Mission Trip Recollection

Here's what Hurricane Katrina did to the US 90 bridge over Biloxi Bay in Biloxi, Mississippi. Hurricane Katrina did what you see in the bottom of the picture, while the top shows what the bridge used to look like. I used Google Earth to look at where we were and what it looked like from above.

Interesting article about a KC icon

This article was in Saturday's Kansas City Star. It is about the renovation of the Empire Theatre at 14th and Main in downtown KC! If you read it, you'll find that 25 foot trees were growing in its roof...shows you how KC has neglected its downtown until now. They are going to restore the original name, Mainstreet Theatre. Enjoy!

Empire Theatre

And some more downtown news...some of the crumbling/ugly bridges on the south side of the loop are being closed and torn down. Here's the article from MoDOT.

Oak Street, Locust Street, and Truman Road bridges closing

Finally, here is an update on the progress on the Power & Light District.

Update on Power & Light District

Gas Prices Fixing??? Maybe, yes?!?!

I realized something yesterday. You know how oil companies and politicians say that oil prices aren't being fixed? Yeah, BS. I would like to know why gas prices just HAPPENED to go up just before the 4th of July holiday. I don't think it is a coincidence that gas prices went up from $2.59 to $2.80...I think you would agree. Personally, oil is a business, and they are using the high demand to make themselves more profit! Grrr. I filled up yesterday at $2.84...RIDICULOUS! And that was for Regular Unleaded Gas. So, let that sit with you when you fill up the tank and listen to oil companies and politicians say that oil prices aren't fixed...hmmm. And also when politicians say that that subject will be investigated...yeah, that didn't happen the last 2 or so times they said an investigation was going on to see if oil prices were being fixed. Maybe they should actually do an investigation?!?! I agree. However, the whole fact that there is too much demand for the amount of supply is also causing this, which is no good. As long as this trend continues, gas prices will continue to be high. That sucks.

So, It's Been A While

It's been quite a while since I've updated! Haha. I went to Mississippi, specifically Gulfport and Biloxi, to help with Hurricane Katrina relief. It was very eye opening and let me just tell you, TV and Newspaper pictures don't serve any justice. It is slowly recovering, but they are extremely vulnerable. We went to New Orleans for an evening outing and visited the French Quarter. Driving it was very eerie because nothing was running or even up at Six Flags, you could see the water level on several fences. The level was higher than I-10, which was eerie in itself. Empty apartment buildings, offices, stores, and homes are spread throughout the city. It was devastating. It was a wonderful experience and I was glad to be able to help in any way I could.

I've been working at a Vet by my house, and it has been tons of fun.

I'm thinking about going into Veterinary Medicine...sound good? Good, I'm glad! Well, it might change several times...it's between Urban Planning & Design and Veteranary Medicine. Thanks to David for having me clarify myself.

Why is the KS Legislature delaying its decision on this? This would be a wonderful Public Transportation Plan, that would hopefully lessen the dependence on cars, as well as hopefully LESSENING THIS STUPID KS/MO DIVIDE THAT THE KANSAS CITY METRO ISN'T HELPING WITH!!!! (I'm not adament about ending the divide...no, not at all!) Haha.

This weekend was fun overall. Friday night we went to Ydialay's for the evening. It consisted of hanging out, watching McGyver, Firefly and The Girl Next Door. We also went to the skate park and to the park and played on playground equipment and jumped off of a big turtle thingy. Saturday night kinda sucked, mostly because I had to work on my OHP, which caused me to be late to the yard game event which went bust, no offense. Tonight I went and worked on an English project with Ryan. It was fun, and we finished. I am NOT looking forward to school starting again. Prom is this weekend...oh boy! I'm excited...but I'm hoping the dance isn't lame, seeing that I'm spending $60, minus dinner, for the dance. If it is, at least I'll be with friends.

Spring Is Here

So, officially Kansas City has this wierd split thing that pushes a lot of weather to our north and south. It's kind of frustrating because I like the thunderstorms that bring really strong straight-line winds! I also like big snowstorms. Anyway, I don't have much homework tonight, so I had some fun with the camera and took pics of my mom's new car and our gardens with the blooming flowers. Enjoy.

Choir Trip to Winter Park, CO 'twas fun! Sorry, no pics because I didn't take our family's camera. I really liked skiing, surprisingly, and will definitely go skiing again with friends or whatnot. The town of Winter Park is definitely a BORING-ASS TOWN. The Ski Resort towns that I'm used to, ie, Ruidoso, have a bajilion things to do. Winter Park had exactly .001 things to do. Neways, I am hoping this weekend will be filled with friend stuff!

Prairie Village News

I just read this in the Neighborhood News section of the Kansas City Star. This will be very good for Prairie Village and Mission Hills and will provide a really nice gateway into each city. Enjoy.

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, here I am! :-D It is really nice here. We're all going to take naps because we got up at 4:30am to get on a 6:55am flight out of KC. Joyous fun. I am having a great time. Today we drove around and walked around Downtown Scottsdale. It was very neat. I will post some pics that I have taken so far. More to come as the weekend/week goes.


Pictures from plane approaching Phoenix

Driving Around


Park/Walkway along one of the canals

Auto Show!

The Auto Show '06 was sweet. I LOVE VW JETTAs!!!!!! Here are some pics from the Auto Show.

AUTO SHOW!!!

The Auto Show '06 was sweet. I LOVE VW JETTAs!!!!!! Here are some pics from the Auto Show.

Prairie Village Future City Plans

I have discovered some great plans that Prairie Village has introduced in order to make Prairie Village a better, even though it's great now, place to live. Here are some ideas:

• Narrowing traffic lanes
• Providing additional green space with a median or parkway along the sidewalk
• Developing a program to plant new or replace street trees with ones more in scale with the surrounding buildings and ones that would not interfere with overhead utility lines
• Use paved areas currently restricted from traffic for green space

75th Street Corridor (between State Line & Nall):


^Current 75th Corridor, just East of Mission^


^Idea for new 75th corridor, just East of Mission^


^Current 75th Corridor @ Roe^


^Idea for new 75th Corridor @ Roe^



These ideas would narrow the lanes, but would add landscaping where traffic is not allowed (where there is yellow paint is in the center of the roadway).

More to come.