GRAND TORINO

We went to a Shelby Fest today in Hermann, Missouri.  It was cloudy but comfortable.  Luckily it started to rain around 1430 when the show was almost over.  Not sure why this 1968 Grand Torino was in the Show but I thought it was good that it was there so I could take pictures for Qaptain Qwerty since he likes that movie, Grand Torino.

After walking around, we were hungry and decided to go to a BBQ place for late lunch/early dinner.  Ralphie got a beef brisket sandwich and I had a pork sandwich.  We share half of our sandwiches, and I liked the beef brisket better than the pork.  Ralphie liked both the beef and the pork.

There were over 100 cars on display and these were the two I liked the most.  This was the 6th year since the Show started.  The proud owners of these "toys" came from as far as California, Minnesota, Texas to nearby Iowa and Illinois.  This year I decided not taking any photos of a group of men standing around looking (and drooling) over the engine and talking about the car as if it was the most beautiful thing they ever saw!

Have a good weekend and enjoy whatever you are doing!

DOES YOUR DOG BITE?

My workplace is located in a very nice area.  In addition to walking during lunch break, I also get out for a 10 minutes walk, either in the morning or late afternoon.  This park is three blocks from my building.  I thought it was a real dog because of the bandana but then I realized it was a sculpture.  I thought of Qaptain Qwerty and his dog-walking with the shelter.
I always like the "Does your dog bite?" joke - it is an old joke but a good one about mis-communication.
Person #1 standing next to a dog, then Person #2 walks by, stops and asks #1, "Does your dog bite?".  #1 said, "No, my dog does not bite."
#2 started to pat the dog, the dog bit #2's hand.
#2 yelled at #1, "You said your dog does not bite.  He just bit my hand."
#1 responded, "This is not my dog.  My dog is at home and he does not bite."

A CAKE FOR DA QAPTAIN

I don't have any photos of a cake decorated with running or runners or bicycles - so this cake in front of the Museum of the Dogs might be a good fit since QQ has been helping a local shelter as a volunteer walking the dogs.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLD

 "17 City Locations - 5 Million Items - 1 Great City - 1 Great Library"

This image is an example of "the best of both world".  Two of my favorite bloggers are Qaptain Qwerty and Busboy (Bus Stories).  So when I saw the advertisement about St. Louis Public Library (QQ loves library) on City Bus (I enjoy reading weekly well-written and interesting stories Busboy shared each Sunday), I knew I found a perfect and "the best of both world" image!

2-WKOUT

Hey QQ, thought of you when I saw this license plate.  (Next time I need to remember to stand back further so my shadow would not show.  It looks almost like Benjamin!)

All is well in STL.  Will write more later.

B-CYCLE

Hey Qap, this license plate is perfect for you - either riding bicycle or recycle.  (BTW, are you no longer interested in license plates?  Perhaps you have not found one that was clever or worthy to share.)

IM GLAD

I am glad, very glad, that I am done with Evidence, the only class I have taken for summer semester.  I like these 3-week, 1 credit class, fast track courses.  The final exam was last night and I was exhausted afterward.  We were allowed one hour and 45 minutes and I needed 90 minutes to complete all 50 questions, multiple choice, true or false, and written answers on Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) and Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo).
Here is a question on Hearsay and Exceptions.
QQ alleges that TOTA took his Lamborghini for a joy ride on April 1st and damaged the machine when she backed into a tree.  QQ calls the Lone Gunman as witness who testifies that LG saw TOTA driving the Lamborghini.  LG remembers this because when TOTA saw LG, she said, "Hey!  Want to go for a ride in this cool car?".  Is this inadmissible as hearsay?  Under which FRE exception if it was admissible?       

IS QAPTAIN QWERTY AT THE INN?

 I could not come up with something clever to post for these photos.  I leave it to QQ as he is the smart one in the family - haa haa!

Knock, knock
Who is there?
Da Qaptain.
Which one?
Captain Wohlt that is who.

