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What a Beautiful Person (Part I)

I owe my current disposition to two people: my father and my old doubles partner, we'll call her Hippie. They are the reason I row and, therefore, the reason I go to SMU. And I love SMU.


Back in the day, I played volleyball. And I was really serious about it. I started when I was 7 years old, played club volleyball when I was in grade school and traveled to different states to compete. I continued playing in high school. I wanted to play volleyball in college. It was at one club volleyball tournament my freshman year of high school when one of my teammates started talking about erging. "What's erging?" She explained that it was a way to get in shape for rowing. "What's rowing?" She gave me a leaflet about rowing and said I should come to a meeting and maybe try it. I was uninterested. My dad made me go; he rowed in college. I was sucked in by them both and I hated it.


I really did not like rowing at all at first. At all. It would be Monday at practice and I would be like, "Ok..uhh...it's Monday and I'm tired already and I don't really want to do this right now." And then Tuesday's afternoon practice would be over and I'd be like, "OK! Only two more practices until the weekend!" Wednesday would proceed in the same manner until I would feel utter relief come Thursday. Every week. Hippie and I were doubles partners in the Spring and Summer of 2005 where we spent a lot of time in the boat together and competed in many regattas (rowing races) including Club Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. We did fairly well and I was really proud of us. We were goofy during the whole trip and told each other stuff we promised not to tell others. Like when we were going up to the starting line and she had to go to the bathroom so bad that it hurt and asked me what she should do. I said, "If it will make you go slower if you have to go the whole time, then go to the bathroom right now. I want to win." So she tried to pee in a water bottle and failed. We were laughing hysterically and she made me promise not to tell anyone and I said ok.....until the next practice when I told our whole team.

We raced together in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Our twosome broke up in the Fall of 2007 (our senior year) when she decided not to row. I was sad, but I rowed anyway. It was not the same without her. Practice wasn't the same, the team's chemistry wasn't the same, and rowing wasn't the same. Rowing was different for me, so I decided not to row in the Spring of 2008.

But she did.

I did other things that spring and it was weird not to be rowing with her. Then we went separate ways when college came; she went to KU, one of the most liberal schools in America, and I went to SMU, the 3rd most conservative school in the U.S. When I would visit my then-boyfriend at KU, I would see her up there, totally in her element. Unfamiliar with her style, I would ask, "What are you wearing?" She would smile and say, "Turnstyles!" (A store similar to that of Goodwill and The Salvation Army.) I was in Uggs and a North Face jacket.

Whenever I talked to a friend at KU over the last two years, I would ask about Hippie. "Well I think she's dating so-and-so, but I'm not sure anymore", "She's really liberal now and likes to party", "Umm I don't know...I think some of her hair is pink but maybe that wasn't her..." Hearing about her always made me smile. And I wanted to pick up the phone, but never did.

On breaks from school, some of our old team members and coaches would get together for breakfast back in KC and I would get to talk to her for a little while. I always loved hearing her thoughts on the world, her political views, how strongly she felt about the current administration, and what she was doing lately, cutting class, dying her hair or otherwise.

While she led a "be free, be happy" lifestyle where even the worst thing that could possibly happen "wasn't that bad", I held a strict schedule that included getting up at 5 AM (most likely when she was getting home for the night), practice, food, class, practice, food, homework, sleep, repeat where getting through the day was the hardest thing of my life. Two people who had once spent hours and hours a week together are now at two very different points in their lives. We went to breakfast the other day and I was really happy I got to see her. Which brings me to my next point....

To be continued. This post is long enough.

But for now, I love you Hippie and I have always admired you from afar. Even though we don't talk all the time, I often think of you and look fondly on our many times in the double. You are the reason I loved rowing so much. And I don't think I've ever told anyone that.

Note to Self: Start Thinking More

SO I took my kids to the pool the other day (the six kids + my brother I watch every Tuesday and Thursday) and I was reviewing my Oxford info booklet because I LEAVE IN TWO WEEKS!!!! :) :) :) And when I say review, I mean I finally read the booklet we were supposed to read first thing back when we got it in April. Hey, I'm pretty proud of myself for reading it at all. Anywho I was almost to the end when I read, "Required reading assignment with complimentary essay due upon arrival." I cringe a little. Ok...at least I have two weeks to read this book and crank out an essay. Totally do-able. Then I read that I have FIVE books to read plus an essay. FIVE BOOKS in, yeah in case you don't remember, TWO WEEKS. Ughhh..oh well. It's my own fault. Whatever.

