Day Three

I wish I had lots of exciting things to report today, but it was a pretty laid back kind of day. Slept in until 9:00, then headed to Winstead's Diner for breakfast. It reminded me of King's Drive Inn that use to be in Lincoln. I had planned to go to the park afterwards, but it was cold and windy, so I headed back to my room.
I spent a good part of the day being all kinds of lazy. I watched Glee & Ellen and worked on some "trip approved" work. This was the hardest "alone" day, but it allowed me the time I needed for some self-reflection.
Since this was my last night, I decided to dress up and go out for a nice dinner (nicer than bar food and stadium hot dogs). I opted for the shuttle because I'm not exactly well-practiced in walking in heels. Unfortunately, Tibbie was off-duty, so the ride down wasn't nearly as entertaining as my previous shuttle experience.
If I left Kansas City without having any barbecue, I would've been doing myself a disservice. I headed to Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue in the Plaza. A seat for one in the dining area was an hour wait, so I opted for the open seating at the bar. Leslie, the bartender, is in nursing school and so we had lots to talk about. I had the beef brisket and it was amazing. Out of all the places I ate alone, this experience felt the most awkward. It's easier to blend in at casual places, but I didn't see anyone else alone at this restaurant. I was also told I looked too serious which made me laugh because I don't see myself as that serious of a person.
It is now Thursday morning and I'm getting ready to head home. Housekeeping has knocked twice so far, so I think that is my cue to hit the road. I'm looking forward to seeing my little family and plugging back in to my life full of people and togetherness. I will let you know how my trip wraps up.

Day Two

From my seat at Kauffman Stadium. Go Royals!

Sleeping in at home usually means getting up by 8:00 a.m. Sleeping in when I'm alone, no alarm...no kids, means getting up by 10:00 a.m. I can't remember the last time I slept so late! With all that slacker time, my day got off to a much later start than anticipated.

After getting ready, I changed my breakfast plans and opted for brunch at Panera. I normally would walk (my hotel is a few blocks from the edge of the Plaza), but I wanted to make up for lost time, so I took the hotel shuttle. Tibbie, the shuttle driver, was more than happy to take me and made sure I had the number in case I needed a ride back. I told her my plans for the day, which resulted in a conversation about coffee, diners, and her son. In case you were wondering, Tibbie prefers flavored coffees and her favorite is hazelnut. She also told me that her favorite place for breakfast is Winsted's Diner....they have the BEST pancakes...and I will be heading there for breakfast in the morning! And the last, fun Tibbie tidbit...she has street cred; she honked and waved at one of her homeless friends in the Plaza. 

Eating alone at Panera is no big deal...been there, done that. I'm embarrassed to tell you about the amount of carbs I consumed in one sitting, but it was well worth it! After stuffing my face, I went to see the movie "Fast Five". Going to a movie alone is a little sad until you realize that you are not the only one who came alone! There were at least five other people who appeared to be alone, unless they were all together and sitting really far apart. The hardest part about going to a movie alone is looking like an idiot when laughing at all the trailers. I couldn't help myself; the trailers for "30 Minutes or Less", "The Change-Up", and "Hangover 2" were hilarious!! "Fast Five" was awesome, even though it was hard to watch Paul Walker and Vin Diesel for two hours straight ;). 

After the movie I did a little shopping. Clothes shopping is normally torturous for me, but I actually enjoyed myself today. I'm a big fan of Urban Outfitters because it suits my "eclectic" fashion taste. I stopped at a few more stores, but quickly ran out of time. I will head back tomorrow to check out Forever 21 (because Kristi would want me to) and a few other stores.

I walked back to the hotel and changed just in time to head to the Royals game. Even though I was a total poser in my KC Royals gear, no one seemed to notice. While I was waiting in line to get a beer, the man behind the counter told me to get my I.D. out. After analyzing it for a minute, he said "Wow...you hold your age well!". Thanks....I think? I had a great seat and appeared to be a seasoned fan until the 7th inning when I was frozen and ready to beat the traffic out. When I left, they were tied with the Orioles 5-5. Looks like they won 6-5!

If tomorrow is as beautiful as it was today, I will be spending lots of time outside. Walking to breakfast, then to the park for some "me" time. 

End of Day One

I walked to Fred P. Ott's for a late dinner, "Kansas City's Original Bar & Grill". Mmmmm....bar food. I was annoying and sat upstairs; after hauling trays of food and pitchers of beer up and down the stairs at Brewsky's South, you would think I would be more compassionate. I read the walls and ceiling filled with graffiti while I ate, then played Galaga & Ms Pac-Man. Takes me back to the good old days of Atari!! Lucky for the other patrons, I left just before they started karaoke.

