Kansas City Here I Come ...

As some of you know … the heir apparent has moved to Kansas City, ostensibly to advance his career, but I would suggest that the fair maiden Mollie might have something to do with it.


Mummy and Daddy recently took a road trip to Kansas City to see Jeff and Mollie, and celebrate Mum’s birthday. The following account is second hand, as I wasn’t invited along on this trip.

Jeff and Mollie have a great little place in Overland Park. Mollie and her mom, Sherri, have done a wonderful job of making it very homey. You can see Mollie’s personality in the décor and Jeff’s handiwork with paint and some minor construction. Here they are in their living room. Are these two the cutest couple ever?!

Jeff is working in the advertising department of KSHB, the Kansas City NBC affiliate. Here's a picture in front of the TV station.  Mollie is working for Edward Jones. They love living in the city … so much to see and do for young couples!

For lunch, Jeff introduced us to some authentic Kansas City bar-be-que at Oklahoma Joe’s. At 11:30 am, we queued the line that was already out the door. The restaurant is in the back half of a gas station! It was interesting to see the amount of traffic for the restaurant amid the back drop of the filing station .. that, frankly, didn’t seem all that busy. But then again, we were face down in some pretty awesome KC BBQ and not really watching the gas pumps.

After lunch, Pop and brother went back to Jeff’s apartment to watch an epic KU-MU basketball game, Mom and Mollie participated in their favorite sport .. shopping at Town Center Plaza.

For dinner that evening, we gathered along with Jac and Sherri Comfort, Mollie’s folks, at Seasons 52. The restaurant’s menu is seasonally inspired and changes frequently. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was terrific, and the company was top shelf. The server helped capture the event with a picture.

The next morning, Mollie put together a fabulous birthday brunch .. and there were presents … because who doesn’t love presents!

With Jeff and Mollie just three short hours away, the 'rents have plenty of incentive to hit the road ... and just maybe take me with them ...

Anyone seen my nurse's cap?

About a month ago, Dad had a little accident.  He had to have his shoulder reset, and then last week, an operation to take care of the tear to his rotator cuff, labrum, and a bone spur. 

The good news is ... Dad will be just fine thanks to some top quality medical care and home nursing. 

Mom took a few day off to tend to Dad .. standard nurse-type stuff.  Today, she went back to work, and left me in charge of my Pop.  I am as capable and caring as Nurse Ratched.

Hmmm ... I need to see if we can't find One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on the Roku box.

Lady and the Tramp

We are a family of movie watchers.  Recently, a pal of mine recommended a movie based on the canine content.  EJ Newman received a copy of Lady and the Tramp for Valentines Day and he is a huge fan of the Scottie in the movie, Jock.

Both Mummy and Daddy saw this movie when they were kids themselves and were more than happy to take this opportunity to see again.   Mom helped me add Lady and the Tramp to our Netflix queue and it landed in the mailbox a couple of days ago. 

Very shortly after the movie started we were introduced to Jock, a handsome laddie who speaks with a fine Scottish acccent (clearly, Dad's ear is so attuned to my own brogue, it's lost on him).

We three were so enthralled with the quality of the animation ... the artist who drew the cels for Jock spent some time studying a Scottish Terrier .. the way Jock walks, stands, and even carries his tail.  It's dead on!

Back in the saddle again ...

I took a sabbatical from blogging .. a break, writer's block, whatever.  But now back to our regularly scheduled program ...

February is one of my favorite times of the year; it's time for the annual Westminster dog show.  The whole fam gathers around the television, each one of us offering up our august opinions; opinions that are grounded in little more than a penchant for one dog over another.

Here I am watching the program ... offering feedback for one of the inferior breeds

Be the competitors hound, toy, non-sporting, herding, sporting, working ... blah, blah, blah.  The cherry on noight two is, of course, the terriers :)  While all my bretheren are indeed lovely ... let me be very clear ... the Scottie was robbed !

Heading for Home

After a lovely weekend with the fam ... we loaded up the kennel and headed for Lincoln.  It's a really long drive from Denver to Lincoln.  After about 6 solid hours of riding on Mom's lap and looking out the passenger side of the car, I decided to see how the other half lives. 

While I was hanging on Dad's side, I thought I'd lend a hand with the driving.

We finished Saturday at the Colorado Railroad Museum.  The collection of rail cars, including full size and scale model trains, was amazing.




Dad, Nana, Opa and Uncle Buck at the Colorado Railroad Museum 

 



Dad looking like he's ready to ride the rails ...

   

The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum and The Astor House were next on the list of destinations.  Needless the say, we fellas left the quilt museum to Mom and Nana.  They enjoyed a collection of Baltimore albums by Ann Elliot quilts and art quilts by Kathie Kerler. 

The Astor House is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The hotel opened as a prominent hostelry by a founding father of Golden.  However, as it's luster faded, the hotel changed hands, survived fires, transitioned to a boarding house as well as a stint as a hospitality hotel.   I do believe this is an ambiguous description for a hotel where women 'entertained' their gentlemen callers. 



Mom and Nana on the balcony of The Astor House