Last week I went to the local home improvement store to pick up a few hanging baskets. Again, I engaged in a serious discussion about the Stanley Cup Finals with a store employee, instead of deciding what kind of flowers I should get, I let go of Benjamin's hand and did not know where he went. Would you help me find Benjamin?
On Monday we attended the Memorial Day Service at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The service was scheduled at 10:00 a.m. We parked at the designated parking lot and instead of taking the shuttle bus, we decided to walk since it was a comfortable morning and not raining like last year. After the ceremony, we walked back to where we parked. The program was long, over 2 hours, but it was partly cloudy so the humidity was not unbearable. It would have been shorter if we could find the way to cut out the speeches by the politicians! We spoke to a Rabbi from Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel and told him that the benediction he gave was very moving and heartfelt.
Next year I should remember to have the camera ready to take better photos of the planes flying over. It was not listed in the program and no announcement was made. I would have loved to capture the above B-52 Bomber flying above the flag.We honor the men and women who died so that freedom might live. Let us resolve by word and deed to emphasize the Privilege and Duty of Patriotism. God Bless America and may God protect our Troops.
Last October when we were driving along Glenstone Avenue in Springfield, Missouri looking for Route 66 Rail Haven, one of the few 66-era motels that are still in operation, I spotted the tin-man (above photo) sitting alone on the roof top of the buidling of the Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union 36 Apprenticeship Training Center. Five minutes later, down the road, we were so excited when we found a group of eleven "men" sitting on a steel beam at the edge of the Killian Group of Company building. I don't remember if there was a security gate but I was able to get close enough, zooming in and captured these photos below.
Here we go - the most exciting time of the year, Stanley Cup Finals started on Saturday, May 29th. "But TOTA, what does it got to do with Tuesday Two theme?" my faithful readers probably wonder. Well, there are only two teams left standing, the Chicago Blackhawks v. the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hawks are leading the series, winning 6-5 Game 1 on Saturday and played a strong Game 2 Monday night again winning 2-1. I really look forward to game 3 & 4 since the Flyers must play more physical and win at least one game in front of their fans on home ice.
The top photo of the Red Wings v. the Blackhawks was taken in April 2008, when we attended the Wings' last home game, a surprised birthday present from my husband. CP planned the whole trip without giving away any details until the day before. We flew to Detroit on Saturday morning, picked up the rental car, saw a great Original Six match-up game, went to lunch at Chellio's restaurant and flew back to St. Louis later that evening.
It is the Veteran -
Let's remember to salute the flag and never forget the men and women who stood proud and tall in defense of our country, who gave their lives so we could have freedom and liberty. 
"Ok, TOTA, there is no balloon getting stuck on the power line, so what's the story about this industrial crane?" you may ask. The reason is very simple, I just like to capture images of this crane, a manmade giant tool, against the beautiful blue sky. One of my favorite television programs is Modern Marvels on the History Channel. I had an opportunity to tour a manufacturer that makes giant equipment from a 90-ton hydraulic excavators and ultra high demolition machine that stood at almost 200 tons. One of my favorite program would be the building of the submarine. 
When I first moved to Michigan, I worked for an engineer who designed and wrote instructional manuals for operating industrial cranes. I knew about industrial cranes as much as I knew about cooking (or boiling water). All I did was typing up his notes and making sure the pages were in the right order, printed and sent the manuals to the customers. To this day I still have fond memories of this experience and a soft spot for cranes. I wonder how fast could the operator get down to the ground when he needs to answer nature calls! 
One of our favorite activities on the weekend is to go to downtown Kirkwood (Missouri). After getting a treat from the Custard Station (mine is vanilla with coconut and chopped nut and chocolate with butterfinger for my husband), we would either watch the freight trains coming thru or the Amtrak trains dropping off and picking up passengers. This Kirkwood Train Station has been boarding travelers since 1853 and is now managed entirely by volunteers. It is a pleasant walk around downtown Kirkwood as there are lot of shops, specialty stores, Farmers' Market and plenty of historical buildings such as the above Van Goor Buildings.
