FRIDAY SKY - CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT)

I got my Christmas present from Santa a week early. My husband purchased tickets from an online outlet for a Chicago Blackhawks v. my beloved Detroit Red Wings game on Friday, December 17th. We paid way too much (6 times the value of the tickets) because all the games were sold out since the Blackhawks are now the Stanley Cup Champions team.

We started driving from St. Louis around 10:00 a.m. on I-55 North heading to Chicago. We stopped for lunch and a few other breaks (pie and coffee). We were stuck in traffic when approaching Chicago and finally checked into the hotel around 4:40 p.m. We decided to pay $30 for valet parking instead of the $15 for self-parking lot around the corner. The hotel offered complimentary shuttle from the hotel to United Center where the Blackhawks and the Bulls play.

A nice surprise when we learned that it was Chris Chelios Heritage Night. We were among the first 10,000 fans to get a nice hat. I took many photos of the Blackhawks during the warm-up. I hope the Wings guys didn’t mind since we would be seeing them on Thursday, December 23rd in St. Louis.
For more photos from the game, visit www.shorthandedgoal.blogspot.com.

The highway was clear of snow from previous week. It was freezing cold but the wind chill was not unbearable. The arena was modern and accommodating. It was a nice trip and great Christmas present. It would have been perfect if the Wings won the game, instead the Hawks got the victory 4-1 over my “worn-out” Red Wings.

I said to my husband that I am the easiest woman/wife to give presents to. On my 45th birthday, we got tickets to the Superbowl XL (2006) in Detroit to see the Pittsburgh Steelers v. the Seattle Seahawks. For our wedding anniversary, we went to game 1 of the 2008 Stanley Cup. I am getting closer to my goal to see all NHL Original Six home games. We went to the Joe in Detroit for a Wings v. Blackhawks game, then Montreal Canadiens v. New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden and now the Wings at Blackhawks in Chicago. There are three more home games on my “bucket list” – the Boston Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.

We decided to drive back to St. Louis on Saturday instead of staying the whole weekend. The roads were clear and it was a nice sunny day. It was a nice early Christmas present. We had a great time - Life is good!

HOLY FAMILY CHURCH

On Sunday, November 28th, I visited my godmother, MC and her husband, JC. My brother VL was so nice to drive us all the way from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, to Pelham Parkway in the Bronx. Originally we planned to take the subway there and that would have taken us 2 hours being that it was on the weekend and we had to wait to transfer from one train to another. MC and JC are both in their 90s yet, they are so vibrant, sharp and in better shape than I am. MC said she volunteers at nursing home twice a week “to take care of old people”!

I met my godmother, MC when I worked at my first job in America. A few times when I stayed overnight at MC’s place, we would go to church together. Back then I would sit and waited while MC receiving communion. This time, we received communion together. MC has always been kind to me and my family without expecting anything in return. I believe God has brought us together and our Catholic faith has kept us closer.

After church and then lunch, it was time to say goodbye. We hugged and promised to keep in touch often.

Here is what I wrote in a previous post about how I met MC:
KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

"Feel better?", MC said to me after showing me how to rub the Vaseline lotion on my hands and thru the fingers. We could not communicate much since my English was limited when we met (in 1980) one week after I started working at MK Company. MC just came back to work after a week of vacation in Florida. MC was responsible for rotating the displays of merchandise in the show room, working with photographers of various magazines to feature new items and selecting pieces of jewelry that would go well with certain outfits for the models at upcoming fashion shows.

After we met and MC saw how dried my hands were, during lunch MC went out to purchase a bottle of hand lotion to give to me. That was the beginning of our friendship. I will always remember the little things MC did to help me. Instead of eating in her comfortable office, MC would bring her lunch to the breakroom. While we ate, MC would talk to me and encouraged me to share with her what I learned from English classes. She corrected my pronunciation, grammar and taught me American expressions. During the summer months, when we walked around the blocks at lunch time, MC would teach me about New York City, about America and about being a young woman (I was 19 years old). I laughed so hard the first time MC asked me whether I had been kissed by a boy and if I liked it. Perhaps because the subject of kissing was such a taboo in conversations in the Asian culture, I laughed to avoid giving MC an answer. As I became aware of my maturity as a young woman, I asked MC many questions that I would not dare to ask my own mother. These questions probably would make mother very uncomfortable and I had no business discussing the topics until I got married anyway.

MC provided words of encouragement during my years of working full time and seeking a college education. We remained good friends when I moved to Michigan. MC visited me when JC came to St. Louis to attend a convention for World War II veterans. We have continued to keep in touch regularly by letters, phone calls and now by email. I felt so blessed to have such wonderful friends like MC and her husband. The kindness they extended to me and my family over the last 27 years has lessened some of the difficulties on my journey being a refugee in the new land. Very often in life, kindness of strangers is the thing we most likely depend on. Thanks, MC and JC, for all your support and encouragement.”