So I'm still reading it when I get up to help the kids with something. Then, all of a sudden, my papers go flying! They could have flown into the chair, against the fence, into the yard next to the pool.......but no. As if by instinct, they make a bee-line for the pool. It was like they were saying, "Ahhh yes! Haley hasn't had a screw-up moment for at least a few hours, so here is our opportunity. Seize it and go for the pool. Hopefully we'll be unreadable by the time we make it in there." I scream and dive into the pool to get my precious Oxford materials. These are the plans for my whooooole stay there and include some very important documents. Like umm say my flight information including my confirmation number that I absolutely cannot lose. Oh and yeah the piece of paper from my program director that says I am a student at Oxford; I can't get in OR out of the country without it. These and about 5 other equally important and informative papers decided to go for a little dip in the pool. I might as well have taped my passport to my back and used it as a fin as I swam! WHAT was I THINKING taking this stuff to the pool?!?! I wish I knew. So I get them out and everything is in tact. Luckily. "So, ok, I lay them out to dry," I think.

I lay out a few white papers along with a blue one and a purple one on the white plastic pool chair next to me. (These specific details are important, I promise.) When I go back a few minutes later to check on them (they are a little dry and are threatening to go back into the pool again) I notice the purple and blue papers have successfully dyed the white plastic chair.

This is when I throw my hands up in the air and start banging my head against the fence. I look around to see if anyone has noticed as I reluctantly put my papers away and angle the chair away from anyone at the pool.

I finally retire to laying down and not doing anything. I can't possibly screw up anything if I'm not doing anything right??

And I haven't started reading yet. Maybe tomorrow.....afternoon.
Or the next day.

I think I need to get this and tape it all over my room, car, locker room, and body. Haha but seriously, I'm glad things like this happen to me: I rarely ever get embarrassed or mad and always get to laugh at myself. It makes life a lot more fun.

Count. Your. Dranks.

What a beautiful train wreck.

All the colors were so vivid. And I think I even heard applause...

Yes, we've all had those nights. One minute you're fine and having a great time, and the next minute (or a few hours later, depending) you're sitting in a circle in the grass while your friends tell you everything is going to be fine. And you're thinking, "No duh every thing's fine! I'm having a great time! Wait, where's the party? And where's that cute guy I was talking to a second ago?" Then you take a look at your watch and realize 3 hours have passed and the dawn will soon be breaking. And your hair is pulled back in the most improbable bun/ponytail sticking out of the side of your head and you're thinking, "Now who could possibly have done this?! Certainly not me!" And you would be correct.

I do not drink alcohol often. And rightfully so. For it does no sit well in my system or mix well with my body make-up. Yes, I'm an athlete and should be able to handle my fair share. And yet...I can't. I believe it has something to do with genetics. And most likely my incredibly horrible luck. Tie those two together with my propensity to perform the most embarrassing screw-ups and you, my friend, have yourself a winner! Either way, I should have learned my lesson by now. At least I have after this crash and burn. For now.

What I usually do, and usually works, is count my dranks. Quick vocab lesson: drank is the slang word my friends and I use to describe "a toxic yet delicious drink". I won't take the credit for coming up with that. According to urbandictionary.com, drank is "Codiene Cough Syrup/Promethazine. Usually sold by the pint. A normal cup down here in the H [Houston] is 2oz of Drank + 1 18 oz bottle of Sprite w/ 4 jolly ranchers. A cup can also consist of 4oz and even 6oz of drank + a liter of Sprite...The cough syrup (which is normally prescribed for 2 tablespoons every 8 hours) it's so thick that it just makes you lean cause' you so f***** up you can't even stand up...Tha s*** is tha bomb ya'll." Not my words. Also, I won't even pretend to be that hardcore. Because I'm not. I can't even imagine drinking cough syrup for fun. FOR FUN!? What ridiculousness is that!?!

That was like the opposite of fun when you were little. They tried to make the cough syrup sound delicious by naming it "grape" or "cherry" or "strawberry" or even "banana". Like it even came close to candy. Gross. It all tasted like plastic and didn't even make you feel that better. And even if it did, you were not going to tell Mom because then she'd just make you drink it again next time. So, thank you very much, but I'll just stick to my best friend Jack and mix in some Coke-a-Cola and we all can just hang out together. But I'm still gonna call it a "drank". Because, for some odd reason, I just sound soooo much cooler by substituting the "a" for the "i" and like totally changing up my lingo. Except for I don't. I just sounds like another youth trying to stand out from the crowd at all costs. And yet failing because everyone else is doing the same thing. But I'm still gonna say it!

