The Sound of Music

Someday, I'll be in a musical or stage play. 

Until then, I can dream can't I? Capt'n Von Trapp!!

Transportation Games

It's light out. I realize I need to start my journey. I gather my pack. Inside I put the supplies I know I will need. Sunglasses, bus pass, wallet, water bottle, sunscreen, watch and a hat. I know it will be cool at first so I wear a jacket. Locking the door behind me I start walking. The air is fresh and cool. The familiar smells of summer sting my nostrils. Freshly mowed grass and dog poop.

Soon I realize my pace is too quick because my legs begin to ache. I've only gone a block. As I start my approach to a busy intersection, the exhaust greets me. By the next crosswalk, I feel the beginning signs of dehydration. Though the air is cool, I am beginning to sweat. After the crosswalk sign changes, I cross the street, I can feel them all watching me. At the same time, feeling safe because no driver can say they didn't see me in my yellow jacket.

I take out my pack and find my water bottle. The water is still cool and refreshes me. After returning my bottle to my pack, I continue walking down a long stretch of sidewalk. I notice a gradual increase in traffic. I find the source of the mowed grass smell as I pass two mowers. Thankfully, they pause when I pass so I'm not sprayed with the damp green blades.

As I near my destination, I realize that I don't see it. The bus stop should be visible from here. Looking at my watch I should be there just in time to not have to wait long. Continuing, I start to get nervous. How far is the bus stop from the road?

My nervousness makes me thirsty. I get another drink from my water bottle. Maybe it's just further back from the road. As I get closer I realize it isn't. The bus stop is not there at all.

I decide it hasn't been moved or has it? Then I consider the possibilities. Am I at the right intersection?

I'm not. I must have confused the street names. Everything starts with "H".

Checking my watch, I realize I have to move fast to get to the right street. It's not likely that I will make it in time. I quicken my pace. Distressed that I have to stop at the crosswalk for what feels like forever. I'm not walking anymore but marching down the sidewalk. My legs are feeling the pound against the pavement. I will have to cross the street again, but the bus stop is there I can tell from the distance. I'm about 50 feet away from the intersection when I see the bus turn, stop and leave before I can cross the street. I missed the bus.

Checking my watch, I may have time to walk home, and drive my car to my appointment without being late. It's hotter now and the marching has made me sweaty. I take off my jacket and tie it around my waste, so I'm still visible to the drivers. I am able to arrive home and drive to my appointment without arriving late. Public transportation is a game. You win or lose. Maybe I lost. Maybe I just beat the system.

Nelson Gets a Bus Pass

With the rising cost of gasoline, I decided it was time to get a bus pass. After all we have a city bus system why not use my sales tax dollars responsibly?

 First step, put on some sunscreen, comfortable shoes and bright clothing. There will be sun exposure because you will still be doing some walking. Public transportation is not a taxi service. They do not revolve around your errands.

The bright clothing is so that if you are hit by a car or bike, they can't say they didn't see you.

Secondly, locate the nearest bus stop. In my town, they claim that most residents are within 1/2 mile walking distance of a bus stop. Not too shabby.

 

While waiting for the bus, you can study the map. Familiarize yourself with which bus routes stop at that point and at which times. This info can be found online. You can also find a number to call for help with trip planning--very convenient for the directionally challenged.

Some bus stops include a shelter. Get outta the rain!

 Rules: once on the bus, there is no sleeping, drinking or eating allowed...Yes, that's a disappointment, but understood.  Before your stop you pull on the cord overhead to let the driver know he/she needs to stop and drop you off.

 

 You may conquer your fear of heights as a bonus, since you may need to walk from the nearest bus stop to your destination. Keep in mind that jay-walking is illegal.

On my maiden voyage, it took 1 hour to reach my destination...Which raised some critical questions because my chosen destination was about 2 miles from my house. . .  After finishing my errand I decided to walk home, rather than wait 15 minutes for the bus to come back. That only took about 30 minutes. . . Driving myself would have taken 6 minutes. Which I actually had to do because the screwdriver I purchased was the wrong size.

So moral of the story is. . . I should try again with a destination not so near my house. That would make it worth my time, right?

 Afterwards, I spent some time studying the bus route and maps. This proved helpful because I realized the route nearest my house only comes to the same place each hour. Some other routes are shorter and more efficient by returning to the same place every 40 minutes. So if I drove to a different bus stop and parked. . .

  I have a bus pass, but I may not be using it as often as I first thought...

Lost: If Found...

