NUMBER 40 - COMPLETED

Number 40 - Something private between me and Joel - Completed November 27, 2009

. . . and it was amazing.

NUMBER 1 - COMPLETED

Number 1 - Attend a lecture - Completed Nov. 12, 2009

Joel and I went and saw John Irving. Simply put, he was amazing. "A Prayer for Owen Meany" is my favorite book of all time. I was so excited and giddy like a school girl.

We arrived at Unity Temple on the Plaza - a place I swore I'd never enter again after my blowout with the Reverend Duke Tufty over my wedding vows - at 6:00. This was a full hour before Mr. Irving was to speak. I'm glad we did - the first four or six rows were already full. We got our book, our tickets, and took a seat as close as we could on the aisle. The place was full by 6:30 with a long line.

He spoke for nearly two hours. He was witty, charming, intelligent, funny, and in my opinion, handsome. (Joel thinks he looks too much like John Laroquette.) He also cusses, which I always like.

Here are some highlights:

1. He described himself as a 19th century writer, except with lots of explicit sex.

2. He described his writing process - how he always writes the last sentence first and never changes it; not even the punctuation.

3. He writes his first draft in longhand. He has terrible arthritis and his orthopedic doctor told him to stop writing longhand. He won't, but that is why he can't sign books. He was apologetic about it.

4. He read passages from his new book, "Last Night in Twisted River". He read the tragic accident that occurs, and when he read it aloud, it was very funny.

5. Before the talk, the audience could write down questions and put them in a box. He and his assistant look at them before he speaks and picks some out. I think this is a very smart way to handle it - he can avoid stupid people, or dopey girls like me who stare at him like I'm still 19 and he's the brilliant college professor that I have a huge crush on.

6. He was asked how he feels about his critics. He said it is like "being condescended to by inferiors."

7. He was asked the question: "Why hasn't he won the Nobel Prize in literature?" He responded that are three reasons: One - he's American. Two - "You may have noticed, I'm funny. They don't like funny." and Three - "Explicit sex."

8. He did Owen Meany's voice for us and told us about the inspiration for the character. I had never heard this story and loved it: He was in college and had gone home to New England over Christmas break. He was hanging with a lot of his friends and they were talking about mutual friends that had gone to and/or died in Vietnam. Someone mentioned a kid from the neighborhood and John Irving couldn't remember him. He said he must not have known him. His best friend said, "yes you do, you used to turn him upside down and hold him by his feet to make his change fall out so that you could hear him yell in his funny little voice. He moved away from here when he was about seven." John Irving said, "THAT kid? He couldn't have gone to Vietnam. He was too small." To which his best friend replied, "Irving, you moron, he probably grew!" John Irving went home that night and wrote in his journal, "what if he never grew?"

The most incredulous part of the night came during the introduction. The lady from Rainy Day Books was pushing their upcoming events, especially the one featuring LAUREN CONRAD. Yes, the vapid chick from "The Hills". I was laughing out loud. She went from talking about Lauren Conrad's new "book" (really? she wrote a book? has she read a book?) to saying, "Ladies and gentleman, John Iriving."

Side note: Joel and I ate at the Classic Cup before the lecture. That is a place we used to go to a lot when we lived on the plaza. They've changed their menu and I had the stuffed salmon which is to die for! I highly recommend it. It is quite yummy.

NUMBER 4 - COMPLETED

Number 4 - Drink a scotch sitting at a bar - completed September 24, 2009

(not really a bar, but that's just a technicality)

Okay, I only kind of did this one. I was doing the FFC sketch show with Victor Raider-Wexler, an avid scotch drinker. Trust me, the man knows his scotch. I had told him about my list and how I wanted to try a scotch, as I never had. So, at our final dress rehearsal, he brought several different types of scotch to the theater (which the boys all enjoyed heartily in the dressing room). At the end of the night during notes, Victor brought them all out and lined them up on the table with shot glasses for me to try.

Here is the kicker - that was the DAY that I found out that I was pregnant. It was very early in my pregnancy so I didn't want to tell anyone yet. But I needed some help so I told Joyce. I would barely take a sip, then Joyce would grab the glass and say, "let me have some." God love her.

It smelled great, but I think it is too strong for my blood. I'm a beer type of girl. I also was in the throes of morning sickness (which lasted round the clock for me during my first trimester) so I didn't really get to enjoy the moment as much as I'd wish.

I do want to thank Victor and I hope my faces didn't offend him. Victor is a wonderful, generous man. I wanted to tell him I was pregnant, but Joel and I both thought we should wait to announce it.

NUMBER 21 - COMPLETED

Number 21 - Ride on a motorcycle - completed September 7, 2009

My friend, Ken Schmidt, took me for a ride on his motorcycle today. It was very fun. I felt very safe. For those who know Ken, it should come as no surprise that he is a safety nut. This made Joel very happy. We took the back roads and rode through Shawnee Mission Park. It was perfect weather and an awesome ride. Thanks, Ken!

NUMBER 2 - COMPLETED

Number 2 - Camp overnight with Joel & Abby - Completed September 6, 2009

Joel, Abby, Shelby and I camped overnight at Longview Lake. We cooked hot dogs over the fire, roasted marshmallows, sat by the fire, played in the dirt, and slept in a cozy (if somewhat cramped) tent. Abby absolutely loved it. She is such an easy going kid. Nothing phased her. Joel has camped many times before and is quite "outdoorsy". Fortunately, he is also extremely patient with those who are not (like me).
We had a wonderful time and hope it becomes a family tradition.

NUMBER 29 - COMPLETED

Number 29 - Visit the Toy & Miniature Museum - Completed
August 14, 2009



I feel like I do not take advantage of all the wonderful things that Kansas City has to offer. That is why my list has several fun, local things to do on it.

Last Friday, Abby, myself, and our friend, Gayle Hutchens, visited the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City. I've often driven by it, but have never ventured inside.

It is a lot bigger than it looks! There is a lot to see. We arrived at 10:00 a.m and stayed until 12:30 and we rushed through parts because we were getting hungry. There are beautiful doll houses, furnishings and all sorts of toys. But very little of it is interactive. Abby enjoyed looking at the miniatures - she even brought her magnifying glass to get a closer look.

Abby's favorite part was the marble exhibit. They have a large, three-sided marble run. Abby plopped herself down in front of it and watched and watched and watched it, all the while making her "happy hands". She loved it.

Gayle and I both felt a little old when we arrived at the "Antique Toys" collections which dates to the late Victorian era up to, oh, about my childhood. We saw the games "Staying Alive" and "Ker-plunk" displayed BEHIND glass! I felt very old.

Abby and I had a wonderful time with Gayle at the museum, at lunch and walking around the plaza. It was a great day.

NUMBER 21 - COMPLETED

Number 21 - See a KCAT show - Completed
July 30, 2009

I had never seen a Kansas City Actors Theatre show. It was the only professional theater company in town that I had not seen. Last night, I went with my good friend DK to see KCAT's production of David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross".

Going into the show, I was already a fan of the script. The production was awesome. I loved it. The acting, directing, and technical aspects were all incredible. I loved the use of the space, especially in Act 2. They really used the depth of that stage. And the lighting - they used the tacky fluorescent office lights. Amazing affect.

Director John Rensenhouse and his cast nailed Mamet's intrincate pacing. Acting wise, the standouts for me were Victor Raider-Wexler as Shelly Levene and Brian Paulette at John Willaimson. And, bonus, Victor Raider-Wexler was the doctor on several episodes of "Seinfeld", a show of which I am a huge fan. I was giddy in my seat when I realized it was him.

The show runs through August 16 at Union Station and I highly recommend it.