Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Mother's Day and More on Operation "Overseas American Football Equipment Giveaway"


Sun.-Mon., May 8-9, 2022 

A busy couple of days to be sure that started off at our ancestral home, Casa Contreras, in San Marino where we were joined by my sisters Marilyn and Linda to celebrate Mother's Day with our mother, Chuny.

We were joined by Marilyn's daughter Lauren and her two sons, Max and Leo.

This fun group made for a great visit!

Asuncion "Chuny" Contreras
was happy to see all of us today

Of course, she never tires of opening presents like the night gown she is holding.

WOW!

While at our mother's home, I casually perused the local newspaper, the San Marino Tribune, and found an add for Pasadena City College's 2022-23 Fall semester abroad program in Florence, Italy.

In the Spring semester of 2022-23, PCC will offer another study abroad program but this time in Oxford, England.

What AWESOME cultural and learning experiences await the young people who can take advantage of either one or both of these programs of study in these chaotic days.

The Thun Tigers had a BIG Mother's
Day celebration in Switzerland

Thun, where we coached the Tigers in 2012, is located in the middle of the Alps and is easily the most beautiful natural setting in which we have ever lived! 

SAFV Nationalliga A Standings
Bern Grizzlies 5-0
Calanda Broncos 5-1
Thun Tigers 4-2
Geneva Seahawks 2-3
Wintherthur Warriors 1-4
Basel Gladiators 0-3
Zurich Renegades 0-4

As you may recall, Laurie and I continue our efforts to send American football gear that has been donated by local area high schools to teams all over the globe for just the cost of shipping.

These 58 used pants were were
donated by Buena H.S. recently
 
They are now off to Poland to
aid the efforts of the Tychy Falcons

While we were enjoying our Mother's Day, I later found out through Facebook that it was not a joyous day for a team located in the suburbs of Monterey, México.

The equipment shed storing ALL of
the Apodaca Nuevo León Ducks'
gear went up in flames on Sunday

I was able to make contact with the Ducks' Fernando Maldonado on Monday and away we went.

We'll be sending the Ducks about 200 pants over the next few days.

It just so happens that I was already scheduled to pick up a few more donated items at my alma mater, St. Francis H.S., late Monday afternoon.

These helmets looked great but
they were not what was being offered

Instead, I brought home
these 25 shoulder pads

The first 22 were already promised to the Klaipėda Corunians in Lithuania.

The other three will soon be off the the Ducks in Apodaca Nuevo León, México.

On the way home, I somehow got the bright idea to stop off at the newest location of Southern California's wonderful Cuban bakery, Porto's!

Thank you Waze for leading me to
THE PROMISED LAND!

This new Northridge location of
Porto's is HUGE!

Their cakes looked amazing
but, "No, Gracias."

Instead, I opted for a mixture of their top notch meat pies, excellent chicken empanadas and, unfortunately, so-so ham croquettes.

The taste of the meat pies and chicken empanadas more than made up for the disappointing ham croquettes.

You live, you learn.

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