So yeah, I'm that girl in the party dress sipping on my "drank" and hoping it doesn't sprout arms, legs, and a nasty attitude and turn on me. So for now, to try to stay away from the monstah, I'm abstaining from alcohol. Because as my good friend Outdoors Woman (who doesn't drink) taught me, "You can still have just as much fun at a party, if not more, watching all the other fools make messes of themselves." And she's right. And, unfortunately, I was that fool the other night. Not gonna say I didn't get some funny stories out of the night, because I did, but I wouldn't tell you. I've already said too much. Either way, having too much drank is never fun. Period.

Live and learn.

Obsession of the Week: Barefoot

When's the last time you went barefoot? No, I mean really barefoot. I'm not talking about getting-out-of-the-shower barefoot or at-the-pool barefoot. I'm talking about that looking around to see who's watching, that taking off your shoes when you really probably shouldn't be, and that harnessing your inner childhood curiosity barefoot. Yes, that barefoot.



I bring this up because I did that barefoot today. And it was beautiful. And it wasn't really planned; I just surprised myself. And it was a nice surprise. I was running with my dog today (it was a great detox run, mind you. Something everyone should do for themselves now and then. Detox body and mind; it's so liberating) when Murphy got tired and I started getting blisters on the bottoms of my feet from all the hills. It was toward the end of the run and my feet were really starting to hurt so we (Murph and I) decided to call it quits--we only had about a mile left to go anyway. And since we were so close to home, and the bottoms of my feet were hurting so badly, I decided to take off my shoes. Kinda/sorta thought through "protecting the already hurting feet" buuuuuut didn't really care. So I took the shoes off anyway.



And, oh my gosh, do you remember? Do you remember the last time you really felt warm concrete on the bottoms of your feet? Do you remember the smooth grass and soft earth? Do you remember the transition from the warm concrete to the hot blacktop and the soothing sensation it gave your feet? It was like I was in a whole new world. A world I had forgotten. I hadn't paid attention to that for years! Sure, I don't wear shoes in my parent's house or my apartment, but that's just hardwood floors and carpet--not really anything special. But this, this was unique. I wasn't paying attention to my iPod anymore. Instead, I floated back to my many summers as a little blond girl running through the streets and grass during summer days and nights. The grass was cool and I was safe. Nothing could touch me. And today, at the end of my run, I felt so content. I felt so safe. No, I'm not really sure what I'm doing with my life and yes, I'm anxious about staying in shape for rowing as well as being in another country for 6 weeks. But feeling the grass and the concrete and the blacktop while really paying attention to how I was feeling made me realize that everything is ok; everything will always be ok.


I've been in a funk ever since I came back from college. Probably because transitioning from having my own life and schedule down there back to sharing those things with my family threw me off a little bit. Don't get me wrong: I absolutely adore my family. They are my best friends: always there for me when I need them, no questions asked. And today, in feeling those old memories, I was reminded of how lucky I was growing up and how lucky I am today. I grew up surrounded by such a crazy amount of love that it's completely indescribable. And today, I remembered that. I remembered how much my family loves me and needs me and how much I want to be there for them. It's so cool how such a little gesture like taking off your shoes and paying attention to what you feel can really open your eyes to what's going on both inside and around you. And how it can remind you of what's really important.


So I challenge you. For the next week, take off your shoes. Really feel what the ground underneath you is like. But you don't have to stick to grass. What about concrete, stone, blacktop, sand, rocks, wood, brick, metal, water, a blanket outside on the grass (picnics, anyone?), dirt. What do these remind you of? I think you'll be surprised what these natural floors feel like and even more surprised at what they remind you of. Take a second. Breathe. And slip out of those stifling shoes already.

What the Kids are Listening to

Miike Snow.

No, not a man. A group. Note the two i's.

I stumbled upon Miike Snow last summer. And it was instant love. Pour in some powder, just add water--it was that instant. My favorite song of his is "Burial" but you may be more familiar with "Animal". "Animal" was played for a brief amount of time on the radio last summer. It should have been a hit and repeated just as much as Miley Cyrus's "Party in the U.S.A." or KE$HA's "Your Love is My Drug". Hey, a girl can dream can't she?

