Ummm - if you read this . . . .

Union Cafe closes at 3pm on Fridays - new management is supposed to be developing fun stuff I guess later - so I will be at Pierpont's. Sorry the late notice - I'm really only expecting XO, so if anyone else is comin . . . meet me there! (I'll buy you a martini if you show!)

School is cool.

Finished my final last night - a little too fast, but I'm confident I did pretty well (except the extra credit - does anyone know what a situs is - no googling it either!). Also did my presentation - my professor made fun of my board, but its all good - I knew he would. Very nice end to a semester that has kinda knocked me out.
Vincent Gauthier was the professor for my class. He is the director of the Port Authority here in Kansas City (yes - we have ports, people!) and also a developer and historic preservationist (the Premiere Preservationist in KC if you ask him). Quite fabulous, though, and the class is great. If you have any interest in the city and how development deals are put together or just need an excuse to grill the greasy developers, bankers, and lawyers who he brings in to class every week - I highly advise you to take the class - Urban Redevelopment. For fun. For real. Do it.
After class - my friend Darren2 and I went to go see Jeff and Vida (only have Safari on this computer so can't add the link right now - it's www.jeffandvida.com) at Davey's Uptown. Check em out - they rock! Another professor of mine, Jacob Wagner, was playing the mandolin with them - it was quite fabulous . . . Got a little tipsy off the $1.50 house beers and talked a little too much. Had a contest with this big dude to see who had the saddest song - I think I won on vocal quality alone. =) But Jacob is yet another wonderful asset to UMKC and to Kansas City. He is a consummate planner, a virtual grant magnet, expert on New Orleans and historic preservationist (the Premiere Preservationist in KC if you ask him.) I've only had him for the History of Urban Planning and Design - but have worked with him on other projects and will definitely find out where he's playing next. I highly advise you to do the same as well - and then make him sit and share a Guinness with you and ask him about Kansas City or planning or New Orleans or proper beer mixes - anything - and sit back and learn.
But yeah, that's what I like so much about being in school. The people I have met who are out there doing stuff in the city - and the people who want to so badly. I have so much to learn from all of them . . . classmates, professors, librarians, guest lecturers - even the assholes who throw frisbees at my head as I walk to class . . . I think I'm addicted. My only saving grace is that I hate writing papers - so there will always be that to encourage be to be done already!
I'm just sad that the semester is over - but looking forward to my classes next semester - and being done, finally. Oh, yeah, and starting all over again in the fall! Yipee!! Oh, and applications and personal statements and recommendations galore. OOOOOOOhhhh - gotta go.

Last day of the semester

Okay, so tonight is my last final - and I'm just putting the finishing touches on my board for a presentation and I realize how much it resembles a poster I made for a contest in 3rd grade. But its way to much fun to cut and paste and make pretty drawings then to create everything on a silly computer - and my handwriting is better than any font out there. Will I ever make it in the real world? I don't think I want to, actually, if I have to make things boring to make them presentable. And anyway, I won that freakin poster contest in 3rd grade. Just sayin . . .

If my left leg was Hanukkah and my right leg was Christmas . . .

would you come over to my place and eat between the holidays?

HiYa Folks!! So yeah, been kinda busy of late - traveling here and there, doing school work, being deathly ill - you know, wintery things. . . I've been online intermittently - trying to keep up with everyones blogs as I can - commenting ever so slightly, wishing I could have been at Harvesters and not in Grand Rapids, MI in the middle of a snow storm . . . you know, stuff like that.
But I thought we could meet up this Friday if people are interested - Union Cafe for Happy Hour - there's always room - and the train will still be up and the tree, too. Maybe I can fenagle (don't know how to spell that word, but it's super cute this way - like a Beagle mix) a sneak peak to the basement as they ready themselves for Bodies Revealed (or whatever dead body exhibit's comin to town). Not an official blogger meetup, but a par-tay for cool people that blog - or read blogs - or know what a blog is - or heard about blogging in Time magazine. And Hanukkah ends tomorrow - so it will be between the holidays - so my invite would be right! And my semester is over on Wednesday, so happy hour will begin at like 11am . . . so anytime after that, you will find me wither upstairs, downstairs, or maybe climbing up the ladder at Pierpont's. The swinging karaoke party will have to wait until January - haven't had time to plan such a fest (maybe we'll make it in February - and I'll have the D dress up in diapers to be our personal little cupid - yeah, that sounds good!) - but still wanted to see you guys before next year. I leave for Florida on the 19th, so if you can't come on Friday, let's find a day to do lunch. =) See you all soon!

No time to blog - but . . .

Why I teach hip hop . . .

For XO

Did you buy those pants at the NASA gift shop?

'Cause your butt is out of this world!!

My New Friend

I had a very bad day last Wednesday and really needed someone to talk to.

I was in Westport on Thursday looking for that perfect someone and found him right on the corner by the SunFresh. I took him home and no longer had dreads about LSAT scores, lost phones, wet cars, or silly high school girls. With him by my side, I knew everything was going to be all right.

With the right settings, he is all that I need.


SeeqPod Music beta - Playable Search

LSAT Score

I didn't post anything after I took my LSAT because I was very upset with my performance on the test. I knew I had done poorly and it was a let down for myself, especially since I had been doing well on my practice tests and am usually a very good standardized test taker. I knew I had done poorly - and the worst part was that I screwed up my favorite section. Got my score this weekend and did even worse than I thought. I told myself that I would not take it again in December - statistics show that scores do not change significantly when taken a second or third time - but I know that sending in an application with my score won't get me into schools that I know would be lucky to have me. =) I mean, I'm doing it for them. Not my ego. I take it knowing I risk maybe fucking up again and having to submit not only one, but two scores that prove my ineptitude - the second one clearly defining not only my lack of reasoning skills but my total rejection of reality as well. But I think it's worth the risk. The section I knew I messed up on - the analytical reasoning (logic puzzles - oh yeah) - had 13 incorrect responses, 12 of which were not answered because of my poor time management and lack of 5-minute warning. This was the second section on my test. In the other 3 sections, I missed 16 total - 12 in the last two sections - AFTER I blew the logic puzzles. And reading my response to the essay portion at the end, I clearly had given up. I don't know . . . I could just say screw it and hope that my GPA is good enough to woo the admissions people to give me a chance, or rely on my personal statement and glowing recommendations . . .

No, I have to take it again. I must. I don't let myself get a 68% on a freakin midterm exam, let alone the 2nd most important test of my life. I'm weak, I know - I let numbers define me. It has plagued me through childhood up through today. Didn't want to post this at all, but forced myself to put it out there . . . 155. My score.

Bleh.

Kevin Fox Gotham

Went to see Kevin Fox Gotham at Rockhurst last night. Had to read his book, Race, Real Estate and Uneven Development for a couple different classes for Urban Studies over the years. It's a fabulous book and a must-read for anyone who cares about the development of the Kansas City MSA and its role in the segregation and racial degradation that continues to exist in our city today. But having read his book, attending an event that was geared towards an academic audience, and having basic knowledge of the choices and practices of the real estate industry over the years - such as redlining and blockbusting, which are virtual stars in his book - I was kinda disappointed in the content of his lecture. I have copious notes from the event, and I believe that as long as there are still issues that continue today - somebody better be talking about them - but come on, give us something to think about. Bring something new to the table.
He could have started by saying that the first step to erasing the legacy of state- sanctioned racial segregation is to overcome the 'great hurdles' of eradicating Racially Restrictive Covenants on people's property. I don't get what is so hard about this. I have a lot to learn about deeds, covenants, ownership, etc - I understand that. But houses are bought and sold every day with property rights attached to them - are we saying that these are not ammendable? Are we saying that there is no way around changing such a horrible, hurtful, and degrading choice of a man 75, 100 years ago. Or are we saying it's just not worth it? Shelley vs. Kraemer made these restrictions unenforcible 60 years ago. That changed a whole culture. I just want to change a couple words. And if there are still bigoted bitter home-owners that want to keep these words of hate and intolerance in their land - I want them to have to fight for it.
He did say that the big challenge is to get people to look at our problems of uneven development and segregation of schools as a metropolitan issue rather than a localized, 'urban' problem. He said that all cities in the metro need a housing policy - so that affordable housing, and problems associated with providing it and dispersing it, become that of the whole MSA and not just the already-struggling inner city. He did say that we must be environmentally and ecologically responsible in our development. He did say that people have gotten around illegal racial segregation by holding on the the sanctioned class segregation that is upheld in the suburbs. He said good things. He always has. There was just nothing new.
But I must say it was a damn good book report - and he looked good delivering it. I'd see it again. But would rather a sequel than a re-run. Maybe I'll have to go to New Orleans to get his new shit. Anyone up for a road trip?

