Toto! We're Back in Kansas

Did you know that Kansas has actual land still considered frontier territory by the definitions set by the US Government? These are among the many things I learned while visiting my friends John and Karen this week. (we're old camp friends - I have to say - that the friends I've had the longest - are friends I made during my stint working at summer camp... Maybe I'll blog about that sometime). Anyway, Kansas kind of surprised me. I was expecting fell-off-the-floor-flatness, but, at least in the Eastern part of the state, it was quite hilly. In fact, it reminded me in many ways of the town I grew up in the Poconos. Except for the fields of cows, buffalo herds, small flock of llamas.

(NOTE: I had a long discussion with J&K's son about animal groupings. He informed me, for example, that a pile of frogs was known as an ARMY of FROGS. We also discovered MURDERS of CROWS, but were wondering what a group of Llamas were called. For the purpose of this post, I choose 'flock,' although 'compendium,' or 'gaggle' would also suit our purpose.)

Anyway, I was long overdue for a visit to The Little Apple: Manhattan, Kansas. On the first day, we went down to the lake - seen above. They were draining some of it to fill the Kansas River - so the boats wouldn't bottom out. It was rare that the water levels were so low - so we took some time to explore. Here's their youngest son digging in the dirt for burried treasure (he found farm implements, and a lot of broken glass).

The other brother suddenly hit the dirt - and made an angel. What's great is that Karen didn't even yell at him for getting dirty. I hope he appreciates how cool his mother is. I predict that when these boys are in high school, all their friends will want to hang out at their house because J&K are the coolest parents.

When all this exploring made us hungry, we headed out to Famous Dave's - because we thought it would be fun to get Dave (who stayed home) a FD t-shirt. Here's the evidence. I should have photographed the ginormous garbage-can-lid-sized plate of food they brought us, but I was too busy eating.


When we came home, the family dog kept licking my watch. Makes me wonder if I got barbecue sauce stuck in there... (I'm sorry - That was so gross!)

So we had a good time - Except for one thing: I got a massage from Lizzy Borden's distant relative - he hacked up the knots in my back with such precision and skill that I'm still sore... He promised me there would be a payoff - but so far, it hurts to lean back on chairs...

Karen and John and I are already plotting our next get together - and even though there's no place like home - someday I'll click my heels together and go back to Kansas.