wrapup to the vacation

Yes we are home, and the house was in one piece for those that were wondering if Matty kept it standing. j/k Matty :)

Last we left, we were leaving Wichita. We meet up with some former neighbors at a Denny's in Wichita before we left town. We then took the Kansas Turnpike up to Topeka to see the Kansas Capitol. We got back onto the " 'pike" and got off to see the territorial capitol of Kansas about 25 miles East of the present capitol. After seeing our 5th territorial or present day capitol of the trip we went to a KFC/A&W to have dinner on the far NW outskirts of Lawrence, KS. After dinner, we went through the center of Lawrence which as those that know the Big 12 (XII) Conference know it is the home of the University of Kansas (Home of the 2008 NCAA Basketball champions).

Eventually, we got into Overland Park where we stayed for the final night in the Midwest. We stayed at an Embassy Suites, which even thou I no longer work for the Hilton Corp. I still believe that ES is the best damn hotel chain in the world (that I have stayed in).

On Monday, Mom & Dad went into a JoAnn's fabrics store, since Mom had not been in any craft stores in the Midwest. After that, we went to a Gates BBQ just a couple of exits down the road. After that we eventually got into downtown KC again. We went back to Union Station to get some daytime pictures and the WWI memorial just on the other side of the street. We went up a hill to get the other side of the memorial, and pictures of the KC Mint. As we were taking another picture of a seperate statue commemorating fallen soldiers, I got a phone call lettin me know that my friend Elizabeth had her baby about an hour before the call. I would later find out that she was admitted to the hospital around 10:45a on Monday and had her daughter around 2:15p. We left downtown KC and went back to the airport. We got on the plane and eventually got back to San Diego (YEAH!!!!!!!!!). We got our bags and called our ride, who we thought would be in the cell phone lot just 3 blocks from the terminal......wrong. She hadn't even left her house and had yet to pickup our car.

Then on Tuesday, I went to the Sugarland concert at the San Diego County Fair. I attempted to see them, I along with Sarah ended up listening to Sugarland because ofthe fact that the concert was a pay in addition to the Fair.

Tonight, we (Mom, Julie, Mary and myself) went to see Little Big Town. The concert was a really good one, out of the seven songs that I really wanted to hear, I heard six.

Thanks Wichita

Well Wichita, I'll be honest, I thought you would be able to pull off the 57th NSDC, but not a big thing. I appologize, you did a fine job, I'm sure there were many "fires" that needed to be taken care of, but for the most part those fires were kept out of the sight of most dancers.

As far as next years 58th NSDC, we need to get alot of people to register, because we are still way low on numbers the last I saw we had only 2,355 registered. I believe that I saw that the bare bones break even point is 6,000. Wichita had 6,025 but had many more advantages than we do in Long Beach.

Tomorrow, or later today, we packup to go back to KC in order to come HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love traveling, but as anyone who travels knows, some of the best moments in traveling is coming home. :)

I will update pictures and more information once I get home and rest. That probably won't be until Thursday at the earliest as I'm planning on going to the Fair on Tuesday & Wednesday to see Sugarland (Tue) and Little Big Town (Wed).

Going down....

Well we went to the Kansas Underground Salt Museum. Located just outside of Hutchinson, Kansas which is only an hour away from Wichita. The gang (The Mays, The Davis, Phil Farmer's son, CJ, Pauline, Gary, Sherley and Thomas -- 14 total) made reservations and paid for our tickets. We then went about 6 miles back towards Wichita for breakfast at an Amish restaurant. Decent food if I do say so myself, large portions of hash browns and biscuits. We then went back for the tour, there were only 3 of us that took jackets along for the tour, we probably didn't really need them, but they were nice to have.

The tour was about an hour long, very interesting and if you are claustrophobic, be in the second group of 14 in the tour group, last in to the elevator, first out! They took us through the mines for about 30-40 minutes on a tram explaining some different things. Very interesting like I said. Then you can take a short walking tour of the different areas of the active mine that is about 2 miles away within the same tunnel system. At the end of the walking portion you are introduced to the Underground Vault area where all of the major motion picture houses send at least one copy of every film they make and many of the costumes and props. Check out the pictures over at myspace.

We came back, and dad was pissed at me because of the fact that I officially told him that his stupid jokes were starting to piss me off. He stayed in the hotel room the rest of the day while my mom & I went over to the convention and had fun. I need to get to bed, we have a 8am (CDT) wake up so that we can see the presentations from both OKC and Spokane to see who wins the NSDC for 2012.

And then it was summer

WOW, my fears of Wichita in June came true today.....HOT and kinda sticky.