The abundance of the afore mentioned songs is the reason why I listen to my iPod in my car. I try to listen to the radio, but instead keep dodging over-played songs that suddenly resemble landmines. I soon give up and plug 'er in. The iPod that is. And she (yes, it's a she. She's named after my late great-grandmother, Geneva. And what I someday hope to name my daughter. And yes, since your wondering, my iPod IS that important to carry such a name. My iPod is the key to my normality. It secures my sanity. It's my running buddy so that I don't think myself into oblivion. She has earned the name.) Anywho, I've got quite a bit of Miike Snow on her and we all enjoy each other's company quite a bit. The group makes for great road trip music. Or if you're getting ready to go out, great background, pump up music. No, they're not bump and grind or even "I've Got a Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas. Instead, they've got a mix of feel-good tunes plus a little laid back ones just in case you're in the mood to think while you're getting ready. (Note: I like to think. Not always a good thing. I need a good distraction. Ideas?)

I actually had the opportunity to see Miike Snow perform live. This was at Lollapalooza last August. (August 8-10 2009). It was epic. They opened with "Burial", which totally made my day, and really set the tone for the rest of the concert. The use of their instruments totally amazed me. And still amazes me. I love it.

Songs you also need to check out: "Black & Blue", "Silvia" which played during the opening of a One Tree Hill episode this season (if you're a fan), "Cult Logic", "Song for No One". Just check out their myspace and listen to free music. You won't be disappointed.

Below is "Burial". You're welcome.

"Eye" am so smart!

So the other night I stayed up late blogging and Internet surfing when I finally decided to go to bed after a loooooong day of fun-filled activities with Outdoors Woman.


I. Was. Exhausted.


I separated my body from the couch (it molded to the shape of my body we had been lounging there long enough) and trudged stair after stair up to my bed. I must pat myself on the back for using the last ounce of energy I had to wash my face--I'm usually not good at doing that when I go to bed late.


So I had washed my face and needed to remove the remaining make-up. With my eyes half-open, I grabbed the purple bottle I assumed to be my make-up remover and put a little on a cotton ball like I always do. I had removed my nail polish earlier that day and the nail polish remover is ALSO purple. Put two and two together and you can figure it out......



Yes, I put a cotton ball of nail polish remover on my closed eyelid and IMMEDIATELY felt the burn. I knew something was wrong when I smelled an awful smell from my fragrant free make-up remover and the skin on my eyelid was burning like never before. About .3 seconds after I put the cotton ball up there, I let out a little scream, dropped the cotton ball and started dabbing my eyelid with a towel, then went over to the sink to wash it out. I started laughing because ONLY I would do something so stupid and so dangerous without even thinking! I'm pretty sure I'm alright because I never opened my eye so it technically didn't get in it, but I still kept flushing my closed eyes with water until I was sure it was off my skin. Then, I opened my eyes, flushed with water a little bit more, and read the back of the nail polish remover bottle that said, "Do not eat. Do not swallow. Do not inhale. Avoid eye contact. If you get some in your eye, flush with water for AT LEAST 15 minutes and contact a physician." I flushed for about 3 minutes and considered that good enough. I performed a self examination of my own eye and saw no redness or swelling so I assumed I was fine. I stayed up for 15 more minutes just to make sure nothing changed physically with my eye and called it a night. I thought, 'Well, if I wake up blind, then I'll know for sure I didn't get it all out.' Not a good thing to think but I was so tired and was pretty sure it was all out.


As I was falling asleep, I started thinking about eye patches and how I would handle that whole field. I initially thought of the standard black one, but since I don't really want to look like an evil menace trying to take over the world, I came up with a few variations:
**Painting an eye on top of the patch. From far away it would just look like I have a really severe black eye all the time. At least I'll look pretty hard-core and I can always tell people I won the fight.
**Hologram-perfect conversation starter. Instead of looking into my beautiful eyes, people will try to figure out what's going on top of one of them, see the gorgeous other one, then ask to buy me a drink!
**Art/Advertising-I can make money by charging new artists to display smaller versions of their artwork on my eye. It would be perfect because it's all at eye level and people will be wondering what the heck is going on when they see me and I'll be able to get the artist's name out there. Or I could just work for The Man and go commercial. I'm sure they would pay much better.


