My favorite place to be.
Hmmm. Wonder if these 2 could be related?
Oh wow. These two must be related as well!
Some people love to go to the lake to boat. Some people love to hike, to camp, to hunt, to fish, to climb hills, to take nature walks, or to go to the zoo. I don't like to do any of that. For me, I love to read, write, listen to loud music, drive around in a Vette, go to guy movies, travel the world, and go to baseball games!
I love Kansas City. I had an incredible childhood growing up in KC, as my Dad worked for Phillips 66 there before being relocated to Bartlesville. No offense to my fellow Bartian bloggers, but I never took a love for Bartlesville like I did to KC; and I still do have an even more intense love and yearning for KC as I grow older. If I had the time, I would sincerely visit the city every single month. I love it that much.
We usually visit The Plaza at Christmas (The fountains are incredible when all are in operation), and a Royals game during the spring or summer; plus, maybe one other visit during the year like this year when I was a Judge for the KC Parade of Homes.
I can't count how many KC A's games I went to as a boy, and then later the KC Royals. It had to have been well over a 100. During the summers, I was always there with my Dad, or brothers, or most times with neighborhood friends as we were routinely dropped off and left to fend for ourselves at the ballpark for the day until one of the parents would come back to pick us up. Yes, unheard of in today's world.
As a young boy, most games were played during the day; now, most games are played at night for the TV, and for commercial revenue. We would usually arrive at the ballpark at 10a-11a, and would watch batting practice for 1-2 hours, then gorge ourselves on hot dogs before the game started. Nowadays in ballparks, they charge extra for batting practice, and some ballparks don't allow it at all. We would walk all over the outfield bleachers hoping to snag a batting practice home run.
In KC, it is so easy to get around the city. Good roads everywhere. And things to do? Wow, quite a list. The Plaza, Union Station (I still remember my actual train rides from this station when I was a child), and the P&L District; though I am not a partier, so that area is a waste of time for me.
The area being transformed out by the airport with Great Wolf Lodge, and The Legends, and the Nascar racetrack is great. And, who can forget the BBQ? None better anywhere in the world! The original Jack Stack in Martin City, opened in '57, first frequented by me in '60, and who knows how many 100's of times since. None better. Absolutely none better. If you disagree; let's settle it "the usual way" (last years funniest Super Bowl commercial).
KC is impressive! I love you KC. See you in December (if not before). ;-)
~
These pics are from our trip to KC on 4th of July weekend. I had 2 of the world's greatest grandsons in attendance with me at the ball game. It is hard to watch the game, and watch them watching the game. I see myself in them, remembering my games that I saw at their ages, and it brings back such a rush of positive emotions and pride to see them enjoying the games as much as I do (did).
It was o'Mike's first game. He did awesome, and he LOVED it. He would yell and scream when prompted to with the PA announcer. He would cheer when the crowd cheered. The funniest thing happened quite a few times though until his Dad told him 'no', and it was an expensive learning experience for Dad.
o'Mike thought that every single different vendor walking up and down the stadium steps with their portable holders of peanuts, beer, cotton candy, slushies, chocolate covered crickets, hula hoops, light bulbs, parka's, and airline tickets to Brazil was giving away their things for free! I think after 3 or 4x of o'Mike jumping up waving his hand at the vendor that Dad finally told him "no mas", or maybe it was when he saw o'Mike pop the top on the $10.75 can of beer . . .
I love you boys!
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