TUESDAY TWO - 2 + 2 = 4

If you come to NYC during Thanksgiving/Christmas, you would see the above display. I don't remember exactly what street. If you walked around Radio City/Rockefeller Center, you would not miss it.

I was trying to take photos of Manhattan skyline when my friend, MG, drove us back to Brooklyn after our dinner in Flushing. I did not see what the sign was so I was not happy when it got in the way. As I sorted thru all the images, I was glad to see that it was the "Exit 2" sign. It is perfect for one of my Tuesday Two weekly theme. I will try to remember that when facing something unpleasant, it might turn out to be something good or a nice surprise awaiting.

I did not walk around to find out if there were numbers 1 and 3. I will try to remember to look for them, on the display, the next time I am in NYC during the holidays.

FRESH SNOW

We had the first snow of the season. The snow and strong wind started last evening but I was able to have a good sleep the whole night. Here are a few photos I took around 6:00 a.m.

These were not good photos, just to give you an idea of how much snow we had.

I already put a blanket, a change of clothes and socks in the car for emergency. It does not take much to get dehydrated in the cold weather. This week I already had to use the scrapper in the morning while the car getting warmed-up.

We both are under the weather (just the typical cold, coughing and running nose). Most of the churches were closed and I hope God will forgive us for missing Mass today. I am sure other people would not want us to sit next to them in the pew while sneezing and coughing and then wanting to hold hands during the Lord's Prayer or shaking hands when offering the Sign of Peace!

FRIDAY SKY - CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET IN ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI

Welcome to Main Street St. Charles. Let's the celebration of Christmas tradition begin!

I always love houses with balcony. The entire Main Street was beautifully decorated.It was very cold when I walked around last weekend but the hot chocolate and plenty of Grandma's cookies kept me warm. All the shops and buildings on Main Street were decorated and looking so festive. Visit www.StCharlesChristmas.com for all the details of upcoming activities.

ONE WAY OR FINAL EXIT (THE VIEW)

On Saturday, November 27th we picked up my sister CH around 10:00 a.m. My brother VL drove all of us to Greenwood Cemetery to visit my Dad’s final resting place. A few years ago, my husband and I decided that we should also get a space for ourselves. We thought without children, who would care to visit our graves, so planning ahead for that inevitable exit would be practical. My husband was very pleased with the selection because he said we would have a nice view of the Statue of Liberty from where our niche was located (the view in the top photo). Well, you got to look at the bright side and find some positive aspects in all situations!

My husband and I got off at the corner where a florist was conveniently located. It used to be Mom and I would get the flowers but it has become difficult for Mom to get around using a cane for extra support. We bought the flowers, walked across the street, passed the gate into the cemetery towards the mausoleum.

We taped the flowers, one from Mom and one from all the kids, onto the space outside the niche holding the urn containing Dad’s cremated remains.

The first few years, Mom would cry and we all would shed tears, whenever we visited. Now after almost 10 years, we simply spent a few minutes in silence and then moved on. My husband and I held hand while we recited the Lord’s prayer, Hail Mary and prayed that God grant my Dad eternal rest.

“Hello Dad. It is me, your first born child and your sport buddy. I could not see you but I knew you are near. I could not see you but I knew you were there at the hockey games and other sport events with me. I still felt your protected arms when I was about 12 and we tried to get into a sold-out soccer game at Cong Hoa stadium in Viet Nam. I love the good times we had cursing at the players and the referees.

I also know you are watching over us, being us when we gathered as a family and taking care of us like you always did. Like Mom said when you were ready to leave this world that you had guided us and taught us well that we are able to take care of ourselves. You led the way to our escape from under the Vietnamese Communist, protected us during the boat journey, gathered every little piece of food in the refugee camp to feed us. And when we finally came to America, you worked at any menial work you were able to find to give us the opportunity to earn higher education, to obtain professional occupations and to achieve the American Dream.

You had taught us well. You provided guidance and lessons we needed to be productive citizens. We promise to make you proud and we know you are always with us. Rest well, Dad, we love you.”

TUESDAY TWO - MACY'S STARS

As promised, I am posting additional photos from this year Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. As soon as I saw the two Macy's yellow (Gold) star balloons, I knew that it would be perfect for the weekly theme of Tuesday Two.

Here come Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang - Charlie, Linus, Lucy and Woodstock. Where was Sally? Peppermint Patty and Pig-Pen must be on the other side of the float.

I have no idea who the people in the float below were.

WICKED PETER

On Friday, November 26th, we had a typical schedule that most tourists would do when visiting the Big Apple. We went to lunch at Peter Luger before the show Wicked. We took the D train, then transfered at Broadway-Lafayette Street for the downtown F train to Delancey Street, went upstairs to get the M train (Jamaica bound). We got off at the first stop (Marcy Avenue) after the train crossed over the Williamsburg Bridge. We walked to Peter Luger at 178 Boardway for lunch.