Is this black cloud following everyone today?

Today has really sucked. I started out losing my cell phone at the high school - I looked for it everywhere and couldn't find it and finally had to just accept that I had to go on with life without it for the day. Thought I would call it and ask whoever answered it to keep it for me - or turn it in to the office - but my suspicions that I had not yet paid my bill yet were confirmed when I realized it had been turned off. Had to pay the bill online and then wait for my service to be reactivated so that I could call and beg whoever answered to save me from my no-phone-ness. But then remembered that I turned the ringer off this morning before I lost it. My efforts to keep a good outlook have not worked out so well. It was raining like a B today on my way to school - and there was not a parking spot to be found, and I was waiting for like 5 minutes for one car to leave a space and it turned out it was handicapped! Finally found a spot and after my first class, it was nice out so I walked across campus to a meeting (oh, no - I didn't get the umbrella out of my car, silly!) and afterwards found myself with a wall of water to walk through to get back to my car. And I finally got in to find a big puddle in my seat - I left the sunroof glass open - the rain seeped through the canvas cover and was dripping on my head all the way to pick up Elle from school.

I wish I could blame bad luck for this fabulous day - but no, just absent-minded stupidity is all I have to offer. Dang!!

huh-uh, I said poll

Yeah - take my poll - should have my results back in the next 5 days . . . we'll see how accurately I display my intelligence (or lack thereof) in this blog.

Uh . . . do you wanna play tennis?

I'll be the racquet . . . you can just bounce your balls all over my face.


(sorry for two pick up lines in one week - saw this picture and couldn't resist. Don't have time for much else right now.)

It's cold.

If you get cold tonight, my thighs make wonderful earmuffs.

It's so true . . .

Your Karaoke Theme Song is "Baby Got Back"

You're a total show off who is willing to risk looking like a fool to get a few laughs. In fact, you'll go for the cheap laugh if you need to... because it's better than no reaction! Your friends can count on you to get a party started, and you'll party hard until you can't remember their names. You're charismatic, charming, and a total character. With or without a few drinks in you. You might also sing: "I Touch Myself," "Oops I Did it Again," or "My Humps" Stay away from people who sing: "Candle in the Wind"

What's Your Karaoke Theme Song?

Got this from I, Shane - a new addition to my favorites. EMAW has it, too. They're both of the Margaritaville style. So not as fun as me.

Frazzled

Life is crazy. Good thing my hair's not.

Just My Luck Post #1

I've run into a lot of bad luck in my life (leaving me with a lot of bruises) and always swore I would write a book about all my grace-induced stories one day. Well, if ever I do - this will be Chapter One . . .

Back in high school . . .

--WAIT - screw that, I think I'll write a screenplay instead.--

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

Main character, Googley (*my real nick name in high school . . . there are many claims as to who came up with the name, what inspired it, and whether malicious intent was involved or not), is walking out to the parking lot at Apopka High School. We see the Darter in the pond and the students walking out at the end of the day. Googley walks towards her Dodge Omni parked in the first space in the Senior Lot - painted with the Handicapped Wheelchair dude.

CAR HORN HONKS BEHIND HER

GOOGLEY
Oh hey, Kris . . . what's up?

GOOGLEY WALKS TOWARDS PASSENGER SIDE OF GREEN BRONCO AND LEANS IN THE WINDOW

KRIS
Yo, Googley (did I mention I went to school with a bunch of gansters) are you gonna go to Wendys today?

GOOGLEY
Don't know - why?

KRIS
Thought you might want to throw your keys away again. HA HA - snort -

GOOGLEY reaches in to smack KRIS in the head for being such a dimwit.

As she leans in, driver of Green Bronco, DANA (oh yeah, a boy - who's best friends Cary and Kelly were also boys . . .) pulls away to save poor Kris from the solid steel that is GOOGLEY's hand.

The force of the car flips GOOGLEY into the air. She lands on the ground in time to have her left arm be run over by the back tire of the Bronco. She lies on the ground in shock for a couple minutes before she realizes her skirt is flipped over as well and exposing her panties. She starts to giggle along with everyone else and then faints on the asphalt.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

GOOGLEY is at home wearing a cast on her left arm.

GOOGLEY (on the phone)
Yeah, we couldn't find Snickers all day yesterday. But I woke up this morning and she was under my bed with her three kittens - and a lovely stain. It was nasty . . . but the kitties are so cute! Butterfinger, KitKat and Oreo. Oreo's the cutest - all black with a white stripe down his back. Oh, wait - I hear them crying upstairs . . .

Hangs up and throws the phone on the couch.

Runs up the stairs and at the 10th step, trips UP the stairs and screams out in pain

GOOGLEY
Oh, MOTHER MAY I!!

GOOGLEY starts to whimper and the sound mixes with the pitiful mewing of the kittens. Frame pans up towards GOOGLEY's room and GOOGLEY's whimpers start to fade as the cats's cries get louder. We are brought under a bed where two young kittens are drinking from their mother's teat and a third one is under its mothers tongue - his death as obvious as the white line down his black back.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

KRIS loading a wheelchair into the back of his own truck in GOOGLEY's driveway.

GOOGLEY
Thanks for taking me to school . . . I only have to be in the wheel chair until my arm is out of the cast - then I can use crutches. And you know how Gangster Googley (my younger sister) is - she's too embarrassed to take me, and her pom pons take up most of her trunk space anyway.

KRIS
Oh, it's all good in the hood.

CUT TO Parking Lot of school. Kris parks in a space across from Googley's. He helps get the wheelchair out and she gets in. He pushes her through the empty parking spot towards the ramp down to the circle driveway in front of the school.

GOOGLEY (always the funny one . . . )
You know, you can just let me go at the top of the ramp.

KRIS brushes the ash from his jacket as he tries to rub the THC from his eyes.

KRIS
TRUE!!

KRIS, the fucking idiot, lets go of GOOGLEY's wheelchair at the top of the ramp. The wheelchair picks up speed and we see GOOGLEY's face full of fear of being sprung into the nasty lake in the middle of the circle driveway ('scusting!!) but LOE and BEHOLD - what comes to her rescue, but a 1989 silver Volvo wagon waiting in the circle - ready to stop her chair from the nastiness by crushing her knees and eating her lip.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

Close up of Vicodin bottle in GOOGLEY's purse - slung on the back of her wheelchair as she is pushed through the hallways by her good friend Kelly - a girl this time - adorned with "Googley Crossing" signs. Her fat lip does not hide the smile on her face.


So, what do you think? I think I have a magical way with dialogue - don't you agree? there's many more of these to come . . .

