Run, Run, Run

I've never considered myself to be much of a runner. In grade school, the extent of my running was around a gym before volleyball practice or running the bases during softball. But now that I'm a year into full-time employment, I realize that my sedimentary career requires me to take active control of my physical fitness. So I'm trying to develop a habit of running every morning before work. I'm six weeks into a couch to 5K program, but unfortunately I've been stuck on week three for three weeks (this eight week program is looking more like a three month gig). But now that I don't have the distractions of vacation and work travel, I can focus this week on leaping this plateau and prepare myself for a 5K fundraiser in the fall. Here we go!

Four Dinners in Chicago

I'm among the millions of human beings everywhere who is a big enthusiast for one thing: delicious food! So you can imagine how thrilled I was to experience the delectable tastes of Chicago during the, well, Taste of Chicago. Take that and the beautiful views of the Chicago skyline, and you have yourself a great weekend get away.

All-Star Game 2012

This is a big week for Kansas City, as Tuesday is the MLB All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium. This is a huge event for Kansas City, both from a national recognition standpoint and for local tourism. The city has prepared for this event all year: finishing up street construction, repainting light poles on the Plaza, and displaying ASG signage at KC hot-spots.

Fans like myself who are unable to attend the game can still enjoy the All-Star experience at FanFest, a 450,000 square foot baseball theme park crammed full of MLB merchandise, displays of historic baseball paraphernalia and tastes (and smells) from the ballpark.

When they start the game, they don't yell, "Work ball." They say, "Play ball." 

- Willie Stargell, 1981

Large decorative ASG baseball displaying team logos, located on the Plaza.

Giant All-Star Game sign hanging from the Intercontinental Hotel on the Plaza.

All-Star banner at the FanFest convention center.

Fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations at Riverfest.

A Day at the Park

This weekend my dad and my brothers came into Kansas City to see the Royals play the St. Louis Cardinals, our family's favorite MLB team. It started out as a cloudy day with lightening threatening in the distance, but by the third inning the clouds had completely cleared and the sun shined brightly all the way through to the ninth inning. It was a beautiful day and a very enjoyable time with my family.

A La Mode

So, last week I told you all about my expertise in the art of cupcakes. This is not to say I am myself an expert cupcake maker. No, no, I'm all about the art of taste testing. And the sugar highs associated with this line of work.

Last week I also said that my latest encounter with the cupcakes at Jones Bros. (Omaha, Neb.) was second only to one other gourmet cupcake. So now I present Cupcake A La Mode.

All of this Kansas City original's baked goods are a variation of your good ol' chocolate and vanilla. But with the creative frosting options, these bakers have transformed a regular cupcake into a thing of  beauty. And awesomeness. And deliciousness.

The cupcake that takes the cake, in my opinion, is the Raspberry Lemonade cupcake, a vanilla cake topped with raspberry and lemon buttercream, and accented with a sugar lemon wedge. This cupcake is practically refreshing.

I've also thoroughly enjoyed the ChocoLatte, Amaretto Sweet, Peanut Butter Kiss, and Stuffed French Toast. I would love to have tried them all at some point, but I always get distracted by the Raspberry Lemonade. It's a win:win cupcake every time.

Can't Sleep

Do you ever have those nights were you're beyond exhausted, but can't sleep? Where every possible thing on your to-do list races through your head in a feverish frenzy and you can hardly keep still? I don't know what it is tonight, a combination of exhaustion or the full moon, but I cannot convince my body to get some shut eye.

Looks like I'll hunker down with the latest episode of Mad Men and let a Don Draper pitch lull me to sleep.

Busy, Busy, Busy

This weekend has been so crazy, I haven't been able to find time to blog for this morning. Over the past few days, the world's leading oncologists and clinicians have gathered for the American Society of Clinical Oncologists annual meeting in Chicago, and I've been paying close attention to the news. There have been some fascinating data presentations and panels that I won't bore you with, but reporters have been particularly interested in breakthroughs in targeted therapies and treatments that harness the immune system to eradicate cancer. It's exciting to see early results for drugs that may pave the way for future cancer treatments, and I'm proud to be a part of it.