Road Trip

Friday night I went on a road trip to Kansas City with my friend Dee and her son Dillon. We met Dillon's Dad Doug (say that quickly 3 times!) there so that Dillon could spend the weekend with him.

We drove directly to the T-Rex Cafe, located on the west side of Kansas City in Legends at Village West. This is a huge shopping area where you walk from store to store outside instead of inside like a mall. The exterior appears to be a cliff from pre-historic times that has trees, water falls into a lagoon, dinosaurs and the like. Then you walk inside and it's almost indescribable! But there is a great writeup with more great photos on the cafe here. See for yourself!

Dillon loves dinosaurs and this was his cup of tea! He is standing next to the greeter at the door, T-Rex himself, and if you zoom in, you'll see the baby 'saurs!

Here is the head of the T-Rex from the photo above.

This is behind the ice bar that lights up, an aquarium with beautiful fish. Above it sits a gi-normous version of an octopus! The tentacles reach out over the tops of the tables and if you look closely, you'll see that they move! So cool! The shells in front are the back of some tables for dining. You'll also see this in the article of the cafe.

The tables are scattered in between the different dinosaurs and trees. Overhead you'll see jelly fish, eels, meteor replicas that light up, branches from over-grown trees, stars, and many ice-age objects hanging down over various tables. There is also a gift shop for souvenirs. Next to that is an activity area where kids can look for dinosaur bones! It's very impressive when you walk through the door. Dillon didn't know that we were going there and he was so excited, needless to say, when he saw the building! After stuffing our tummy's, Dee and I hit the road back to Omaha. It takes roughly 2 1/2 hours one way and when we got back home, it was almost 1 AM. I still had to get in a nap before work the next morning! Ugh!!

But we had a great drive and super fun at the T-Rex Cafe! I highly recommend it if you go to Kansas City!

****Video Clip Edited***

I was informed that the video in my last post was un-viewable.....is that a word? But I hope I've fixed the problem so that you may now be able to watch it. Please let me know, anyone that attempts to watch it, if you have success. Thanks so much!

A Different View on Things....

Have you guessed what this post is all about yet? Maybe a picture? Or how about a video? Yep that's it! I have purchased a little camera/camcorder. It's from Polaroid. I haven't had much chance to use it as of yet. But I did a sample video of my cats. I have always admired my brother and sister-in-law's little Flip! But I liked this one when I saw it. It has an LCD display screen to see what I'm taping. It fits in the palm of one's hand. I'm going to have fun trying to get the cats on video!!

In this video, the background noise consists of two things. My phone for one, which decided to ring. And the second sound of bells? This happens to be the tags on the collar of my orange cat Trouble. He ran into the kitchen while I was talking to Yoda (the gray cat) and he went directly to the food bowls. If you listen closely, you'll hear his tags of his collar banging against the dish he's eating from. He is an animal that thinks he has to eat as long as I'm standing in the kitchen, and better known as the "social eater!"



So, for now, that's all I have on the video camera. I've discovered that the built-in memory is next to nil. I will be scooting to the nearest Wal-Mart to buy an SD card....I.E., more memory! I know that I'm going to have fun with this little piece of technology! Maybe I can show you just what I'm talking about when it comes to my cats and the orange ones' bad behavior! I'll get the proof!

Whatnot

I have taken a few pictures while at work that happened to be very early in the morning. We had just had a rain shower pass through. The clouds were just making way to the sun rising. After daylight, the fog and mist moved in and made for some unique photos.

Looking across the field at the hangars for small airplanes and contract companies. The runway lights happened to be on and the sun was just coming up.

After some rain showers....click to zoom and see the fog over the river. This view is between two of our airplanes.

More cool misty photos....click to zoom.

I love my job!!! You wouldn't believe the beautiful scenery I have just being at the airport....it's the best!

National American Miss Pageant

Today I had the privilege of seeing many young ladies compete in a beauty pageant! It was so cute! The National American Miss Pageant was the event and it was held right here in Omaha. The ages of the entrants include the following:

• Miss Nebraska Princess: August 8 - August 9, 2009 (Sat - Sun) ages 4, 5 and 6.
• Miss Nebraska Junior Pre-Teen: August 8 - August 9, 2009 (Sat - Sun) ages 7, 8 and 9.
• Miss Nebraska Pre-Teen: August 8 - August 8, 2009 (Sat - Sat) ages 10, 11 and 12.
• Miss Nebraska Junior Teen: August 8 - August 8, 2009 (Sat - Sat) ages 13, 14 and 15.

One of my friends Tracey Oddo, has a daughter, Morgan, that was in the pageant. She was in the junior pre-teen group. We got to see each age group do a dance prior to the crowning of each winner. Morgan won a couple different trophies in the few categories that she entered. (not sure just what they were for though.) However, she didn't win the crown in her group. But she looked great and wasn't nervous at all!

Morgan, 2ND from the right is checking to see that she is in sync with the others during her dance.

All the entrants for all the groups. Such cute little ones all dressed up!


Here is Morgan receiving her second trophy. As you can see, she is holding a trophy that had already been presented to her. Last year's winners were the presenters of all trophies.


Tracey and her daughter, Morgan.

Me, Tracey, Morgan, Tracey's friend Rona, and mine and Tracey's friend Trisa.

Morgan with her gifts and trophies. She admittedly said that her cheeks hurt from all the smiling that was required!

It had been a long day for both Tracey and Morgan. There were 5 judges that had all been a part of pageants for many years. Each judge interviewed every contestant. I believe that some even took part in a talent contest. It was all so official. Kind of like watching the Miss America pageant on TV. The winners from 2008 had put together an exit video thanking all that had helped them in the past year. It showed pictures of places they had visited, famous people they had seen, and different events they had volunteered for. They all spoke of how great it was to be involved in such a awesome pageant and how wonderful it was to have been the winner. It brought tears to our eyes as we watched the youngest girl (Princess division) that had won last year stand on stage while her own video played and cried! She was sad that she had to step down!

Over all, it was a fun night and I'm glad I got to witness the little ladies all vie for the title in their own age group. Congratulations Morgan, on a job well done!

All Decked Out!

Well, it took just barely over 2 years to get 'er done, but vôila!, it's finally done! The deck is completed! I've sat out on it many times already. It's shaded most of the time after 12 noon. In the evening, it barely peaks over the roof top of my next door neighbor to the west. So it's the perfect place to hang out.

My next door neighbor on the east side is who I've thanked for it many times. He has his own business so his crew built it for me in just 2 days....after they tore down the old one as well. I have to replace a few pieces of siding yet but that's it.

Would you like to come out and sit a spell? I have icy cold beverages!!

Eventually I'll get some paver stones and place in the grass at the bottom of the stairway.

My grill is actually on it now as well.....but it's not up there for this photo. See the rhubarb next to the stairs?

So, just in time for the hottest part of our summers.....let the BBQ get-together's begin!