My argument against Pragmatism

I just got in a fight (okay, heated discussion . . . okay, not even really a discussion) with my favorite professor this semester. Not just this semester I guess, but someone I hold in high regard, someone that has opened new opportunity and knowledge to me and someone who has shaped what my future plans are (at least what my future plans are presently =).
I was in Environmental Justice and my professor, Boris Ricks, was discussing planners' responsibilities in making ethical decisions in regards to the siting of waste disposal plants and other environmental hazards. Which I was totally in line with until he then proceeded to say that we had to be aware that planners and developers are the same in the fact that all they saw was '$' (he drew it on the board). Wherein I interjected, quite passionately - I might add, that planners are not developers. Then, the enviable Professor Ricks resorted to telling me that he is an expert on urban politics, is highly lauded in his research, blah bity blah blah, and that we can just agree to disagree.
I have to start this out by saying I have a grossly out of whack distaste and mistrust of real estate developers. I've never walked away from meeting one, or reading about one or hearing one speak and thought, 'wow - they're really out to do something for the community.' Some of them do really great, cool, wonderful things for the community - but it's just a side effect of their project, or a reflection of its profitability.
I got interested in planning because it blended many of my passions together . . . design, math, community, people, sustainability, and politics. The product of a planners project is a city block, a living community, a neighborhood improvement district, a park, a mixed use development, a thriving downtown. That's what they do - they create it, they make it feasible, they model it, they measure it, they map it.
The product of a developers project is a pro forma, a successful tax credit application, agreeable debt service coverage, positive cash flow. That's what they do - they envision it, they schmooze the banks, they create the spreadsheets, they screw the neighbors, and they HIRE it out.
It's the difference between Raymond Braswell and Kevin Klinkenberg, the difference between profitability and responsibility, the difference between redevelopment and renewal, the difference between condominiums and affordable housing, the difference between community and company; hard to separate fully, but there are choices and outcomes and purpose that act as hard distinctions between the two. Neither one better than the other - but definitely different.
Or maybe I'm just green and naively optimistic that you can put doing good over doing well - and still come out on top.

Time for a pick up line . . .

Wow, is that shirt new? It's very becoming on you.

But if I were on you, I'd be coming, too.


(Just sayin . . . )

Greg Beck 1958-2007

Greg Beck was mean, drunk, horny and hilarious. His funeral - held at the Baptist Church where his mother belongs - didn't play down his vices and couldn't diminish his ability to bring the people of his life together to share one last toast to this great man. It was an honest and touching ceremony - short to Baptist standards, if I say so myself - full of laughter, loss and realization.
The red dresses were out in full force . . . and the ladies looked hot!! My favorite part of the whole event was little Matthew Sader calling out, 'yes, sir!' in the middle of a prayer. Jesus Camp - here he comes! =D

Last night

I got to see Elle for the first time in 4 days yesterday so the last thing I wanted to do was leave her at home with a sitter last night while I went to Greg Beck's visitation. But I didn't want to miss it, either - even though my red dress I was planning on wearing was in my bag that still hadn't made it from Orlando. So I decided to take Elle with me. She had to go to her first wake sometime . . . and it was easier to talk about death when it was someone that she didn't know. She told me that people didn't really die in this place - it's only on movies (probably something her dad told her when he was watching 300 with her the other night - good one, daddy'o). Needless to say that conversation took a little while . . . she's decided that when she dies she doesn't want to go in the ground under dirt but that she wants to stay 'regular' - even if it means she'll get stinky. She said we can put her in the blue room (you know you are a little paint-happy when your kid identifies rooms in your house by the color on the walls) and read her a book every night. But we got dressed and started our journey . . .

. . . never got there. I followed my googled directions, I asked the 'metro patrol' officer in the entrance of the cemetery, I called the phone number of the place, I drove between the 4600 and 5100 block of Truman like 10 times with Elle in the back seat trying to count all the dead people in the graveyard. I'm really not blind. I'm really not dumb. But it was already 8 by that time and I just wanted to get out of my car. So we headed over to Harry's Country Club in the River Market to see if anyone was over there.

After convincing Elle that we could go to Waldo Pizza some other night, I finally got her to get out of the car. . . but then she gets out and sees the AMC building downtown and decides that she wants to see a movie instead (I have a really bossy kid). But I'm the boss - so we went inside. she was very excited to see the bar . . . she loves sitting on high stools, so she was failed again when I told her we were going outside. Ooooh, but they have a jukebox like Waldo Pizza - she wants to go to Waldo Pizza again.

I go outside and see some red dresses so know I have found the bloggers . . . saw Spyder and XO and MToast and Janet and FileGirl and Dan. Sat next to Dan and Elle was being shy at first . . . but then he offered her french fries. Nothing like some fried, salty veggies to bring my kid out of her shell. She wouldn't stop after that. I have never seen her so animated in front of a group of strangers. Maybe it was the atmosphere ('and if she loves a bar - she loves a bar like her mama') - or maybe it was the Sprite after 8pm - or maybe it was just the people. I think I'll have her start a blog now . . .

Anyway, it was good to see everyone there last night. I didn't know Greg anymore than I know XO or MToast or Spyder . . . but just sitting there on a night that we all said goodbye to someone that was present in our lives - made me realize how connected this little world is. I open my world to anyone that reads this blog and I thank each and every one of you for doing the same. Its very spandex-like . . . as our circles get bigger - it just works harder to keep us together.

After we paid and walked out - Elle still convinced we were on our way to Waldo Pizza - she asked me which one of those people was the dead one. I giggled inside and almost told her that he wasn't there. . . but then realized that he was.

Rest in Peace, Big Guy - give 'em hell.

I'm baaaack!!

Been super busy the last couple weeks, but just got back from Florida so I'm ready to get back to work on, you know - my LSATs which are next weekend!!!! GAH! Not ready . . . not ready . . .

Super fun stuff though, this weekend . . . met Mia Michaels - she signed my dance shoes! She's freakin amazing. I'm like a total dork and in love with her. Took a class with her and my body still hurts today (stretching afterwards is always good - note to self) - but not only is she incredibly amazing as a choreographer, but it's just always so inspiring to hear people who absolutely love their life and are breathing their passions through other people. And she made my body move in ways it never has before and made me love being a dancer even more because of the power I hold to express myself through that medium. Love it!!! I will scan in my signed picture of her when, you know - I learn how to do that. So, next year around this time - be looking for it. =D



I also saw a bunch of my friends from South Florida, and it made me realize how much I miss the close friendships I've always been used to. I live so far away from so many people that I love. I used to have such a hard time with goodbyes when I was younger - and taught myself how to cope by just realizing how much people affect me and change me as a person for knowing them 2 hours or 2 decades. It made me less sad to see people go, but I don't find those connections so much anymore. Is life really too busy to have what I see as the most important thing in it? It's too bad if so, because I'm too far away to really hang on the the ones I have established in the past. I just miss my friends and my family, I think. Very emo today - not a good day to say goodbye to a friend I never got to know. Oh well.

My Soundtrack

Okay - so I've been sick and not blogging and don't want to blog about my sickness, but I finally checked my myspace today and did a fun little bulletin and thought I would be lazy and just post it here as well. And don't make fun of my music selections . . . or I'll hurt you.

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend your cool...!

Opening credits:
Fuck Me Pumps - Amy Winehouse

Waking up:
Freak on a Leash - Richard Cheese

First day of school:
Make a Memory - Bon Jovi

Falling in love:
C.R.U.S.H. - Ciara

First Song:
The Roots (Interlude) - Jill Scott

Fight Song:
Get Loose - T.I.

