing!
Of course, if you are hockey fanatic, you would know that the title of this entry is about the Detroit Red Wings being the only Original Six team advanced in the Conference Finals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I was disappointed when the Flyers ousted the Canadiens (So long Habs, there will be next season) and my hometown Rangers fought hard but could not avoid being eliminated by the Penguins. In 1936, the Red Wings, entered the NHL in 1926-1927, was the last Original Six team to win the Cup. Perhaps 2008 will be the year the Cup is won by an Original Six team again. With Canadiens and Rangers are out, I don't have be torn between my beloved Red Wings or my hometown Rangers or wanting to see the Cup returned to Canada.

THE REAL PENGUINS

I took these photos of the penguins while visiting the St. Louis Zoo last month when my husband's brother and his wife came for a visit. I am putting some humor into these photos to ease the pains I have been feeling since Crosby the Kid and the Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated my hometown New York Rangers from the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Center Jordan Staal feeling proud of himself and no longer trying to catch up to big brothers, Erik and Marc. Ironically, Marc Staal was with the NY Rangers, the team Jordan and the Penguins eliminated.
Crosby the Kid was happy with his playoffs record of 4 goals and 13 assists.

Center Evgeni Malkin congratulates right winger Marian Hossa on his overtime goal in game 5 when the Penguins ousted the Rangers. At this writing, the Penguins already won the first 2 games against cross-state rival Philadelphia Flyers.

The Penguins bench.
Do you know if Petr Sykora is home?
How about Darryl Sydor? Can he come out and play?
Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is guarding the net.

STRESS .... TELL ME ABOUT IT .... LET'S GET OUT OF HERE .... THERE IS A BETTER PLACE FOR YOU AND ME .... BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE!

AND THEN, THERE ARE THREE

Yes I know there are eight teams still battle in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. What I am referring to "And then, There are Three", the three Original Teams, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. I was disappointed when Ottawa Senators was swept by Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks eliminated Calgary Flames. Here is my Fantasy Stanley Cup playoffs matchup - Canadiens, Bruins, Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, Rangers & Red Wings, all other four Canadian teams, and the six spots left go to other U.S. teams.
Currently, it looks like it will be a very quick and easy Round 2 with Penguins already up three games win against my hometown Rangers, Canadiens are not playing well against the Flyers as the series is at 2-1 Flyers. On the other happy note, Dallas Stars took the lead up three games against the Sharks. And the best series, my beloved Detroit Red Wings won the first three games against Colorado Avalanche. I have a friendly wager for a free lunch with a business colleague. I am going to wait until Friday morning, after game 4 Thursday night, to gloat and torment those who dislike and made negative prediction against my Red Wings.

We went to a Rangers v. Canadiens game last December but I have no photos to post. While staying at my brother's house in New York, after handed him the memory sticks, I neglected to check to make sure that photos from my precious hockey game was uploaded onto the CD. A miscommunication occurred and I erased the memory sticks, only found out later when we got back to St. Louis, that the photos from the game were never transferred onto the CD. At first I was heart broken and upset at myself for being so careless. Then I thought, "100 years from now, or after I am dead and gone, who else cares about the photos?". I was there at the game, enjoyed the moment, wasn't that enough?

Below is a replica of the Montreal Canadiens' locker room at the Hockey Hall of Fame. I was too excited and forgot to take photos, so this photo is only from a postcard.

NHL PLAYOFFS-ARE YOU IN?

I was able to capture but not a close-up snapshot of the billboard showing Nicklas Lidstrom asking "Are You In?" as the Red Wings again are in the playoffs. In future entries I will share with my adoring fans many interesting photos from the City of Detroit.

Here is my hockey pucks collection. I normally obtained the pucks representing the teams that I saw at the games. The above Original Six was purchased when we visited the Hockey Hall of Fame last year. I plan to purchase other pucks when attending the games in Montreal, Boston, and Chicago (I already got the Maple Leafs puck).

I have two New York Rangers pucks, the one below was obtained last December at the game and another puck was from a few years ago when the Rangers (Eastern Conference) made a rare visit to St. Louis (Western Conference) as the teams do not meet very often being from different conferences. I don't remember where and when I got the New Jersey Devils puck but it comes in handy for this entry. The Rangers won the first two games, loss game 3, then came back strong in game 4 & 5 to eliminate the Devils last Friday.

Currently (as of Sunday, April 20th) in the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins swept the Ottawa Senators and the New York Rangers eliminated the New Jersey Devils. The Boston Bruins forced game 7 when they won 5-4 in game 6 over the Montreal Canadiens. Game 6 between the Washington Capitals v. the Philadelphia Flyers was scheduled for Monday.

Old rivaries Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche will have an opportunity for an exciting match-up as both teams moved on to Round 2 after eliminated their opponents. Still fighting for a chance to advance are San Jose Sharks v. Calvary Flames and Dallas Stars v. Anaheim Ducks.

Latest News - As I am finishing up this entry, the Red Wings eliminated Nashville Predators in game 6 with a shutout 3-0. At-A-Boy Ozzie! Since winning its 10th Stanley Cup in 2002, the Red Wings disappointed many die-hard fans when the team was ousted by Anaheim Ducks in 2003, then again by Calgary Flames in 2004 and the worst heart-break painful series eliminated by the 8th seed Edmonton Oilers in 2006.

