August

August was tournament month! I competed in my first grappling tourney. Lost both matches, got squashed, and got choked out. Also got some great experience and some tacky trophies, so I’d say it was a fair trade.

Also. Also! My parents came to visit! They dropped off my sister, W, at a college a few hours away, then stayed in KC for a few days. We went to the World War I museum, the jazz museum, and the toy museum, for starters. Dad and I rode up the memorial tower and looked out at the KC skyline, then wandered inside the WWI museum for several hours. We could easily have spent all day there.

The toy museum was amazing—tons and tons of intricately detailed toys ranging from the Victorian era to my parents’ childhood to a few more modern things. We got to hear a lecture by one of the artists on how he carved tiny buildings, people, figureheads, and sailing ships. We left in awe of his patience and skill.

The jazz museum was small but fun. We examined a small exhibit outside, then went in to watch a short film and look at/listen to the exhibit. I could’ve sat at each listening station for an hour. The afternoon brought back pleasant memories of that period during my teenage years when I devoured books on jazz history.

We came out saying, “Well, that wasn’t bad for a free museum!” And then we noticed the ticket counter, waaay off to the side. Dad went over and paid after the fact. “Oops,” he said.

We also went to Loose Park, church, the Awakening service at IHOP-KC, and a bunch of restaurants, ending with chocolate bags at McCormick & Schmick’s.

I always love spending time with my parents and this was just an awesome mini-vacation. Later that month I went to visit W for another mini-vacation. Experienced dorm life complete with nasty ghetto bathrooms, terrible cafeteria food, and weird roommates. But at least I got to see my sister.

When not grappling or playing tourist, I helped the Gumby Ninja take care of the puppies. She moved their box downstairs and so I had some cute roommates for a while, although they were kinda smelly. But when you’re that young you roll around in your own poop and don’t know any better, I guess?

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