Did you hear? It’s National Rabbit Week.
I know this because my Kansas City vet sent me an email alert.
They are having a special on bunny vet care this week — 15 percent off! All those Easter bunny owners, take note.
I am clearly entertained by this. A bunny alert? Seems like a hare-brain idea to me.
Misspelling intended.
Posted in Animals, Commentary, Humor, Life
Tagged animals, bunny, email alert, hare brain, Humor, Internet, Kansas City, life, national rabbit week, Rabbit, vet
I object.
To the methodology and the terminology, and I demand an apology for Kansas City.
Travel + Leisure recently published their annual ‘America’s Favorite Cities’ survey, where readers rate major destinations in a number of categories.
“Worst Dressed City in America” is one of them.
Now, poor Anchorage has the most to be offended about — they earned the top spot — but Kansas City got punched at number ten.
Really?
Having travelers judge how well-dressed people are in a city is like judging a city’s cuisine by the offerings at the airport. Tourists typically see other tourists when they visit anywhere. Why?
Because they hit the tourist spots recommended by magazines like Travel + Leisure, which are congested with folks who don’t live there, and are dressing for comfort, not style.
“Worst Dressed Tourists in America” — perhaps.
But don’t judge a city by its gawkers.
Posted in Commentary, Fashion, Humor, Internet, Life, Magazine, Magazines, Travel
Tagged Anchorage, commentary, cuisine, dressing for comfort, Fashion, Humor, Internet, Kansas City, life, magazines, readers poll, sightseeing, tourist traps, tourists, Travel, Travel + Leisure, travelers, Worst Dressed Cities in America
From 1992 to 2000, I lived in Kansas City, Missouri. I moved there for a job, not knowing too much about the city or how — or if — I would like it.
I LOVED IT.
I loved the people, the food, the arts community, the food. And that’s also where I adopted Rory Dog.
Like I said — great people.
Kansas City is top of mind today because it’s Fountain Day — the day they turn on all the public fountains in the city. You do know that Kansas City is second only to Rome in the number of fountains?
It’s true.
So, if you get a chance to visit Kansas City, you’re sure to enjoy them. Because as of today, the fountains are on.
It’s spring in Kansas City!
Posted in Commentary, Life, Travel, Weather
Tagged arts, city of fountains, food, Fountain Day, fountains, Kansas City, Kansas City Missouri, Rome, spring, Travel, weather
Can any good come out of a dare?
Only friendships that last a lifetime.
A couple of decades ago (when I couldn’t have been more than five), a good friend and colleague at Hallmark Cards dared me to audition for an improv troupe in Kansas City called Lighten Up.
I accepted the challenge, was shocked to be chosen for their workshops, and soon found myself performing on the Lighten Up stage.
The next five years of my life were cast. Every Friday and Saturday night I was on that stage. And the players who I performed with soon became some of the best friends of my life.
They still are to this day.
That’s why I’m thrilled to rejoin the original members of the Lighten Up Improv Company tonight in a reunion performance. Many of us haven’t done improv in years, so the show should be funny on many levels.
But hanging out with my best friends?
In the words of Trish Berrong, ‘that’s just stupid fun.’
Posted in Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Friends, Humor, Life, Relationships
Tagged 20 year reunion, audition, comedy, commentary, dare, entertainment, friends, friendships, Hallmark Cards, Humor, improv workshop, Kansas City, life, Lighten Up Improv Comedy, performance, practice, Relationships, reunion show, stage
I have been taking daily meds for migraine for almost 10 years, and my headaches are under control. In fact, I wondered just the other day if I still really needed them.
Today I got my answer.
After a particular bumpy plane ride to Kansas City, I was not only nauseous but in the throes of a full-blown migraine. And my meds? They were in my checked bag.
Ouch, ouch, ouch.
Migraine Barbie’s aura might look like candy, but she and I know that it hurts like a mother. And when I didn’t get the meds within the first 30 minutes of the headache, I just had to ride it out. Lie in the dark and sleep it off.
Which is what I did. Hence today’s really late post.
So, what did we learn? Well, I do still need my meds. I can still get air sick from time to time, too. And probably most importantly…
Keep your damn headache pills close at hand, sister.
Posted in Airplanes, Health, Humor, Life, Travel
Tagged air sick, airplanes, commentary, headache pills, headaches, Health, Humor, Kansas City, life, migraine aura, migraine barbie, migraines, Travel
I’m not a big one for tradition. I’m not sentimental or conventional. I actually enjoy being a bit of an outlier.
Call me, Malcolm.
But when I come back to Kansas City, there is a ritual that I simply have to complete before the first 24 hours are through.
I gotta go to Margarita’s.
I love everything about this local Mexican restaurant. I love driving up and seeing its homely exterior. I love the crowded parking lot that challenges every visitor. I love the swoosh of heat and cheese that greets you when you open the door.
I love the expected wait (but I love last night’s unexpected quick seating even better). I love the utilitarian tables, menus and rolled silverware. I love the freaky, modernistic artwork that hasn’t changed in a decade.
Most of all, I love the food. The chips and salsa. The queso dip. The nachos. The quesadillas and burritos. The fried ice cream like no other. The simple yummy goodness, the sameness of my Mexican food home away from home.
Well, what do you know?
I am sentimental after all.
Posted in Commentary, Food, Humor, Life, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged burritos, Business, commentary, crowded parking lot, food, freaky artwork, home away from home, Humor, Kansas City, life, local, long wait for a table, Malcolm Gladwell, Margarita's restaurant, Mexican restaurant, nachos, Outlier, quesadillas, sentimental, tradition, Travel, utilitarian decor
The tuxedo was invented by a tailor in Tuxedo Park, New York, some 125 years ago at the request of tobacco magnate Pierre Lorillard IV.
