A Course for Adventure

It was grandpa who stepped into the store with glitter first. He’d seen the hordes of girls and doting parents come in and out many times. Grandpa works at the Macy’s in the same mall. So Daddy, and E and K and Grandma and I all followed through the store doors into a world of pink and glam of all kinds for girls.

The perky salesgirl talked Daddy into a princess/rock star makeover for both girls, despite my concerns of K’s age (3) and her sensitive skin. “Okay, we’ll do it,” as many a father have said over the ages when it comes to pleasing their daughter’s whims and wishes.

So both girls set on pastel and glittered cushioned stools while two salesclerks with a pink (naturally) apron got glitter and hair clips and makeup ready for the “update.”

“Hey, girlfriend,” they would say as they asked the girls which look and which colors they desired. E choose the DJ diva with mock headphone set with her hair up and spiked in the back with lots of glitter. (This was about a $21 project, but included a black nylon bag with five “free” gifts they could choose from the store and the day’s special of a free Webkinz!) K choose the curly curls blond with pink streaked hair extension — she looked like she was ready for a toddler beauty pageant. Not even the 3-year-old wants the “princess” look anymore. Sob, sob.

All I could do was shake my head. They were having fun and I just left I needed to find the nearest “Foot Locker” or “Ladies’ Foot Locker” so I could find them some nice athletic clothes to balance out their shopping experience. But, oh, the joys of having princess/drama queens that are gravitating to “rock star” more than “princess” now, alas! 

I have several charity cookbooks the Kansas City Royals used to sell, but when I recently looked at a copy I noticed most (it not all) of the players weren’t on the team any longer. This year, the Royals charity selling tool is a CASUAL calendar for the 2008 season!

I’m likely going to purchase a calendar, but it looks like they spent zero time on the concept. KC has a gazillion unique and beautiful sites and it looks like they took the pictures after practice in the basement of the stadium. They aren’t exactly projecting that winning attitude — take for example, Derek Jeter dressed to the nines in a pin-stripe business suit. (Still looking for that picture on the WWW…)

So my Royals, wanna look casual and like cellar dwellers, be relazed. Wanna kick it up a notch, skip Wal-Mart and go straight to Brooks Brothers or Jack Henry (George Brett shops there!) and don the LOOK. The gentleman’s look that Buck O’Neil knew how to sport. See below.

And THEN dear good sports, parade along a fountain or mall or someplace in the SUNLIGHT for next year’s calendar. Heck, I’ll even help art direct if you need any further assistance.

The calendar proceeds are going to a great cause — T.A.K.E Defense Foundation. The T.A.K.E. Defense program is in honor of Ali Kemp, a 19-year-old Leawood, Kansas college student who was murdered while working as a lifeguard at her neighborhood pool. The Royals are offering two defense classes on the field this summer. Click here for more information.

Oh, ELIZABETH’S FAVORITE PLAYER UPDATE: Back to Sluger (I prefer the one “g” and one “r” because I’m so tired of looking up the “correct” spelling of the mascot’s name!) after mentioning “Alex Gordon” was her favorite. When I asked her what she liked about Alex, she replied in her most politician voice, “Actually, I like everyone on the Royals team.”

So here’s the e-mail I sent Elizabeth’s teacher this week:

“Hope Elizabeth is not getting too antsy at school. She told us about running in class yesterday. Please let us know if she’s starting to lose focus, and we’ll work with her here at home. We’re still working on her countings 2s and backwards from 100. She’s still wobbly on those numbers…..”

And here’s the response from her teacher:

“Elizabeth has been fine.  She just gets excited from time to time.  I’d rather have that than be bored in Kindergarten.

Just to let you know, the only thing Elizabeth is expected to know in Kindergarten is to be able to count to 100, and she’s already done that.  I have them do the other counting for a challenge, plus it helps them become more aware of the numbering system.

Also,  on our way out to the bus the other day, Elizabeth came up to me and out of the blue said, “My dad has the best job ever!!”  I asked her what made it so great and she said, “He gets to read a book and go out to lunch with his friends!!!!”   Then skipped off to the bus.  I thought that was hilarious, considering most sports fanatics would think her dad has the best job ever for other reasons. Pretty cute!!”

For the record, I’d like her idea of her father’s job, too! We’re talking about jobs because next week it is take your child to work day, where she’ll likely go to lunch with his friends. Maybe Mom and little sister can go along, too?!

Our new health insurance company REQUIRES referrals. They will NOT pay for charges unless specialized doctors have written referrals from primary care doctors. I have spent too may hours this week tracking down referrals. Joe’s doctor’s nurse has heard from me three times this week and she’s had to fax over a referral to the specialist’s office THREE times. I do not like having to be the middle person for bureaucratic junk. I will now ask for a written referral prior to leaving doctors’ offices in the future.

For our insurance company I have just one question, why would we be going to a specialist if we weren’t “REFERRED” by our doctor? My husband hates to go to doctors and no in our family is a hypocondriatic. We are pretty tough and hearty — most of the time (knock on wood.) We’ve got enough to do besides finding new doctors to visit. All I need is more hassle with an insurance company that’s obviously not trusting our family.

So as far as “referrals” go, new insurance company, I’ll NOT be referring your services to my friends. Though with health care in this country, freedom to choose “health care insurance” and “health care providers” isn’t always a choice. We’ve just got to accept what our company offers — if we’re lucky enough for that. It should be HEALTH HASSLE, because it sure the heck isn’t health CARE!

Here’s a great way to beat the heat when looking for something to do. Kansas City is home to Hallmark Cards — thus Crown Center and Halls Department stores bear their, er, “hallmark.” As a community outreach, leftover card materials get recycled in a fun, imaginative arts center called Kaleidoscope for family and youth. It’s totally free and offers family art times on Saturdays and extended hours in the summer. Most mornings, bus loads of children are given the chance to make art to their hearts content.

Last week Kindergarteners at E’s school were able to take their first field trip downtown to Crown Center and have a picnic at a park afterward. I was a chaperone and, boy, being on a school bus eons after my highlights of listening to “Sister Christian” from a boom box while coming and going to athletic events is quite a trip. The bus seats are higher and the aisles are narrower. There’s an emergency exit on the top and the drivers seen shorter.

When we were standing in line to get on the bus, E wanted to hold my hand one minute and then banished me to the back of the line a minute later. “I’m here if you need me,” I said.

One little girl said. “I’m worried.”

“You’ve been on a bus before, right?” I said.

“Oh, yes. But, it’s my very first field trip and I don’t know what to expect.”

Everyone had to have a disposable sack lunch. But there were quite a few “Lunchables” not refrigerated. So I didn’t know what to expect come lunch time. Those sack lunches stayed on the bus seats. (I was leery of this from the time when I was at a high school track meet and a guy named, Eddie, raided my cooler full of food. Talk about being upset, but I’d just run the 400 meters and was too tired to really do anything about it. I think my younger sister shared her cooler.)

So on the way to Crown Center, a boy behind me marvels at the city sights saying, “This town is great.” I have to move back to that seat because the three boys in that row are getting a bit rowdy and not sitting still. Ah, to be the grown-up and party-pooper.

I was a helper at Kaleidoscope (I have to look every time at how this word is spelled. I cannot spell it!) and got to help the children run the small dye press that made “puzzles” from cardboard squares. It was fun to see the looks of wonder on the kids faces. See their energy and their timidness and their sort of Kindergarten “cluelessness.” I cannot even remember what it was like to be that young, but it’s fun to watch.