I thought I had some promising ideas on how I would handle this little incident and was content with myself as I fell asleep. To my luck, I woke up the next day with two functioning eyes! I chalked the night up to carelessness and stupidity and vowed to never do something like that again....as long as I can help it...


And you know I can't, so stay tuned for more later.

Superstar(s) on the rise!

So my little brother (we'll call him Pretty Boy) is quite cute. And yes, I'm a little biased, but the talent agency he worked for and the people who signed him to shoot various commercials (including The Sunflower House and Build-A-Bear) seem to agree with me. He is also one of the sweetest 12-year-olds you'll ever meet, giving me a hug whenever he enters or exits the room. He's also got an incredible six-pack with muscles trying to bust out of his arms and legs. Yes, he's the whole package. And how does he get such an amazing bod? Well by sitting on the couch playing XBox eating Cheetos and Oreos of course! I mean, doesn't that work for you? .......I know, some things just aren't fair.



So this weekend when my roommate Outdoors Woman was in town and we were all swimming in the pool, she said, "Pretty Boy should have his own Disney Channel show. I would for sure watch it and I know so many other people would too!" We laughed and agreed and went on fighting over the raft. Then, about an hour later, Outdoors Woman and I were talking when all of a sudden she goes, "SHhhhh! LISTEN!"............. Then I hear the radio: "Do you want to be on the Disney Channel? Think you could have your own show? Want to work with your favorite Disney actors like Demi Lovato and The Jonas Brothers? Do YOU have what it takes? Then call this number today! You could be the next Disney STAR!" I immediately jump out of the pool, grab my phone, and dial the number. Pretty Boy is waving his hands in front of his body as if to say, 'WHAT are you doing?!?!?" as I start talking to some talent agent on the phone. She asks if I am registering myself or my child and I say, "My child," and stifle giggles. She doesn't believe I'm old enough to have a kid (grant it I was 7 years old when Pretty Boy was born) and asks to speak to a parent. After a few more minutes of answering questions and nodding, my mom confirms that Pretty Boy is going to a talent scouting the next day at 5:30. Outdoors Woman and I are jumping for joy while Pretty Boy sinks lower into the pool. Mom asks us to come with her and says the lady told everyone to "dress to impress" and that Pretty Boy needs a head and body shot. We're on it.



The next day we wake up and immediately get to work on the photo shoot. I pull various outfits from Pretty Boy's closet and he walks out of his room in khaki pants and a button-down light blue dress shirt. He is for sure ready for his close-up! He has his long blond hair bushed over to the side and boasts a bright white smile that contrasts nicely with his golden tanned skin. How dare he hog all the good genes!! While he was getting ready, I gave myself a 5 minute photography course by studying the pictures around the house showcasing the various poses we held as young children when our mother forced us to get our picture taken every 6 months. After such a brief intro to photography, I am ready to launch Pretty Boy's modeling and acting career. I set up props and chairs on the screened in porch, but Pretty Boy has so much natural raw talent that it only takes 10 minutes until we have the perfect shot. If only things were that easy for everyone.



Later, we all get ready and head out to the Overland Park Convention Center. We sign Pretty Boy in and walk into a room that resembles an American Idol Audition. There are soooo many people. We all look at each other, laugh, and sit down at least knowing we seized some kind of opportunity and will probably remember this evening forever, even though we know the probability of something actually happening is very slim. We sit and wait and wait and wait and watch some intro video and wait and listen to talent agents talk and wait and it's finally Pretty Boy's turn. Mom, Pretty Boy, Outdoors Woman and I get up all giddy and giggling; we are so excited! Mom walks Pretty Boy up to a talent scout while OW and I stand next to him. She asks PB many questions, looks at his application and photos, and seems to be liking him. Next follows a dialogue that made us laugh for the rest of the evening:



Talent Scout (TS): "It says here you play sports. What kind of sports?"

Pretty Boy (PB): "Umm golf, track, basketball, football, kickball..."

TS: "And do you play every day?"

PB: "Well, no, not really I guess....I--"

ME: "--Hey! You play every day. You have practices and golf lessons and you play outside with your friends all the time and--"

TS: (Turns to me) "--And who are you? Are you his sister?"

ME: "Yes, I signed him up for this actually and I just want him to be his best and--"

TS: "--And are you auditioning today?"

ME: "Haha no."

TS: "Well, why not?!"