It wasn’t named after the tailor. Not Pierre, either. Nope, Tuxedo Park got that honor.
‘Cause where you’re from matters.
I learned this slice of history today in a one-page SKY magazine article on my Delta flight. My holiday has begun, and I’m flying to Kansas City to visit my sister, brother-in-law and countless friends there.
You see, I used to be from Kansas City…for a little while.
Oh, I was born and raised in Kentucky, and only lived in Kansas City for seven years. But during that time, I made a now infamous trip to New York City – the current place I’m ‘from’ – and ended up talking to Al Roker outside the Today Show window. And when Al asked me where I was from, I said, “Kansas City.”
My Kentucky kin have never let me forget.
‘Cause where you’re from matters.
Posted in Commentary, Design, Fashion, History, Humor, Life, Relationships
Tagged Al Roker, comedy, commentary, Delta Airlines, design, Fashion, Humor, Kansas City, Kentucky, life, magazine article, New York City, Pierre Lorillard IV, Relationships, SKY magazine, tailor, tobacco magnate, Today Show, tuxedo park new york, tuxedos
I pride myself on being open-minded, especially when it comes to fried foods.
The Huffington Post is not.
In fact, this weekend ‘Huff Post Comedy’ featured the slideshow “10 Things We Shouldn’t Be Frying.” It pictured an array of batter-dipped, fried foods you’ll find at state fairs and local gastro-pubs.
Some, I’ll admit, even made me cringe. Fried butter. Fried margaritas. Even fried guacamole. (Who knows? Maybe the batter hides the icky avocado texture and taste.)
But the Huff staff dissed fried pickles, comparing the taste to “a dirty bomb going off in your mouth.”
What the wha??
Clearly Huff Post needs to get their noses out of their laptops and their taste buds on top of some serious fried pickles, one of the yummiest appetizers to ever grace a paper towel-lined plate!
In New York City, I suggest visiting Ditch Plains. Their fried pickles are sliced super thin and have a light, almost tempura-like batter. They’re served with tartar sauce for dipping, but ask for ranch dressing….’cause everything’s better with a little ranch.
In Kansas City, head to Tomfooleries on the Country Club Plaza. That’s the first place I ever tried fried pickles — not in the South like you might imagine.
Their fried pickles are cut thick and have a heartier batter. You can see the spices and cheese sitting right on top. They’re served with seasoned waffle fries, too…so if someone in your group is a ‘pickle chicken,’ everybody’s happy. (Gotta love the bucket, too.)
If you live in the South, there are lots of great restaurants that serve this delicacy. Please share your suggestions in the comments section.
I doubt there will be a “dirty bomb” in the bunch!
Posted in Blog, Blogging, Blogs, Business, Commentary, Cooking, Food, Foods, Humor, Internet, Life, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged 10 Things We Shouldn't Be Frying, avocado, blogging, blogs, Business, cheese, commentary, Country Club Plaza, Ditch Plains restaurant, food, Foods, fried beer, fried butter, fried foods, fried guacamole, fried margaritas, fried pickles, gastro-pubs, Huff Post Comedy, Humor, Internet, Kansas City, life, New York City, open-minded, ranch dressing, restaurants, Southern cooking, spices, state fairs, tartar sauce, tempura batter, The Huffington Post, the South, Tomfooleries, Travel, wafle fries
It was the head bonk heard ’round the world.
I was in the first grade. Thor*, a boy in my class, hit me in the arm…hard. So I hit him back. In the head.
With my red plaid metal lunch box.
He ran home and cried to his mother. She called my mom — damn small towns — and said, “Thor only hit Carla because he likes her.”
And that’s when I learned what a hit in the arm really means.
Love pats like that got metal lunch boxes banned in the 1970′s. But they’re making a comeback today, thanks to some clever local green initiatives.
On Earth Day, Lulu’s Noodle Shop in Kansas City introduced a pinto pail program for to-go orders. (Pinto pails are stackable metal lunch boxes used in Thailand.)
For customers who agree to a one-time $30 fee (to cover the cost of the pinto, which is shipped from Thailand), meals are packed and delivered in the pail, which keeps food hot for about an hour. Customers must then return the pinto — washed, rinsed and dried — in exchange for their next order which will be delivered in another pail.
The press release from Lulu’s encourages guests to participate and “cut down on landfill waste of traditional packaging, thus saving the Earth one meal at a time.”
Looks like it could do some damage, too. Watch out, Thor. I know where you live.
* Name changed to protect the guilty
Posted in Business, Children, Design, Food, Foods, Green, Humor, Life, News, Restaurants
Tagged Business, children, design, food, Foods, green, green initiatives, head bonk, Humor, Kansas City, landfill waste, life, love pat, Lulu's Noodle Shop, metal lunch box, metal lunch box ban, pinto pail, recycling, restaurants, save the Earth, Thailand
Sheep schtick
It has been 22 years since The Silence of the Lambs won the Oscar for Best Picture.
Feeling old?
Clarisse is there…Dr. Lector, too. And the wannabe transgender, his little dog and the senator’s daughter, ‘putting the lotion in the basket.’
But the lambs?
Well, they aren’t so silent in this version. They sing. They dance. They move set pieces.
Just off-Broadway.
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Posted in Academy Awards, Broadway, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Movies
Tagged Academy Awards, Best Picture, Broadway, Clarisse Starling, comedy, commentary, entertainment, Hannibal Lector, horror story, Humor, Kansas City, lambs, Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company, Movies, musical number, New York City, Oscars, parody, put the lotion in the basket, sheep, Silence: The Musical, The Silence of the Lambs, transgender