Breaking Up:
Rehab Remix - Amy Winehouse and Jay Z

Prom:
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

Life:
Love Song - The Cure

Mental Breakdown:
Body Language - Queen

Driving:
I'm Good (Honey Soundtrack) - Blaque

Flashback:
Close My Eyes Forever - Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne

Getting back together:
All I Wanna Do is Have Some Fun - Sheryl Crowe

Wedding:
Go - Common

Birth of child:
Jeremy - Pearl Jam

Death Scene:
Muevete Pa Ca - Zumba CD

Funeral Song:
Abraham, Martin, and John - Jerry Vale

End Credits:
Here Comes the Sun (Live in New York) - Jewel and Rob Thomas

Oh, bama!

Okay - so I admit, I get really excited about people running for office - especially when they are saying the things that I feel in my heart, seem to be honest and trust-worthy, refuse to run campaigns because 'it's the way you have to do it to win', and when I get goose-bumps listening to them speak (because they know how to form a complete sentence). This will be my fourth presidential election that I have been allowed to participate in - and the first one where one of these candidates are at least on the primary ballot. I have been enthralled by Obama since his key-note speach at the Democratic national Convention almost 4 years ago. He came when I really needed him. I believe so strongly in America - the America founded on equal rights, the American founded as an escape from religious persecution, the America that has flourished because of it's welcomed diversity. I learned about this place all through my early education and books and songs and poetry and stories and fell in love . . . have not really lived there yet. Barack Obama was saying that he would bring that back. That equality was his mission, that love was his navigator. I jumped on that bandwagon. I registered for all the groups - I participated in discussion boards - I didn't miss a stump speech - I gave money and asked my friends to do the same - I joined the campaign. I learned as much as I could about this man, with each peice of information, every audio clip, the articles, the interviews . . . with each one, I was more enthralled. And then I heard his stance on gay marriage. And his argument for equality was broken over my head and shattered into peices. He believes in full civil unions - in giving same-sex couples all the rights that are denied to them today by the federal government (all 111 of them) - he believes that we should treat all citizens equally . . . but that we should let churches decide if they should call it a marriage or not. It's still a civil union - unless recognized as a 'marriage' by the church, but it would be recognized as such only by that church - not the federal government - and the heterosexual couples still get to be 'married' no matter if they are married in a United Church of Christ or in a renovated Taco Bell by an Elvis impersonator with a 10-day temporary license. I'm sorry - doesn't seem so equal to me.
I received a bulk email through one of my list serves from the campaign asking me to celebrate equality with Michelle, Barack's wife, as she did something or other for women's rights. I wrote back and let him know that I can't celebrate equality with a man who only celebrates it for some . . . the campaign team sent me this back:


Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting Senator Barack Obama and Obama for America with your
thoughts on LGBT rights. We appreciate hearing from you.

Senator Obama supports economic, social, and legal rights for gays and lesbians.
He supports full civil unions, expanding hate crimes statutes, fighting
discrimination at work and in housing and other places of public accommodation,
and wants to increase adoption rights. He opposes any Constitutional ban on gay
marriage, opposes the Defense of Marriage Act, and opposes the current “Don’t
ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military, which weakens us in a time of
global challenges.

Barack is a global leader in the fight against AIDS. He traveled to Kenya and
took a public HIV test to encourage testing and reduce the stigma of the
disease. In late 2006, Barack Obama worked to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE
Act, one of the largest sources of federal funds for primary health care and
support services for patients with HIV/AIDS.

Senator Obama has consistently supported LGBT rights, and will continue to work
for an open, tolerant society where people of all sexual orientations are
protected and their contributions are valued. Thank you again for writing.


Sincerely,

Obama for America



I'm just glad Kucinich is still in the race . . . I will have someone to vote for that sees equality as a foundational principle - not just for his campaign - but for his life and his persuit of a better America and a better world.

Urban Art

Okay - so for one of my classes we had to say what urban meant to us by telling a movie, tv show, book or song that described how we felt about 'urban.' (That was a really bad sentence, but I'm tired and don't feel like fixing it.) My answers were "You Suck: A Love Story" by Christopher Moore - because when you've been turned into a vampire and you're trying to go unnoticed while searching out a cure in the city, you realize how many people abound and how involved in other peoples' lives you really are. My second choice was "Honey" with Jessica Alba - a dance teacher at an inner city community center making it big and bringing it back to her peeps - Urban Extreme!! My final choice was "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega - it always made me think of the big city when I would hear it growing up . . . you couldn't really observe things happening outside a diner in suburbia - it would just be a lot of people walking in from the parking lot.

So yeah, what movie, book, television show or song defines your outlook of the urban?

Lazy blogging?

This semester sucks. Won't have too much time to blog (I know, I know - what will the three of you do?) - maybe I'll just post all the f-ing papers I have to write over the course of 16 weeks. My classes are all very interesting - Environmental Justice, The Economics of Race, Class and Gender, Urban Environmental Policy and Urban Redevelopment. You think they'd notice if I just did the same papers and projects for all the classes? =) I'm getting a new camera which will be much easier to load pictures onto my lap top - so maybe I'll just keep putting up pictures of my kid - will that keep you around? And I promise at least one pick up line a week. So don't leave me, okay? This isn't a break UP - just a break. And after the LSAT, we will have much to discuss. Like my perfect score. And my vivid imagination. K . . . gotta go.

Why, oh why?

So yeah - had a great time at my second blogger meetup . . . even though I missed Happy Hour!! I mean, not that that stopped me from drinking too much beer, but still . . . could have saved more money for pork sandwiches. I realized that not only am I loud and annoying when I drink - I'm mean, too. Not really, but beer brings out my inner bully. It's kind of liberating . . . and kind of Mel Gibson-y as well. But had a blast - and even though XO didn't save me any booty, I did filch some good items from other bloggers who were drunk enough to either forget their items, bequest them upon me freely, or naively believe I would wear a NASA get up to the next meet up! AS IF!! (Just joking, emaw, it will be fabulous!)

But what sucks is that I didn't meet a lot of the people that were there - as soon as I walked in, I found beer and parked my ass. I'm not a good mingler . . . always feel like I'm interrupting or eavesdropping or something. And I feel bad because I dont know a lot of these peoples' blogs - not because they dont rock, but because I spend too much time stalking the few I like and don't need more obsessions, really - and hate the awkward, "oh, yeah, nice to meet you . . . " I'm really socially inept. But I really enjoyed meeting janet and File Girl and Erin - especially Erin, the hottest pickle in KC - and hanging with old friends The D, emaw, Spyder and Dan. I felt like a porn star last night with eveyone eyeing my boobs (well, boob) and commenting on the size of my tongue. Objectified Blogger, party of one.

Then, after all you lame-o's left - see, mean (and I'm not even drunk!) - I went down to Sharp's and had a fine conversation with a wasted mortgage banker and decided I wasn't ready for the night to end! Went and sang some classic karaoke at Missie B's. All in all, a good night. However, NOT a good night's rest. I'm going to nap. . .

Knock Knock . . . Who's there? . . . Elle . . . Elle who? . . . Elementary School.

Elle turned 5 today . . . I still can't believe it. She starts kindergarten on Thursday. 5 years ago today - actually right now - I got my epidural and I told the anesthesiologist that 'this is the beginning of the end' as he stuck a huge needle that only belongs in nightmares and movies about nightmares in my lower back - and I thanked him!! I meant the whole labor thing, but in truth it was the beginning of the end of my life as I knew it. I have spent my life doing whatever pleases me and whatever I want to do, but now I make decisions with someone else at the helm of my ship. And boy, has it been a lovely ride. I absolutely love kids and they crack me up and amaze me every day - but every morning I wake up and look at my little girl and think, "wow, I created that." She gets so annoyed with me because I laugh at every single thing she does and repeat every single thing she says. I have already cried like 15 times today and she keeps telling me to stop staring at her, but I really can't help it. I love her more than I ever thought possible and she gives me new reasons every day. It has been a great year and I totally look forward to seeing what crazy things she comes up with for this upcoming one . . . I can't wait to meet her friends and watch her interests grow and see all the wonderful things she will learn and I will absolutely miss knowing what she is doing every second of every day and being the coolest person she knows.

