Big Shoulders
I toiled as a traveling salesman in a previous life. These days packing a suitcase is a novel experience. Although I reside in Kansas City by choice, getting out of town every so often is very refreshing. Here are thoughts and images from my visit last week to Wrigley Field and Millennium Park.
posted by Happy In Bag @ 10:06 AM
19 Comments:
At 10:57 AM,
Anonymous said…
I hate polishing my euphonium. Can't imagine what it takes to keep the sculpture in Millennium park that shiny.
At 11:20 AM,
Anonymous said…
I love Chicago! It's like New York, but clean...
At 1:20 PM,
Happy In Bag said…
It sure seems to confuse the stuffing out of birds, Anon.
And Toronto is like a clean Chicago, Shannon.
At 4:00 PM,
kcmeesha said…
I like Chicago, but you have to pick the right time of the year to enjoy your visit.
At 4:12 PM,
Happy In Bag said…
Funny you should say that, Meesha. Last week I was alternately freezing and sweltering. The humidity was so high that it almost didn't matter when it rained. And don't get me started on the wind...
At 10:17 PM,
bgo said…
Why do people from JOCO say they are from Kansas City? Would it not be more honest to say I am from the KCMSA?
Maybe I am being to territorial, eh?
Oh Well.
If life was different for me, I'd be quite happy to state I live in PV, KS.
But there are just too many damn Republicans living there and I have no children to worry about sending to decent public schools.
I'll leave it at that.
And oh how I wish we were in Chicago now.
At 8:43 AM,
the unthinking lemming said…
I wonder if people living in Merrionette Park or Calumet Park, IL often refer to where they live as Chicago. Much like Kansas City, or any fair sized metropolitan entity, Chicago is made up of a number of municipalities.gfdkio
At 4:48 PM,
the unthinking lemming said…
For the record, 'gfdkio' means nothing. Typed the word verification in the wrong field. Stupid computer. *kicks machine*
At 5:38 PM,
Ruralgurl said…
Best thing about Chicago? The Lake. It might not be the ocean, but on a big ol' boat with tall sails way out on the lake, the rest of the world is history. So is your wallet at that point, but what the heck. Woulda spent it piece by piece on the mile anyway.
At 8:11 PM,
Happy In Bag said…
It's just easier to say "Kansas City," BGO. Nothing against Prairie Village; I love my neighborhood. But PV means nothing to a St. Louisian like Rural Girl. And someone from say, Webster Groves, is going to say they're from St. Louis. Right?
GFDKIO.
Water's always good, isn't it, RG?
At 10:54 AM,
bgo said…
HIB,
Depends on your perspective I suppose. Residents of Brooklyn are essentially from New York City, but most proudly claim they from that borough. Same as Queens, et al.
Kansas City proper is so different than JOCO to NOT make a distinction is utterly stupid.
IMO
At 12:55 PM,
kcmeesha said…
1st of all Brooklyn example is not comparable, Brooklyn has almost double the population of the whole KC metro area, and is known outside of the city of NYC and around the world. Try explaining Johnson County to someone in Moscow.
Secondly, in my personal case, I actually pay tax to the state of MO and the city of KC and unless you want to refund my money I will say that I am from Kansas city any time I feel like it. I always add that I live outside of KC though,it just serves as a geographical marker for people who don't care about administrative divisions in this area.
At 7:43 PM,
Ruralgurl said…
We have that here, too. The City vs. The County. Our "West County" is your JOCO. Economic or racial flight from the city, flocking to "good" public schools, etc. Talking to out of towners, everyone says St. Louis, but in town amongst themselves it's the raging battle of the territorialists.
At 6:58 AM,
the unthinking lemming said…
I'll make a deal with you, bgo. Quit using Kansas in your Missouri city's name and we'll forget the whole thing. ;-p
At 10:11 AM,
bgo said…
the unthinking lemming,
a little known fact that there was a vote years ago to make KCMO part of Kansas. it didn't pass.
but a known fact is that most of JOCO looks down its nose at residents of Wyandotte County.
i can claim i live in Brookside but residents of what most people consider 'proper' Brookside would find it absurd. I live one long block from Troost on 70th St.
At 12:17 PM,
the unthinking lemming said…
Known fact? Or "sub"-urban legend. I live but a few blocks from old downtown OP. Don't see too many mansions around here. Lots of 1-car garage homes, rundown duplexes and plenty of empty storefronts along the main drag of the downtown area. My neighbors across the street still house their adult sons and they've only recently bought a car less than 20 years old.
After 25 years living in good ol' OP I've seen that most of its residents are really not that different from those in much of the rest of the KC metro area.
As for Wyandotte County... The Dotte has a lot more to offer than it used to. Surely they've shrugged off any perceived inferiority long ago. I don't know of many JoCo people who still hold to any denigrating thoughts towards our neighbor to the north. The people I hang with are more concerned with the present than the past. *shrugs*sqfguqc
At 12:18 PM,
the unthinking lemming said…
dang word verification
At 1:16 PM,
bgo said…
tul,
I agree with you about Northern JOCO. I have many friends who live there and it is just as you described. At 55 years of age I have covered the KC Metro area full circle many, many times.
bgo
At 1:35 PM,
bgo said…
a few other things:
I worked for a spell in downtown OP, KS and my uncle Ed was one of the early residents of what one would call old Overland Park. He lived on Dearborn. Remember going over there back in the late 1950's when I was a small child. I loved those frequent trips.
And back then The French Market at 95th and Metcalf seemed liked the middle of nowhere.
The farmer's market in downtown OP is great too--a treasure for OUR area, our beloved KANSAS CITY.
I concede defeat.
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