Here's an interesting read from the Kansas City Star about Rob Riggle, Jason Sudeikis and Paul Rudd returning to the city for a charity event ...
While I have a load of admiration for all three and their comedy chops, my affection runs deeper because of their connection to my old stomping grounds ...
Shawnee Mission West was one of my alma mater's conference rivals. I was 143rd and Blackbob.
6.05.2010
Back online
Back online, and it feel so good.
After a couple whirlwind weekend of travel back to The Cheese State -- and some anxious days of packing, moving, unpacking and getting reorganized -- I’m finally reconnecting with the world.
A local cable man arrived to hook me up yesterday. And it was good.
Last night, for the first time in a week, I got to watch the national news. I got to see and talk with Kates and Phoebe on Skype. I got to watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee ... Parts of it anyway, because the local news stations kept interrupting the bee with non-stop, repetitive storm coverage.
With more than 120 e-mails to sort through in my personal inbox, I was up until 12:30 a.m. catching up, reading and answering …
I’ll continue to do that this afternoon and into the evening … as I watch the Brewers and Cardinals play in the Fox Game of the Week. And the summer breeze blows through the window of the second floor living room in our new place. Bliss.
In coming days, expect lots more rants and reads -- and back-posts -- as I catch up on everything I’ve taken in and done during the last week.
Cheers!
After a couple whirlwind weekend of travel back to The Cheese State -- and some anxious days of packing, moving, unpacking and getting reorganized -- I’m finally reconnecting with the world.
A local cable man arrived to hook me up yesterday. And it was good.
Last night, for the first time in a week, I got to watch the national news. I got to see and talk with Kates and Phoebe on Skype. I got to watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee ... Parts of it anyway, because the local news stations kept interrupting the bee with non-stop, repetitive storm coverage.
With more than 120 e-mails to sort through in my personal inbox, I was up until 12:30 a.m. catching up, reading and answering …
I’ll continue to do that this afternoon and into the evening … as I watch the Brewers and Cardinals play in the Fox Game of the Week. And the summer breeze blows through the window of the second floor living room in our new place. Bliss.
In coming days, expect lots more rants and reads -- and back-posts -- as I catch up on everything I’ve taken in and done during the last week.
Cheers!
5.29.2010
Homecomings
At one point Wednesday night, I said it would be a miracle if I could finish everything I needed to do within the ensuing 36 hours.
Sometimes miracles do happen.
First, a little bit of history …
Earlier this month Kates and I cut a deal with our realtor and agreed to rent a duplex from her, figuring it’s best for us, at this point, to take a break from our house hunt, concentrate on selling our house in K-Town and get our bearings in The ‘Ville.
She assured us the family living in the duplex would be moved out by May 20, and I relayed the message to my apartment landlord that I’d be moved out of my place by June 1.
(I hate using the word duplex. It seems to have this sad, unfortunate, trashy connotation. … Sort of the way condo living takes on the connotation of a place for retirees or yuppies.)
Never mind that I was in Wisconsin last weekend, and had plans to be in K-Town this weekend, too. If the family in the duplex was moving out by the 20th, I had plenty of time, right?
Wrong.
By Wednesday night, the 26th, they were almost moved out -- but still had belongings spread throughout the garage.
But by that point, I had no choice. I needed to get my stuff out of my apartment. I was determined to get out of town so I could spend the weekend with my wife and daughter!
I started packing my Little Green Machine around 6 on Wednesday night with all the boxes it could hold and began making the car trips halfway across town from my apartment to the duplex. Once I got to the duplex, I had to practically beg the departing residents for a key to the place.
In all, I made three trips and filled a spare bedroom that we’ve designated as a storage room.
Meanwhile, the “American Idol” finale was playing out live on FOX.
Before I started the moving process, I popped a video tape into my VCR and let it record.
I wasn’t expecting to have any trouble avoiding the results. Although I’d have to check my Blackberry for messages from time to time, I just wouldn’t open any of my news alerts, and I’d be fine, right?
Wrong again.
The alerts started rolling in around 9:30, while I was walking into my apartment from making my second trip to the duplex. Nearly every alert spilled the beans right there in the subject line: Lee DeWyze is next ‘American Idol.’ … Leaving no time for the shock I would have felt had I been watching it live, I could only roll my eyes and keep on moving.