Courtesy of Emaw . . .

So, you wanna go to the library and go over these briefs . . . then we'll go back to my place and you can go under mine.

Law School Pick Up Line

Checked my statcounter this morning - haven't really done that since I set it up frankly because I dont understand it and it's a lot of numbers that don't make sense to me, but I had so much fun . . . I have so many hits from people that google stupid shit like . . . how to pick up law school chicks, law school high five, pick up lines for lawyers . . . none of these dumbasses make it past my incredibly-thought-invoking banter to comment or even come back, really, but I'm on the first page for all these searches. So for all you freaks out there who find my page because you want to bang a lawyer - I am here to help you out! "Thanks, Sponge." "That was great, Sponge." "You're the best, Sponge." "My love for you is like diarhhea, Sponge . . . I can't hold it in."

Here goes:


"So, you must have learned a lot in law school - because I got off just by looking at you."

(I'll have to turn all my pickup lines into lawyerly ones so that I keep getting these hits.)

Reason with me, now, will you . . .

1. KC Sponge: 'The Law School Admissions Test, the purpose of which is to gauge a prospective law student's grasp of logic and reasoning and argumentative skill, will be taken in September now that I have registered for it on the LSAC. It will take many hours of study and preparation to achieve a score that would justify my 4 year journey of craziness. A cold beer sits in my refridgerator waiting to fulfill its own destiny as a quencher of thirst and celebration. On one of these last days of leisure before a semester of stress begins, it would be responsible and selfless of me to quench my thirst and celebrate this next step while completing the mission of another's bottled venture. Preparation can wait.'


The sponge’s argument assumes which one of the following?

(A) The sparkling spirits will make the process of preparation much more tolerable and cool and anyway - took the ACT after her first drinking binge in high school and still got a 32, obviously alcohol kills off the disruptive cells in HER brain.

(B) The liberating libations will not grow warm as she is riddled with guilt over this decision and would therefore fall short of the expectations of the barley malt, wheat, water, hops and yeast that have dedicated their existence to provide her this escape from the enormous pressure to be utterly brilliant.

(C) The LSAT literature makes no specific mention of disallowing alcoholic beverages in the testing centers.

(D) The bubbly goodness that breaks up the grease in pizza will also break up the cobwebs in her brain and will therefore not only NOT be a distraction from her studying but a new-found aid in attentive learning.

(E) The time it takes to write a blog post about an asinine decision will not supercede the time it takes for the entire alcohol content of a 12 ounce beer to be sweat out of her system in an 84 degree house, and therefore she will be completely sober and without excuses and ready to study anyway. great.

Remember - there can be more than one correct answer, please choose the MOST correct and provide supporting argument. . . the bestest answerer will be awarded the rest of the beers in my 6 pack - assuming they're not gone before you decide to freakin comment! =)

School starts next week

UUUGGHHH! I hate summer - it always goes by too fast. And this is the longest I've actually been in Kansas City for Hell Season, so you'd think I'd want it to be over as soon as possible, but no . . . I could use a couple more weeks. Thanks.

So, I've been at band camp (yeah, don't ask) the last two weeks in this amazing weather - on black asphalt, nonetheless. I never knew I could sweat so much - and I teach camp outside in South Florida for the summer! - but I'm so glad that it's over. We went and saw DCI Semi-Finals live at the movie theatre after our last day on Thursday and for the first time ever I thought they could turn down the AC in the place. Ewww. But yeah . . .

We drove out to Chicago last weekend to meet my mom for a cousin's wedding we were going to in Madison. It was my daughter's first trip there and OF COURSE we had to go to American Girl to get her a doll for her 5th birthday. I have to admit - I loved it. I grew up being the girliest of the 3 girls in my house and loved dolls and would dress them up and pretend they were my friends and cry when one of my sisters would "hurt" them by throwing them across the room or using them for target practice. I think I did it, too, to have a special 'in' with my grandmother. Ever the suck up . . . But yeah, this place was amazing - while at the same time nauseating. But I'll just write to the amazing part - because at all times I like to hide my hypocrisy.

I was glad that she chose one of the Historic girls and not just the stylin' reproductions of the spoiled kids that will be taking them home. She picked Elizabeth, a girl from 1775 who is mischievous and aspires to be independant and funny at all times. Of course, Elle picked here because of her beautful pink dress and the fact that she was the only doll with earrings. But maybe the books will give her an added interest in Colonial America . . . we'll see.



We also went and saw "Wicked" - or as Elle likes to call it, "Wicked of OZ". It was a fabulous show - the woman who played Elpheba was amazing. I expected more from the choreography and Galinda was kind of annoying (even more so than she ought to be I believe) - and the $8 plastic cup of the absolute worst chardonnay ever left a bad taste in my mouth. But the Ford Theatre there in Chicago is breathtaking and we had the most incredible seats - hopefully Wicked's not there for too much longer so that I can see another show in that space soon. But I hope it's there long enough for you to get your butt down there and see it - but bring your own wine. =) Would have loved to see The Color Purple - playing at the Cadillac Theatre right next to my favorite hotel ever - the Hotel Allegra - tickets were sold out the whole time we were there. And the happy hour I love to crash at Allegra (because I can no longer afford to stay there seeing as how I have sent so much business their way and they have hiked up the price 300%!) was not going on because of some convention. Goodness people - give me a break! But Lollapalooza was in Grant Park and I finally got to enjoy the LED fountains with a kid that was actually little enough to not get stares, I enjoyed my first chocolate-covered strawberry, had my fix of H&M, got a lot of paperwork to send to City Hall to show them how to market their parks department, and didn't even go to a museum and still felt fulfilled as we drove away to Madison for the wedding. That is, until we realized it was 4:30. Bad move.

Oh well - there's about 16 more pages I could write about the last 2 weeks - and maybe I will in the future, but for right now, just thought I'd say it's good to be home. And inside.

But do I really have a choice?

I don't want to be a nerd anymore. . .

So, I just finally finished Harry Potter.

I'm done being a dork - it's so ungratifying.

But I would like to end this journey by giving you my favorite Pick Up Line for Nerds:

"Do you want to play math?

You add (+) the bed, we can subtract (-) our clothes, I'll divide (/) my legs and then we can multiply(x)!!"

Right on.

Nice to meet ya!!

Well, I survived my first blogger meet up with only a slight hangover . . . Im glad to have met everyone - especially Dan and emaw, my first friends and then faith (plus one), kel, the D, and Heather - hard core is all I have to say . . . we made it all the way to the breakout of the vacuum cleaner. Good times. Cant wait for the next one . . . now that I have more blogs to read, who knows if I'll have time to make it.