Why am I blogging instead of watching my beloved Red Wings game? Because even though the listing showed that the game would be on NBC, instead the local affiliated station was showing the Cardinals baseball game! In desperation, I began looking thru all the sports channels. Versus was showing a bicycle race and other stations were showing more baseball games, NBA playoffs, golf, bull riding and fishing! I could not believe a station even showed Bowling Tournament - an activity for girly men! How I wish I was in Canada, for sure with complete coverage from CBC (Hockey Night in Canada), TSN, RDS, I would never miss any playoffs series.

RED HOT RED WINGS

On Sunday, April 6th my husband and I took an early flight at 8:30 a.m. from St. Louis and arrived in Detroit at 11:00 a.m. to attend the Red Wings last regular season home game against the Chicago Blackhawks. We picked up the rental car from the airport, arrived at Joe Louis Arena about 15 minutes before the game, just enough time to watch the teams practice. It was another meaningless game as the Blackhawks already out of playoff contention. However, this is my 2nd Original Six game. Last Christmas, we saw the game between the New York Rangers v. the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden. I still need to see the Toronto Maple Leafs v. the Boston Bruins.

Above is the statue of "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe #9 who just turned 80 last month. Howe played for 23 seasons, won 4 Stanley Cups, named to more than 20 All-Star games, a dozen of Art Ross and Hart Memorial Trophies combined and a Hall of Famer. Howe, together with Sid Abel #12 and Ted Lindsay #7, was known as The Production Line that led the Red Wings to the Cup in 1950 and again 1952.

Below are 10 Stanley Cup Banners on the rafters and #9 among other great players whose numbers were retired. The most recent number is #19 Da Captain Steve Yzerman.

Da Captain Nicklas Lidstrom (above) accepted the President's Trophy as the team with the best winning record. I read in a book that hockey players are mong the most supertious people. Players would not touch and definitely not carry any trophy or award prior to the playoffs. It was believed that such action could ruin a chance of winning the ultimate Holy Grail, the Stanley Cup.

Below is the banner showing young 18 years old Steve Yzerman chosen by the Red Wings as their #1 draft. Stevie Y. was named team Captain when he was only 21 and remained the longest active captain until he retired last year.

After the game we went to Chelios Bar & Grill for late lunch/early dinner. I was not impressed with the selections on the menu, the food was good but nothing worth praising. My husband enjoyed the special Chelios chilli. The atmosphere was typical sports bar that carry the names of famous players, large screen televisions, lot of sports related displays and autographed items on the walls. Most of the people there came for a chance to see Chris Chelios more than quality of the food.

We returned the rental car with more than an hour before our scheduled flight at 6:30 p.m. However, the flight was delayed until 8:00 p.m. because the plane could not get in from Orlando, Florida due to bad weather there. We finally got home around 10:30 p.m. It was a great colorful weekend - Blue, Blues and Red!

HAPPY 2008

I chose the above photo from Rockefeller Center because with the trumpet, the statue looked as if he/she announced the new year has arrived. Here are best wishes to all my adoring fans for a healthy and peaceful year that will be filled with love, happiness and prosperity.

We took the subway from Brooklyn and got off at Grand Central Station, then walked to the United Nations. There were performances called Light Shows during the holidays. I thought it was appropriate to show the famous clocks that most of the people would recognize as the trademarks of GCS. There were also art & craft booths as part of the holidays fair. We purchased two ornaments and was given a third one at no charge.

Below are a few photos from Times Square. We were in the area prior to going to the Rangers game. It was on Sunday, January 30th and it was already crowded with people (perhaps it was the normal crowd for Times Square). We moved slowly in the sea of bodies, taking in the bright lights, watching the large screen showing various poses of the M&M characters.

For a few years, 1982-1985, I was a member of Metro-International, a program providing orientation to international university students on living in New York City and learning about American cultures. I became a non-paid volunteer yet had all the authority as a staff person conducting meetings and helping the executive director with office matters. During a trip to Pennsylvania Dutch Country (Lanscater County ), we visited Hershey Park and had a great time there. Each student stayed with an American host family. Mr. & Mrs. GE, who were the Mennonites, was my host family. I went back and visited them a couple of times on my own. We still keep in touch and exchanged Christmas greetings, birthdays and anniversaries cards, to this day. (Compared to the Amish, the Mennonites are less conservative, have relaxed dress codes, are permitted to drive automobiles and the use of electricity. The GE family did not have television, only a small radio.)

If my husband had his wish, we would be among the million people standing around for more than 8 hours waiting for the countdown and lowering of the crystal ball as the New Year arrived. We tried getting a hotel room but could not afford the rate of $459 a night. I told my husband that I would not physically be able to stand around or even if sitting on a portable chair, to withhold my needs to use the restroom for more than a few hours.

The photo above show Times Square and the crowd. Then we went up to the second floor in the M&M Store where I found a great corner to take photos of Times Square from up high, as shown below, with the traffic and again the bright lights.