Trip to Huntington Beach First Day

After a flight delay, I arrived in Los Angeles around 1:00 pm,  Galen was there to pick me up.  It was a bit on the cool side although temps should get to 80 over the weekend.  We got to the house just in time to join Laura in walking to the grade school to meet Maggie and Thomas.  They are as energetic and lovable as always.  We also stopped to see the courtyard/atrium that Laura cleaned up that morning.  Working with kids from Maggie's and Thomas' class, she installed some new native plants.  They are not finished but it looks great and will be even better as a few more are added along with some mulch.

After a trip to Trader Joe's to get some food for dinner, Galen and I took Maggie and Thomas to their karate class.  We had a delicious dinner topped off with some ice cream for dessert.  We put off a trip to Cherry on Top till Saturday when we have a lot of outdoor activities planned and it will be HOT making a frozen treat all the more enjoyable.

View the Picasa photo album.

Visit to Kansas City Fourth Day

My last full day was Sunday.  We began by picking up Anola and going to her parish, St. Therese, for Mass.  With all her demands to bring her novel to publication, Anola has temporarily stopped singing in the gospel choir.  Nonetheless we enjoyed the Mass, the music, and the wonderfully diverse and friendly assembly.

We returned to Mom's apartment and spent a lazy afternoon napping (me), working crosswords (Mom), and chatting (both of us.)  The temperature got to 90 which led me to run out to Starbuck's for some ice tea which we both enjoyed.

Around 4:00 we left her apartment for a tour of the city before we met Anola, Peter, Gerry and Kara for dinner at Pierpont's in the Union Station.  Mary had told us Saturday about the new public art at the MAX bus stops.  We  had visited two Saturday night and decided to see the third on the way to dinner.  It is located at 31st and Troost, a place where we would often walk for movies at the Isis Theater which is now a vacant lot on the corner...well not vacant but home to a MAX bus stop, a park and ride lot, and an impressive public art mural.  View a video pan of the entire mural.

The high point was the sculpture at the bus stop that was set in motion by the approaching MAX bus.  I am always impressed and proud of my hometown for its commitment to public art.  There is a local ordinance that any public construction project (roads, bridges, buildings, etc.) must include  a certain percentage for public art.  Marilyn and I always comment on the art integrated into what would otherwise be very ordinary overpasses.

We continued our tour of downtown Kansas City, commenting on how much things had changed since we used to come downtown on the streetcars to shop.  Suddenly I saw a structure that simply took my breath away.  It is the almost completed Kauffman Performing Arts Center.  It is a gift to Kansas City from the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Foundation.  Kansas City is blessed with people of wealth who use that wealth to improve the quality of life of the community.  They set an example for all of us, even if we are not wealthy.

Finally we arrived at the Union Station and had a wonderful meal with the others.  It was great to spend some relaxed time with Gerry and Kara, whom I had last seen at their wedding.  It was my coincidental good fortunate that a wedding in Texas had brought them to the US from Abu Dhabi.

I left the next day fro home and arrived safely and on time.  My next visit to Kansas City will be July for Mom's 99th birthday.

Visit to Kansas City Third Day

I started the day with a visit to Starbucks and a conversation with my sister, Louisa.  She is in the final few weeks of rehab after knew replacement surgery.  She is feeling good and I couldn't notice any limp in her walk.  After we finished, she went to mom's to set her hair in preparation for dinner tonight at Sweet Tomatoes and Sunday at the Union Station.

The temperature on Mom's thermometer on her deck reached a high of 92.  So hot, in fact, that when I returned from a trip to the Plaza, she asked me to turn on the AIR CONDITIONING!  Believe it or not!

We picked up Anola and then drove to Sweet Tomatoes where we met Louisa and Mary and Bob.  We had a leisurely meal and good conversation.  One of the things I learned was that the MAX bus system in Kansas City has been commissioning works of art in and around the major transfer points along Troost Ave, the main thoroughfare of my growing up in Kansas City.  After dinner Mom, Anola, and I visited two of them:  at 75th and Troost and 39th and Troost.  There are a couple of more--one of which sounds spectacular--that I plan to visit Sunday.

View the photo album.

Visit to Kansas City Second Day

The day began with breakfast in the dining room.  Mom typically does not get going early enough or she just doesn't want to go through the hassle of going down, but when she has company we usually do go down. Then it was off to do some shopping.  She is always concerned about getting her place organized and putting things where she can remember their location.  She has decided that she needs another under-bed storage box.  So off we went to Walmart.  There were some but Mom thought they were too expensive so off we went to Lowe's.  Same result, of course.  However we did find some extra large film storage bags.  These were reasonably priced and that sealed the deal.

I had lunch with my brother Terry.  It was an enjoyable two and a half hours of conversation and humor.  It was wonderful that he and Johnny were in town for one of their extended visits.

Back at the facility, Mom and I had dinner at her usual table.  It was good to see Bill, Bill (there are two Bills at the table), Barbara, and Rose.  The wait person was Joanie who it is always nice to see.  I went out after dinner hoping to find some good light for some photos.  Alas, I should have stayed at Mom's.  When I got back, I took some lovely shots of her and Gertie.

The day is ending as it often does in Kansas City this time of the year:  severe storm warnings.  I have seen lightning or heard thunder since last summer.  I am looking forward to it although the golf ball sized hail is a little off-putting.

View the photo album.

Visit to Kansas City First Day

I flew to Kansas City on Thursday April 7.  Leaving Rochester was delayed due to low ceilings and visibility at O'Hare in Chicago.  I learned that when a flight is headed into challenging weather, it takes on extra fuel in case the flight needs to divert and spend time in a holding pattern.  As a result, my fully booked flight was overweight. Since I had a four hour layover at O'Hare anyway, I volunteered to take a later flight, still able to get my original connection.  Result?  I got a $200 voucher!  An excellent beginning to the trip.

I found Mom in good spirits and looking great.  I will post some images soon.  Fortunately Terry, my brother, had proceeded me and had left some roasted chicken breast and plenty of fresh fruit.  I will have lunch with him Friday.