Kansas City Community Centers

I went to the Parks and Recreation office the other day to try to get some information on programs running in the summer, the new Swope Community Center, and the diving team for Elle. Now I didn't expect to pick up a comprehensive guide of the city's offerings like Blue Valley recreation department or the Jewish Community Center, I'm not upset that there is not a website like they have in Boston or even Detroit, and I didn't even expect a call back within 3 days from anyone for whom I've left messages . . . But when I did walk into the main office of a major municipal center that has a dedicated department with some nice parks, 2 fabulous golf courses (one appears in Gone Mild today), 2 great conservation centers - Discovery Center (okay, so that's a MO facility and not KC . . .) and Lakeside Nature Center, a brand new amazing water park, a state of the art 47,000 square foot center to be opening soon, another center dedicated to ice-skating and archeology, and summer camp programs that are unmatched by many in the city for price and quality, I thought there would be someone excited to talk to little ole me - a citizen interested in what they have to offer - especially during July, National Parks and Recreation Month!! But the receptionist seemed to be perplexed why I would be walking in to find out information (because the website kinda sucks, because people don't answer my calls, because I always wondered what was in these ugly buildings across from the zoo . . . ) and then slightly annoyed when I asked to whom I should inquire about my different missions and then pointed me to a wall where there were information fliers in a little display - a lot out of date, and most no more informative than what I could find on the web. I did learn about Free Fridays at the Community Centers last week and Free Swim Parties that are still going on and I got all the information one could want about the walking tours of Kansas City, if anyone is interested . . . - so the trip wasn't totally for naught. . .
But I just don't get why cities and communities don't spend more time on their community centers - they spend a lot of money building them, they hire a load of people to fill the offices and make some great programs - but it never comes up as an important part of planning or community development, or even a significant asset to tout. I remember introducing myself in my first urban planning class and announcing that my interest was in urban community centers and making them just that - the centers of the community - in order to spur economic development, a sense of place, neighborhood responsibility, trusted networks for growth . . . and just got blank stares. Well, where else was I supposed to go - it is the planners who map out development, who create ideas of space, who form the function of a city. With Public Administration, I can hope to bring back focus to the most elementary of city departments - the recreation center, the family center, the wellness center, the Community Center, and with my law degree maybe I can enact legislation that says you must give a shit about this. Right?
The school issue comes up when kids turn 5 in my neighborhood - people leave to go to the suburbs or pay for private school or home school their children. Elle will go to school in the KCMO district - that's not my issue. But I cringe everytime I think, 'wow, wish I lived in leawood so I could be close to all the cool things they offer there . . . ' Cool things are happening here - there's just too much politicking with the Board and not enough effort or support or importance put into the places that have the potential to trump the school issue for a lot of families out there. Give them a reason to stay and a way to show suburbia that we can do it better - or at least just as good. I mean - we can, right?

Yet Another Sponge-Worthy Tag

Sassywho has joined in the fun of tagging me - and this should be fun . . . I am to tell 8 secrets - things I have to hide - skeletons in my closet - facts about me I would rather you not know. Did I say fun, I meant to say that this should be scary.

1. I like to dress up like Charles Manson.

2. "Eye of the Tiger" was playing in the background of my first sex dream - so I get turned on whenever I see a boxing match, a large feline, Sylvester Stalone, the color red, those little "Tiger's Eye" thingies made from popsicle sticks and yarn, lace up shoes, hear a bell ring, watch Survivor, or put my cassette in the tape deck of my car for those long trips home.

3. I know every word to every song in the musical "Cats" - I was quite a loner as a child and would sit and listen to the Broadway soundtrack and pretend that these were songs about all my friends . . . always wished JennyAnyDots was my mom, that my last name was Mistoffelees, that Rum Tum Tugger would come and wisk me away (there's no doin anything abow-awowt it) to the Jellicle Ball where I could give Grizabella a makeover and hook her up with the hunky Macavity. Um, yeah, and I also know every word to every song in "Yentl".

4. I have kissed 131 people in my life - and have a list with all their names, well mostly names and then some entries only have descriptions - like "guy with green shirt" or "Mardi Gras '97 - 26" Was running a contest for some time there (frontrunner for 2 years strong, thank you). . . this was during the same time we started to take mini-thins because they were so much cheaper than food and we had just failed at being bulemic because we found out we weren't psycho enough to puke into little jars and keep them in our closet.

5. I like to refer to myself as 'we' when I don't want to own my own actions.

6. I have an alter ego named Rhonda who dresses in all (80's inspired) animal print and leather and wears her hair big with red lipstick and always has 3" gold heels. It started just being a fun way to go and have fun and kinda make fun of people who dress like her, but lately I feel sexiest when I dress like Rhonda . . . am I really that supressed?

7. I like to drink pickle juice.

8. I have written tons of really bad poetry that I must destroy before I die . . . I don't want Elle to find a stash one day looking through my stuff, and being so excited to have a peek into her dead mother's soul only to be let down. In the spirit of this grand reveal, I will give you one right now (written in 12th grade for a Stop the Violence! campaign at school):

Stop the violence. Stop the pain.
Instead let's just shoot up cocaine.
It's white and clean and really fun.
It is nice to everyone.
It's kinda like sugar, but not as sweet.
Or kinda like Pop Rocks, but not as neat.
Or if cocaine is not for you
Let's just sniff some Elmer's glue
Which is made from horses who kill mice
So doing this would be really nice
And that's what this whole poem is for
So stop the violence and smoke some more.

Actually, I like that poem . . . maybe that's my big secret - I have written some damn good poetry that will only be discovered and edited and published posthumously. With gems like that, would you be amazed? =)

So, I'm supposed to tag 8 people. I read about 8 blogs and 3 of them are out because Sassy has already tagged them (or is one) and the other 5, I'm sure don't read mine, but here goes - Mark, Erin, XO, Dan, Heidi, Jolie, Brent, and Joe - let us hear your secrets . . . if you dare!

I take slowly to being tagged.

Darren, my #1 fan, tagged me while I was in Florida, and I guess that means I have to tell you 8 things about myself that you wouldn't already know by reading my blog - but as I've said before, I'm pretty absent-minded and without some structure, don't think I'll get all the way through, so I'm using the more popular lists of four so that at least I have to follow something and I don't go and tell you all about my obsession with armpit hair or my absolute loathing of words like milk and armpit... so here goes:

Four jobs I've had:
1. Shot Bitch - actually, shot girl, but I always called them shot bitches and so when I applied, I put shot bitch on the application for position applying for - and so my manager always called me the shot bitch. And not so lovingly, either . . . at Iguana Cantina in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2. Head Line Gluer for JK Finishing Company in Pine Hills (Crime Hills) - had to hide in the back room one night because we got a call threatening a drive by shooting. Everyone got mad because I was the only white girl and I got the head gluer position - but little did they know that I was just a damn good gluer.
3. Night shift Information Specialist for Radiology Department at SMMC. Best games of Spades I've ever played.
4. Assistant Director of the University of Miami Hurricanettes.

Four places I have lived:
1. Merriam, KS - when I first moved here, I thought that's what Kansas City was - this little suburban town where everyone drove Suburbans and shopped at WalMart SuperCenters or the mall and called Mexicans beaners and hated Jews . . . very charming little place. Was told Missouri was the bad part of town.
2. Apopka, FL - from 2nd - 12th grade. It means "The Big Potato" - I won a Poster Contest in 4th grade at the annual Apopka Art and Foliage Festival (Apopka is the Indoor Foliage Capitol of the World - check it out!) with my slogan - "Roots are Better than Fruits" comparing Apopka to NYC - oh yeah, folks . . . and later on used that same slogan to defend myself against a rather rude boy who was making fun of my hair.
3. Lauderdale by the Sea, FL - lived right on the Intercoastal and would wake up every morning and go down to the dock and have breakfast watching the sun rise over the ocean, go play pinacle with the old ladies at my aunts hotel, bathe in the sun and have drinks by the pool. I'm definitely living my life backwards.
4. Kansas City, MO - I freakin love it here. Live in Brookside - a mile away from everything I need . . . wouldnt mind living a little more north and if it were up to me I'd live right on the Missouri River in the First and Main lofts - but it's great here. There is a community here - people give a shit about what happens around here and even reluctantly give a shit about each other. It's small town in a big city. We've got problems, but look at all of you out there trying to fix them - or at least bitching about them.

