Can we just talk about this weekend.

I am mostly a sports fan by proxy, so I am surprised by how Kansas City’s being chosen to host the 2012 MLB All Star Game has affected my life.  Every stoplight, every street corner, every restaurant, every person is sporting a huge sign with the all star logo and some sort of baseball fun flair.  Our new performing arts center is bathed in green light and a huge baseball graphic, Union Station has been draped with signs for the all star game.  Every single venue that sells beer in the entire tri-state area, large or small, is bedazzled with ASG signs. Even better, there is live music and food and pandemonium everywhere you turn.  All our usual spots, free party.  Would you like a free drink and press pass with that? And also there is funnel cake and celebrity autographs? And also your expression to the wonderment is being broadcast on ESPN worldwide right now, yeah it’s crazy!

This week started with a hilarious bowling trip in the middle of MO to see the family.  And though I regret I haven’t been able to get in much QT with them since, I’ve been more than making up for it in laughs and costumes and group chants (I mean, I feel like they’d be okay with that).

BFF pals Emily and John hosted a ‘mmmmmmmerica 3rd of July party complete with fireworks, copious amounts of beer, costumes and jokes.  A sampling below. (John and I are dressed courtesy of the Wal Mart clearance racks and my sewing kit).

 

Wednesday we saw TED (the talking bear just like Family Guy movie).  It was, of course, the same humor as the show so we enjoyed the crass simplicity.  Then we laid at a pool and had pizza and beer.  Happy Birthday America!

Friday night we planned to walk downtown just to see what was happening.  Apparently what was happening was a baseball fan fest at the convention center and at least 2 major live stages with free big named bands playing music blocks from my apartment.  It was AWESOME! Young & the Giant played at P&L and we beat the heat by devising the smartest beer cozy system ever.  A glass of ice underneath a glass of beer.  Maybe it was the 110 degree heat getting to our heads, but we basically thought we were the smartest people to ever live. Ever. TM.

Saturday we scored (free!) tickets to the Sporting Kansas City Soccer game, courtesy of John’s sister and her soccer loving husband.  I hadn’t been to their new ballpark and OMG it is so much fun.  Everybody sings and chants and goes crazy.  It’s like a mix of a D1 college football game, a flaming lips rock concert, and stomp the yard (I think, I haven’t actually seen that movie). Everyone should go to soccer games all the time, even in 110 degrees they are the most fun loving participation friendly sporting events to ever exist. In the world. Ever.

   

We ended the night atop a patio downtown listening to live music and receiving free schwag (MLB all star shirt? coasters? beads? Just for sitting on this barstool? thanks!?)

Bright and early the next morning we went to a drag show brunch in honor of our friend’s birthday. (not pictured, dudes in wigs singing lady gaga… if you haven’t attended such shenanigans I highly recommend it).

Complete with a fried twinkie!

 

THEN, just hours later as we got world we also got some FREE TICKETS to the All Star Sunday at the K (how do we keep getting this lucky?) we jumped in the car and headed to midtown to pick them up.  We got a little turned around downtown and ended up a few streets away from our normal routes.  We found ourselves at a deserted stoplight next to one of our favorite lunch spots and concert venues.  With the windows rolled up (for A/C) we heard muffled music.  After being delighted left and right at the concerts available to us that weekend, we were eager to see if someone was playing.  Lo and behold once the windows were down we could have SWORN it sounded just like death cab for cutie.  Which would make no sense, of course, why we would hear this uber popular band around 4PM in our neighborhood where there is clearly no one around to hear them.  Then as the light turned from red to green we heard the distinctive screech of guitars playing around on keys.  Definitely not a recorded song.  We lingered on the empty street for another red/green/yellow change before deciding that we had better get on to the ballpark since the game would begin at any moment.  Later my curiosity had me googling the venue’s line up to see who we heard.  Sure enough, it was Death Cab for Cutie, surely playing a few songs during an early afternoon sound check.  How serendipitous?!

 

Meanwhile…. on to the game!  The actual all star game isn’t until Tuesday, but there are events at the stadium all week.  Yesterday’s activities included a ‘future’s game’ where all the top minor league players are featured, immediately followed by the ‘Legends & Celebrities’ softball game. 

 

John was drooling over Jenny Finch, I was drooling over John Hamm.  Neither of us could really spare the moisture since it was our 5th party day of the week in the 90/100s.  However we both united in our playful booing of Bill Self, the KU basketball coach. MIZ. (although we did cheer for his homerun, because how fun is that?)

     

Currently I’m in detox mode, although the city will still be abuzz until at least Wednesday.  I may or may not rally in the name of good citizenship. 

Summertime, and the living’s easy

 

It is one million degrees outside, so I am certain it is summer.  However my legs are as white as winter’s first snow, so sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. Get thee to a pool!