THE WAY IT WAS

I thought of "Da Qaptain" and wonder if the artist created the above sculpture with QQ in mind.  Enlarge the image and you would see all the recycled materials representing modern society.  I did not count all the pieces but these are a few items that are easily recognized such as cell phone, golf club/balls, Kodak camera, fishing pole, empty soda can, etc. 

The above item of a runner (probably from a trophy) and the chain from a bicycle represent what QQ enjoys and his current frequent activities - running and riding bicycle (not motorcycle) haa haa

The temperature continues to be unusually warm for December.  I am not really looking forward to the freezing weather but it would not feel right listening to Christmas songs while the thermometer showing 70s.

There yesterday trash
Together one piece of art
The Way It Was last

GO QAP GO !!!!!!

 I got my copy of Runner's World November 2012 Issue and have been telling everyone in St. Louis that I know Qaptain Qwerty, the World Famous Runner from Brooklyn, New York.  If you have not gotten your copy, you might be out of luck because the issue might be sold out!  Congratulations, Go Qap Go .......  

It was a cold morning today, only in the 40 when I was on the way to the doctor for an annual physical check-up.  I am pleased to report that all is well.  I got the same reminders from Doc - slim down, exercise more and don't read too much into any latest medical news (something is good for you today might become bad tomorrow).  After the exam, I spent almost an hour waiting to a blood test done.  Nothing serious, Doc just wanted to keep an eye on the cholesterol and as preventative measures.  The afternoon was warm in the high 50 but felt much warmer when standing in the sun.  Whether you got a day off or have to work today, Happy Columbus Day! 

THURSDAY RAMBLINGS - CHELSEA, IOWA LIBRARY

I did not understand why it was so important to Qaptain Qwerty and why it made him happy when he found free WiFi at a coffee shop or at a library wherever he happens to be while travelling. Now I do. Since we have wireless internet connection at home, there would be no need to sign up for data service for "Bo" except when we are on our road trips. All of the library branches in St. Louis have free WiFi and most of the restaurants/coffee shop, even supermarkets now offer this service. I think it is a smart business decision. Last week when I met a friend for lunch at a restaurant that has free WiFi, I brought along the iPad and we were able to do research on the topics we discussed. I like taking pictures of library or post office when driving thru small towns. The town of Chelsea, Iowa has only one building to house both its City Hall and Library. I am sure the good people of Chelsea are proud of their town because any town that has a library, no matter how small the collection is, would get my respect.

When I mentioned to my husband that I got a few really good books from the library, he said, "I never knew you ever gotten a book that you did not like or think it was a good book." Reading has always been one of my favorite activities besides watching hockey/football. One of the books I recently read was about I.M. Pei, the world renown architect, and I found so many interesting things about his life. I always thought Mr. Pei only designs museum like the Louvre Pyramid in Paris and the Guggenheim in New York. I learned that he works included John Fitzgerald Kenney Library in Boston, MA; Four Seasons Hotel in NYC; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio; Mile High Center in Denver, Colorado and so many others. If you did not already know a lot about I.M. Pei, please accept my humble suggestion to read about this giant of modern architecture. From his acceptance speech for one of the many awards he earned, I.M. Pei "Let us all be attentive to new ideas, to advancing means, to dawning needs, to impetuses of change so that we may achieve, beyond architectural originality, a harmony of spirit in the service of man." Would you like to share something interesting you read recently?

TO QAPTAIN QWERTY - FROM JOLIET WITH LOVE

Happy March everyone! How are your New Year resolutions? I hope you are not "stuck in the toilet in Joliet" like Qaptain Qwerty - haa haa

These photos were taken in June 2010 when we drove from St. Louis to The Begin of Route 66 in Chicago, Illinois. Travelling Eastbound, we followed Hwy 53 north from Wilimington, thru Elwood, and past I-80 into Joliet. We heard about a very nice Route 66 Welcome Center and Gift Shop inside the Joliet Museum at 214 N. Ottawa but we never went inside because the building closed both times when we were passing thru! Hey Qap, I have a suggestion - the next time you happen to be either in Chicago or St. Louis, let's plan on driving on Route 66, then we could stop by Joliet for a potty break!

