Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Happy Birthday to Mimi/Me

We had such a great Saturday at Nancy's house in Belton. All the family was there and it was a really fun Birthday celebration!!! Thanks to all! Even though I flaked on making the Peach Pie (get it - flaked?).

Perhaps it's trick photography, but I think I've got Laurie BEAT in the tall-short line. Finally!!! God bless my egg-head.
Dad, Dad - the camera's right here. Hello?
Alex - getting ready for his last year at KU....
Oh those Dack children - they grow up so fast.
Bellissima!!

Politics, sports, politics, sports - yawn!

Ah - not a family gathering without a game of washers!

Look at Emily's game-winning form!

Great Olathe Flood of '07

Sunday night, we got an unexpected blast of precipitation. All those weeks of doing the raindance in my driveway (which the neighbors posted to youtube) FINALLY paid off. According to the news, we got .99 inches every 30 minutes!! The lightning temporarily caused our cable to flicker during Entourage - which I believe is the disaster the Mothman's presence foretold. Here are the pics:

The basil and mint are drinking it up!

No frisbee tonight, Blue.

We've renamed the backyard Bayou Olathe.

Ladies' Night at the K

Thursday 7/26, was ladies' night at Kauffman Stadium. There were free T-Shirts, so you know we were going! My friend Jen Ray arranged the outing and my friends Dana, Sydney, Tami, and I got off work early (our bosses thought it was a doctor's appt) and headed to get our T-shirts - oh, and there was supposed to be a sporting event too. Fabulous!

Here is the 50+ crowd NOT dressed age appropriately AND doing the Macarena.

Here are Sydney, Tami, and Dana laughing at 50+ crowd NOT dressed age appropriately AND doing the Macarena.

This is our group photo. I'm a pro.

It's so hard to look this fabulous in 90 degree weather. I don't know how we pulled it off.

Jen 1 and Jen 2 in the stadium - Oh and the Royals SPANKED the Yankees 7-0.

The Mothman Cometh

According to a documentary I saw, there is a legend of a 6-foot tall, flying Mothman creature with glowing red eyes, which appeared in Point Pleasant, WV in 1967. Over 200 sightings were reported.
Our Olathe Mothman made his presence known on July 26 and stayed at the exact same location for 2 whole days! Note the glowing red eyes!!! Blue thinks it's creepy!

The Starr Summer

Here's a sampling of random pictures that we've taken over the last few weeks...

Storms over Olathe don't play. However, this one produced zero rain.

Again - all bark, no bite.
This is our siamese, Sony - watching his favorite - the NFL channel
Yay, yay! Hot air balloons!

My pupils dilated to 2 different sizes - FREAKY!
The Capital of Missouri in Jeff City on our way to the Police Concert, which was mind-melting.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Our 6th Anniversary Dinner


Bluestem Restaurant
July 21, 2007
6:00

Last night, Kristen and I had one of the better meals we have had in Kansas City. I took her to Bluestem, a place I have always wanted to go. We (or I) am always skeptical of smaller restaurants that charge high prices for tasting menus. You always seem to pay much more than the meal itself is worth. Not here! Bluestem is very good.

We showed up early so we could have a drink before we sat down. I typically like to do this because it starts the evening off better, and because we wanted to toast the occasion. We each opted for a glass of delicious white Sangria. Then it was time to sit down and begin the two-hour food fest. Here is what we ate…

Kristen
1) Lemon-Lime Juice, Cherry Foam
2) Rock Shrimp, Tomato, Chipotle, Orange, Onion, Avocado
3) Wood Mood Farms Asparagus, Egg, Radish, Feliciana Nevat, Warm Truffle Vinaigrette
4) Gazpacho, Cucumber, Onion, Tomato, White Gazpacho Emulsion
5) Torchio, Oyster Mushrooms, Braised Hen, San Marzano Tomato
6) Day Boat Maine Scallop, Summer Corn, Bacon, Chanterelles, Summer Squash
7) Wagyu Sirloin, Smoked Potato Puree, Tomato Jam, Maytag Fritter, Mustard Jus
8) Basil Sorbet, Strawberries, Grapes
9) Warm Summer Fruit Cobbler, Honey Ice Cream, Citrus Crisp

Mark
1) Lemon-Lime Juice, Cherry Foam
2) Japanese Hamachi, Litchi Granita, Sake, Citrus, Ginger
3) Roasted Beet, Whipped Goat Cheese, Endive, Walnut, Watercress
4) Torchon de Fois Gras, Smoked Plum, Merlot, Hibiscus
5) Fazzoletti, Italian Sausage, Black Pepper, Cherries, Saba
6) Day Boat Maine Scallop, Summer Corn, Bacon, Chanterelles, Summer Squash
7) Wagyu Sirloin, Smoked Potato Puree, Tomato Jam, Maytag Fritter, Mustard Jus
8) Basil Sorbet, Strawberries, Grapes
9) Banana Bread Ice Cream Sandwich, Milk Chocolate Walnut Ice Cream, Banana Fritters, Butterscotch Sauce

After dessert, we had a sampling of after-dinner chocolates, cookies, and other small surprises. Then it was off to home to fade off into sleep after a great evening on the town.

Friday, July 06, 2007

The McMahon Kids

Got some photos recently of my friend Shaun's kids. They are growing up so fast. Here's Max and Vincenza...