SEEING THE COUNTRYSIDE WHILE TRAVELING MAKES LIVING IN THE FLINT HILLS A PLEASANT THING. WITH WIDE OPEN SPACES, I do my best to enjoy the sights while driving the car. Seeing the Kansas landscape soothes my soul. I don't see enough of this even though I live here. I believe I need to find a spot where I can just sit in the out of doors admiring the country scenery.
The countryside is beautiful and I need beautiful as I travel along. Staying focused on the interstate takes some doing as the traffic is rather hectic at times. I have to concentrate as I drive.
I'd rather be in the wide open spaces than amongst huge crowds of people or driving amongst heavy traffic. Dealing with traffic isn't one of my favorite things to do especially when the drivers are extremely aggressive. Getting honked at from a car behind mine while passing a vehicle on the right doesn't make much sense as I am driving the speed limit going around someone. When they flash their headlights, I sigh. The vehicle behind me can just wait until I've made my way around the car I'm passing. It's as if I am going too slow to appease them as they drive well over the speed limit. If I'm taking too long to pass a car or in their way, I know that I can not personally know what their grievances are. Just get out of their way.
It helps to not get bothered by the honker. They can speed on down the road after I get back into the right lane and perhaps a Highway Patrol will ticket them.
LIVING LIKE I MEAN IT. I decided if we were going to have expenses going to Kansas City that I didn't want to drive there and back in one day. We'd spend the night and do something fun afterwards. We made ourselves a mini-vacay after having a Kansas City medical appointment.
I had some tension from driving in the KC traffic making me a tad bit uptight. We were blessed to have no accidents as there were some who drove way too fast and way too close to my car even as they darted in and out of traffic from the right lane into the left lane as I'm in the left lane passing the vehicle in front of me.
Arriving early for Hubby's appointment came in handy as we had to find the medical building and office where his appointment was. The paperwork took more time than his Scan. Driving 2 hours to get there, park the car and walk to the office to fill out papers and then the actual appointment took place.
I waited in the lobby while he had his scan. 10 minutes later he was done. I blinked my eyes and couldn't believe he was finished. Now we wait for the results. We left the place and went for lunch at an Italian Restaurant in the Country Club Plaza. BUCA di BEPPO.
I had never heard of this restaurant, but come to find out it is quite a franchise that went bankrupt in August of 2024 and sold for $27 million in November.
It was so very quaint and quiet as we missed the lunch rush and were early before the evening crowd. Both of us have been craving spaghetti. The presentation was beautiful and the next time I fix spaghetti with meatballs I will remember to fix the plates as close to theirs as I can. The salad was delicious. The olive oil with balsamic was absolutely delicious for dipping the sour dough bread in. These features were wonderful. The spaghetti was alright, but I'd have to get use to the taste of the large meatball on top of the spaghetti pasta. I drank water. The meatball was a large one balanced on top of the pile of spaghetti which tasted like something was missing in the meatball. I couldn't decide which spice was missing.
Not sure what it was, but I was slightly disappointed. The parmesan cheese did not help to cover the unusual taste. Perhaps I am just not use to authentic Italian 🍝 food.
Once again I ate too much bread.
Only ate half my pasta. Still, I had dessert.
This mini-vacay was FOOD CRAZY.
The music was wonderful for setting a special mood. All of it was older tunes from days gone by. I truly liked the mood that was created. The house blend salad dressing was something to brag about. It was really good. AND the bread dipped in extra virgin olive oil with the balsamic was outstanding. I'd do this again.
We split an Italian Cream dessert with homemade whipped cream which was so good. Truthfully, I could have just ate the homemade whipped cream and been contented. Less calories that way and if I like it, all the better. A great way to cut calories. I remember when my Hubby was told he was hypoglycemic and the doc told him if he wanted a sweet to eat a Tbsp. of whipped cream instead of sweets. I should have followed this practice years ago. Just eat a Tbsp. of whipped cream when having a craving for sweets. Perhaps it's not too late to do this.
We dined well then went to the fancy HILTON HOTEL to check into our suite that was decorated in light grays and beiges. Calming and peaceful. Tour the Suite on the fifth floor over looking the city.
I have never seen a fold down bench in the shower stall for sitting while bathing like this one. Wanted a picture as I may copy this at our small COTTAGE. It was convenient and I used it while shaving my old legs.
I took a short nap as we rested from the long drive combined with the stress of traffic and tension from a medical appointment. After we napped for a spell we talked, watched a movie and rested some more before ordering ROOM SERVICE.
ROOM SERVICE. Something we NEVER DO until today. FOOD served in our room on real china covered with a metal dome. Black napkins and silverware. All so very fancy for a couple of hicks out of nowhere. Who says you cannot treat yourself? After years of scrimping on everything, it felt right to have ROOM SERVICE this time.
We slept on a fluffy mattress with pillows. I took that SPA SHOWER that I had been hoping for. First, I sat on a fold down bench inside the tub to shave my legs and then I took a long shower where I shampooed my hair with CRABTREE SHAMPOO and bathed with special bath gel. All was lovely and unrushed. I allowed my hair to air dry before checking out of the suite.
Skipping breakfast off we went to the CHEESECAKE FACTORY at the Country Club Plaza for lunch before heading HOME. I had a large salad with some chicken while HUBS had the meatloaf. I skipped dessert as I was too full.
HOT TEA for me.
The large salad I had at the Cheesecake Factory.
Meatloaf for Hubby. I sampled it and had wished that I had ordered it instead of the Salad. Next time I will.
I was too tired to go to the ART MUSEUM like we had planned. I think this traveling thing is harder on my old body than I can remember. It takes more out of me than I like. We had a nice time, but I was ready to be HOME. SO ready. Just too tired.
Seeing the country landscape on the way HOME was enjoyed and that's what I needed as I traveled the distance HOME.
I took another NAP. Can you believe it? This time it was a long one where I didn't want to wake up. I think I had better get my TSH checked again as I am taking too many naps indicating I am way too tired.
We had popcorn for supper and I drank my water like a pro. Watched a show.
Our mini-vacay went entirely too quick. I believe one of these days we will have to take a REAL VACATION that's longer than a day and a half.
❤ I guess I had better take a HOLIDAY when I can get it.
It's a wrap. Country drive to KC.
Medical appointment.
Quiet lunch at Buca di Beppo with spaghetti meal, dessert and music.
Checked in at the Hilton.
Valet parking.
Nap.
Talk.
Movie.
Room service.
Comfortable sleep.
SPA time.
Lunch at Cheesecake Factory.
Drive over to Lenexa for furnace part.
Long drive HOME across the countryside.
Safely HOME.
Nap time to unwind.
Vacation ends.
We ate well and slept well.
It rained this Friday morning. Temps are to be in the 50s and I'd like to take a slow paced walk since it's been a couple of weeks since I walked steady covering a mile. We had so much snow that I was housebound. Over the next 5 days or so, the weather is suppose to be mild. That will allow me to prioritize some walks. Praise the LORD.