Four Places I've been on vacation:
1. Schwartzwald - Deutschland - went on a trip with school and stayed with the most Americanized family I know - modern house straight from the 70's full of glass - right next to the goats. Was so excited to practice my German, but the mom of the family was an English teacher and loved practicing her American English. It was the trip where I was steeped in my liberalism then made fully aware of the liberties we do have here in america. Stupid girl at tho photo developing place developed all my black and white film as color and so I have no pictures from then, but I am forever changed.
2. Chicago - best weekend trip - by train - stay at the Hotel Allegro.
3. Orlando - Disney is pretty magical when you've got a 3 year old in tow - and free tickets! Sea World is my favorite and I never miss a chance to go to Epcot.
4. San Diego - always wanted to marry someone with the last name go - San Francisco, Monteray Bay - CA

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Jalapeno Dip from Jalapenos
2. Fried Pickles - no one makes them like Cock of the Walk Riverboat Restaurant
3. Hot Buffalo Wings from Gator's Dockside (but I am now a vegetarian who only allows herself pork on occasion, so it's a good thing these are so far away)
4. Sweet Tea - I know it's not food, but give me sweet tea and crushed ice and nothing else on a deserted island - I'll be in heaven before I croak.

Four places I would rather be:
1. Jazz Fest in New Orleans
2. Savannah, GA with my mom, my sisters, nieces and daughter
3. In Washington DC graduating with my law degree
4. At an Orlando Predators vs Kansas City Brigade Game in the Sprint Arena singing "Welcome to the Jungle!"

Anyway - that's all for now. I'll be revealing many more interesting facts in the future. I don't know if they will be more interesting, or if there will just be more of them . . . i'll get back to you on that one.

My favorite pick up line

OK - since some people may come here from The D's blog - because he just linked to me and because he's awesome, I thought I would give you all - and him (even though he may not need it now that he's betrothed to some Buzzard Beach girl - well as far as I know because he won't SPILL THE BEANS) - my favorite pick up line in the whole entire world. . .

"Hi, my name is Sharon and my friend Treece over there - yeah, over there with the big hair and short skirt - no, not her - the pretty one, anyway, she's really shy and she wanted me to come over and ask for your phone number so that she knew where to find me tomorrow morning."

awesome.

Back at ya, Sassy!!

Funny that Sassywho (at Ineverleavethehousewithoutincident.blogspot.com) looks a little like Kelly McGillis in her profile picture - and Maverick is her American Gladiator name of choice. . .

This would have been a far more interesting love story. . . with much hotter love scenes, that's for sure. . .

The Sponge is OUT!

Leave tomorrow morning for Savannah and then off to Florida to teach and my sister's wedding. Was supposed to take the LSAT tomorrow . . . if I get time I'll post a logic question for you all to answer. But I'll be staying at a 5-star hotel at the expense of a company that Im not very fond of right now - so I may have to take huge advantage (mini-bar treats, anyone?) and have some good times - where Ill get drunk and post some really good logic questions, or most likely forget to post at all. I'm counting on you all to keep me up to date on KC while I'm gone . . .

Almost Famous

Will be on Kansas City Live this morning - so will that freakin cute kid from my last post - if you're interested. KCL is on 41 (don't have cable, so don't know what channel that is - but it's the NBC station) from 10-11. Don't miss out!! Sure to be the show of the century!!

Yeah, I'm a stage mom.

My kid is freakin hilarious.

I feel bad that she thinks that you're supposed to lip synch every song you love.

Except "Dontcha" by the Pussy Cat Dolls - she thinks she needs to sing that very loudly as we walk through the market.

She rules.

Oh, pick up lines really make me happy!!

If I was a tree and you were a squirrel . . .

would you bust a nut in my hole?

The left side is my side of the bed.

I get super excited about things really easily. I dont know - that's just how I am. I am an optimist to the core and the green straws at McDonalds for the Shrek the Third promotion bring me a little over the edge! But honestly, life is really so full of many things that can bring you down, but there are also so many things to get excited about. Like green straws . . . like new fitness curriculum for kids . . . like baseball games (especially the nachos) . . . like K-1's and 1099's (ooooh, taxes) . . . like sugar wafers showing up in the vending machine at work . . . like waking up with cute hair . . . like riding the train to Chicago with Elle . . . like buying graduation gifts . . . like not running out of gas when driving home from St. Louis . . . like longevity gifts and medical pens . . . like winning raffles you never knew you were in . . . like walking around downtown . . . like going to happy hour events with fake names and careers. Yes, the list could go on forever.

These are the things that wake me up in the morning and keep me up at night.

Don't really use the word suck that often.

Have to skip the LSAT in June – already life is getting in the way. I am going to Savannah for a work trip – a very enjoyable work trip, but nonetheless work – and I have to be there by June 11, the date to take the LSAT. Tried to get a late flight out, but being Savannah there are not many options. Thought I could fly to Atlanta a day early, take the test there and then fly on to Savannah – but even that won’t give me enough time. It really sucks. I guess it gives me more time to prepare for it, but I was so ready to go and do it. Have been taking practice tests – been scoring in the 160s and 170s (okay 171’s the highest, but still . . .) – am ready to go. It would suck to wait another 3 months – but maybe I can work on my reasoning skills and work on getting a perfect score. Where’s the fault in that argument?

Still sucks. I’ll be in Florida for a month, Savannah for a week, DC for a week and at band camp for 2. Not much time to improve my score, really. And I’m studying to get my EA which is all during that time. Oh well.

But it’s beautiful outside today. That doesn’t suck.

This weekend

I am going to St. Louis this weekend to judge a dance competition. Never really been before besides quick in and out or passing through on the highway. Any suggestions for a night out? Any good food? Any Cuban food? I'm going to the Obama kick off on Friday night because I will miss it here on Saturday - I promise a post about that. Maybe I'll figure out how to post pictures. . . no promises.

In Pain

So yeah, I survived the weekend, thank you very much. Now if I could just recover from my multiple training sessions, life would be a little brighter. I am shopping for a personal trainer and am fortunate to have the opportunity to try out 4 different trainers before I make a committment. But that also means that I have had to schedule sessions one after the other and my ass is getting kicked! I like it, don't get me wrong, but this is just not right. I started coaching a little soccer team yesterday and the 3 and 4 year olds were beating me in our drills. And I was trying! My legs no longer work. And it hurts to laugh. But if anyone needs a good personal trainer, I've got a few suggestions. . . Now if I can just decide.

29!! OMG!!!

I welcomed in my birthday last night at midnight singing karaoke and being felt up by gay men. That is exactly how I spent my 21st birthday - except my skirt was a lot shorter, my hair was blonder, and I'm sure I was wearing glitter. Oh, and now I have a curfew. I absolutely love my birthday, and being on Cinco de Mayo Eve, I always stretch it out as long as I can. I'm not so hip on being older, but damnit - you get older every day, your birthday is the one day (or three if you're lucky) that you get to celebrate being alive. If anyone is out tonight at Union Station or Brookside or walking around the Crossroads - you'll know who I am: I'll be wearing a tiara, smiling like I just ate your secret stash of chocolate and parading around like I'm the fucking queen.

Because today, I am.

This week better rock!

I got pulled over last Thursdayin Prairie Village where I was given a field sobriety test and then had a postivie strep test on Friday, failed a final on Saturday, Ward Parkway got shot up on Sunday and made me scared to go to Chik Fil A today - my daughter was diagnosed with strep as well today.
But hey - Friday, we have the Crossroads, Inaugeration and most importantly - my final birthday of my 20s!!! - Saturday is the Brookside Art Fair, the Urban Tour and most importantly - Cinco de Mayo (my favorite holiday EVER!), and Sunday continues the fun. Once I'm off penicillin - or when I've sobered up after this weekend, I have to register for my LSAT - deadline is next Tuesday. Registered for a Law School Forum in DC in July . . . started requesting recommendations . . . very exciting, friends!!
Too much stuff to post about - but everyone else seems to do it so well . . . I'm a much better commenter. I'll work on it.