TUESDAY TWO - EVERY "2ND" COUNTS

When I saw the above plate, I thought of an "oldies but goodies" childhood memory. Qaptain Qwerty was about six years old and that particularly day he was under the weather. As we were eating dinner, Mother warned QQ not to eat a full meal. But who could refuse all the delicious cha gio, bun men nuong and che ba mau? When QQ started to throw up, Mother asked sarcastically, "An nua thoi?", do you wish to eat some more? QQ promptly responded, "An nua, nhung an mot chut thoi", Yes, but only a little more! (I don't remember what prompted the subject, but Mother was telling that story last week during my weekly phone call.)

I explained to the owner of the above vehicle that I simply enjoy finding interesting personalized plates. He was flattered and did not mind that I took a photo. He was kind enough to share that he is an owner of two dental laboratories, thus "2TH-LAB". He promised to give me a discount. I just hope I don't need that dentures anytime soon!

There was no one around for me to ask about the above plate. If I have to take an educated guess, I would say the owner could be (a) a determologist; (b) a taxidermist; and (c) someone who is in the leather business. What do you think "2ND SKN" mean?

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.)

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.

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?

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!

CHRISTMAS TREE IN ST. LOUIS

We drove around downtown St. Louis wanting to see all the Christmas lightings but were disappointed that the decorations were not what we expected. The above Christmas tree was nice but did not draw a large crowd. In fact there were no tourists around the plaza, only homeless people. Don't get me wrong, I am not putting down St. Louis. (My husband said that in a few years, I will be living in St. Louis longer than being in Viet Nam. Would I be more St. Louisian than Vietnamese? Could I still say that I am a NewYorker/Yankee? How about telling people that I am from Detroit when it comes to the Red Wings?) I will admit that I always compare any tree to the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Is that why they say you could take a NewYorker out of New York but you can't take New York out of a NewYorker? What are the Christmas decorations in your town?

WHICH WICH VINNIE VAN GOGO TO THE BAR BAR?

When you have a brother who is a self-proclaimed punster, you tend to spot signs or businesses with clever and funny names. I saw the Which Wich in Atlantic Station (midtown Atlanta). Vinnie Van GoGo is located near City Market in Savannah and the Bar Bar is in the center of Ellis Square, also in Savannah.

Notice the hand-written sign "CASH ONLY" - I wonder if anyone ever got their ear cut off writing bad check ;>)

At Vinnie, there are tables and chairs outside the restaurant, but don't try to sit down because food are only ordered to gogo - just kidding ;-)

WHO IS AFRAID OF NUMBER 13?

Since I don't have a photo of a black cat or a tall ladder, this butterfly named Great Mormon from Southeast Asia, will have to be. When I made arrangement for the trip back from Atlanta, I wanted to spend an extra day (Saturday) with my sister and also to make it easier for my husband to pick me up, so I booked the returning flight on Sunday, November 13th.

I don't consider myself to be a supertitious person. I say things like, "knock on wood" while gently knocking on my own head, just as a joke. I broke a few mirrors but I never became paranoid that something bad would be happening for the next 7 years of my life. I just found that it was a funny coincidence when I got to the Atlanta airport while waiting to go thru security checkpoints, the agent tried to get things moving by telling the passengers to go to a shorter lane. I was directed to lane #13.

Mind you, I was not at all concern that I am flying on the 13th and now I stood in lane #13 and getting on an airplane to my seat #31E. As I was waiting at the gate (21A), a small question came to my mind - should I be worry? Not at all because there are many people, Qaptain Qwerty included, was born on the 13th and there were many times that his birthday fell on Friday the 13th. My Godfather birthday was also on the 13th. Hockey players are known as the most supertitious in sports, and many of them wearing #13 (like Pavol Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings) on their jersey and that is considered good luck. So who is afraid of #13, definitely not TOTA ;>)