But for the record, I couldn’t keep myself from playing back that video tape when I was back in my apartment for good -- past midnight, early Thursday morning. And the spectacle of all the big time performances kept me up until past 2 a.m. …
I finally did give in to sleep -- recognizing my Thursday was going be another busy and trying day -- just before the Janet Jackson performance … I watched the remainder of the show while I ate breakfast and got ready for work Thursday morning.
My favorite performance of the night, easily, was Crystal Bowersox’s hookup with Alanis Morrissette. A distant second goes to Crystal and Lee teaming up with Joe Cocker … Cocker’s age showed throughout the performance, but Crystal’s and Lee’s singing gave the performance a major energy boost.
The showcase of past American Idols and the ensuing parade of past contestants, in a tribute to Simon Cowell, also was extremely memorable. And I surprised myself with how many of the Idols I recognized and remembered.
Worst performance of the night -- and it pains me to say this, as much as I adore their music -- was Chicago with Lee DeWyze … Chicago hasn’t been Chicago since Peter Cetera left the band, and the remaining members just can’t cut it like they used to.
As for Lee winning the competition over Crystal? I didn’t agree entirely with the outcome, but I didn’t care. Both have loads of appeal and both have promising careers ahead of them.
Good reads ...
a Lee DeWyze beats Crystal Bowersox on 'American Idol' in Simon Cowell's farewell
a 'Idolatry': Lee DeWyze on 'pitchy' singing, 'confidence' critiques, and his alternate 'Beautiful Day'
a 'Idolatry': Crystal Bowersox on dream collaborations (Adam Lambert?), confrontations with judges, and what she'd change about 'Idol'
a Crystal Bowersox after 'American Idol' finale: 'I wouldn't have tried out if I didn't think I had a shot at winning'
a As Lee DeWyze wins a sleepy season, where does 'Idol' go without Simon?
I pushed through my work day on Thursday and took off a couple hours early to get a head start on the move …
Sometime around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, after completing the first night of my move and in the midst of watching the Idol finale, I went online and booked a Uhaul truck -- the Internet rocks! -- to move my larger furniture.
I got a phone call from a Uhaul person later in the day and recruited my old friend Shawn -- aka Tall Bobby -- to help. I picked up the truck, and Shawn met me at the apartment around 4. We went to work loading all of my furniture and the remaining boxes that wouldn’t fit into my car … Within 90 minutes we had my belongings moved to the duplex and I was returning the truck to the local True Value store.
Then came the cleanup. I scrubbed the bathroom from wall to wall and wiped the kitchen from top to bottom. I vacuumed the floors … Finally, I left the old apartment for the last time around 12:30 a.m. Friday, and for the second consecutive day, it was past 2 a.m. before I could get into bed.
On Friday morning, although I had marked the day as a vacation day on my calendar, I went to work for a couple hours anyway. I had to make up time for taking off early the day before, and I had to meet a television reporter for an interview …
At around 10 a.m., I had finished my work for the day and was checking out for the Memorial Day weekend. After a quick trip back to the duplex to grab my suitcase -- and taking a few minutes to handle one final media call about a budget issue that had cropped up -- I was on the road to K-Town once more. My last trip before the big move next month.
After five months of driving the same route through Iowa and Illinois it’s nearly second-nature.
Admittedly, I probably drove a little faster this time … Because I wanted badly to arrive in time to say good night to Phoebe.
The adrenaline pumping the closer I got, I finally reached our house around 8:30. Pulled the car into the garage. Jogged through the back yard and into the house. Opened the back door and burst through the kitchen …
And there playing in the living room with Kates was a smiling and wide awake Phoebe!
Without skipping a beat, I joined Kates on the floor beside the couch. Phoebe jumped into my lap, and promptly started feeling my face with her little hands, as if she had to touch my mouth, ears and cheeks to make it sure it was really me and not just another image of me on Skype.
As hard as it has been to be apart, the homecomings never get dull.
Sometimes miracles do happen.
First, a little bit of history …
Earlier this month Kates and I cut a deal with our realtor and agreed to rent a duplex from her, figuring it’s best for us, at this point, to take a break from our house hunt, concentrate on selling our house in K-Town and get our bearings in The ‘Ville.
