Flying on a plane makes me nervous...

Isn’t crazy that planes take us thousands of miles to the places we want to be? I really don’t like flying. It makes me incredibly nervous, but I am comfortable enough on planes to recognize that they’re mostly consistent. More so than most other forms of travel. 

My younger sister just graduated from college in California and she decided to take a roadtrip home with two of her friends. I flew back several days after she began her roadie. My layover was in Denver. My sister was in Colorado four hours south of Denver the same day of my layover, stuck for 36 hours, because the keys to her car were lost, and they were waiting on the dealer to program a new set. It’s a pretty funny story, especially since everything worked out. I bet it wouldn’t be funny if they were still in Colorado…

If someone lost the “keys” to a plane, I bet they’d make a new set a lot faster than 36 hours…

I thought that was pretty funny and it certainly helped during my last flight from Denver to Kansas City as I chugged a rum and coke as fast as I could through the turbulence. At least it wasn’t too bumpy to stop the beverage service.

photo via Flickr

Top 10 Summer Events in Kansas City! (In no particular order)

10. Theatres in the Park (Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, Gladstone Theatre in the Park, Starlight Theatre). All three venues are promising exciting seasons including “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” and “Little House on the Prairie.” Visit their websites for details. Gladstone Theatre in the Park is free admission and the two other theatres cost very little.

9. The Boulevard Drive-In is one of the best-kept secrets in Kansas City. Take a trip back in time with your friends and family to watch some of the summer’s best releases. And bonus, on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:30am-1:30pm there’s a Swap n’ Shop.

8. Kansas City Fringe Festival offers opportunities to artists and enthusiasts alike, featuring dance, theatre, and art presentations/performances throughout the week. The festival supports some of the most talented artists in Kansas City.

7. Kansas City Irish Fest technically not a summer event, falling on September 4th this year, but I included it anyway. It features exciting music, food, and entertainment all Irish in nature, and my favorite Kansas City arse-kicking Irish band, The Elders.

6. Quixotic’s “Paix Reveuse” promises to be a dazzling display of images and sound. Live at the Madrid Theatre three days in June, this is a theatrical event not to be missed.

5. Jazzoo creates such buzz every year that makes me wish I’d bought a ticket. But this year despite the steep cost, I plan on attending and I recommend it based on the opinions of my closest friends. On top of unlimited food, beverages, and great Kansas City jazz music, this year attendees will have the chance to feed the polar bears!

4. First Fridays in the Crossroads District features free admission to art galleries and performing artists in the Crossroads District. Also enjoy some of the best food in the city and unique boutiques nearby.

3. Crown Center Friday Night Flicks offers free outdoor classic and/or popular movies. This year’s lineup: “Pretty in Pink,” “Jurassic Park,” “Hairspray,” “Julie & Julia,” “Groundhog Day,” “Ocean’s Eleven,” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Guests are encourage to bring blankets, chairs, and if so desired, picnics, and beverages (including beer and wine).

2. Heart of America Shakespeare Festival ‘s “Richard III” offers free summer Shakespeare at Moreland Park near the Plaza. Each summer the festival is free and is always a wonderful evening of theatre. Bring food, wine, treats, and a blanket. This year, Brio will also be providing a happy hour for guests with delicious appetizers and drinks for sale before each show.

1. Walnut Valley Music Festival is my personal favorite and true #1 on this list. Every third weekend of September, the festival takes place in Winfield, Kansas and proves to be the most fun, laid back, and best bluegrass, flat-picking festival around. Get there early to find a prime camping spot. Do not miss this festival.

NEWS!

Check out my post about The KC Rep's 'Venice' on http://kc.townlow.com

Looks like I'm going to be writing for them more often! I got an email the other day asking if I'd be interested in writing for them on a regular basis. So look out for them all you Kansas-Citians.

Follow them on Twitter @kctownlow

or

Find them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/townlow-KC/120810051269279

Monday is Funday in Southern California

$2.50 Margaritas at Acapulco with Paula and Liz

I also got the chance to meet Paula's friend Liz. She is such a sweetheart. Paula and Liz have a hilarious repartee and I can tell they are going to be lifelong friends. I was so happy to get the chance to talk with her and get to know her more. Side note, she is the President of her sorority Alpha Phi. I can't think of a better person to lead a group of women.

And don't forget the half-priced guacamole!! DELISH!! Fresh and wonderful.

After a couple of margs and some guac, I dropped the girls off at the dorms and headed to meet up with Kyle to have dinner with David and Adrianna--which is always a great time. We had some delicious chicken, paired with asparagus, and my modified version of Paula Deen's "Is it really better than Sex?" cake. Basically good food, and awesome conversation about the world including and not limited to politicians, education, conspiracy theories, and wine. After dinner, we played this dance Wii game that Adrianna received from I think one of David's family member's? I can't remember. Irregardless (which is not a word, though I continue to use it), we played and had a blast doing so. The boys actually ended up winning more points than Adrianna or I did. And I have to say that I am absolutely AWFUL at this game. Like really bad. But it was still a blast. Check out how intense the action was. So intense that the picture is blurry:

All in all, a fabulous Monday! Can't wait for LOST tonight at the Lewis home...even though I have absolutely NO IDEA what is happening in that show. I just am excited to see Bonnie and Cy. Also: my parents arrive in Orange tomorrow! Yahoo!

BEACH!!!

"Where am I going to see colors like that? Must be awfully lucky to see colors like that. I bet they don't even know how lucky they are."

Woke up late this morning. Lazy day. Pleasantville was on. Aren't we lucky to see color? Beach later today. :-)

Beautiful Morning in California

Goodmorning California! Since I'm going to be here for such a long time this summer off and on I thought I would document thoughts, musings, and theatrical encounters here. Today I woke up and laid around for about 45 minutes before I finally decided to suit up for a run. Do you know what I noticed? Almost every house has either a palm plant or a rose plant of some kind. And it made me think...we are truly blessed with a bountiful life! We have beautiful houses, flowers, sunlight, friends, family, green grass, mechanisms like planes, sprinklers, and buses, playgrounds, relationships, schools, food, water, fountains. I think about all the places without water, food, and as I run down Lincoln Ave. in Orange I spot a home with an Orange Tree in the backyard. Incredible. We truly live a life of abundance and bounty. I feel incredibly blessed. I can't help but see God in all of these things. And I also can't help but see a call to action. Of course, I'm sure God is not happy with the way we've pillaged the planet and the way we have engaged in fatal conflicts and hatred, however, I am sure He is pleased when we are living to our potentials; full of love, inspiration, creativity, joy and peace in our hearts. The question is, how do we make it happen more often?

Because God really is everywhere. Beauty. Joy. Love. And sometimes maybe there is just too much getting in the way to really celebrate that. Maybe it's simpler. Maybe it's taking deeper breaths. Maybe it's praying more. I'm not sure. All I know is that it's worth thinking about and asking: What can I do today to be more loving? How can I love others the way I have been loved?

P.S. Roses pic curtsey of The Horst Backyard