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.

NUMBER 34 - COMPLETED

Number 34 - See a local band - Completed
June 19, 2009

Last night, Joel and I went on a double date with Joyce and Ken Halford. We went to dinner on the Plaza, then to Davey's Uptown to see the local band, Minstrel Periods, featuring our friend, Kate Haugan. Minstrel Periods ROCKED! They were amazing. It shouldn't have surprised me at all, but Kate's stage presence is truly amazing. It is very difficult to take one's eyes off of her.


Her bandmate, Michael, is also wonderful and very funny. They play mostly covers, and my two favorite numbers were rap songs, one about "doing the Jane Fonda".
They keep their show moving along and transition by reading thoughts written by audience members. Very funny and quite entertaining. I highly recommend seeing them. And, BONUS, Minstrel Periods will be the musical guest for Full Frontal Coemdy's debut sketch show this September at Union Station! I am very excited about that.

NUMBER 32 - COMPLETED!

#32 -Attend the Roller Derby - Completed

May 2, 2009

I've gotten kind of lax on my list but I'm back on track! I went to the Roller Derby on Saturday, May 2, 2009, and it was an absolute blast! The whole night was awesome. I got to share the experience with some wonderful folks: Joel, Dave, Christina, Kate, Joyce, Ken, Reed, Kevin, Mark, and Ryan.

It started with dinner at Raglan Road Irish Pub in the Power & Light District. This is my new favorite restaurant. I cannot recommend it enough. Amazing food, atmosphere, presentation, and service. And bonus - we all shared bites! I got to try lots of different dishes and they were all delicious! I suggest going to this pub, ordering the fish & chips with a pint of cider, and requesting Megan as your server. (She rocks!) Reed got the "Loin of Bacon" and Dave got a kettle of stew, which I found adorable:

Then we went to the Roller Derby. This is all-female, flat track roller derby. It is not like the episode of "Charlie's Angels" where the ladies went undercover and the track was raked and there was a rail that the chicks would slam into with their "hard" bodies. This was flat, fast, and furious. And I loved it!

We sat right on the floor. Not the most comfortable place, but right by the action. I had my huge $8 can of Miller Lite, my camera, and my friends to surrounding me to shield me from the general public.

The first match was Dreadnought Dorothys vs. The Victory Vixens. The Vixens kicked butt! The second match was even better because it featured the all-stars, The Kansas City Roller Warriors vs. the No Coast Derby Girls from Nebraska. It was more intense and more violent. Lots of body-checking and spills. KC creamed them! And Reed developed a new crush on the team captain, Hall Balls.

My personal favorite "jammer" of the night was Lunatic Fringe from the Vixens, but alas, this was her last game. She's retiring.

OH! During the second match, Nurse FlatLineHer crashed into me! I loved it! It was awesome and I felt oh-so-very cool.

Overall, this was an incredibly fun night. It was just awesome and I loved it. I'm so happy!

NUMBER 28 - COMPLETED!

#28 - Take a yoga class - Completed

January 18, 2009

I took yoga many, many years ago and I loved it. I didn't continue for purely budgetary reasons. I've always wanted to take it again. My friend, Jennifer Zindel (in the picture above), has a yoga studio in her home and graciously invited me and some other beginners to take a very low-level class. It was awesome. Low stress, challenging, positive, and I just felt great afterwards. Jennifer is a wonderful teacher who gently adjusts positions and creates a relaxed, warm atmosphere. I hope to do it again soon!

NUMBER 22 - COMPLETED!

#22 - See a MET show - Completed

November 7, 2008

I saw the MET's production of "The Crucible" featuring my good friends Christina Schafer Martin and Greg Butell. Both of them were great! The MET's space is awesome. I love it. It was wonderful to see a professional production in this fairly new space. However, at the risk of pissing off a lot of theater folk, I am not a huge fan of the script. I find it preachy and utterly humorless. It beats you over the head with its point and tells you exactly how to feel. That being said, there were some really good things about this production - Christina, Greg, Allan Boardman, Marilyn Lynch and the set. The set is frickin' great. I look forward to seeing "Hedda Gabler" there in January, also featuring the lovely Christina.

Me and my buddy, D.K. after the show. D.K. went with me to the show and we had a fun dinner beforehand. He's good people.

Christina Schafer Martin, me, Greg Butell

NUMBER 26 - COMPLETED!

#26 - Volunteer at the Polls or for an Election - COMPLETED

November 4, 2008

If you know me at all, you know that I am huge proponent of voting. I love voting, I think it is one of the greatest things we can do, and I believe everyone should vote. It is important. And I love, love, love election day. I find it incredibly exciting and I enjoy going to the polls. I also feel strongly that it is not that difficult to vote - if you can use an iPhone, a Wii, play guitar hero, surf the web, etc., you can get your ass out and vote.

So I signed up through the Lee's Summit Barack Obama office to work election day. I could only work in the morning. Joel went in to his work late so that he could take Abby to school at 9:00. I arrived at the office about 8:30. From about 9:00 until noon, I drove four people to the polls to vote. That may not sound like a lot, but it took a long time. I would go pick one up, take them to their voting place, wait with them, then drive them home. Then I'd go back to the office to get my next assignment.

It was amazingly rewarding. One of the ladies I drove, Jene (pronounced "genie") was 82, tiny, was on oxygen, and cussed a blue streak. I adored her. She needed my help walking, standing in line, and reading her ballot. She talked to everyone in line. She lived in a tiny studio with her Shi Tzu, Sophie, across from John Knox Village.

We had to stand in line about 40 minutes and even though she had her travel oxygen with her, she was full of energy and humor. We met Will Kraus, who was running for State Rep. When he asked for our vote, she asked him if he was Republican or Democrat. After he answered "Republican", she replied, "Get the hell away from me!" Did I mention that I adored her? (He won, by the way.)

I was awed by all of the elderly people I saw using walkers, scooters, canes; who had colostomy bags, IVs, oxygen, etc.; who couldn't drive or walk on their own yet they found a way to vote. They wanted their voices heard.

It was a wildly inspiring morning. I hope to do it again in future elections.