ME: "Because the age limit is 17 and I'm 20."

TS: "You're 20?!?! No way! You could be 16! What's your name?"

ME: *Gives full name*

TS: "And do you live here in Overland Park? What do you do?"

ME: "Well no, I go to school in Texas--"

Mom: "But she lives here in the summer and this is her permanent home." *Gives me a sideways look*

TS: "Right. So where do you go to school?"

ME: *Gives school name and info*

TS: "So why have you never gone into modeling or acting?"

ME: "Because I've done sports all my life. I'm a sporty girl."

TS: "So why have you never gone into modeling or acting? Why have you never pursued this?"

ME: "Because I was always in about 3 different sports and going to practices and stuff. I just never did."

TS: "But you're much to pretty to be a sport girl. Are you interested in the entertainment business?"

ME: (giggling--this is too funny) "Well, yes I suppose."

TS: "And if you were chosen, would you now pursue this?"

ME: "Yes! I mean I guess if I'm good at something or have a shot then I will definitely give it all I've got."

TS: "Ok great. And how tall are you?"

Me "5'8"

TS: "And you must weigh about 130 pounds..." *writes it down*

ME: "HAHAHAAH Oh my gosh I LOVE you! No."

TS: *Gives questionable look* "What are you talking about? How much do you weigh?"

ME: *Gives number*

TS: *Gives even larger questioning look* "WHAT?! Well where are you hiding it?"

ME: "Well I'm a student-athlete at my school....and I guess it's in my muscles....ummm I don't know...."

TS: "Well whatever; you don't look like you weigh that much. Good for you."

ME: "Uhh thanks?"

*****This whole entire time, I'm thinking, 'No no no! Don't focus on me! Focus on my cute little brother over there--he's the one we came here for! Pretty Boy, Pretty Boy, Pretty Boy.' I felt so bad because I was worried she wasn't looking at him at all. But she was, thank goodness*****

TS: "Ok, this is what I am going to do (turns to mom): I definitely want the boy to audition because I like his look, but I also want your daughter to audition. She is extremely marketable because she's a lot older, but has such a young look that she could be styled to play someone much younger than her actual age. Go outside and get her a script. I want to get her on camera to see how she does; don't worry about memorizing it because she hasn't had the last 2 hours like everyone else. I am going to call you on Monday after their auditions to talk. If you don't hear from me, I still want you to e-mail the general address given to everyone but I'm also going to give you my private line so that I don't forget about you. Good luck!"



All four of us walk away laughing and slapping our knees and my mom is beaming with pride. I take Pretty Boy's script and immediately start getting nervous. My mom tries to calm my fears and says, "Hey, it doesn't matter. We didn't come expecting this anyway so just do your best."



Pretty Boy goes first and he does awesome! He thought he was supposed to take his score card with him so he goes back over to the other talent scout, but the guy waves him away. He still snuck a look at his card and HE GOT ALL TENS! I'm so proud of him. I went next and, well, we'll see how it goes. My mom gets a phone call today so I'll let you know then!



For now, keep reading my blog because I going to Europe for 6 weeks from July 3rd to August 15th to study abroad at the University of Oxford and will for sure be updating it as I also go to London, Paris (France), Pittem (Belgium), and the Netherlands. But you should also keep reading because I am a superstar on the rise and you can track my climb to the top! Haha just kidding. But that was a pretty funny experience and definitely an ego boost!

The Fearless Leader meets Who's-Who of Kansas City

Alright, so this is an obsession of the week. Or of the month. Or of the year. Either way, I am completely and utterly obsessed with First Fridays of Kansas City. I don't care if this post isn't on a Friday; it's about a Friday. And when have I ever followed my own rules anyway? Last time I checked, I last posted in February. Sorry.

Hardly ever did I venture downtown before last night, but when my roommate Outdoors Woman said she was coming to visit me in Kansas City for 6 days, I had to immediately find things for us to do so she wouldn't be bored. And I had to show her how awesome Kansas City is, even though I didn't believe so myself and was convinced I would live anywhere but here. And now, I'm re-thinking my entire life plan.