Doing a favor for a friend, I volunteered to drive them 3 hours and drive myself home that night. They were responsible for getting directions...No problem right? Just reverse the directions to get home.

It's dark, I forgot about that. So nothing looks familiar, oh wait that did, but from the other way. I need to turn around. 30 minutes later...so I should be running into I70 soon ...I don't remember being on this road before.

Oh that looks like a toll booth! Wait, those are US military guys...in uniform. Yep 100% sure I am lost....
Mr. Military police #1 -ID please.
Me - I am 100% sure I am lost.

Mr. Military Police #2 - Wait so you see the P-O-L-I-C-E and you don't want to talk to me?
Me - Actually no, I just need to find I 70.
Military Police #2 -Well, then we just need to get you turned around here. So you need to turn around on the 6th street turn rt and you'll run into ___ and that will take you right to I70. 

Me -What's the name of the street? 

MP#2- I don't remember but it's the 6th street back.

Me- Oh, no. I'm gonna have to count. OK thanks.

Is this street number 6? Does that count as a street or is that an alley? OK so this should be #6, nope it's a dead end. OK, so let's go back one street, so it was an alley and it doesn't count. Now we're on Walnut. So I'm looking for I70, but this is Walnut!?

I should say that since this experience I now carry a card with me that reads: I'm lost. If found, please call: Pheffer.  Which will come in handy the next time this happens.

God bless the armed forces anyways.

RimRock Farm

 

 I had heard a lot of great stories, so I had to check it out myself. It started out as acres of untamed land and through more than a decade of blood, sweat and tears became a beautiful cross country course that's also been used for weddings, retreats, etc. In fact, they even have their own graveyard. It 's uniqueness, makes it ... unique.

 

 This feature is of a covered bridge over one of the many ponds. As you can see, I was not the only visitor. It's a busy place.

This is a view from inside the covered bridge. Can you find a rhombus? Triangle?

Another cool feature would be all of the silhouettes of folks relating to KU track history and beyond.This is one of Jim Ryun, he broke a lot of distance running records, went to the Olympics and such. As if that wasn't challenging enough, he served as a U.S. Congressman for quite a while.

This one is of Coach Timmons, the man behind RimRock Farm and former coach to a lot of driven, successful athletes and adults. Thanks for the boost, Pheffer...The silhouettes are larger than life size.

A lot of runners have told me it is a challenging course to run, and I only walked part of it. I can say, it does take a lot out of you, but it was worth it all.

Nelson's 1st Car Show!

My roommates and I went to our first ever car show this weekend!

We were so excited to see so many cool, shiny and colorful cars.

 I got my picture taken with a GREEN car!

Then I had my picture taken with an orange car!

Look at how shiny this red car is?!

Look this one has a bike in it to that matches! They are BOTH black!

I think this one looks really red and reminds me of Star Trek, or
Back to the Future or the 80s.

I think this one must be really old because it is made out of wood.

I needed to get a picture of myself with some of the people there too! It was a really interesting group of people. They had a live band playing, food for sale and you put money in plastic cups to vote for your favorite car.

I really don't know a lot about cars but if I had any money I would have voted for this one. I'm not sure it got any votes at all.

Leavenworth

My roommates and I decided to take a day off and make it adventure day to Leavenworth! 

We got to see my hometown, visit the high school I attended, the home I spent my childhood and saw the federal penitentiary too! Our lunch break was at Homer's drive in. It was quite a tradition rich establishment. Hamburgers, fries, and ginormous milkshakes.

I used to go to this place all the time. It was like a huge playground for kids, but is a bowling alley now.

Just to give you an appreciation of how great a landmark this dinosaur is, I recruited Pheffer to help.

This was a really unique Korean church we stopped at. It took us awhile to figure out that Pheffer was trying to tell us to take her picture in front of it.We have no idea why...

From a distance anyway we saw the federal penitentiary. They weren't allowing any visitors. We may have looked suspicious, a garden gnome, a German immigrant and a mute Asian...

On the way back home we came across more photo opportunities.

What a great adventure it was.

Looking for Superman

So I haven't had my picture taken with Superman but we did find him! Unfortunately we didn't have the camera with us ( I was with my roommates Salz und Pheffer) so we ran home to get it, but he had flown back home before we got back and now no one will believe our story.

California

I got to go with my roommates and some friends to California! It's a little town in Missouri, full of wonderous surprises. We ate a picnic lunch, did some grocery shopping at a Dutch market and took a few pictures of the sites around the area.