Pick Up Line #1

So I promised pick up lines, so I thought I would deliver. Though I am a little shy, so I'll start out easy . . .



Do you wanna play house?

I'll be the door, you can just keep slammin me all night.



Good night.

Please ignore

Okay, without saying exactly where I work - 'cause I don't want you to all bombard the place with tomatoes or leave messages on my voicemail to shut up, or avoid the place completely (or send me flowers, either - that would just be embarassing) - I work in a quasi-community center on a quasi-busy street with quasi-cool people. I love my job. I get to develop programs to get kids involved in their community, their own health and wellness and the other people in the center. I went back to school so that I could get my MPA and maybe run a community center one day myself. It's important to me. I grew up taking dance, baton, cheerleading - name any other girly-activity, I was there! - at the recreation center in our town in suburban Orlando. I went on to a professional dance school and then after my first attempt at college, went on to dance professionally. I always thought I wanted to own a dance studio. But after many attempts at business plans that didn't have an element of subsidizing tuition, or peer counseling programs for teenagers, or added programming for kids that arent' interested in dance - or for the parents who are waiting for their kids, I realized a while ago that it was not a dance studio (well, not a 'Come to my studio where I'll teach your kid how to gyrate in skimpy costumes and make other kids feel they're not good enough because they can't afford my ungodly tuition' kind of studio, at least) but a place for everyone to be together and persue the dreams that they have - not push my own on the unassuming. I own a summer camp program for girls that I can't make money on because I have too much fun spending money on making it the coolest camp ever! I have about 15 business plans in the works for 20 different kinds of ventres that I know would be successful - as long as I dont have access to the check book. I have an entreprenurial brain - and a philanthropic heart. No good.
That's why law school is such a good choice for me. Number one, I'm a dork and need to be challenged and yelled at and unsure of myself. Number two, I'll meet a lot of people who may make a lot of money one day and that I can guilt into supporting my hare-brained ideas and/or sub-adopting one of my causes. Number three, because I will have a marketable skill to help organizations set themselves at a better advantage in the community as well as financially. Number four, I need something to take up threatening free time. Number five - did I mention that I was a dork?
Anyway, just needed a little vention (another new word for today . . .) Head hurts. Must sleep.

Never get married

. . . in April. Danced in a friend's wedding today. Was maid of honor in a wedding last week - my daughter was flower girl in that one as well. It snowed last week - it was outside and we were wearing strapless dresses and flip flops; it was 85 degrees today - we were inside with no air conditioning and I was wearing all black, long sleeves, and tights.

My first real post

The Metro Denver EDC has a 5-year economic development program with 6 initiatives (National Marketing, Tax Reform, Mobility, Existing Business, the Airport, and Special) that guide decisions and policy. Indianapolis has 5 high points it plans to use to attract businesses to their city (Low cost of doing business, strong incentives, business-friendly climate, central location, high quality of life). Atlanta has 7 major goals to achieve its major priorites of significant urban growth, new development and improved quality of life for its citizens. Charlotte, NC, has a vision to be the most prosperous and livable city for all citizens through quality economic development, and a mission to partner with internal and external organizations, within a Smart Growth framework, to retain and expand existing businesses, provide tools and resources to promote small business development, to promote development and investment along business and transit corridors, to attract new business investment and jobs and ensure that a diverse population participates in economic opportunities. Orlando highlights what businesses are offered in their city - Diverse Spectrum of industries, world's fastest growing Airports, world-class telcom infrastrucure, enviable quality of life, young workforce, industry-focused educations syste, competitive pro-business climate. And Portland, OR, (my favorite) has a vision to be a catalyst for positive change in the creation of a world-clas 21st century city; a city in which economic prosperity, quality housing and employment opportunities are available to all. Their mission is to bring together resources to achieve Portland's vision of a diverse, sustainable community with healthy neighborhoods, a vibrant central city, a strong regional economy, and quality jobs and housing for all.
Framework, fellows, that's what they have. That is what Kansas City lacks. There is no vision. There is no mission. Just a whole lot of fucking incentives. You can't just take those away, either. You see our competition up there? They are providing businesses - and their residents - with a whole lot of promise. That's how you get companies to stay AFTER their incentives expire, that's how you get homeowners to invest in their neighborhoods, that's how you build communities.
Mission statements and core values seem to be a bunch of corporate mumbo-jumbo, but they work. They give you something with which to align your decisions. They also require responsibilty - of every employee, but most importantly the executives and management. I work for 2 corporations - 1 publicly traded, and 1 not-for-profit. I know that as long as I am guided by the missions of the companies, I can stand up for everything that I want to do and everything that I see is going wrong. Don't have me memorize a 50-word sentence warm fuzzies and fluff and then tell me profit is what matters! I am empowered by a mission that I believe in and am inspired to carry that out. Imagine if we had that with our city. We know that economic development is supported by big companies, as well as small ones, so we don't throw a fit when some people get incentives that seem a little too much like CEOs on welfare, b/c we know it's important. BUT then we also know that vibrant neighborhoods and safe streets are a goal as well - so if they're getting their tax breaks, we'd better be getting our roads fixed and our grants to improve facades and streetscapes. And if we're not - we say, bitches (not really, but I'm tired - and I curse when I'm tired) - give us our shit. And we have a framework to fall back on. Not just hope we get the right people in office to make these things happen. There's too much bs for them to do.
So I'm putting it on us. The citizens of Kansas City. What is your vision for the city? What would your mission statement be? What would your 5 guiding principles be? What 5 goals would you set for YOUR Kansas City? Please, if you read this whole thing - just leave me a comment. Because I'm going to submit mine, but as my fellow neighbors - I'd like to live in a city that we ALL love. In some way or another at least.

I've been linked!

Hello! If you're reading this, it's probably because you read some inane comment of mine on a good blog. So thanks for stopping by. OR, it could be because I was linked on The Kansas City Post. (If I knew how to add a link, I would - give me some time . . .) That's right, folks. KC Sponge is up and coming. One day, I'll come up with good subject and write something that will merit readership. Until then, keep checking back - I promise it will come. Thanks again, Mark ( I think I love you )! And Tony - link me, baby . . . I'm ready.

-SMACK!-

Today is National High Five Day! Celebrate my favorite holiday by giving everyone and their sister high fives - a way to say, "Way to GO!" or "You look cute" or "What is up? (Besides my hand?)" I love NHFD because everyone knows a high five (one of the first things my daughter ever learned to do) and everyone deserves one, for one reason or another. Yes, even him.
High five.

Makings of a bad country song. . .

Yesterday was the last day of the tax season. Some co-workers and I went out to celebrate afterwards - when what would have been the best way to celebrate would be to get some sleep! But anyway, went to a certain cabaret bar and made some friends (because that's what I do), got a job offer - in DC - and sang a little (horribly). Makes me think how strange life would be if people were always just drunk - but no angry drunks, they would not be invited to my IntoxiContinent - all promises made under the influence of Chambord upheld, people dancing and singing with no concerns, everyone talking just a little too close to each other, no reason to regret anything - b/c tomorrow you'll be too drunk to care. Sounds kinda fun actually, a good way to lead life - minus the having to consume large amounts of colored beverages part. Why does it take an altered state to feel more free? Is life really that constricting? I'm gonna be drunk for the rest of my life. (Good thing I'm not going to medical school)