Anyway, we met up at my house and drove downtown to The Crossroads area for a free art show. This art show occurs during the first Friday of every month. You can find more information here (http://www.kccrossroads.org/) but basically it's amazing. You go into these different venues and places downtown and look at starving artists' work. Some are even in people's apartments and life spaces and I loved them! I aspire to live in such an eccentric area someday. Bands are also playing on the street and you kind of just hang out and walk around all evening. We parked in this vacant lot and I was convinced my car was going to get towed so I made my friend, let's call her Angel, go and ask these people if the lot was reserved. So she boldly went up to this group of guys and asked and they said, "It is for you ;)" When she shot a dirty look back at them, they admitted they didn't know anything (like all boys) and went back to whatever they were doing.

There were some interesting people down there, to say the least. My friend from Germany, we'll call her Sweetest-Girl-Ever (or SGE) saw this one lady in a tight black mini skirt and a black bra...THAT'S IT. And this lady weighed about 250+. She was so stunned because she'd never seen anything like that in Germany and hoped that we would see her again later so that I would have the pleasure of beholding this true Kansas City beauty. I thought "fat chance" and we moved on. We went in and out of studios, people's places of work and living, and saw many different lifestyles and ways of dress. I had never seen that many people downtown before and was very impressed with the blossoming and development of Kansas City. Way to go KC!

In case you're wondering who The Fearless Leader was, it was me of course. How could you wonder? I am usually very indecisive, but because I was with so many other indecisive people Friday night, I had to make all the decisions. I led the group from venue to venue, show to show and pretended like I knew exactly what I was doing when I actually had no clue whatsoever. I've learned over the years that if you pretend to be a pro at something, everyone will think you are because they're too concerned about themselves to pay that much attention. And it worked. We looked like we belonged even though we had no idea what was going on.

Later, we walked over to our friend Brent Kimmi's place. We hung out in high school. He had a bunch of artists in the new space his mom bought for him downtown and told us about the Fringe Festival. He has put it together for the past 5 years and this is the 6th year that it will be in KC. It occurs the week of July 23rd through August 1st and is something you definitely need to check out at http://www.kcfringe.org/Version2010/index.php. I was walking though his space when I hear, "Haley!" I look to find a woman who I do not recognize whatsoever. She says, "You don't know me, but your mom teaches my kid and I've heard so much about you." 'How funny!' I think, 'I come to this area once in my life to find out my friend Brent works on this cool festival every year and showcases artists in his place on Fridays and one of these artists is friends with my mom!' The world is so small. Anyway, this woman makes really cool magnets that my mom has sent to me and my friends at college. You should really check out her work; it is quite something. Her name is Tania Haggerty and you should friend her on facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1191420582#!/taniahaggerty and ask about her awesome magnets!

After hours of walking around, the crew was hungry so we ventured to find a place to eat. We walked up to this place that was blaring loud music and boasting crowds of 30/40-somethings, but it looked like it had food. Angel, being the Nervous Nelly that she is, says, "Ohhh ahhh uggh well what if they card us?" while simultaneously chewing on her fingernails (we are all 20) and I say, "Well, then we'll leave." A light bulb goes on over her head, her eyes get real wide, and she seems to grasp the concept that never occurred to her. She gets so nervous about what others are going to think of her that she's afraid of rejection. The way I think about it is yeah, it stinks sometimes not being able to get in somewhere, but if we did get carded and asked to leave while everyone watches, we should celebrate our young age because that 40-year-old cougar will be eyeing us on the way out envying our youth and opportunities. So it may be a little embarrassing, but we'll never see these people again so what does it matter?
Then, Angel incredulously watches me shimmy past a red rope probably going somewhere I'm not supposed to, walk into a restaurant/bar, and go up to the front and ask for some food for my friends. I look behind me, and no one is there. The bartender/waiter laughed because I had no "friends". Later, I find out that they were waiting for me to get escorted out by some huge bodyguard and, when I didn't, they came in to find that I had secured us a table with drinks and menus.

After dinner, we walk back to the car to find that it magically has not been towed OR ticketed. I was shocked. We parked downtown KC all night FOR FREE right next to the Crossroads Outdoor Stage. It was awesome. The Black Keys were playing on the stage so we stood outside and listened to the music. We had just as good (if not better) tickets as those who payed 50 bucks and were on the inside. We could see them play and everything! And about 50-100 other people had the same idea as us. They were sitting and drinking beer outside in the streets while enjoying the free music. We did get to see the short skirt-black bra lady again, much to our surprise. But in the end, it was a successful venture downtown and is something you MUST do when you come to KC.

I swear KC is not what it used to be. And is making me rethink my after-college move. Sort of.