Above is a display of the 9-foot tall "San Marco II" twin horse sculpture by Ludovico De Luigi, at the entrance, welcoming visitors to Chesterfield City Hall. These two bronze horses stood in the lobby of the downtown St. Louis Adams Mark Hotel for 22 years. The sculptures were cast in the same Italian foundry used by Leonardo da Vinci.
Keeping with the theme of horses, below is a display of lot of horsepower at the Mustangs Show sponsored by the Museum of Transportation. I went inside the gift shop while my husband engaged in serious discussions about the engines, the models and every details from the chrome wheels to the sequential tail lights, with other members of the Mustang Club.
Below is a new addition to the family, a 2010 Mustang, my husband's new toy. Actually, I call it "the 2nd Mistress", the Thunderbird is the 1st Mistress. The ride is much more comfortable than the T-bird and it is not a convertible so I don't have to worry about getting my hair all mess-up! 
It was typical of me to be a few days late (and a few million dollars short) when it comes to posting timely topics. Not that I would bike to work (I don't even have a bike) when it was National Bike to Work Day last Friday, May 21st, but these photos would have been appropriate instead of the regular Friday Sky theme.
Benjamin traded his yellow vehicle (bottom photo) for this yellow bicycle (photo below). Then he realized that he was not going anywhere fast and decided to walk home instead! The temperature already reached 90+ yesterday and the same today. After the noon mass, we stayed in and watched the Blackhawks swept the Sharks to capture the Western Conference title and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens are not going too well and I am afraid to think of game 5 tomorrow night. We expect rains and thunderstorm the next few days. I will have a busy week ahead with council meeting on Monday and Board of Directors on Wednesday. One more month and we will be on our Route 66 adventure, all the way to Arizona.
Being a friendly individual, Benjamin tried to engage in a conversation with these two "colored individuals" but he was told they were not interested because "Three is a crowd". Where did Benjamin go?
Driving to work one morning last week, as I looked up at the traffic lights waiting for the green light and there they were, a bunch of white and blue balloons got stucked on the power line. The balloons were almost fully inflated so they must be from a recent party. Probably from a birthday party for a boy since it was white and blue or it could be for a girl who loves the color of blue instead of the typical "girlie" pink! Well, you know my obsession with watching the balloons that getting stuck on the power line. I had to turn around, pulled safely into a nearby parking lot and took these photos.
Here is what I wrote in previous post, an oldie but a goodie, "A few months ago, as I was sitting in traffic, I saw one of the balloons broke away from a car dealership lot. The balloon flew off but then was caught on the electrical wires. As I watched the balloon swaying in the wind, I thought how sometimes in our lives we feel as if we were the balloons stuck on the power lines. No matter what you try to do, you could not break free. Just like the balloons, you were up high but going nowhere, flapping around in the wind, slowly losing the air inside, then the emptiness took over, still hanging on the wires but nothing left of what was once a pretty balloon full of air." I am sure you would think of me, a chubby, grumpy old woman in St. Louis, whenever you see balloons on the power lines!
From my recent visit to the Butterfly House, here are the photos of the "Miracle of Metamorphosis" featuring butterflies emerging from carefully mounted chrysalids. Nature is so wonderful. Do you have a Butterfly House or something similar in your town?
I was so glad that I had my camera with me when I saw this sign. I thought Qaptain Qwerty (and other punsters) would appreciate the cleverness. Caution, you might wish to cover your goodies in the picnic basket because Uncle Sam might wish to take away from you and "re-distribute" to someone else!
Last month we made a visit to the Tropical Conservatory at the Butterfly House www.butterflyhouse.org. I have been there before and it is always a wonderful experience. According to the brochure, there are as many as 80 butterfly species and about 150 tropical plant species are exhibited. Almost everyone finds the display called "Miracle of Metamorphosis" fascinating because you could witness a butterfly emerging from carefully mounted chrysalids. I should try to remember not to take any photos when I first walked into the conservatory because the warm tropical temperature would make the camera foggy and the result would be like in the top photo. In keeping with the weekly theme "Tuesday Two", below are photo of two butterflies on a hanging banana and lot of butterflies on two hanging bananas caputured in the bottom photo. 
