The slightly less than great western trip
Day one: I spent hours getting my trip in order at the last minute, because that is how things must be done in my universe. I remembered everything except a guide book for hawaii, which I really wish I remembered!
I woke up at 7am with only four and a half hours of sleep. A third pot of coffee later and I was out the door, refueled and ready to impress. The trail was actually reasonably nice, few cars and smiles everywhere I stopped. (Tom, Iowans are nice people, I'm sorry for lamblasting them with yellow journalism in the past.) The most significant experience on my trip was a giant oversized truck hauling a huge load of 4 tires. I shall get these behemoths uploaded when I get a moment with my camera. I like to imagine they were being sent for the worlds largest monster truck, things of legends in my own mind as a child. the size of a large house, capable of crushing smaller houses and cars with ease.
I finally arrived at 5 pm in Kansas, Lydia and Malachi were so excited to see me, it was sweet. Isaiah was his traditional self and a bit more aloof. He doesn't express much. they unfortunately were going off to the lake of the ozarks this weekend so I only got to hang out with them the first day.
Day 2
part one
the wonderful day:
I really enjoyed my Saturday with Christina. We enjoyed a cool cloudy morning outside, and when the clouds broke we stepped out into the world. A trip to Gage park for a trip around the gardens, that was a really nice time and I got to work on my plant identification for Christina. Enjoying a throuogh burning from a nice purple pepper, I really had a blast. Afterwards we went to the Taco Casa, which I believe translated means something akin to Sandwich house. I was very surprised to see not sandwiches, but some sort of folded tortilla. either way, an enjoyable lunch, a fruitless walk for icecream was not disappointing since we managed to snag some at DQ. The trek out was complete with a walk at lake shawnee. It is a manmade lake (like most in Kansas) and very enjoyable, well maintained and with its own beautiful gardens to enjoy. After a few hours, we returned to her house for a siesta. In my dreams I managed to come up with the perfect evening, a dinner at Paisano's (an italian restaurant nearby) and a movie. Unfortunately the films out at this point aren't really need to watch classics. Instead we decided we'd just rent something. Paisano's was wonderful, I ordered a rather rich dish on too full of a stomach, so I barely finished half. After dinner I went to pull out my wallet to pay, and it was missing!!
Day 2
part 2
revenge of the wonderful day:
With chegrin I allowed Christina to pay for the meal I took her out to... and searched the car fruitlessly for my missing wallet. Not quite freaking out yet, I decided it had to be at the house in the couch where I took a nap. A trip home that seemed to take forever, we finally arrived and five minutes later, I sighed, the couch was empty of anything but a few quarters. Christina did another search of her car, and then I did as well. we then went out in search of the wallet at 9pm. The DQ was open and sadly without hope. I didn't suspect much luck there, a hundred people could have been by since and any of them taken it. We then went and bought a flashlight and a trip to the lake. There was one spot which was the likely canidate for it to slip out of my pocket. A picturesque stream cascading down to the lake below, we sat in the shade on a bench for a few minutes enjoying the plantlife around us. Returning after dark to only a few couples leaving, clearly having enjoyed an intimate evening on the shore. The wallet was not to be found, sadly. Defeated at this point, I had been suspecting the worst since I couldn't find it at the couch. Hope was essentially lost at this point. My trip was ruined, I'd have to go back to Madison to get another Photo ID taken so that I could catch a plane in California to get to Hawaii the next week. My debit card would have to be cancelled and replaced, perhaps not in time for my trip to Hawaii. What a terrible feeling of failure as I walked back to the car that night, leaving the flashlight on despite the light from the lamps, I opened the car door, and much to my surprise, the beam from the flashlight shone directly down under the side of the seat where my wallet sat. I had searched that portion of the car three times, yet the flashlight was clearly the answer! I was so relieved, so happy. we got back by ten fifteen and decided to watch along came polly, which I found quite entertaining, and a terrible evening was salvaged.
I woke up at 7am with only four and a half hours of sleep. A third pot of coffee later and I was out the door, refueled and ready to impress. The trail was actually reasonably nice, few cars and smiles everywhere I stopped. (Tom, Iowans are nice people, I'm sorry for lamblasting them with yellow journalism in the past.) The most significant experience on my trip was a giant oversized truck hauling a huge load of 4 tires. I shall get these behemoths uploaded when I get a moment with my camera. I like to imagine they were being sent for the worlds largest monster truck, things of legends in my own mind as a child. the size of a large house, capable of crushing smaller houses and cars with ease.
I finally arrived at 5 pm in Kansas, Lydia and Malachi were so excited to see me, it was sweet. Isaiah was his traditional self and a bit more aloof. He doesn't express much. they unfortunately were going off to the lake of the ozarks this weekend so I only got to hang out with them the first day.
Day 2
part one
the wonderful day:
I really enjoyed my Saturday with Christina. We enjoyed a cool cloudy morning outside, and when the clouds broke we stepped out into the world. A trip to Gage park for a trip around the gardens, that was a really nice time and I got to work on my plant identification for Christina. Enjoying a throuogh burning from a nice purple pepper, I really had a blast. Afterwards we went to the Taco Casa, which I believe translated means something akin to Sandwich house. I was very surprised to see not sandwiches, but some sort of folded tortilla. either way, an enjoyable lunch, a fruitless walk for icecream was not disappointing since we managed to snag some at DQ. The trek out was complete with a walk at lake shawnee. It is a manmade lake (like most in Kansas) and very enjoyable, well maintained and with its own beautiful gardens to enjoy. After a few hours, we returned to her house for a siesta. In my dreams I managed to come up with the perfect evening, a dinner at Paisano's (an italian restaurant nearby) and a movie. Unfortunately the films out at this point aren't really need to watch classics. Instead we decided we'd just rent something. Paisano's was wonderful, I ordered a rather rich dish on too full of a stomach, so I barely finished half. After dinner I went to pull out my wallet to pay, and it was missing!!
Day 2
part 2
revenge of the wonderful day:
With chegrin I allowed Christina to pay for the meal I took her out to... and searched the car fruitlessly for my missing wallet. Not quite freaking out yet, I decided it had to be at the house in the couch where I took a nap. A trip home that seemed to take forever, we finally arrived and five minutes later, I sighed, the couch was empty of anything but a few quarters. Christina did another search of her car, and then I did as well. we then went out in search of the wallet at 9pm. The DQ was open and sadly without hope. I didn't suspect much luck there, a hundred people could have been by since and any of them taken it. We then went and bought a flashlight and a trip to the lake. There was one spot which was the likely canidate for it to slip out of my pocket. A picturesque stream cascading down to the lake below, we sat in the shade on a bench for a few minutes enjoying the plantlife around us. Returning after dark to only a few couples leaving, clearly having enjoyed an intimate evening on the shore. The wallet was not to be found, sadly. Defeated at this point, I had been suspecting the worst since I couldn't find it at the couch. Hope was essentially lost at this point. My trip was ruined, I'd have to go back to Madison to get another Photo ID taken so that I could catch a plane in California to get to Hawaii the next week. My debit card would have to be cancelled and replaced, perhaps not in time for my trip to Hawaii. What a terrible feeling of failure as I walked back to the car that night, leaving the flashlight on despite the light from the lamps, I opened the car door, and much to my surprise, the beam from the flashlight shone directly down under the side of the seat where my wallet sat. I had searched that portion of the car three times, yet the flashlight was clearly the answer! I was so relieved, so happy. we got back by ten fifteen and decided to watch along came polly, which I found quite entertaining, and a terrible evening was salvaged.