Word has near 200 homes and business were damaged in last night’s rampage. Momma Nature had something to say, and was most vigilant at around 2 am. Of course storms also mean we get to watch a Jerry Lewis marathon of Katie Horner telling us to take cover because of clouds forming over Oklahoma City.
I happened to be in Spring Hill when the first round came through. We were eating dinner at a friend’s when the sirens sounded. Of course, we took shelter in the driveway to find out why. Continued to watch for around an hour as the sirens repeated their song every 8 min. I am beginning to think of a story told as a youth, but I don’t remember much about it…something about sheep and a wolf…
I had heard they evacuated the dorms at UMKC on the news. I think it was Katie saying that if you are one evacuted, there is no reason for it…meaning you are too late for the evacuation and the storm has passed. Why is everyone so amped to run for cover? Because no one will watch the news if they say, “We’re going to see pea size hail and few raindrops with some stronger than normal winds.” I am personally tired of watching the entire metro be told to take cover for the month of May. There are times to worry, but making everyone worry everytime is not good for anyone.
In a recently released SI.com poll, Kauffman Stadium was ranked #1 for Affordability in the League. They were also ranked #2 in hospitality behind St. Louis????
OK, so I went with the family to Orlando for the weekend. I have had enough of some temperature variation of the 40’s. A quick weekend at Disney in 85 and Sunny made me much easier to live with.
However, with the town’s people of KC always talking upgrades, usually associated to the ball parks or light rail. I thought it a good time to compare our KCI with Orlando International Airport. Well, so it is as much a comparison as apples and bananas. They are both fruits, but otherwise nothing alike.
A key factor to my observation is the fact that once inside the security check area at KCI, you have access to nothing. Oh, except for a Port-o-Potti (AKA Retro Fit Bathrooms) and a High School Lunch Counter without the quality, but add beer. At Orlando, there are shops, real bathrooms…even companion bathrooms, food - options and SPACE.
Long story short, KCI needs to get with the times if Kansas City is ever to be taken seriously as a City to outsiders. Until then, we are just dumb outdated, under-cultured, fossel-fuel wasting, un-recycling Mid-Westerners listening to Van Halen and doing the Macarena in our tye-dye T-shirts and tight rolled jeans.
I was emailed this video today and felt it was an incredible message for many. The message is a Monkey See, Monkey Do, and how many times have you been in a situation where you may have seen a similar happening. I know I have. Now, I am not sure of the organization because nothing resolved for me when I tried to go there, but it is certainly a PSA worth watching.
Well, no relief today and it doesn’t look like there will be any in the near future. If you find your self wandering the web, you can check out KCGasPrices.com to quickly compare service station prices near you. It is a pretty slick idea and national. As I look at the site right now, the prices coming in the last hour are higher then this morning. Yeah! Another day of increased prices. And guess what else, the Sweet Crude Barrel hit a new high today ($118), which means May will not have any cheaper prices.
Pricing our energy resources on speculation must end.
Well, this is familiar territory for the boys. Unfortunately this weekend the Royals now (9-10) lost the series to Oakland (12-8) and thus gave up the top standing to Chicago. A day off today and start again at home tomorrow against Cleveland (7-12).
Not being an avid sports fan, but still caring about the Royals, it does make me laugh when on Monday the Royals website has no choice but to show highlights from Saturday’s game…and they did play on Sunday.
Seriously. I have checked for them coming to KC for years. You can count me in.
There are a few options to see them.
1.) Headliners May 23rd at the Beaumont Club in Westport. Ticks are $26.
2.) Headlining The Jiggle Jam Family Fest at Crown Center on Memorial Day Weekend.
Don’t Let’s Start, I will be at the Beaumont with Ana NG, my Lucky Ball and Chain, and Your Racist Friend wearing my Purple Toupee spending my Minimum Wage pay to see They Might Be Giants. I plan on Twisting while Whistling in the Dark as long as Someone Keeps Moving my Chair. Hot Cha!
The day has come. I am as guilty as the next person. I have waited until today to send off my payment.
Check with your local Post Office for extended hours today, as well as you can find any form needed at The IRS Website. I had a funny thought after posting that link. Would filing late be excusible if the IRS website went down? A few years back I would say not, but anymore I become surprised by less and less.
OK, so I we stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge last night. It was an experience I thought needed to be shared.
Overall Opinion - A
General Customer Service - B-
Cleanliness - A
Hospitality - A
Price/Value - B
We arrived about 5 pm. Check-in took about 10 minutes. Not bad. Our room was ready, and was the room we had reserved. There are several different themed rooms at respective pricing.
We immediately changed our clothes and headed out to the Waterpark. On our way, we passed an Arts and Crafts “Little Tykes” room. Where they had scheduled classes and activities for children of all ages. I thought that was neat. Passed the gym. Not here for the that, but had a TV, 3 treadmills and a few universal machines. Definately not Gold’s, but enough for the wayward traveler. We also passed an Arcade. Looked cool, but we are on a mission. To the Waterpark…
The Waterpark
As you can see in the picture above. It has a giant bucket that fills and dumps on approximately 5 minute intervals. I thought I heard 1,000 gallons. I do know, that when the bell starts to ding, move or get wet. It also is enough water to create some wind as it drops.
We had some confusion over the larger slides. Just know this. No matter what the signs say, if you are going down a slide, it will be on a tube. They had names for the slides, but when you climb the three + stories to the top, they ask you which color slide you want to ride. Blue (Advanced/1 or 2 riders), Green (Med/ 1 or 2 riders) or Yellow (Med/3 riders). All of the slides allow any height of rider, but if under the height signs, they have to have a co-rider. There, was that so tough. Now don’t get me wrong, I figured this out, but it was certainly not clear signing for a first timer.
Customer Service
GWL - Hire more staff for your counter help. They were nice, but overwhelmed. I can’t imagine that the expense to have more on staff would really lower the bottom line. The true downfall would have to be a happy customer.
Food
The snack shack in the Waterpark was not too bad. It was a fair price but slow. There was a Pizza Hut Express there and was exactly what you would expect from the name.
Now the breakfast buffet at the Camp Critter Bar and Grille. That was honestly one of the best breakfast buffets I have had in a very long time. And I have been to Vegas twice in the past year…It was a simple selection of the expectant foods, but because of that, they were done right. Upon Request Omelettes were available also. Even Wolfee came by the table to pay a visit to the kids.
I will go back, but let me tell you. From what I know and just saw, GWL better ramp it up to compete with the upcoming Schlitterbahn going in across the street. There are many more attractions available that we didn’t have time to do in the short visit, so take a look yourself on their website. I will tell you this secret tip though, the closer to your stay date the more the room rates rise for that date…they don’t go down the closer you get.
KU pulls off a Vegas defeat with a win over Memphis in OT. Super Mario took the game into OT with a last effort 3-Point shot. It was the things that hopes and dreams are made of.