I woke up today late (10:30) and took care of the standard morning things. We found a Denny's for breakfast and then came back to the hotel. I called the Mays and since we were all going to be going to the same places, we did it together. We went to the NSDC to get our badges, and while the Mays were taking care of some problems they were having with the badges, we shopped at the NSDC booth (since it was the only booth open, it was not a hard choice to see where we wanted to shop!). From there we migrated over to Sheplers here in Wichita. Sheplers is a big time western catalog business that has a few actual stores (LV & Wichita to name a couple). The Mays found some stuff, I found a really sweet looking Budweiser shirt, but they did not have it in my size (I found the only one and it was a small, there is no way a small is going to fit me!!!!). After that and the group seeing someone get pulled over by Wichita police we went to a local eatery (Town & Country) to have dinner. I had a mesquite grilled catfish plate, mom had Beef brisket, and dad had wait for it...... a salad!!!!!!!! During dinner (since I know Jesse will bring it up) I was eating mom's jello that had fruit inside of it. I made a few wrong turns and quite a bit of it ended up on either me or the floor (refer to the May's P.A.D. possibly for more information).

Finally dance time came around, neither mom nor I did a lot of dancing (Mom 0, Chris 1 -- Tip scoreboard) mainly because we were as tradition, getting all of our ducks in a row for the rest of the convention. We were trying to find where the L&F booth is (really hidden behind two different halls, ours will be more in your face) and finding out what time we are going to be working the 58th NSDC shop (it was never open tonight, so we still have no idea).

Anyways so now it is time to go to bed cause we need to be at the Mays RV around 8 so that we can go to the Salt Mines about 1 hr NNW of Wichita, and when we are up there, we are going to an Amish restaurant for breakfast (hope mom can find something to eat). Later!

P.S. If you care, Fresno State ended up winning the CWS tonight after defeating Georgia 6-1. Zach Stone (son of NBC 7/39 Sports reporter/Weekend Anchor Jim Stone) bothered me tonight during the dance to let me know that the Central Valley Bull Dogs ended up winning the game with the guy form RB closing the game out. Memo to Zach, who give a bleep. It was not Wichita State, Miami, or Rice in the finals. Both Bull Dog (Dawg for Georgia) teams got hot at the end of the season, Fresno State was only 4 games above .500 going into the conference tournament, they really should not have even been in Wichita. They got there the only way they could by winning the WAC tourney, and then getting luck in the CWS tourney.

Traveling in Nebraska and Kansas

Well today we crossed into Kansas as is deminstrated by this picture below. Yes I'm being a goof ball, but every once in a while aren't you allowed to be?

We left Council Bluffs around 9:30a and got into Omaha around 4, with a 30 minute stop at a truck stop in Salina, KS. So we finally got into the hotel, and they were nicer than any other hotel that I have been to. This would be a hotel that I would be proud to work at, as long as things work as smoothly as check in did.

So I met up with the May's and Mom and I took Amanda over to a trail dance for the NSDC, with the convention actually opening on Thursday. We spent at least an hour after the dance at the May's RV just talking about random stuff.

Rosenblatt Stadium

So today, we originally were supposed to go over to the Air & Space strategic museum, but after rearranging the itinarary for our trip down to Wichita. Dad doesn't want to go to the greyhound (dog) HOF, so we are going to stop over at the museum and then continue on the I-80 West to US-81 South, and it will take us straight into Wichita.

We went over to a Super Wally to grab a couple of things. After that we came back and got ready for the College World Series and for the travel for tomorrow. We left the the hotel around 4 for a 6pm game. I got us to the stadium around 4:20 after traffic and all. I got to my General Admission section right before Fresno State had BP. During the ballgame I struck up a small conversation with a couple of good looking girls that were sitting in front of me. I didn't find out until later that they "need some seasoning". Georgia ended up winning the game 7-6, they won when Brandon Burke (Rancho Bernardo) gave up a 2-run HR and the game tying RBI Double. If Georgia wins tomorrow (6/24) they will be the National Champions.

Tomorrow, Wichita. If you are going to Nationals, I'll see you there.

Sunday in Iowa/Nebraska

So we started out with a trip around Downtown Omaha to get a few day time pictures. We then went to the Military park on the riverfront and looked at a few displays that they had there. After that we went onto a river cruise. We went 15 minutes up river from the departure point, then flowed down the river with the tide to about 3/4 mile from the hotel. The cruise then turned around and went back to base. While on the cruise I struck up a conversation with a couple that lives in Omaha and they explained a few things about the riverfront. After the cruise, we traveled south down 10th Street. 10th Street ends at Rosenblatt Stadium and the Omaha Zoo. We eventually got on I-80 East and almost immediately transitioned to I-29 South, we got something to drink and eat and hopped back on I-29 South. 48 miles later we got off and turned right headed towards Nebraska City for the VF Outlet store. For those that know the Davis' well, you know that VF Outlet is our families favorite store. There are not many stories where you can save 66% over regular store prices. We returned from Nebraska City, and went to Harrah's Council Bluffs for their buffet. Now we are bracing for an adventuresome day tomorrow.

Tomorrow we are planning on going to the Air & Space Strategic museum in Nebraska. After that, we are Rosenblatt Bound!!!!!!