Inside, the local landmark since 1887 looked exactly the way I saw it being featured on the Food Channel as the best steakhouse in NYC. After walking thru the door, I noticed to the left was the regulars having their drinks at the bar. How do I know they were regulars? They were all men, talking at the same time to the bartenders, relaxing and looking very comfortable as if they were in their living rooms. On the right were many plaques lined the walls with front covers and articles displaying a who's who of culinary critiques and top stars.

We walked up to the bulletproof-glass cubicle in the foyer where two serious looking older women were sitting. It must be where the cash being kept. We were greeted fairly nice by a short middle-age woman looking like a Carla of Cheers, even with our appearance of casual attire and “poor people with no money” written on our faces!

Carla: Hello! How many?
TOTA: 2
Carla: Do you have reservation?
TOTA: No.
Carla: Well, I will see what we have available.

A few minutes later, Carla came back and led us to a table for 2. I almost fell off my chair when the waiter came to the table to give us the menu. He looked almost like the guy I dated in 1985. Whether it was really “Victor” or he just acted like all the other waiters at this establishment, tersely matter-of-fact. There were three other tables in the whole dining room, a group of Japanese tourists, a family of 4 and a young couple. I wanted to ask Carla why she had to double check whether she had a table available for us!

We ordered quickly as to prove our worthiness of eating in this establishment. CP selected the steak for one and a salad and I ordered the lamb chops. I made the mistake of asking Victor what kind of soup they had available. He responded, “No soup”, with the look that said, “You should know that we don’t offer soup here”!

The phones did not stop ringing the whole time while we waited for our steaks being prepared. It must be for the New Year Eve party. There was a card on the table that read, “New Year Eve reservations are subject to availability with required advanced deposit of $50 per person, for 2 hours sitting.” That would be $200 advanced deposit if you wish to reserve a table of 4 and try to eat fast because you are allowed only 2 hours.

Victor finally came, took away the salad and cleared some space on the table. Then the sizzling platters came out and they were very hot. The steak and the lamb chops were already sliced in sections off the bone with the bone staying on the plate. Victor placed a few slices on our plates and walked away as he asked whether we needed anything else. Our food was good and plenty. We even had a few slices to take home.

Victor brought out 2 gold dollar sized chocolates when he gave us the bill. After placing a $100 bill and a couple of $20 in the guest check folder, we waited for Victor to pick it up. When he walked by our table, he commented, “It is ok to leave it there” or something like that since he again mumbled the words as he continued to walk away. We got up and left because we knew no one would dare to steal the cash.

So we did it, spending our cash foolishly so we could say that we ate at Peter Luger. It was one of those sort of “bucket list” items that we had to do to fool ourselves into thinking that we deserved to have a taste of the good life.

We walked to the subway, took the Manhattan bound M train to Delancey Street, then F train to Broadway-Lafayette Street, transferred to the D train to Rockefeller Center and walked to Gershwin Theatre on 51st Street and Broadway.

Personally, I did not care much for the music, the over-sensationalized story lines, the characters of Elphaba and Glinda, and the whole show trying to be “catch-all” political correct, specially the role of the goat-professor. I was so bored while the audiences, including my husband, were laughing all around me at humor I found either annoyingly or somewhat idiotic! See Wicked if you wish, you might like it but for me I would have liked to see Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice, James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave in Driving Miss Daisy or Kelsey Grammer in La Cage Aux Folles. These shows were all sold-out, so I got Wicked!

After the show, we went to Park Slope and met my sister, CH for dinner. We walked to an Indian restaurant about two blocks from her building. After we came in, there were only a few more diners in the whole place. It was a nice quiet dinner. The wind picked up and it got colder when we walked CH back to her place. We decided that it was time to get back to Bensonhurst. It was another good day in NYC!

FRIDAY SKY - FROM KUNGFU PANDA TO HELLO KITTY

Being childless (or child-free), I did not know most of the character balloons. I recognized the Kungfu Panda based on the movie of the same title. I did not know why the kids next to me got so excited when they saw the purple and white characters below.

Thanks to my nephew, I knew about SpongeBob (that yellow body with square pants was hard to miss). During my last visit, I sat with JL watching silly cartoons because I loved having him rested his head on my shoulder and hearing his laughter.

It was not freezing cold and no wind but after standing outside for over an hour, I got pretty chilly. We decided to leave and walked to the corner to get a cup of coffee from Starbucks. (I normally don’t like to give free advertisement to companies in my blog – but we used the restroom there.) The lines were very long and we decided not to wait. We took the subway back to Park Slope. After looking around for a place to eat, we found an Italian restaurant that opened on Thanksgiving. We picked up my sister, CH and went back to Bensonhurst (or Bath Beach) for a family dinner. We had both turkey and some Chinese dishes – that was real American melting pot Thanksgiving dinner!

Everyone, say hello to Kitty!