Missouri Trip: Review and Road Home

Wednesday: We spent the afternoon playing a game called Pit before we went to Kansas City. We left Blue Springs about five to arrive at the Crown Center to eat at Fritz's. The food is similar to Sonics, but the deliver method is what makes this restaurant unique. Around the entire restaurant, above each booth is a train track. At each booth is an elevator that lowers the food that is delivered by the train. You review the menu and pick up an old telephone receiver to place your order. Than the train whistle blows and the train comes from the kitchen to deliver your food. After dinner, we explored Crown Center and the connecting Westin Hotel. Later that evening we explored the famed Country Club Plaza. Known just as the Plaza, during Christmas time they lite the area with thousands of lights. To conclude the night, we went to Kim's uncle John and aunt Tina's home to watch Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Before we arrived at there house, we stopped at Quicktrip. Quicktrip is a gas station that has wonderful Freezonies (basically an icee). We had a delightful evening with her family, the hospitality was overwhelming. It was a blessing to be in such good company, watching a film, eating pop corn and laughing.

Thursday: The night before, we had planned to travel to St. Louis that morning. We were going to get an early start and see a few sites in St. Louis, but we did not get out of bed in time. We awoke about 10am and decided it would be to cancel our plans. Instead of getting up, we feel back to sleep and had breakfast at 1pm. After a the ladies prepared breakfast, we decided to take a nap. It may seem like laziness at first, but keep reading. We decided to rest the afternoon away and have dinner in Kansas City. We ate at Buca di Beppo in the Plaza. It is a family Italian restaurant that serves authentic Italian food. We explored the Plaza and did a little shopping. After leaving the Plaza, we explored downtown. We found a city park that overlooked the Missouri River. We headed back to Blue Springs early to visit with Kim's father who had been away on business. JMob's father was concerned about the weather and about midnight, we became concerned. After reviewing all the maps online, watching news casts from Dallas to Okalhoma City, we decided it would be in our best interest to leave that night (an ice storm was about to hit). We packed our things and said our goodbyes a few hours early and began our journey home about 1am Friday morning. Within forty-five minutes, the ladies on the trip were sleeping and JMob and I talked and sang the miles away. About 4am, JMob and I listened to Oklahoma radio warning all the listeners about poweroutages, getting all necessities from the store and advising people not to travel after 7am. Our projected rate, put us in Dallas by 7am. We had beaten the storm. The laziness earlier blessed us with enough energy to get us home and prevent us from being stranded in Missouri. Kari and I spent the weekend with her little sister Shelbi. We ate Mr. Gatti's with JMob, played video games and watched Napoleon Dynamite. It was a good end to the week.

Now, we are experiencing the Ice Storm 2007, accoring to the TV News. Most public schools have cancelled class and all universities have done the same. This might be the best way to start of semester, just don't go! It will be nice to have an extension on the Christmas break, but I am ready to get back to school. That is it for now...have a good day...stay warm...and God Bless.