She assured us the family living in the duplex would be moved out by May 20, and I relayed the message to my apartment landlord that I’d be moved out of my place by June 1.
(I hate using the word duplex. It seems to have this sad, unfortunate, trashy connotation. … Sort of the way condo living takes on the connotation of a place for retirees or yuppies.)
Never mind that I was in Wisconsin last weekend, and had plans to be in K-Town this weekend, too. If the family in the duplex was moving out by the 20th, I had plenty of time, right?
Wrong.
By Wednesday night, the 26th, they were almost moved out -- but still had belongings spread throughout the garage.
But by that point, I had no choice. I needed to get my stuff out of my apartment. I was determined to get out of town so I could spend the weekend with my wife and daughter!
I started packing my Little Green Machine around 6 on Wednesday night with all the boxes it could hold and began making the car trips halfway across town from my apartment to the duplex. Once I got to the duplex, I had to practically beg the departing residents for a key to the place.
In all, I made three trips and filled a spare bedroom that we’ve designated as a storage room.
* * *
Meanwhile, the “American Idol” finale was playing out live on FOX.
Before I started the moving process, I popped a video tape into my VCR and let it record.
I wasn’t expecting to have any trouble avoiding the results. Although I’d have to check my Blackberry for messages from time to time, I just wouldn’t open any of my news alerts, and I’d be fine, right?
Wrong again.
The alerts started rolling in around 9:30, while I was walking into my apartment from making my second trip to the duplex. Nearly every alert spilled the beans right there in the subject line: Lee DeWyze is next ‘American Idol.’ … Leaving no time for the shock I would have felt had I been watching it live, I could only roll my eyes and keep on moving.
But for the record, I couldn’t keep myself from playing back that video tape when I was back in my apartment for good -- past midnight, early Thursday morning. And the spectacle of all the big time performances kept me up until past 2 a.m. …
I finally did give in to sleep -- recognizing my Thursday was going be another busy and trying day -- just before the Janet Jackson performance … I watched the remainder of the show while I ate breakfast and got ready for work Thursday morning.
My favorite performance of the night, easily, was Crystal Bowersox’s hookup with Alanis Morrissette. A distant second goes to Crystal and Lee teaming up with Joe Cocker … Cocker’s age showed throughout the performance, but Crystal’s and Lee’s singing gave the performance a major energy boost.
The showcase of past American Idols and the ensuing parade of past contestants, in a tribute to Simon Cowell, also was extremely memorable. And I surprised myself with how many of the Idols I recognized and remembered.
Worst performance of the night -- and it pains me to say this, as much as I adore their music -- was Chicago with Lee DeWyze … Chicago hasn’t been Chicago since Peter Cetera left the band, and the remaining members just can’t cut it like they used to.
As for Lee winning the competition over Crystal? I didn’t agree entirely with the outcome, but I didn’t care. Both have loads of appeal and both have promising careers ahead of them.
Good reads ...
a Lee DeWyze beats Crystal Bowersox on 'American Idol' in Simon Cowell's farewell
a 'Idolatry': Lee DeWyze on 'pitchy' singing, 'confidence' critiques, and his alternate 'Beautiful Day'
a 'Idolatry': Crystal Bowersox on dream collaborations (Adam Lambert?), confrontations with judges, and what she'd change about 'Idol'
a Crystal Bowersox after 'American Idol' finale: 'I wouldn't have tried out if I didn't think I had a shot at winning'
a As Lee DeWyze wins a sleepy season, where does 'Idol' go without Simon?
* * *
I pushed through my work day on Thursday and took off a couple hours early to get a head start on the move …
Sometime around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, after completing the first night of my move and in the midst of watching the Idol finale, I went online and booked a Uhaul truck -- the Internet rocks! -- to move my larger furniture.
I got a phone call from a Uhaul person later in the day and recruited my old friend Shawn -- aka Tall Bobby -- to help. I picked up the truck, and Shawn met me at the apartment around 4. We went to work loading all of my furniture and the remaining boxes that wouldn’t fit into my car … Within 90 minutes we had my belongings moved to the duplex and I was returning the truck to the local True Value store.
Then came the cleanup. I scrubbed the bathroom from wall to wall and wiped the kitchen from top to bottom. I vacuumed the floors … Finally, I left the old apartment for the last time around 12:30 a.m. Friday, and for the second consecutive day, it was past 2 a.m. before I could get into bed.