Last night the fam met in the middle of the state since my brother was in from DC and this would be the only time the 5 of us could get together.  A weeknight, how wild are we? We went bowling, which I am not sure we’ve ever even done together before.  Everyone had a pretty decent mix of gutter balls and strikes.  I was pretty proud of my 87.  And like John says, hey, that’s almost 100.  Which is almost 300. Which is pretty awesome, don’t you think?

Do you know what else is awesome? New items! Also stopping halfway between the restaurant and the bowling alley because you saw a giant inflatable eagle and needed to investigate.

 

I also went to Denver recently, and saw this handsome fellow.  And this lovely lady (lady/baby duo aren’t together… DNA wise… you know what I mean).  I also had some deeeeeee lish petit fours.  Oh tiny cakes. Will you ever stop being wonderful?

 

Also I totally took the creepiest picture of this girl at the airport who was sitting across from me.  I just loved everything about her.  She was dripping Kate Spade and had great nail polish and accessories.  So long my silent airport BFF.  We had some good times together where I took a picture of you and then you got on your flight and we didn’t speak. 

I also made an impromptu weeknight stop through my hometown.  Isn’t that place lovely at sunset? I spent one million days and evenings in that very spot growing up).

 

I also went to a hilariously awesomely fun x10,000 bachelorette party in Nashville.  Yup, that’s an ATM. What will they think of next.

 

I was also told multiple times over the past month that I looked like this actress.  She was in the ladybugs movie with rodney dangerfield (about soccer, circa ‘90s) and hocus pocus, FYI. Because I’m pretty sure no one here saw the 3:10 to Yuma movie for which she is apparently known.

 

I’ve also been trying to get John to agree to tattoos.  Normally I’m against them and if you would press me for WHERE I would actually put said tattoo, I would likely change my tune.  However sometimes we text each other (made up, of course) in Morse code. How cute would these little guys be somewhere discrete? Obviously it works out better for him, since my name is so symmetrical.  You’re welcome my dear.  (in case you’re wondering, he’s a pretty firm no.. so far)

 

I had a quick work trip to San Antonio where I meandered through the Alamo.  I mean, as long as one can meander when it is 110 degrees outside.

 

However, easily the highlight of this trip (my 3rd time there, movie over touristy stuff), was the gourmet tex mex.  Feast your eyes man, fried oyster tacos and jalapeño/crab/endive bites.  Under a misting machine, on the riverwalk.  Yes please.

 

Also I got a kindle. So I could read 50 shades. Mostly on the riverwalk while families walked by. Scandalous.

My dad lost 11 lbs doing P90X (doesn’t he look great?) so he bought, and wore around town, jorts.  That would be a Jean shORT. Not pictured: all the clothes we got him for Father’s day after being indecently exposed to his jean shorts. 2012 folks.

 

My sissy came to KC to officially celebrate turning 21.  We went out with the boys and I felt like I had been WAITING FOREVER for my buddy to go everywhere with me.  Seriously, now she can go adult places and it is the greatest. 

  

Also I spent some QT at the K with my friends and with my daddio!

Girl’s night to celebrate Brittanie and Emily’s birthdays.  Why hello there bacon/sage/apricot/maple syrup bites. 

Emily and I also had a date to see Idina Menzel, who was on tour and singing Wicked songs.  One of my favorite dates ever! (and oh the pipes on that girl).

Another ladies night and this time at one of my favorite KC spots.  Basil cantaloupe soup? Don’t mind if I do.  With flowers in it? yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesss!

 

John and I traveled to the lake of the Ozarks for the most beautiful wedding (see below) and John suggested we have a picnic midway. Be still my heart!

Oh you had better believe I will be posting a link to the photographer’s blog when she updates it, because this wedding was so wonderful and so creative (and so hot, but that’s less fun to remember).  Check out this place!

 

 

Also, in total food/cookery fail news, I made chili recently.  I made a big batch and took some to John’s (like Maureen always says, hot soup on a hot day), and was chewing along through the various textures until I bit into something hard and metal.  I had made it all myself only the day before so I knew there shouldn’t be anything unexpected in there.  Until all of a sudden I flashed back to my seasoning adding without abandon, and how my pepper grinder is nearly empty and nearly broken, and oh yeah, this is definitely the metallic screw on top to the pepper mill that I just received in my spoonful. Although I am relieved I was the one to discover it (and not having to explain away to another party’s injured chompers)… I’m pretty sure martha, my dentist, and the health department, would not approve. 

 

So obviously the next day I had dessert with Mom to make up for it.  Sorbet for the win!

This past weekend some lady friends and I participated in our city’s first COLOR RUN.  Where basically you run (or walk) a 5K and the organizers/volunteers shower various colored powder on you.  Each kilometer is a different color theme and it was a HOOT.

Here we are all pristine at the start of the race…

midway through..

and AFTER… whew.. filthy!  

Happy Summer! 

PS Thanks to Bowler for giving me a blog award, even though I’m lazy. Everyone go check out http://www.looseoflimits.com/ right now, my BFF and her husband are about to start a journey around the world and have started chronically their pre travel travels.