So far I'm holding up fairly well being alone, but a half a day isn't that big of a deal. Tomorrow will be the true test. Fun day planned..."Fast Five" and a Royals game!! 

Synthia-If I wasn't such a germaphobe, soaking in a hot bath would be amazing! :)

I Made It!

This is a quick post to let everyone know that I made it alive (mostly my parents who are sitting at their respective homes "worried"). Had a little trouble finding the hotel, but only because the directions said that it was on the right side of Main Street, when actually it was on the left. In true EZ fashion, I procrastinated all morning and was finding things to do so I wouldn't have to leave. For that simple fact, the kitchen and my car look amazing!
My three hour drive went fairly quick. Thanks to my husband I had about 30 years of "Top 100 Billboard Singles" to listen to. I got through 2000 and 2001 playing one, two, skip a few. I love rediscovering songs that I haven't heard forever. One of my guilty pleasures of old is "Party Up" by DMX. I think it's the theme song for the tough girl inside of me and makes her want to kick butt. With that said, I am a lover, not a fighter, although I have been in one physical fight. I would like to point out that I was NOT the instigator, but I did "win"...if there is such thing as a "winner" in that type of fight. I think that was my first and last time at the Red Willow County Fair.
Has anyone ever noticed the exorbitant amount of signs on I-29? My favorites: "Stay Alert" & "Buckle up your kids....in car seats". There was also a very distracting Wrangler billboard and a ton of road kill (raccoons could be on the verge of extinction). I don't think I have ever paid this much attention to this kind of stuff!
My surprisingly cheap hotel is shockingly under construction. There is no front entrance, so to get in and out you have to go through the gated, underground garage. My first room was uncomfortably huge; there were four pieces of furniture that were all spaced about 12 feet apart (not exaggerating). I tried to suck it up and embrace the space, but being all alone I had to pull the diva card and asked for a different room. I don't like to complain, but I don't think I would've lasted three nights. You will be happy to know that my new room is comfortably squished together...perfect for one lone soul.
Off to the Plaza for dinner! Party of one? Yes please!
So much for a quick post!
Shout out to Stephanie...the first song I heard on the radio heading out was "Hot & Cold". I'm pretty sure you were sending me telepathic messages.

I Am Not Alone

One thing I have learned since I decided to share my solo adventure is that traveling alone is NOT a novel idea! People travel alone all the time; some for business and most for pleasure, but all have gone unaccompanied to somewhere far, far away for days, weeks and even months at a time. So while I realize I am not alone in my quest for solitude, I still have never experienced what it means to be truly alone.
From the minute I was born, my large, eclectic family guaranteed that I would always have a parent or sibling in the midst. And when most kids are moving away from their parents and going off on their own, I had my own child, further alleviating the problem of ever being isolated.
Now don't get me wrong, I have done things alone. When I was seventeen I use to drive four hours by myself to McCook, Nebraska to visit my bestie, Lisa. It was on these solo drives that I discovered my incredible vocal talents (car acoustics are way better than any shower) and I also tried talking my way out of my first speeding ticket. I've gone to a movie alone and I have spent hundreds of hours studying alone at various restaurants and coffee shops. So I know I can do alone, I just don't know what alone for several days will be like.
Will I get bored? Will I feel lonely? Will I have an epiphany? Will I find inner peace?
Maybe I will find that cable TV and room service are a girl's best friend. Monday my adventure begins!
P.S.-Thanks for all the offers to come with me, but that might defeat the purpose! 
I imagine I might look something like this (click here)

Banished

When the idea of going away alone was initially proposed to me, I felt like someone was trying to punish me. I argued all the reasons I could think of to demolish such a preposterous suggestion; "I don't want to leave the kids...we don't have the money...I can't leave work...I've never been anywhere alone". After days of consolation and assurance that the kids would be fine and not to worry about the money, my trip all alone was starting to look less like banishment and more like a "much needed" vacation.
People always tell me that I'm too busy and it's hard to see that when you are in it doing what you perceive as the norm. I just live life, do what I need to do and don't think too much about looking at the speedometer. "Why no officer, I didn't realize I was going 60 mph in a 25 mph zone". I've been asked to unplug, take some time for myself and slow down. I accept the challenge to take my foot of the gas and see where it takes me.
Counting down 11 days until my 3 night, 4 day adventure begins.