* * *
On Friday morning, although I had marked the day as a vacation day on my calendar, I went to work for a couple hours anyway. I had to make up time for taking off early the day before, and I had to meet a television reporter for an interview …
At around 10 a.m., I had finished my work for the day and was checking out for the Memorial Day weekend. After a quick trip back to the duplex to grab my suitcase -- and taking a few minutes to handle one final media call about a budget issue that had cropped up -- I was on the road to K-Town once more. My last trip before the big move next month.
After five months of driving the same route through Iowa and Illinois it’s nearly second-nature.
Admittedly, I probably drove a little faster this time … Because I wanted badly to arrive in time to say good night to Phoebe.
The adrenaline pumping the closer I got, I finally reached our house around 8:30. Pulled the car into the garage. Jogged through the back yard and into the house. Opened the back door and burst through the kitchen …
And there playing in the living room with Kates was a smiling and wide awake Phoebe!
Without skipping a beat, I joined Kates on the floor beside the couch. Phoebe jumped into my lap, and promptly started feeling my face with her little hands, as if she had to touch my mouth, ears and cheeks to make it sure it was really me and not just another image of me on Skype.
As hard as it has been to be apart, the homecomings never get dull.
5.25.2010
Ode to my apartment
This week I'm saying goodbye to the old apartment ...
In the nearly five months I spent in my return to apartment living, I never once posted about my experiences here ...
What can I say? I've had few complaints.
I was lucky. Lucky enough after I accepted this adventure last December that my new friend Gina was able to put me in touch with someone who had a quiet, affordable, kempt apartment available for me.
The place was decent, not great. I had all the space I needed. A washer and dryer. A dishwasher that I only used once because I never dirtied enough dishes by myself (The one time I did use it, the door got stuck.).
Sure, the walls were so paper thin that I had the luxury of falling asleep each night to my neighbor's snoring and coughing and waking up in the morning to the same neighbor's TV blaring "The Early Show" ... And there was the guy down the hall who preferred to park his moped in the hallway, thus stinking up the place with nauseating gasoline ... And there was the one night -- only one, which must be a record for apartment living -- that my neighbors had their hip hop music so loud I couldn't think.
It could have been a lot worse. Living in a college town, I could have been coming home every night to thumping bass shaking the building and shirtless, pant-sagging boys gallivanting in the hallway.
Prior to arriving here, I was having flashbacks of my college apartment -- where the floor sloped, the roof leaked so badly that my roommate and I got to experience a waterfall between our bedrooms every time it rained, we refused to use the oven for fear it would explode, we sat at our dining table and watched mice crawl from the floor register ... The place was on the verge of collapsing when we moved out of it 8 1/2 years ago, and yet it's still standing today -- and looking worse yet.
Yep, my last five months could have been a lot worse.
In the nearly five months I spent in my return to apartment living, I never once posted about my experiences here ...
What can I say? I've had few complaints.
I was lucky. Lucky enough after I accepted this adventure last December that my new friend Gina was able to put me in touch with someone who had a quiet, affordable, kempt apartment available for me.
The place was decent, not great. I had all the space I needed. A washer and dryer. A dishwasher that I only used once because I never dirtied enough dishes by myself (The one time I did use it, the door got stuck.).
Sure, the walls were so paper thin that I had the luxury of falling asleep each night to my neighbor's snoring and coughing and waking up in the morning to the same neighbor's TV blaring "The Early Show" ... And there was the guy down the hall who preferred to park his moped in the hallway, thus stinking up the place with nauseating gasoline ... And there was the one night -- only one, which must be a record for apartment living -- that my neighbors had their hip hop music so loud I couldn't think.
It could have been a lot worse. Living in a college town, I could have been coming home every night to thumping bass shaking the building and shirtless, pant-sagging boys gallivanting in the hallway.
Prior to arriving here, I was having flashbacks of my college apartment -- where the floor sloped, the roof leaked so badly that my roommate and I got to experience a waterfall between our bedrooms every time it rained, we refused to use the oven for fear it would explode, we sat at our dining table and watched mice crawl from the floor register ... The place was on the verge of collapsing when we moved out of it 8 1/2 years ago, and yet it's still standing today -- and looking worse yet.
Yep, my last five months could have been a lot worse.
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