Philadelphia's Trip on Labor Day weekend (September 6, 2010)
by Adrian Yong

It has been a while since our last road trip with Brandon. His first road trip was Atlantic City when he was about five months old. We didn't do much as he was too little to be moving around plus the weather wasn't that great.

We have been to Philadelphia many times but since we just want to get away as a family, we figured this would be a good place for a start. Some of Philly's landmarks are just fun to go back again and again. Unfortunately, we didn't go to a lot of the regular places including the Independence Hall. It was covered with scaffolding for an on going restoration project hence not photo-friendly. Plus, with a baby in tow, it is hard to move around as well. Please view the photos of the places we managed to visit.

Reading Terminal Market

Fresh produce at Reading Terminal Market

Biscotti at Reading Terminal Market

Indulgence - sinful desserts at Reading Terminal Market

Custom order chocolate shop at Reading Terminal Market

Benjamin Franklin (Founder of U Penn)

U Penn campus building

Students' notice board at U Penn campus (Reminded me of my college days)

The world famous Wharton School of Business

Finally, Joyous Brandon on the hotel bed

Stay tune for future road trips with Brandon. I am sure we will have more to come. End of the year trip home on the plane will be a torture an adventure. We hope Brandon will be good. It's such a long flight!

Guess what we had for dinner yesterday (Guest Blogger)

I was at a conference in San Antonio, Texas beginning of the year and was given a new product/concept by McCormick called Recipe Inspirations Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes. To me I think it is a great idea especially when you do not need to figure out the portion for each seasoning. See for yourself.


What do you think???? Hungry yet....!

SURPRISE FINDING

We were on the way home from the Malaysian Consulate General in NY. As we got nearer to our house, we saw something lying at the edge of the front lawn. Check out what I am referring to. I am glad that nature took its own course.

The recurring damage (front lawn) - thanks to someone who is now

DEAD!!!

Yeah yeah yeah....! Unfortunately, this is just one of them. There is a pack of them still running around. &^%$@...!

Brandon's First Trip to the New York City and about

We were supposed to go the Malaysian Consulate to apply for Brandon's Malaysian Birth Certificate to avoid complication visiting our parents in Malaysia at the end of the year. Somehow, I have this feeling things might work as smoothly when dealing with Malaysian civil service. So I called the Malaysian Consulate in New York and surely enough the officer has other engagement on the day we plan to go submit the application. They should have a relieve officer as a back up and not relying on just one person. Well, that's Malaysian civil service for you.

Anyway, since both of us (Serene and Adrian) were having a flex day, we just went ahead and brought Brandon to the city for the first time. Plus Serene's co-workers have been waiting to see Brandon in person for months. Relax and enjoy viewing the pictures..!

Brandon and mommy at Fulton Street Subway Station

Brandon and Daddy (Little Italy -background decorative propping for Feast of Saint Gennaro)

Century 21. If you are in the vicinity of the former World Trade Center, you should check out the "super" discounted departmental store. They carry surplus branded stocks.

Construction activities at the former World Trade Center Site

The controversial Park 51

Here is our take on the controversial mosque project at 49-51 Park Place New York. We suggest Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf to move the mosque to another location respecting the relatives of the victims of 9-11 attacks. Yes, he has the legal rights to build a mosque in the area but he should be sensitive to the families of the victims of the 911 attacks.

Let me tell you a similar story some years ago. A group of Carmelite nuns was living at a convent adjoining Auschwitz and it outraged the Jewish community. This is because the converted convent building was originally been a theater but was utilized during World War II to store gas used in the Auschwitz-Birkenau crematoria.

Out of respect to the Jewish people and at the request of the late Pope John Paul II, the Carmelite nuns moved to another convent in 1993. I think Imam Feisal should do the same. What do you think?

SQUIRREL = PEST....*&^%$@#! (Guest blogger)

We used to be sympathetic of squirrels after witnessing the aftermath of being ran over on the road. Not anymore after what they have done to my lawn and flower beds. It is getting on my nerves on a daily basis. Holes and holes were dug all over. You would understand that they need to hide their food but digging all over and left the holes open is not even funny.

So one day, I observe one squirrel and see what it does to the lawn. Guess what...! It just keep digging randomly like searching for his lost nuts hence there are holes all over. #@%^&*(!~....! All my hard work of planting the grass has gone to waste. I would repair the lawn/flower beds by recovering the holes back with top soil and the next things the squirrels re-digs the holes again.

I have tried spreading chili powder, peppers and squirrel deterrent and they do not work. It is worst now considering it is starting of Fall season and they are compiling food for the winter season. Perhaps I should buy a BB gun....! Or trap them and drown them....!

Hole #1 (Flower Bed)

Hole #2

Hole # 3

Caught in the act..! The CULPRIT...!

Any suggestions to deter or eliminate them are welcomed.

Gertrude Grisi (Neighbor)

Time flies as it will be our 1st anniversary living in the house. We remember the first time Gert Grisi, our new neighbor greeted us by our names. The previous owner had informed her about us. She was one fine lady and had a good heart.

One night (coincidentally awaken by Brandon), we saw the shining blue and red lights flashing outside our front window. It seemed Gert had a distress call. The next day, we asked Ellen (Gert's lived in nursing assistant) about Gert and she said she was just having fever -nothing major.

Unfortunately, from fever it led to another thing and eventually she was hospitalized for having an infection in her hip replacement area. The doctor operated on her to clean the infection and treated her with antibiotics. At first, she recovered well, but the antibiotics was too strong and it affected the rest of her organs. They started to fail, one-by-one, and the doctor said there was not much they could do. Sadly, the doctor had to stop the antibiotics as it was not helpful to Gert's condition. Gert ate well that day and she left us peacefully the following day (August 20, 2010).

Gert's property (Reminds me of "Three little pigs and the Big bad wolf"). It's the second house built after ours on the street. You won't believe Gert actually kept a record of all the previous owners of our house. Unfortunately, we did not have the chance to obtain it from her. When we first moved in, she reassured us that there was nothing wrong with our house as the previous owners left due to family expansion, job relocation and to retirement homes.

Gert's Garage

(Loretta, Gert's daughter asked us to pick-up whatever we thought were useful as "momentoes")

Gert's garage is like a little museum and it has pieces of history everywhere.

Jewelries

Antique Ice Crusher

Jewelry box

Kitchen wares and house deco

Collection of nails, etc.

Electric lawnmower

Manila Bulletin

(Gert and her husband - Charles, used to live as expats in the Philippines after World War II. Hence, the foreign newspaper)

In ground trash can (back in the old days you would stick the trash bag in there and the garbage man would open and pick it up. Neat huh...! Probaby, less smelly than our usual can these days.)

Gert's tea room. She probably hosted lots of afternoon teas here. The Priest mentioned that Gert had the most active social life ever!

Thank you for being such a good friend and neighbor.

You will be deeply missed by us.

REST IN PEACE.