Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For the past few months I’ve been searching for some cheap air fares and new destination that I never visit before.  Actually, is my buddy that does all the flights and hotels booking.  The main reason for this trip is for me to earn my flying status for up coming year.  I need to take a round trip to somewhere in order to fulfill this current year minimum mileages.  So? Where could we go for a quick weekend get a way to somewhere warm and catch some football game at the same time.  Since, I never been to Florida, we did some digging around for possible air fares and tickets to the game.  It was just so coincident that all three Florida teams are playing at home last weekend.  The choices are Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3), and Miami Dolphins (4-4).  Decision.. Decision..  It was easy decision to eliminate Jacksonville Jaguars cause of their record.  Now, the decision comes down to between Tampa or Miami?  Both teams have similar records and currently are playing well.  We simply choose the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game due to the costs of air fares and hotels.  The air fares and hotels are much more expensive in Miami, perhaps next time :-).

I am excited and looking forward to be upgrading my flying status for up coming year.  This trip to Tampa allow me to sneak peek at some of the perks that will be available for me. 🙂  It is the only way to fly.

Here are some of the pictures I took at the game.

Raymond James Stadium.... what a beautiful day

across the highway is the yankees spring training stadium... aka "the evil empire stadium"

pre-game warm up... this is Nye home team, the Carolina Panthers.. sorry they didn't gives you guys much to cheer for this year

The Carolina Panthers team lost so many players to injuries.

pretty cool looking ship

this is the touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow

sorry guys i didn't get up close pictures of the cheerleaders.. this is the best i have

Autumn Day At Yosemite National Park

First of all, I like extend my gratitude to all those that serves and protects this great nation.  Since Veterans Day is a holiday for most of us, I decided to take advantage of it and spend the day at the park.  It is a free entrance to most of the National Parks across the country.  The Yosemite National Park (YNP) usually charge $20 per car for entrance fee.  I spend about 5 hours driving and riding my mountain bike in Yosemite Valley taking pictures from various view point.  Early in the morning the temperature dip down to the mid 30’s, it is cold for this California boy.  I’ve always wonder how the heck some of Laotians managed to survive and live up in Alaska.

The drives into YNP is so beautiful and breath taking.  I’ve notices the changes in the colors comparing to 6 weeks earlier when I was there.  Some part of the park reminds me so much of East Coast during the month of October.  About a week ago, the YNP received the first snow of the year and you’ll notices on some pictures.

the first spot of the day.. notices some snow on the half dome

love the colors..

hardly anyone is around at all..

whatever left over of snow is now turning into ice... so peaceful

little close up of Half Dome.. I'm still amazed I made it the top of the mountain once.. I was young and crazy 🙂

my mountain bike... this bike is on its last leg with me.. i had it for almost 25 years 🙂

few years back.. we hike up to the very top yosemite waterfall.. too bad I didn't have the camera like I do now

different view of the awesome Half Dome...

The entrance road into the park off Highway 140

The Giants Won!!!! The Giants is 2010 World Series Champion

As a kid growing up in Northern California, I have always been rooting for the San Francisco Giants and 49ers.  Although, the 49ers had their shares of glory in the 80’s and 90’s.  Yet! The Giants baseball team came close 3 different times since moving out to San Francisco back in 1958.  All those years of heart broken, the Giants finally captured that allusive championship trophy.  I was lucky enough to witnessed history during the National League chase, what a year.  Something about this team made a believer out of me and I’ve been telling all my friends that this team will come through.  And they did!!

The Giants beat the Rangers in Texas on Monday night.  On Tuesday morning they announced the time for the parade on Wednesday.  That afternoon, I walked in my boss office and told him that I’ll be off on Wednesday.  As a fan I was just so excited and looking forward to attend the 2010 World Series Champion Parade in downtown San Francisco.  Everything in San Francisco is pretty much shut down on last Wednesday due to the parade.  It was by far the biggest one event I’ve ever attended during my life time.  They projected some where around 1.3 million people are out on the streets that day.  I totally confirmed that numbers, there are so many people packed in along the 3.5 miles route of  parade.  I am glad that I got a chance to be a part of the history, who knows when they will get the chance to claim this victory again.  It is been 52 years long coming and talking about bittersweet.

I got into the city just after 11am.. As I came out of BART train, I walked right into the sea of people

It is like this along the 3.5 miles of parade route. The streets are jump pack with people, I'm just trying to get a better view to take photo.

I tried to move down to few blocks from where I was earlier.. I can't even get close at all

no where to go... it was so hot that day in San Francisco

One of the young stud pitcher.. Madison Bumgarner.. who grew up in Nye's hometown, Hickory, NC

another pitching staff.. Jeremy Affeldt

Fear the Beard... That's not Brian Wilson holding up the sign.. That is Sergio Romo whom happen to shared the same cable cart during the parade..

The young rookie star catcher.. Buster Posey.. He is the major factor of Giants winning the World Series

the parade ends at the city hall.. this is as close as I can get to, all the players are behind that green fence.

When in San Francisco.. you'll always run into some characters.. notices the two guys looking at him, saying... wth!!! hahah

After the parade is over.. people are walking on the route of the parade..

What The Hell Is Wrong With These People?

The Laotians population consider to be small number if you compare to general population of other races demographically.  Yet! We still manage to get ourselves on the news across the U.S. and most of them aren’t so good of the news.  This morning, I came across an article about this laotian couple from Washington jailed for leaving their kids in the car, while they both went inside the casino to gamble.  WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING??? Obviously, they weren’t thinking at all.  This news got me so upset at many levels and I feel helpless for those poor kids.  How could a parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts leave their little love ones behind in the car with no adults supervision?

 

Washington couple jailed after leaving three children in car at Rivers Casino

By Carl Prine
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, October 31, 2010

A Washington County couple are in Allegheny County Jail after being charged with leaving three children in their car while gambling at Rivers Casino.

According to court filings, security guards were alerted by an anonymous person at 3:41 p.m. Saturday that three children — a 10-month old baby girl and two boys, 3 and 10 — were alone in a gold 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan in the casino’s parking garage on the North Shore.

Surveillance footage shows Phayvonh Peaungvongpakdy, 38, left the van two hours earlier to enter the casino, while her boyfriend, Lounla Xayathep, 54, stayed with the children, court documents say. The cameras allegedly caught Xayathep leaving the automobile, which is registered to him, at 3:07 p.m. Saturday to go into the casino, leaving the children with two half-full baby bottles, a few diapers and a handful of baby wipes.

After the casino’s public address system gave the van’s description to customers, both Xayathep and Peaungvongpakdy returned to the children at 3:58 p.m., and Pittsburgh police officer Paul G. Abel Jr. arrested them without incident, according to court documents.

Xayathep and Peaungvongpakdy were each charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of children and three counts of leaving infants in a motor vehicle. They were arraigned at 2 a.m. today in city Night Court and are housed at the jail on $50,000 bonds. A preliminary hearing is slated for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The children were turned over the Allegheny County Children, Youth and Family Services. According to a police report, Xayathep and Peaungvongpakdy are originally from Laos and speak limited English. They told officers that they aren’t the parents of the children but rather their guardians. While they live in New Eagle, the children’s nearest relatives live in Virginia.

The couple allegedly refused to give officers the names or telephone numbers of family members.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_707027.html